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In the midst of another wave of recession and record prison figures following the riots, and an onslaught of bad news in the media, one thousand leaders from across the UK will gather at Wembley Stadium's Great Hall next week to ask God to heal battered Britain. The Carry The Torch leaders prayer summit on September 17, coordinated by the Global Day of Prayer London, comes at a very strategic time as the UK faces several challenging social issues. GDOP London was even mentioned in Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons this week, when Member of Parliament for Enfield-Southgate David Burrowes said: ‘In the wake of the riots, Is this not a good time to support the forthcoming Global Day of Prayer, which in London is going to be taking place at Wembley Stadium?’ Prime Minister David Cameron responded by commending all combined efforts of communities in response to the riots.
Pray: for the prayer summit and that God will empower and inspire all those attending. (2Co.9:8)
Please will you pray earnestly as we enter a crucial period in the campaign to defend the true meaning of marriage? And can you encourage your church to join our national day of prayer for marriage on Sunday 3 February? Any day now, we expect the Government to introduce its Bill which seeks to redefine marriage. The Government may very well go on a charm offensive, telling the media that people who believe in traditional marriage have nothing to worry about. But we know that’s not the case. European judges have recently shown that people who believe in traditional marriage can be forced out of their jobs. On Tuesday 5 Feb, we expect MPs to have the first opportunity to debate and vote on the Bill. We don’t need an outright win at this stage – so don’t worry if the Bill passes this first hurdle – but it is important that as many MPs as possible vote “no”.
Pray: that marriage will not be redefined, and that real marriage will be promoted in society for the good of all. ( Mtt.18:19-20)
More: http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/2013/01/27/please-pray-for-marriage-on-3-feb-as-campaign-reaches-crucial-period-2/
This Government is fast becoming the most authoritarian threat to our liberties of the modern era. The Home Secretary Theresa May is intent on outlawing anything that people may find 'annoying'. John Bingham writes in the Telegraph - Christian preachers, buskers and peaceful protesters could effectively be driven off the streets under draconian new powers designed to clamp down on anyone deemed ‘annoying’, according to a former Director of Public Prosecutions. Lord Macdonald QC said Theresa May, the Home Secretary’s plans for a new civil injunctions to replace Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (Asbos) amount to ‘gross state interference’ with people’s private lives and basic freedoms. The proposed safeguards to prevent abuse of the new system are ‘shockingly’ weak, he writes. Under proposals currently before Parliament, Asbos are to be scrapped and replaced with wide-ranging new orders known as Ipnas (Injunctions to Prevent Nuisance and Annoyance). The draft bill was first read in February this year, and was less threatening to Christian values, see: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmhaff/836/83605.htm
Pray: that the bill in its present format will not be enacted. (Ps.103:6)
More: http://archbishop-cranmer.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/theresa-may-seeks-to-outlaw-christian.html
An Islamic group has re-launched its proposals to build a 12,000 capacity mega-mosque at West Ham, close to the site of the Olympic Park. The proposed development includes a large mosque with 40 ft high minarets, a library and a visitor centre. Tablighi Jama'at, the Islamic sect behind the plans, continued to use the site after permission from Newham Council expired in 2006. The council issued an enforcement notice in 2010 but this was successfully appealed by the group. 5,000 people a week currently use the site for worship. A spokesman for Newham Council’s planning department said: ‘We are expecting another application by the end of this week and will then start a formal consultation process.’ But the plans have been opposed by campaigners who argue that Tablighi Jama’at is a ‘sect’ which preaches ‘separation and segregation.’ Two of the London 7/7 suicide bombers, Mohammad Sidique Khan and Shehzad Tanweer,reportedly prayed at a Tablighi mosque in West Yorkshire.
Pray: once again that those who have the authority to allow Tablighi Jama'at to build this mosque will be guided by God’s wisdom and not by those with extremist beliefs. (2Th.2:13-14)
Betting shops should be allowed to install more high-stake gambling machines, according to a committee of MPs. The machines, dubbed the crack cocaine of the high street, allow players to place bets of up to £100 with prizes of up to £500. An editorial in one national newspaper said it was ‘appalled that a Conservative-led group of MPs is seeking to revive the liberalisers’ discredited agenda’. The report, by the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, suggests that strict rules on gambling machines should be relaxed. The report, an investigation of the 2005 Gambling Act, recommends raising the number of high-stake (B2) machines in casinos from four to 20. And it says that local authorities should be free to allow betting shops to install more than the current maximum of four if it would prevent betting shops clustering together.
