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Pray for the World (Nov. 28 2011)

On November 28, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment

AUSTRALIAN   PRAYER   NETWORK   NEWSLETTER

SYRIAN CHRISTIAN LEADERS EXPRESS CONCERN AS CRISIS WORSENS

Christian leaders in Syria and neighbouring countries have expressed growing concern about the deteriorating situation in Syria, and what it means for the vulnerable Christian minority. The Arab League has suspended Syria over its crackdown on protestors in a move that highlights how far conditions have worsened since anti-government demonstrations broke out in March. The UN says that at least 3,500 people have been killed. European foreign ministers have agreed a preliminary deal on tightening sanctions against the country, and French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said it was time to look at increased protection for Syria ¢â‚¬â„¢s civilians.

As the Assad regime comes under mounting international pressure, Christians, who comprise around ten per cent of the population, are particularly concerned about what the future holds for them and Iraqi Christian refugees living in the country. Should Assad fall, it is feared that Syria could go the way of Iraq post-Saddam Hussein. Saddam, like Assad, restrained the influence of militant Islamists, but after his fall they were free to wreak havoc on the Christian community; hundreds of thousands of Christians were consequently forced to flee the violence. Many of them went to Syria.
A Syrian church leader, who coordinates a number of food programmes for Iraqi Christian refugees in Syria, said: Most of the Iraqi Christians living in Syria are worried because they do not want to see Syrian Christians going down the same path as happened with them in Iraq. They are lifting their prayers for a safe and secure Syria and for it to continue to be a safe haven. Christians have mostly stayed away from the protests in Syria, having been well treated and afforded a considerable amount of religious freedom under President Assad ¢â‚¬â„¢s regime.

In September, an influential sheik issued an implicit threat to the country ¢â‚¬â„¢s Christians, saying that all those who oppose the revolution will be  ¢â‚¬Å“torn apart, chopped up and fed to the dogs ¢â‚¬ .   Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of Barnabas Fund, said: Syria has been very much a safe haven for Christians in the Middle East, one of the few Arab countries where they were treated with respect and had equality with the Muslim majority. Syria also has a history of welcoming in persecuted Christians from other countries. But I greatly fear that within the near future we will see a new Iraq developing in Syria.

Please Pray:

*   that the actions of the international community will help to restore peace and stability for all Syrian citizens.

*   for all Christians in Syria, especially those who are concerned about their future in the country.

*   that the Lord will keep them safe, grant them His peace and reassure them of His sovereignty amid this turmoil.

Source: Barnabus Fund

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WELCOME BABY SEVEN BILLION

A few seconds after midnight on 31st October 2011 a baby emerged from the womb of its mother, drew its first breath, and announced its arrival into the world with a tiny cry. This is Baby Seven Billion. The day that our planet became home to seven billion human beings marked an important milestone. But is it a milestone that we should celebrate, or a warning of impending catastrophe over which we should despair? For the population controllers at the UN Population Fund and Planned Parenthood the answer is clear: They would have preferred that Baby Seven Billion had never been born. We, on the other hand, celebrate the birth of Baby Seven Billion.

This little child has been born into a world that is more prosperous than our forebears could ever have imagined. As our numbers have grown, incomes have soared. In 1800, when there were only 1 billion of us, per capita income worldwide was a mere $100. By 1927 our numbers had doubled, but incomes had increased five times to $500.   By the time we reached 3 billion in 1960, income had tripled again to $1500. Today, as we pass the 7 billion mark, per capita income has soared to $9,000. Driving the so-called “population explosion” has been a real explosion in health and longevity.

As late as the 19th century, 40% of children died before reaching age five. Today under 5 mortality is under 6% and falling. Two hundred years ago, human life expectancy was under 30 years. Today it is 69 years and climbing. By nearly every measure of well-being, from infant mortality and life expectancy to educational level and caloric intake, life in Africa, Asia, and Latin America has been getting dramatically better. According to the World Bank, the average income in the developing world has quadrupled since 1960. Enough grain is produced for every person on earth to consume 3,500 calories daily. There is no need for anyone to starve in the midst of this plenty.
Population has more than doubled since 1960, but crop yields per hectare have kept pace.   World food and resource production has never been higher. Economies continue to expand and productivity is up. Life spans are lengthening, poverty is down, and political freedom is growing. The human race has never been so well off. In fact, underpopulation, not overpopulation, is the real threat that much of the world faces today. Some 80 countries representing over half the world’s population suffer from below replacement fertility ¢â‚¬”defined as less than 2.1 children per woman. The populations of the developed nations today are static or declining.

The UN predicts that by 2050, Russia’s population will have declined by 25 million people, Japan’s by 21 million, Italy’s by 16 million, and Germany’s and Spain’s by 9 million each. Countries with continued below replacement rate fertility will eventually die out. It’s just a question of time. Even in the developing world family size has shrunk, from around 5 children per woman in 1960 to less than 3 today. And the decline continues. According to the UN the population of the world will peak at 8 plus billion in 2040 or so, and then begin to decline. High fertility rates are becoming rare. The UN numbers for 2010 show only 10 countries with population increase rates at or above 3%.

Source: Intercessors Network

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AMAZING PRAYER VIGIL IN EGYPT

71,000 Egyptians recently attended an all-night prayer meeting in Cairo.   It was the largest Christian event held in Egypt for over a thousand years. It was held at the famous Cave Church on Cairo’s largest garbage city, Mokattam. This church is called St Simeon the Tanner Coptic Orthodox Church. The gospel was proclaimed during the Prayer event and some people responded to the challenge call to follow Jesus. Prayers for healing were made at midnight and some people were healed of physical problems. Since the event, one Egyptian Christian leader told us “The heavens are clean! It is easy to pray!” He calls it the beginning of revival.

