Global: 2012 ongoing religious discrimination
Pakistan: Penal Code prohibits blasphemy against any recognized religion, providing penalties ranging from a fine to death. In practice it is only applied to Islam, calls for change in the blasphemy laws have been strongly resisted by Islamic parties. The former governor of Punjab and the Federal Minister for Minorities were assassinated in 2011 for their opposition to the blasphemy laws. Iran: Pastor Nadarkhani sits on death row for refusing to recant his Christian faith. The growing Iranian Church is continually harassed attacked and imprisoning believers. Nigeria: 1,000+ have been killed in religious and ethnic violence in Jos over the past two years between the mainly Muslim north and Christian south. Myanmar: Christians have to meet in secret , and recently persecution has been growing. South Sudan: The Sudanese army, with the support of a government-backed militia, is pursuing a genocidal campaign in South Kordofan, targeting the indigenous Christian Nuba peoples for being 'enemies of Islam'.
Pray: for God to comfort and protect Christians caught in the crossfire of religious discriminations, and for believers to be encouraged as they advance God’s Kingdom in 2012, even when it costs them everything. (2Thes.3:3)
More: http://members.opendoorsusa.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=55401.0&dlv_id=77421
A fifth of Britons dreading the New Year
The results of a Salvation Army survey suggest it may not be such a happy New Year for some Brits after all. A Populus survey of more than 2,000 adults for the charity found that 15% of people, particularly younger respondents and divorcees, feel less able to cope with problems over Christmas. Seventy-five per cent of respondents said they planned to spend Christmas with family, although nearly a third of 18 to 24-year-olds (30%) said they would like to spend Christmas with friends. The results of the survey suggest, however, that after the Christmas decorations have been packed away for another year, some people will struggle to find something to cheer about. A fifth of respondents said they were dreading the New Year. When asked why, 11% cited money worries, 7% loneliness, and 12% concerns about the future in general.
Pray: that those who struggle with worries, loneliness and concerns about the future will find their hope in Christ. (Ro.15:13)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/a.fifth.of.britons.dreading.the.new.year/29076.htm
Israel: PA meeting in Amman
On Wednesday Hamas official, Izzat al-Rishq, criticized the previous day's meeting in Amman between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators as a waste of time, saying talks between negotiators were, ‘selling illusions to the Palestinian people.’ The official also condemned the Palestinian Authority's participation, saying that the ‘absurd’ meeting did not receive support from the Palestinian people. The negotiators met in Amman on Tuesday for the first direct talks in 16 months. They agreed to continue talking, with another round scheduled in Jordan next week. The Jordanian Foreign Minister said at a press conference after the meeting that the Palestinian delegation submitted proposals on border and security issues to Israel, and that the Israeli team took the proposals and said it would respond and present its ideas in a future meeting. One principle that Israel is expected to put forward is the need for an Israeli security presence along the Jordan river in any agreement.
Pray: for good faith to be throughout these negotiations, bringing the two sides closer and Israel less internationally isolated. (Ps.3:8)
More: http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=252147
China: Church ends outdoor services
The beleaguered 1,000 strong Shouwang Church in Beijing has had to worship in the park for nearly eight months since the government stopped them from worshipping in their church building. On Christmas Day they celebrated their last outdoor service after facing weekly arrests. The church leaders say that in 2012 they will renew their efforts to gain government approval to hold worship services in the building they had previously purchased.
Pray: that Beijing Christians may freely and safely worship the Lord in 2012 pray also for all Chinese believers to know God's faithfulness as he builds his Church. (Jn.4:23)
Nigeria: Harsh realities of Church bombing
The suicide bomb attack by Boko Haram on Christmas Day that left 45 people dead and 73 injured has turned the ruins of St Theresa’s Catholic Church into a national mourning site. Three of the 45 confirmed dead were policemen on guard duty at the time of the attack, and most of the others were parishioners. ‘The shock of the incident has been very traumatic for the people, and it is going to be difficult for them to recover from it – we are all still mourning. The worshippers have cause to be afraid after an incident like this, but they are strengthened by the blood of the martyrs and have not relented in attending daily Mass.’ said Rev Joseph Akor, director of communication of the Minna Diocese. President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian, has tried to forestall sectarian violence by holding urgent meetings with Muslim and Christian leaders.
Pray: for the survivors to know God’s peace, for those who mourn to know His comfort and for all to resist the temptation to retaliate. (Mt.5:4-6)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/nigeria/article_1316092.html
Turkey: Ongoing court case
Middle East Concern (MEC) request prayer concerning a legal case following the murders of three Christians (Necati Aydin, Ugur Yuksel and Tilmann Geske) at the Zirve Christian Publishing House in Eastern Turkey in 2007. Five men were arrested at the scene and charged with the murder. Their trial became complicated due to efforts to identify those behind the perpetrators. At the hearing on 16th December 2011 no verdicts were issued, contrary to expectations. However, a witness testified that he had had knowledge of a plot to murder the publishing house staff and informed the authorities one week prior to the attack. The next hearing is scheduled for 17th February 2012. Under Turkish law, those accused will be exonerated if not formally convicted and sentenced within five years. Delays beyond April 2012 may lead to the perpetrators being released. Please pray that family members and friends of the victims continue to know the peace of Jesus as the trial process continues, for justice and for the perpetrators to be identified.
