AUSTRALIAN   PRAYER   NETWORK   NEWSLETTER

• ISLAMIC GROUPS JOIN FORCES TO CONTEST EGYPTIAN ELECTIONS
• CAN WE PUT A DENT IN THE WORLD’S CHILD TRAFFICKING INDUSTRY?
• TEXAS GOVERNOR CALLS FOR PRAYER AND FASTING FOR A NATION IN CRISIS
• ANGLICAN LEADERS PRESS G20 MINISTERS OVER FOOD CRISIS
• VATICAN INVESTS $1M IN ADULT STEM CELL RESEARCH
• HOW ONE TOWN HELPED A STRUGGLING GROCER SAVE HIS BUSINESS
• FRENCH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY REJECTS SAME SEX MARRIAGE IN HISTORIC VOTE

ISLAMIC GROUPS JOIN FORCES TO CONTEST EGYPTIAN ELECTIONS

Following the fall of the Mubarak regime, extreme Islamist forces are gaining power and influence in Egypt. The Muslim Brotherhood, the leading Islamic party in Egypt, has formed a political alliance with Jama ¢â‚¬â„¢a al-Islamiyya, a jihadi group which was behind a number of terrorist attacks in the 1990s but has recently renounced violence, though not its radical creed. The two groups announced that they will form a coalition to contest September ¢â‚¬â„¢s elections in order to combat secular forces in the country. Muslim Brotherhood lawyer Montasser al-Zayat said,  ¢â‚¬Å“The Islamic movements are uniting, despite their different ideologies, because they feel Islam is threatened. ¢â‚¬ 

And Jama’a al-Islamiyya spokesman Osama Hafez underlined the parties ¢â‚¬â„¢ commitment to upholding the place of Islam in Egyptian society:  ¢â‚¬Å“Allah ¢â‚¬â„¢s words must rule and Islam must be in the hearts of the citizens ¢â‚¬ .   Amr al-Shobky, an expert at the Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies, said that this religious cooperation reflected an imbalanced political scale, tilted towards the Islamic movements. Another extremist Islamist movement in Egypt is composed of Salafist groups. Salafism is an ultra-conservative strict and puritanical version of Islam related to Wahhabism, the official state creed of Saudi Arabia.

Some followers of Salafism known as Salafi-jihadis include Osama bin Laden and other Al Qaeda figures who espouse and practise violent jihad against those considered infidels. Other Salafis are non-violent but all espouse the aim of imposing their strict version of Sharia on the state. Despite the Salafi doctrine of non-involvement in democracy and elections, some Salafists have formed a political party, Al Nour, which means  ¢â‚¬Å“light ¢â‚¬ . The party says Christians would be given  ¢â‚¬Å“the right to refer to their religion ¢â‚¬  but  ¢â‚¬Å“the higher reference will be for Islamic sharia ¢â‚¬ .

Abd Al-Azim, a Jama’a al-Islamiyya leader in Alexandria, sent this message to Egypt ¢â‚¬â„¢s Christians following a barrage of attacks against them:   If the Christians want safety they should submit to the rule of Allah and be confident that the Islamic sharia will protect them. In other worrying developments, the group recently advocated the formation of a Saudi-style modesty police  ¢â‚¬Å“to arrest those who commit immoral acts ¢â‚¬ . Jama’a al-Islamiyya has been linked to Al-Qaeda, and its spiritual leader Omar Abdel-Rahman is serving a life sentence for his involvement in the 1993 World Trade Centre bombing.

In its quest for power, the Muslim Brotherhood is targeting illiterate people – who comprise a large proportion of Egypt’s population – outside the main cities. They threaten them that if they do not vote for the Muslim Brotherhood they will not go to heaven, and that voting against the Brotherhood will result in the country being governed by the infidel. The Muslim Brotherhood is also establishing strong ties with the army, which currently runs the country, taking on a security role similar to that of Hezbollah in Lebanon. They are asked by the army to quell public disturbances, indicating their increasing authority in the country.

An Egyptian Christian said that there were real concerns that the Muslim Brotherhood will become the ruling party in the country. He said this would make life extremely difficult for Christians. Egyptian Christian leaders expressed concerns about a draft law on places of worship. It stipulates that building a new place of worship will only be allowed if it is 1km away from an existing one, and will require the consent of the local governor. It is feared that these restrictions will be used against Christians, who already face severe discrimination regarding church buildings and consequently have nowhere near enough to meet the needs of the Christian community.

Source: Barnabus Fund

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CAN WE PUT A DENT IN THE WORLD’S CHILD TRAFFICKING INDUSTRY?

It was early evening in Mumbai, India, as a guide quietly drove journalist Diana Scimone down a crowded street. This wasn’t your usual tourist destination. It was Falkland Road, Mumbai’s notorious red-light district. “The doorway of every building was packed with young women waiting for customers,” recalls Scimone, who writes frequently about human and religious rights. “Every woman had the same look on her face: hopelessness and shame.” Scimone’s guide, whose ministry reaches out to prostitutes, pointed at something barely visible in an open window on a second floor. “See that?” he asked. “Those are the cages that hold little girls smuggled from Nepal.

