HCJB Global and Feba UK have joined forces to equip Christians with new media skills and resources that will help them reach non-Christians more effectively. They hope other Christian organisations will join the OneSheep consortium and pool their know-how and experience towards researching and developing new ways of communicating the Gospel through social media. Part of the research will look at how young people are consuming and communicating via social media. Projects that impact un-reached and limited-access people groups will be prioritised, the organisations say. Social media content to emerge from the consortium will be published on a dedicated website, www.onesheep.org The organisations will also work together on providing mentoring and training on the use of new media and how it can be used to link online and offline ministry. ‘Working together is far more effective than working alone,’ said Wayne Pederson, president of HCJB Global.

Pray: that this new initiative will lead to a unity of like minded organisations. (Jn.17:22)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/new.consortium.to.equip.christians.in.social.media/28842.htm

Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has come to the defence of a Christian housing manager who was demoted over remarks he made on Facebook opposing same-sex marriages. (See Prayer Alert 43-2011) This is the fourth time that Tatchell has come to the defence of Christians who have become embroiled in controversy. Last year he spoke in defence of Dale McAlpine a street preacher. He also opposed the prosecutions of Harry Hammond and Shawn Holes. In the latest case, Adrian Smith, a Christian, was found guilty of gross misconduct by the publicly funded Trafford Housing Trust saying that allowing gay weddings in churches was ‘an equality too far’. Also at the weekend another gay rights group criticised Trafford Housing Trust and urged the Trust to give Mr Smith his job back. The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, said: ‘Trafford Housing may have acted with the best of intentions here, but we believe they have overreacted.’

Pray: with thanks for those who have spoken out against the overreaction by many under the guise of equality and that Adrian Smith would redeem his rightful seniority. (Ps.66:1-3)

More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/15636

Lynne Featherstone, the equalities minister, will say that the ban on the ceremonies in religious surroundings will be lifted on Dec 5. The move has been championed by David Cameron but is likely to be opposed by some church groups. The scheme will be ‘voluntary’ with no church compelled to offer same-sex services. However, it is likely that some campaigners will seek to push the matter further if churches refuse to open their doors to gay couples. It is estimated that about 1,500 civil partnerships a year would take place in religious settings once the ban is lifted. There are currently about 5,500 civil partnerships taking place every year. Liberal Jewish groups, Quakers and other minor Christian organisations have lobbied for the right to host civil partnerships with religious readings and hymns. However, the Church of England has warned that it would not bless same-sex couples.

Pray: that the Church would hold fast to God’s guidance as laid down in His Word. (1Tim.1:9-11)

More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8863802/Gay-couples-to-be-allowed-civil-ceremonies-in-church.html

European stocks have fallen sharply in trading after George Papandreou, the Greek prime minister, called for a national referendum on a eurozone-backed rescue package for his country's debt-crippled economy. Papandreou's call for a referendum raised the prospect that Greeks, a majority of whom oppose crippling austerity cuts which have been a precondition for international bailout funds according to polls, will derail the rescue efforts agreed by European leaders last week that would provide a $140bn loan to Athens and write off half of the country's debt. There is concern that the referendum would be unlikely to take place before January, creating months of uncertainty for the markets. The announcement has taken other European leaders by surprise, ahead of the G20 summit in Cannes, France, this week. In Germany, a member of Angela Merkel’s centre-right coalition said the news of the referendum gave the impression that Greece was trying to backtrack on its deal with EU leaders.

Pray:for the EU as it seeks a solution for the financial problems that are troubling them, especially the Greek situation. (Pro.3:13)

More:http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/11/201111182840767842.html