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During a meeting with the leaders of the Associated Russian Union of Christians of Evangelical-Pentecostal Faith, Tom Holladay, one of the pastors of the Saddleback Church led by Rick Warren, stated that Moscow together with 12 other world cities had been chosen for the creation an affiliated Saddleback Church, reports Christian Telegraph in reference to the Union Press Centre. The Christian leaders discussed Rick Warren’s future visit to Moscow scheduled for this summer. Pastor Tom Holladay noted that, according to Warren’s vision, their main task is to find Christian leaders within the culture where a Church is being created and then support them. More than 400,000 pastors from different parts of the world have already been trained in the Saddleback Church’s training centre. Also, the Church will be focused on covering non-believers. ‘We seek to find new people,’ underlined Pastor Holladay.
Pray: that the Saddleback training programme will bless Moscow and other cities in building the church. (1Cor.3:10)
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church addressed growing ethnic tensions in Russia after a suicide bomber killed 35 people and injured over 150 at Moscow’s busiest Airport. He denounced the attack as ‘the horrifying scowl of sin’ adding ‘actions once condemned even in war are today becoming a form of protest.’ No one has claimed responsibility but previous terrorist attacks in Russia originated from separatist movements in the troubled Northern Caucasus region. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, backed by the Kremlin, has been accused of human rights abuses and crushing Islamic militants, while supporting his own form of Islamic fundamentalism. Ethnic tensions have grown in Moscow recently, including anger over plans to build a new mosque in a south-eastern district of the city. Muslim migrants from the Caucasus and Central Asia have emigrated to the Russian capital, fleeing wars in their home regions since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Pray: for the turmoil in Russia to usher in a timely Christian revival. (Is.14:26-27)
More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/25/russian-patriarch-denounc_n_814025.html
Russian officials failed to give adequate warnings before flash floods killed at least 171 people in the southern Krasnodar region. Record torrential rain was blamed for the floods. The town of Krymsk was devastated and the district boss was sacked. Seventeen people are still missing, 210 people are in hospital including 48 children. Local officials say flood warnings were given but many people were asleep at the time and did not hear them. TV pictures showed thousands of houses almost completely submerged, with people scrambling on to their rooftops to escape the rising waters. Hundreds of people are in temporary accommodation. More than 24,000 people have been affected by the floods and more than 5,000 houses were inundated. Russian newspapers (normally considered pro-government) were scathing in their criticism of authority and said, ‘the tragedy of Krymsk is a perfect demonstration of what slovenliness and hoping against hope can lead to’.
Pray: for the bereaved, the homeless and those trying to clean up after the disaster to receive the comfort support and assistance needed at this time. (Ps.25:6)
Russia says it has deployed S-300 anti-aircraft missiles in the breakaway region of Abkhazia in Georgia. The Georgian government - which refuses to acknowledge Abkhazia's independence - says it is ‘concerned’ by the move. The announcement comes just days after an unscheduled visit by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to the region. Russia recognised Abkhaz independence in 2008 after winning a brief war with Georgia over nearby South Ossetia. In a statement released by the Russian government, Air Force Commander-in-chief General Alexander Zelin said the role of the missiles would be ‘anti-aircraft defence of the territory of Abkhazia and South Ossetia’. Pray: that this military build-up will not raise tensions in the Caucasus region. (Ecc.3:1-8)
Religious freedom is waning in the former Soviet Union and Eurasia. You've heard the stories. Churches liquidated, fathers arrested for holding a prayer meeting, pastors arrested for not registering the church, and families restricted to owning just one Bible. As a result of these alarming trends, Russian Ministries in cooperation with its global partners is sponsoring a briefing on religious freedom issues in Former Soviet Union/Eurasia, with a focus on causes of suppression of religious freedom President of Russian Ministries Sergey Rakhuba says, ‘This briefing is to create more awareness and to mobilize the global community so that policies are developed and pressure is created on governments in the countries of the Former Soviet Union to give more freedom to the churches and leaders there.’
