* CURRENCY REFORMS FAILING IN NORTH KOREA
* JEWISH PRAYER FOCUS 2010
* PRAYER ALERT FOR THE SEASON OF RAMADAN
* GOD CAN SAVE THE PHILIPPINES, SAYS NEW PRESIDENT
* BABY BORN HEALTHY DESPITE DOCTORS CALL TO ABORT
* KILLING OF CHRISTIANS TRIGGERS UNREST IN
PAKISTAN
———————————————–
CURRENCY REFORMS
FAILING IN NORTH KOREA
The economy has gone into free fall since the reforms went into place
in November 2009. Carl Moeller with Open Doors explains that the
country is in chaos and panic.  ¢â‚¬Å“People who have tried for their
entire lifetime to save a meagre sum of money have found it devalued
a thousand fold. Food has become way too expensive, ¢â‚¬  says an Open
Doors source.  ¢â‚¬Å“You can compare the first months of this year with the
1990s when so many people died of starvation. The situation has
improved somewhat, but horrendous things are still taking
place ¢â‚¬ 
This Open Doors source calls what ¢â‚¬â„¢s happening  ¢â‚¬Å“a terrible blow to our
people. The government is letting people down… We were being left
to fend for ourselves. ¢â‚¬  The source goes on to say,  ¢â‚¬Å“Of course, the
situation was bad compared to other countries. People were dying of
starvation, but many others succeeded in surviving. After the
currency reform, people started to panic. Many literally suffered
from heart attacks when they heard they had lost their savings.

One woman who had bought rice in China and had traded it for a lot of
money in North Korea. A day later, all that money had been reduced to
mere paper. She committed suicide. Some of my friends and
acquaintances had been saving up for years. They have enormous
regrets about that now. ¢â‚¬  Worse yet, Moeller says,  ¢â‚¬Å“Wages are no
longer being paid. How can you work without wages? What will keep you
from revolt? If North Korea goes into chaos, truly, the actions of a
madman can ¢â‚¬â„¢t be predicted. ¢â‚¬ 
The government also announced in December 2009 that people could only
use U.S., European, and Chinese currencies. Most people were
surviving before, but even that is in question now. Moeller says Open
Doors has been helping, and it is keeping the spark of the Gospel
bright.  ¢â‚¬Å“We ¢â‚¬â„¢ve had numerous reports that Bibles, radios, food,
clothing and shelter has literally been the difference in some cases
between a despairing and defeated and even extinct church, and a
church that ¢â‚¬â„¢s been able to survive and reach out to its
neighbours. ¢â‚¬ 
Please pray:
* for North Korean Christians who are suffering not only severe
persecution but also the lack of food for their families.
* that the Word of God would continue to go out in the world ¢â‚¬â„¢s most
restrictive government.
* that Christians will be a shining light in an otherwise dark and
dreary country.
Source: Intercessors
Network
———————————————–
JEWISH PRAYER
FOCUS 2010
September 8 – 2922 days of focused prayer for the Jewish
people Miracles of protection against rocket attacks in Sderot and
pastors ¢â‚¬â„¢ cars torched in Beth Shean. Amidst all the difficulties of
life in Israel, God continues to multiply and grow the
congregations. He is answering our prayers! You can learn about
God ¢â‚¬â„¢s work amongst Messianic congregations and ministries in this
year ¢â‚¬â„¢s Jewish Prayer Focus. The Jewish Prayer Focus is a 22-day call
to prayer for the Jewish people group (Sept 8-29), which coincides
with the Holy Days of the Biblical calendar in Lev 23:26-44, which
foreshadow the return of the Messiah. It includes the Feast of
Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. In
God ¢â‚¬â„¢s calendar this is a time of soul-searching, repentance and then
rejoicing. Our main focus is to pray for a harvest of souls among
the Jews. The booklet contains teachings about the holidays from an
OT and NT perspective, written by Messianic Jewish leaders,
testimonies, introductions to Israeli congregations and prayer points
for each day. Each year the dates, articles and writers differ.
