AUSTRALIAN   PRAYER   NETWORK   NEWSLETTER
* NEPAL: VIOLENT UPRISING EXPECTED
* PRAY FOR IRAN AS EXECUTIONS TAKE PLACE
* POLL SHOWS 70% OF IRISH OPPOSE ABORTION
* STUDY ALLEGES COVER UP OF HONOUR VIOLENCE IN BRITAIN
* FRANKLIN GRAHAM SAYS AMERICA NEEDS THE TOUCH OF JESUS
* MUSLIM STUDENTS STAGE SIT-IN TO SUPPORT CHRISTIAN COLLEAGUES
IN IRAQ
* SENIORS TOLD THEY CANNOT PRAY ALOUD BEFORE MEALS
* VIRGINIAN POLICE CHAPLAINS WIN RIGHT PRAY IN JESUS’ NAME
* HOMOSEXUAL GROUP RECRUITING WHITE HOUSE
APPOINTEES
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NEPAL: VIOLENT
UPRISING EXPECTED
Tens of thousands of Maoists staged a massive rally in Nepal earlier
this month, demanding that the current coalition government be
replaced by a Maoist government.   Their leader former Prime Minister
Pushpa Kamal Kahal also called for an “indefinite general strike.”  
The Maoist rebels  suspended the general strike after one week due to
the enormous impact it was having on  daily life in the impoverished
Himalayan nation, but are maintaining pressure on the prime minister
to resign.     
According to police estimates, 125,000 Maoists marched through the
streets of Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu.   They were protesting the
current government, calling for the resignation of Prime Minster
Madhav Kumar, and demanding a Maoist government be installed. Instead
of cautioning protesters to abstain from violence, former Prime
Minister and Maoist leader, Pushpa Kamal Kahal (also known as
Prachanda), announced the start of a general strike that was intended
to bring the nation to a standstill.     
Riot police were called in and Prime Minister Madhav Kuman Nepal said
he would not resign or dissolve the coalition government.   Prime
Minister Nepal asked Maoists to resolve this crisis with dialogue
rather than violence. Many in Nepal see the uprising as a return of
the insurgency staged by Maoists for nearly a decade.     Both sides
entered into peace negotiations in 2006.  Although no violence was
reported, the threat of “indefinite nationwide strikes” has the
people of Nepal “deeply worried.”  
Please pray for:   
*  both sides in this escalating conflict to realize the value of
diplomacy and choose not to engage in violence.   Pray for unity among
the people of Nepal,  for peace in Nepal and for  the Kingdom of God to
come to this Himalayan nation on earth as it is in Heaven.       
*   the Lord to give the government of Nepal wisdom in dealing with
Maoist demands and philosophies.   Pray for freedom for all the people
of Nepal and for democracy to be maintained in a way that glories
God. Pay for  believers to be protected from violence and be
strengthened to continue boldly declaring God’s Kingdom in the midst
of political turmoil.     
*  the Gospel to be proclaimed throughout Nepal and for every people
group, tribe, tongue, and family to hear it and receive Christ as
Saviour and Lord and for  a great harvest of souls as multitudes put
their trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.    
Source: Windows International
Network
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PRAY FOR IRAN AS
EXECUTIONS TAKE PLACE
Five Kurdish prisoners have been executed in Iran  for being active
members of the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PEJAK). As the
government of Iran struggles to maintain its nuclear program under
the promise of new United Nations sanctions, minority and separatist
elements in the nation are using terrorist tactics to punctuate their
demand for autonomy. The Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PEJAK),
affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey and
northern Iraq, is seeking nothing short of an independent Kurdish
nation.
In February, Iranian forces killed four insurgents near the border
with Iraq.   One month later, members of the PEJAK killed a prosecutor
and three Revolutionary Guards. The five PEJAK men executed recently
were sentenced to death for being part of the separatist movement,
and for their involvement in several recent bombings.   According to
one news source, “Tehran claims these uprisings by largely Sunni
Muslims against the Shiite-dominated state are funded by western
Governments.” Kurds responded to the executions by holding the
largest labour strike since 2005.
Mir Hossein Mousavi, the opposition leader who protested the outcome
of the presidential election of June 2009, said he believes the
government’s actions will only further fuel public unrest.   This
could, in turn, intensify crackdowns on groups considered to be
threats to national security – including Christians.  Untold numbers
of Believers are currently detained and imprisoned in Iran, some of
them still awaiting court hearings.   As recently as May 10, 2010, a
pastor was arrested without specific charges.
