Pakistan: pray for Pastor Zafar
19 May 2022
Zafar Bhatti, Pakistan’s longest serving blasphemy convict (he has been in prison for ten years) had his life sentence increased to hanging in January 2022 - even though every piece of physical and electronic evidence suggests his innocence. His conviction was based on an unsubstantiated report made by police in the early stages of their investigation, when he was beaten into a false confession. He could be killed any day, and is being denied bail on health grounds despite substantial health concerns. Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy laws are evidently being used as a tool for discrimination against a Christian pastor. Staff gave him tablets for diabetes which caused pain and vomit with traces of blood. Doctors changed his medicine and the side-effects stopped. But now (14 May) he has a huge swelling in his left leg, from his feet to the top of his thigh. British Asian Christian Association (BACA) is supporting Zafar and his wife while they suffer the ignominy of this unfounded blasphemy conviction.
Pipeline awaits approval
19 May 2022
The EU is finding it difficult to decrease its dependence on Russian oil and gas. One alternative is the proposed EastMed pipeline, which would carry natural gas extracted from fields under the waters of Israel's and Cyprus's exclusive economic zones to Greece and from there to other European countries. The pre-feasibility studies of the pipeline, conducted from 2015-18 and paid for by the EU, found that the project is ‘technically feasible, economically viable and commercially competitive’. The US under secretary of state for political affairs, meeting with her counterparts in Turkey, has said that more pipelines are needed in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, the USA prefers to steer business to Turkey rather than to America's democratic allies, Cyprus, Israel and Greece. Algerian gas pipelines are also acceptable to the Americans, but the long-planned EastMed pipeline is not.
Eritrea: persecution and prisoners
19 May 2022
Many face extreme poverty as drought and food shortages are serious challenges in this one-party state. Christians in denominations not recognised by the government are persecuted; many are under house arrest, and over 3,000 are in prisons that are beyond description. Some are kept in metal, unsanitary, unventilated shipping containers in the desert - tin cells that are almost too hot to touch by day and freezing cold at night. They are beaten to get them to renounce their faith. The government has seized church assets. All denominations are drawn together in fellowship through decades of war, drought, and government oppression, but the intense suffering of the Church in Eritrea is one of the untold stories. Pray that Christians may remain fervent for Jesus amid hardship and make a significant impact on their nation and beyond. Evangelicals now operate through underground networks in homes. Around twenty or more networks are known, but numbers are impossible to ascertain.
India: heatwave in the north
19 May 2022
Brutal heatwaves are causing millions of people to struggle. Temperatures hit a record 49.2C (120.5F) in Delhi in its fifth heatwave since March. Officials in many parts of India are asking people to take precautions, as temperatures are set to remain high and could cause health concerns for the elderly, infants and people with chronic diseases. Pray for farmers whose wheat harvests have been affected. Pray for the poor who have fewer ways of keeping cool and fewer options to stay inside, away from the heat. They have to work outside during the hottest hours. Pray for the children in rural areas where schools are in sheds with tin roofs - unbearable in the heat. There are places in India where the temperature itself may not be that high, but when combined with high humidity, life is very difficult. These record heatwaves are a dramatic example of climate change: see
North Korea: over a million Covid cases
19 May 2022
Last week we prayed for North Korea after Covid reached it. The World Council of Churches (WCC) has now warned of a major humanitarian crisis. There are rising Covid cases (currently 1.2 million) and 50+ deaths. 5% of the population is being monitored. The population is unvaccinated, and without adequate ventilators or other essential supplies the risk of an unprecedented death toll is very high. This outbreak greatly compounds the pre-existing humanitarian situation, particularly related to food insecurity. The WCC is calling for urgent humanitarian responses by the international community which are equal to the gravity of the crisis. In particular, newly developed antivirals such as Paxlovid must be provided as a matter of urgency, as well as diagnostics, ventilators, PPE, vaccines, and other medical needs, as well as essential food supplies. WCC wants centralised coordinated approaches through the UN, and for current sanctions to be lifted as a matter of fundamental ethical and humanitarian responsibility.
