Ethiopia: Mobs destroy Church buildings
At least one Christian was killed and others injured when thousands of Islamic extremists set fire to 59 churches and at least 28 homes in western Ethiopia in the past five days, Christian leaders said. More than 4,000 Christians in and around Asendabo, Jimma Zone have been displaced as a result of attacks that began on Wednesday (March 2) after Muslims accused a Christian of desecrating the Quran by tearing up a copy, sources said. ‘The atrocity is still going on, and more people are suffering,’ said a source in Addis Ababa who is in close contact with area church leaders. The Christian killed, believed to have been a member of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, has not yet been identified. A pastor based in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa noted that evangelical church leaders have reported the attacks to authorities and asked officials for help, but no action had been taken at press time. Pray: for the protection of the Ethiopian Church from these attacks. (Ps.59:4) More: http://www.opendoorsusa.org/persecuted-christians/persecuted-christians-news/2011/March/One-Dead-as-Islamist-Mobs-in-
Ivory Coast: Church aiding refugees
Christian aid workers are providing medical assistance to thousands of people fleeing unrest in Ivory Coast. The country has been hit by months of unrest as incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo refuses to hand over power to his rival Alassane Ouattara, the internationally recognised winner of last November’s presidential election. The instability has turned to violent conflict in recent weeks as rival forces clash in the Ivory Coast’s commercial capital Abidjan. The violence has triggered an exodus of more than 70,000 people, around half of whom have crossed the border into Liberia. Most of the refugees in Liberia are concentrated in the border village of Butuo, where ACT Alliance member Finn Church Aid has been supplying the clinics with medicine and other medical supplies since December. Pray: that the aid workers in the Ivory Coast will receive all that is necessary to meet the needs of the refugees. (Ps.132:15) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/church.aiding.refugees.as.insecurity.worsens.in.ivory.coast/27620.htm
Egypt: Muslims torch church and Christian homes
A mob of nearly four thousand Muslims has attacked Coptic homes in Soul, Atfif in Helwan Governorate, and torched the Church of St Mina and St George. According to a story by Mary Abdelmassih for the Assyrian International News Agency (AINA), there are conflicting reports about the whereabouts of the church pastor, Father Yosha, and three deacons who were at church. Some say they died in the fire and others believe they are being held captive by the Muslims inside the church. AINA said witnesses report that the mob prevented the fire department from entering the village. The army, which has been stationed seven kilometres away, initially refused to go into Soul. When the army finally sent three tanks to the village, Muslim elders sent them away, saying that everything was ‘in order now’. According to AINA, a curfew has been imposed on the 12,000 Christians in the village. Pray: for the Church as it faces this specific persecution following the recent troubles in Egypt. (Ps.5:11) More: http://www.aina.org/news/20110304222016.htm
Sudan: Tens of thousands flee fighting
Tens of thousands of people have fled clashes in the oil-rich Abyei region on the border between north and south Sudan, leaving the town of Abyei almost empty, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said on Friday. Fighting broke out on Tuesday between fighters from the Misseriya tribe, which supports the government in Khartoum in the north, and the Ngok Dinka people who back the south which has voted to secede. At least 70 people were killed and two villages razed in two days of clashes north of Abyei, a spokesman for the army in the south said last week. ‘Since yesterday, tens of thousands of people have fled the town, leaving it mostly empty,’ MSF said Friday. On Thursday the United Nations ordered extra peacekeepers to the region. Abyei did not take part in a referendum in January in which southern Sudan voted to secede from the north. Pray: for peace and reconciliation between the Misseriya and Ngok Dinka people. (Ps.37:37) More: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hFn4kCI9kgrcOmdlb1-s8G-EzEZQ?docId=CNG.0f69b85278e292f4cec1b79291e88739.651
Japan Earthquake, Tsunami, Nuclear Emergency
Japanese geologists calculated that Friday 11th March’s earthquake shifted the Earth’s axis by 10cm. an American source quoted in Reuters said it threw the earth off its axis point by at least 8 centimeters.
The power of the earthquake caused the shape of the country's coastline to change and the landmass we know as Japan moved by between 2.5 and 3 meters sideways in the ocean. The 24 hour day of the 11th March was increased by minutes.
Sources: BBC Radio 4 and BBC Website
A prophecy given at a Swanwick Prayer Conference on Wednesday 9th March - three days before the earthquake.
