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In May this year the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia called for the destruction of all Churches on the Arabian Peninsula. Again this week the Grand Mufti (who is also the head of the Muslim community) repeated this statement after a presentation by a Kuwaiti parliamentarian of a bill banning construction of new non-Muslim religious buildings in Kuwait. Not long ago, owing to the consecration of a Catholic Church in United Arab Emirates, the local Christians expected the opening of negotiations concerning the construction of the first church in Saudi Arabia. At the present time 3 - 4 million immigrant Christians work in Saudi Arabia but there are no church buildings allowed to exist. So was the Grand Mufti trying to export his ideology of destroying all Churches in Saudi Arabia to the surrounding countries while making a stand against church building in United Arab Emirates? He stated that ‘there cannot be two religions on the Arabian peninsula.’
Pray: for God’s protection to be over churches in Kuwait, Oman, Yemen, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. May the UN Human Rights Council take a stand for freedom of religion in the area. (Ps.3:7-8)
The Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Rwanda, Onesphore Rwaje, has reminded religious leaders to treat their churches as holy places of worship and not self-enriching business ventures. While addressing over 50 religious leaders at the Democracy and Peace Week dialogue, Rwaje said some members of the public shun going to church due to disappointment of messages relayed. ‘Religious leadership is a calling from God and it is about teaching the Word of God, and not looking for money from the faithful. There are biblical principles urging churchgoers to give offerings and tithes, but it should not be used as a platform to squeeze money out of believers,’ Rwaje advised. He added: ‘Religious leaders are allowed to have their personal business ventures besides performing their church duties; therefore, they should act faithfully and please God by keeping the two positions independent of each other. They must separate God's work from their personal work’.
Pray: for the leaders of the Church that they will concentrate on building God’s kingdom and not on things of the world. (Eph.5:5)
A week before the Rwandan presidential election the authorities have violated press freedom by jailing journalists and closing news media. Also a newspaper editor was murdered last month. The repressive measures intensified prior to the election with the suspension of 30 news media outlets. By excluding them from an approved government list Rwanda’s leading newspapers and radio stations have been banned. ‘The Media High Council’s measures just before the election are highly suspect,’ Reporters Without Borders said. ‘They aim to prevent journalists from doing their job as independent and impartial observers of the election process.’ Meanwhile, in the first workshop for Rwandan Christian youth, 300 believers were told, ‘You are the future leaders of this country and what you do now determines how and where this country will be in the future. Help your families regarding peace building which will lead to the development of Rwanda.’ See: http://allafrica.com/stories/201008030002.html Pray: that God’s purposes for the country will overcome any adversity. (Ps.37:18-19) More: http://en.rsf.org/rwanda-around-30-news-media-closed-a-few-02-08-2010,38076.html
Vladimir Putin is pursuing Islamist insurgents in the North Caucasus and some fear government crackdowns on Islam may lead to tighter restrictions on Christians. However Slavic Gospel Association are training the next generation of church leaders working specifically in cross religious, cross cultural environments where Christianity meets Islam. This training is equipping churches to reach Russian youth and protecting young people from brainwashing radicalism. They are also sending young people to Summer Camps to become agents of peace and love. Many families, tired of war and terrorism, have come to Christ because of summer camps. They are seeing a true Christian message of love. Also in St.Petersburg Buckner International are linking their orphanages with local churches thus enabling Churches to proactively adopt an orphanage. The city churches are now also organising summer camps. The above reports come from Intercessor Networks. For an encouraging prayer insight from Russia’s Schools Without Walls training click the 'More' button.
Praise: God that Russia’s youth are coming to Christ and pray for more anointing on youth outreach in the Caucasus Mountains. (Ro.15:5)
More: http://www.sga.org.uk/news_headlines/power_through_prayer.html
Russia and the United States agreed on Tuesday to try to bring together Syria's warring parties at an international conference, possibly by the end of this month, in an attempt to negotiate an end to their civil war Russia - a staunch ally of Assad – has blocked sanctions against Syria at the United Nations and has supplied Syria with arms. Both Russia and the United States have made clear that peace efforts have been stepped up because of growing concern that the violence could spread beyond Syria. Israel carried out two air strikes against Syria recently. On April 25th the White House said US intelligence agencies believe Syria may well have used chemical weapons against its own people, a view which if confirmed would mark a further escalation in the conflict. Both the US and Russia are concerned that Syria may be dominated by Islamists - threatening Israel, Jordan and Lebanon.
