Displaying items by tag: World

Friday, 02 June 2017 00:01

Belgium: EU summit 1-2 June

Disillusioned with protectionism and the US government’s rejection of low-carbon economic models, the European Union hopes that China will stick with the climate change agreements made during the summit in in Brussels. China has a very big air-pollution problem, especially in Beijing. Also the policy for China’s domestic economic development is very clearly a green economy policy. Preventing dangerous climate change is a key priority for the EU. Europe is working hard to cut its greenhouse gas emissions substantially, while encouraging other nations and regions to do likewise. Key EU targets for 2020 are a 20% cut in greenhouse gas emissions compared with 1990; 20% of total energy consumption from renewable energy; and 20% increase in energy efficiency.

Published in Europe
Thursday, 13 April 2017 16:51

The fruit of the Gospel this Easter

Millions will unite to remember one thing this week. ‘He is risen!’ Yet His heart grieves over the Church’s rampant unfaithfulness. Congregations can be filled with cultural Christianity rather than lives fully surrendered to the risen Saviour. Prosperity gospel, works-based gospel, cheap grace, false teachings, sin, self-absorption, and nominalism are blinding and enslaving much of His body across the nations. Matthew 7:16 says, ‘By their fruit you will recognise them. Do people pick grapes from thorn-bushes, or figs from thistles?’

Published in Worldwide
Wednesday, 01 February 2017 17:33

The Story of The Turning

The World Prayer Centre has been journeying with The Turning since summer 2016. We provided prayer cover as this all began to develop and Jane Holloway is part of The Turning National Leadership team. We see this as a part of all that God has asking His church to get ready for in this time of unprecedented shaking – an unprecedented harvest. 

Here is an update from Yinka Oyekan, leader of The Gate in Reading: ‘On the 29th of May 2016 we began what we thought would be a one-week mission at our Baptist Church ‘The Gate’ which would possibly stretch into two weeks. In the end because of the results we were witnessing on the streets we stretched out the mission for a total of four weeks. In that time, we saw over 1850 people prayed for on the streets of Reading with many first-time commitments and rededications to Christ. Quite apart from the large numbers of responses to the gospel the sheer number of people willing to let us pray for them on the streets took us by surprise.

Seven months on from The Turning outpouring that shook our church in Reading, we have been excited to see in practice that this grace can and has been released in other cities. We have gained much insight through conducting five months of mission which has culminated in seeing over 4150 people in England and at last count over 865 in Lille in France respond in prayer to an invitation to accept Christ.

In the UK leadership teams covering over 230 towns and cities have asked us to bring The Turning to their town or city. In England, we are calling the implementation of this campaign to bring The Turning to these places ‘The Big Bang’, a campaign that will be inviting cities and towns to receive the best training we can give them prior to launching a Turning Team in their city or town. We will also be launching a similar event in several other countries in Europe where we have invitations to bring The Turning’.  December 2016

For more information http://theturning.eu

As this continues to develop we would invite you to pray with us for:

  • Protection for Yinka, his family and all the leadership team for The Turning and at The Gate church
  • Wisdom and continued grace to flow as they travel across the UK and beyond
  • God’s presence to be experienced at every training session
  • God’s kingdom to come and His will be done as churches get ready for this harvest
  • For an awakening across the body of Christ to respond to the Father’s invitation
  • For workers to go out into the harvest fields

Jane Holloway….

Published in WPC News
Wednesday, 01 February 2017 16:52

Join in with a global wave of prayer

We want to encourage you, as part of the World Prayer Centre family wherever you live in the world, to support The Archbishop of Canterbury’s call for Christians to join a wave of prayer across the UK and around the world. WPC will be providing resources and updates and will be working with church leaders in Birmingham to provide prayer points and prayer events in the city.

It’s not complicated – Thy Kingdom Come are simply asking people to pray in whatever way they want and with whoever they want for others to come to know Jesus Christ.

