AUSTRALIAN PRAYER NETWORK NEWSLETTER

* BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT CANCELS HOMOSEXUAL INDOCTRINATION PROGRAM IN NATION’S SCHOOLS

* STATE PERSECUTION IN IRAN INCREASING APPEAL OF
CHRISTIANITY

* MEXICO’S PRESIDENT CALLS FOR PRAYER

* AMAZING THINGS GOD IS DOING IN CHINA TODAY

* NEW BILL IN ENGLAND TO OPPOSE SHARIA COURTS AND
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MUSLIM WOMEN

* CHURCH OF SCOTLAND VOTES FOR HOMOSEXUAL CLERGY

* THIRD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL DEDICATED IN
IRAQ

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BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT
CANCELS HOMOSEXUAL INDOCTRINATION PROGRAM IN NATION’S
SCHOOLS

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has agreed to eliminate a very
explicit United Nations approved program designed to convince
children and adolescents to accept homosexual behaviour, following
threats from Protestant and Catholic legislators to block new
legislation in protest. Under massive pressure from a high-profile
Internet campaign and from legislators, Rousseff capitulated saying
“I’m not in agreement with the kit, because I don’t think that it
defends non-homophobic practices,” Rousseff said publicly. “I didn’t
watch the videos, but I saw part of one of them on television and I
don’t agree with it.”
“We cannot interfere with the private lives of people,” Rousseff
continued.”There will not be authorization for this type of policy of
defending A, B,C, or D. However, the government can teach that it is
necessary to respect differences and that you can’t use violence
against those who are different from you.” Gay rights promoters are
upset. Before retracting the materials, the government had boasted of
the approval it had received for the program from the United Nations
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which
had judged the videos “suitable” for the target audience, which is
reported to reach children as young as 11 years of age.
“The material of the Schools without Homophobia project is suitable
for the age groups and the affective-cognitive development for which
it is targeted,” UNESCO wrote, according to a Brazilian government
website. The cancellation of the program, which has caused
controversy in Brazil for over half a year, has made headlines across
the country. Revelations that the government has spent over a
million of dollars of public money on the program have also added
fuel to the fire. The defeat of “Schools without Homophobia”
represents another major blow against the socialist government’s
long-standing anti-life and anti-family policies.
The Brazilian Labor Party, led by the popular presidents Luiz Lula da
Silva and Dilma Rousseff, his handpicked successor, has consistently
advocated the decriminalization of abortion and policies that would
punish those who speak out against homosexuality. However, Rousseff
found her presidential aspirations threatened last year when
pro-family forces emphasized her party’s record on human life and
family issues, forcing her to sign an agreement not to promote her
party’s agenda. Public opinion polls, as well as polls of
congressional representatives, have also indicated a strengthening of
the pro-life and pro-family positions in the Brazilian
electorate.
Although Roussef has been careful to indicate her rejection of the
program, Women’s Policies minister Iriny Lopes has taken a more
defiant tone. “The program for confronting homophobia is a definitive
program. It will not suffer setbacks” she said. The government is
committed to the issue of rights. The president has demonstrated that
in all of her acts.” Rousseff’s education minister Fernando Haddad
promised to return to the schools with new materials in a matter of
months, after further consultation with “specialists.” The program
reportedly will be reformulated by the same homosexualist
non-governmental organizations that created the current
program.
Julio Severo, one of Brazil’s most influential pro-family activists,
is warning that the administration will continue to push the
homosexual agenda, and urges Catholics and Evangelical Protestants to
continue fighting.”Whether or not the President has retreated, the
Catholic and Evangelical leadership should not retreat,” writes
Severo, adding that “above all, it is necessary to unmask and combat
the campaign that, in the name of fighting against ‘homophobia’ is
combating the Christian majority of Brazil and the mothers and
fathers who want to protect their children from every type of immoral
assault.”
Source:
LifeSiteNews.com