“Horrified, Scimone learned that the caged girls ¢â‚¬”some as young as 5 ¢â‚¬”are raped and tortured until they no longer have a will to resist. Only then are they ready to become child sex slaves. Scimone has been to more than 40 countries and written about the devastation that many of the world’s children face. India has half a million child prostitutes. In Thailand and Cambodia, brothels are filled with little girls. In Moldova, traffickers wait outside orphanages to lure new recruits. Each year more than 1 million children enter the sex trade. “Child sex trafficking is everywhere, in every country,” Scimone says. In most countries, it’s possible to buy a child ¢â‚¬”for the night or for life.

It is global organized crime. “In fact, human trafficking is the third most lucrative illegal industry in the world, after guns and drugs. ” You can sell a gun or drug only once, “Scimone says, “but you can sell a child over and over again.” To respond to the needs she saw, Scimone launched a non-profit organization, Paw Paw’s Pals Inc., and looked for a way to help. She knew God wasn’t calling her to rescue girls, build shelters, or provide after-care for traumatized kids. She couldn’t do any of those things ¢â‚¬”but she could write. Everywhere I went, I was told that kids get taken because they don’t know any better,” she explains.

“They think they’re going to be models or waitresses in the big city. Parents believe traffickers who promise to educate their daughters at far-away schools ¢â‚¬”and never see them again.” Scimone was meeting with safe-house directors in northern Thailand when she had an idea.” If I write awareness materials for kids and parents, ¢â‚¬  she asked, “could you use them? “The answer was an enthusiastic yes. “Whenever kids get awareness training,” Scimone says, “the rate of trafficking plummets. There’s just not enough of it or in languages for kids who are most at-risk.” Scimone launched the Not For Sale child-trafficking awareness campaign, and started writing.

When she was done she had a 35,000-word novel for kids called  ¢â‚¬Å“Born to Fly ¢â‚¬  about a caterpillar who has a dream to soar. In her journey from caterpillar to cocoon to butterfly, she learns important lessons about following her dream. “It’s a parable for trafficking,” Scimone says. “The take-aways for kids is that choices have consequences, you are valuable, it’s important to know who your true friends are, and more.” Meanwhile she and illustrator Leah Wiedemer are working on the next stage of the Not For Sale campaign: taking the plot of Born to Fly and turning it into a small picture book for at-risk children around the world  ¢â‚¬”a wordless picture book.

Why wordless? “So we don’t have to get it translated and printed in hundreds of languages. A wordless picture book will save millions of dollars on translation and printing,” explains Scimone, Once the wordless picture book is printed, Paw Paw’s Pals will partner with schools and non-profit organizations around the world to distribute it to at-risk kids. A companion curriculum will also be available for teachers and counsellors. “Education and awareness can make a huge dent in the sex slavery industry,” Scimone says, “because it helps cut off the pipeline. Awareness is not the only answer, but it is something we can do now to prevent more little girls from being enslaved.”

Source: Intercessors Network

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TEXAS GOVERNOR CALLS FOR PRAYER AND FASTING FOR A NATION IN CRISIS

Texas Governor Rick Perry is taking the unprecedented step of calling a National Solemn Assembly in Reliant Stadium Houston on Saturday, August 6, 2011.  ¢â‚¬Å“In a letter sent to all other State Governors Perry invited them to join him as he cited the book of Joel as the answer for the challenges facing America . Scripture is clear. When the Lord moves a government official to sound a trumpet to pray, God hears and responds.  ¢â‚¬Å“On August 6th, there will be no political agenda, no merchandise sold, no ministries promoted, no literature distributed and no offering taken. The event will simply be for those who love God getting on their knees to ask for His mercy, guidance and wisdom. ¢â‚¬ 

Here’s Governor Rick Perry ¢â‚¬â„¢s letter to the nation:

Fellow Americans,

Right now, America is in crisis: we have been besieged by financial debt, terrorism, and a multitude of natural disasters. As a nation, we must come together and call upon Jesus to guide us through unprecedented struggles, and thank Him for the blessings of freedom we so richly enjoy. Some problems are beyond our power to solve, and according to the Book of Joel, Chapter 2, this historic hour demands a historic response. Therefore, on August 6, thousands will gather to pray for a historic breakthrough for our country and a renewed sense of moral purpose.

I sincerely hope you ¢â‚¬â„¢ll join me in Houston on August 6th and take your place in Reliant Stadium with praying people asking God ¢â‚¬â„¢s forgiveness, wisdom and provision for our state and nation. There is hope for America . It lies in heaven, and we will find it on our knees.

Sincerely,

Rick Perry,

Governor of Texas

Source: OpenHeaven.com

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ANGLICAN LEADERS PRESS G20 MINISTERS OVER FOOD CRISIS

Anglican church leaders have written to G20 agriculture ministers to press for measures to combat high food prices. Control of the speculation in commodity trading that has pushed up food prices for the poorest people in the world, and more support for women farmers who form the majority of subsistence farmers, are some of the measures that archbishops from G20 countries have urged their agriculture ministers to support. The moves have come amidst mounting concern over the price spikes and food insecurity that have left 900 million people around the world hungry. The French President has put food on the agenda for the G20 meeting in November.

