On 28th June three organizations, representing 90% of world Christianity launched a global code of conduct for proselytizing in a bid to reduce tensions between different religious convictions. ‘Today represents an historic moment in our shared Christian witness. This is the first time that a document has been issued by the World Council of Churches together with the World Evangelical Alliance and the Pontifical Council for the Interreligious Dialogue of the Holy See,’ said Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran. The three groups represent nearly two billion Christians. The document will cause all Christians to work in unity as they ‘re-examine’ practices in light of their life and teachings of Jesus.

Pray: that Christians will not only work together but receive God's blessing and become an even stronger voice on behalf of those suffering oppression and persecution. (Ps.133)

More: http://www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?id=4991

Rights activists and religious groups in Armenia say new legislation will increase intolerance towards the country's evangelical Christians and other minorities, some of whom already face prosecution for their church activities. In statements obtained by BosNewsLife they criticized a proposed new 'Religion Law' as well as changes to the 'Law on Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian Apostolic Church' and to the Criminal and Administrative Codes. ‘In practice they would be used to repress religious organizations,’ warned Stepan Danielyan, who represents the Yerevan-based Collaboration for Democracy Center. ‘This is a kind of theatrical farce,’ added Evangelical Pastor René Leonian in a statement distributed by rights group Forum 18. He spoke as his colleague, Pentecostal Pastor Vladimir Bagdasaryan, was preparing to hear a possible guilty verdict in a controversial trial.

Pray: that these proposed changes would not lead to the church facing intolerance or persecution. (Ps.102:26)

More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/17629-armenia-evangelicals-under-pressure-amid-new-legislation

A Christian mission in Bethlehem faces opposition from neighbours and city leaders over a youth centre it established in a Muslim neighbourhood. Pastor Steven Khoury of Holy Land Missions said his father, Naim Khoury, was summoned to the courthouse recently and warned that carrying out Christian work in the town of Shepherd’s Field would lead to trouble. But the trouble had already begun. Muslim extremist neighbours of an HLM youth centre have verbally attacked two youth leaders and vandalized the building’s locks. They also threatened to attack Pastor Naim and said they would ‘break the legs’ of anyone who enters the youth centre. Outreach and prayer meetings are scheduled to begin at the youth centre next week. Also Israel’s UN ambassador, Ron Prosor, told the Security Council during a debate entitled ‘Children in armed conflict’ that Hamas is using Palestinian children to carry out acts of terror against Israeli children. See

Pray: for evangelical Christians working in the West Bank to know God's peace and protection. (Ps.5:11)

More: http://www.persecutionblog.com/2011/07/vom-usa-prayer-update-for-july-8-2011.html

A deepening food crisis in West Africa’s Sahel region sparks fears of famine. Events might easily mirror the devastation seen recently in the Horn of Africa unless urgent action is taken. According to a new report commissioned by World Vision and Save the Children a lack of ability to access, grow, and store food year after year means millions of children in West Africa now live in a state of permanent food shortage. The report calls for a radical rethinking of policies to address hunger in West Africa. Contributing factors to this situation are low rainfall and rising food prices leading to poor harvests and declining food supplies. Crop yields have been nonexistent in some areas and severely reduced in others. In addition recent conflicts, the return of hundreds of migrant workers, and a flow of refugees from Mali into one of the most affected areas of Niger has further strained an already stressed food supply.

 Pray: for the 18 million affected across Niger, Mauritania, Mali, Chad and Senegal who are facing desperate food shortages are in imminent danger of doing so. (Is.58:7)

More: http://www.worldvision.org/news/west-africa-food-crisis-qa

Over 19 million are hungry. The greatest needs are in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger and Senegal. Several seasons of crops have failed leaving nothing to harvest. In many instances this has been followedy by floods which wiped out crops and food stores. Families across West Africa have faced successive emergencies, have nothing stored to see them through another poor harvest and food prices have risen by 40%. Christian Aid has released the following prayer, ‘We pray for our sisters and brothers caught up in a cycle of drought and hunger, for parents struggling to find food and seeing their children go hungry, for farmers seeing their crops fail and livestock die. May the leaders of the nations act with insight and urgency, bringing relief to those who suffer now. We join our voices with those who call for an end to poverty. Amen.’

Pray: for God in His mercy to release the provisions needed for those caught in the poverty/hunger trap. (Ps.57:1)

More: http://www.christianaid.org.uk/emergencies/current/west-africa-food-crisis/index.aspx

A new Sars-like virus discovered in humans could pose “a threat to the entire world”, the World Health Organisation warned this week. The organisation believes the virus is “emerging faster than our understanding” after cases were reported in eight countries - including two in Britain. During an address to delegates gathered at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, director general Dr Margaret Chan said that this virus was now “her greatest concern”. Dr Chan advised the world to pull together all of its resources to tackle the virus, warning that “alarm bells” must be responded to. The coronavirus has infected 44 people worldwide and experts are unsure as to what causes the virus or how it spreads. It has a similar molecular structure to the Sars virus that killed 774 people in 2003. Like Sars, it causes respiratory problems in the patient, but unlike Sars, it can also induce life threatening kidney failure.

Pray: for scientists around the world to work together to understand and manage this new virus. (Ex.15:26)

More: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/world-health-organisation-warns-against-threat-to-the-entire-world-from-new-sarslike-virus-8638434.html

Repression of all types of freedom continues, drug addiction, AIDS, prostitution and exploitation of children are common and the land has seen great violence. In spite of repression of religious, economic and political freedoms the Church continues to grow, although it is still small. Please pray that the government will lift harsh restrictions on religious activities and give a free reign to pastors and believers in the registered churches. Unregistered churches are harassed with meetings broken up and leaders arrested. Pray for unity between leaders of registered and unregistered churches. Many pastors are old, and younger churches are often led by those with little opportunity for theological study and are susceptible to error or bias in their teaching; pray for leadership training, study materials, theological books and commentaries to be imported. Christian literature production is strictly monitored, though Bibles are printed and available for purchase in Vietnam. Please pray for increased production and distribution.

Pray: that suitable people will take up the opportunities to work in Vietnam in development and professional work, particularly with the ethnic groups scarcely touched by the Gospel. (Mt.16:18-19)

More: http://www.operationworld.org/viet#prayer

A group of thugs linked to the Vietnam Patriotic Front, activated by local authorities,(who pay each thug up to 25 dollars for their actions, targeted believers in a house of prayer celebrating Sunday Mass on July 1st. The mob brutally injured dozens of people and is the latest in a series of persecution incidents targeting Christian communities in the area since last November. In response the parishioners have protested outside the offices of the district Con Cuong People's Committee, asking the local party secretary to put an end to violations and respect the principle of freedom of religious profession. But leaders continue to ignore these requests and allocate police to harass the faithful. In recent weeks the traffic control officers have closed access to churches, making it increasingly difficult to participate in mass and services. The faithful expect a strong and resolute stance from the Bishop of Vinh, in defence of religious freedom.

Pray: for the church in Vietnam to be strengthened, protected and encouraged to continue to peacefully speak out for the religious freedom laws of the country. (Mat.16:18)

More: http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Vinh:-Catholics-targeted-by-thugs-and-authorities.-Dozens-of-faithful-injured-during-25179.html