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STATE PERSECUTION
IN IRAN INCREASING APPEAL OF CHRISTIANITY
A major spike in the harassment and arrest of Iranian Christians in
recent months is revealing just how nervous the Islamic republic is
about the success of house churches, say Iranian Christian leaders.
At least 202 Christians in 24 cities faced “arbitrary” arrest between
June 2010 and January 2011, according to Elam Ministries. Elam, run
by Iranian expatriates, counted 80 arrests over 2008 and 2009
combined. “Iran has been substantially more public in its oppression
of Christianity,” said Todd Nettleton, a spokesman for Voice of the
Martyrs. “Announcing it on the news, having the mullahs talk about it
in their Friday sermons – it’s just become a lot more out in the
open.”
“Persecution has escalated to an unprecedented level,” said Abe
Ghaffari, executive director of Iranian Christians International.
While Iran’s historic Armenian and Assyrian congregations usually
enjoy freedom of worship, Farsi-speaking house churches hosting
converts from Islam work under significant threat. “In effect,
recognition of Christians in the laws of Iran has now become
basically recognition of an ethnicity rather than faith,” said
Hussein Jadidi, a human rights lawyer who recently fled Iran after he
became a target in a Christmas sweep that caught 70 other
Christians.
The government is concerned because more and more Iranian Muslims are
converting to Christianity. The house church movement is booming,
with converts estimated in the hundreds of thousands. Evangelists are
distributing large numbers of New Testaments, and satellite
television continually beams Christian programs into the country.
“The government used to deny that Iranians became Christians,” said
Elam’s David Yeghnazar, but now the church has become too strong to
ignore. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei declared the house church
network “enemies of Iran” in a speech,which was a rare public
acknowledgement of the movement.
“Religion is regarded as part of your national identity,” said Issa
Dibaj,an Iranian Christian who works as an Elam translator. “If you
turn away from your religion . it’s as if you have betrayed your
country.” “In the past, the government would emphasize apostasy as
the crime,” Jadidi said. “They’ve changed their tactics; now
evangelism, witnessing, and changing religion have become a security
crime.”But now analysts say Islam is losing credibility after 30
years of theocracy. Resentment against the reigning regime is
spreading and deepening – especially since the disputed 2009 national
elections.”
Before the 1979 revolution, the clerics promised that once Iran
becomes an Islamic state, everything would be fine,” Dibaj said. But
since then, Iranians “have seen nothing but war, international
isolation and hatred, and they are thirsting for change.” “The
Iranian public doesn’t trust the government nor the Muslim clergy
anymore,” Ghaffari said. Tolerance is growing in urban areas and
among the younger generation. Dibaj said, “In places like Tehran, if
you say, ‘I have become a Christian,’ they will respect you because
of your courage.” ¯ ¿ ½ Government persecution has actually made
Christianity more attractive,” said ¯ ¿ ½Yegh-nazar.
Source: Christianity
Today

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MEXICO’S PRESIDENT
CALLS FOR PRAYER
Experts are questioning Mexico’s future in light of the ongoing drug
cartel instability. A report in 2009 warned that a “rapid and sudden
collapse” of the Mexican government was possible due to the rise in
power of the drug cartels. Two brave followers of Christ, Alejandro
and Rosi Orozco, who both have significant positions in the Mexican
government, boldly arranged to connect Christian leadership from
Mexico and the United States in a common effort to pray and work
together to bring an end to the trafficking of drugs, arms and human
beings that has claimed the lives of 35,000 in the last five years.
This dark trade has fuelled widespread corruption and drug-related
crime.
Due to the long porous border with the USA, drug cartels
increasinglyoperate in various states within the USA. American
Christian leaders believe America must bear a great responsibility
for this situation because of the nation’s insatiable demand for
drugs has made the drug trade a multi-billiondollar per year
business. The U.S. Congress’ allowing of the ban on assault weapons
to expire in 2004 has enabled the drug criminals to acquire tens of
thousands of AK 47s and other advanced weaponry that has no purpose
other than killing people. They are using these weapons on law
enforcement officers, the military, and on innocent civilians,
including children, without any conscience.
Last month, prayer leaders from the U.S. had the honour of meeting
with President Calderon, his gracious First Lady, and a few other key
government officials. “They briefed us on the situation in Mexico and
asked for our help in prayer and action,” said John Robb, Chairman of
the International Prayer Council. “Some of us believe that the Lord
is rewriting the historyof Mexico through its growing prayer movement
and greater unity among the Christian leaders,” said Mr Robb. As a
result of the meeting the following prayer points for Mexico have
been endorsed by President Calderon with the hope that Christians
across the world will join in praying for this troubled nation.
1. ¯ ¿ ½ For the strengthening of President Calderon and his colleagues,
including Alejandro and Rosi Orozco, as well as for their security
and that of their families. These are courageous men and women who
have put their lives on the line to serve their nation and eliminate
the drug cartels who in turn would like nothing more than to
assassinate them. These cartels have already managed to intimidate or
buy off many officials and infiltrate the police, military and parts
of the government. Pray for their protection and victory in this
dangerous battle.
2. The government has managed to capture or kill 20 of the “most
wanted” 37 drug cartel leaders and criminals. There are 17 left to
bring to justice. Pray that these ruthlessly wicked people will be
found and arrested soon and that their networks of other thugs will
be broken up and destroyed in both countries.
3. That the government’s other efforts to provide poverty relief,
better and more education for young people and other opportunities
will be effective in giving children and youth a reason to live and
not get seduced into the grip of organized crime.
4. That the Mexican people will not complain about and criticize this
long battle against evil but will be patient, hopeful and supportive
of the government’s efforts.
5. That the U.S. Congress and other public authorities in the USA
will take action to reapply the ban on assault weapons and take
actions to stop the flow of such arms into Mexico.
6. That drug shipments will be intercepted and that the routes and
networks for the smuggling of drugs, weapons and humans for sexual
and commercial purposes will be uncovered and cut off by coordinated
and effective border patrol efforts.
7. That Hollywood would be sensitive to this dangerously destructive
issue and stop producing movies that glamorize the taking of drugs
like marijuana or cocaine.
Source: International Prayer
Council

