Religious education's 12-year growth
This week’s GCSE results have confirmed that the number of students taking Religious Education has increased for the twelfth year running.’ Religious Education has entered the top ten league table of subjects in terms of the number of candidates, and remains in the top five of growing subjects with more than 75,000 candidates; above subjects like Mathematics and History. Nick McKemey, the Church of England’s Head of School Improvement, said ‘Young people are clamouring for a deeper understanding of religious perspectives on issues of the day and how moral and ethical questions are considered by the major faiths. Twelve years of organic growth in student numbers cannot be ignored. This is a phenomenon that indicates students’ appreciation that exploring faith and belief helps them to understand the world and become better global citizens.’ He also said it underlines the importance of investing adequate resources and time in its teaching. Praise: for our young people who are making important decisions having received exam results recently. (Jas.1:5) More: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr7510.html
Religious education's 12-year growth
This week’s GCSE results have confirmed that the number of students taking Religious Education has increased for the twelfth year running.’ Religious Education has entered the top ten league table of subjects in terms of the number of candidates, and remains in the top five of growing subjects with more than 75,000 candidates; above subjects like Mathematics and History. Nick McKemey, the Church of England’s Head of School Improvement, said ‘Young people are clamouring for a deeper understanding of religious perspectives on issues of the day and how moral and ethical questions are considered by the major faiths. Twelve years of organic growth in student numbers cannot be ignored. This is a phenomenon that indicates students’ appreciation that exploring faith and belief helps them to understand the world and become better global citizens.’ He also said it underlines the importance of investing adequate resources and time in its teaching. Praise: for our young people who are making important decisions having received exam results recently. (Jas.1:5) More: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr7510.html
North Korea executes underground church leaders
North Korea has executed three leaders of the underground church and jailed 20 other Christians, reports a news agency focused on Asia.Although the execution and imprisonment happened in mid-May, news only got out this month. According to AsiaNews, North Korean police raided a house in Kuwal-dong in Pyungsung county, Pyongan province, and arrested all 23 believers who were gathered there for religious activity. The leaders were sentenced to death and soon after executed. The other 20 were reportedly sent to the infamous prison labour camp No 15 in Yodok. The 23 Christians had come to faith after some of them travelled to China on business and met with church members there. North Korea Intellectual Solidarity, a group of North Korean defectors based in Seoul that seeks to raise awareness about injustice in North Korea, confirmed the events. Pray: for the estimated 400,000 Christians in North Korea who live under the constant threat of imprisonment, torture or public execution if authorities discover their Christian faith. may they have opportunities to meet together and provide encouragement to one another. (PS.62:2) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/north.korea.executes.underground.church.leaders/26540.htm
China: Pastor asks for help
Since May 2008 Pastor Wang Dao of Liangren Church in Guangzhou has had to move his house church several dozens of times and has even had to worship outdoors on two Sundays. After a brief detention by people from the Ministry of State Security he contacted ChinaAid for assistance in issuing an urgent call for prayer. After translating the document, ChinaAid released the letter to Chinese media on August 17 ChinaAid are urging Guangzhou authorities to cease their persecution of Liangren Church and to respect the rights of the citizens to freedom of belief and worship, by allowing them to meet regularly in their own church space. They are urging the international community to prayerfully support Pastor Wang Dao and believe that raising awareness of this and similar cases of persecution and harassment is vital to changing the outcome for the persecuted faithful. Pray: that this promotion and exposure of truth will grow and make a difference where the church is persecuted. (Is.61:7)
Israel: Direct peace talks every two weeks
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed direct peace talks every two weeks between himself and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas as ‘The only way to solve problems in the Middle East.’ The Palestinians intend boycotting the meetings if Israel fails to renew the freeze on settlements in the West Bank. The EU condemns Tel Aviv for jailing pro human rights activist Abdullah Abu Rahmeh for protesting against the West Bank wall. The proposal, drawn up by the premier and his men Wednesday night, will be submitted September 2, when peace talks begin in Washington. ‘In the Middle East, serious negotiations require direct discreet and consistent encounters, among the leaders on major issues’. The International Court of Justice declared the construction, begun in 2002, illegal in 2004. Israel has always maintained that the 'security barrier' is to prevent suicide attacks from taking place. Pray: for ongoing consistent communication that would enable each person to see things with different eyes. (Mal.4:2) More: http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Netanyahu-proposes-direct-peace-talks-every-two-weeks-19293.html
