Aid works - if it's in time
21 Jul 2011That's the verdict from international development charities this week in the wake of a generally positive United Nations update on progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). The report suggests the aim of halving the number of the world's poor between 1990 and 2015 remains on track. While there are a number of reasons for the progress, such as the increased wealth in India and China, international aid is an important factor in the improvements, said Laura Webster, head of public policy at the international development charity Tearfund. But in recent months the UK government has faced much criticism for sticking to the plan of spending 0.7 per cent of its national income on foreign aid in the current climate of austerity measures. Just last week David Cameron accused critics of his foreign aid policy as being 'possibly hard-hearted'.
Pray: for the ongoing success of the MDG’s despite the current financial climate. (1Sam.2:8)
Agapé to unveil vision for UK
08 Aug 2011Christian ministry Agapé is set to unveil its vision for spiritual transformation in the UK this month. It is holding a celebration at the Broadway cinema in Nottingham on August 20 during which its new national director, Lesley Cheesman, will be commissioned. The event will showcase the work of Agapé and its ministry partners, and include the premiere screening of Agapé's new short film, also called 'Reckless Love for a Reckless Nation'. The film examines the state of the nation, highlighting both the challenges the church in the UK must face and Agapé’s distinct role in the body of Christ. Ms Cheesman said, ‘Shouldn’t everyone in the UK have the opportunity to hear the message of Jesus and witness the counter-cultural values of God’s Kingdom being put into practice? ‘We hold the belief that this can happen in our lifetime! We want to work closer with the wider Church to see lives changed and devoted to Jesus 100%.’
Pray: for Lesley as she is commissioned and for the work of Agapé in spreading the Gospel message. (Col.1:25-26)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/agap.to.unveil.vision.for.uk/28390.htm
Aftermath of Co Armagh bombing
11 Apr 2011
The Church of Ireland issued a statement on the 6th April following the death of Constable Ronan Kerr and subsequent graffiti addressed as ‘views of misguided individuals.’ The statement read, ‘The strong reaction from the citizens in the Bogside and across our city has demonstrated that the sentiments expressed in some graffiti are wholly unrepresentative of the community. Rather they are the views of an increasingly isolated number of misguided individuals. The united voice of the community has been more accurately expressed in the strong lead given by politicians, churches and sporting organizations, not least the GAA, in outrightly condemning the killing of Constable Ronan Kerr.’ Pray: for a united community of believers to stand strong and those striving to revive unrest to fail. (Jer.29:11) More: http://www.ireland.anglican.org/index.php?do=news&newsid=3552
Advice UK, the largest support network for free advice centres in the UK, has pushed out a Christian debt counselling charity from its membership for offering to pray with clients suffering from debt problems. Despite being an active member of Advice UK for six years, Christians Against Poverty (‘CAP’) was forced to leave Advice UK as they were told that its prayer offer was ‘incompatible’ with the organisation’s membership criteria. Andrea Williams, director of the Christian Legal Centre, said: ‘This is a very sad development and further highlights how intolerant our society has become to the Christian faith. There is increasingly a chilling notion prevailing that there is something wrong, something sinister, about being motivated by faith. It should come as no surprise that an organisation with the term ‘Christian’ in its name may have a Christian ethos and may offer prayer alongside its primary services.’
Pray: for the volunteers in CAP and that God will lift them above such ill-advised political correctness and use them more powerfully than ever. (Ac.4:33)
Act now on problem gambling
28 Nov 2011A substantial increase in problem gambling in the last four years is unacceptable and needs urgent action, a group of national churches told parliament last week. On Tuesday, 22 November, the Salvation Army, Quaker Action on Alcohol and Drugs, the Methodist Church, the Evangelical Alliance and CARE (Christian Action, Research and Education) gave evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee inquiry into gambling. In their contribution to a parliamentary inquiry on gambling, church groups will tell the select committee that the government must take action on child gambling, the clustering of betting shops and funding independent research, education and treatment. The 2010 prevalence study showed that the number of problem gamblers in the UK has jumped by 50 per cent to around 450,000 since 2007. James North, public issues policy adviser for the Methodist Church in Britain, commented: ‘The figures speak for themselves: problem gambling is on the rise. But the government seems determined to liberalise gambling laws.
Pray: for all those affected by gambling d for the Government to take a more realistic view of the problem. (Ec.5:10)
More: http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.newsDetail&newsid=545
Some of the gang are believed to be members of the Islamic extremist group Al-Shabaab, which is linked to al-Qaida. Brits Kirstie Trup and Katie Gee, both 18, suffered face and body scarring after acid was thrown at them from a moped. They were victims of one of five acid attacks in the area in less than a year – the latest of which was on a Catholic priest. The motive for the attacks was initially unclear, but reports now suggest it might have been the work of terrorists. Police also seized 29 litres of acid, which they fear was to be used in future attacks.
Pray: that the girls will recover and that the authorities will trace the perpetrators. (Pr.21:15)
More: http://europenews.dk/en/node/71788
Abortion on the basis of gender
25 Apr 2013Birth statistics in the UK show that abortions on the basis of gender could be taking place in some communities. The findings were made after Government officials analysed the boy-girl ratios of births between 2007 and 2011 and found women in certain communities were giving birth to an unusually higher number of males than females. The Department of Health has refused to release information on the nationalities of such women, stating ‘ it was not in the public interest to do so’. Last week a Ten Minute Rule Bill calling for the Government to monitor the sex of aborted babies was presented jointly by Conservative MP Fiona Bruce and Labour MP Jim Dobbin, with its aims being supported by more than 50 MPs. During the debate, Mrs Bruce said, ‘What should cause real distress is that babies are being aborted because they are the wrong gender. The most dangerous place for girl should not be in her mother’s womb. A second reading on the Bill will take place on 26th April
Pray: for the Department of Health and the Government to open up an evidence based dialogue and then take appropriate action.
Disturbing reports coming from England and Wales as national statistics show that more than a quarter of all deaths in the countries are caused by abortions. The numbers were released by the Office for National Statistics of the UK and offers a complete accounting of the mortality statistics for all deaths that occurred in 2010. The report listed a total of 493,242 deaths in England and Wales from ‘all causes’ in 2010. This number includes 224 babies who died ‘before, during or after birth.’ However, the 224 babies who died were not represented in the 189,574 human deaths from abortion in England and Wales in 2010. Adding the total number of pre-born babies who died as a result of abortion in 2010 to the total number of human deaths in England and Wales for that same year produces an overall total of 682,816 deaths. This leads to 27 percent or 189,574 of the 682,816 deaths being caused by abortion.
Pray: that as these staggering statistics become public that moves will be made by the authorities to change legislation to protect life. (Jn.17:15)