Displaying items by tag: North America
USA: church raising money to help government workers
The partial federal government shutdown is in its fourth week. When a Baptist pastor in Memphis, Donald Johnson, realised that people in his congregation would be affected by what the president was doing, he stepped in to help them weather an uncertain period of missed paychecks. Having found eight people on the church's database who were federal workers, he collected an offering and had the church's financial board match what was collected. He was able to raise $8,000, enough for $1,000 each.
USA: Christians in politics - church controversies - cover-ups
Since Donald Trump became president, people are talking of renewed Christian political advocacy. With Democrats retaking Congress, and headline-grabbing activism around the migrant ‘caravans’ on the Mexican border, religious liberals could sway policy debates in 2019. Meanwhile the United Methodist Church’s bishops will hold a special conference in February to resolve a year-long debate about its current stance on homosexuality. It currently bans ordaining non-celibate homosexuals or blessing same-sex marriages. Many within and outside the denomination expect the conference to lead to a schism. A 1,300-page report has detailed how 301 Catholic priests abused 1,000+ children over several decades while the hierarchy shielded perpetrators from accountability. On 2 January, bishops began a prayer retreat over this problem, with a summit of Catholic leaders scheduled for February.
USA: the wall - the shutdown – the people
Donald Trump is prepared to prolong the current government shutdown because the ‘humanitarian and national security crisis on the southern border’ necessitates funding a wall. This plan is popular with his fanbase, but most Americans oppose it by a 10-to-20 point margin. Trump has Republican support, but Democrats feel they have public support; so the standoff about the shutdown continues. Also, before signing an anti-human trafficking measure on 9 January, Trump said, ‘Israel put up a wall to protect them, and they don’t have a problem any more’. He seems to equate Hezbollah terrorists, Hamas, IS, and the Palestinian ‘second intifada’ attacks with a few thousand migrant families at the Mexican border. See
Canada: forced sterilisation of indigenous women
In 2017 two indigenous women alleged that they were coerced into undergoing sterilisation at a Saskatchewan hospital. More than sixty women have now joined them in a pending class action lawsuit, seeking compensation for the violation of their rights, supported by Amnesty International (see). The legal challenge centres on whether proper and informed consent was obtained before the women were sterilised. One woman said she explicitly refused to have her fallopian tubes tied when staff suggested the procedure after the birth of her son. On 7 December the UN officially called on Canada to ‘ensure that all allegations of forced or coerced sterilisation are impartially investigated, and the persons responsible held accountable with adequate redress for the victims’. Pray for policies and accountability mechanisms across all provinces to ensure there are clear regulations around free will, and informed consent.
USA: Trump criticised over Saudi arms sales
Politicians are challenging Donald Trump’s relationship with Saudi Arabia. Senator Elizabeth Warren said that the president has refused to halt weapons sales because he is more interested in appeasing US defence contractors than in holding the Saudis accountable for Jamal Khashoggi’s murder or for thousands of Yemeni civilians killed by those weapons. Senator Bernie Sanders is equally critical of Trump’s relationship with the Saudis, citing it as an example of his liking of foreign dictators. The Senate voted 63-37 to run with Sanders’ resolution to force Trump to end US support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. That same day, it emerged that Riyadh had confirmed a $15 billion deal with defence contractor Lockheed Martin for a missile defence system. One observer said Trump’s determination to preserve Saudi arms sales was an example of the ‘stranglehold of defence contractors on our military policy’.
USA - Awaken the Dawn
On September 27-29, coinciding with the Feast of Tabernacles, ‘tent city’ gatherings of worship, music, prayer, and gospel proclamation were held simultaneously in hundreds of locations throughout the USA. Every state capital city, over 100 college and university campuses, plus Washington D.C, Puerto Rico and Jerusalem all participated in Tent America. We are convinced that our nation will never be the same again.
God is truly raising up a family that is carrying His culture, a culture that
will redesign our nation through the presence of God!
We are beyond grateful for all God has done in and through His beautiful people during Tent America, and we deeply desire to honor each and every one of you.
Awaken The Dawn would not be what is is -- without YOU.
Friends, your endless prayers, financial support, sacrificial laboring, vision casting, mobilizing and perpetual encouragement has moved His heart -- and the hearts of many.
Since Tent America, we've heard from multiple nations desiring to link arms!
The centrality of the presence of God is a revelation that is needed not only in our nation but in all nations!
Your 'yes' is producing much fruit!
After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: "Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever."
A quick update on testimonies:
We are currently in the process of organizing and cataloging both written and recorded testimonies.
