Sellafield nuclear site terror arrests made
Five men are being held under the Terrorism Act after being arrested close to the Sellafield nuclear site. The men, who are all from London and in their 20s, were arrested on Monday shortly after 1630 BST. The arrests were made after Civil Nuclear Constabulary officers conducted a stop check on a vehicle close to the Sellafield site, in Cumbria. The BBC understands the men were taking photographs and are all believed to be Bangladeshi. The arrests are not thought to have been intelligence-led. The men were held in Carlisle overnight and then moved to Manchester. Four houses in east London were raided by counter-terror detectives as part of the investigation. The arrests were made within hours of the news breaking that Osama Bin Laden had been killed in Pakistan. Pray: that the authorities will remain vigilant amid fears of reprisals from groups sympathetic to al-Qaeda. (Eph.5:15)
Marriage ‘a good product’ says Anglican Archbishop
The Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu has praised the institution of marriage, and warned of the danger of it being hidden away ‘for fear of offending or sounding self-righteous’. Writing in the Telegraph, in advance of the Royal Wedding, the Archbishop also warned that more and more people seem to be wary of the commitment which marriage requires. Commenting on the growing trend of cohabitation before marriage, the Archbishop said it is common in these times and, quoting his daughter, people ‘want to test whether the milk is good before they buy the cow.’ He said: ‘Discovering the depth and enduring meaning of love is the goal and prize of every relationship. Marriage in Britain, whether in church or a register office, is a pact for life made between one man and one woman’. Dr Sentamu said he had married many cohabiting couples and emphasised that married couples are more likely to stay together than cohabiting couples.
Pray: that marriage would once more be acknowledged as central to family life. (Heb.13:4)
More: http://www.ionainstitute.org/index.php?id=1436
Russian Ministries launches ‘Summer of Hope’
Russian Ministries has launched an appeal to provide a Summer of Hope to thousands of needy children who’ll be attending their life-changing camps across the former Soviet Union, reports Peter Wooding of ASSIST News Service. After the success of Russian Ministries’ series of Easter outreach programmes, their teams of Next Generation Christian leaders are already busy preparing to coordinate summer camps, which they believe provide the real hope of Christ to the lives of these vulnerable children. ‘After these outreach programmes at Easter, summer is coming pretty soon and our young teams are already getting ready to do some follow-up ministry and the most effective is summer camps,’ said Russian Ministries’ President Sergey Rakhuba. Each Russian Ministries’ summer camp has a long-lasting impact for thousands of children. Pray: God for Russian Ministries as they prepare for the summer camps and that they would bring much fruit. (Gen.28:3)
Russian Ministries launches ‘Summer of Hope’
Russian Ministries has launched an appeal to provide a Summer of Hope to thousands of needy children who’ll be attending their life-changing camps across the former Soviet Union, reports Peter Wooding of ASSIST News Service. After the success of Russian Ministries’ series of Easter outreach programmes, their teams of Next Generation Christian leaders are already busy preparing to coordinate summer camps, which they believe provide the real hope of Christ to the lives of these vulnerable children. ‘After these outreach programmes at Easter, summer is coming pretty soon and our young teams are already getting ready to do some follow-up ministry and the most effective is summer camps,’ said Russian Ministries’ President Sergey Rakhuba. Each Russian Ministries’ summer camp has a long-lasting impact for thousands of children. Pray: God for Russian Ministries as they prepare for the summer camps and that they would bring much fruit. (Gen.28:3)
Hungary: Pro-marriage Constitution signed into law
The Hungarian President Pal Schnitt has signed a new Constitution which defines marriage as being exclusively between a man and a woman. The new document also acknowledges the right to life of the unborn child from conception and affirms the role of Christianity in Hungary’s history. The new Constitution was passed last week in the Hungarian parliament by a majority of 262 votes to 44 against and one abstention. The margin reflected the two-thirds majority enjoyed by the governing Fidesz-Christian Democrat Party, which proposed the document. The document has been criticised by a number of groups, including the German government and various European secular organisations. However the Hungarian foreign ministry rejected the criticism as ‘unacceptable’, accusing Germany of interfering publicly in Hungary’s internal affairs instead of using bilateral talks to air concerns.
Pray: for the way He has been leading the Government to uphold marriage and the rights of the unborn child.
More: http://www.ionainstitute.ie/index.php?id=1434
Hungary: Pro-marriage Constitution signed into law
The Hungarian President Pal Schnitt has signed a new Constitution which defines marriage as being exclusively between a man and a woman. The new document also acknowledges the right to life of the unborn child from conception and affirms the role of Christianity in Hungary’s history. The new Constitution was passed last week in the Hungarian parliament by a majority of 262 votes to 44 against and one abstention. The margin reflected the two-thirds majority enjoyed by the governing Fidesz-Christian Democrat Party, which proposed the document. The document has been criticised by a number of groups, including the German government and various European secular organisations. However the Hungarian foreign ministry rejected the criticism as ‘unacceptable’, accusing Germany of interfering publicly in Hungary’s internal affairs instead of using bilateral talks to air concerns.
Pray: for the way He has been leading the Government to uphold marriage and the rights of the unborn child.
