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A think tank has criticised the Government’s record on supporting marriage and the family. The Centre for Social Justice gave the Government a score of just two out of 10 for its efforts to reverse high and damaging levels of family breakdown. Its new report has been published to coincide with the first anniversary of the formation of the Coalition. It says that pre-election promises by Prime Minister David Cameron to reinstate a tax break for marriage have ‘moved off the radar’ as a result of deals done with the Liberal Democrats. ‘Some of the vital measures committed to by the Conservative Party in opposition appear to have been watered down during Coalition negotiations,’ the report says. The report describes as ‘paltry’ the £7.5 million committed to relationship support, in spite of the evidence linking marriage and positive child development.
Pray: that the government would reconsider its strength of support for marriage and family. (Jer.29:6)
A leading independent think tank has claimed that the Government is failing to sufficiently support marriage and the family. The Centre for Social Justice, set up by Iain Duncan Smith, has published a report detailing the Governments progress in family-related policies. The report gives the Government only four out of ten for its family policy, stating that, ‘There is still no solid commitment to actively prevent family breakdown or recognition of the important contribution of marriage to stability.’ The report suggests, ‘strong, stable families are central to improving outcomes for our children – and what children want most is to live with both their parents if possible. Strengthening families requires supporting marriage, helping people build strong relationships and providing coordinated help for our most chaotic families. Changing the culture so that family stability is valued by society requires strong governmental leadership and bold decision-making.’
Pray: for the hundreds of Christian initiatives supporting parenting and families and similar proposed government initiatives to make a positive impact on our nations values.(Heb.13:4)
More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/social/think-tank-claims-government-is-failing-families
Members of the UK's biggest Bible translation organisation, Wycliffe Bible Translators, hiked Mount Kilimanjaro last month on a 'Prayer Climb' for the 800 African languages still awaiting the Bible. Nearly 2,000 language groups in the world are without a single verse of the Bible in their heart language - meaning over 200 million people cannot access Scripture in their own tongue. Karen Floor, Wycliffe South Africa Director, started the hike up Mount Kilimanjaro on 14 September alongside two Wycliffe supporters. During the hike, they carried a prayer banner with the collective prayers of God's people for the Lord to bless the spreading of his word through Bible translation. After completing the hike, Karen explained how the physical challenge of the Kilimanjaro climb acted as a metaphor for the wider challenge of Bible translation. She explained: ‘It was through grappling with the difficulty of communicating the immense challenge of bringing God's Word to millions of people through Bible translation that we began to use the mountain metaphor.’
Pray: that the prayers of the Wycliffe supporters and the work of the translators will be blessed. (Ps.88:2)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/theres.a.mountain.to.climb.in.bible.translation/34318.htm
A Christian psychotherapist is the subject of a professional conduct inquiry in London for supporting therapy for those with unwanted feelings of same-sex attraction. Dr Davidson is a trainee with the British Psychodrama Association (BPA) and also a director of Core Issues Trust, a non-profit Christian ministry supporting men and women with homosexual issues who voluntarily seek change in sexual preference and expression. He took part in a BBC local radio broadcast in January 2012. As a result of comments he made about homosexuality, the BBC interviewer - among others - complained to Dr Davidson’s professional body. In response to a question, Dr Davidson said: ‘Yes I do believe homosexuality is a sin.’ The initial charges against Dr Davidson were purely against the expression of his views and therefore an issue of free speech .
Pray: for Dr Davidson that his expression of beliefs will not lead to expulsion. (Pr.8:13)
In an open letter published in the Observer on Sunday, 18 bishops ask for amendments to the Welfare Reform Bill now going through Parliament. The letter says that as a result of the proposed cap on benefits, an estimated 210,000 children may be pushed into ‘severe poverty’ and another 80,000 made homeless. The bishops write: ‘Such an impact is profoundly unjust.’ The letter follows reports that millions of benefit claimants are likely to lose between £50 to £100 each next year if the historic link between the rate of inflation and welfare payments is broken. This hits the youngest in families on the breadline the hardest. As the bishops write, they ‘have no voice’. In a time of austerity, the Observer believes it is a valid exercise to prioritise which aspects of universalism to retain but it is essential that the principle itself continues to dominate the shape of our welfare state.