• Everyone is asked to Pledge2Pray by visiting www.thykingdomcome.global where there are resources to help and inspire. You can sign as an individual, family, church group, church, group of churches or organisation
• As Thy Kingdom Come falls in half term week in England resources are being prepared to help families engage wherever they are on holiday

The aims are:
• For people to pray with God’s world-wide family from 25 May – 4th June - individually, as a family or as part of a church

• For prayer events to be held across churches in the UK and the world. This will culminate in many larger ‘beacon’ events in cathedrals where communities gather to worship and to pray for the empowering of the Holy Spirit for effective witness.

• For people to be transformed through prayer by the Holy Spirit, finding new confidence to be witnesses for Jesus Christ.

Last year in May 2016 the Archbishops of Canterbury and York invited people to join a wave of prayer between Ascension and Pentecost. The response in May 2016 was overwhelming as hundreds of thousands joined in from churches of many denominations and different traditions around the UK and across the world.

For 2017 the vision is even bigger. The hope is to see at least 80 per cent of Church of England churches and cathedrals taking part as well as many other denominations and the churches of the world-wide Anglican Communion. Leaders from the international Methodist church, the Free churches, the Roman Catholic Church, Pentecostal churches and several of the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches in the UK have all signalled their support.

“This is not a Church of England thing, it's not an Anglican thing, it's a Christian thing! “ World Prayer Centre see this as a very significant element in a fresh call to pray for our nation and expect a great move of God.
What can you do?
We would love people to champion “Thy Kingdom Come” at a local level. In February 2017, further resources and information will be available on www.thykingdomcome.global including tips and materials to download on prayer and details of prayer events and how to organize your own. Please look at these and ensure local clergy and church leaders are aware. Encourage them to engage.

UsePledge2Pray and you’ll be kept updated on new resources and information and if you’re on Facebook or Twitter reminders will be posted there.

Pray for a great wave of prayer to hit our nation and your local area. This is a really important time to keep praying – “Your Kingdom come, your will be done.”

“Jesus prayed at the Last Supper that we, those who follow Him, might ‘be one that the world might believe’. We are invited to make a lasting difference in our nations and in our world, by responding to his call to find a deep unity of purpose in prayer.” Archbishop Justin Welby

As more information becomes available we will keep all WPC family updated. It is a privilege for us at World Prayer Centre to partner with Thy Kingdom Come and for me to serve on the national steering group.

Jane Holloway National Prayer Director

Published in WPC News

Thanks to Robert Maginnis who maintains a vigilant watch over world security issues, here are some serious, worrying situations that intercessors need to keep on the front-burner of our hearts in intercession. They come from his IRAQ-SYRIA UPDATE during this last month of January. Please do read and pray through these potential and developing threats to the security and peace of our world. The prayers of many provide a spiritual shield of protection over the nations:

Nuclear War Danger

Doomsday Clock advances closer to midnight.  The New York Times reports the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists on Thursday moved the clock 30 seconds closer to midnight.  It attributes that change to the global security landscape and especially to President Trump’s statements and actions it labels “unsettling.”  Specifically, the report sites Mr. Trump’s comments about expanding and even deploying the American nuclear arsenal and his alleged “propensity to discount or reject expert advice related to international security.”[i]   Note: I’m not surprised by the Times’ echoing this observation because it fits the paper’s anti-Trump agenda.  Fact is the clock can be moved closer to midnight because North Korea is on the cusp of having a credible nuclear-tipped ballistic missile; Iran continues to pursue a similar capability; China continues to invest in survivable nuclear systems and Russia, our primary nuclear adversary, has poured billions into new ballistic missiles systems and modernizing the world’s largest atomic arsenal.   Mr. Trump, unlike Obama, is not putting his head in the sand.  The world is far more dangerous today than any time sense the end of the Cold War and Mr. Trump sees this and intends to close the gap to make America safer.

China

Chinese warn Trump not to end one China policy.  Reuters reports the state-run tabloid Global Times warned Mr. Trump that Beijing would “take revenge” if the new president reneges on the one-China policy.  Evidently Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen met with senior U.S. Republican lawmakers during her stopover in Houston on Sunday en route to Central America.  China had asked the U.S. not to allow Tsai to enter or have formal government meetings under the one China policy.  Beijing considers self-governing Taiwan a renegade province ineligible for state-to-state relations.[i]  Note: Count on Beijing to quickly test the new president’s mettle either in the South China Sea or vis-à-vis North Korea.