USA: airline fired Christians 'illegally'
19 May 2022
According to a lawsuit, Alaska Airlines violated federal and state anti-discrimination laws when it fired two Christian flight attendants who spoke out against the Biden administration-backed Equality Act bill which adds ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity’ to a protected classes list for public places, education and employment. Marli Brown and Lacey Smith, who have brought the lawsuit, were fired shortly after expressing concern about the bill after the airline asked for employees’ comments on it. They were compelled by their Christian faith to speak out against the bill's impact on religious freedom and women's sports, among other things. The airline immediately removed them from flight schedules, terminated their employment, and disparaged their religious expression and beliefs as 'hateful,' 'discriminatory,' and 'offensive’. Alaska Airlines' treatment of the two women and its various public statements show that it does not tolerate employees who hold biblically-based, traditional religious beliefs on issues of sexual morality, the lawsuit says.
REGISTER HERE | ONLINE | FREE
We are just a few days away from the World Prayer Assembly 2 and we really don’t want you and your organisation to miss the opportunity to be part of this free unique online global gathering!
Please would you help us in two ways…
- Join Us! - Prayerfully consider joining us for the daily Prayer Celebrations, each day at 7pm Jakarta time and for whichever of the Regional Assemblies and plenaries you are able. Watch the video! A summary follows, with more info on the website.
- Forward this Email! - Help us get the message out by sharing this email and the social media flyer above with your networks and contacts.
We look forward to welcoming you to the World Prayer Assembly 2.0 online: “Blessing all nations, peoples and cities with the transforming love and goodness of our God”!
Main Daily Plenary Prayer Celebrations
7pm Jakarta / WIB (12 noon UTC | 5.30pm IST | 5am PDT | 8am EDT)
We invite everyone to join us for these united prayer and worship sessions!
The daily themes are:
+ Indonesian Worship Teams + Upper Room Worship + Karen Davis Worship
Praise & Worship | Focused Prayers | Keynote Speakers | Inspiring Videos | Interviews
Regional Assemblies
These regional gatherings across the three days will bring together believers from the corresponding areas of the world along with those who have a calling to be informed and pray for them.
Times are Jakarta Local Time (Convert Time):
Briefings | Group Prayers | Network | Interviews | Discussion | Praise & Worship
Inspirational Speakers + Worship
WPA 2.0 welcomes dozens of international leaders / speakers including
Luis Bush - Transform World Connections, Dr Jason Hubbard -IPC,
Werner Nachtigal - GO Movement, Dr Niko Njotorahardjo - Gereja Bethel Indonesia,
Daniel Pandji - My Home Indonesia, Graham Powers - Unashamedly Ethical,
Rev. Rick Ridings - Succat Hallel 24/7 Jerusalem, John Robb - Transformation Prayer Fndn. / IPC,
Tom Victor - Great Commission Coalition, Dr Bambang Widjaja - Communion of Churches Indonesia
And many more!
Praise and Worship will be led by our host nation's Indonesian Worship Teams
along with Upper Room Worship and Karen Davis Worship.
Prayer + Mission Connect Center
Open to Registered Delegates!
The World Prayer Assembly's Prayer and Mission Connect Center provides an amazing opportunity to meet with representatives of key prayer and missions organizations in real time - as if you were wandering around an exhibition hall!
You can network with other delegates using a state of the art networking feature, once you are logged on.
Do take advantage of this virtual Kingdom marketplace and networking centre… and may you be inspired and encouraged as you seek the Lord to guide and connect you on your journey of 'Great Commission' service for Him!
Please register on this website to participate in WPA 2 and join brothers and sisters in Christ from throughout the world this next week: www.wpa2022.org.
If you could also, the planning team would deeply appreciate your getting this word out to any others in your network so that we may have participants from every tribe, tongue and nation just as will happen around His throne one day!
We look forward to meeting you online!
Blessings,
Dr Jason Hubbard / Pastor Daniel Pandji – Co-Chairpersons
World Prayer Assembly 2
www.wpa2022.org
Andy’s freedom
13 May 2022
Good News for Everyone (formerly the Gideons) distribute Bibles in hospitals, hotels, education, public services, clubs and prisons. A Bible in Andy’s cell at Aylesbury Young Offenders Prison turned his life around. ‘While in prison, I decided to take my own life. My situation had become so hopeless I had lost the will to live. I made a noose and decided to fix it to the window then let myself hang to death. At that moment a quiet voice spoke to me “Just read that Bible”. On the shelf sat a copy of the New Testament and Psalms. I started reading at the beginning of Matthew. At Luke, the story of the lost son, my tears began flowing, my hopelessness disappeared, and the wretchedness I suffered went. If no Bible had been in that cell, I would be in hell right now, instead of living my life in the joy of the Lord!’