G20 seeks stronger IMF to fight debt crisis
Leaders of the world's most powerful economies have agreed to increase the resources of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in order to help alleviate the debt crisis that threatens to spread across Europe. Despite the consensus, leaders struggled to reach concrete plans on how to do so, as the G20 summit, which has largely been overshadowed by euro-zone efforts to tackle the Greek debt crisis, concluded in the French resort of Cannes last Friday. ‘It's important that the IMF sees its resources reinforced,’ European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told reporters. Al Jazeera's Jacky Rowland, reporting from Cannes, said the summit's final communiqué stressed ‘desirable trends and tendencies rather than measurable objective’. She continued: ‘There was a lot of talk about slogans such as strong, sustainable growth, but it was rather thin on actual detail about how this would be achieved.’
Pray: for the world as it tackles the economic problems and that the rich will learn generosity and not be governed by greed. (Pro.28:25)
More: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/11/201111464940325870.html
G20 seeks stronger IMF to fight debt crisis
Leaders of the world's most powerful economies have agreed to increase the resources of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in order to help alleviate the debt crisis that threatens to spread across Europe. Despite the consensus, leaders struggled to reach concrete plans on how to do so, as the G20 summit, which has largely been overshadowed by euro-zone efforts to tackle the Greek debt crisis, concluded in the French resort of Cannes last Friday. ‘It's important that the IMF sees its resources reinforced,’ European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told reporters. Al Jazeera's Jacky Rowland, reporting from Cannes, said the summit's final communiqué stressed ‘desirable trends and tendencies rather than measurable objective’. She continued: ‘There was a lot of talk about slogans such as strong, sustainable growth, but it was rather thin on actual detail about how this would be achieved.’
Pray: for the world as it tackles the economic problems and that the rich will learn generosity and not be governed by greed. (Pro.28:25)
More: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/11/201111464940325870.html
Azerbaijan to tighten restrictions on religious literature
By mid-November, Azerbaijan's parliament will have adopted stricter amendments for those who produce or distribute religious literature. Heftier fines and long prison sentences will now be the punishment for those who do not submit their religious literature to compulsory state censorship before producing or distributing it, according to Voice of the Martyrs, Canada. Prison sentences will be as long as five years, and fines will be as high as nine years' official minimum wages, reports Forum 18 News. The new restrictions come just months after an amendment made to Azerbaijan's Religion Law. In June, the nation invoked a requirement for all religious communities that 50 adults must state that they are founders in order for the group to apply for registration. The law tightens its grip around religious necks each time an amendment is added, keeping Azerbaijan in the top 25 Most Persecuted countries in the world.
Pray: that these restrictions would not hinder the spread of Christian materials and the Gospel. (2Th.3:1)
Afghanistan/Pakistan: Christian NGOs are targeted
A brother in India received from a reliable source information issued on 17th October warning that the Taliban will be especially targeting Christian NGOs, organizations and believers. Please continue to pray for divine protection for all God’s people throughout this region. Pray for signs and wonders, for a Spirit of Revelation for those who are so blindly bent on hatred and persecution.
Pray: the Lord will give His people every place where they set their feet, that no one will be able to stand against the purposes of God in the region. (Jos.1:2-6)
Iran: Authorities attempt to corrupt Christianity
Iran is spending large amounts of money to counteract and confuse the Christianity that is spreading among Iranian youth. Haghighat-e-sabz-e-Gilan was formed to ‘identify religious teachings about both Islam and Christianity’ and to be ‘responsive to religious questions.’ The office of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Gilan province’s concern for the youth prompted a series of conferences ‘The Journey from Christianity to Islam’ with speeches by converts from Christianity to Islam. They are also establishing an Islamic internet radio station called ‘Voice of Christ’ with the intention of deceptively using Christ’s name to fight against Christianity. The station will answer questions about Christianity and targets Farsi speaking countries of Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. The programmes will be broadcast in the Gilaki dialect (dialect of the people of Gilan) and the Taleshi dialect (the local language of the people in northwest Iran).