PRAY FOR:   
* an end to the “tooth for tooth” war being waged between the
government and opposition groups.   Pray for the protection of all
groups – but especially Believers who are being persecuted for their
faith in Jesus Christ.     
*  an immediate end of executions and the persecution of Christian
Believers. Pray for the Lord to reveal Himself to key leaders in the
Iranian government.   Pray for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and
Supreme Leader Khamenei to encounter and receive the living Christ  
as Saviour and for their lives to be transformed.     
* opposition leaders to use diplomacy and non-violent forms of
protest to communicate their needs and desires to the government and
for  the Kurds to not only be provided with their own homeland, but
for this largely unreached people group to be drawn to the Lord by
the power of the Holy Spirit.   Pray for multitudes of Kurds to put
their faith in Jesus as Saviour and Lord  and for the Lord’s plans and
purposes for this nation to be fulfilled.    
Source: Windows International
Network
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POLL SHOWS 70% OF
IRISH OPPOSE ABORTION
A recent poll showing that 70 percent of the people of the Republic
of Ireland support keeping the country’s constitutional protections
for the unborn, has bolstered the work of pro-life lobbyists in
Northern Ireland. The poll found that 70 percent of Irish people
favour retaining a prohibition on abortion, while allowing the
existing practice of intervening to save a mother’s life in
accordance with medical ethics. The poll was published as abortion
activists are taking the country’s pro-life laws before the European
Court of Human Rights to have them overturned.
Pro-life advocates called the result the fruit of “persistent,
committed pro-life educational work. Pro-life volunteers have been
holding public street information stalls every week, rain, hail or
snow, for almost 20 years, throughout the country.    Youth Defence’s
Rebecca Roughneen said that the pro-life views of the Irish are the
result of a “huge number” of voluntary hours in creating advertising,
education projects in colleges and on the internet that are “showing
great results amongst young people.”
“But at the end of the day, the commitment to the daily and weekly
work at abortion and referral agencies and on the street is so
important.” The poll has encouraged pro-life lobbyists who are urging
Northern Irish voters to consider candidates’ positions on abortion
and related life issues. The group Precious Life says its campaign,
urging the public to vote only for candidates who will oppose
abortion, is gathering speed.   The group has distributed thousands of
its Vote For Life leaflets across the north.  
Source:
LifeSiteNews.com
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STUDY ALLEGES
COVER UP OF HONOUR VIOLENCE IN BRITAIN
A report by the Centre for Social Cohesion – an offshoot of the
right-wing think-tank Civitas, whose advisors include the former
Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey, alleges that the problem of
honour violence exists in the country’s Muslim, Sikh and Hindu
communities, even among second-generation immigrants. Women have been
raped, abused and even killed for forming “inappropriate”
relationships or merely for wanting to go to university. The report
found that  women may be attacked for nothing more than listening to
western music.   
Families  are claimed to have imported brides to work in prostitution
whilst local authorities are not acting against such practices
because of “political correctness” and a fear of being accused of
racism. Many South Asian men brought up in Britain want to marry
uneducated women, known as “freshies”, who are “uncontaminated” by
ideas of female independence, the report says.  Government figures
indicate there were 400 cases of honour violence reported  last year.
In many Asian communities,  religious and secular leaders are either
turning a blind eye or  condoning it.   
Nazir Afzal, from the  Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said that the
problem was particularly acute in areas where Islamic extremist
groups were active. In some northern towns there are real horror
stories – from places like Blackburn where people say that you might
as well be in rural Kashmir for all the way that women are seen and
treated. “One woman every month is the victim of an “honour” killing,
the CPS says. “This has been a silent and invisible practice for too
long,” says Shahien Taj, director of the Henna Foundation, a women’s
group in Britain.
Source: Telegraph
UK
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FRANKLIN GRAHAM
SAYS AMERICA NEEDS THE TOUCH OF JESUS
“The heart of a nation cannot be connected to God if the nation’s
people are far from Him.”  according to  the Rev. Franklin Graham.
Speaking at a National Day of Prayer gathering he urged Christians
worldwide  to  pray for spiritual awakening across America, for
repentance and revival in the churches, and for understanding and
obedience to the Word of God. We have some serious work ahead of us
if we are to see our beloved nation restored by the Hand of God. When
God’s people go wandering it is not so easy to get back on track”
Graham.said.
