Nigeria: President's inauguration marred by bombing
Just hours after Christian President Goodluck Jonathan was inaugurated a bomb exploded in an army barracks in Bauchi Nigeria, a stronghold of radical Muslim s known as Boko Haram. The bombing is seen as a challenge to the authority of a Christian President from the south, by those in the north who want a Muslim president installed. Muslims contend that a Muslim president needs to be elected according to the unwritten agreement that presidents will rotate between the country’s Christian south and Muslim north. Muslims complained that the votes for the presidential election were rigged, but independent observers said the election process was the fairest in decades. Pray: that Nigeria would know peace as the country settles into a season of new governance. (Da.7:14)
Australia: Low income families suffer as winter takes hold
A report from Anglicare Victoria shows 25% of emergency relief clients cannot afford prescription medication, ½ cannot afford dental treatment and one in five are too poor to eat a good meal once a day. The 2011 Hardship Survey gives a graphic insight into the daily challenges facing low income families. 55% had an ongoing disability or medical condition but ¼ could not afford to buy medicine prescribed by physicians. Other unaffordable items included no home contents insurance or comprehensive car insurance leaving them vulnerable in cases of robberies or accidents. Families and individuals are pushed to the edge week in and week out and are just a sickness or car accident away from crippling financial debt they may never recover from. In the wake of recent fires and floods in Australia many emergency relief clients are in a debt spiral and unable to make ends meet.
Pray: for all receiving emergency relief to be able to cope and to come to know God and His provision for their future. (Tit.3:4-5)
Algeria: Christian sentenced beyond prosecutor’s request
On May 25th a fine equivalent to US$2,760 and a five-year prison term was handed down to Christian convert Siaghi Krimo for ‘insulting’ Muhammad despite lack of evidence. The judge stunned the Christian community by sentencing him beyond the prosecution recommendation of a two-year prison sentence and a fine of US$690 equivalent. Krimo was tried for giving a CD to a neighbour, who then accused him of attempting to convert him to Christianity. His lawyer plans to appeal. Krimo is not required to serve his prison sentence until the court hears his appeal and upholds the conviction. The court delivered its verdict the same week that the governor of the province of Bejaia ordered the closing of seven Protestant churches. Asked if he thought the court had instructions from higher officials to hand down such heavy punishment to him, Krimo responded with no hesitation: ‘It’s certain!’ Pray: for God to reduce all opposition to the Christian message taking root and spreading in Algeria. (Mt.24:14) More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/13314/article_113189.html
Asia: Climate justice for Christian communicators
‘Climate change in Asia is falling hardest on poor and indigenous communities and Christian communicators should adopt the concept of ‘climate justice’ as they advocate for solutions.’ delegates said at a meeting of the World Association for Christian Communications Asia region. They said that churches should take a proactive stand on the issue by promoting awareness through traditional media and among congregations. Climate changes affecting Asians are melting Himalayan glaciers influencing available fresh water for crop irrigation and daily human use, especially in Pakistan and India. However, many people don't see a connection between faith and climate change. ‘For most of our local faith communities, climate justice is not a lens that we bring regularly to the reading of our sacred texts nor to our understanding of what it means to be faithful,’ was said in a keynote address.
