AUSTRALIAN PRAYER NETWORK NEWSLETTER
EGYPTIAN CHRISTIANS WORK TO STOP ISLAMIC TAKEOVER
In Egypt, protestors are once again in the streets calling for change. They fear the revolution that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak has stalled and is in danger of being taken over by Islamists. “It’s good news to go to the streets again to protect their revolution. The Muslim Brotherhood and the military council [have] hijacked the revolution,” said Magdy Khalil, spokesman for Coptic Solidarity. Khalil and other Egyptians believe the ruling military council has made a political deal with radicals, moving Egypt toward an Islamic state no different than Mubarak’s corrupt regime.
“They are looking to protect their positions, so who can accept this position? The Muslim Brotherhood, because the Muslim Brotherhood plans to control the whole of Egypt,” Khalil explained. He says the Brotherhood is ignoring high level corruption in exchange for power and control. That’s why Egypt’s parliamentary elections were moving on a fast track. Originally planned for September, the military council now says elections will be delayed until November. But some Christians and secularists still believe more time may be needed to overcome the political advantage of the better organized Muslim Brotherhood.
If the election moves forward as planned, chances are the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist parties will win a majority of the seats in the parliament. In response, pro-democracy supporters have launched a new campaign called Constitution First to slow the process. Khalil said. “The Muslim brotherhood, Salafists and the military council…they support elections first. Copts, liberal secularists, moderate people and moderate Muslims support constitution first.” Constitution First supporters feel if a parliamentary election is held first, the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist parties will write the constitution to include Sharia law.
Egypt’s Coptic Christians say a Muslim Brotherhood takeover would not be good for them. It would be a disaster not only for Christians in Egypt, but also for Israel, for the United States, for Europe, indeed for Western civilisation as a whole ” Khalil said. I think the Coptic Christians will bein a very difficult spot and much more difficult if the Muslim Brotherhood took over than even under Mubarak.” And Coptic Christians have not fared well since Mubarak’s departure. “In the first 300 days after the Mubarak regime fell, Copts in Egypt faced more than 60 attacks, including murders, and the burning of churches,” Khalil said.
And Christians are still waiting for a thorough investigation and prosecution of those responsible for a bombing at Saint Mark’s church in Alexandria last year. The New Year’s Day attack killed 23 people and injured 97 others. The Coptic Christians are really the leading point of the spear because if Egypt trends the other way, the impact that will have is great. Middle East expert Walid Phares suggests the Obama administration should start talking to the right people. Earlier this summer, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the U.S. would begin a dialogue with the Muslim Brotherhood.
“They have been arguing that the Muslim Brotherhood should be the partners of the West, knowing that the Muslim Brotherhood’s final goal is to establish an Islamic state like Iran, or Sudan.” Phares explained. “So, we need to have a change of direction,” he continued. “First, in Washington and in Brussels so that we can begin to partner with the right natural allies in the region.” “Coptic Christians are the real partner of the West,” Khalil said. “We can help to create a bloc of Copts, secular Christians, and moderate Muslims.” That’s the hope and prayer of Egyptian Christians and secularists — pressure from the West to keep their democractic revolution moving forward.
Source: OpenHeaven.com
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RAMADAN – A TIME TO PRAY FOR ALL MUSLIMS
The Muslim month of fasting known as Ramadan began on August 1 and will last for 30 days. During this time, Muslims fast during daylight hours in order to purify themselves, focus on God, and gain enlightenment. Fasting is one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith and coincides with the month in which they believe Mohammad received the Qur’an. During Ramadan, Muslims carry out a “complete fast” during daylight hours. This means no food or water. The fast is broken each night with the Iftar (Arabic for “breakfast”) dinner. These are usually community events involving extended families and neighbours. Many mosques also host nightly Iftar dinners.
The purpose of fasting during Ramadan is to purify yourself of bad habits and thoughts. It is also a time to focus on God. Expectations rise and many Muslims hope to see supernatural visions or have divine dreams. The 27th night of Ramadan is known as Laylat al-Qadr – the night of power. This is the night they believe an angelic messenger gave Mohammad the Qur’an. According to the Qur’an, angels descend to earth on this night. It is thought to be “better than a thousand months” and Muslims hope to have their prayers answered at this time.
DURING RAMADAN PLEASE PRAY FOR:
* the Lord to reveal Himself to Muslims all over the world.
