Vietnam: Crackdown on Christians
Since August thousands of armed soldiers, police and security forces have been trying to ‘wipe out’ Christians who refuse to join a state-approved church. The security forces have been ‘strategically placed’ to watch Christians in 23 villages in Vietnam's mountainous Gia Lai province to ensure no one is still worshipping God or attending an independent church for worship. The security police are ordered to arrest, torture and send to prison any one who violates this religious law. There was no immediate comment from Vietnamese officials, but the Foreign Ministry has in the past denied reports of wrongdoing. Vietnam's Communist government allows Christians to join the official Evangelical Church of Vietnam but many Degar Christians prefer to worship in house churches.‘The Vietnamese government has created a new religion and built a new church but it is not religion and church that we need.’ said a local Christian. Pray: for Vietnamese Christians to have the right to worship Jesus Christ in the church of their hearts.(Jn.4:23)
INSIGHT ARTICLE: Christian minorities in Iraq
More than twelve bombs struck Baghdad on Tuesday evening, killing 36 people and wounding 320 others in coordinated blasts two days after Al Qaeda linked gunmen stormed a church in one of the deadliest attacks in a year. (see item 1 above). Baghdad security officials were considering an immediate curfew on the city. ‘We don’t know what’s happening right now. There are so many explosions and reports we’re overwhelmed’ said an anonymous interior ministry official. The bombings were spread among coffee shops over a one-hour period in the early evening. Almost eight months after Iraqis went to the polls there is still no new government in place. Many say this political deadlock fuelled the violence. In 2008 the Chaldean Archbishop of Kirkuk, Luis Saca, asked the Iraqi government to protect Iraq’s Christians; for INSIGHT to aid intercession for Christians in Iraq click 'info'. Pray: for persecuted and displaced Christians to know God's provision and comfort and for God to raise up a righteous government. (Nu.15:16) More: http://www.prayer-alert.net/info/IraqChristiansNov1.pdf
Iraq: Christians have requested our prayers
Middle East Concern have forwarded a prayer request for Iraqi Christians following a major incident at the Syrian Catholic Church of Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad Sunday. Claims of responsibility have appeared on websites used by extremists. Christian leaders in Iraq are concerned that this attack might prompt further internal displacement of Christians within Iraq. Iraqi Christians request our prayers that: a. The bereaved will know the peace, presence and comfort of Jesus. b.The wounded and traumatised will know the healing touch of Jesus. c. Those involved in providing pastoral care will know the Spirit's grace and gentleness. d. Christians across Iraq will know the Father's protection. e. The security situation in Baghdad will improve. f. Any Christians that feel obliged to leave Baghdad will find places of safety and be able to return soon. g. Church leaders in Baghdad will know the Spirit's guidance in all things, especially concerning services. Pray: that God would use every situation to draw people to Himself and strengthen the believers in Iraq. (Jn.8:36)
BBC's unholy row over Halloween
The BBC has been criticised for giving too much coverage to Halloween. Not the occasionally terrifying outfits that the Strictly Come Dancing contestants were treated to last weekend but a news report about a coven of witches who gathered to celebrate Samhain, the turning of the year from light to dark. The decision to allow so much airtime to the minority event in Weymouth, Dorset, was questioned at a time of a 16% cut in the corporation's budget. 'I understand the BBC might choose to concentrate on something for one day, but I consider it to be symptomatic of a much bigger problem across the BBC,' said Christian Institute spokesman Mike Judge. 'They downplay Christianity and up-play paganism which is unreflective of British society. It does create an atmosphere where it's OK to marginalise Christians.' We can only hope that Christmas gives the corporation a chance to redress the balance. Pray: for the BBC to ensure programme planning better reflects the requirements of a mainly Christian nation. (Mi.5:12) More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mediamonkeyblog/2010/nov/02/bbc-halloween-row
Religiously 'illiterate' politicians
The Church of England has accused the last Labour government of being ‘religiously illiterate’ and treating believers as ‘sub-rational’ elements that must be contained. Left-wing politicians fostered a culture of suspicion towards all faith groups in the aftermath of the 2005 and 2001 attacks by Islamic extremists in London and the US, according to a Church report. 'While senior Conservatives have a more positive view of the role of religion in public life, many Liberal Democrats remain deeply sceptical', the report from the Church’s Mission and Public Affairs department said. The criticism came as the Church of England outlined plans to run community cohesion projects to improve relations between different faiths. It is now bidding for £5 million as part of its response to David Cameron’s vision of the ‘Big Society’. The Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles, has promised that the days of the state trying to ‘suppress’ Christianity and other faiths are ‘over’. Pray: for politicians of all parties that they will appreciate and recognise the positive role of faith communities in the U.K. (2Ch.30:12)
