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Palestinian children are attacked by a handful of extremist settlers according to a report on settlement expansion investigating thirty-eight incidents resulting in three dead children and injuries to forty-two others. Continued settlement expansion has impacted the security of the Palestinian children. In eight cases soldiers colluded with the attack by either joining in, turning a blind eye or punishing the victims rather than the perpetrators. Twenty-one of the attacks were carried out in and around the southern city of Hebron and another seven near Nablus in the north - areas where settlers follow extremist ideologies. The study found ‘Israel's failure to enforce the law and hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions had created an atmosphere in which settlers enjoy impunity and Palestinians live in fear.’ None of the settlers involved in the violent incidents have been prosecuted. Pray: for an end to all violence in this territory. (Ps.36:6)
Larbi Sadiki, senior lecturer in Middle East Politics at University of Exeter made the following comments: Regions in N Africa have been preparing to fight radical Islam and were caught unawares by the millions of educated youth who make up a large portion of the region's population. The policing, equipment, funding, expertise and anti-terror philosophy being fed to Algeria, Libya, Morocco, etc were geared towards fighting the radical Islamists. But from Tunisia and Algeria in the Maghreb to Jordan and Egypt in Arab east, the real terror consuming self-worth, sabotaging community and marriages is the terror of socio-economic marginalisation. When oppression becomes too heavy and politically costly for a government, bargains begin, including promises of jobs and policy, reversals of food price increase and even scapegoats in the form of ministerial dismissals. This is where Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt are today. But dissidents have not infiltrated governments or built political power bases to enable a ‘velvet revolution in the Arab world. Ben Ali is weak and has now fled to Saudi Arabia and the party and army that protected him is withdrawing loyalty as the crisis deepens. Pray: for the birth of a democratic system to grow out of the current chaos. (Is.14:32) More: http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/01/201111413424337867.html
Many see toppling dictators as a victory for democracy. But within this movement are concerns for Christians. The democracy model unfolding in these lands, possibly a result of mob rule, is a democracy where Islamists are likely to control governments, exclude minority faiths and Christians live in fear. A December 2010 survey of Middle Eastern Muslims’ attitudes found 84.4% of Egyptians believe Christians converting from Islam should be publicly executed. Among Egyptians who say Islam is playing a large role in politics, 95% believe that this is a good thing. If this poll is even remotely accurate Egypt is clearly not a society ready for democracy. Look past the cover of the Muslim Brotherhood to see that contents of its book include the institution of worldwide Sharia law and establishment of a global Islamic caliphate that brings about the peace and domination of Islam forever. Pray: that revolutions will usher in a democracy that embraces minority faiths as it stands against tyranny. (Is.9:4-6) More: http://www.crosswalk.com/news/in-the-arab-spring-christians-fear-religious-freeze.html
Palestinian Christians have submitted an application to the UNESCO heritage committee asking that the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem be granted World Heritage status. Palestinian Authority Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Khouloud Daibes, said ‘This step is part of our plan to end the Israeli occupation and build the institutions of the state of Palestine.’ The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem has enjoyed UNESCO World Heritage Status for 30 years but the Church of the Nativity remains off the list because Palestine is not a recognised state. Both churches are visited by millions of pilgrims each year with the Church of the Nativity expected to welcome two million visitors through its doors in 2011.
Pray: that the place of worship for Jesus birth will not be caught up in the struggle of people groups. (Mt.1:23)
The mass exodus of millions of Christians from one part of the Islamic world to another as the result of persecution by Muslims has reached epidemic proportions warns the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. Christians may completely disappear from Iraq, Afghanistan, and Egypt. The report also said, ‘This matter of Muslim persecution of Christians is a humanitarian crisis.’ The Christian Post reported this week, ‘With all of the unrest being reported in countries like Egypt, Syria and Libya, the real untold story is the record number of Christians leaving the Muslim world because they are being targeted for kidnapping, plundering and beheadings. Regions and towns that were once populated with Christians are now emptied. The crisis for Christians goes beyond Middle East, Nigeria is now the country with the highest number of slaughtered Christians. Last year over 900 Christ-followers were victims of Boko Haram and other Islamic militants. See item 1 above and go to http://global.christianpost.com/news/islam-expert-warns-christians-may-completely-disappear-from-iraq-afghanistan-egypt-95556/
Pray: that persecution and unrest would motivate Muslims 'To Know Christ' (Ps.42:7)
‘Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.’ (Mat.5:23, 24) A young Israeli Messianic participant in a recent reconciliation initiative for young Israeli and Palestinian adults, writes in response to these verses, ‘The Lord showed us that it is very important for us to restore our relationship with our Palestinian brothers before we attempt to be reconciled with God.’ She adds, ‘We don’t always want to relate to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, feeling somehow disconnected from it, or powerless to do anything about it. Also we are in a more secure position (relative to the Palestinians) and so we tend to be apathetic and lack motivation to seek reconciliation with our Palestinian Brothers in Christ.’
