FTSE 100 companies must adopt living wage
A campaign to lobby FTSE 100 companies to adopt the Living Wage has been backed by the Methodist Church and its Central Finance Board. The Living Wage is the minimum hourly wage necessary for an individual to meet their basic needs, including shelter, clothing and nutrition. Revd Alison Tomlin, President of the Methodist Conference, will publicly endorse the launch of the FairPensions campaign at Methodist Central Hall on May 2, with more than 2,000 people expected to attend. Revd Tomlin said: ‘The Living Wage is about treating people with dignity and respect; it is about recognising our value as individuals, as human beings. It is absurd to pay people a wage that will never allow them to meet their needs. The majority of those living in poverty are in working households and this kind of practice keeps people in poverty. FTSE 100 companies should lead the way in bringing about fair wages for all who work.’
Pray: for a positive outcome for the FairPensions campaign. (Dt.15:7)
More: http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.newsDetail&newsid=502
Pray for Schools fortnight
The vision of Pray for Schools fortnight, 8-23rd May, is to bring together people from local churches and those involved in education – parents, students, teachers, meals supervisors, Governors and anyone else with a heart for young people – to pray strategically for schools in their area and those involved in them. They have developed resources for the fortnight around ‘Praying the Bible’. Also a brand new video will be available to download and show at your event. Pray for Schools in Wales which is teaming up with 24/7 prayer to cover Wales in prayer. A week of continuous prayer for schools is planned for the 8-15th May, and you can choose your slot and sign up at Pray for Schools fortnight is supported by CARE, Youth for Christ, Scripture Union, New Generation, Churches Together England, The Association of Christian Teachers – and Christians all over the UK who want to pray for schools. Pray: strategically for the schools in your area, those who have influence over our young people. (Ac.2:17) More: http://www.prayforschools.org/events/pfs-events/pray-for-schools-fortnight/
Real IRA reject talks offer from Fr Michael Canny
The dissident republican group, the Real IRA, which has threatened to kill more PSNI officers, has refused an offer from a Londonderry priest to hold talks with him. The group said police officers would be targeted ‘regardless of their religion, cultural background or motivation’. The threat was made in a statement at a rally in Derry on Monday. Fr Michael Canny said he hoped talks would happen in the future. ‘On Wednesday evening I heard through a source that I would consider to be reliable that they didn't want to meet,’ he said. ‘I certainly wasn't surprised but neither was I totally disappointed because the statement said 'at this time'. I consider that they obviously carefully considered what they were saying and the use of the phrase 'at this time' doesn't rule out the possibility of talking, not necessarily to me but to somebody else in the weeks or indeed in the months ahead.'
Pray: for the work of potential mediators like Fr Canny and that the Lord will soften the hearts of the dissidents in Ireland. (Job.9:33)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13223754
Sellafield nuclear site terror arrests made
Five men are being held under the Terrorism Act after being arrested close to the Sellafield nuclear site. The men, who are all from London and in their 20s, were arrested on Monday shortly after 1630 BST. The arrests were made after Civil Nuclear Constabulary officers conducted a stop check on a vehicle close to the Sellafield site, in Cumbria. The BBC understands the men were taking photographs and are all believed to be Bangladeshi. The arrests are not thought to have been intelligence-led. The men were held in Carlisle overnight and then moved to Manchester. Four houses in east London were raided by counter-terror detectives as part of the investigation. The arrests were made within hours of the news breaking that Osama Bin Laden had been killed in Pakistan. Pray: that the authorities will remain vigilant amid fears of reprisals from groups sympathetic to al-Qaeda. (Eph.5:15)
Marriage ‘a good product’ says Anglican Archbishop
The Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu has praised the institution of marriage, and warned of the danger of it being hidden away ‘for fear of offending or sounding self-righteous’. Writing in the Telegraph, in advance of the Royal Wedding, the Archbishop also warned that more and more people seem to be wary of the commitment which marriage requires. Commenting on the growing trend of cohabitation before marriage, the Archbishop said it is common in these times and, quoting his daughter, people ‘want to test whether the milk is good before they buy the cow.’ He said: ‘Discovering the depth and enduring meaning of love is the goal and prize of every relationship. Marriage in Britain, whether in church or a register office, is a pact for life made between one man and one woman’. Dr Sentamu said he had married many cohabiting couples and emphasised that married couples are more likely to stay together than cohabiting couples.