There are 18 new writers this year. The project is endorsed by
Pastor Lawrence Hirsch (President of the Messianic Jewish Alliance of
Australia and John Dawson (President, YWAM), Rob Stearns
(International Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem) and Tom Hess
from the House of Prayer for all Nations in Jerusalem. All profits
are distributed to those for whom we pray. Copies available from JPF,
PO Box 54, Kerrimuir VIC 3129, or email [email protected]
or call 03-9899 7231. The cost is AUD$8.00 each, $15 for 2, $22 for
3, or $65 for 10 incl postage. Cheques to Living Way Christian
Network Inc. Website www.jewishprayerfocus.org Booklets also
available at Koorong. Jill Curry, Jewish Prayer Focus
Coordinator
Source: Living Way Christian
Network
———————————————–
PRAYER ALERT FOR
THE SEASON OF RAMADAN
Muslims throughout the world began the celebration of Ramadan on 11th
August. The season continues until 9th September 2010. They will
fast during daylight hours in an effort to break bad habits and seek
forgiveness of sins. Ramada, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar,
is observed by Muslims the world over with dawn to dusk fasting.
This provides them with an opportunity to practice one of the
“obligations” (also known as the “five pillars”) of their religion –
soum or fasting.
Muslims fast during Ramadan because they believe this is the time of
year in which the founder of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad, received
“recitations” from the angel Gabriel. These were later compiled to
form the Qur’an. The most important night of Ramadan – and of the
entire year – is called Laylatul Qadr (September 5, 2010). Also
known as the “night of power,” it is the night when Muslims seek
and expect a power encounter with their god.
During Ramadan, especially on the night of power, Muslims “ask
forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining
from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through
self-restraint and good deeds.” Many are desperately and genuinely
seeking to be cleansed from their transgressions and find favour with
God. All over the world Christians set aside the thirty days of
Ramadan to pray specifically for Muslims. This month-long celebration
is a chance to see precious souls set free from the bondage of Islam
and introduced to the Saviour of all mankind: Jesus Christ.
During Ramadan pray for:
* the Lord to give Muslims everywhere a hunger to know Him. Pray for
them to become dissatisfied with the rituals and obligations of Islam
and for the veil to be removed from the eyes of those who are in
bondage to Islam. Ask the Lord to enable them to see the light of the
Gospel of the Glory of Christ.
* the time of fasting and focusing on spiritual issues to become a
window of opportunity for the Holy Spirit to speak to Muslims,
revealing the salvation available only in Jesus Christ. Pray for a
great and unprecedented harvest of souls of Muslims worldwide.

* godly sorrow and the need to be forgiven from sin to lead Muslims
to repentance and salvation in Christ. Pray for the Kingdom of God to
be manifest in power in all nations across the world where Muslims
reside.
Source: Windows International
Network
———————————————–
GOD CAN SAVE THE
PHILIPPINES, SAYS NEW PRESIDENT
An ecumenical prayer by a Catholic bishop, Protestants, and a Muslim
opened the first State-of-the-Nation address of the newly elected
Philippine President Benigno Aquino lll. During his presidential
campaign, Aquino pledged to end poverty by first ending corruption.
In keeping with that theme, Aquino exposed irregularities allegedly
committed by the administration of former President Gloria Arroyo,
most of which were misuse of government funds. “Now is the time to
end the extravagance of government officials and squandering the
people’s money,” Aquino said.
He was shocked to learn that the previous administration had already
spent 94 percent of the nation’s $33 billion budget. Only $2 billion
remains for the second half of the fiscal year. Aquino said he
believes a partnership with the public and private sectors is one way
to help overcome the budget shortfall. He’s also establishing a Truth
Commission to investigate government corruption. “We will hold
murderers accountable. We will also hold those who are corrupt that
work in government accountable for their actions,” Aquino warned.

