Archbishop Bashar Warda travelled to London this week to address a Westminster gathering on Iraq's declining Christian population and requesting further action by UK’s government. ‘Christians in Iraq do not have much time left without direct military action on the ground', the Archbishop of Irbil told UK peers and MPs. Iraq's Christian communities have declined dramatically since Saddam Hussein and he said air strikes were ‘not enough’ to defeat Islamic State militants. He ‘begged’ for Western troops to be deployed on the ground. The archbishop said, ‘As a Catholic I find it hard to say, but I want military action. There is no other way now'. He also addressed the Church of England's ruling General Synod. ‘What we are seeing is worse for the world than what happened in Afghanistan'. Former Cabinet minister John Gummer, now Lord Deben, said the archbishop's speech was an example of the ‘desperate dilemma the Christian community of Iraq is now in’

People have ventured into the interior of CAR for pre-national dialogue discussions and returned with chilling eyewitness accounts. Whole villages lie wasted by fire or abandoned with inhabitants living in the bush. Many families continue to suffer terribly. Churches are not being spared. Those in Markounda commune and the surrounding area in the north have been the most affected. Persons committing crimes continue to claim their right to return to power. Kouango commune and the areas as far as the village of Ngakobo are deserted. Fulani Seleka carry out a reign of terror; you can travel 200 km without meeting a single individual. People are forced to cross the river south into the Democratic Republic of Congo, but there are manhunts and If the Congolese military don't like the look of you, you are accused of something and executed. Some escaped by canoe to Bangui, bringing eyewitness accounts they need you ongoing support in prayer. To read a Guardian article on CAR click 'More' link

Nigeria’s Election commission chief delayed Nigeria's election until 28 March because no troops were available to protect voters. All available military personnel are fighting against Boko Haram in north-east Nigeria. The opposition described the delay as a ‘setback for Nigerian democracy’. Police in Abuja and other cities are on the alert for unrest. The delay is highly contentious and will be seen by many as foul play. What is not clear at this stage is whether it will favour President Goodluck Jonathan or his rival, Muhammadu Buhari. It is unlikely that the conflict will be brought to an end within the next few weeks, so will the election be held at all? That may depend on whether some powerful personalities feel President Jonathan is well placed for a victory. Please pray for Nigerian police providing security. Pray against violent demonstrations due to the postponement. Pray for a breakthrough in the war against Boko Haram.

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) leader Ibrahim al-Rubaish announced last week that due to the ‘weakening’ of the US ‘war on Islam’ France is now their main target. AQAP also took responsibility for the January Charlie Hebdo attacks. Al-Rubaish, one of AQAP leaders, put a video on YouTube on Friday calling for attacks on the West, specifically naming France as a target. US officials consider AQAP the most dangerous branch of Al-Qaeda. It is a Sunni extremist group that has orchestrated numerous high-profile terrorist attacks globally. In 2010 they launched Inspire magazine, an AQAP-branded, English-language publication, followed by the establishment of AQAP’s Arabic-language al-Madad News Agency in 2011.  For info to enable you to pray into the roots of AQAP go to: http://www.nctc.gov/site/groups/aqap.html

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) leader Ibrahim al-Rubaish announced last week that due to the ‘weakening’ of the US ‘war on Islam’ France is now their main target. AQAP also took responsibility for the January Charlie Hebdo attacks. Al-Rubaish, one of AQAP leaders, put a video on YouTube on Friday calling for attacks on the West, specifically naming France as a target. US officials consider AQAP the most dangerous branch of Al-Qaeda. It is a Sunni extremist group that has orchestrated numerous high-profile terrorist attacks globally. In 2010 they launched Inspire magazine, an AQAP-branded, English-language publication, followed by the establishment of AQAP’s Arabic-language al-Madad News Agency in 2011.  For info to enable you to pray into the roots of AQAP go to: http://www.nctc.gov/site/groups/aqap.html

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal hosted a major event for Christian pastors called The Response - Louisiana: A Call to Prayer for a Nation in Crisis’. He invited 49 of his fellow U.S. governors to attend the event and he decried societal issues. Jindal, a Republican and a former Hindu who converted to Catholicism, listed societal plights needing prayer and input from his fellow governors. They were the fatherless, the need for building new homes, an epidemic of drugs and crime, a saturation of pornography and an increase in the polarisation, division, and hopelessness amongst many. He said that America needs trust, respect and civility restored. Jindal cited biblical texts to call his fellow political leaders to pray on behalf of the nation in an effort to ‘appeal to heaven for heaven’s intervention.’

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal hosted a major event for Christian pastors called The Response - Louisiana: A Call to Prayer for a Nation in Crisis’. He invited 49 of his fellow U.S. governors to attend the event and he decried societal issues. Jindal, a Republican and a former Hindu who converted to Catholicism, listed societal plights needing prayer and input from his fellow governors. They were the fatherless, the need for building new homes, an epidemic of drugs and crime, a saturation of pornography and an increase in the polarisation, division, and hopelessness amongst many. He said that America needs trust, respect and civility restored. Jindal cited biblical texts to call his fellow political leaders to pray on behalf of the nation in an effort to ‘appeal to heaven for heaven’s intervention.’

A report released on religious freedom violations in Mexico by Christian Solidarity Worldwide reveals that more Roman Catholic priests and lay leaders were killed in Mexico in 2014 than in any other country in the world.  (Christian leaders from other denominations face similar threats from criminal groups.) Religious freedom violations taking place on a regular basis across Mexico are exacerbated by inaction by the state and federal governments to proactively uphold religious freedom, or hold those responsible for criminal acts in the name of religion to account. Also the rise of powerful criminal groups who consider churches an attractive target for extortion and fronts for money laundering in the country has had a chilling effect on religious freedom. Religious intolerance is particularly high in the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, Hidalgo, Puebla and Guerrero

Ebola in Africa, refugee crises growing around the world, violence from Muslim extremists that’s hitting every continent on a regular basis. There continue to be victims from every single scenario and the needs of these victims are reshaping the skills called upon in medical missions. Anne Lucas from e3 Partners, says, ‘Our mission is to model the healing, teaching and preaching ministry of Jesus. Not just doing medical clinics in the countries we serve, but to share the Gospel and to start churches.’ Through medical missions, e3 and other similar agencies are able to reach out into communities that are difficult to connect with globally and the need for medical mission is growing.

Ebola in Africa, refugee crises growing around the world, violence from Muslim extremists that’s hitting every continent on a regular basis. There continue to be victims from every single scenario and the needs of these victims are reshaping the skills called upon in medical missions. Anne Lucas from e3 Partners, says, ‘Our mission is to model the healing, teaching and preaching ministry of Jesus. Not just doing medical clinics in the countries we serve, but to share the Gospel and to start churches.’ Through medical missions, e3 and other similar agencies are able to reach out into communities that are difficult to connect with globally and the need for medical mission is growing.