Displaying items by tag: Global

China, Mexico and Russia are just some of the countries represented at this year’s G20 summit which are failing to enforce their laws and promises against corruption, and in particular foreign bribery. International bribery is one of the many ways in which corruption heavily impacts sustainable development and economic growth. It hinders fair access to markets as well as progress on today’s most pressing issues like education, healthcare, gender equality and the climate crisis. To make economic development work for all, anti-corruption should be mainstreamed into every decision and policy. G20 governments must enable clean contracting provisions, publish open registers of beneficial owners of companies, and create strong whistle-blower protection. G20 leaders must focus on implementing their commitments and not feel tempted just to keep making more promises.

Facebook will launch a Swiss-based cryptocurrency and payment system, called Libra, which could ‘reinvent money’. It is a huge political gamble, but the rewards could be enormous. Facebook is asking its 2.5 billion users and government regulators to entrust it with a power that governments jealously protect - access to money. Currently ‘Big Tech’ has become powerful but is not doing enough to protect the privacy of users or put a stop to fake news. Nevertheless it wants to launch a project that could give Silicon Valley the ability to track not just what people say and like but how they spend their money. If Libra overcomes political and regulatory storms and develops trustworthy technology and financial stability, it would attract 1.7 billion people around the world who currently lack access to traditional bank accounts. It is claimed that they could use their smartphone to make payments, as inexpensively as sending a text message.

Half of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics live in the Americas, a quarter in Europe, and the rest in Africa and Asia. Catholicism is slowly declining. Traditionally Catholic countries are becoming mixed populations of Catholics, non-religious, and Pentecostals. Child sex abuse scandals continue to unfold globally, causing more people to leave the Church. Folk Catholicism is very common. Mixed with pre-Christian influences, this is a faith of saints, fiestas and hoped-for miracles, an attempted short-cut to blessing and spiritual power that is at times very dark. Charismatic renewal has a wide impact with the involvement of lay people, and the balance between adoration and activism gives charismatics a vitality lacking in much of Catholicism globally. A truly renewed Catholic Church would be a great force for good in the world. Pray that its current trials will result in a fresh consecration to Jesus.

Sir David Attenborough backs a new report by Tearfund, in collaboration with other agencies, stating that one person dies every thirty seconds in developing countries from diseases caused by plastic pollution and uncollected rubbish dumped or burnt near homes. He said, ‘It's one of the first reports to highlight the impacts of plastic pollution on the world’s poorest people’. Open-air burning of plastic and rubbish adds to carbon emissions, contributing to climate change. Multinational companies selling single-use plastic in developing countries must make fundamental changes to business models to halt the health crisis. This report is one of the first to highlight the impact of plastic pollution, not just on wildlife but also on the world’s poorest people. Pray for this report to impact and convict those responsible for introducing plastic to countries where it cannot be adequately managed. Pray for international action to support the communities and governments most acutely affected by this crisis.

More Muslims have turned to Jesus in the last fifteen years than in the previous 1,400. God loves all, and wants all to hear and understand the message ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ (John 14:6) Although more Muslims have turned to Jesus in recent years, another 1.8 billion are still living without a saving relationship with him. Middle East news dominates our headlines, while behind the scenes Muslims are fasting and praying throughout Ramadan. Please continue to intercede for them this month as they fast and seek God. Pray for supernatural dreams and visions that open doors to salvation. Many prayer diaries have been produced to aid intercession. For example Iran 30 helps Christians play a part in proclaiming Christ to Iranians with thirty short, easy to read sections explaining the activity where God is building His Church behind the scenes. See

Muslims around the world begin the holy month of Ramadan on Monday 6 May. Over the following thirty days, they will fast each day as they intentionally seek Allah, presenting incredible opportunities for them to encounter Jesus instead! We can ask God to lead us in prayer for Muslims around the world to come into a living faith in Jesus Christ. There are many resources available to help us pray: one is the 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World. By joining this movement, you will be joining the Holy Spirit’s work in drawing Muslims to Christ. An illustrated prayer guide booklet has daily readings that focus on various topics, people groups and geographical areas of the Islamic world; each day’s subject focus is followed by prayer points. It also features informative background articles and resources for involvement.

16-year-old climate change warrior Greta Thunberg has spoken to the Pope, parliaments and MEPs about species extinction, deforestation and ocean pollution. She is not alone in her action against global warming. For two decades David Attenborough has warned of the dangers. He now says that scientific evidence proves that if we do not take dramatic action within the next decade, we face irreversible damage to the natural world and the collapse of our societies. Since 15 April, Extinction Rebellion protesters have been disrupting cities globally in 18 countries, calling on governments to introduce stricter climate change measures. They said, ‘Prosecution for criminal damage allows us to take this strategy into the courts, providing an opportunity to tell them that, without an urgent and radical change, the consequences for humanity and life on earth are likely to be catastrophic.’ See

The rise of horrific incidents worldwide seems to line up with the Bible's warning of the end coming like a woman with birth-pains increasing in pain and frequency. If this is true, then the need of the hour for God's children is persistent, biblical intercession - a cry for His Kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as in heaven. God's nature does not change (Mal. 3:6; Jam. 1:17), yet He can change His mind and be persuaded in response to prayer. Moses argued with God to change His mind about destroying Israel. He didn’t make excuses for Israel; instead he focused on what would happen to God's reputation and His promises. Seeking God's glory as the goal of intercession gets His attention, and we see the same goal with Jesus’ death on a cross - his mediation between God and man. We deserve judgment, but receive his amazing grace. (Hebrews 7:25)

A new report from the IMF at its spring meeting shows that curbing corruption would deliver an additional US$1 trillion in tax revenues annually across the world; money that could support much-needed investments in health, education and infrastructure. In this season of trade-war fears, threats of economic shocks and warnings of a global economic slowdown, the IMF signalled a clear ambition to take a lead on tackling corruption. Reports for over sixty member countries mention that money-laundering and bribery have more than doubled. Mentions of the term ‘corruption’ increased by over 220%. Transparency International’s report on the IMF stated, ‘It is not enough just to mention corruption. What we would like to see is the IMF also making specific, actionable, and time-bound recommendations to tackle corruption.’

Local ethnic or folk religions have seen great losses to the larger religious movements. They were the dominant faith among 30% of the world in 1900, but only among 9% today. Yet traditional religion has not gone away. Many followers of world religions wear their faith lightly and remain, at heart, followers of folk religions: shamanists, idol worshippers, spiritists or ancestor worshippers. The worldwide fascination with spells, amulets, crystals, and the occult highlights the power of the old ways. People who claim to connect with the spirit-world are still in demand around the world. Their presence is a kind of tax on fear. Yet people who have turned to Christ from folk religion testify to His power over spells, curses, fears, taboos and superstitions, and also in the life-and-death issues like sin and forgiveness. Pray for His light to shine ever brighter into the world of animism.