Bishop blames binge-drinking culture for blighting Britain
An Anglican Bishop has hit out at the Government’s failure to tackle alcohol abuse, an issue he describes as ‘one of the major sins of our time’. The Rt Revd Geoff Annas, the Bishop of Stafford, blamed the extension of the licensing laws and called for a ‘seismic shift in attitudes’ towards alcohol, as there has been towards tobacco. He said successive governments had failed to prevent alcohol abuse, ‘a problem that blights our society and colours the view the rest of the world has of our nation’. The Bishop declared that, in hearing countless tragic stories of lives damaged by binge-drinking, it was time for the church and society to speak out. In a letter published in parish magazines across the Diocese of Lichfield, he said: ‘Hospital managers, the police and fire services have all told me in recent months of the way alcohol related issues are soaking up ever decreasing resources.’ Pray: that Government and society will take this matter more seriously and that a solution may be found. (Ro.13:13) More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/bishop-blames-binge-drinking-culture-for-blighting-britain/
Christian sacked after abortion leaflet row
Margaret Forrester discussed the booklet with family planning staff at the health centre where she worked because she felt that the NHS was failing to give patients information about the risks and other options to terminating a pregnancy. But after a six-month disciplinary process, during which Ms Forrester had to fight her own case and became ill, she was found guilty of ‘gross professional misconduct’ and fired. She has spoken out over the ‘scandal’ of the pro-abortion culture in the medical profession and claimed that Christians were ‘an easy target’ for ‘politically correct’ bureaucrats in the NHS. ‘The NHS has a pro-abortion stance which comes from a secular religion. It is a belief system which is aggressively anti-Christian,’ she said. Ms Forrester’s difficulties began on Nov 2 last year, when she had an informal conversation with a colleague in her role as a psychological wellbeing practitioner in Westminster, central London.
Pray: for Margaret and that those in the NHS who have responsibility for advising those seeking an abortion will adopt a more balanced view. (Dt.30:19)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8569283/Christian-sacked-after-abortion-leaflet-row.html
Christians praying for England's drought-hit farmers
A wet weekend has done little to allay the fears of farmers in drought-stricken parts of England. The Government declared parts of East Anglia and the Midlands to be in a state of drought last Friday after England and Wales experienced their driest spring on record. Graham Thompson, Chair of the East Anglia District of the Methodist Church, said ‘A great many farmers are irrigating their crops and there is great anxiety that there may not be sufficient water for the usual period of irrigation later in the growth cycle,’ He said Methodist ministers in East Anglia were offering their support to the farming community and praying with Christians involved in farming. ‘It would not be quite right to say that we are 'praying for rain' but we are asking God to guide our farmers as they seek to make the best use of the resources they have.’ Pray: for those affected by this drought both in the UK and around the world. (Ps.147:8) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christians.praying.for.englands.droughthit.farmers/28150.htm
Gambling set to rise; stakes doubled on slot machines
Churches fear that problem gambling is set to rise after the government announced plans to relax rules on the number of fruit machines in arcades and double the stakes from £1 to £2. Two draft Statutory Instruments were submitted to Parliament on 7 June. These measures would increase the maximum stake for category B3 gaming machines (a type of fruit machine) and raise the cap on the maximum number of such machines at adult gaming centres and bingo halls. The Evangelical Alliance, the Church of England, the Methodist Church, the Salvation Army, Quaker Action on Alcohol and Drugs and CARE have expressed concern at the Government's plans. The church groups are shocked and disappointed that the coalition government has made these proposals which will further liberalise the law. They are calling on the government not to implement this irresponsible rise when research into the potential effects has not been done. (See Prayer Alert 07-2011)
Pray: for the government to have wisdom over the problems that gambling excesses cause. (Dt.32:29)
More: http://www.eauk.org/media/gambling-set-to-rise-with-stakes-doubled-on-fruit-slot-machines.cfm
Churches helping to control alcohol problem in Moldova
In February of 2011, the World Health Organization dubbed Moldova the world's leading nation in per-person alcohol consumption, reports Mission Network News. Reports show that the average Moldovan consumes 18.22 litres of alcohol annually--three times more than the average of 6.1 litres. Other former Soviet nations on the list of heavy alcohol consumption included Russia, Ukraine, Estonia and Belarus. In Moldova, there is a special provision in the government budget for treatment of alcohol, but that government provision is not enough and churches are stepping forward to help alcohol abusers as well. Slavic Gospel Association reports that its affiliated evangelical churches are deeply grieved at the level of alcohol abuse in their communities. In response to the crisis, many SGA churches have begun Bible-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation ministries, which SGA partners help support when possible. These programmes not only provide care for overcoming the addiction, but they provide the life-changing Truth of the Gospel message as well. Pray: that the work of the Church programmes will have a significant effect among those in need. (Ro.12:21)