'As God revealed His Name in the Old Testament, He is revealing Himself today.
God will quickly change the character in a nation.
As in the days of Noah, I can change landscapes quickly.
“Prayer changes us. Prayer changes our world. How will you pray this lent?” Sign up today for a 5-minute prayer slot and watch daily a 5-minute video podcast Monday Friday during the season of lent to encourage us to pray through the life of Jesus. It is in English. http://www.24-7prayer.com/podcasts.
Cuts spell end for Cardiff Street Pastors
A successful Street Pastors team in one of the UK's busiest cities is set to fold at the end of the month through lack of funding. The scheme costs approximately £25,000 to run and is largely supported by the Home Office, although it raises some of its own funding. The Street Pastors are accountable to the police and local authority as well as the Welsh Assembly Government. 'Like everyone, we're feeling the economic pinch,' explained Gary Smith, who runs Cardiff Street Pastors. 'It really is a huge shame because we believe we've done a significant work to help reduce crime on our city centre streets to its lowest figure for 25 years.' They have full support from the police, who have been actively, but as yet unsuccessfully, seeking new areas of funding', said Mr Smith. Inspector Tony Bishop, who is responsible for policing Cardiff city centre, described the Street Pastors' presence as 'invaluable'.' Pray: for new funding and reorganisation that will allow the Street Pastors to continue their important work in some form. (Pr.12:14)
Atheist to present BBC’s new Bible series
The BBC has chosen an atheist Hebrew scholar as the presenter of its new series on the Bible. In ‘The Bible’s Buried Secrets’ Dr Francesca Stavrakopoulou will guide viewers through some of the latest archaeological discoveries in the Middle East and consider how these may shape the world's understanding of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Some of the topics to be explored by the programme include the origins of the story of the Garden of Eden and the historical context of King David and his kingdom. According to The Telegraph, Dr Stavrakopoulou makes a number of assertions in the programme, notably about Eve. ‘Eve, particularly in the Christian tradition, has been very unfairly maligned as the troublesome wife who brought about the Fall,’ said Stavrakopoulou, a senior lecturer in the Hebrew Bible at the University of Exeter. ‘Don’t forget that the biblical writers are male and it’s a very male-dominated world. Women were second-class citizens, seen as property.’ Pray: that Dr Stavrakopolou will herself discover the truths of the Bible and that the Holy Spirit would speak through her. (Jn.4:24) More:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/atheist.to.present.bbcs.new.bible.series/27634.htm
Archbishop calls faithful to self-denial during Lent
In his pastoral letter to the Catholic Church, the Archbishop said repentance, self-denial, almsgiving and prayer were ‘part of the recipe’ for Lent. He said the season helped believers prepare to celebrate afresh ‘the great events of our faith’ – the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ. He asked Christians to think about how they could get involved and ‘learn again all that separates us from Christ’. Prayer too is crucial, he said, admitting that many Christians could find it difficult to commit to a period of prayer and reflection but encouraged them to ‘try it and see’. ‘I am fully aware of the pressure on time which we all feel. It is difficult to fit more into a busy routine,’ he said. ‘Yet Lent itself helps us to address this issue. Creating moments and times of space for prayer and reflection gives us new vitality and focus with which to return to our routine obligations.’ Pray: for us all to heed this message irrespective of denomination and to use Lent as a time for prayer and reflection. (Ps.141:2)
Bigger Conversation
People across Great Britain are getting ready to take a fresh look at the Gospel of Matthew during Lent with the Big Read. It is part of the Big Bible project, an online digital community that promotes regular Bible reading and engagement with contemporary culture. This year, it’s gone national on Twitter and Facebook and with multimedia resources available through the Big Bible blog, has a ‘blend’ of physical and digital materials. The Project is launching this year’s Big Read with Tom Wright's Lent for Everyone: Matthew. As well as using the book, house groups will be able to take advantage of free online study materials from a range of contributors, including week-by-week group resources, videos and audio reflections, and a challenge to carry that learning through the week. Big Bible offers a great opportunity to dust off your bible, share with your friends and neighbours and learn more about what God wants for your life. Pray: for the success of this project and that many people will re-open their Bibles and refresh their relationship with God. (Lk.24:45) More: http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.newsDetail&newsid=492