Pray: for joint international peace talks. Pray against the region being further destabilised. (Ps.9:15-18)
More: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/07/us-syria-crisis-conference-idUSBRE94612S20130507
As part of 'Living Wage Week' the Northern TUC will be holding a conference on 'Wages, Poverty and Pay Day Loans - the reality of austerity' on Friday Nov 9th showing how austerity measures have depressed wages and increased the squeeze on living standards and hardship for people in low wage jobs. Facts revealed include * The majority of children living in poverty are in households where at least one person is in work * £6 billion each year is spent in benefits and tax credits to top up the wages of low paid employees * Over 90% of new housing benefit claims are from people in work * If the national minimum wage had increased in line with top earners, it would be more than £19 per hour today.
Pray: for God to give the Government, unions and others in positions of authority His wisdom as they face social and economic problems. (Is.58:10-12)
More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/17329
In a section of Doha, in an expanding development that has come to be known as Church City, thousands of Christian migrant workers worship freely with the blessing of the Qatari authorities. Christianity in this Islamic state was once an underground religion, but today it thrives, thanks in part to people like the Rev. Bill Schwartz, an Anglican priest and an Episcopal Church missionary. In one part of Church City, Schwartz is overseeing the construction of an Anglican Centre. More than 10,000 Protestant Christians from 37 denominations already worship in the Anglican Centre and many more are waiting for space to become available. Until recently, Qatar was seen as a purely Islamic country, but as new leadership tapped vast natural gas resources, economic development exploded. The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, knows that such development brings migrant labour and different faith traditions, provided the land for Church City. Praise: God for the growth of Church City and pray that its influence will continue to grow. (Heb.13:20-21) More: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79425_128330_ENG_HTM.htm
Archbishop Winston Halapua, of the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia made a desperate appeal for prayer for the island of Tuvalu in the Pacific. Children roam the streets because their schools have closed due to water shortages. Wells are contaminated by sea water and they are critically short of drinking water. Breadfruit, banana and coconut trees roots are being contaminated by sea water and are dying. They are the main source of food. The Archbishop’s concerns about rising sea levels are no longer abstract theory but reality, with no rain forecast for Tuvalu for the next three months. The Archbishop has issued a call to the worldwide church to pray for Tuvalu adding, ‘Immediate relief is only a tiny part of the story, the bigger story is this - please do something about climate change.’
Pray: for funding for the Anglican Missions Board as they work with the Church of Tuvalu to provide food and water for the islanders. (Dt.25:4)
Local papers are worried that the Philippines is not ready to deal with Typhoon Haiyan aftermath. The Philippine Star reads, ‘The next phase of suffering for disaster victims can be as awful as the actual event. Apart from disease risks, victims lose their livelihoods - it can take a long time to recover.’ The media calls on President Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino to ‘chuck off politics’ and concentrate on relief efforts. The Daily Tribune says, ‘Whatever political intrigue Noynoy is embroiled in should take a back seat in the mind-set of his administration. Political play is the least that Filipinos need from Noynoy at this time.’ The Manila Times said, ‘Weather scientists fear Yolanda will not be the last monster storm to ravage the Philippines. The national government needs to start drawing up plans now before the next super typhoon blows our way.’ The bad news is that within the next couple of days we should see the arrival of yet another typhoon.
Pray: for the government to make wise choices and decisions, ask God to bless the emergency relief funds and deployed troops. (Pr.8:14-16)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24895620
A humanitarian crisis has been officially declared by the Philippine government in Zamboanga City, Mindanao, in the south of the country, after displaced civilians caught in the crossfire ballooned to 115,000 who are now housed in temporary evacuation centres in the city. Around 300 rebels, part of a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), arrived by boat in the city early in the morning of September 9th, and had wanted to raise their flag above Zamboanga's city hall, military officials said. They then took siege of the city and held more than 170 hostages, most of whom have since been released. The Philippine soldiers and rebels, who are engaged in this standoff, have seen that the violent crossfire has already killed more than 70 rebels and 15 government troops in the ongoing battle. (See Prayer Alert 37-2013)
Pray: for a breakthrough that will bring a resolution to this conflict. (Ps.55:9)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24222760)