Zimbabwe: Sunday 26th Sept united prayer
We have been receiving very exciting reports of how all the major denominations in Zimbabwe under the covering of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Council of Christian Churches and the Catholic Bishops Conference have expressed willingness to come on board and gather to pray on Sunday 26 September 2010. It is hoped that churches will march through their towns and cities and gather at a central point in their locations to pray as one. What an incredibly powerful time that will be! The Civic Centre ground is the planned venue in Harare where it is hoped that hundreds of thousands of people will gather to pray. Let's support these gatherings in Zimbabwe by calling together as many people as we can in our home towns across the world on Sunday 26 September 2010. Pray: for continued unity amongst the churches in Zimbabwe; that they would be an effective instrument for peace, stability and prosperity.(2Ch.7:14) More: http://www.lovezim.org/
Iraq: Bishop seeks democracy
‘The US has a duty to leave behind peace not chaos when troops finally withdraw from Iraq. We desire, we ask, and we scream for peace and security,’ said Chaldean Auxiliary Bishop Shlemon Warduni of Baghdad in an interview with Vatican Radio on August 19th. The last of the US combat troops left Iraq earlier this month formally ending Operation Iraqi Freedom. About 50,000 US troops will remain in Iraq until the end of 2011 to continue training and assisting Iraqi security forces. Bishop Warduni said: ‘There are no jobs; there are car bombs, kamikaze attacks and acts of violence.’ He also expressed concern about the political deadlock between Iraqi leaders unable to form a government since parliamentary elections in March. ‘It's very difficult to live somewhere where there is no law and no government, terrorist elements take advantage of the lack of a stable central authority and come and go as they please.’ Pray: for democracy to be taught and a strong, stable government be birthed (Is.51:4) More: http://www.catholicleader.com.au/news.php/features/troops-make-final-iraq-exit_60026
Sudan: South plans mass return ahead of referendum
South Sudan is preparing to repatriate 1.5 million southerners from the north and Egypt ahead of a referendum due next January on whether the South should separate from the North. The proposals suggest returnees travel on trains, buses, and boats. Two million people have already returned to the south since the end of a two-decade conflict. (The great challenge for Christianity in the Sudan has been clashes where religion was a pivotal factor. The North with roughly two-thirds of Sudan's land and population is Muslim and Arabic-speaking. The South’s identity is indigenously African with Christian influences and a Western orientation.) If the report ‘Come Home to Choose’ is implemented thousands of people would arrive daily to an underdeveloped region struggling to cope with its current population. There are warnings of possible violence against southerners living in the north if the south votes to break away from the largely Muslim and Arab north. Pray: for God to help Sudan move towards establishing a peaceful identity. (Ps.25:4)
Africa: Clergy told re-evangelise church
In an address to 400 Anglican bishops in Entebbe, Uganda Henry Orombi the Archbishop of Uganda said it was time for Africans to ‘rise up and bring fresh life in the ailing global Anglicanism’. He called African bishops to shake off their fears, shame and superficial dependency and re-evangelise the ailing churches of the west. On the same day as his address to the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa the US Episcopalians published a liturgical resource and guide for clergy and same-sex couples. Orombi told those attending the conference, including the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, that the African Church must go to Europe and the US to revive the ‘Mother Church desperate for the Gospel’. Press reports, ‘African church leaders will use the meeting to reiterate their concerns about homosexuality and criticise the Archbishop for failing to punish communities that welcome gays and lesbians into the pews and priesthood.’ Pray: for the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ to be with God's people as they use His Word as their plumb line in all discussions (Rev.19:7) More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/25/uganda-archbishop-orombi-ailing-anglican-church
Calls for BBC to appoint Religion Editor
The Church of England has called for the BBC to appoint a Religion Editor to bring ‘greater depth’ to its coverage. A senior correspondent in the position, mirroring similar appointments at the corporation for arts, science and business, would be able to act as a ‘trusted guide’ through stories about religious issues, according to the church. The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Revd Nigel McCulloch, the church's lead spokesman on communications, made the call in the church’s submission to the BBC Trust’s ongoing review of BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 7. ‘There has been at least one public call or the BBC to appoint a Religion Editor to reflect the importance of religious literacy to any proper understanding of today’s world,’ said Mr McCulloch in the submission. ‘We echo that call, which would provide a recognised expert to bring greater co-ordination and depth to the corporation’s religious output across all channels.’ Pray: that the BBC will recognise that such an appointment would be beneficial to its religious coverage. (Isa.41:28)