In a New York ‘anti-bullying presentation to 13-14yr olds on gender identity and sexual orientation’ a girl was instructed to ask another girl for a kiss. Parents were annoyed that no notice was given about the class, which included the now mandatory sex education teaching, ‘it’s OK to have sex when you are ready’. Many believe that similar classes run by homosexuals, or designed to further the gay cause, are about desensitising and indoctrinating youth with State philosophy that homosexuality is both acceptable and to be promoted. The US National Organisation for Marriage said such lessons will become the norm in schools across the USA the moment ‘gay marriage’ is legalised, as it was in New York in July 2011. Meanwhile in Texas a high school track team was disqualified in state championships on Friday because the team's anchor runner made a ‘God gesture’ to thank God for their victory.

Pray: that school programmes and philosophy will not be used as a springboard for breaking Christian traditions. (Lev.18:5)

More: http://www.christianvoice.org.uk/index.php/2013may03ny/

The San Antonio City Council is setting the stage for an unprecedented attack on religious liberty, particularly for Christians. The City Council is considering an ordinance to add ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity’ to the discrimination ordinances in the city code. The proposal would ban anyone that has ever opposed (demonstrated bias, by word or deed) homosexuality from being involved in city government and/or performing a city contract/subcontract. The proposed ordinance provides no exemptions for religious beliefs on homosexuality, even beliefs expressed in Church. Christianity has been clear on its teaching that homosexuality is a sin, a deviation from God’s unique design of men and women, for over two thousand years. Both the Old and New Testaments attest to this viewpoint. This makes the likely consequences of this proposed ordinance clear to see - a complete ban of Bible-believing Christians and faith-based businesses from participating in the city government. See also: http://txvalues.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/SA-Ordinance.pdf

Pray: for religious freedom to be upheld in San Antonio and across the United States of America.

More: http://www.citizenlink.com/2013/07/31/commentary-san-antonio-looks-to-ban-christians-from-city-government/

The Coalition of African-American Pastors demanded on Monday that President Obama meet with the group to address his stance on same-sex marriage. So far the White House has refused to acknowledge the group's request but leaders say they plan to ‘turn up the heat’ by asking black Christians to sit on the political side-lines for the time being. ‘We have requested a meeting with President Obama and until he meets with us, we are going to ask black Christians to withhold their support until he personally hears our concerns,’ said the Rev Bill Owens. ‘More than anything, this is an issue of biblical principles and President Obama is carrying our nation down a dangerous road. Many African-Americans were once proud of our president but now many are ashamed of his actions. We can't compete with the Hollywood folks who are raising the big bucks for the president. But it was black folks who rallied around him in 2008’

Pray: that President Obama will hear God's voice spoken through the tens of thousands of black American Christians of many denominations. (Heb.13:7)

More: http://www.worthynews.com/top/christianpost-com-news-black-pastors-lay-down-gauntlet-to-obama-over-same-sex-marriage-77596-/

A recently published paper by researchers at McLean Hospital presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association in Washington urged mental health professionals to integrate patients' spiritual beliefs into their treatment regimens; especially patients who are religious. Researchers found that those who believe in a benevolent God tend to worry less and be more tolerant of life's uncertainties than those who believe in an indifferent or punishing God. ‘These findings suggest that certain spiritual beliefs are tied to intolerance of uncertainty and worry for some individuals,’ and ‘existing evidence indicates that many areas of spirituality and religion are salient predictors of psychological functioning.’

Pray: for this and similar studies to initiate Christian-based counselling programmes for mental health service providers. (1Cor.2:11)

More: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-08/mh-mhs080411.php

Universities in the US are experiencing a heated and polarised debate about the Israel / Palestine conflict. On campuses across the country, pro-Palestinian students are holding ‘Israel Apartheid Week’ in which they claim that Israel is acting illegally. Students are setting up mock checkpoints to share with their fellow students the daily reality for Palestinians of living under Israeli occupation. In response this year, pro-Israel students have raised their voices with a counter message, and have begun a pro-Israel voice to the conversation on their campuses concerning the state of Israel - by confronting these views in their classrooms, writing articles in their campus newspapers, and holding hundreds of pro-Israel events to present their viewpoint to fellow students..