Pray: that climate justice will become a popular and effective initiative in the wake of Pakistan’s floods. (Lev.19:10)
More: http://www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?id=4924
15 years of Christian broadcasting in Arab world
SAT-7: SAT-7 is celebrating 15 years of broadcasting Christian programmes across the Middle East and North Africa. The ministry started out as a single channel format but has enjoyed unexpected success over the years and now broadcasts SAT-7 Arabic, SAT-7 Pars, SAT-7 Kids and SAT-7 Turk. Until SAT-7's first transmission on 31 May 1996, fear of government reprisals meant the media had largely been out of bounds for the Arab Christian community. Rita El Mounayer, Executive Director for SAT-7's three Arabic channels sees a continuing hunger in the Middle East and North Africa for SAT-7's holistic and uplifting programming. ‘We're very excited about our shows and the people making them - people who want to make a real difference in the lives of our viewers,’ she said. The 15th anniversary coincides with the Arab Spring sweeping across the Middle East and North Africa. Praise: God for the blessings that SAT-7 has brought to the Arab world. (Is.44:3)
15 years of Christian broadcasting in Arab world
SAT-7: SAT-7 is celebrating 15 years of broadcasting Christian programmes across the Middle East and North Africa. The ministry started out as a single channel format but has enjoyed unexpected success over the years and now broadcasts SAT-7 Arabic, SAT-7 Pars, SAT-7 Kids and SAT-7 Turk. Until SAT-7's first transmission on 31 May 1996, fear of government reprisals meant the media had largely been out of bounds for the Arab Christian community. Rita El Mounayer, Executive Director for SAT-7's three Arabic channels sees a continuing hunger in the Middle East and North Africa for SAT-7's holistic and uplifting programming. ‘We're very excited about our shows and the people making them - people who want to make a real difference in the lives of our viewers,’ she said. The 15th anniversary coincides with the Arab Spring sweeping across the Middle East and North Africa. Praise: God for the blessings that SAT-7 has brought to the Arab world. (Is.44:3)
Lebanon: Finding 'families of peace'
In small teams of three, Christian university students from Beirut are visiting residential communities to share practical life skills and their faith. They simply go from house to house, introducing themselves as students and explaining that they have prepared a seven-week mini-workshop on health and family values. Would the family like them to share this with them? It quickly becomes evident that they are Christians, but they have been welcomed to every home they have gone to so far! They are following the pattern Jesus suggested, when he taught how to enter new communities in Luke 10:5-9. In the communities in which they are sharing, these students are finding it takes about 7 weeks for families to be ready to read the Bible and learn about Jesus as their Saviour.
Praise: God for these Christian students and the message they bring. (Ez.33:30)
More: http://www.joelnews.org/frontpage.htm
Lebanon: Finding 'families of peace'
In small teams of three, Christian university students from Beirut are visiting residential communities to share practical life skills and their faith. They simply go from house to house, introducing themselves as students and explaining that they have prepared a seven-week mini-workshop on health and family values. Would the family like them to share this with them? It quickly becomes evident that they are Christians, but they have been welcomed to every home they have gone to so far! They are following the pattern Jesus suggested, when he taught how to enter new communities in Luke 10:5-9. In the communities in which they are sharing, these students are finding it takes about 7 weeks for families to be ready to read the Bible and learn about Jesus as their Saviour.
Praise: God for these Christian students and the message they bring. (Ez.33:30)
More: http://www.joelnews.org/frontpage.htm
Russia: Caucasus the next battlefield for al Qaeda?
Even though Osama bin Laden is dead, the al-Qaeda terrorist group may be looking at expanding its war against the West. Accord to some terrorist experts, al-Qaeda may have its sights set on the North Caucasus region of Russia. One report indicates terrorists in the North Caucasus have been using radical Salafi Islam to recruit disgruntled youth who grew up on the battlefields of the two Chechen wars. According to the President of Russian Ministries Sergey Rakhuba, hide-out evidence has already been uncovered backing up these claims. According to Rukhuba, that means there is a spiritual battle under way for the souls of Russia's youth in the region. He says, ‘That's the strategy for al-Qaeda: to reach out to young people, to brainwash them in all those underground cells, to provide them with all kinds of false philosophies and encourage them to go and bring destruction into those communities.’
Russia: Caucasus the next battlefield for al Qaeda?
Even though Osama bin Laden is dead, the al-Qaeda terrorist group may be looking at expanding its war against the West. Accord to some terrorist experts, al-Qaeda may have its sights set on the North Caucasus region of Russia. One report indicates terrorists in the North Caucasus have been using radical Salafi Islam to recruit disgruntled youth who grew up on the battlefields of the two Chechen wars. According to the President of Russian Ministries Sergey Rakhuba, hide-out evidence has already been uncovered backing up these claims. According to Rukhuba, that means there is a spiritual battle under way for the souls of Russia's youth in the region. He says, ‘That's the strategy for al-Qaeda: to reach out to young people, to brainwash them in all those underground cells, to provide them with all kinds of false philosophies and encourage them to go and bring destruction into those communities.’