Following the late intervention of the Christian Legal Centre, an employee of a major London tourist attraction is able to continue in his job, as his employer has now agreed to let him take Sundays off so that he can worship at church. The employee, who is involved with his local church and several volunteer schemes, had been in negotiations with his employers for over a year and a half over whether he would continue to be forced to work on Sundays. With the Christian Legal Centre's help, his employer has now backed down and has given him a new rota enabling him to spend Sundays worshipping at his church. By contrast, his employer had allowed a Muslim employee not to work on Fridays. The victory will encourage many Christians, some of whom have been under pressure to choose between working on Sundays or losing their jobs. (See Prayer Alert 08-2012)

Praise: God for this answer to prayer and pray that it would establish a precedent. (Gen.2:2)

More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/religious-freedom/victory-as-employer-respects-christian-conscience-over-sunday-working

Yesterday (22 October) Maidstone Council threw out an application for lap dancing to take place at a venue located seconds away from Maidstone town centre in Kent. The Christian Legal Centre supported local residents who argued that such a venue was not suitable in an area being regenerated by the Council where there are already schools, churches and shops nearby. Maidstone Council received more than 100 letters of objection in advance of the hearing and the Council heard from a member of the town’s street pastor scheme. Michael Phillips, the solicitor representing many of the objectors, said that granting the application would be wholly inappropriate and would effectively be turning Bank Street, where the premises are located, into a sex street. His arguments persuaded the Council, who rejected the application on the basis that a licence for lap dancing would be inappropriate in that location.

Praise: God for the success of this objection. (Job.5:12)

More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/victory-in-maidstone-lap-dancing-case

A District Judge, sitting at Brighton Magistrates' Court announced today that all charges were being dismissed against Christian pro-life campaigner Andy Stephenson. The case against his fellow campaigner, Kathryn Sloane, was dismissed on Thursday of last week (13 Sep) during the same trial. All charges against both campaigners have therefore now been dismissed. District Judge Nicholson's reasoning in the case is expected at 2pm tomorrow (18 Sep). Andy and Kathryn were supported by the Christian Legal Centre and were represented in Court by human rights barrister Paul Diamond and Mr Michael Phillips. Andy and Kathryn, members of the campaign group Abort67, were arrested in June 2011, whilst demonstrating silently in the vicinity of Wistons Clinic, operated by leading abortion provider BPAS, in Brighton. As part of Abort67's public education project, the group, which has held peaceful protests outside the clinic for five years, displays images of aborted babies but does so silently and without harassment.

Praise: God that the judgment of the court has led to a dropping of the charges against the two protesters. (Ps.7:17)

More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/religious-freedom/victory-for-pro-lifers-in-key-freedom-of-expression-case

A Christian evangelist was cleared of criminal charges by Dartford Magistrates after being arrested for distributing leaflets outside a Tesco supermarket. Mr Bachoo was temporarily imprisoned and charged with public order offences in January after handing out leaflets disapproving of Tesco’s decision to fund the 2012 Gay Pride parade. He was due to stand trial last week for allegedly using ‘threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour’ but magistrates dismissed the case after the prosecuting barrister failed to give evidence. The National Director of Christian Voice, Stephen Green, said: ‘Christians just keep winning these freedom of speech cases. It is not against the law to preach against sodomy, to tell the public the facts about homosexual lifestyles, nor to display graphic images of the effects of abortion. These things might upset people, but they are not threatening, they are not abusive, they are not insulting and they are not against the law.

Praise: God for the clarity of understanding by the magistrates and for the dismissal of this case.

More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/religious-freedom/victory-for-evangelist-in-freedom-of-speech-case

Church of England vicar who handed out £10 notes to his West Yorkshire congregation and asked them to invest it to help raise cash, has had his prayers answered. The Rev Richard Steel distributed £550 last November in the hope of raising money for repairs at St John's Church in Kirkheaton, near Huddersfield. Members of the church had used the cash to raise about £10,000, meaning the work could now go ahead, said Mr Steel. ‘It's inspired people. It's just taken off fantastically,’ he said. While almost £500,000 has already been raised over the past seven years towards repairs at St John's, Mr Steel said he decided to give his congregation a new challenge to find the remaining cash. Inspiration came from the parable of the talents, in which Jesus tells the story of a man who entrusts money to his servants, he said.

