Bhutan: Christian imprisoned for film show
A court in predominantly Buddhist Bhutan sentenced Prem Singh Gurung, a 40-year-old ethnic Nepalese Christian, to three years in prison for ‘attempting to promote civil unrest’ by screening films on Christianity. Gurung was arrested after neighbours complained he was inviting villagers to watch Nepali movies, then between each feature he showed films on Christianity. Government attorneys could not prove that Gurung promoted civil unrest so he was charged with an attempt to promote civil unrest, and violation of a Bhutan law requiring authorities to examine all films before public screening. While Gurung has the right to appeal it is unclear if he had the resources to take that course. Over 75 per-cent of the people in Bhutan are Buddhist. In the south of Bhutan there are 6,000 Bhutanese Christians. In this landlocked nation between India and China Christians are not officially acknowledged. No Christian institution is officially registered and believers practice their faith in their homes. Pray: for Christians and house churches to be strengthened and for Christian material to be available through the media networks. (Ps.18:6) More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/12469/27133/
Lebanon: Heroes and villains
Shouts of ‘welcome’ in Persian and showers of rice, sweets and petals greeted President Mahmud Ahmadinejad as he waved to crowds from an open-topped car in Beirut this week. It's his first visit to Lebanon where he addressed Hezbollah-organized rallies of up to 60,000 people. His visit took weeks of preparation and his reception contrasted with Israel's, the United States and Sunni politicians foreboding. Over 200 prominent Lebanese citizens signed an open letter in advance of the trip asking Ahmadinejad to avoid using Lebanon as a ‘spearhead’ for confronting Israel. There have been suggestions that Ahmadinejad will travel to the Lebanese-Israeli frontier and court yet more controversy by throwing highly symbolic stones into Israel demonstrating to the world that Iran is a regional power in a confrontation state with Israel. Israel’s security is challenged as Lebanon, Syria, and Hamas-ruled Gaza are seen to be serving Iranian interests and all of them have threatening capabilities for Israel's civilian population. Pray: that all strongholds of violence will be disarmed and that Jesus, the Prince of Peace, will rule in these lands. (Ps.29:6) More: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/LJ15Ak02.html
Saudi Arabia: Filipinos charged with proselytising
Authorities in Saudi Arabia have charged twelve expatriates from the Philippines and one from France with proselytising, according to an official at the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh. Although twelve of the expatriates were temporarily released through petitions filed by their employers and the thirteenth was released on bail, the release does not mean their case has been settled. If they are proven guilty as charged they would go back to jail. Proselytising in Saudi Arabia is punishable by death. According to reports, the thirteen were arrested during a raid of a public mass that was attended last Friday by around 150 expatriates. Public practice of non-Muslim religions is strictly prohibited and Christians are only allowed to gather in homes for private religious services. Saudi’s Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice conduct raids on private non-Muslim religious gatherings. Pray: for God to use the Philippine Embassy and the international outcry to bring protection of religious freedom for non residents in Saudi Arabia. (La.3:24-25)
China: Denies Christians entry to Christian event
Two-hundred Chinese Christians scheduled to participate from 16th to 25th October in a major evangelical gathering in South Africa are not going because the Chinese government has denied them permission to travel to the event. More than 4,000 Christians from around the world will gather for the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization known as Cape Town 2010. The Chinese would have had much to contribute had they been able to share what God has been doing in China in the past 20 years. Lausanne's Executive Chair Doug Birdsall told CBN News in an exclusive interview hours before the launch of the Congress that he was deeply saddened about the decision not to permit the Chinese delegation to participate. Pray: that in spite of their absence God will build his worldwide Church and speak through the spiritual growth of China. (Mt.16:18) More: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2010/October/China-Denies-Christians-Entry-to-South-Africa-Event/
Iran: Pastor on trial for 'thoughts'
Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) reported a Christian pastor in Iran faces a potential death penalty for a ‘thought crime’ President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says they don't have a ‘thought crime' law yet that's what Pastor Nadarkhani is charged with.’ VOM confirms the Pastor’s trial was wrapped up within the last 60 days but the formal verdict has not been announced nor a sentence imposed. Nadarkhani was arrested in 2009 after complaining about the Islamic instruction of his Christian sons in the school system. Religious education is a part of the curriculum but the Christian Nadarkhani family wanted their sons to receive Christian religious instruction instead of Islamic. Nadarkhani's wife Fatima was arrested several months earlier and remains behind bars. Their arrests can be linked to a crackdown by authorities concerned about the spread of Christianity among Muslims in the country. Pray: for God to thwart Iran’s attempts to control every facet of society and religious expression and for justice to prevail in the courts. (Eze.34:16)