Christians' freedom to express beliefs at risk
Prominent clerics, including Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, argue that supporters of homosexual rights must not be allowed to ‘coerce silence’. Their comments centre on a landmark legal challenge by a churchgoing couple who were banned by a council from becoming foster parents because they believed homosexuality was unacceptable. The bishops claim that the case will determine whether Christians can continue to express their beliefs in this country. They say that the High Court will be ruling on a ‘clash of rights’ which threatens to label religious belief as ‘problematic’ if it decides that it is acceptable to discriminate against those with traditional Christian views on homosexuality. For background information to the case see: Lord Carey said ‘So many Christians are being marginalised as a result of this hard secularism which is knocking traditional ethics’. Pray: that secularism will be checked and religious freedom of expression will be upheld. (Mk.16:15)
Bibles burned, hymnbooks slashed
Yobs in West Yorkshire burned Bibles and slashed hymnbooks in an attack against a Methodist church in a village near Bradford. The attack on Birkenshaw Methodist Church was discovered earlier this week when an art group went to hold their meeting. A large crucifix had been ripped from an interior wall, chairs slashed, and wires leading to the church’s speakers and piano keyboard cut. Rev Graham Edwards, the church’s minister, said: ‘Everyone is very upset and it is very sad to go to the effort of refurbishing the whole place to find somebody will break in and, for what seems like no reason at all, will destroy and ruin things’. The church has 61 members and was refurbished two years ago. This attack could cost them a further £2,000. In Westry, near March, a 19th century Cambridgeshire church was gutted by a massive fire, reportedly started when yobs set Bibles and prayer books alight. Pray: that God will infuse His people with His Spirit in their fight against their attackers. (Ps.92:7) More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/bibles-burned-hymnbooks-slashed-in-bradford-attack/
Fight the good fight
Veteran civil rights campaigner and Baptist minister the Rev Jesse Jackson has urged Christians never to stop fighting for the poor - especially in this period of austerity. During a brief visit to the UK the Baptist minister, who founded the social change Rainbow PUSH coalition, said the church was compelled to challenge injustice. But citing his long record, which includes campaigning with Dr Martin Luther King, Mr Jackson said as long as Christians fought, they would inevitably secure victories that would make the world a fairer place. Mr Jackson was in the UK to speak at an event entitled A God of Justice, organised by Christian Aid in collaboration with the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Church.co.uk. He was also a guest speaker at a Christian Aid supporters day and lobby of Parliament in support of the world's poor. He said he had seen 'tremendous changes' in his 50 years as a campaigner. Pray: for all Christians to rise to Rev Jackson's challenge to keep fighting for justice. (Dt.16:20)
Churches urged to step into breach created by cuts
The Archbishop of York, Dr Sentamu, said it was ‘madness’ to cut investment from public services and communities after the Government unveiled its cuts to public spending in the Comprehensive Spending Review. Dr Sentamu urged people to ‘stand up and call on the state to play its part by investing in Britain’s recovery’. The Bishop for Urban Life and Faith, the Rt Rev Christopher Chessun, who will be translated from Woolwich to Southwark early next year, said: ‘The cuts are accompanied by changes to the way welfare and housing are provided. This has implications not just for vulnerable individuals, but whole communities.’ The Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Rev Michael Hill, told BBC News it was ‘slightly chilling’ that the Government had ‘targeted some five million benefit recipients, and is trying to knock down their benefits. Nobody thinks that’s a bad thing for people who are clearly cheating the benefit system, but my understanding is that the majority aren’t’. Pray: that God's Spirit will move communities to succour the needy. (Pr.14:31)
Call for more abortion counselling provision
Tory MP Nadine Dorries urged the Government to instruct clinics to provide counselling to women who seek terminations. She said such ‘informed consent’ would lead to a reduction in UK abortion figures, currently around 200,000 a year. Opening a short Commons debate, former nurse Ms Dorries said: ‘If any of us were referred to a hospital today for a minor procedure, e.g.an ingrowing toenail operation, the procedure would be explained to us in detail. We would be aware of the level of pain we would experience, told exactly what would happen while we were under the anaesthetic and be given follow-up appointments. A woman who has an abortion has none of that: she is discharged at the end of the day out onto the street and left to come to terms with the roller coaster emotional journey she will still be in the midst of.’ Pray: that very sensitive consideration is given by health professionals to the spiritually vulnerable. (Ps.34:18)