Pray: for all involved to know the Spirit's enabling, equipping and assisting as they persevere to promote justice. Pray also for judges, officials, lawyers and journalists involved to hear the gospel of Jesus. (Mt.6:10)
More: www.meconcern.org
Clampdown on offensive language on the radio
Media regulator Ofcom has moved to clampdown on offensive language on the radio amid concerns that children are being exposed to inappropriate material. It says that broadcasting offensive language when children are likely to be listening has ‘frequently been the focus of complaints’. In October the watchdog censured one radio station for playing a track which repeated one swear word 41 times at 7.30 in the morning. Now Ofcom, which has a statutory duty to protect young people, has issued new guidance saying that listeners ‘do not expect to hear strong language during the day on radio’ even if children are unlikely to be listening. It has also warned broadcasters that children must be protected from songs with clear references to drugs and sex. The guidance says that ‘broadcasters should avoid broadcasting lyrics that clearly focus on the taking of drugs, sexual acts or behaviour, or convey a clearly sexualised theme, when children are particularly likely to be listening.’
Pray: that the move by Ofcom to restrict the use of offensive language on the radio will succeed in its aim. (Ps.139:24)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/clampdown-on-offensive-language-on-the-radio/
Azerbaijan: ‘Without registration you can't pray’
Following a raid on a Baptist worship meeting in Neftechala, Pastor Telman Aliev, his wife and all Church members were summoned for police questioning on 23 December and threatened with criminal prosecution. The authorities declared the Church ‘closed’ and confiscated all the books they could find. Officials also asked for the full addresses of all Church members and their ethnicity. The State Committee for Work with Religious Organisations said, ‘Without registration you can't pray. We close any place of worship that isn't registered, including mosques. We don't ban, we just demand documents.’ The Church has applied for re-registration, but its application has not been answered. Exercising the right to freedom of religion or belief without state permission is illegal in Azerbaijan, in defiance of international human rights standards.
Pray: that these restrictions would not hinder the spread of the Gospel in Azerbaijan. (2Th.3:1)
More: http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue14955.html
USA: Elections 2012
Evangelical Christians and anti-abortion activists united the Republican right behind Rick Santorum for the party's presidential nomination. On Wednesday Mr Santorum declared that his strong Iowa showing means it's ‘game on’ for the party's presidential nomination, and he's heading to New Hampshire for round two after coming second by eight votes to Mitt Romney in Tuesday’s caucuses. The Associated Press did not declare a winner, but Iowa Republican chairman Matt Strawn announced early Wednesday that Romney had 30,015 votes to 30,007 for Santorum. Santorum's camp called the result a moral equivalent of a win because their support grew so fast in the last couple of weeks. Santorum the former senator from Pennsylvania said, ‘God has given us this great country to allow his people to be free. I offer a public thanks to God.’ and ‘It's now or never for conservative voters.’
Pray: that as the USA moves into eleven months of political canvassing, God’s values will be honoured and not used as a political tool. (Ex.20:3,7)
More: http://www.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2012/01/04/santorum_declares_game_on_in_close_iowa_race/
Let the “New Wave” of His Glory Fill the Earth!
We acknowledge that God is at work in powerful ways all over the world. As a result we anticipate the following:
1. The World Prayer Assembly 2012 will be a “new wave” to strategically connect and empower the global prayer and mission movements. 5000-6000 Christian leaders from up to 220 nations will join with the Lord and each other through united prayer, leading to Spirit-inspired action to transform our world.
2. The World Prayer Assembly is being arranged and co-hosted by leaders of the Indonesian and Korean prayer movements, two of the most powerful prayer forces in the world, with the support of international prayer networks such as the International Prayer Council and the Global Day of Prayer.
3. The ultimate goal of the World Prayer Assembly is two-fold: to see the knowledge of the glory of the Lord filling the earth as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14) and to experience the fulfilment of Jesus’ prayer that His followers become one so the world will know He is its Creator and Saviour (John 17:21).
4. The WPA 2012 will learn from and build upon what the Body of Christ has experienced through the worldwide explosion of prayer efforts since the last International Prayer Assembly in Korea in 1984, by linking together prayer, mission and marketplace ministries from all church traditions, denominations and social spheres. In the spirit of Acts 13, together we will seek to hear from the Lord of the Church regarding His plans to engage and direct the global prayer movement. The goal is to see every nation, city and rural area throughout the world become filled with ongoing intercession and Spirit-inspired action until His Kingdom’s values are fully manifested.
5. Prayer networks and ministries worldwide will meet with those who are prayerfully working for transformation in all spheres of society such as government, education, business/marketplace, arts and media. Ministry leaders will learn from one another and plan new strategies. They will coordinate their efforts to advance world evangelization and the reaching of the unreached. They will work to ignite spiritual revival of the Church, as well as to champion social justice and humanitarian efforts - so that His glory will fill the earth.
6. The WPA 2012 will also encourage and serve to launch the next generation to become cutting-edge leaders for Christ’s global prayer and mission movement, as children and youth take their positions as equal partners in leading this event.
7. In fulfilment of Jesus prayer in John 17, the WPA will unite a large proportion of Christ’s Body to cry out to God for breakthrough in the urgent issues of our time. On the evening of May 17, during the WPA, 100,000 believers of all denominations, including 20,000 trained child intercessors and 20,000 youth, will gather together in the national stadium of Jakarta for a massive prayer meeting. This prayer event will be linked live to 200 cities of Indonesia where there will be similar gatherings estimated at 2 million or more. Combining with the Global Day of Prayer broadcast through satellite TV, tens of millions will take part from around the world, uniting their prayers to shape the history of our world!
Let the “new wave” of His glory fill the earth!