A Canadian prayer network reports, ‘Across Canada there has been a marked increase in speedy answers to prayer. It’s as if we have come into a time of fulfillment.’ Canadian intercessors ask us to join them as they pray for the following:- for God to move in new ways among the First Peoples (native Canadians), bringing life justice, healing, and redemption. Muslims: Last summer a great promise was given regarding a visitation of God to the Canadian Muslims. Radical Islam has been rising, pray for Muslims to begin to question their teachings and seek God anew. Prince Edward Island: Pray for the province of PEI as they are currently without a premier, and this province has been aggressively targeted by the pro-abortion special interest group. Pray that the birth place of confederation remains an abortion-free zone.

At a gathering organised by Father Gabriel Naddaf, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu applauded Christian soldiers who fully integrate with Israeli society. Netanyahu said, ‘We are brothers in arms. I commend you for the will to be full partners in contributing to defending this nation.’ Netanyahu noted that it was not always easy for Arabic-speaking Christians to so fully join themselves to Israel, but vowed ‘We will firmly support you against all that would harass you. - Christians are suffering in the Middle East.’ The Israeli leader recalled the recent shrinkage and disappearance of entire Christian communities that were in the region since the birth of Christianity. He insisted that all who criticise Israel and work toward the birth of a Palestinian state (that would most likely fall to Hamas) must compare this larger  situation to Israel, the only nation in the region where the Christian population is growing.

On Tuesday a research project reported 714 protests nationwide in November after charges were dropped against Mubarak over complicity in killing protesters during the 2011 uprising. Recently students nationwide staged demonstrations on university campuses and generally protested against the government - mainly against the detainment of their colleagues. In Egypt the army plays an influential role in political and economic spheres. President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi was previously chief of the army, which toppled Mursi. On Monday an Egyptian prosecutor referred 399 civilians to a military court, including four top leaders, as the state expands a crackdown against political opponents, - causing more protests. Recently the Coptic Church marched to draw attention to the ‘lack of justice’ for 28 Christian deaths during the 2011 protests. http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/353974925.html

Lebanon has announced it will not accept any more Syrian refugees.  Lebanon has over a million officially-registered Syrian refugees (25% of the population) with an untold number of unregistered refugees living under overpasses, renting tent space in Bekaa Valley, hiding out in warehouses, garages, (in any space they can find). Some sources say there are over two million refugees in Lebanon. They have stretched the country’s infrastructure and residents resent losing low-paying jobs to non-Lebanese. The government is encouraging Syrian refugees to leave. Where can they go? They can’t go back to Syria. Many have lost their homes. It’s too dangerous for them to go back. There are very few options available to them. The weather in Lebanon is cold and few refugees have shelter that will withstand the conditions. There’s no education, no healthcare and food shortages.

Twenty-five years ago the Christian message in Ghana was, ‘Repent and accept Jesus and you will be saved.’ Today, in many places, salvation is presented as an experience with Jesus Christ that will give Ghanaians the power to be successful in life, rub shoulders with the rich and be happy. The word ‘faith’ has a changed meaning in many Christian quarters to mean a power to ‘get what you want’. Theologians call it Prosperity Gospel. Also Ghana’s once stable economy is no longer on a firm footing. There are sharp rises in inflation, frequent power cuts, crumbling roads and dramatic plunges in the value of the currency that is causing unrest. The government recently requested a bailout from the International Monetary Fund, despite discoveries of vast oil reserves. Many are saying Ghana has gone the way of other African oil producers who became riddled with corruption when oil was discovered. See also: 

145 families have lost precious members after six gunmen walked from classroom to classroom in a school killing-spree. It’s Pakistani Taliban’s deadliest attack to date. They shot at random until army commandos arrived at the scene. ‘My son was in uniform in the morning - he is in a casket now,’ said Tahir Ali, who lost his 14-year-old son. ‘My son was my dream. My dream has been killed.’ Local hospitals are treating dozens of the injured. 136 children and nine staff have died. Mourners staged candlelit vigils overnight. Pakistani Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai said, ‘I, along with millions of others around the world, mourn these children, but we will never be defeated.’ A Taliban spokesman said the attack was revenge for Taliban members being killed by Pakistani authorities. His organization, Tehreek-e-Taliban, is a military group working to overthrow the Pakistani government.

Nigeria will hold a presidential election on 14 February and many are beginning to speculate on President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term bid and how political parties will address issues affecting Nigeria’s economy, terrorist and political challenges. In the coming weeks there will be quarrels over who is to be a delegate as well as many issues that may arise through primaries. Although a President can never solve all the problems in his country we can pray that the candidates for the next presidency will be men or women who have a heart to make positive differences to Nigeria’s future.

The first Egyptian citizen to attempt to change his legal religious identity from Muslim to Christian, Mohammed Hegazy, has been in jail for twelve months awaiting a verdict on separate misdemeanour charges, (due on 28 December). He faces five years in jail if an appeal court upholds his June conviction of ‘illegally filming anti-Christian demonstrations.’ His lawyer, Karam Ghobrial, said he is optimistic that the appeal court judge will overturn the conviction because no evidence was produced to prove the allegations against his client. Mr. Ghobrial contends that the real reason for the arrest and custody was because he is publicly known for a case he tried to open in 2007 to legalize his conversion to Christianity.

A week after the burning to death of Christian couple Shama and Shahzad in the Punjab, police accused Qaiser Ayub, 40, from Lahore of an alleged act of blasphemy. Mr Ayub is a Christian with a masters degree in computer sciences and a well-known blogger. He was accused of using derogatory language against the Holy Prophet in his blogs and of making threats. He went into hiding. He was found and arrested on 14 November. According to the chairman of Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan, his wife Amina Bibi and three children are in safe custody and will be taken care of while legal assistance for his case is organised. Qaiser Ayub remains in jail during the judicial investigation. Sources claim police are hiding the case and keeping the investigation secret while requesting the media to keep it in low profile. See also 

ISIS has released photographs showing children around ten years of age in soldier uniforms being trained to use assault rifles such as AK47s to kill people in Iraq and Syria. The children are also seen performing military drills, and marching before ISIS' black flag. The terror group has also been accused multiple times of carrying out extreme violence against children. Earlier this month, the vicar of Baghdad revealed that four Iraqi Christian children were beheaded by the terror group for refusing to convert to Islam. A CNN report in September shared the story of a 13-year-old boy who escaped a training camp and said that he witnessed militants carry out beheadings, stoning and a crucifixion. Chaldean-American businessman Mark Arabo said this week, ‘They are systematically beheading children, and mothers and fathers. The world hasn't seen an evil like this for a generation.