Netherlands: Town forbids evangelism campaign
A Dutch town known for its traditional churches and fishing community has forbidden an evangelism tent campaign, a move Christian Democrats say further threatens freedom of religion in the Netherlands. The local government of Urk said on Wednesday, April 13, it refused permission ‘because these activities must be organized by local churches.’ Additionally, licenses for evangelism can only be given in ‘summer holidays,’ it added. The decision comes as a major setback for the organizers of the evangelical 'Netherlands Bible Study Centre' (NBC), a foundation focusing on spreading Bible knowledge. NBC has been holding annual evangelism meetings in a circus tent in Urk, 85 kilometres north east of Amsterdam, as part of a tour through the Netherlands. A member of Urk's Municipality Council, Mr Foppen, said he would protest the evangelism ban at an upcoming council meeting on April 28. Willem Foppen, who represents the Dutch Christian Democratic Appeal party (CDA), said it was also strange that evangelism in Urk is apparently only allowed during summer holidays. Pray: that the meeting of the Council next week will lead to a licence being granted. (Lk.4:43) More: http://www.worthynews.com/10173-netherlands-town-urk-forbids-evangelism-campaign
Manchester: ‘The Spirit of Life’ event
Further to our report in last week’s Prayer Alert that Manchester Cathedral was to host a new age festival, it has come to light that the reports were not accurate and had been sensationalised by much of the media including our source. The Spirit of Life is a Christian festival offering a balanced programme of different spiritual traditions including Taize, choral evensong and contemporary spiritualities. There will be workshops that will provide Christian perspectives and offerings on how ancient spirituality meets contemporary culture at this unique event. The event offers a clear Christian alternative to the usual Mind, Body Spirit events with performances, meditations, stalls and workshops throughout the day. There will be no tarot card reading or fortune telling at the event. All contributors are Christians, many of them by ordained clergy, nuns, Catholics or evangelicals and all have undergone a rigorous application process by the organisers. Pray: that the truth will out and all who attend will find that truth by the revelation of God’s Holy Spirit. (Gal.1:11) More: http://www.manchestercathedral.org/events/73/the-spirit-of-life
Red tape casting doubts over Good Friday procession
Churches in north-west London say their plans for a Good Friday procession are being scuppered by the local council’s refusal to grant them permission to march on the roads. The New Testament Church of God, St Andrew’s Church of England, St Mary Magdalen and Willesden Green Baptist Church were granted permission to hold a procession but were told by Brent Council that they would only be allowed to march on the pavements. With hundreds of people from their congregations expected to participate, the churches say that keeping to the pavements is ‘unrealistic’ and likely to disrupt pedestrians. They fear that unless the local council grants permission for the procession to take place on the roads they may be forced to call off the annual celebration out of concern for the health and safety of marchers and pedestrians. In previous years, the churches have held the procession on the roads using their own officers to control the traffic. Pray: for Brent Council to reconsider and to give permission for this event to use the roads. (Job.6:29) More:http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/red.tape.casting.doubts.over.london.churches.good.friday.procession/27803.htm
Have confidence; as study charts churches decline
The Church faces huge challenges over the next few years - but growth is still possible, according to a leading researcher. Dr Peter Brierley points to continuing decline in many denominations due to people leaving, deaths outstripping conversions, and churchgoers attending less often. The liberalisation of Sunday trading in 1994 is a major factor here, he told The Baptist Times but the downward slope, he says, is largely due to the departure of teenagers in the 1980s and children under 15 in the 1990s.'Twenty and 30 years later there is a dire absence of those in their 30s and 40s, and no sign of younger replacements.' Nevertheless, he said, Church decline is not inevitable - though clear-sighted and courageous leadership would be required. There are seeds of hope, change is possible. We need to look at which denominations are growing, and why.' He also stressed the need for equipping congregations and encouraging them to witness confidently. Pray: for the church and for outreach and revival. (2Co.4:15)
Church-based debt counselling grows
Christians Against Poverty (CAP) has announced the start of 16 new debt counselling centres to help some of the poorest people across the UK. The counselling centres are being set up in local churches, where volunteers have been trained to restore hope and help people find a way out of their debts. The expansion reflects the scale of the need, with the total number of CAP debt counselling centres now standing at 160 across the UK. In addition to the new centres, four existing centres have taken on extra debt coaches to cope with the demand for the service. Many of the charity’s clients are in financial difficulty because of job loss, pay cuts or illness, but the charity is expecting the numbers to rise in the tough economic climate. The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) predicted yesterday that household disposable income would fall by 2pc this year. Pray: that as the work of CAP expands, many more will be helped and set free from debt. (1Sam.22:2a) More:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/churchbased.debt.counselling.grows.as.households.feel.squeeze.on.income/27817.htm