Praise: God for the response to this challenge and for the result. (Mt.25:14-30)

More: http://www.theway.co.uk/feature.php?id=9154&this=Vicar_raises_10,000_by_giving_550_pounds

Uzbekistan’s law severely limits all religious activities it’s one of the most restrictive countries for religious freedom in Central Asia. But repression is not stopping a Barnabas-supported congregation from flourishing. Members have found ingenious ways to meet together while remaining under the radar of government spies, getting together in cafes, or sharing their faith while driving together. Their pastor was a Muslim extremist with links to the Taliban before becoming a Christian, and their congregation has grown from 10 to 120. Now it is too dangerous for the church to come together as one so they meet in 19 separate home and family groups across the region. Many, too fearful of police raids and fines to attend home groups, learned the importance of fellowship and now relish meeting in creative ways. Two were so strong in their faith, they were able to resist pressure from security service officers to spy on the church and pastor.

Praise: God for the strength of faith he has given to his persecuted Church. May this and similar congregations continue to advance the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Is.32:19-20)

More: http://barnabasfund.org/US/Barnabas-Aid-magazine/

An atheist organization that sought to celebrate Independence Day by flying banners promoting atheism all across the United States ran into a major snag - most of the pilots working for the advertising company refused to fly the banners. USA Today reports that 4 out of 5 pilots working for Fly Signs Aerial Advertising refused to participate in the campaign, which involved banners saying, ‘God-less America,’ and ‘Atheism is patriotic.’ Only 17 of the company's 85 pilots agreed to participate. USA Today quotes one of the pilots, Red Calvert, saying, ‘I respect our country and I respect our churches and we've got enough problems in our country without stirring up some more. If those people want to do something they believe in, fine, just don't include me.’ The $23,000 campaign is a project of the group American Atheists.

Praise: God for this stand by the majority of pilots respecting the traditions and faith of their nation. (Is.26:2)

More: http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/pilots-refuse-to-fly-independence-day-atheist-banners

Boston Night of Worship 2011 will be held at the Agganis Arena on Sunday, October 9 at 6 p.m., and will feature 60+ worship leaders and a 100-strong choir. United Night of Worship (UNOW) is a worship movement where thousands of people locally and across the world gather in desperation to pursue the one true and living God, Jesus Christ. It began in 2007 when a missionary from Malawi was instructed by the Holy Spirit during a 21-day fast to rally as many worship leaders as possible from Boston to stand united on one stage ‘declaring the Lordship of Jesus over the city' - A gathering which started with 30 worship leaders united on one stage across cultural, denominational and social lines, and has exploded into a fiery worship movement igniting spiritual hunger, passion and united desperation for Jesus and His manifest presence. It is evident that something new is happening spiritually all over New England.

Praise: God for His presence in Boston and across the world. (Jn.4:23)

More: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=9396

Some 4,224 students from US and Canadian colleges pledged themselves to long-term missionary service at the close of Urbana 12 on New Year’s Eve, twice as many as the last Student Missionary Conference in 2009. The conference broke records making this the most responsive student conference for foreign missions since the end of World War II. Tom Lin, Urbana Director for Intervarsity Christian Fellowship said ‘They are ready to make commitments and respond to global challenges.’ Dubbed the ‘Justice Generation’ by leaders here, they say today's students tend to see compassionate ministries as a way into the gospel, not as a result of the gospel the way their grandparents did in the 1960's and 70's. They want to build relationships and create community in which unbelievers can discover Christ as Lord and Saviour. Besides the 4000 that made long-term commitments, 8,815 also ticked boxes saying they will go on short or mid-term missions.

Praise: God for the anointing of so many in making commitments to serve. (Dt.6:13)

More: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2013/s13010003.htm