Pray: for students in US universities to seek the peace of Jerusalem and not to perpetuate this polarised debate. (Gen.12:3)

More: http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue13162.html

George Zimmerman, a white man was aquitted in the shooting death of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin and civil rights demonstrators have been attending rallies across America to condemn racial profiling. Activists are pressing for civil rights charges in Federal Court, saying ‘Zimmerman wrongly suspected 17-year-old Martin of being a criminal because he was black.’ The US Justice Department was evaluating whether it has enough evidence to support prosecuting Zimmerman in Federal Court after his acquittal in Florida. President Obama called for a peaceful response to a case that polarized the US public from the beginning, raising issues of racial profiling and gun control. In Sanford at the largely black Allen Chapel AME Church, pastor Valarie Houston dedicated a Sunday morning prayer service to Martin. Initially Police declined to arrest Zimmerman for shooting Martin. In Boston and New York, several hundred demonstrators expressed a sense of frustration. ‘I feel we don't get justice when it's needed,’ said one demonstrator.

Pray: for peaceful demonstrations, for any further investigations to be exhaustive and justice to be done and seen to be done. (Ecc.3:15-17)

More: http://www.reuters.com/video/2099/01/01/reuters-tv-video?videoId=244220974

In September Adbuster magazine in Canada put out a call for supporters to occupy Wall Street and drew hundreds of protesters with 2,000 attending a march the following Saturday. This protest movement has been developing through Twitter, Facebook and shared Googledocs, enabling protesters to stand against corporate greed, unemployment and the political corruption that they say Wall Street represents. They have taken to the streets in Boston, Los Angeles, St Louis and Kansas City. The core group, Occupy Wall Street (OWS), claims people will take part in demonstrations in as many as 147 US cities this month, while the website www.occupytogether.org lists 47 US states as being involved. Around the world other protests are also planned. The speed of the leaderless movement's growth has taken many by surprise. Occupytogether.org, one of several sites associated with the protest, has had to be rebuilt to accommodate the traffic.

Pray: for a peaceful outcome to this movement's activities and that the media attention would not inspire violence.

More: reet-protest-movement-spreads?newsfeed=truehttp://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/04/wall-st

Senior State Department and Diplomatic Security officials may have covered up or stopped investigations of inappropriate/criminal misconduct by staff according to an internal memo from the Office of the Inspector General. The timeline places incidents during former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's tenure. Sometimes the sources are one or more agents who became aware of cases from colleagues in ‘a shared environment.’ The documents provided by a lawyer for a whistle-blower who is a former senior inspector general investigator stated, ‘an active US ambassador routinely ditched his protective security detail in order to solicit sexual favorus from both prostitutes and minor children.’ A member of Clinton's security detail allegedly, ‘engaged prostitutes while on official trips in foreign countries’ and ’prostitution problem was endemic.’ Also In Iraq an ‘underground drug ring may have been supplying drugs to State Department security contractors, but an agent sent to investigate the allegations was prevented from completing the job’.

Pray: for suspected incidents of abuse or corruption to be investigated thoroughly. May all concealed episodes be revealed. (Am.5:7 & 15)

More: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/11/politics/state-department-allegations/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Prayer changes things. While hundreds of thousands came to watch the inauguration, many came to pray during the event. Religious believers gathered in places like hotel ballrooms to pray for America and its president, but also to praise and worship God. ‘The glory is rising in the church. And the glory is rising upon His people, our people,’ Rev Rich Brink, with Global Celebration, told CBN News. ‘So we pray for leaders. In fact, we're believing even today the glory will come upon our leaders,’ he said. Many at a prayer breakfast in the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel also lifted up Israel, a nation of particular interest to evangelicals.

Pray: for those in support of, and those critical of, the Presidents policies, would be continually led by God’s Holy Spirit into informed intercession for the next four years of American politics. (1Tim.2:1-3)

More: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/politics/2013/January/Prayer-Plays-Major-Role-in-Inauguration-Day/

In some places in the United States, it's getting more and more difficult for Americans to freely exercise their faith in Christ. Many places across the country are taking action against Christians for praying in public, or praying in Jesus' name, reports Mission Network News. Case in point - Pastor Terry Sartain. According to Fox News, he's been ministering to police officers in Charlotte, North Carolina for the past seven years. When he prayed at the request of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, he prayed in ‘the name of Jesus.’ But he can't do that anymore. Volunteer chaplains in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department will no longer be allowed to invoke the name of Jesus in prayers at public events held on government property. Major John Diggs heads up the chaplain programme. He says it respects people of all faiths. Sartain says he's sad that as a pastor he can't give the one thing he has to offer: the Life and Person of Christ.

Pray: that the prayers of the saints in the name of Christ will be effective and that those who are speaking against will be blessed. (Ps.33:12)

More: http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue16673.html