Chaplains to the Armed Forces
A total of about 300 Uniformed Service Chaplains are attached to ships and units of all 3 Armed Services around the world. 15-20 of them are deployed in Afghanistan at any one time. Theirs can be a dangerous, demanding, fulfilling and rewarding role as they live and work with other deployed servicemen and women. For an insight into what their work entails, visit the website below. Pray: for all Chaplains in whatever unusual and unique pasturing situations they find themselves. For spiritual wisdom, guidance, the right words, encouragement and that the Holy Spirit would continue to refresh and replenish them. (Col.4:2-6) More: http://britisharmy.wordpress.com/2011/04/05/that-we-had-no-kind-of-font-or-baptistry-was-irrelevant/
Schools block Gideons offering Bibles
Two schools in Staffordshire have been accused of trying to ‘silence Christianity’ by banning the Gideons from offering children a free Bible. Despite thousands of schools welcoming the respected group each year, Abbot Beyne School and Paget High School claimed the offer of a Bible was inappropriate. Critics say the schools are being overly sensitive and questioned whether they may be pushing an agnostic agenda. Each year the Gideons offer copies of the New Testament and Psalms to children in thousands of British secondary schools. The Bible Society’s Canon Dr Ann Holt said: ‘I have never met a single person of another faith in this country who objected to distribution of Bibles and the robust teaching of Christian Faith. They expect it. Such actions tend to come from white agnostics with an agenda of their own, or from people who really do not know how to manage the co-existence of a number of faiths.’ Pray: for a change of heart from the school leaders at these schools. (2Sa.22:31) More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/two-schools-block-gideons-offering-bibles/
Church prayers for the Royal couple ahead of wedding
The Church of England and Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales have released new prayers ahead of the royal wedding this month. The Church of England’s prayer for Prince William and Kate Middleton is posted on its website and is also for all those ‘made one in marriage’. The prayer has been adapted from Common Worship and joins one made available earlier for schools and young children. The new prayer asks God to ‘look in favour’ on the royal couple and ‘all who are made one in marriage’. It also asks God to ‘deepen their love’ and help them to keep their vows to each other. The Catholic prayer asks for God’s blessing upon Prince William and Miss Middleton and to give them strength to serve God, the country and the Commonwealth ‘with integrity and faithfulness’. Pray: for William and Kate as they prepare to marry and for their wedding to be a positive model for many other young couples. (Jn.2:1-2)
Italy: Bibles for North African refugees
Evangelical Alliance Italy is distributing aid and Bibles to tens of thousands of North African refugees who have fled to Lampedusa, an Italian island 75 miles from the Tunisian coast. The island is struggling to cope with the influx of migrants and many of the 20,000 migrants estimated to have arrived in Italy in the last few months have been relocated - but there are around 6,000 still on the small island, many of them Tunisian. Teams of volunteers have been sent by the Evangelical Alliance Italy to work alongside local authorities in facilitating the relationship between the refugee community and the local people. The volunteers will also distribute aid, including Bibles and other Gospel literature, and witness to the refugees of the love of Christ in appropriate ways. The alliance is appealing for prayers for the thousands of migrants who face an ‘uncertain future.’ An estimated 50,000+ migrants will come to the shores of Italy. Pray: for the Church to be strengthened as she steps into opportunities to give humanitarian aid and share God’s provision. (Mt.4:19) More: http://www.christianpost.com/news/bibles-aid-being-distributed-to-n-african-refugees-49794/
Italy: Bibles for North African refugees
Evangelical Alliance Italy is distributing aid and Bibles to tens of thousands of North African refugees who have fled to Lampedusa, an Italian island 75 miles from the Tunisian coast. The island is struggling to cope with the influx of migrants and many of the 20,000 migrants estimated to have arrived in Italy in the last few months have been relocated - but there are around 6,000 still on the small island, many of them Tunisian. Teams of volunteers have been sent by the Evangelical Alliance Italy to work alongside local authorities in facilitating the relationship between the refugee community and the local people. The volunteers will also distribute aid, including Bibles and other Gospel literature, and witness to the refugees of the love of Christ in appropriate ways. The alliance is appealing for prayers for the thousands of migrants who face an ‘uncertain future.’ An estimated 50,000+ migrants will come to the shores of Italy. Pray: for the Church to be strengthened as she steps into opportunities to give humanitarian aid and share God’s provision. (Mt.4:19) More: http://www.christianpost.com/news/bibles-aid-being-distributed-to-n-african-refugees-49794/