Ahead of the meeting letters to G20 agriculture ministers have been sent by:

 ¢â‚¬ ¢                 Most Rev Phillip Aspinall, Archbishop of Brisbane and Primate of Australia,

 ¢â‚¬ ¢                 The Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, and president of the Primate ¢â‚¬â„¢s World Relief and Development Fund, President, the Most Rev Fred Hiltz

 ¢â‚¬ ¢                 The Rt Rev Paul Keun-Sang Kim, the Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Church of Korea and Bishop of Seoul

 ¢â‚¬ ¢                 The Most Rev Purely Lyngdoh, Moderator, Church of North India and Bishop of North East India

 ¢â‚¬ ¢                 The Most Rev Thabo Cecil Makgoba, Archbishop of Capetown

 ¢â‚¬ ¢                 The Most Rev Dr Barry Morgan, Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of Llandaff

Welcoming the emerging consensus on the need for global action to reduce food price volatility and increase security, they call for a package of measures including:

 ¢â‚¬ ¢                 More support for small farmers  ¢â‚¬“ most of whom are women who produce 60 to 80 per cent of food in the poorest countries.

 ¢â‚¬ ¢                 More investment in agriculture, especially research and development

 ¢â‚¬ ¢                 Measures to stop speculation in food commodities.

 ¢â‚¬ ¢                 Better training, access to credit and markets, and insurance schemes for small farmers.

 ¢â‚¬ ¢                 Backing for recommendations that have come from agriculture ministers in developing countries.

 ¢â‚¬ ¢                 G20 countries to keep the promises of the 2009 Aquila Food Security Initiative to achieve clear targets for higher spending on agriculture: Canada being the one country that has a record of meeting the goal.

Source: Anglican News Service

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VATICAN INVESTS $1M IN ADULT STEM CELL RESEARCH

The Vatican has invested $1 million in a U.S. company, NeoStem, that works with adult stem cells to find cures for disease and injuries. This is the first time the Vatican has entered into an agreement with a private company to advance stem cell research.   Dr. Robin Smith, CEO of NeoStem, said,  ¢â‚¬Å“NeoStem undertakes biomedical research using only adult stem cells, in China and the U.S. I think the safety profiles of the adult stem cell are going to assist in making advances more rapid. Today there ¢â‚¬â„¢s over 70 diseases that are using adult stem cells to treat them as part of the standard of care, ¢â‚¬  Dr. Smith said.

Fr. Tomasz Trafny, Director of Science and Faith of the Pontifical Council for Culture, said,  ¢â‚¬Å“We strongly support adult stem cell research for two reasons. First, because we have a very clear ethical statement about the value of human life and each stage of its development. Second because adult stem cell research is also safe from a biological and medical point of view. ¢â‚¬  The project aims to further research on adult stem cells and  ¢â‚¬Å“explore the human implications of their use. ¢â‚¬  The project will also work to raise awareness among political, scientific and religious leaders to create a  ¢â‚¬Å“cultural paradigm shift ¢â‚¬  in favour of using adult stem cells for regenerative medicine.

Source: LifeSiteNews.com

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HOW ONE TOWN HELPED A STRUGGLING GROCER SAVE HIS BUSINESS

Leonard Fitch’s family has run the local Wilmore IGA since 1956, but the economic downturn has hit their business hard. Not only did   Fitch own the store, but he had made an impact on his neighbours in other ways as well. Theological Seminary student, Jay Leeson said: “Just like everyone else, I began to understand that there’s a special quality to this man, that you seldom come across. But I began to see that there was an inconsistency between how we, his neighbours, felt about Fitch and where we did our shopping. As a result, “a group we called  ¢â‚¬Å“Fitch’s Neighbours ¢â‚¬  was formed to help update the store.

From aesthetics and new signs to introducing “Fitch’s Hot Deals,” the business took on a new look.   More than 40 people of all ages – including 14 Boy Scouts gave a hand to paint the exterior of the store. Fitch said “I’m so excited about the store’s changes and the new look, and I appreciate it so much; it’s wonderful.” Leeson agreed. “When we see somebody in need, we can gather around them,” he said. “It just so happens that this man helped us bury our relatives, our loved ones, he walked us through very difficult times – vulnerable times when we didn’t have any money. The people out here say, ‘What else would I do today besides come down and help Leonard Fitch?'”

Source: The Jessamine Journal

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FRENCH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY REJECTS SAME SEX MARRIAGE IN HISTORIC VOTE

French legislators have rejected a bill to legalize “homosexual marriage” in a vote by the National Assembly. The bill, proposed by socialists, was defeated by a majority of 293 to 222. The vote follows a ruling by the nation’s   Constitutional Council, that homosexual “marriage” is not a constitutional right. Although a recent poll found that 58% of French voters,    ¢â‚¬Å“supported ¢â‚¬  homosexual marriage, Michel Difenbacher of the Union for a Popular Movement party said he thought it not necessary “to go with the wind nor to cede to fashion” with regard to the issue. “We are against homophobia but we do not want to alter the image and function of marriage” within society, he said.

Source: LifeSite News