Egypt: 'Christian Winter'
16 Feb 2013Egyptians drove President Hosni Mubarak from office during ‘Arab Spring’. Revolutionaries are back with cries of ‘Leave, leave, President Morsi.’ The economy is in tatters, 90% of the 45 million under 30 are unemployed and European powers are reluctant to provide financial aid until the social unrest abates. In the background of every public debate is religion. The US and European powers have blinded their eyes to the fundamental nature of the Middle East; pressure between the Islamic majority and the Christian minority is reaching a boiling point. Christians in particular have felt the heavy hand of Mubarak's police (or their absence) when attacked by extremists. Christians have been fired, denied education, harassed and killed on the basis of their faith, which they are required to declare on official government documents. It will be a tragedy if Egypt's Christians are forced to flee after 1,300 years of successful co-existence with their Muslim neighbours.
Pray: for a modern, progressive Egypt. (Pr.2:10-12)
More: http://www.christianpost.com/news/egypts-christian-winter-89885/
The high profile criminal trial of 21-year-old Christian Girgis Baroumi accused of sexually assaulting a Muslim girl, is viewed by the Christian community as an example of the Egyptian government, Attorney General, Interior Minister and Parliament Speaker using him as a scapegoat to justify Muslim assaults on Christians in 2009. On December 13th the criminal court witnessed another stormy session when Baroumi's defence team withdrew from the trial in protest over the court's rejection of several requests vital to prove the defendant's innocence. The prosecution is using religious language during the proceedings saying, ‘those who cause sectarian strife ought to be killed or crucified'. Pray: for religious discrimination in the criminal justice system of Egypt to be removed. (Ps.11:7) More: ttp://english.freecopts.net/english//index.phpoption=com_content&task=view&id=1172&Itemid=9
East Africa: Violence spreading
16 Nov 2012Dozens of Christian worship places have been destroyed by Islamic extremists in Tanzania and church leaders are fleeing its heavily Muslim island of Zanzibar as the persecution of Christians spreads throughout East Africa. ‘About 25 churches and convents have been destroyed since May. This destruction is mostly confined to Zanzibar where the population is 99% Muslim and openly hostile to Christians,’ explained William Stark, regional manager for Africa of advocacy group International Christian Concern. The latest incidents of violence broke out after a Muslim boy encouraged a Christian boy to urinate on a Qur'an. ‘As a result of this the Christian boy was threatened with being beheaded and at least five churches were destroyed,’ Stark said.
Pray: that Christians in this area of East Africa would be free of oppression and experience the protection of God over their lives. (Ps.119:45-46)
As emergency appeals get underway for people in the East and Horn of Africa, development workers plead for a more permanent solution. A ’toxic mix’ of drought, failed harvests and rising food prices have brought severe food shortages to the East and the Horn of Africa and the UN office for the co-ordination of humanitarian affairs predicts that 10 million people in parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda and Djibouti will face chronic shortages and be in need of humanitarian assistance. However short-term emergency relief work has to be backed up with long-term strategies to enable people in these regions to cope when disasters such as drought and failed harvests occur, says Nigel Harris, CEO of the NGO Farm-Africa.
Pray: for God to break this drought crisis with rain, and for NGOs to develop longer-term partnerships and strategies as well as short -term solutions to climate anomalies. (Dt.11:14-15 & Job 5:10)
In an audio message released on Wednesday, a Saudi leader of al-Qaida has urged sympathizers in the Saudi security forces to kill Christians living in the kingdom. The audiotape posted on a website used by Islamists also repeated an often-made call to overthrow the Saudi government. ‘Those of you who work in guarding the tyrants of princes or ministers, or the compounds inhabited by Christians, or can reach them, should seek God's help and kill them,’ said Said al-Shihri. Shihri a former inmate of Guantanamo Bay who claimed his organisation has received correspondence from members of Saudi armed forces asking for ‘guidance'. During Ramadan pray for the Saudi Muslims (mainly Sunni) living in Dharan, Ras Ta-nura, Jubail, Dammam, Al-Khobar, Hofuf, Abqaiq, Udhailiya and Shayba. (Please know that you are among only a small group worldwide who has ever prayed for these cities by name) Pray: for the thousands of Saudis involved in the oil industry to come to the knowledge of Christ (2Cor.4:6) More: http://www.canada.com/news/Saudi+Qaida+leader+urges+killing+Christians/3385069/story.html
Disabled must be included in development plans
05 Nov 2012Worldwide: Disabled people not to be ignored
Disabled people must be put ‘at the heart’ of international development, The Leprosy Mission has said. The estimated billion disabled people worldwide were ‘not effectively included’ within the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). International leaders were hosted by David Cameron in London last week for discussions on a global development strategy post 2015 - the target year for the fulfilment of the MDGs. The panel is to make recommendations to the United Nations about what should replace the MDGs. The Leprosy Mission said many disabled people around the world were ‘excluded’ from society and at a greater risk of being trapped in extreme poverty, with half of disabled people being out of work. Head of Programmes Co-ordination at The Leprosy Mission, Sian Arulanantham, said: ‘We are lobbying for disability to be specifically included in the new post 2015 framework.'
Pray: for the work of The Leprosy Mission and for a greater awareness of the issues faced by those with any form of disability across the world. (Gal.6:2)
2012 saw a dramatic increase in violations of religious freedoms in Cuba, says Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). The Cuban government has reportedly cracked down on religious organisations and believers in the last year. CSW documented 120 reported cases of religious freedom in 2012, up from a total of 30 in 2011. The number does not include those arrested and detained during Pope Benedict XVI's visit last March - estimated at 200. Church leaders across Cuba reported ongoing violations in the final weeks of December. An unregistered Protestant church affiliated with the Apostolic Movement in Camaguey was threatened with demolition on 29 December. The following day, nine women affiliated with the Ladies in White movement in Holguin were arrested in the early hours of the morning and held in prison until Sunday morning Mass had ended. The crackdown has affected mainly Roman Catholic churches, but other denominations have also been hit.
Pray: that the Lord will protect and bless His church and people. (Gal.5:1)
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has learned that the Full Gospel Church was forcibly closed in Havana Province at the end of February, confiscating all of the church’s belongings, including chairs and musical instruments. This left more than 200 people without a place of worship. A week before the church closure, the pastor of the church, Jesus Hernandez, was attacked by an armed mob as he was sleeping in his home. According to Caridad Diego, the head of the Cuban Communist Party Office of Religious Affairs (ORA), which oversees all religious activity in Cuba, the church and everything inside were confiscated because of a dispute over ownership of the church. This account is contradicted however, by members of the church, who told CSW that the church has existed in its present location for more than 15 years, led by the same pastor and without problems.
Pray: that a resolution will be found to restart the Church. (Eph.2:21)