Trump’s State nominee’s confirmation statement earns Chinese warning of war with the U.S.  The London Telegraph reports blocking Chinese access to islands in the South China Sea would require the U.S. to “wage war,” a Chinese state-run paper said on Friday in the wake of testimony by Mr. Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State suggested such a strategy.  The escalation in harsh rhetoric comes after Beijing warned the president-elect not to welcome engagement with Taiwan’s leader, Tsai Ing-Wen.   Rex Tillerson, Mr. Trump’s nominee for State, told his confirmation hearing that he wanted to send a signal to China that their access to islands in the disputed South China Sea “is not going to be allowed.”  He continued that the U.S. would have to “wage a large-scale war” in the South China Sea to prevent Chinese access to the Islands.[ii]  Note: I predict in Future War that the next major world war will take place in the Asia arena and it will involve both the U.S. and China either as adversaries or parties that seek to find accommodation to prevent the spread of hostilities. 

North Korea

Trump threatens to down North Korean ICBM.  The Military Times reports President-elect Trump will face a defiant North Korea early in his administration.  North Korea is talking about launching a newly perfected intercontinental ballistic missile and unnamed U.S. officials in Washington indicate that if Pyongyang launches a missile that threatens American territory it will be shot down.  The exchange in the news suggests Pyongyang and the incoming U.S. administration are feeling each other out ahead of the 20 January inauguration.  What’s not in question is the fact the North Koreans have nuclear weapons and a growing ballistic missile capability. However, there is question among intelligence officials whether Pyongyang has mastered miniaturizing nuclear warheads to fit atop ballistic missiles.[iii]

Trump foreign policy crisis on front burner: Pyongyang likely has enough for 10 plutonium bombsNorth Korea is believed to have some 50 kg of weapons-grade plutonium, or enough to make 10 nuclear bombs, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry’s 2016 defense white paper, which was released Jan. 11, Yonhap reported. Seoul’s last defense white paper, released at the end of 2014, estimated that the North had around 40 kg of plutonium. Pyongyang has also made significant advancements in its ability to miniaturize a nuclear warhead, as well as its ability to enrich uranium, according to the paper.[i] Note: The regime also has enriched uranium, ballistic missiles and miniaturized warhead technology.  Expect Mr. Trump to face a crisis with Pyongyang early in his administration.

Middle East

Iraqi forces gain more ground in eastern Mosul.  Reuters reports Iraqi special forces made more advances against ISIS in Mosul, pushing the jihadi from another eastern district and edging closer to the city center. Meanwhile, Mosul residents trickled out of the hot zone while others returned to their homes as their areas were retaken from ISIS.  ISIS jihadists have fought fiercely with car bombs, snipers operating from a network of tunnels embedded in Mosul’s civil population.   The battle will likely continue for months in spite of recent progress.[vi]  

2016 bloody year for Iraq.  The Washington Post reports violence and military operations in Iraq last year claimed 16,000 civilian lives, making it one of the deadliest years since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.  A report by the London-based Iraq Body Count reported that 16,361 Iraqi civilians died in 2016 and a plurality were killed in the province of Nineveh, the home of Mosul which was captured in 2014 by ISIS.[iii]

Syrian dictator ready to talk.  Reuters reports even though the truce brokered by Russia and Turkey is showing significant strains, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad claims he is ready to negotiate on “everything” at peace talks his Russian allies hope to convene in Kazakhstan, including his own position within the framework of the Syrian constitution.  However, Assad insisted any new constitution must be put to a referendum and it was up to Syrians to elect their president.[viii]

Syrian rebels participate in Russian, Turkish-backed peace talks in Kazakhstan.  Reuters reports Syrian rebel groups will attend peace talks backed by Russia and Turkey in Kazakhstan.  Moscow set the diplomatic effort in motion after Syrian rebels suffered a major defeat at the hands of regime forces.  The U.S., which led failed efforts to launch peace talks last year, has not been involved in the latest peace effort.[vii]