Churches helping to control alcohol problem in Moldova
In February of 2011, the World Health Organization dubbed Moldova the world's leading nation in per-person alcohol consumption, reports Mission Network News. Reports show that the average Moldovan consumes 18.22 litres of alcohol annually--three times more than the average of 6.1 litres. Other former Soviet nations on the list of heavy alcohol consumption included Russia, Ukraine, Estonia and Belarus. In Moldova, there is a special provision in the government budget for treatment of alcohol, but that government provision is not enough and churches are stepping forward to help alcohol abusers as well. Slavic Gospel Association reports that its affiliated evangelical churches are deeply grieved at the level of alcohol abuse in their communities. In response to the crisis, many SGA churches have begun Bible-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation ministries, which SGA partners help support when possible. These programmes not only provide care for overcoming the addiction, but they provide the life-changing Truth of the Gospel message as well. Pray: that the work of the Church programmes will have a significant effect among those in need. (Ro.12:21)
France: Rejects gay ‘marriage’ in historic vote
French legislators rejected a bill to legalize ‘homosexual marriage’ today in a decisive vote by the National Assembly, the nation’s lower legislative house, reports LifeSiteNews.com. Assembly representatives voted against the bill, proposed by socialists, by a majority of 293 to 222. The vote follows a ruling in January by the nation’s highest court, the Constitutional Council, stating that homosexual ‘marriage’ is not a constitutional right. Although a recent and much-cited poll found that a majority of French voters, 58 percent, favour the creation of homosexual ‘marriage,’ Michel Difenbacher of the majority Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party said he thought it not necessary ‘to go with the wind nor to cede to fashion’ with regard to the issue. ‘We are against homophobia but we do not want to alter the image and function of marriage within society', Difenbacher said.
Pray: that this decision will be accepted by the people.
France: Rejects gay ‘marriage’ in historic vote
French legislators rejected a bill to legalize ‘homosexual marriage’ today in a decisive vote by the National Assembly, the nation’s lower legislative house, reports LifeSiteNews.com. Assembly representatives voted against the bill, proposed by socialists, by a majority of 293 to 222. The vote follows a ruling in January by the nation’s highest court, the Constitutional Council, stating that homosexual ‘marriage’ is not a constitutional right. Although a recent and much-cited poll found that a majority of French voters, 58 percent, favour the creation of homosexual ‘marriage,’ Michel Difenbacher of the majority Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party said he thought it not necessary ‘to go with the wind nor to cede to fashion’ with regard to the issue. ‘We are against homophobia but we do not want to alter the image and function of marriage within society', Difenbacher said.
Pray: that this decision will be accepted by the people.
INSIGHT: Horrendous violence in Sudan
A newly built Anglican cathedral has been burned down and UN personnel are ‘unable to protect civilians’ in South Kordofan Sudan, which is overrun by the army using heavy force to subdue militias. The violence is causing thousands to become refugees and Christians who stay are being targeted. The Archbishop of Canterbury is asking for prayer for the safety of the people of South Kordofan warning of ‘another Darfur’ unless the international community helps to safeguard citizens and humanitarian access. Archbishop Rowan asked people to pray particularly for Bishop Andudu of Kadugli and all his clergy and congregations. This weeks INSIGHT article is a dispatch forwarded to Prayer Alert via the Diocese of Salisbury from Bishop Andudu of Kadugli giving atrocious accounts of the immediate situation and outlining the urgent prayer needs for Kadugli and those affected by the outbreak of violence that could unsettle South Sudan’s succession on July 9 and reverse the peace process. Pray: for all affected by brutal killings, destruction, burning and looting of churches and Christian properties in the diocese of Kadugli. (Ps.4:1-3)
Nigeria: More Muslim militants’ murders
Muslim extremists from the Boko Haram sect killed Rev. David Usman, 45, and church secretary Hamman Andrew in Maiduguri, in northeastern Nigeria’s Borno state. They were the latest casualties in an upsurge of Islamic militancy that has engulfed northern Nigeria this year, resulting in the destruction of church buildings and the killing and maiming of Christians who are full of dread over the violence. Boko Haram seeks to impose sharia (Islamic law) on northern Nigeria, and Christians have become targets of Muslim militants. Believers no longer feel free in their city, and most churches no longer carry out worship service for fear of becoming targets of these unprovoked attacks. Nigeria’s Christians make up 51.3 percent of the population and live mainly in the south, and Muslims live mainly in the north. Also, Compass Direct reported on June 14th, ‘Christian Communities in Northern Nigeria are disappearing as Islamist attacks drive Christians from northern villages’
Pray: God would cause the Nigerian government to face up to the challenge of Boko Haram and provide protection for innocent communities. (Ps.5:10-12)
More: http://www.charismamag