Pray: against this move to legalize further higher stakes gambling machines. (Pr.1:15)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/mps-plan-to-weaken-gambling-laws-come-under-fire/
Labour MP Chris Bryant successfully pushed for an emergency commons debate into calling for a public inquiry into phone hacking. The Speaker John Bercow granted the rare emergency debate which resulted in David Cameron agreeing to hold a full public enquiry into allegations against journalists hacking phones and subsequent police investigations. Pressed by Ed Miliband to conduct the full public inquiry, the Prime Minister agreed that it was important that the inquiries should be ‘public, independent, and have public confidence’ adding that the inquiries could not be started immediately because of the major police investigation currently under way, though it may be possible to start some of the work earlier. He said the two vital areas were why the original police inquiry failed to ‘get to the bottom of what happened’, and the behaviour, practices and ethics of journalists and media organisations.
Pray: for all that is hidden to be revealed. (Ps.45:4)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/06/david-cameron-phone-hacking-inquiry
Leading philosopher Roger Trigg, a Professor at Kellogg College, Oxford, has warned of an increasing tendency in UK courts to prioritise equality above religion, thereby undermining religious freedom. Professor Trigg, who is the founding President of the British Society for the Philosophy of Religion, stated that: ‘Religious freedom and the right to manifest religious belief is a central part of every charter of human rights.’ Yet he believes that the courts are now ‘limiting human freedom itself’. Professor Trigg is launching a new book, ‘Equality, Freedom and Religion’, which cites numerous cases where religious freedom has been denied by the courts. There have been many concerns that, within judicial interpretations of equality law, a hierarchy of rights has developed, with some rights now being seen as more important than others. Recent court decisions have suggested that the freedom to manifest sexual orientation now trumps the freedom to manifest one’s religious beliefs.
Pray: for an understanding that mankind can never place human laws above those of God. (Ro.7:22)
Mr David Skinner is to present a petition to the Prime Minister, Mr David Cameron, in support of Peter and Hazelmary Bull who run a Christian bed and breakfast business in in their home in Cornwall. They are facing a civil court claim for £5,000 and possibly the closure of their business because they refused a double bed to two gay men. It is alleged that Mr and Mrs Bull have contravened the Sexual Orientation Regulations (2007). It must be noted, however, that the Bulls have a policy that denies anyone a double bed who is not married, whether gay or straight. As will be seen, this issue is much greater than someone losing their B&B and possibly their home. Whether we are 'religious' or not the Bulls represent all of us who see that our freedom is being stolen through groups who are determined to re-engineer society. Please sign the petition here.
Pray: that this petition will be well supported and will be favourably received by Mr Cameron. (Dt.16:20)
Telegraph journalist Peter Oborne says tax dodgers should be named and shamed. Speaking at a debate at Christ Church Spitalfields, Peter Oborne said: ‘People and companies who don’t pay tax should be shamed. ‘I believe as citizens and as political beings on the left or the right that we have a duty to shame companies that don’t pay their taxes, that don’t fulfill their civic duties.’ The debate was organised by Christian Aid and Church Action on Poverty as part of their nationwide Tax Justice Bus tour. Mr Oborne said he supported the Tax Justice campaign because there was a ‘very strong moral case’ for paying tax. ‘I absolutely believe that we belong to a community.. He continued: ‘We have an interest in the welfare of our fellow citizens. Just from a nakedly capitalist point of view, you want well trained employees that have received a good education, a good transport system and health services.’
Pray: for the Tax justice Bus tour and that it will help raise the profile of of the moral obligation to meet our tax responsibilities in full. (Ro.13:6-7 )
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/peter.oborne.tax.dodgers.should.be.shamed/30663.htm
Open Doors and Youth for Christ have teamed up to create an exciting new resource for youth groups. My Heart Bleeds looks at the plight of persecuted Christians around the world and the valuable lessons that can be learned about staying in faith through tough times. The resource is broken down into six lifestyle sessions looking at what it means to follow Jesus through the inspiring lens of the persecuted church. The resource, available for a donation of £10, contains teaching material, activity discussion ideas, games and film clips for use with each session theme. National Director of Youth for Christ, Gavin Calver said ‘This is a deeply challenging resource that will have a huge impact on young people throughout Britain.’ Jonny Goodchild, Open Doors youth spokesman, said: ‘My Heart Bleeds is a way of taking seriously our responsibility to stand with the suffering.’
Pray: for the success of this new resource leading to a wider understanding of persecution and its causes. (Job.28:12)