Iran ready to receive fresh shipment of natural uraniumIran is preparing to receive a reported 116 metric tons of natural uranium from Russia as compensation for exports of heavy water, anonymous diplomats with knowledge of the upcoming shipment said, AP reported Jan. 9. The United States and five other major powers that reached a nuclear deal with Iran in 2015 agreed to the shipment, the first since the historic accord came into effect, according to the diplomats. Though Tehran has not explicitly outlined its plans for the delivery, the International Atomic Energy Agency will monitor any natural uranium shipments to Iran for 25 years after the start of the deal.[ix] 

South Asia

Pakistan test-fired first submarine-launched cruise missilePakistan's military test-fired the country's first submarine-launched cruise missile on Jan. 9, Reuters reported. With a reported range of 450 kilometers (280 miles), the Babur-3 missile represents a credible second-strike capability for Pakistan, a statement from the Pakistani military said. Test-firing the nuclear-capable missile is likely to ramp up tensions with neighboring India; the two adversaries are locked in a years-long arms race in which each country views military advances by the other as a direct threat to its security.[xi] 

Trump faces a central Asia conflict; India, Pakistan neck-and-neck in nuclear race.  The nuclear race between India and Pakistan is intensifying, thanks in large part to Islamabad's fear that its military is starting to lag behind New Delhi's. Over the past decade, Pakistan has become alarmed by the widening gap between its ability to wage conventional war and India's. Pakistan has turned to its nuclear inventory to level the playing field. But in doing so, Islamabad has spurred its nuclear competition with New Delhi forward even faster, a rivalry that culminated in Pakistan's Jan. 9 test-fire of the Babur-3 submarine-launched cruise missile. The test of the sea-based nuclear-capable weapon was the first of its kind in Pakistan, underscoring the country's investment in mitigating the threat looming on its eastern border. But as Islamabad takes steps to bolster its nuclear deterrent, New Delhi will almost certainly follow suit, each state engaging in a dangerous contest to stay one step ahead of the other.  Warning: Pakistan’s decision to rely on nuclear weapons to deter India increases the likelihood of nuclear war in South Asia.  Pakistan’s recent sea-based nuclear test demonstrates an alarming pattern of posturing between the two nuclear powers.

Pakistan’s North Waziristan “Epicenter” of global terrorism.  The Voice of America reports the US commander of international forces in Afghanistan recently visited Pakistan’s North Waziristan which many experts condemn as the “epicenter” of global terrorism.  General John Nicholson, commander of NATO’s Resolute Support mission on counterterrorism operations, visited the Pakistan region as part of his effort to work with Pakistan’s military chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who promised cooperation to target al-Qaeda, the Taliban and the Haqqani Network which operate in the region.[vii]

Taliban kill more than 30 in Kabul.  Reuters reports a Taliban suicide attack near the Afghan parliament in Kabul killed at least 33 people and wounded another 70.  The Taliban spokesman said “We planned this attack for quite some time and the plan was target some senior officers of the intelligence agency.  We sent one suicide bomber to target a minibus that was carrying these officers,” the spokesman said.[viii] 

Taliban buy American arms from Afghan ally.  The Washington Free Beacon reports Taliban jihadi in Afghanistan have been purchasing U.S.-supplied weapons and ammunition from Afghan army and police forces.  A U.S. government report indicates just 63% of Afghanistan is under allied control, despite billions in military aid and meanwhile that country is experiencing an increase in violence.  Evidently, according to the report, Afghan security forces are selling their American-supplied weapons to their Taliban enemies.[viii]

Russia

Trump’s State and Defense nominees speak frankly about Russian threat.  The Guardian reports that Trump’s defense nominee retired Gen. James Mattis said at his confirmation hearing the West should recognize the reality that Russian President Putin is trying to break NATO and Trump’s State nominee, Mr. Rex Tillerson, described Russia’s annexation of Crimea “as an act of force” and said that when Russia flexed its muscles, the U.S. must mount “a proportional show of force.”  Of course in response to Russian aggression in Eastern Europe the U.S. and NATO allies have steadily increased air patrols and training exercises across the region.  At this time troops from the Third Armor Brigade Combat Team, 4thInfantry Division, based in Fort Carson, Colorado, are moving from the U.S. to Germany and then railing to Poland with their 87 tanks and 144 other armored vehicles.  This move has the Russians’ attention and drew their criticism.[i] Note: The Obama administration began its eight year run with a Russian reset.  It would appear the Trump administration is setting the stage for a serious re-evaluation of our relationship with Russia that at this point appears more confrontational.