Pray: for God to continue to bless and encourage those working for reconciliation and building relationships between Christians, Jews and others in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Ro.12:9-13 & Mat.7:4- 5)
More: http://www.musalaha.org/
As massive public protests sweep across the Middle East, North Africa, Bahrain, Libya, Yemen and Iran – many are being met with violent government crackdowns.
Pray for God’s provision to be in place as change comes to the regions.
Pray for God’s wisdom in every decision made at this time.
Libya - At a crossroads
Saif Al-Islam Gadhafi, 38,the son of Moammar Gadhafi warned that the country faces civil war and ‘rivers of blood’. Several cities, including Libya's second most populous Benghazi have fallen to demonstrators following the defection of some army units. The International Federation for Human Rights put the Libyan death toll at 300 to 400.
Media watchers are saying, ‘If reforms are not agreed we will be mourning thousands not hundreds’, and ‘The mindset of a dictator is hard to change’.
Pray for Gadhafi to be levelheaded and prudently choose an immediate and gracious stand down of all aggressive actions against his people.
British energy giant BP is preparing to evacuate some staff from Libya, which holds Africa's biggest oil reserves. Oil prices have soared since the turmoil.
Pray that financial interests in the regions’ oil reserves will not influence global governments’ attitudes and proposals in this crisis.
A privately-run Libyan newspaper reported that the country's justice minister had resigned and had sided with the protesters. He said he is trying to ‘organize good things in all cities.' He also said that key cities near Libya's border with Egypt were now in the hands of the protesters, which he said would enable foreign media to now enter the country.
Pray for God to raise up many people within Libya to work towards a peaceful resolution.
World: The International Christian movement Micah Challenge is calling upon millions of Christians to pray and take action against extreme poverty as part of its 10.10.10 campaign. Today (Thursday) marks the 100-day countdown to 10.10.10, when as many as 100 million Christians worldwide will remind their political leaders of the promises they made to halve extreme global poverty by 2015. Micah Challenge and its many partner organisations, including The Salvation Army, World Vision and Tearfund, warn that unless urgent action is taken now, many of the Millennium Development Goals agreed in 2000 will not be met. On October 10, Christians will join in saying a specially written 10.10.10 prayer asking for God’s intervention on behalf of those still suffering in poverty and confessing their own failure in ignoring God’s call for justice. They will also make a promise to remember the poor and remind their political leaders of the need to keep their commitments to the poor. Pray: And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Mic.6:8) More:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/micah.challenge.calls.christians.to.pray.and.act.for.worlds.poor/26201.htm
Latin American Indian Ministries report, ‘While we want to be positive about the year ahead we must voice a concern for tribal believers in southern Mexico. In the last few months Pastor Armando Lopes was killed travelling home from a doctor’s appointment, three other pastors were killed in the same area recently. Four families of believers were expelled from a village and a church destroyed with believers put on notice. This month six homes were destroyed and the families expelled from the community. Elsewhere a church and many homes were destroyed and fifty families expelled from the village, a further 86 families were expelled later. At the end of 2010 four hundred and ninety eight Indian believers were homeless, living as street people in San Cristobal where they seek protection. This persecution results from new believers boycotting drunken fiestas to saints in the untended Catholic church, celebrations which have really come to represent worshipping ancient pagan gods. Pray: for these ‘suffering saints’ - including many very new believers. Some will establish new villages and build a new church. But the days ahead are challenging. (Ps.24:5-6)
In Mexico's historically violent border region faith leaders from both sides of the US-Mexico border are launching a joint prayer and fasting initiative this month seeking divine intervention to resolve drug cartel trafficking and violence plaguing the region. The Cinco de Mayo Initiative is spearheaded by Mark Gonzalez, founder of the Hispanic Prayer Network. Beginning April 15th participants will be convening for 21 days in Dallas, Texas, and Mexico City and at the border for prayer. The initiative comes in response to a prophetic directive given by Cindy Jacobs, president and co-founder of Generals International, a missionary organisation devoted to training in prayer and spiritual warfare. Pray: that united prayer, fasting and intercession will cause a Holy Spirit fire to grow and spread across the region long after the initial 21 days of warfare. (Jn.17:23) More: ttp://www.christiantoday.com/article/seeking.divine.intervention.in.mexicos.violent.border.region/27779.htm