Archbishop of York launches new national charity
The Archbishop of York launched the Acts 435 charity nationally at the General Synod. The charity helps churches to make a practical difference in their local communities helping those who are going through tough times financially. In the face of further government austerity measures the Archbishop has said it is important for the Church to reach out to those in need. He said: ‘Acts 435 is designed to help us fulfil Christ’s calling and give to those in need. I hope and pray that it will be a wonderful blessing to those on the receiving end of these gifts of love. May it also be a source of joy to the donors as they see the immediate impact of their generosity on those struggling to make ends meet.’ Acts 435 is a Christian Charity, within the Church of England to bring immediate help to people in financial need. It works by matching up those who want to give with those in need. Pray: for this innovative new approach to the operation of a charity and for its success. (1Jn.4:11) More: http://www.archbishopofyork.org/2934
Half a million in grants to support the dignity of life
Thanks to the generosity of parishioners up and down the country, the Catholic Archbishops of England and Wales were able to distribute over £500,000 in grants in support of life over the last two years. The annual Day for Life is dedicated to celebrating the dignity of life from conception to natural death and the annual collection taken up in Roman Catholic parishes on the last Sunday in July each year is used to give grants to life-related activities supported by the Catholic Church. The Archbishop for Day for Life, Archbishop Bernard Longley said: ‘I wish to extend my thanks to the generosity of parishioners up and down the country who give so generously to the Day for Life collection each year. Your generous giving enables us to support so many worthy projects and organisations – all working in different ways to promote the dignity of life from conception to natural death.’ Pray: for the generosity of parishioners this Sunday and that their donations will be powerfully used. (Dt.15:10)
British Forces training teams in Afghanistan
British Forces training teams are on target and have just finished training 1000 Afghan soldiers. The recent conference on Afghanistan has endorsed President Hamid Karzai's goal that Afghan forces should lead security operations across the country by 2014. Hopefully this will encourage a new determination for peace and unity. (See also World item below) The number of British military personnel killed on operations in Afghanistan since 2001 stands at 324 after two soldiers were shot dead while trying to rescue a wounded colleague in the Lashkar Gah district of Helmand province on 21 July. Of all those killed, 39 have died from accidents, illness, or non-combat injuries. Others have yet to be assigned a cause of death. Pray: for the families of all the soldiers who have lost their lives and for supernatural intervention to bring about real peace and unity in Afghanistan. (Job.22:21) More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10687527
Spiritual encounters at London Psychic Fair
The annual ‘Mind Body Spirit’ Psychic Festival in London, England claims to be at the forefront of innovation in the world of the supernatural, natural healing, and personal growth. Thousands of people who attended this year’s festival were looking for advice, direction in life, healing and new products to make life better – everyone was looking for practical and spiritual solutions. This year Youth With A Mission had a booth at the festival, staffed by volunteers ready to talk with and pray for festival-goers. The teams were pleasantly surprised by how open people were to talk to them and receive prayers for blessing and healing. Many of the people who received prayer later brought friends back because of the impact of the words of truth and hope spoken to them. The team would pray throughout the day asking God for specific people and situations He wanted to address. Pray: that all the divine appointments will bear fruit and lead to many new believers. (Zec.10:2) More: http://www.ywam.org/News-Stories/news/Spiritual-Encounters-at-London-Psychic-Fair
Kosovo: An important week
Two and a half years have passed since Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia, but the initial flood of recognitions has slowed to a trickle. The country is in limbo. What do Mauritania, Swaziland, Somalia, Djibouti and Vanuatu have in common? Not a lot, but they are the only countries that have recognised Kosovo as a sovereign state this year. Kosovo is supported by the United States and the EU heavyweights, but with it’s path to UN membership firmly barred by Russia and China on the Security Council, and with a clear majority of countries having decided, for now, not to offer it recognition. Serbia wants to get into the EU, and many worry that a protracted struggle over Kosovo will annoy Britain, France and Germany. Kosovo wants to be a normal country, that can apply for UN membership. Pray: that Kosovo will at last be recognised and that Russia and China would withdraw their objections. (Ps.37:3-4)
More: http://blogs.aljazeera.net/europe/2010/07/19/important-week-kosovo
Kosovo: An important week
