Christians prefer 'friendship evangelism'
Most Christians believe that sharing their faith with friends is an effective form of evangelism, a new survey suggests. The survey, Confidently sharing the gospel?, was undertaken by the Evangelical Alliance to determine whether Christians are still evangelising in the 21st century. It found a shift in the way that Christians are speaking about their faith, from the open air preaching that typified the evangelism of the 19th and early to mid 20th centuries, to more intimate settings. While only nine per cent said that street preaching was an effective way to talk about Jesus, eighty per cent said that the intimacy of a group of friends was a safer and more effective place to share their beliefs. Fifty-seven per cent said it was their actions that would point people to Jesus, rather than their words, with 55 per cent saying they had seen people come to faith through involvement in community projects like foodbanks.
Pray: for each of us to find our own path to evangelism (Jn.4:40-41)
More: http://archbishop-cranmer.blogspot.co.uk/
British Youth Parliament rejects campaigning for gay marriage
The British Youth Parliament has rejected campaigning for same-sex marriage, after it came bottom in a vote of priorities for 2013. The issue received just 22 votes, whereas the most popular campaign, a curriculum to prepare young people for real life, got 154 votes. Each year, 11 to 18-year-olds from each part of the UK debate priorities for the coming year in a special session in the House of Commons. George Poole, an 18-year-old openly homosexual MYP (Member of the Youth Parliament) for Cornwall, said that whilst same-sex marriage is an issue “close to home” for him, he needed to “think of the young people who won’t benefit from this policy”. And Jack Lewis, a 15-year-old MYP for Richmond-Upon-Thames, said there are more important issues to be campaigning about, such as youth unemployment. Many have argued that the Government is prioritising same-sex marriage when issues such as the economy are more pressing.
Pray: for the government to note the result of this vote along with the views of so many groups calling for current proposals to be dropped. (Pr.16:9)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/british-youth-parliament-rejects-campaigning-for-gay-marriage/
Politicians face 'test of civilisation' over elderly care, says Archbishop
The Archbishop of Westminster, the Most Rev Vincent of Nichols, said politicians will fail a “fundamental test of civilised society” if they do not find a solution to funding care for the elderly. He said the current system is leaving many elderly, frail and disabled people struggling to meet their basic human needs and needs “urgent” reform. Highlighting the problems of unemployment, poverty, criminal justice reform and care at a reception in the House of Commons the Archbishop said: “The decisions that will be made in this building over the months ahead demonstrate the importance of this dialogue between those working on the front line to support the vulnerable, and those tasked with crafting legislation. “Perhaps one of the most important areas currently under consideration here is how we care for older and disabled people: a fundamental test of any civilised society.
Pray: for government and society to value and care for the elderly . (Lev.19:32)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/9709508/Politicians-face-test-of-civilisation-over-elderly-care-says-Archbishop.html
“Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time” --Habakkuk 2:2-3a
We are in a kairos time in world history. With nations in an uproar, economies in upheaval, social order declining, and times increasingly tumultuous, God is beckoning His church to advance His Kingdom. As a response, Transform World 2020 Prayer Summit will take place from Sunday, March 24th, thru Wednesday, March 27th, at IHOPKC mission’s base in Kansas City, USA. It will be hosted by Transform World (http://www.transform-world.net/new/) and the International House of Prayer Kansas City (http://www.ihopkc.org/). The Transform World 2020 prayer summit is a convergence call to the body of Christ from every cultural sphere and generation to ignite, mobilize, connect, and effectively launch a seven-year prayer focus on the critical challenges now facing the church. See introductory video and plan for establishing 100,000 Prayer Gathering Hosts on video at http://transformworld2020.com.s96484.gridserver.com/
Through 70 straight hours of worship, prayer, and prophetic impartation; the Summit will address the 7 critical global challenges now facing the body of Christ with a vision for intercessory prayer unto spiritual breakthrough in these areas. There will be purposeful connecting of ministries and leaders from the 7 spheres/mountains of culture across the 10 regions of the world to collaborate in effectively meeting these challenges. We will additionally focus on the 4/14 window and the next generation.
You are invited to take part in this strategic event by serving as one of the 100,000 Prayer Gathering Hosts that we are asking God for. With 100,000 locations participating via web stream, we will have a projected 5 million prayer warriors linked together in prayer, contending with us for spiritual breakthrough!
Here’s what a Prayer Gathering Host will do:
• Commit to joining us via web stream for at least one of the summit’s 2-hour sessions where your group will hear a 15 minute exhortation from one of our speakers and engage with us in prayer for that session’s focus.
• Determine which of the sessions you would most like to tune in for. Click here (http://transformworld2020.com.s96484.gridserver.com/host/) to view the full event schedule.
• Register by clicking here (http://transformworldprayergatheringhost-eorg.eventbrite.com/). Click ‘register’ and fill out the registration form fully. If you have difficulty, click ‘contact the organizer’ for assistance.
• Invite at least 5 friends to your chosen venue to join the Transform World Prayer Summit via live web stream.
• Let your friends know about the event by “liking” us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Transformed-World-2020-Ihopkc-Global-Prayer-Summit-March-24-27-2013/443647259030766?fref=ts) OR share the event on Twitter from our registration (http://transformworldprayergatheringhost-eorg.eventbrite.com/) page.