Pray: that marriage would once more be acknowledged as central to family life. (Heb.13:4)
More: http://www.ionainstitute.org/index.php?id=1436
Russian Ministries launches ‘Summer of Hope’
Russian Ministries has launched an appeal to provide a Summer of Hope to thousands of needy children who’ll be attending their life-changing camps across the former Soviet Union, reports Peter Wooding of ASSIST News Service. After the success of Russian Ministries’ series of Easter outreach programmes, their teams of Next Generation Christian leaders are already busy preparing to coordinate summer camps, which they believe provide the real hope of Christ to the lives of these vulnerable children. ‘After these outreach programmes at Easter, summer is coming pretty soon and our young teams are already getting ready to do some follow-up ministry and the most effective is summer camps,’ said Russian Ministries’ President Sergey Rakhuba. Each Russian Ministries’ summer camp has a long-lasting impact for thousands of children. Pray: God for Russian Ministries as they prepare for the summer camps and that they would bring much fruit. (Gen.28:3)
Russian Ministries launches ‘Summer of Hope’
Russian Ministries has launched an appeal to provide a Summer of Hope to thousands of needy children who’ll be attending their life-changing camps across the former Soviet Union, reports Peter Wooding of ASSIST News Service. After the success of Russian Ministries’ series of Easter outreach programmes, their teams of Next Generation Christian leaders are already busy preparing to coordinate summer camps, which they believe provide the real hope of Christ to the lives of these vulnerable children. ‘After these outreach programmes at Easter, summer is coming pretty soon and our young teams are already getting ready to do some follow-up ministry and the most effective is summer camps,’ said Russian Ministries’ President Sergey Rakhuba. Each Russian Ministries’ summer camp has a long-lasting impact for thousands of children. Pray: God for Russian Ministries as they prepare for the summer camps and that they would bring much fruit. (Gen.28:3)
Hungary: Pro-marriage Constitution signed into law
The Hungarian President Pal Schnitt has signed a new Constitution which defines marriage as being exclusively between a man and a woman. The new document also acknowledges the right to life of the unborn child from conception and affirms the role of Christianity in Hungary’s history. The new Constitution was passed last week in the Hungarian parliament by a majority of 262 votes to 44 against and one abstention. The margin reflected the two-thirds majority enjoyed by the governing Fidesz-Christian Democrat Party, which proposed the document. The document has been criticised by a number of groups, including the German government and various European secular organisations. However the Hungarian foreign ministry rejected the criticism as ‘unacceptable’, accusing Germany of interfering publicly in Hungary’s internal affairs instead of using bilateral talks to air concerns.
Pray: for the way He has been leading the Government to uphold marriage and the rights of the unborn child.
More: http://www.ionainstitute.ie/index.php?id=1434
Hungary: Pro-marriage Constitution signed into law
The Hungarian President Pal Schnitt has signed a new Constitution which defines marriage as being exclusively between a man and a woman. The new document also acknowledges the right to life of the unborn child from conception and affirms the role of Christianity in Hungary’s history. The new Constitution was passed last week in the Hungarian parliament by a majority of 262 votes to 44 against and one abstention. The margin reflected the two-thirds majority enjoyed by the governing Fidesz-Christian Democrat Party, which proposed the document. The document has been criticised by a number of groups, including the German government and various European secular organisations. However the Hungarian foreign ministry rejected the criticism as ‘unacceptable’, accusing Germany of interfering publicly in Hungary’s internal affairs instead of using bilateral talks to air concerns.
Pray: for the way He has been leading the Government to uphold marriage and the rights of the unborn child.
More: http://www.ionainstitute.ie/index.php?id=1434
There are many Sai Baba devotees in the mountain areas around Kalimpong (India). They honor him as a god and worship him. In the past years, he has performed many “miracles” and is also very popular in the west. He does not have many followers in Bangalore where he has his Ashram, most probably because of his debauched lifestyle. He has amassed quite some wealth. A big question now is, “What happens to it all?” But that is only one question that arises with his death… Confusion now reigns in their midst, and they don’t know where to go with their questions.