Two doctors have been killed in Afghanistan, police officers have been bombed in Iraq, and plans for a Muslim centre to go up on Ground Zero are underway all, in the name of Islam. The only way to counteract these kinds of militancy, and more importantly, to save the lives of millions of Muslims is to introduce them to the Gospel. Fouad Masri of Crescent Project says Ramadan is the perfect time. Ramadan is a 30-day observation of fasting and prayer for Muslims around the world. August 11 marked Day One of the celebration for 2010. During Ramadan, many Muslims take time to truly seek out God and truth. ‘This is a time when they're thinking about God and religion,’ explains Masri. He says this makes Ramadan the perfect time to start conversations about Christ. ‘We can come in and share with Muslims the teachings of Jesus, whom many Muslims claim to be one of the prophets.' (See Prayer Alert 3110) Pray: for God’s intervention into the hearts and minds of Muslims as they pray. (Eph.5:14)
Radical police integrity reforms announced
14 Feb 2013Theresa May introduced measures to root out police corruption. All officers must declare second jobs they do. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) will expand to investigate all serious complaints. Last year the IPCC investigated only 130 of the 2,100 cases referred to it, the remainder returned to individual police forces to investigate. Nearly a third of these internally-investigated complaints were found to have been mishandled at appeal. The Home Secretary will draw on the resources currently devoted to the internal professional standards departments of individual police forces to provide the increased capacity for the IPCC, and will give the IPCC powers to investigate private sector companies working for the police. Ms May also said she was prepared to consider any further legislative changes requested by the Commission.
Pray: that all investigations into complaints against the police will be just and righteous – may there be a better atmosphere of confidence in our police. (Ps.9:16)
More: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/media-centre/press-releases/1155613
Queen's symbolic Ireland visit
19 May 2011
The Queen is sowing seeds of reconciliation that no amount of government negotiation could achieve. The Queen, who arrived wearing emerald green, laid a wreath at Dublin’s Garden of Remembrance which commemorates those who died resisting the British rule in the 1916 revolution. The wreath-laying ceremony has been viewed as a symbolic act of reconciliation between the two countries. The British national anthem was played, which is something that would have been unthinkable ten years ago. A motorcade then took the 85-year-old Queen to sign a visitors' book dating back to 1802 and plant an Irish oak sapling. Her actions mirror Queen Victoria’s planting a redwood there in 1861. HM visited Trinity College Dublin where she viewed the Book of Kells, a ninth century gospel manuscript kept in the Old Library with the college's royal charter signed in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. The visit coincides with the 37th anniversary of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. Pray: for seeds of reconciliation sown by HM Head of State and Church to produce abundant fruit of God's purposes for our nations. (Jn.4:35-37) More: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/queen-visits-ireland-despite-bomb-threat-030220372.html
Queen gives warning to C of E Synod
25 Nov 2010
The Queen has spoken of the ‘difficult’ and ‘painful’ choices facing the Church of England as she formally opened the Church's General Synod. She spoke of the ‘need to communicate the Gospel with joy and conviction in our society’. The Queen addressed the 476 members of the Church's governing body as they marked the start of a five-year term. The Synod will debate measures to keep the Church together over issues such as same-sex blessings. Its members are preparing to discuss Prime Minister David Cameron's ‘big society’ idea. Before her address, the Queen, who is Supreme Governor of the Church of England, attended a service of Holy Communion at Westminster Abbey, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh. Speaking at the Synod meeting, she said: ‘The new Synod will have many issues to resolve to ensure that the Church of England remains equipped for the effective pursuit of its mission and ministry'. Pray: for the General Synod that all members will be open to God’s guidance in their forthcoming deliberations. (2Tim.1:14)
Quakers in Britain call for greater tax justice
08 Dec 2011Quakers in Britain, as members of the ‘Close the Gap Campaign’, have called for greater tax justice in a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Caroline Lucas MP, Kate Green MP and Jeremy Corbin MP have introduced a Private Members Bill (Tax and Transparency Bill) to enhance transparency in corporate payment of tax. Tax evasion and avoidance is estimated by the Treasury to cost the UK purse at least £35 billion annually. Others estimate the number to be substantially higher. This is nearly nine per cent of UK tax revenue and the efficient collection of this revenue would lessen the demand to cut social and welfare expenditure which is hurting the poorest in our communities so much. Treasury estimates also suggest that those who are avoiding paying their contribution are mainly wealthy individuals and corporations, so the recouping of this money would not harm the poorest and most vulnerable.
Pray: that this Private Members Bill bring the right response from those who avoid paying correct taxes. (Ps.1:6)
More than 1,500 Quakers will gather in Canterbury next week for their annual meeting to discern the way ahead for Quakers in Britain. The eight-day programme for all ages will be a mix of worship, learning, teaching,celebration, business, spiritual growth and fun - including a ceilidh and the making of patchwork quilts. The theme for the Yearly Meeting Gathering at the University of Kent, from Saturday 30 July to Saturday 6 August, is ‘Growing in the Spirit: changing the way we live to sustain the world we live in’. More than 270 under 19 year olds will take part in a parallel programme, exploring the same theme, with 107 taking part in Junior Yearly Meeting for 15 – 18 year olds and 165 in the children and young people’s programme.' Yearly Meeting Gathering is a high point of the Quaker year and we have a chance to discern together what God requires of us in the world'.
Pray: that the Holy Spirit would give his wisdom and insight to envision this gathering. (Ac.2:17)
A housing trust’s decision to demote a Christian after he said on Facebook that gay weddings in churches were ‘an equality too far’ was described as an ‘extraordinary over-reaction’ in court yesterday. Adrian Smith lost his managerial position and had his salary cut by 40 per cent after his employer, Trafford Housing Trust, said his Facebook comments amounted to gross misconduct. Yesterday Mr Smith’s lawyer, Hugh Tomlinson, QC, said: ‘The whole thing is a huge and extraordinary over-reaction’, as he also raised suggestions of entrapment. Mr Smith is trying to recover his lost earnings, and his case is supported by The Christian Institute, a national charity that protects the civil liberty of Christians. The court will decide whether the Trust breached Mr Smith’s employment contract and interfered with his right to free speech. The case is set to conclude this week although judgment is expected at a later date.
Pray: for Mr Smith and for the outcome of this case. (1Pe.3:15)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/qc-demoting-christian-housing-manager-was-over-reaction/
Putting the 'fair' back into welfare
24 Aug 2012This is the theme of an expert panel discussion that will take place at the Greenbelt Festival, at 11am on Saturday 25th August 2012. The controversial Welfare Reform Act has reignited debate about the scope and nature of public support for children, carers, disabled people and vulnerable people in society. So is ‘the welfare state’ a thing of the past? Who is welfare for? Who provides for whom? And what is the role of voluntary and faith bodies? This Children’s Society panel in association with the Christian think-tank Ekklesia looks at the future of ‘welfare for all’ in tough economic times, and asks how fairness and creativity can help chart fresh ways forward. The speakers are: Sam Royston (Children’s Society policy adviser) - Sue Marsh (Disabled activist, Spartacus Welfare Campaign) - Savi Hensman (Care and equalities adviser, Christian commentator) - Simon Barrow (Ekklesia think-tank).
Pray: that the discussions will lead to a wider understanding of fairness in this generation and beyond. (Pr.2:9)