2012 saw a dramatic increase in violations of religious freedoms in Cuba, says Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). The Cuban government has reportedly cracked down on religious organisations and believers in the last year. CSW documented 120 reported cases of religious freedom in 2012, up from a total of 30 in 2011. The number does not include those arrested and detained during Pope Benedict XVI's visit last March - estimated at 200. Church leaders across Cuba reported ongoing violations in the final weeks of December. An unregistered Protestant church affiliated with the Apostolic Movement in Camaguey was threatened with demolition on 29 December. The following day, nine women affiliated with the Ladies in White movement in Holguin were arrested in the early hours of the morning and held in prison until Sunday morning Mass had ended. The crackdown has affected mainly Roman Catholic churches, but other denominations have also been hit.

Pray: that the Lord will protect and bless His church and people. (Gal.5:1)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/sharp.increase.in.religious.freedom.violations.in.cuba/31393.htm

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has learned that the Full Gospel Church was forcibly closed in Havana Province at the end of February, confiscating all of the church’s belongings, including chairs and musical instruments. This left more than 200 people without a place of worship. A week before the church closure, the pastor of the church, Jesus Hernandez, was attacked by an armed mob as he was sleeping in his home. According to Caridad Diego, the head of the Cuban Communist Party Office of Religious Affairs (ORA), which oversees all religious activity in Cuba, the church and everything inside were confiscated because of a dispute over ownership of the church. This account is contradicted however, by members of the church, who told CSW that the church has existed in its present location for more than 15 years, led by the same pastor and without problems.

Pray: that a resolution will be found to restart the Church. (Eph.2:21)

More: http://au.christiantoday.com/article/cuba-church-closed-and-pastor-attacked-in-havana-province/15097.htm

The newly elected president of the Council of Churches in Cuba (CIC) says he believes Pentecostal and historic churches can work together ‘because God calls us to be God's people.’ The Rev Joel Ortega Dopico, of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, called on the leaders of the churches to take advantage of the moment to think about social, ecclesiastical and ecumenical projects, ‘for what we lack to be able to come together as a Cuban family.’ In his sermon at the Council's assembly where the new leadership of CIC was installed, Ortega referred to the encounter of the rich man with Jesus and pointed out the need for a greater commitment to the cause of the Kingdom of God. 'It is a Biblical narrative of hope', he said, because it allows Pentecostal and historic churches to be united, past and present generations to meet together, as well as believers and non-believers.

Pray: for the churches of Cuba to draw closer together in unity building the Kingdom of God. (Jn.17:20-22)

More: http://www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?id=5707

Protestant churches in the Democratic Republic of Congo have issued a ‘cry of distress’ following increased killing and displacement of civilians in the fighting between the army and rebels in the eastern parts of the country. Hundreds of people have been killed, according to various reports, but exact numbers are difficult to ascertain. More than 15,000 have sought refuge in Rwanda and Uganda, according to the churches. ‘We denounce these wars and the attempt by the rebels to balkanize our country,’ said the Rev Josue' Bulambo Lembelembe, a vice-president of the Church of Christ in Congo in North Kivu in a statement on 4 August. Since 1994, an estimated six million people have died in meaningless wars, the churches said. Currently, nearly two million people are displaced in DRC and millions are at the mercy of militias who kill, rape and loot, according to Oxfam, a UK charity.

Pray: for the people of DR Congo that God would intervene and stop the killing and answer the cry of distress. (Ps.5:1-4)

More: http://www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?id=5851

Tearfund says mothers and children in the Democratic Republic of Congo are in need of vital help. Fighting has worsened in the last year and 2.7 million people were forced to leave their homes. ‘Again and again we are seeing families uprooted in waves of tragic turmoil,’ said Tearfund's International Director. ‘People continue to leave their homes in fear of the sexual violence which is widespread in the eastern DRC where armed groups frequently use rape as a weapon. Women and children have suffered unimaginable horror and yet they also show amazing strength, resilience and dignity. The DRC has been plagued by conflict since 1998. More than 5.4 million people have been killed and communities have been devastated.' Tearfund said fighting was only prolonging poverty in the country and hindering its development.

Pray: for an end to the continuous outbreaks of violence. Pray also for NGO’s ministering to the displaced, fearful and hurting Congolese people. (Ps.9:13)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/mothers.and.children.at.risk.in.democratic.republic.of.congo/32959.htm

February 2nd official results from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s elections were disputed by international and local observers saying the election was flawed when President Joseph Kabila and his allies gained an outright parliamentary majority. These were the first elections since the end of the war in 2003 that left four million dead. When the results were stated veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi declared himself president and called for a boycott of parliament, and the Congolese Roman Catholic Church challenged the credibility of election results. The recent backlash to opposition has used a nun’s death, three priests arrested and two nuns being assaulted. Unease heightened after police violently broke up a peaceful march the church organized to demand truth about the November polls. Two weeks earlier, Sr Mary Lilliane Mapalayi had been killed at a school in western Kasai province where she served as a treasurer.’

Pray: that the truth about the November polls will be revealed peacefully.(Pr.25:15)

More: http://www.eni.ch/news/item.php?id=5481

As the humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo worsens, with thousands of people fleeing new fighting, Oxfam is stepping up its supply of aid to more than 80,000 people in and around Goma. Deliveries of vital clean water have been made to people in Lac Vert camp, on the edge of Goma, many of whom have fled violence in Sake over the past few days. Oxfam teams have constructed 40 new latrines for 8,000 people sheltering in squalid conditions at the Don Bosco site in Goma city. With tens of thousands of people descending on Goma this week, and a lack of power in the city, there are serious shortages of water and better sanitation is urgently needed to prevent the spread of cholera. Tariq Riebl,the development and aid agency's humanitarian coordinator, commented: ‘Conditions here are grim. Thousands of people are sheltering in schools and churches throughout the city, under plastic sheets hung from the walls.’ Rebel forces have set out conditions for their withdrawal from Goma which they captured last week.

Pray: that negotiations between the Government and rebel forces will lead to a solution to this conflict. (Pr.15:18)

More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/17482

‘I am a 24-year-old Canadian citizen living and working in Colombia with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) as an international human rights observer, striving for justice and peace in a country torn by a 50-year civil war. I want to tell you about Las Pavas, a farming community in rural Colombia, their displacement over the past ten years and the violations of their rights that continue to this day at the hands of palm oil company Aportes San Isidro. I want to tell you this because as Canada, now a ‘Free Trade’ partner with Colombia, imports millions of palm oil products, it perpetuates these crimes.’ The letter goes on to explain how hard-working farmers struggle to survive after the palm company knock down homes, threaten lives, rape the women and even shoot at farmers while they work. To read the whole document click on the more button.

Pray: for justice in this and similar situations where industry and profits outweigh human dignity and rights. (Ps.45:4)

More: http://www.cpt.org/cptnet/2013/05/29/colombia-open-letter-prime-minister-canada