Robert Maginnis, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Friday, 27 January 2017 09:49

Worldwide: prospects of martyrdom in 2017

The annual Persecution Trends report by the UK-based group Mohabat says that as well as the rise of brutalities against Christians in the Middle East, Pakistan and Africa, there is reason to worry about the safety of Christians in India and China. In India, the Religious Liberty Commission of the Evangelical Fellowship recorded 134 attacks on Christians or churches in the first half of 2016 alone, which is close to the annual totals for both 2014 and 2015 combined, adding that attacks on Christians are likely to continue to rise in 2017. In China, the Communist government’s 2016 draft regulations on religious affairs look set to increase the pressure on unregistered churches in particular. ‘China’s policy of Sinicisation, to make the Church somehow more Chinese in character, looks set to bite down harder in 2017.’ Last month, Pope Francis said the Church has more martyrs today than the early Church did. ‘But why does the world persecute Christians?’ the pontiff asked. ‘The world hates Christians for the same reason it hated Jesus: because He brought the light of God and the world prefers the darkness to hide its wicked works.’

Published in Worldwide
Friday, 20 January 2017 09:03

World watches Trump’s inauguration

As Donald Trump is sworn in today as the 45th President of the USA, there is huge uncertainty and concern in many different countries. Some fear that he will be far too influenced by President Putin, for example on easing sanctions on Russia, making a deal on Syria, and settling the Ukraine issue. Relations with Mexico are set for a downturn because of Trump’s plans to build a wall along the border and to deport illegal Mexican immigrants. Palestinians fear that he will pursue a pro-Israeli policy, while others hope for a more active US role in the Middle East than under Obama. Europe will want to see whether Trump’s negative remarks about NATO and the EU translate into a change in policy, and countries such as China and South Africa will wonder if Trump will impose tougher conditions on new trade deals. All over the world, people will watch and wait to see what kind of president we will have for at least the next four years.

Published in Worldwide
Wednesday, 18 January 2017 15:06

Stand together on a global watch

At the last Trumpet Call, we stated that 2017 was going to be the year of the extraordinary; extraordinary good things, extraordinary bad things and extraordinary surprise happenings. I believe that this will not only be at local and national level, but most certainly globally.

For Christians around the world, persecution will continue... and the Church will grow. Political shakeups will continue... but the Church will continue to grow. New leaders will emerge... but the church will continue to grow. Brexit will move in one direction or another, elections in several European countries will take place with as yet unseen consequences, but the Church will continue to grow. The gates of hell will not prevail against the Church.

Already planned for this year are several gatherings of Christian Leaders from different Continents, who in waiting on God in prayer and discussion are looking towards the fulfilment of the Great Commission through worldwide prayer and mission out of real unity within the Body of Christ.

This will be a year like never before. We must look beyond the media’s headlines and stories and see what God is doing, and what God is allowing around the world through His Church to bring His Kingdom here as in heaven.

Fellow global watchmen and women, we stand together on a global watch in faith to see, to warn, to rejoice, to pray without ceasing, as the extraordinary unfolds across the nations.

What an extraordinary privilege!

Published in WPC World News
Saturday, 07 January 2017 02:53

Word of the year for 2017

In a topsy-turvy world of surprises, in a perilous world of uncertainty, insecurity and violence, what might be the WORD of the year for 2017? Some have predicted that it could be ’fear’ or possibly ‘hysteria’. Christians must resist this way of thinking. When some of Christ’s frightened disciples woke their sleeping Master as their boat was almost sinking in a storm on the Lake of Galilee, His words to them were, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’ In a moment, He had calmed the storm. (Mark 4:35-41)  For Christians the word of the year for 2017 must be ‘hope’, a hope born out of faith in the midst of uncertainty and danger. (Romans 15:3)

Published in Worldwide
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