Around 200 people gathered in Birmingham Christian Centre on SATURDAY 20 SEPTEMBER to pray specifically for the whole situation across the Middle East and North Africa.

With the day framed in Worship, we moved from nation to nation, praying for our brothers and sisters who face violence, uncertainty, fear and persecution. Moving from the situation with the Syrian refugees, to the refugee camps in Lebanon, we prayed for the Supreme Council of the Evangelical Community in Syria and Lebanon. As we focussed on the nations of Pakistan, India and Iraq, we also prayed about the Islamic State and the fear that it is both creating and breeding across that region. We prayed for Israel and Gaza, prayed for Kenya, prayed for Saudi Arabia and asked God to reveal Himself to those who are seeking the truth in a world that is so caught up with untruth and deception. As a backdrop to the day, we used The Great Commission website seeing how hundreds of thousands of people from all across the globe are searching for God….. take a look.

“IT’S BREAKTHROUGH TIME!”

We met at Birmingham Christian Centre on SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER with a sense of expectation and anticipation. There was an encouraging number of people as we gathered to pray, worship, hear what God is doing in the UK and around other nations and we had the privilege of having GORDON HICKSON from The Mahabba Network.

Following a time of extended worship, IAN COLE shared a story from a recent trip to Egypt. While meeting with prayer leaders from other nations, Ian was stopped by one of the prayer leaders, telling him that he felt God was saying that he HAD to blow a trumpet  in England. There is a deep concern about what is up ahead for the UK and this trumpet should be sounded as a warning to the nation, to awaken. Ian shared that we continue to pray about the highways of prayer, praise, proclamation and worship that God has been speaking about recently for His glory to come…… recognizing that these are exciting, but serious times……

GORDON HICKSON was with us for the day and shared form his heart about the work of Mahabba (meaning love in Aramaic, Arabic and Urdu) Network. Gordon shared how the number one reason for people coming to know Jesus was that they watched the life of a christian friend and the genuine nature of this life drew them to God.

Click HERE to find out how to download resources from The Mahabba Network

We spent a good pat of day in prayer and worship. As we heard more about what God is doing both in this nation from JANE HOLLLOWAY and around the globe, it was wall backed by prayer. In all our praying we were asking God to come into our villages, towns and cities, to come into our families, our relationships and to open our eyes to see Jesus. You can download a very straight forward Advent prayer resource HERE. The day finished as we sung “O come, O come Emmanuel” as a prayer from our hearts.

The next Day of Prayer will; be on Saturday 31 January 2015 – do join us.

UK General Election – May 7th 2015

As the political manifestos are launched and the campaigning begins, how might we pray for this most important of elections?  We need to rise above party politics and pray as never before for ‘His kingdom to come and His will to be done’ in and through the election.

Let’ pray for our own MP’s and those standing for election in our local constituencies; for protection, for the whole election process, for truth to be shared, for balanced  media coverage and for the highlighting of the real issues in need of debate in the coming weeks. As we pray, believe that apathy will be replaced by a real desire by everyone to take part.

The EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE’S website and CARE’s website will provide up to date information and resources as we approach May 7th. We will provide regular updates through our monthly e-News. We also need to remember the outworking of the Smith Commission’s report following the Scottish Referendum before God; for protection for the Northern Ireland Assembly following the Stormont House Agreement (December 2014) and for wise governance to take place in the Welsh Assembly in the lead up to the Election, which all take place during 2016.

Praying for France

According to Operation World, church attendance is one of the lowest in Europe (6-8%); 80% of French people have never owned or even seen a Bible. There are approximately 50,000 full-time practitioners of occult arts (tarot, fortune telling, psychic healing, etc) who easily outnumber the 35,000 full-time Christian workers in France. Muslims make up approximately 10% of France’s population. This is the highest percentage in any European country. France is also home to Europe’s largest Jewish population and anti Semitism is on the rise. Let’s pray for Godly wisdom for her leaders:  President Francois Hollande; Prime Minister Manuel Valls; for those working on the ground in divided communities, for unmasking of other terrorist cells and for a mighty move of God through church and nation. Since 2001 a prayer initiative has taken place during the season of Lent to pray specifically for France. Check out their website for this year’s resources.

Praying for Europe

Most of mainland Europe is covered by the Schengen Agreement (The Schengen Agreement abolished internal borders, enabling passport-free movement between a large number of European countries) as there are no borders controls between these countries – what affects one country affects many – all people including terrorists can freely move between all the 26 countries covered by this agreement. Pray for:
The security services across Europe to work together to tackle those that may be plotting attacks or encouraging others to commit acts of terrorism.
For peace in Europe between the indigenous populations and their Muslim neighbours and communities including the Jewish community, the Romany community and others.
That the church will not be constrained by anti-religious feelings.
The light of Jesus to shine on the governments throughout Europe – so that that which is done in darkness maybe brought to light and dealt with.

We are so grateful to God for raising up watchmen networks of men and women across our nations and for His protection over recent years. The current terrorist threat level for the UK for international terrorism has again been raised to severe.
Two main areas of threat come from a growing strand of radical Islam – committed to Jihad (a holy war to establish Islam). Their attitude is territorial, wanting to impose Sharia law, take over schools, councils, and other authorities. Their immediate targets are fellow Muslims – the radicals want to impose their agenda and beliefs on Muslim neighbours they see as more liberal or westernised. They see Christians and Jews as unbelievers to be fought. As we know, threats of bombings and shootings are very real – and increasingly from people experienced in fighting in Syria. Another area of threat is right wing extremism, growing across Europe and often has a respectable face – but it is pushing moderate Muslims towards the radicals.

LET’S PRAY FOR:

1. The Security Service (MI5) and its national director, Andrew Parker – responsible for protecting the United Kingdom against threats to national security.
2. Our local and national Police Force, operating at many levels including counter terrorism units
3. COBRA – the government’s emergency response unit.
4. The Prime Minister, David Cameron and The Home Secretary, Theresa May; The Cabinet – making decisions on what new legislation to be passed regarding access to communications.
5. The exposure of any terrorists plots being planned in secret. Terrorists to receive revelations of Jesus.
6. Take responsibility for guarding in prayer the transport systems (stations, airports, motorways and ports), city businesses and shopping centres and other places in your local community or the nation as God leads.
7. The Jewish communities across the UK—for protection, grace and a freedom to live normal lives without living in fear of being victims of extremist actions.
8. The Muslim population across The UK: During our Day of Prayer in November, we welcomed Gordon Hickson from The Mahabba Network, hi-lighting how Christians can be equipped to share Jesus with their Muslim neighbours through prayer, care and understanding. We commend Mahabba to you. Many respect Jesus, but have a distorted view of Him. Let’s pray for large scale revelations and that Muslim background believers will be received with love and generosity by the church.