Pray: that not one Gilaki, Taleshi or Farsi speaking searcher will be deceived and for seekers to hear the truth through Christian broadcasts. (Ps.119:17-19)
Gaza Strip and West Bank: Christianity
The economy is improving in the Gaza Strip, but many families are trapped in a cycle of poverty and hopelessness. Missile attacks carried out by Hamas against Israel also continue to plague this territory - with Israel retaliating and causing damage to buildings and lives. Persecution by radical Muslims is a great challenge for Christians who are a minority of the population, however, Christian humanitarian aid workers report, ‘the Lord is moving in the Gaza Strip. The tremendous need is bringing a great openness to the Gospel.’ More than 90% of the residents in the West Bank are Arab and mostly Muslim. The percentage of Christians is very small and they too face persecution for their faith. However, according to Operation World, ’the number of evangelicals has grown into the thousands. They are persevering and praying for a great harvest of souls despite Islamic intimidation.’
Pray: for peace and unity between Palestinian Christians and Messianic Jews, and for those who have been misled by Islam so they wont have the opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel. (Ps.133:1-2; 2Cor.4:4)
More: http://win1040.com/page.php?id=541
Libya: Christians keep low profile
Following last week’s announcement that ‘Islamic Sharia Law will be the basis for the country’s new government.’ (See Prayer Alert 43-2011) Open Doors report, ‘For now the small minority of local Libyan Christians will continue to keep a low profile.’ While Gadhafi was in power Christians were apprehensive and didn’t know whom they could trust. If they shared with a friend or relative that they had become a Christian, they might go to the security service or would even take action themselves. In addition to the few local Christians, there are many foreign Christians from sub-Saharan African countries who became targets for revenge attacks, because they were thought to be mercenaries. It is not very likely that the situation for the Christians will quickly change. Christians are asking for humanitarian aid, Christian literature and Bibles.
Pray: that God will protect and strengthen our brothers and sisters in Libya and release many Christian NGOs to help rebuild the nation. (Is.32:17-18)
Vietnam: The harvest field
Repression of all types of freedom continues, drug addiction, AIDS, prostitution and exploitation of children are common and the land has seen great violence. In spite of repression of religious, economic and political freedoms the Church continues to grow, although it is still small. Please pray that the government will lift harsh restrictions on religious activities and give a free reign to pastors and believers in the registered churches. Unregistered churches are harassed with meetings broken up and leaders arrested. Pray for unity between leaders of registered and unregistered churches. Many pastors are old, and younger churches are often led by those with little opportunity for theological study and are susceptible to error or bias in their teaching; pray for leadership training, study materials, theological books and commentaries to be imported. Christian literature production is strictly monitored, though Bibles are printed and available for purchase in Vietnam. Please pray for increased production and distribution.
Pray: that suitable people will take up the opportunities to work in Vietnam in development and professional work, particularly with the ethnic groups scarcely touched by the Gospel. (Mt.16:18-19)
More: http://www.operationworld.org/viet#prayer
Maldives: Fears of religious liberty crackdown
Police in the Maldives deported Shijo Kokkattu, an Indian teacher, for having a Bible in his house – confirming fears that repressive religious laws are being enforced in the island nation. He was detained for a fortnight, charged with preaching Christianity, then sent home after a police raid on his house. There had been hopes that religious restrictions introduced under the former dictator would not be enforced under President Mohamed Nasheed who is considered to be a progressive Muslim. But new regulations were published in the Government's gazette last month signalling a renewed commitment to enforce legal bans on the 'propagation, display and expression' of any religion other than Islam. Violation of the Act is punishable by imprisonment of up to five years, banishment or house arrest. Foreigners found to be proselytising are to be deported.
Pray: that the Maldivian authorities will yield to calls by World Evangelical Alliance, Compass Direct and others for greater religious freedom. (Ps.74:18-19)
Polynesia: Threat from rising sea levels
Archbishop Winston Halapua, of the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia made a desperate appeal for prayer for the island of Tuvalu in the Pacific. Children roam the streets because their schools have closed due to water shortages. Wells are contaminated by sea water and they are critically short of drinking water. Breadfruit, banana and coconut trees roots are being contaminated by sea water and are dying. They are the main source of food. The Archbishop’s concerns about rising sea levels are no longer abstract theory but reality, with no rain forecast for Tuvalu for the next three months. The Archbishop has issued a call to the worldwide church to pray for Tuvalu adding, ‘Immediate relief is only a tiny part of the story, the bigger story is this - please do something about climate change.’
Pray: for funding for the Anglican Missions Board as they work with the Church of Tuvalu to provide food and water for the islanders. (Dt.25:4)