He said  “Prayer is the most powerful resource we have in this life;
yet, many only turn to it as a last resort. When unbelievers pray for
repentance of sin and ask for God’s forgiveness, prayer is the
spiritual dynamite that obliterates the darkness and despair of a
sin-soaked soul.  For those who have already experienced the grace of
Almighty God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, prayer becomes
the catalyst for fellowship with the Lord of our souls, redeemed by
His blood.”   
“By tapping into the channel by which we commune with the One who
calls His children ‘friends,’ we can receive His strength in our
weakness; His guidance in our steps; and His mercy when we stumble
along life’s path” Graham says.”The Bible has a great deal to say
about personal relationships between the Lord and His Creation. He
deals with each of us individually. But He is also the Lord of the
Universe and His eyes are fixed upon the nations and deals with them
individually.  The heart of a nation cannot be connected to God if the
nation’s people are far from Him.”
Source: Intercessors for
America
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MUSLIM STUDENTS
STAGE SIT-IN TO SUPPORT CHRISTIAN COLLEAGUES IN
IRAQ
Lecturers and Muslim students at northern Iraq’s Mosul University
have staged a sit-in to protest deadly attacks against Christian
students. A student activist who requested anonymity said that the
action is in support of Christian students who have been the victims
of bomb attacks and murder. He said the sit-in will end only when
measures are taken to ensure the safety of Christians, in particular,
and the student body as a whole. . Christian students stopped
attending classes at Mosul University after that attack in fear for
their safety.
Student Sami Karim said that the protesters are especially indignant
that their fellow students have become targets simply because they
are Christian. Earlier this  month  Christian university students in
Mosul were the targets of an horrific terror attack. At least 50
Iraqi Christian students are receiving hospital treatment, with the
most severely wounded being transferred to hospitals in Turkey. The
attack has forced some 1,000 students to drop classes for the rest of
the semester.
Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty
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SENIORS TOLD THEY
CANNOT PRAY ALOUD BEFORE MEALS
In  Georgia, where senior citizens are fed meals partially funded by
federal money they have been instructed they must  keep their
before-meal-prayers to themselves.  What was once an open prayer time
before eating has now been replaced by a “moment of silence,”
according to federal guidelines. “You can stop me from speaking, but
you can’t stop me from praying what’s in my heart,” declared one of
the seniors, who seemed to echo the sentiments of others at the
centre. Local Mayor Glenn Jones, is  “outraged” over the ordeal,
and  has legal counsel looking into the matter.   
He said “It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do as
Mayor,  to look those people straight in the eyes and ask them to be
patient with me and honour their God in a moment of silence until I
can have a resolution to this,” Jones said. “For me to look them in
the  eyes and tell them they can’t thank God for their food, it’s
unheard of  ¢â‚¬” I cannot  accept it.”    
Source:
WSBTV.com
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VIRGINIAN POLICE
CHAPLAINS WIN RIGHT PRAY IN JESUS’ NAME
The Governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell, has restored the rights of
six State Police Chaplains to pray publicly “in Jesus name,”
reversing the policy of his predecessor who forced the chaplains to
deny Christ or resign from their jobs. “This victory comes after our
two-year campaign” said Chaplain Klingenschmitt, who led a 1,000
person rally outside the Governor’s mansion in 2008, then submitted
up to 15,000 petitions to reinstate the chaplains jobs and free
speech.
Now that McDonnell has fulfilled his campaign pledge, the six
chaplain heroes who had turned in their badges rather than deny
Christ, will be invited back to their chaplain jobs, and given free
speech to pray “in Jesus’ name.”
Source: Washington
Post
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HOMOSEXUAL GROUP
RECRUITING WHITE HOUSE APPOINTEES
The Gay & Lesbian Leadership Insti ­tute (GLLI) has an ongoing
“Presidential Appointments Project.”   GLLI represents a coalition of
more than 15 Lesbian, Homosexual, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT)
or ­ganizations and networks. In order to “help President Obama lead
the nation,” GLLI is asking for more LGBT individuals desiring to
work in the Obama administration to file applications with their
“talent bank.” The GLLI Web site currently lists the names and titles
of 90 LGBT officials already appointed and serving in ‘high places’
in the Obama administration.
Source: Intercessors for
America

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