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AMAZING THINGS GOD
IS DOING IN CHINA TODAY
For years the Three Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) has indicated
their membership to be in the range of 23 million believers. In 1949
there were only about one million baptized believers. House Church
members have never been included in these figures. Their membership
is conservatively estimated to be 80% higher than TSPM membership,
bringing the total to well over 100 million. A book has recently been
published by the China Social Sciences Publishing House which
indicates that there may be as many as 50-70 million believers in the
TSPM registered churches which when House Church members are added
means there could be as many as 130 million believers in ¯ ¿ ½China
today!
Some of the researchers believe the Christian population ¯ ¿ ½could
explode to as many as 2-300 million in the next 50 years! The
research was apparently done for the government which is finding it
difficult to cope with such an uncontrollable phenomenon. The reports
major recommendation calls on the government to bring this
uncontrollable growth under control by legal management and
ideological education. An ominous statement suggests that the
government must strengthen the Chinese national pride and
self-confidence. It is noteworthy that in recent months the
government has begun to promote Confucianism and Buddhism as opposed
to Christianity.
In the last 6 months the government has announced its intention to
encourage all house church Christians to attend TSPM registered
churches. The number of incidents involving opposition to house
churches is on the increase and serious problems seem to be ahead.
The call to pray for China has never been more urgent, especially for
house church believers who are facing increasing persecution and
pressure from the government. Explosive growth is taking place in
China with more than one million coming to Christ every year. The
task of training hundreds of young people to become pastors, elders,
missionaries and Sunday School teachers is an urgent
priority.
Source: The Christian and Missionary
Alliance

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NEW BILL IN ENGLAND TO OPPOSE SHARIA COURTS AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MUSLIM WOMEN
Sharia Courts in England and Wales will be committing an offence
punishable by a five-year prison sentence if they falsely claim or
imply legal jurisdiction over criminal or family law, under a new
Bill introduced in the House of Lords. ¯ ¿ ½ The Bill, introduced by
Baroness Caroline Cox intends to tackle the discrimination suffered
by Muslim women within the Sharia court system. Cox said, “Equality
under the law is a core value of British justice. My Bill seeks to
preserve that standard. I have no desire to interfere in the internal
theological affairs of religious groups, and my Bill does not do
that. My Bill seeks to stop parallel legal systems taking root in our
nation.
She continued “Criminal and family law are matters reserved for
English courts alone. I want to make it clear in the law that
discrimination against women will not be allowed within arbitration.
I am deeply concerned about the treatment of Muslim women by Sharia
Courts. We must do all that we can to make sure they are free from
any coercion, intimidation or unfairness.”Cox added, “There is
considerable evidence that many women are suffering domestic violence
or unequal access to divorce, due to discriminatory practices and we
cannot continue to condone this situation. Many women came to this
country to escape these practices only to find the situation is worse
here.”
Keith Wood, executive director of the National Secular Society, said,
“Laws should not impinge on religious freedom, nor should courts
judge on theological matters. However democratically determined and
human rights compliant law must always take precedence over the law
of any religion. Religious law can already be enforced under English
law through the Arbitration Act and that is what this Bill is seeking
to address.” He added,”Under this new Bill the Arbitration Act would
not be able to determine family or criminal matters nor agreements
that are discriminatory against women. This Bill aims to give every
citizen equal protection by the same just law – one law for
all.”
Source: ASSIST News
Service

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CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
VOTES FOR HOMOSEXUAL CLERGY

The Church of Scotland has voted in favour of homosexual men and
lesbians serving as church ministers. The General Assembly decision
applies to clergy who have declared their homosexuality and were
ordained before May 2009. The future ordination and training of gay
and lesbian clergy will be decided in 2013 when a theological
commission publishes a report on the matter. The commission will also
discuss the issue of same-sex marriage and liturgy for civil
partnerships. A motion of dissent will be lodged by those who are
opposed to the move. The decision to allow homosexual clergy was
taken despite a survey showing 60% of Kirk session members were
against the move.
The issue came to the fore two years ago when Scott Rennie, a
divorced father-of-one who lives with his homosexual partner, was
appointed as minister of a church in Aberdeen. Rev Andrew Randall
said the decision by the General Assembly “opens the door to de facto
revisionism” and would be a Trojan horse for liberalism. And Rev
Louis Kinsey said: “The Church of Scotland has decided to follow
modern culture and not Scripture.” But homosexual lobby group,
Stonewall Scotland, was delighted. Director Carl Watt said: “Although
we await further decisions from the assembly on the next steps, we
hope that in 30 years’ time this will be regarded as a storm in a
teacup.”
Source: The Christian
Institute

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THIRD CHRISTIAN
SCHOOL DEDICATED IN IRAQ

Carlos C (name withheld for security reasons) is the vice-president
of Partner’s International Ministries. Recently he dedicated a third
Christian school in Northern Iraq and is “amazed” by what God is
doing there. ¯ ¿ ½ At the dedication of the school, the Iraqi education
representative said “Iraq is trying to reconcile people. This is a
place where we value democracy, and everyone is welcome.” ¯ ¿ ½ Carlos
said, “These Muslim government officials actually take their kids to
that Christian school, because they perceive the school as a place of
reconciliation, as a place for the future.” That is amazing and only
possible by God’s grace.
Source: Mission Network
News

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