Up to a month ago, there was absolutely no promotion for this event. No flyers. In fact, the organizer was still undecided on whether to host it on Friday or Saturday. It was an Egyptian event. Buses took people to this event from all over Egypt.   In September 2009, a similar prayer meeting was held in Egypt where the leaders, including the main organizer of this event, heard God say that President Mubarak would receive “no grace” in 2011. They also heard God tell them that there would be bloodshed, persecution and the burning of churches. But if God’s people would come, and hear His voice, and repent, then He would hear their prayers.

The passage on repentance that was referenced in the 2009 prayer meeting was the Bible passage read at the beginning of the prayer service. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.2 Chronicles 7:14.   On 9th October, 2011, when many Coptic Christians were killed in Cairo, Christian leaders met for 3 days of prayer. During this time, they announced their intention of a prayer event for Egypt, which culminated in this event.

Since the prayer meeting, Cairo has experienced highly unusual rain, clouds, lightning and thunder during a month which normally gets only .15 cms of rain. In a decision by the Coptic Pope Shenouda III the day before the meeting, evangelical leaders were banned from the stage. Dr Rev Sameh Maurice, Pastor of Cairo’s largest evangelical church called Kasr El Dobara, was scheduled to lead prayer on the main stage but instead stood and prayed among the participators without complaining.   Last week, Father Simon, who started the cave church, had a vision in which a mountain was lifted up and removed. In the vision God said to him that “you will hear wonderful news this year!.”

Source: Intercessors Network

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EGYPTIAN ELECTIONS – THE UNFINISHED REVOLUTION

NetworkStage one in Egypt’s first parliamentary elections since President Hosni Mubarak was driven from office are being held today November 28, 2011. The unrest in Egypt is being called “the unfinished revolution” and has many citizens worried about the future of the nation. Demonstrations against the government of Egypt forced President Hosni Mubarak to step down from office. But since the military took over, protests have continued. More civilians continue to be killed as security forces attempted to maintain control. Christians Copts, are at special risk. Violence against them has been fierce and ongoing. More than two dozen were killed in October 2011.

“The latest wave of violence adds further pressure on the military junta,” notes The Guardian, “ahead of this month’s parliamentary elections, with opposition to the ruling generals seemingly beginning to spread beyond Cairo and Alexandria and into rural areas.”The first stage in parliamentary elections will take place on November 28. Stage two will be held December 14, with presidential elections scheduled for March 2012. As one news source noted, “Unless the Islamists and liberals can find a way to coexist in Egyptian politics, Egypt risks falling into a new authoritarianism.”

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

*   the Lord to guide and direct this nation. Ask Him to raise up leaders who will govern with integrity and in the fear of the Lord. Pray for the elections to be fair.

*   any ballot rigging schemes to be exposed and fail to influence the outcome.   Pray for peace to be maintained. Pray that this time of uncertainty will be an open door for the Gospel.

*   Christians in Egypt to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Ask the Lord to protect them and encourage them. Pray for a great harvest of souls to come to the Lord from Egypt. Pray for the Kingdom of God to come to this nation with great power, signs, wonders, miracles, visions and dreams.

Source: Windows International Network

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CONDOLEEZZA RICE URGES STUDENTS TO TURN TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

Condoleezza Rice has told students at the University of Mobile that asking God for guidance and yielding to Him in difficult times has been the driving force of her career. The former Secretary of State told the 400-plus students that her Christian faith and the decisions she makes are inseparable. She urged them to follow the Holy Spirit, as she has, to remain optimistic and persevere. Answering a question about how her faith impacted her role as Secretary of State Rice said “Knowing that you have a higher power to which to appeal was of immense help in my decision making. Being a person of faith I could be continually optimistic even in hard times,” Rice added.

She continued. “Abraham Lincoln once said, ‘There are times when you have nowhere else to go than your knees.’ That is very deeply engrained in me.” Rice also spoke at the school’s Leadership Banquet, where she applauded the University for developing “servant leaders” for the future. “Because the students here are taught to bring faith and reason together, they have a way of knowing how to use that knowledge to advance the human condition,” Rice said. “That is why the work you do is so important.” Rice left public office in 2009 and is now a political science professor  at Stanford University.

Source: CBN News

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BRITISH MUSLIM LEADER EXHORTS THE U.K. TO BE MORE CHRISTIAN

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, the only Muslim in the British cabinet, has exhorted Britain to be “more Christian.” “We need to create a country where people don’t feel like they have to leave religion at the door,” said the pro-family, pro-life Warsi. “That means being proud of Christianity, not downgrading it. It means encouraging people to say that their faith inspires what they do. It means supporting religious charities in delivering public services in schools and hospitals.” She said “there is nothing incompatible about a world of many religions and a world of strong nation states.” Warsi was pelted with eggs in 2009 by those opposed to her fearless defence of Christianity in the U.K.

Source: The Telegraph UK

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‘PRISON FOR CHRISTIANS ONLY’ ATTRACTING WORLDWIDE ATTENTION

An evangelical inmates only prison, called “Christ the Only Hope,” has been set up in Argentina. It has been operating successfully now for several years. Most inmates were saved in other prisons and transferred to “Christ the Only Hope.” The only one of its kind in the world, the prison has a high rate of success. It has specific activities which creates a quite different type of environment for the prisoners. With 10 to 12 prisoners to a cell, the inmates move about the prison freely and are expected to solve their own problems. They live and breathe their faith. Rates of reoffending by released prisoners are reportedly much lower than other prisons.   The prison guards are also Believers.

Source: Intercessors Network

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