Maldives: Convert has disappeared
Reports of Brother Simon’s conversion are little more than hearsay yet recent news from Open Doors co-workers is disturbing - Simon has disappeared. Like many students from the Maldives Simon travelled to Sri Lanka to study. Simon had not lived in a country where religions other than Islam were practiced. Under the strict rule of Islamic Sharia law the Maldives’ Government demands all the nation’s citizens to be Muslims. Conversion is illegal. Churches and Bibles are banned. While studying in Sri Lanka Simon heard the Good News of the Gospel, was converted and began to follow Jesus. When Simon’s family back in the Maldives learned of his newfound faith in Christ they took him away and he has not been heard of since. Simon’s disappearance is not uncommon in the Maldives where indigenous Christians have to live in isolation as secret believers. Pray: that Simon and the handful of Maldivian believers in Christ would stay faithful to the Lord in the face of such oppression and threat. (Gen.28:15)
INSIGHT ARTICLE: Freemasonry's profile is raised
Worldwide, there are probably five million Freemason members. The Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ireland says’ We have nothing to hide whatsoever. The only secretive aspects of Freemasonry are the forms of recognition-passwords and handshakes - and that dates from the earliest days.’ http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/inside-the-strange-and-secret-world-of-the-freemasons-2361887.html Freemasonry's profile in Ireland will be raised with the sponsorship of the country's premier classical music competitions, Young Musician of the Year 2010. The semi-finals and final were held in the Freemason's Hall, Dublin on October 14 and 16. This weeks INSIGHT article highlights the incompatibility of Freemasonry and Christianity. Pray: for God to remove spiritual blindness over His people and call them out of Freemasonry (2Jn.8-9 & Jer.51:45) Info: http://www.prayer-alert.net/info/freemasoninsight.pdf1
World Mission Sunday
World Mission Sunday will be celebrated on 24 October 2010. It is the special day each year when, through Mission, Catholics across the world reach out in global solidarity to its younger and struggling members. It is the day when Catholics across England and Wales help the Churches of Africa and Asia in their responsibility of building faith communities, as well as supporting their 16,152 health care facilities, 4,346 orphanages, 2,848 homes for the elderly and disabled, 19,020,871 Primary Schools plus 9,875,709 Secondary and High School pupils. Pope Benedict XVI, in his message for World Mission Sunday 2010, wrote: ‘The month of October, with the celebration of World Mission Sunday, offers to the entire People of God an opportunity to renew the commitment to proclaim the Gospel and to give pastoral activities greater missionary perspective.’ Pray: for all those who give and work to support mission around the world. (Jos.22:3)
Young black generation should not blame Britain
Dr John Sentamu said colonial powers were not solely to blame for ‘Africa's ills’, and warned the current generation there were too many black people in jail and urged them to turn their backs on violence. He also said the ‘worship’ of celebrity culture was not a path to success. In interviews which coincided with Black History Month, he said: ‘Work hard at your education, stay focused and don't sit around waiting for success to be delivered to you on a plate, because it won't be. Don't blame someone else; for you have the energy, potential and creativity so use it for the good of humankind. Don't waste it. Your future success does not lie in guns, gangs and knives or in the worship of celebrities, but in the pursuit of study and hard work and in valuing who you are under God - wonderfully and fearfully created in his image.’ Pray: for God to reach out to those youngsters for whom gang culture is the only way of life they know. (Eze.34:16)
Regret over bishop's conversion to Rome
A traditionalist Anglican group has voiced regret after an Anglo-Catholic bishop said he would convert to Rome. The Bishop of Fulham, John Broadhurst, has become the fourth Anglican bishop to make the announcement. He intends joining the Roman Catholic Church because of his opposition to the way the Church of England plans to introduce women bishops. Meanwhile, a Kent Anglican congregation has become the first to take up the Pope's offer to convert to Catholicism. The Catholic Group on the CofE's General Synod said it deeply regretted the decision by Bishop Broadhurst. The Catholic Group said it was determined to stay in the Church of England and fight for a better deal for Anglicans who did not want to serve under women bishops. In a surprise announcement yesterday, Dr Rowan Williams said he wanted to establish a new joint group to oversee the conversion process. See: Pray: for unity led by the Holy Spirit so that we can focus on spreading the Gospel message. (Phl.1:27)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11559782