Displaying items by tag: Community

Thursday, 02 May 2019 21:26

Anti-social behaviour

A report by victims' commissioner Baroness Newlove warns that anti-social behaviour is being ignored by authorities across England and Wales. She said police, local councils and housing providers were downplaying the harm caused by crimes, and victims being repeatedly targeted were left to ‘suffer in silence’. Meanwhile police chiefs and local government associations said they took anti-social behaviour seriously; but their resources were under strain, and they needed more funding to tackle the problems. People are scared, whether in their homes or in the streets; syringes are buried in children's sandpits, and there are huge increases in 'petty' council fines. Victims say they often feel persistently targeted by their perpetrators, and ignored by those with the power to prevent and intervene. Anti-social behaviour such as vandalism, street drinking, prostitution-related activity, and nuisance neighbours is often treated as a series of isolated incidents, rather than taking into account the cumulative effect it has on victims; affecting mental health, sleep, work and relationships.

Published in British Isles
Thursday, 11 April 2019 23:09

Archbishop and social housing

The Archbishop of Canterbury expressed the hope that his commission on housing, Church and community would be imaginative, thoughtful, and radical when he spoke at its launch this week. ‘This isn’t a time for safe, nice words: it’s a time for a radical look at what enables people to live in communities, to build relationships’, he said. The commission, which will meet for approximately 18 months, will examine how the Church can develop its own housing policy as well as influence the national debate.

Published in British Isles
Friday, 11 January 2019 11:50

Farming and the land

The NFU has a new strapline for 2019: ‘UK – a nation united by food’, underpinned by four pillars: Moral Imperative, Standards and Integrity, Health and Nutrition, and Respecting Nature. Excellent aspirations, but without acknowledging the Lord they are just nice ideas. Pray that God will cause our farmers and those in related industries to run to Jesus and trust Him for clarity and purpose. Pray for reconciliation, firstly between God and man, then amongst people, and finally in restoration for God’s creation (Isaiah 55:6). Bovine tuberculosis continues to devastate many herds of cattle across Britain. Controlling the epidemic is hugely controversial: the role badgers play in spreading the disease, and the effectiveness of badger culling, are hotly contested. Pray for understanding between different interest groups, and that new solutions currently being developed will be implemented effectively and help reconcile farming and food production, animal welfare and care for creation.

Published in British Isles
Friday, 14 December 2018 09:40

Kenya: end police abuse of power

Hundreds of millions of the poorest people in the developing world are abused by police who extort bribes and brutalise innocent citizens, or are held in abusive pre-trial detention. In many countries, parents teach their children to run from the police to stay safe from harm, rather than running to them for help. Recently IJM received a prayer request from the Kenya team which facilitates dialogues with the family members of victims of extrajudicial killings. These dialogues create an opportunity for communities to share the realities of police abuse, bringing attention to the issue and creating an opportunity for leaders to recognise the need for change and improved policing. Please pray that the stories of these families will inspire leaders to take the necessary steps to ensure that corrupt police no longer abuse their power, but protect the citizens of Kenya.

Published in Worldwide
Friday, 19 October 2018 00:23

British victims of modern slavery

A report has revealed that the number of British people referred to the Salvation Army’s specialist support for adult victims of modern slavery has nearly doubled since last year to 86 people - and that is the tip of the iceberg. Traffickers systematically target and exploit the vulnerable; those with mental health problems, people without secure family networks or experiencing homelessness or addicts. After years of substance misuse, 30-year-old J was without work or a home. At this extremely vulnerable stage in his life, he was targeted by dealers who forced him to sell drugs on their behalf around the country with promises of money, which soon changed to threats and coercion making it impossible for him to escape. He was rescued when police arrested him for dealing, but soon realised he was more victim than perpetrator. After months in a Salvation Army safe house, J is now living independently and receiving professional support to overcome his addictions.

Published in British Isles
Friday, 19 October 2018 00:21

Praying for our communities

The following is part of a recent prayer and declaration from Passion for the Nation: ‘We come into agreement with Jesus’ words, “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall”. We decree and declare in this nation, every wall of division will be removed, barriers of ethnicity, religion and culture will fall, that communities will be both integrated and safe. We call everyone in our towns and cities into agreement with Your word that “the stranger living among you must be treated as one of your native born”, and we speak Godly wisdom into Government agencies, local and national, community groups and religious organisations seeking to bring respect and safety into society. As Your Spirit moves in this nation, we decree and declare that the Spirit of reconciliation, peace and self-control will become prevalent and desired in our streets, replacing prejudice, anger, hatred, and revenge.’

Published in British Isles
Friday, 07 September 2018 00:17

Armed forces abroad

4,000 British personnel from all three services will be training alongside the Omani military in October. Amongst them there will probably be practising Christians. Pray for the chaplains who will be travelling with their unit as they give spiritual support, both publicly and privately, providing pastoral care for those away from home for the first time and offering moral guidance to young men. Oman is characterised by pride, diversity, rapid development and a people clinging to traditional Islamic values and customs. Recently technology has opened avenues into the world. 50% of the population is under 16. Although there is resistance to the Gospel, God’s Spirit is drawing Omanis into a saving relationship with Him. Pray that the Christian military will demonstrate to their Omani colleagues, in actions and conversations, their faith and dependence on Jesus Christ. Pray for the chaplains in the group to have God's wisdom in all their counselling. See also

Published in British Isles
Friday, 27 April 2018 01:13

The blessing of working together

God does amazing things through his Church, often when different denominations work together in unity. Christians who work in this way find they are blessed. This was shown when Bristol HOPE brought together 1,400 volunteers from 3 to 7 April, to take part in a city-wide mission in 25 communities on 170 community projects, 25 events, and 15 family fun days. It resulted in more than twenty people becoming Christians; they are now being followed up by local Bristol churches. The volunteers included 500 young people from Soul Survivor, serving alongside local churches and organisations to bless the local community, putting Jesus’ love into words and actions.

Published in Praise Reports
Friday, 19 January 2018 10:18

Government minister to tackle loneliness

Theresa May has appointed Tracey Crouch, the minister for sport and civil society, to head a government-wide group with responsibility for policies connected to loneliness. She will implement one of the main recommendations of a report by the Jo Cox Commission. The Government said it would develop a wider strategy on the issue, gather more evidence and statistics, and provide funding for community groups to start activities which connect people. Researchers say that nine million people often or always feel lonely; the prime minister said, ‘For far too many people, loneliness is the sad reality of modern life’. Pray for Social Services, churches, charities and community leaders to address loneliness endured by the elderly, carers, new parents, refugees and the bereaved. Pray for Ms Crouch and her team to have a specific God-given anointing for the new role they have been given. See also

Published in British Isles
Friday, 19 January 2018 10:13

‘Family breakdown’ minister needed

Lord Farmer, a committed Christian, has called for the appointment creation of a ‘minister for family breakdown’ to tackle the huge problems facing the nation. He grew up in a chaotic family with alcoholic parents but became a successful businessman. In a newspaper article he refers to the ‘devastating effect of family breakdown upon the lives of young people that affect their ability to succeed in life.’ He said that all government departments experience the cost of family breakdown, and all political parties are guilty of causing the current problems. Some people say there is nothing wrong with the family; it has just changed to first marriages, remarriages, cohabiting couples, lone-mother families, lone-father families, stepfamilies, multi-parent families and multi-sibling families. Lord Farmer said these ‘reconstituted’ families not only place a stress on the adults involved, but have strongly negative effects upon the children, in terms of health, education, peer group relationships and life chances.

Published in British Isles
Page 5 of 7