British military restructuring
Several military barracks are to close and more than 30,000 soldiers relocated to new bases across the UK as part of a restructuring of the army. The moves are part of the wholesale re-organisation and shrinking of the army as almost 16,000 soldiers return from Germany over the next six years and thousands more are pulled out of Afghanistan by the end of 2014. The army will restructure around seven regional hubs in the UK.
Pray: for wisdom for those involved in the shaping of Britain's armed forces over the coming decades. Pray for those civilian as well as military staff affected in these changes; some facing relocation of job, home and schools and others redundancy. (Pro.3:13)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/mar/05/seven-military-barracks-army-restructuring
British Military in Afghanistan
On Sunday, 25 March, a member of the Afghan National Army opened fire at the entrance gate to the British headquarters in Lashkar Gar city, killing the two British service personnel and injuring a third. On Tuesday, 27 March, 11 suicide jackets were seized inside the Ministry of Defence in Kabul and 18 people arrested including some Afghan National Army soldiers. This puts incredible pressure on our personnel, in areas which should be ‘safe’. Our servicemen work closely with Afghan police and troops but these attacks serve to make our personnel more fearful.
Pray: that God will protect our service personnel and help them remain vigilant at all times. That He will guide them through the long hours on duty and that wherever they are, they can rest in the knowledge that the Lord is covering them. (Ps.91)
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
British culture 'increasingly pornified'
British culture is ‘increasingly pornified’ and is damaging young people, Shadow Health Minister Diane Abbott is to warn in a speech later. She believes that the rise of sexual bullying and ‘sexting’ - where people send sexually explicit text messages - is a result of hyper-sexualisation. A ‘revolution in sex education' to help tackle the problem is needed, she says. She will urge a ‘national conversation’ between parents and children about sex, porn and technology. There have been increasing concerns over the commercialisation and sexualisation of children, the ease with which pornography can be accessed through the internet and the way in which young people use text messages and emails to exchange sexually explicit images. In 2011, the head of the Mothers' Union, Reg Bailey, carried out an independent review for the Government looking at the pressures on children to grow up too quickly. It found that nine out of every 10 UK parents said children were having to grow up too early.
Pray: against the changes in our culture that are increasingly distorting the minds of the young. (Jn.17:15)
British courts are 'set against religious freedom for Christians'
Parliament must rectify the ‘bad laws’ restricting the freedom of Christians to live according to their beliefs, says a Christian barrister Paul Diamond. Mr Diamond said there was much to be commended in the Equality Act and the Sexual Orientation Regulations and that sexual orientation or faith should not be a reason to discriminate against others. However, he said the laws were ‘poorly drafted’ and ‘leaving too much discretion to the Courts’. He added that they were being used to eradicate Judeo Christian morality and usher in secular values. The ‘countless’ cases where accommodation of conscience was being denied to Christians amounted to a ‘liberal tyranny’. Campaign group Christian Concern warns that recent legislation and its interpretation in the courts has led to several Christians being barred from different areas of public life and is ‘creating a serious obstacle to the Christian community’s full and active involvement in the Big Society initiative’. Pray: for a review leading to clarification and protection of Christian morality. (Gal.5:1)
British churches respond to Japan quake and tsunami
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has sent a message of condolence to the Anglican Archbishop of Japan, the Most Revd Nathaniel Makoto Uematsu, expressing support and prayers for the Japanese people following the recent 8.9 earthquake and tsunami. Dr Williams wrote: ‘The news of the horrific earthquake in Japan has shocked us all. We await further and more detailed news with apprehension, but I want to say immediately that our hearts and our prayers go out to all who have been affected and that we as a church will do what we can to offer practical as well as spiritual support at this time of great suffering and great anxiety for so many.’ The development agencies of the British churches are responding with practical support. The Methodists have issued a prayer for the situation, which can be read at the link below. Pray:for the people of Japan and especially for our brothers and sisters in the United Church of Christ in Japan. (Zec.10:8-9) More:http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/14310