Here are just a few of many:
50 hours of worship at over 150 sites all over the nation. Such an honor to partner with Awaken The Dawn to host our NC capital gathering. Hundreds of worshipers and intercessors rallied from across our state for an amazing weekend. We prayed in unity for revival in our state and nation. Our hearts were bonded in love and divine connections. Hundreds heard the Gospel on the streets of downtown Raleigh along with multiple physical healings. We all encountered God's presence and will never be the same!!! Jesus is worthy!' - Matthew Lilley
We had 75 people hit the streets of Tallahassee tonight and share of the love of Jesus. At 25 people gave their hearts to the Lord and people where healed and set free! A team from Celebration Baptist prayer walked the streets and prayed for the ending of human trafficking. Tent America has been so awesome!
- Awaken The Dawn Florida
'We had seventy total workers that went out during our three Tent America outreaches. Five people put their faith in Jesus for the first time!! Dozens of believers who had backslidden prayed a prayer of repentance. Around 350 people heard the Gospel! There were multiple physical healings - pain was instantaneously leaving people's bodies! One person's injured foot was healed. They felt heat on their foot as God was touching them. The heat was so intense that the person's shoe even got hot. God was moving miraculously! We are thanking God that a bluegrass festival was happening in downtown Raleigh the same weekend, which provided us hundreds of people on the streets to whom we could minister. May every seed that was sown bear fruit!'
- Awaken The Dawn North Carolina
So, again... Thank you for your heart for Jesus- and for your willingness to link arms with us in this hour.
YOU are greatly, greatly valued.
We believe 2019, 2020 and beyond will be just as historic as Kingdom family continues to form, impart, and unashamedly demonstrate the beauty and worth of Jesus.
More updates will be coming your way in the week’s ahead, as we seek the Lord together in our next steps. Our goal is simply to hear His heart for His people, and obey! As we do so, your patience, feedback, and continued prayers are very much appreciated.
Looking forward to the miraculous things that God is going to do in this nation, and in the nations.
Testimonies? Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Questions? Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For the worth of Jesus,
Awaken the Dawn
Rain will hamper California search efforts
California firefighters say rains will aid efforts to contain the wildfires, but will also turn ash on the ground into a thick sludge. Workers will struggle in the mud, and there could be land and mudslides, officials warn. The wildfires have so far claimed a total of at least 80 lives. The fire in northern California, which has destroyed at least 10,500 homes in the town of Paradise, with nearly 1,000 people still unaccounted for, is unlikely to be fully contained before the end of November. Sheriff Kory Honea said it was possible that the full death toll in Paradise may never be known.
USA: fires in California - Paradise lost
Crews battling a deadly wildfire in northern California have managed to hold their containment lines, the state fire service says. They have contained 30% of the fire, stretching over 125,000 acres, but do not expect to complete the process till the end of November. The official death toll in the state currently stands at 59, with another 130 not yet accounted for. In the ruined town of Paradise, forensics teams are continuing to search for human remains. Many victims in the town are believed to have been elderly residents or people with mobility issues who would have found evacuation more difficult. President Donald Trump has paid tribute to the emergency crews' ‘incredible courage in the face of danger’. He added, ‘We mourn the lives of those lost, and we pray for the victims.’
USA: Trump and midterm elections
The Democrats took control of the US House of Representatives in the midterm elections on 6 November, dealing a blow to President Donald Trump. A Democratic majority will restrict his ability to steer his programme through Congress. However, the Republicans strengthened their grip on the Senate. The elections were seen as a referendum on a polarising president, even though he is not up for re-election till 2020. The Democrats could now launch investigations into Mr Trump's administration and business affairs; they could also block his legislative plans, notably his signature promise to build a wall along the border with Mexico. On 7 November, Trump fired his attorney general, Jeff Sessions, with whom he has been at loggerheads for over a year over the inquiry into possible Russian meddling in the 2016 election. The move was not unexpected, but nevertheless drew heavy criticism. See
USA: another shooting tragedy
Twelve people, including a police officer, were killed on 7 November at a bar in Thousand Oaks, California. When the shooting began at 23:20 local time, at least 200 people were enjoying a country music night at the Borderline Bar and Grill. David Long, an ex-Marine suffering from PTSD, entered the bar and opened fire. He may have also used smoke grenades. People reportedly escaped by using chairs to break windows, while others sheltered inside the toilets. The local sheriff described the scene inside the bar as ‘horrific’ and said there was ‘blood everywhere’. Long ended the bloodbath by turning his gun on himself. His motive for the attack is currently unknown.