Pray: that the government would consider the needs of the young plus the elderly and not emphasise one over the other. (Ph.4:19)
A call is going out across our nations for the Church to unite and pray on Saturday 15 June 2013. Our nations are in increasing turmoil as we observe the consequences of ungodly decisions made both in the past and by our National leaders today. Decisions that not only affect us, but will also affect generations to come. Many Church leaders and intercessory groups are sensing urgency about the importance of this day of prayer at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham. The World Prayer Centre along with many others is encouragi ng the Body of Christ in our nations to come and unite in prayer for our nations. To come individually, as a neighbourhood group, as a church, or a prayer cell. The day will start at 11:00am (doors open at 9:30am) and will run through until 5:00pm with an hour break for lunch between 1:00pm and 2:00pm
Pray: that many will hear God’s call and proclaim the decrees of the LORD. (Ps.2:7,8)
Conditions in Afghanistan for the British troops are hot, dusty and strength-sapping. Long hours of work in difficult conditions far from home and family can lead to servicemen and women becoming tired, distracted, homesick and demoralised.This is far from the norm, one mistake can be life-threatening for individuals and their colleagues, since much of the work requires them to remain alert and pay great attention to detail. Pray: for the safety of all those searching for roadside bombs and other explosive devices and other sentries that they may be diligent in their duties. (Ps. 4:8)
The Scottish Government has launched a public consultation asking whether the law should be changed to allow religious ceremonies for homosexual civil partnerships, and whether the legal definition of marriage should be changed to allow homosexual marriage. Mike Judge argues that the law should stay as it is. All the legal rights of marriage are already available to homosexual couples through civil partnership registrations. Last year only 465 civil partnerships were registered in Scotland. This is not about rights, this is about redefining marriage for the whole of society at the behest of a small minority of activists. If marriage is redefined for homosexual marriage, that new definition will be the one that the state promotes as the standard. It will have huge implications for what is taught in schools and for wider society.
Pray: against this and any further moves to change God’s definition of marriage. (Lev.18:22)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/the.scottish.government.should.not.redefine.marriage/28559.htm
Methodists are being encouraged to speak ‘words of blessing’ over the Church, its vision, planning, ministry, members and leaders, as part of a new Connexion-wide prayer initiative. Entitled ‘The Power of Blessing’, this initiative has been launched by Methodist Evangelicals Together (MET) – a movement of British Methodists ‘committed to prayer and revival’ which is believed to be the biggest independent organisation in the Connexion. With the support of the Connexional Team, MET will be releasing a series of resources during the coming months, designed to stimulate Methodists of all traditions to use prayer to bless the work of the Church, their communities and the nation. ‘The Power of Blessing’ follows in the footsteps of the Church’s ‘Year of Prayer Without Ceasing’, which promoted a programme of continuous prayer across the Connexion. After this programme ended, in August 2006, the MET executive began to consider new ways of building on the scheme and encouraging more prayer within the life of the Church.
Pray: for the success of this prayer initiative. (Jas. 5:15-17)
Regardless of their faith members of the public have been invited to see Pope Benedict XVI. It emerged that he will meet Nick Clegg, who is an atheist, and Harriet Harman, whose Equality Act has angered the Church. The Government is keen to portray the four-day state visit as a historic event that will enhance the country's standing worldwide and to highlight the pontiff's commitment to social justice in order to head off criticism over the costs and the child abuse scandal affecting the Vatican. Lord Patten is overseeing the visit’s planning. He said that the significance of the first-ever state visit by a Pope to Britain was greater than the potential costs. He told a press conference: ‘Even if we had known of the parlous state of the nation's finances, I'm sure that wouldn't have been a consideration because the importance of this visit makes its own claim upon modest public support.’ Pray: that God will use the Pope’s visit in a positive way for many communities. (Ro.8:28)