Pray: that the pressure on governments in former Soviet Union/Eurasia will lead to freedom for the oppressed. (Ps.9:9)
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev says the international community must accept responsibility for the fight against illicit drugs from Afghanistan. He told an anti-drug conference in Moscow that worldwide Afghan heroine has killed nearly one-million people under the age of 35 in the past eight years. Speaking at an international anti-drug forum in Moscow, President Medvedev issued a call for a common global fight against narcotics, saying the entire world is threatened by drug-producing countries, especially those that make hard drugs - narcotics that are more addictive and damaging. He said Afghanistan does not have the resources for a breakthrough in the fight. He said ongoing efforts by various international organizations, including the United Nations, NATO and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, are not enough. Mr. Medvedev said, standing up to the evil of narcotics on a global scale requires a struggle not only against drug trafficking, but also the social problems created by that evil. Pray: that the world governments would work together to find ways to successfully defeat this menace. (Ps.34:16)
Pope Benedict XVI appealed to governments on Monday to protect Christians against violence and discrimination. He also called on Pakistan to reverse its blasphemy laws, saying they were a pretext for ‘acts of injustice and violence’ against religious minorities. He was addressing not only Muslim majority countries, including Egypt, Iraq and Nigeria, but also Europe and the West where religion is being marginalised. But most of the concerns he expressed surrounded the recent spate of attacks that have left dozens of Christians dead. Coptic Christians in Egypt were the latest victims of a New Year's Eve bombing. Just weeks before that, Nigeria's Christian population was targeted during Christmas and the Christian minority in Iraq continues to suffer in the months following the church siege in October that left 58 people dead as bombs explode near homes and businesses. ICC president Jeff King lamented that the rate of Christian persecution has accelerated around the globe.
Pray: that the Pope’s message will be well received by the leaders of the nations. (Ps.32:7)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/pope.urges.governments.to.protect.christians/27343.htm
Pope Benedict XVI deplored on Sunday the ‘absurd violence’ against Christians after attacks on churches in Nigeria and the Philippines over the Christmas holiday. ‘It was with great sadness that I learnt about the attack on a Catholic Church in the Philippines during the celebrations for Christmas and also against Christian churches in Nigeria,’ the Pope said. ‘The earth is once again stained with blood as we have seen in other parts of the world,’ Benedict added in his Angelus address at The Vatican, as he offered his condolences to the victims of the ‘absurd violence’.
Pray:for the protection of believers across the world as they face violence and attacks on their faith. (2Tim.4:18)
Thousands of people are reported to be staying out of Rome for the next few days, over fears the city will be hit by a huge earthquake. The panic was sparked by rumours that seismologist Raffaele Bendandi, who died in 1979, predicted the city would be devastated by a quake on 11 May. Officials have insisted quakes cannot be predicted and special programmes have run on state TV calling for calm. Experts also say there is no evidence Bendandi even made the prediction. But many people said they were leaving the city to be on the safe side. There are reports of an 18% increase in the number of city employees planning to stay away from work. Other people were more sceptical, or said they would make the most of the capital being slightly quieter.
Pray: that fear would not rule the people and that God would give them true revelation. (Ex.20:20)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13354988
While Romania is no longer a communist country, the government is trying to control the Church. Legislation being considered by the Romanian government specifically targets smaller churches. Patrick Klein with Vision Beyond Borders says, ‘The government is making it more and more difficult, there’s talk of closing churches with less than 200 people.’ Vision Beyond Borders sent a mission team of 10 people to Romania to work with a church under threat of closure if this legislation is passed. Despite this threat the church’s ministry is growing and impacting Romania for Christ. One of the elders wife has a gypsy background and they have a heart for the gypsy people and were encouraged when the teams ministered to the gypsies. He said, ‘I really love these people. I want to reach them with the Gospel.’
Pray: for every people group in Romania and neighbouring ex-communist countries, to hear the truth of God's love for them. (Mat.28:19-20)