More: http://www.ionainstitute.ie/index.php?id=1434
There are many Sai Baba devotees in the mountain areas around Kalimpong (India). They honor him as a god and worship him. In the past years, he has performed many “miracles” and is also very popular in the west. He does not have many followers in Bangalore where he has his Ashram, most probably because of his debauched lifestyle. He has amassed quite some wealth. A big question now is, “What happens to it all?” But that is only one question that arises with his death… Confusion now reigns in their midst, and they don’t know where to go with their questions.
Your prayer support will be all-important to the planning of this event which is intended to be a “new paradigm” for an international congress—carried out Acts 13-style—incorporating listening to God, united prayer, and strategic implementation of world-impacting action that proceeds out of that encounter with the Lord and one another.
Prayer Concerns:
1. Please pray for the eight planning task forces: Program, Logistics, Mobilization (including the Media Strategy Group), Finance, Registration/Website, Youth, Children, and Prayer Support. We need to be led of the Lord, given His creative, anointed ideas, and to all do our work diligently, joyfully, and unitedly.
2. This will not be just another prayer conference. The word “world” adds a great deal of complexity and challenge to the planning process since we hope to have 5000-7000 ministry leaders from all 220 nations. Please pray for excellent organization on the part of the Indonesians and Koreans who are co-hosting the event, for the International Coordination Team, and for the right people from every nation to hear about the WPA and be able to come to Jakarta for it.
3. The WPA Concert of Prayer in Indonesia this year on May 17, 2011. This will also serve as preparation for the WPA that is one year to follow. Please pray for further guidance, an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and unity.
4. Some organizers that are key to the WPA process are: the Indonesian and Korean national committees who will co-host the event and the WPA International Coordination Team (14) that provides overall oversight. Please pray for His guidance, protection, and provision for each of us. The spiritual battle, as you can imagine, is intense.
Here are the two Scripture passages that have particularly inspired us in arranging the WPA:
• The Church Becoming United—that all followers of Christ may be one so that the world may believe. (John 17:20-26)
• Our World Being Transformed—that “the earth may be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea”. (Hab.2:14)
Thanks so much for your gracious help through prayer that will mean so much, not just to those of us doing the planning and organizing, but also to our world that will be affected by the World Prayer Assembly.
Please also help us get word of the WPA out to “ministry leaders of influence” who will represent the “seven mountains” of society (Arts/Media, Business/Marketplace, Church, Development of the Poor, Education, Family, and Government) who should be part of the WPA. Again, for more information, please have them see www.worldprayerassembly.com where they can also register their interest in participating.
“The World Weekend of Prayer for children at risk is held every year over the first weekend of June. This global initiative brings together more than 2 million people across 89 countries. Whether you attend a nationwide event, plan something with your church, got to a prayer breakfast, or simply spend a quiet 5 minutes praying in your own home, we would love you to stand with us in interceding for the children of the world.” Viva, the organizing force behind this special international prayer initiative, has prepared many helpful resources to enable you and your church to pray effectively for the children of our world. You can find them at www.viva.org/world-weekend-of-prayer.aspx
Viva’s CEO Patrick McDonald describes the initiative this way: “This World Weekend of Prayer is a monumental moment, but not a moment to persuade God to get with it—He is there already. This is a time for him to convince us to get with it and take children more seriously.” Viva’s hope for this year’s WWP is to “see many more eyes opened to the needs of God’s children.”
Within the last month, I was privileged to hear exciting testimonies from two key regions just covered in prayer by the Ethne Harvest-Linked Prayer Strategy initiative—both were exultant over new breakthroughs which occurred just following the prayer focus for their region! After years without any progress, many new believers came, new work has emerged, and new fellowships were established!...
We just prayed in December for the unreached of Egypt—and beginning in January we have been seeing almost unbelievable events unfolding there! Not only there, but more than 16 Arab World nations are in upheaval—meaning the kairos moment is now for the gospel!... Often we do not have the privilege to see what work has happened behind the scenes, spiritually speaking, but this article gives just a glimpse of some of what God has His people doing around the world.
Prayer changes things—but sometimes we fail to realize what a huge difference prayer makes! The truth is, prayer brings us into God’s presence and changes us as we pray. Prayer reveals God’s heart and enables us to work alongside Him as He is at work in the world to reveal Himself. Prayer invites God’s participation and releases His power to accomplish His purposes. Prayer obeys Jesus’ command to ask the Lord of the Harvest to thrust forth laborers. Prayer removes spiritual hindrances to the work and empowers workers. Prayer releases resources and removes blinding from the eyes of those who do not yet know Jesus. Prayer IS the battle and prayer maintains His victory!
Joshua Project, Global Prayer Digest, Etnopedia, PrayerGuard, and www.unreachedprayer.org continue providing detailed information to keep your prayer focus sharp.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F10apDwF4B0 reminds us that “The Kairos Moment is Now!” and provides links to connect for specific training, preparation and action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0f27IfBpAow “The Unreached—Did You Know?” can help you mobilize others to the urgent task at hand among the Forgotten Fourth World. Want this in your language? Request the translation grid from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and provide a translation in your own heart language to use among your network. Already we have two versions in Chinese, and versions in Bahasa, Tagalog, Spanish, German, Afrikaans, Czech, Swedish, Maltese, and more…