“We will search for the truth of the alleged wrongdoing committed in
the last nine years.” Hours before the State of the Nation address,
thousands of protesters gathered in Manilla as close as they could
get to the capital building to put pressure on the new president.
They want to make sure their new president keeps his promises to
stamp out corruption and end poverty in this nation. Thirty-three
percent of the country’s 92 million people live below the poverty
rate.
While the intention of the address was to give hope to the country,
Aquino said he realizes that his administration is limited in what it
can do. The country must look to a higher power for help in solving
the nation’s problems. “My firm belief is that our fate is in the
hands of God and our people,” he said. “While we focus on uplifting
the lives of our fellow human beings, I have an unshakeable faith
that Almighty God will give us blessings and support. If we remain
firm in our belief that God is on our side,” he said, “is there
anything impossible for us to achieve?”
Source: Intercessors
Network
———————————————–
BABY BORN HEALTHY
DESPITE DOCTORS CALL TO ABORT
Becky Weatherall was told by her doctor that her son would be born
deaf and blind and would probably survive only for a couple of hours.
Little Brandon Kramer was diagnosed in utero with rhombo
encephalosynapsis ¢â‚¬”a condition in which the brain fuses together
rather than being in two halves, as well as hydrocephalus ¢â‚¬”water on
the brain. Tests conducted twice a month indicated the condition was
worsening and Becky was advised to abort her pregnancy up to just
weeks before the birth.
She ignored the doctors’ recommendation and Brandon was born healthy.
The Foetal Medicine Unit at the University Hospital of Wales in
Cardiff was ordered to review the case to determine whether Brandon
had the condition and recovered from it, or whether data from the
numerous ultrasound scans had been misread by hospital staff.
“Perhaps doctors shouldn’t put so much confidence in scans,” Becky
said. “One of the older doctors we spoke to said a scan is like a
fuzzy image of a snowstorm ¢â‚¬”it cannot be relied upon, and he turned
out to be right.”
“I feel incredibly guilty thinking that I could have killed my son. I
am left wondering how many other completely healthy babies have been
aborted. Brandon’s father Kriss said, “We are not there to blame
anyone but we want to thank hospital staff for the help and advice
they gave us. They went over the MRI scanner results with us. They
haven’t given us any explanation. It was a mistake, but all that is
put to the side now and we are trying to forget about it because
Brandon is normal.
Source: LifeSite
News
———————————————–
KILLING OF
CHRISTIANS TRIGGERS UNREST IN PAKISTAN
Eight hundred Christians and Muslims are wanted by Pakistani police
in connection to recent riots in that country. Tensions boiled over
after a pastor and his brother were shot dead coming out of a
courtroom where they were facing charges to blasphemy laws. Pastor
Rashid Emmanuel, 32, and Sajid, 24, were accused of writing a
pamphlet critical of the Prophet Muhammad. A rights activist said
they were framed. At least 10 people were reportedly injured as
stone-throwing and rioting broke out in a Christian neighbourhood of
the city afterwards.
Christians in the region are being encouraged to take part in a week
of mourning for an attack in Gojra city a year ago. John Pontifex
from the charity Aid to the Church in Need said believers are still
coming to terms with the attack and are encouraged to mark the
tragedy:  ¢â‚¬Å“All of this will have renewed tension at a very time when
people are feeling particularly sensitive. Just down the road about
an hour away, the city of Gojra recently again came under attack in
violence that left eight or nine people dead in a wave of unrest
which has left a very bad scar on the people. ¢â‚¬ 
Pontifex added that Christians were determined to press ahead with
events marking the first anniversary of attacks in Gojra:  ¢â‚¬Å“The new
parish priest there Father Yaqub Masih told me that there was a
concern that these first anniversary events should not take place
because of the renewed tension. But he decided that actually it was
the best thing to do so that people can really begin to find a way
thought their grief and turmoil and find expression to their sense of
sadness.”
Source: Premier Christian
News

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