Burma: New restrictions on religious activity
Christian Solidarity Worldwide reported, ‘Kachin State sent a letter to local churches, ‘concerning Christians conducting cultural training,’ requiring Christians in Phakant Township to submit a request at least 15 days in advance for permission to conduct ‘short-term Bible study, Bible study, Sunday school, reading the Bible, fasting prayer, Seasonal Bible study and Rosary of the Virgin Mary Prayer.’ CSW said a request for permission must be accompanied by recommendations from other departments and submitted to the Township Administration Office. Meanwhile because Burma’s health spending is less than $5 dollars per person the Anglican Church has recruited hundreds of volunteer health workers to be sent to rural communities to provide education particularly pertaining to HIV (a subject that is taboo in Burma.)
Pray: for the Lord to bring about a change amongst Burmese leaders in attitude towards religious minorities. (Pr.21:1)
Syria: Crackdown has killed 3,500+
Ravina Shamdasani spokeswoman for U.N. Human Rights Office said ‘The brutal crackdown on dissent in Syria has claimed the lives of over 3,500 Syrians. Since Syria signed the League of Arab States peace plan last week 60+ people are reported killed by military and security forces, including at least 19 on the Sunday marking Eid al-Adha. Bab Amro neighbourhood has been bolstered by a steadily growing number of army defectors. Canadian news ‘Globe and Mail’ reported Syria planting landmines along the border with Lebanon as refugees flee the crackdown on protestors. Syria is a regional nexus, bordering five countries with which it shares religious and ethnic minorities and in Israel's case a fragile truce. Its alliances extend to Lebanon's Hezbollah movement and Iran's Shiite theocracy. Turkey has opened its borders to anti-Assad activists and breakaway military rebels.
Pray: for Christians throughout the region to be protected, and for changes that initiate positive results. (Pr.14:11)
International: Day of prayer for the persecuted church
On Sunday 13th we are asked to intercede for the Persecuted Church. Globally 100 million Christians are persecuted. Open Doors USA are saying, ‘They know the Lord is with them – but is there anyone else?’ On Sunday the church is invited to unite and pray that they would be strong and courageous. In October, 14 year old Ugandan, Susan, was tortured by her father for becoming a Christian. Unable to walk and hospitalised for 4 weeks she has a long recovery road ahead, but doctors are optimistic. Pray Susan would know that she has a loving Christian family who cares and is praying for her. For resources to aid informed intercessions for the persecuted click the more link.
Pray: for God’s protection and comfort wherever the enemy attempts to captivate body, mind, or spirit. (1Cor.12:26)
More: http://www.onewiththem.com/
There will be a huge coordinated day of prayer and repentance for the national transformation of Egypt. Let’s pray with our brothers and sisters in Christ there for His breakthrough in their situation. Lord, have mercy and bring deliverance as only you can!
In the traditional calendar, “All Saints Day” and “All Souls Day” stand out in the month of November, set apart to remember the saints of the church and the souls of those who departed this world. It is fitting, then, that the modern church has set apart the month of November to remember and pray for the persecuted church, through the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP).
There are many countries in the world today where Christians are martyred for their faith. Believers in Afghanistan are facing death threats; Christians in Uzbekistan, Nigeria and many other countries all around the world face violence, imprisonment and even death. There are other places in the world such as North Korea where acts of persecution take place, but we don’t see or hear of it. Brother Andrew of Open Doors once said, “Our heroes are not with us simply because they are in prison.”
IDOP is a time set apart for us to remember thousands of our Christian brothers and sisters around the world who suffer persecution, simply because they confess Jesus Christ as Lord.
We invite you to explore this website (www.idop.org) and hope you will join Christians worldwide in praying for persecuted Christians in November. Please note that while Sunday, November 13 (Sunday, November 6 in the UK and Ireland) is the designated date for IDOP, you are free to choose another date if you wish. See their resources that can be downloaded from this website to help your prayer group or congregation pray in an informed manner: www.idop.org
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Join a Worldwide Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Christians
More than 25 pastors are killed in Colombia every year, simply because they lead churches. Right now, there are over 2,000 Christians in prison in Eritrea, just because they are Christians. In Iran, Pastor Nadarkhani is facing execution for apostasy (abandoning Islam).
And this is just the tip of the iceberg.
