Micah Challenge has partnered with Christian Aid and Compassion UK to produce a new DVD entitled ‘The Jesus Agenda’. This new production is actually a 9-week DVD-based course, which explores the biblical framework for advocacy through a social engagement perspective. Using the framework put forth by Luke 4:18-19, ‘The Jesus Agenda’ highlights the role of advocacy in the civic sphere and its relationship with the Proclamation, Power and Promise that is taught in Scripture. ‘The Jesus Agenda' aims to raise awareness of God's heart for the poor and how He wants His followers to seek justice for the oppressed,’ the Rev Joel Edwards, Micah Challenge International Director, told The Christian Post. With a new understanding of how followers of Christ are to seek justice for the neglected and marginalised, 'The Jesus Agenda' will enable advocates from around the globe the opportunity to be better informed and prepared so as to demand action from local governments.

Pray: for many to follow the DVD course and that it will have a far-reaching practical impact. (Lk 4:18-19)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/micah.challenge.releases.jesus.agenda/30367.htm

Last May, the Evangelical Alliance (EA) conducted research on the experiences of 15 Christians in Wales who had converted from Muslim backgrounds. Muslim-background believers (MBBs) in Wales number approximately 300, with the majority coming from a Persian background. Apart from Persian MBBs, there are also individuals in Wales from other backgrounds, some British born, others not, including Somalian, Afghan, Turkish and Pakistani. MBBs in Wales enjoy, as would be expected, a great degree of religious freedom, there is also the possibility of individuals feeling threatened or intimidated by their community or family members because of their decision to convert. The trend of Iranians leaving Islam is a social phenomenon occurring throughout the West and is rooted in a number of issues: the perception that Islam is a foreign religion that has been foisted upon them (Zoroastrianism was the ancient religion of the region) and their exposure to a particularly harsh version of political Islam in Iran are both contributing factors.

Pray: that the Holy Spirit will continue touching the lives of Muslims and pray that Christians will come alongside and encourage.(Mk.16:15-18)

More: http://revivalmedia.org/2013/08/04/conversions-from-islam-in-wales-319-report-5/

As Britain continues to have the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in Western Europe, school children under the age of consent are being given the pill without the consent of their parents. In hundreds of state secondary schools across the country condoms are also being offered to pupils under 16 years old (the legal age of consent). And if they express an interest, girls are referred for contraceptive injections and implants. School nurses providing advice and referrals — without the consent of parents — is seen as the only way to reach the most at-risk girls. In one case a 14 year old girl with a headache was refused an aspirin by the school nurse because parental consent was required, yet she was offered a confidential service on contraception. Policy is set in education authorities, but the confidential service is already offered in areas including Bristol, Berkshire, Peterborough, West Midlands, Northumbria and County Durham.

Pray: for authorities and parents to recognise their roles and for them to work together to support teenagers.. (Gal.5:19)

More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/education/contraceptive-culture-usurps-parental-consent

The Home Office is currently consulting on whether to remove the word ‘insulting’ from section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986. This consultation is extremely important because a number of Christians, including street preachers, have been arrested under section 5. It represents a continuing threat to freedom of speech and the word needs to be removed to prevent further persecution of Christian evangelism on our streets. The Home Office consultation on police powers to promote and maintain public order closes on Friday 13th January 2012

Pray: for every detail of this consultation to be resolved according to God’s purposes for Britain. (Ps.2:8)

More: http://www.christianconcern.com/sites/default/files/Section%205%20Consultation%20response.pdf

A consultation is underway on whether civil partnerships should be allowed to be registered in churches and other religious buildings. Under current law, civil partnerships can only be registered at secular venues and the ceremonies do not contain any religious elements. The Government wants to implement a section of the Equality Act 2010 that would allow civil partnerships to be registered in religious venues. Equality Minister Lynne Featherstone said: ‘The government is committed to advancing equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people and to ensuring freedom of religion or belief for all people. While the Quakers and Unitarian Church support a change, most Christians are strongly opposed to the move. The Evangelical Alliance, Christian Concern and Reform are among the groups raising concern over whether a change to regulations will lead to discrimination against Christians.

Pray: for a huge response by church and other Christian groups to influence the course of these proposals. (1Co.2:6)

More:http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/government.launches.consultation.on.civil.partnerships.registrations.in.

Housing Justice, a Christian homelessness charity has spoken out against plans by Westminster Council to introduce restrictions to rough sleeping and food distribution for the homeless in the area. The Council has just opened a four-week consultation on a new bylaw that will fine people in the area around Victoria Station if they ‘lie down or sleep in any public place’, ‘deposit bedding’ or distribute free food and drink. This includes charity soup runs and food distribution schemes which have come up against strong opposition from Westminster Council. The Council tried in 2007 to ban soup runs in central London on the grounds that they put local residents at risk by attracting large numbers of homeless people to the area. It was forced to back-track on its plans, however, after they were met with public outcry. Alison Gelder, director of Housing Justice, believes the proposals are unnecessary.

Pray: for the many charities that reach out to the homeless that their work will not be interrupted and the council make wise decisions. (Jas.3:13)

More:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/concerns.for.homeless.as.westminster.moots.restrictions/27590.htm

Young people are increasingly using online supermarket delivery services to buy alcohol, figures show. A total of 21% of 14-15-year-olds questioned for the Alcohol Concern Cymru Wales-wide survey said they had bought alcohol online. The charity surveyed nearly 1,000 teenagers aged 14-17. Calls for procedures to be toughened have been made but retailers have said they take their responsibilities seriously. The Alcohol Concern Cymru survey found that 15% of all respondents said they had successfully bought alcohol online while 7% had tried to buy alcohol online but were unsuccessful. Mark Leyshon, policy and research officer for Alcohol Concern Cymru, said young people regarded internet shopping as an ‘easy’ way to buy alcohol. ‘Retailers offering home delivery services need to toughen up their processes to ensure that children and young people are prevented from accessing alcohol through this channel,’ he said.

Pray: that the authorities will be able to find ways to stop this form of alcohol abuse. (1Sam.23:21)

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-23124507

Christian and pro-life groups are alarmed by proposals to allow assisted suicide for terminally ill people in England and Wales. The change is proposed in a report published today by the Commission on Assisted Dying, chaired by former justice secretary Lord Falconer. The report recommends allowing doctors to prescribe lethal doses of drugs to terminally ill patients who wish to die and have less than 12 months to live. The patient would have to be over the age of 18 and not deemed to be mentally impaired. The approval of two independent doctors would also be required. Dr Peter Saunders, Campaign Director of Care Not Killing said the investigation was ‘biased’ and the resulting report ‘seriously flawed’. ‘These recommendations if implemented will place vulnerable people under increased pressure to end their lives so as not to be a burden on others,’ he said. ‘The so-called right to die can so easily become the duty to die.’

Pray: for God’s guidance as this matter is debated and that the vulnerable will be protected. (Pr.13:14)

More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/concern.over.proposed.changes.to.law.on.assisted.suicide/29121.htm