Following unrest in Ferguson in America when an unarmed black man was killed by a white police officer, an inquiry reported that black residents routinely have their constitutional rights violated through unjustified arrests, traffic stops and other actions carried out by a racially biased police department. But USA is not the only country that needs to crack down on racism. In France recently a mayor was in a racism row after a dead Roma baby was refused a cemetery place. The Telegraph reported this week that British Sikhs are often the silent victims of backlash against Islamic extremism. In Russia a report by two anti-discrimination organizations said there had been more than 200 cases of discriminatory behaviour linked to Russian soccer over two seasons, while English police are probing reports of soccer fans' racism on trains and in Switzerland UEFA has charged Feyenoord with racist behaviour by fans. See also 

Five church leaders in Laos were imprisoned last week for being ‘illegal doctors’ after they prayed for a sick woman who later died. They are currently in Savannakhet Provincial Prison serving a nine months sentence. They were also fined for emotional damages and forced to pay for funeral expenses. On the day the woman died, her family received permission from the village chief to hold a Christian burial ceremony on private property. (Christians are denied burial rights in village cemeteries). However the chief suddenly reversed his decision and banned the burial ceremony until the family recanted their Christian faith, which they refused to do. Laos is a landlocked country surrounded by Burma, the People's Republic of China, Vietnam and Thailand to the west. It is ruled by a Marxist and communist government. Its population was estimated to be around 6.8 million in July 2014 and 3.1% is Christian.

A young woman running away from her Afghan village and an arranged marriage is comparable to crossing a busy street blindfolded - there is a strong likelihood that she will be killed for bringing shame on her family. Over the last decade about 20 emergency women’s shelters have sprung up. They have cared for and protected several thousand women across Afghanistan from abuse or death at the hands of their relatives. As the shelters have grown, so has the opposition of powerful conservative imams and the Afghan government. They see shelters as Western assaults on Afghan culture. As the Western presence in Afghanistan dwindles this clash of ideas of the place of women means many gains women made after 2001 are at risk. Although the Taliban’s harsh restrictions on women alienated many Afghans, the idea that women must submit to men remains widely held.

A group of Christian leaders in the Eastern Free State town of Harrismith aim to help people get out of debt and into ‘a spacious financial space’ through an innovative programme that will provide interest free loans and financial mentoring. It’s called Fruits of Righteousness Programme. The vision is to empower the Body of Christ and to bring freedom in the financial sphere. Debt is a huge problem affecting many people in South Africa. After apartheid ended the international development community promoted the microcredit model to bring new jobs, incomes, empowerment and dignity to the poorest black communities and townships. However, the microcredit model has inflicted untold damage on the South African society. Unemployment is high, many of the poorest were forced to repay their microloan by selling household assets, borrowing from friends and family or taking out new microloans to repay old ones. Many are in chronic poverty. See also: 

Last week you prayed into a developing situation in north-east Syria involving the abduction of Assyrian Christians by Daesh. We are pleased to report that nineteen hostages were released on 1 March. However an estimated 200+ are still being held. The nineteen released were taken to the Church of Our Lady in Hassaka. Most are men and all are over fifty years old. There is speculation that an Islamic court ordered their release after 'tax payments' were made on their behalf. In the days following the abductions all sources increased their initial estimates of how many fled and how many were seized. Most sources now agree the number of abductees is over two hundred. The Assyrian Church of the East reported that fifty-one families escaped – but in fact they failed to escape. The number of families who have fled is expected to reach 1,200. Church leaders have appealed to the international community to redouble efforts to stop the killing and systematic displacement of Christians, and to promote a peaceful settlement in the region.

The Nigerian Islamist sect Boko Haram released a video on Monday showing militants beheading two men. It’s their first online posting using the advanced graphics and editing techniques associated with IS. Past Boko Haram films have been cruder, often featuring a man identified as the leader Abubakar Shekau discussing local gripes. The latest one preaches ‘global jihad.’ The footage will stoke concerns that Boko Haram, which evolved out of a clerical movement focused on north-east Nigeria, is expanding its scope and seeking inspiration from global militant networks including al-Qaida and IS. Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Jonathan, said ‘Boko Haram is allied to both al-Qaida and IS’, though it has not been confirmed by the militants who have killed thousands and kidnapped hundreds in a drive to carve out an Islamist state in Nigeria.

On Monday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, reminding them of Iran’s support for terrorist organisations and its stated goal to destroy the Jewish State. He asked the crowd to ‘imagine what Iran would do with nuclear weapons.’ Shortly afterwards President Barack Obama disparaged his comments. On Tuesday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a much-anticipated speech to Congress regarding the Iranian nuclear deal. Again his comments revealed opposition to President Obama’s views. Meanwhile in Iran individuals in leadership positions are propagating poisonous agendas against the USA and Israel. An aide to Iran’s supreme leader vowed to 'raise the flag of Islam over the White House’ and said that taking over Washington would be part of a 'resistance front' in revenge for the deaths of members of the militant group Hezbollah.’ The USA is often mentioned in the same breath as Israel because of its financial and diplomatic support for the nation. See: 

An amendment to the rules of the United States' largest Presbyterian denomination to recognise gay marriage has gained considerable support in its regional bodies, with 51 of 172 presbyteries already voting in favour of redefining marriage to include same-sex couples. The denomination's remaining presbyteries have until June to cast their votes to make the final decision. Currently, the Book of Order defines marriage as being between ‘a man and a woman.’ The new language would remove the gender specific terminology, replacing it with ‘two people.’ If a majority ratifies the amendment, it would take effect on 21 June 2015.

In 252 cities across 19 countries Christians are uniting in a pro-life campaign called ’40 Days for Life’ which will run throughout Lent. The mission of the campaign is to unite the church in repentance, intercession, fasting and peaceful activism for 40 days by those concerned about abortion. They are asked to pray. For 1) the women who are at risk of having an abortion to have a change of heart. 2) For innocent children who are at risk of perishing. 3) For the men and women who carry the pain of a past abortion experience. 4) For the workers at abortion centers. So far, because of previous campaigns as, 9,699 babies have been saved from abortion, 107 workers have quit the abortion industry and 60 abortion centers have closed. 5) For results that could be achieved during 2015’s community-based campaign as peaceful activists show the consequences of abortion in their neighbourhoods. 6) For God’s purposes of life not death for unborn babies.

Myanmar has declared a state of emergency in a border region where fighting between the army and a self-styled militia called the National Myanmar Democratic Alliance Army has forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee Kokang into neighbouring China. The area is notorious for people-smuggling and drug-trafficking. Proceeds from drugs are helping to fund the fighting now raging across the border. A Red Cross convoy was hit by gunfire on Tuesday as it attempted to bring refugees to China. The paramilitary police now guard an enormous camp for Myanmar refugees in China's Yunnan province. Most refugees are ethnic Chinese. Some of the fiercest fighting has been happening in and around the town of Laukkai, just a few kilometres inside Myanmar. Myanmar remains among the ten most violent states for Christians to live. In the past clashes on the Chinese border have taken place between the army and Christian-majority ethnic groups. In 2014 many Kachin Christians were killed and churches and homes destroyed.