Two and a half years have passed since Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia, but the initial flood of recognitions has slowed to a trickle. The country is in limbo. What do Mauritania, Swaziland, Somalia, Djibouti and Vanuatu have in common? Not a lot, but they are the only countries that have recognised Kosovo as a sovereign state this year. Kosovo is supported by the United States and the EU heavyweights, but with it’s path to UN membership firmly barred by Russia and China on the Security Council, and with a clear majority of countries having decided, for now, not to offer it recognition. Serbia wants to get into the EU, and many worry that a protracted struggle over Kosovo will annoy Britain, France and Germany. Kosovo wants to be a normal country, that can apply for UN membership. Pray: that Kosovo will at last be recognised and that Russia and China would withdraw their objections. (Ps.37:3-4)
More: http://blogs.aljazeera.net/europe/2010/07/19/important-week-kosovo
EU to hold atheist and freemason summit
Brussels is to hold an EU summit with atheists and freemasons in the autumn, inviting them to a political dialogue parallel to the annual summit the bloc holds with Europe's religious leaders. While the EU is a secular body, the three European presidents of the commission, parliament and EU Council, alongside two commissioners, on Monday met with 24 bishops, chief rabbis, and muftis as well as leaders from the Hindu and Sikh communities. The annual dialogue, which has taken place since 2005, is for the first time this year made legally obligatory under Article 17 of the Lisbon Treaty. Under pressure from Belgium, which constitutionally protects and financially supports humanist organisations as well as churches, the EU has been forced to hold a mirror-image summit, but of atheists, scheduled for 15 October. However, in a move that perplexed and annoyed humanist groups, the EU atheist summit will also welcome under the rubric of ‘non-religious groups', the Freemasons, the secretive fraternal organisation, according to commission spokeswoman Katharina von Schnurbein. Pray: that this recognition will not lead to a further breakdown in Europe’s Christian roots. (Lk.3:6)
EU to hold atheist and freemason summit
Brussels is to hold an EU summit with atheists and freemasons in the autumn, inviting them to a political dialogue parallel to the annual summit the bloc holds with Europe's religious leaders. While the EU is a secular body, the three European presidents of the commission, parliament and EU Council, alongside two commissioners, on Monday met with 24 bishops, chief rabbis, and muftis as well as leaders from the Hindu and Sikh communities. The annual dialogue, which has taken place since 2005, is for the first time this year made legally obligatory under Article 17 of the Lisbon Treaty. Under pressure from Belgium, which constitutionally protects and financially supports humanist organisations as well as churches, the EU has been forced to hold a mirror-image summit, but of atheists, scheduled for 15 October. However, in a move that perplexed and annoyed humanist groups, the EU atheist summit will also welcome under the rubric of ‘non-religious groups', the Freemasons, the secretive fraternal organisation, according to commission spokeswoman Katharina von Schnurbein. Pray: that this recognition will not lead to a further breakdown in Europe’s Christian roots. (Lk.3:6)
Audio Scriptures could reach 200,000 with the Gospel
Five more Audio New Testaments have been completed and released to reach tens of thousands of people with the Gospel, reports Mission Network News. These new Audio New Testaments represent 184,000 people throughout Mexico, Guinea, Papua New Guinea and Colombia. The five new releases bring the number of audio Scripture recordings released by Faith Comes By Hearing to 521. The Audio New Testaments that have now been made available are: Chinanteco de Tepetotutla, Ipili, Mazateco de Ayautla, Ticuna, and Yalunka. The production of these five audio Scriptures will not only make the Gospel available to a host of people, literate as well as illiterate, but it also brings Faith Comes By Hearing closer to its goal of recording audio Bibles in 2,000 languages by the year 2016. People often receive Audio New Testaments from Faith Comes By Hearing in the form of solar-powered Proclaimers, which contain the entire New Testament and can be hand-cranked or set in the sun to work. Praise: God as the people receive audio Scriptures that they would understand and embrace the His Word. (Heb.4:12)
Audio Scriptures could reach 200,000 with the Gospel
Five more Audio New Testaments have been completed and released to reach tens of thousands of people with the Gospel, reports Mission Network News. These new Audio New Testaments represent 184,000 people throughout Mexico, Guinea, Papua New Guinea and Colombia. The five new releases bring the number of audio Scripture recordings released by Faith Comes By Hearing to 521. The Audio New Testaments that have now been made available are: Chinanteco de Tepetotutla, Ipili, Mazateco de Ayautla, Ticuna, and Yalunka. The production of these five audio Scriptures will not only make the Gospel available to a host of people, literate as well as illiterate, but it also brings Faith Comes By Hearing closer to its goal of recording audio Bibles in 2,000 languages by the year 2016. People often receive Audio New Testaments from Faith Comes By Hearing in the form of solar-powered Proclaimers, which contain the entire New Testament and can be hand-cranked or set in the sun to work. Praise: God as the people receive audio Scriptures that they would understand and embrace the His Word. (Heb.4:12)