* their blind minds to be opened to the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
* their hearts to become good soil for the seed of the Word.
* the Holy Spirit to bring conviction of sin and show them they cannot do enough “good works” to earn their way to heaven. Pray for them to accept the truth that salvation is found only in Jesus Christ, the one and only Son of the Living God.
* the Lord to give Muslims dreams and visions – especially on the night of power.
* the salvation of members of Islamic terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda, Hamas, and the Taliban. Pray they will have a supernatural encounter with Christ.
* more Muslims to come to Christ during this Ramadan than in all of history combined.
* a tremendous harvest of souls as Muslims realize who Jesus Christ is and put their faith in Him as Saviour and Lord.
Source: Windows International Network
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U.K. DOCTORS CAN PRAY WITH PATIENTS AS LONG AS IT IS TACTFUL
Dr. Richard Scott made headlines when he rejected a warning from the General Medical Council (GMC) for discussing his faith with a patient. Now, new guidance for doctors who want to pray for patients has been released by the Medical Defence Union (MDU)-with backing from the GMC. “Nothing in the GMC’s Personal Beliefs and Medical Practice policy precludes doctors from praying with their patients. It must however be tactful, so that the patient can decline without embarrassment, as, while some may welcome the suggestion, others may regard it as inappropriate.” said Jane O’Brien, Assistant Director for Standards and Fitness to Practice.
Dr. Clare Gerada, Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said,”Good sense is prevailing at last.” Said Peter Saunders, Chief Executive of the Christian Medical Fellowship: “We welcome this clear endorsement by the GMC and MDU of ‘tactful’ offers of prayer by GPs coming, as it does, shortly after the GMC’s recent confirmation of the appropriateness of sensitive faith discussions with patients. Our concern is that doctors feel free to practice whole person medicine and not shrink back from discussing faith issues sensitively when and if it is appropriate to do so. Addressing spiritual issues when they impact on a patient’s health is part of good patient-centred care.”
Source: Inspire Magazine
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PRAYER ALERT FOR AFGHANISTAN
On July 29, roadside bombs killed 23 civilians in Afghanistan. The attack by a team of insurgents is being called bold, brazen, and daring. About half of the victims were women and children. Three policemen were also among the dead. Approximately three dozen others were injured. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. All of the bombings targeted government installations. Gunfire followed and continued for hours. Residents fled the area in terror. There has been a wave of violence in Afghanistan in recent weeks including the assassination of President Karzai’s half-brother. Civilian deaths in the first six months of 2011 are the highest since the war began.
PRAY FOR:
* the families who have lost loved ones in this and other terrorist attacks. Ask the Lord to comfort them.
* the salvation of Taliban members. Pray for the Holy Spirit to bring godly sorrow to their hearts that will lead them to repentance.
* the Taliban to be defeated. Pray for the Lord to give the government of Afghanistan and the coalition forces wisdom and strategies for combating and overcoming these terrorists.
* peace in this war-weary land. Pray for the Prince of Peace to be revealed in Afghanistan. Ask the Lord to lead Muslims into relationship with Jesus Christ.
* Christians to be strong in the Lord and continue sharing the Gospel. Pray for their protection. Petition the Lord to give them boldness and enable them to love their enemies.
* a great harvest of souls in Afghanistan. Pray for God’s Kingdom to come to this nation with signs, wonders, dreams, and visions.
Source: Windows International Network
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WORLD POPLATION TO HIT 7 BILLION IN 2012
According to a new projection, the world’s population will reach 7 billion in 2012, even as the global community struggles to satisfy its appetite for natural resources. There are 6.7 billion people in the world today. The United States ranks third, with 304 million, behind China and India, according to projections released by the Census Bureau. The world’s population surpassed 6 billion in 1999, meaning it will take only 13 years to add an extra billion people. By comparison, the number of people didn’t reach 1 billion until 1800, said Carl Haub, a demographer at the Population Reference Bureau. It didn’t reach 2 billion until 130 years later.
There is no consensus on how many people the Earth can sustain, said William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institute, a Washington think tank. He said it depends on how well people manage the Earth’s resources. There are countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East where the average woman has more than six children in her lifetime. Pray that the Lord gives wisdom to government and business leaders as they grapple with this issue. May there be stores of food to support the global population. May policy made by dictatorial leaders be overruled to allow all peoples to live out the numberof days which God has allotted to them.
Source: Intercessors for America
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