• Tune in via live web stream on March 24th-27th, to view the sessions that you have committed to. The web address for the event’s live stream is: www.ihopkc.org/tw
Thank you in advance for your willingness to participate in this historic event.
Widespread support for teaching children Christianity
There is widespread support in England for teaching Christianity in schools, according to a YouGov poll released by Oxford University. Almost two-thirds (64%) of the more than 1,800 people questioned said that children need to learn about Christianity to understand English history, while more than half (57%) said it was important if pupils are to understand the
English culture and way of life. The poll also revealed that more than two-fifths (43%) of the adults surveyed said that more attention should be given to teaching about Christianity in RE lessons. More than half (51%) also said they felt Christianity distinguishes right from wrong. But just over a third (37%) said they believe that many RE teachers do not know enough about Christianity to be able to teach it effectively. We are often given the impression that teaching about Jesus and His message is old-fashioned and irrelevant. This survey shows that many people value the Christian framework and see the need for Christianity to be taught properly.
Pray: that the results of this poll will lead to the educational authorities taking notice and raising the standards of Christian education in our schools. (Ez.11:12)
Justin Welby calls for cap on total cost of payday loans
The incoming Archbishop of Canterbury has joined forces with the Labour Party to launch an attack on the Government over its failure to curb the excessive charges of legal loan sharks. The highly political intervention by Justin Welby, the Bishop of Durham, is his first since being announced as the successor to Dr Rowan Williams as leader of the Church of England. Bishop Welby has denounced payday loan firms and the levels of interest they charge as ‘morally wrong’ and even a ‘sin’. He is stepping up his campaign with a House of Lords amendment – jointly with a Labour peer – to a Coalition finance bill which would give regulators the power to cap the total cost of loans. He said ‘The reality is interest rates are in the thousands of per cent, which at any time in history would have been called usury, and which the church has always considered a sin, and I think that even now it is a sin to charge that level of interest.’
Pray: for the success of this amendment and also for all those affected by such exorbitant loan repayments. (Ex.22:25)
Campaigners to switch off Facebook over tax dodging
Anti-poverty campaigners are urging people to switch off Facebook for a day in protest against the company's alleged tax avoidance. The Facebook blackout was initiated by Church Action on Poverty after it emerged that the company had paid £196,000 in corporation tax on estimated UK sales of £175 million in 2011. Facebook users are being urged to share images advertising the day-long initiative on 1 December and leave a message telling their friends why they are switching off. CAP is hoping the message will go viral and alert other Facebook users about the company's contentious tax practices. National Co-ordinator Niall Cooper said: ‘Despite media coverage, many of Facebook’s 43 million users will be unaware of the company’s tax dodging. CAP is engaging in the protest as part of a wider effort to make the Government clamp down on tax dodging.’ (See also Prayer Alert 47-2012)
Pray: for the success of this campaign against the companies which are avoiding corporation tax. (Mk.12:14)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/campaigners.to.switch.off.facebook.over.tax.dodging/31148.htm
Concern about marriage breakdown
Most Brits feel that marriage's fall from grace has not been good for society, a new survey has found. In a poll by the Centre for Social Justice, 60% agreed that marriage has become less important and that this is a ‘bad thing’ for Britain. Over half (55%) said there was at least one area close to where they lived that was affected by serious social problems like broken families, poor schools and crime. Most of those surveyed (85%) felt that family and parenting were key to mending broken society. When asked what they felt was the most important for children to have when growing up, 46% said a safe community and environment, followed by having two parents at home (31%). The findings were released as the CSJ prepares to launch Breakthrough Britain II, a major study into the causes of poverty and social breakdown that will run until 2014.
Pray: that the recognition of the importance of marriage in our society be realised and once more become central. (Heb.13:4)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/brits.concerned.about.marriage.breakdown/31136.htm
Majority want gay marriage referendum
Most people support the idea of holding a referendum to decide whether marriage should be redefined, a new poll has shown. In a recent survey commissioned by the Coalition for Marriage, 54 per cent agreed that redefining marriage should be put to a public vote. Of those surveyed, only 26 per cent disagreed with the idea of a referendum of the people. The Coalition for Marriage, which campaigns against the Government redefining marriage, says the results aren’t surprising. Campaign director Colin Hart said: ‘This poll follows a series of bad news stories for the PM’s profoundly undemocratic plans.’ He added, ‘ordinary men and women have never been able to cast a vote on the issue as neither the Conservatives, Lib Dems, or Labour included this proposal in their manifestos and they are fed up with being told it is going to happen regardless of what the majority of people in this country believe.’
Pray: for the political leaders that they will listen to the majority of the people and allow for a referendum on redefining marriage.
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/majority-want-gay-marriage-referendum-poll-shows/
Church planting in France
Next year's World Day of Prayer will be focusing not on Malaysia, Chile or Cameroon (as the last three did), but on our neighbouring France. While France is often thought to be a Catholic country, now only five per cent of the country would identify themselves as such, and 74 per cent of French people have never opened a Bible. And although when thinking of France we often imagine great food, good wine and a long cultural history, it also has the highest rates of depression in the world. Over 90 per cent of the country's towns and villages have no evangelical church. However, the evangelical church has seen a growth of nearly 10 times since 1950, and half of this number are younger than 35. And there is a new evangelical church planted somewhere in France every 10 days.
Pray: that our prayers will help towards a revival of the church in France. (Ps.85:6)
More: http://www.eauk.org/current-affairs/news/church-planting-in-france.cfm