On 6 November 2011, there will be an International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP). It is a special opportunity for the global Church to unite in prayer, raising up situations just like the ones above.
http://www.csw.org.uk/pray
The Global Day of Worship (GDW) is a call for a unified, global worship movement to see the name of Jesus Christ lifted up throughout the earth. It will be a day that will unify many denominations within the body of Christ while embracing and celebrating the differences in our expressions of love for Jesus Christ. Through a unified celebration and adoration of the name of Jesus, the world will see that we are His disciples.
Join us on November 11, 2011 – from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in each time zone – for a wave of worship and adoration that will span the globe and unite all believers as one body. Utilizing 24 time zones, we will agree with and join the 24 elders, spoken of in Revelation 4, who are already worshiping Jesus around the throne. It is when the worship of heaven meets the worship of earth that spiritual climates of nations will shift as we serve faithfully here and now in preparation for His return.
Catholic church plans campaign to re-evangelise inactive members.
The Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has launched its first outreach campaign to get people back into church, with its lapsed membership thought to number as many as five million. It started at the weekend in York with Crossing the Threshold, a national tour of talks and workshops to help clergy and parishioners re-evangelise friends and family. Around a million people regularly attend mass on Sundays, but church leaders say there are many more who are baptised but do not go. Kieran Conry, Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, said ‘There are probably people out there who would like to come back but don't know how to go about it. There is a fear of standing out, of doing the wrong thing.’ Churches could be intimidating places, said Conry, and it was important for those taking part to offer a personal invitation to lapsed Catholics to return. The tour will also take in Birmingham, Crawley and Cardiff.
Pray: for all those who have drifted away from church of any denomination that they may once again find fellowship there. (Mal.3:6)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/13/catholic-church-reevangelise-campaign
Anger over Ryanair’s plans for sex scene apps
Ryanair has come under fire over plans to develop apps that will allow passengers to watch adult film content during flights. The budget airline wants to launch apps that passengers can log into via their iPads or smartphones and then pay to watch movies that include sex scenes. Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said: ‘Hotels around the world have it, so why wouldn’t we?’ The airline is also considering apps for in-flight gambling. Morality in Media (MIM) has reacted with anger to the plans. It is asking pro-family organisations based in Europe to contact Ryanair in opposition to the plans. The US-based group’s President has advised travellers to avoid using Ryanair. ‘We will stop this outrage before it gets started,’ said Dawn Hawkins, Executive Director of MIM. ‘Ryanair, which hopes to expand its market to US destinations as well, is creating an unsafe environment for every individual who travels on their planes.’
Pray: for Ryanair to recognise the unsuitability of such content within an aircraft carrying a ‘general audience’. (Ps.119:115)
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/anger.over.ryanairs.plans.for.sex.scene.apps/28879.htm
C of E clergy must do all they can to protect marriage
Marriage is an honourable institution and Church of England clergy should do all they can to protect it from redefinition, the chairman of Reform has warned. The Westminster Government is planning to launch a consultation in March on how, not if, to redefine marriage. But Revd Rod Thomas has urged clergy to do all they can ‘in the coming months to prepare our people well to respond to this consultation and make our voices heard.’ He warned that redefining marriage to allow same-sex marriage would fundamentally undermine the institution. Writing in the Church of England newspaper he said: ‘Iit would undermine the stability of society. If marriage is no longer one of the ‘givens’, then it simply becomes a matter of prevailing opinion. ‘If the present Government can alter its definition, then how do we know it might not change again in the future? It becomes something that is malleable rather than being rock solid.’
Pray: for the clergy as they prepare to lead the Church in its response to this challenge. (Pr.2:8)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/c-of-e-clergy-must-do-all-they-can-to-protect-marriage/
Black and white come together as church mission movement gathers pace
Black and white churches in the UK tend not to mix, but last week saw an unprecedented event under the banner of HOPE. More than 70 Christian leaders from black and white denominations and organisations gathered at Jesus House in North London to plan ways to work together to bring HOPE to communities across the UK. As a result, next year’s celebrations of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee look set to see six million people across the UK eating Sunday lunch together: Christians partying with their neighbours at the heart of their communities – just one of a range of mission activities under the HOPE banner, which will lead to a year of united church mission throughout the UK in 2014. HOPE’s Executive Director Roy Crowne said. ‘The goal is lasting spiritual change in the lives of individuals, as communities are transformed by churches working together in mission with practical action as well as words.’
Pray: for all those working with HOPE and for the success of their mission. (Jos.1:7)