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Pray for the World Feb. 20, 2012

On February 20, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment

AUSTRALIAN   PRAYER   NETWORK   NEWSLETTER

A NEW DAY DAWNS FOR BURMA (MYANMAR)

The government of Myanmar (Burma) and the Karen National Union, the country’s oldest ethnic rebel group, last month signed a cease-fire agreement bringing a possible end to 60-plus years of fighting between Burmese Buddhist ethnic groups and the predominantly Christian Karen. Christian workers in Southeast Asia are expressing cautious hope and calling for prayer in light of the historic agreement, the first since the Karen National Union began its struggle for autonomy in 1948. If effective, the cease-fire could mean the end of one of the world’s longest-running civil wars according to the Baptist Press.

“If it lasts, this could be a huge step forward,” according to one Christian worker based in Southeast Asia. “It could create positive stability.”   Another Christian worker familiar within the region agreed. “I hope what we are hearing is true,” he said. “The ethnic groups have been down this road before, only to be betrayed.” For many years the Karen people have been the target of “ethnic cleansing” by the ruling Burmese. According to reports from human rights groups, military forces have routinely burned Karen villages, homes and churches. As a result, thousands of Karen have been forced from their homes, with many seeking refuge in neighbouring Thailand.

Given the depth of hatred and bitterness between the two groups, overcoming their longstanding rivalry will take more than a political agreement. An entire generation of Burmese and Karen have grown up fighting each other. There is such deep mistrust it may take another generation to smooth out. Lasting peace will only be found in Christ. However real change seems to be taking place in the country since the March 2011 elections. The new government has recognized the political party of freed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, sought to improve relations with Western nations and moved to negotiate an end to conflicts with other ethnic groups in addition to the Karen.

Patrick Klein with Vision Beyond Borders says, “I really believe it’s an answer to prayer. I  believe this because a lot of people have been praying, and God is bringing this to the forefront. It’s an exciting time, and I never thought that we would see this.” On his most recent visit, Klein says the climate in the country was very different. The team saw pictures of Aung San Suu Kyi on billboards and covers of magazines, and there were articles about her in several newspapers; that would have been outlawed in the past. The people there seem excited and filled with hope at the changes.

Klein explains, “Hillary Clinton was there in December, and she said that if they would stop the tribal violence and release more political prisoners, they would work to normalize relations with the U.S.” Other reforms included easing restrictions on media and civil society, and legalizing the main opposition political party. The question is: will it stick? Obvious concerns about broken promises surface. The military regime has made and broken many accords with various ethnic groups over the course of their decades-long struggle.   However, Klein says this time feels different.

“We’re seeing changes. I’m constantly in touch with our contact inside Burma, and he’s saying these changes are real, they are lasting, and it’s starting to affect the whole country” Klein said. Klein remains cautiously optimistic. While there have been scattered reports of attacks on the Karen despite the ceasefire, he says it is takes a while for news to trickle into the outlying regions. Still, changing the mindset of a generation will take some time. “There are a lot of landmines. It’ll take quite a while to remove those, but as far as I understand with Aung San Suu Kyi, she’s really working to try to help the tribals, as well. They’re getting a voice, which is good.”

Since the restoration of civilian rule, Burmese leaders have also opened the door for humanitarian groups to conflict areas, establishing a national human rights commission. Pray for Burma. The changes are exhilarating, but they also come with a threat. After 50 years of repression, it’s natural to be eager. However, opening too fast allows not only good but also bad things to come in. Klein says, “What we’re praying for is that they’ll slowly open up and really protect the country and not let the human traffickers come in. We’re also praying that the church will be wise and discerning and not allow false doctrines and deceptions to come in.”

Hope shines from the faces of people on the streets and it’s infectious. Christian ministries are looking forward to new freedoms and what they might mean for Gospel outreach. It should be a lot easier to travel. There won’t be the restrictions that there had been. It will also be easier for the church in Burma to reach out to their own country. Please pray for wisdom for leaders who are involved in negotiations with the Burmese government. Prayer is making a difference. Continue to pray for Burma. Please pray for the Karen people, especially that the ceasefire will hold. After all of these years of fighting for their freedom, they need to know that they are not forgotten.

 

Source: Mission Network News

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BOKO HARAM DECLARES WAR IN NIGERIA

Police in Nigeria recently discovered ten more car bombs in Kano, an area already reeling from multiple bombings. Spokesman for Voice of the Martyrs USA, Todd Nettleton, says “These are very serious attacks and show the growing ability of Boko Haram to coordinate attacks to maximize the body count.” Boko Haram, a radical Islamist sect, has claimed responsibility for recent bomb blasts that have killed 256 people. The attacks are claimed to be a response to a refusal by the authorities to release the sect’s members from custody. Troops sent to quell the violence have taken over 300 people into custody. Nettleton says it’s not doing much to reassure shell-shocked Nigerians.

“The government seems unable to stop these attacks and take a significant stand against Boko Haram. That’s a concern not only to Christians, but everybody in Nigeria.” Although the group has mainly confined their activities to northern Nigeria, many fear elements within the sect may try to escalate the crisis throughout the country and even internationally. They have basically declared war on law and order, and anybody who represents law and order. They continue to call for Nigeria to be an Islamic nation that follows Sharia law.” This could amount to starting a civil war and destabilizing the government at the same time.

President Goodluck Jonathon declared a 24-hour curfew to clear the streets. However it’s clear that fear is spreading. If Christians are provoked further, church leaders warn they will defend themselves. Pray that the Christians will have wisdom to respond in a Christlike manner. At the same time, they don’t want to be ‘sitting ducks’ for more of these attacks that are specifically targeting Christians. Nearly 200 religious leaders gathered recently for a prayer vigil. Boko Haram is modelled on the Taliban movement. Since Christianity is equated with the West, Nettleton says believers know they’re in the cross-hairs.

“What is this going to mean for Nigeria? What is this going to mean for religious freedom in the northern part of the country? Are Christians going to have the ability to witness, the ability to meet together, the ability to worship in a place where they have been clearly told by Boko Haram, ‘You should leave, or else’?” Nettleton asks. Experts predict the violence will continue to spiral out of control. Nearly every news report Nettleton watches concludes with a grim prediction of civil war. Pray that Christians in Northern Nigeria will balance their need for safety and protection with living out the biblical mandate to love their enemies and to forgive those who persecute them.

Source: Voice of the Martyrs

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CHRISTIANS UNDER-REPRESENTED IN NEW EGYPTIAN PARLIAMENT

Final results of the Egyptian parliamentary elections confirm a resounding victory for Islamist groups, while the country ¢â‚¬â„¢s Christians are woefully under-represented, filling just seven of the 498 seats. As expected the Muslim Brotherhood ¢â‚¬â„¢s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) has emerged with the largest share of the vote, giving them 47% of seats in the People ¢â‚¬â„¢s Assembly.   The hard line Salafist al-Nur party ¢â‚¬â„¢s coalition came second, taking about 25% of the seats. The liberal Wafd party came third, trailed by the Egyptian Bloc coalition. The latter includes the Free Egyptians, which is headed by Christian businessman Naguib Sawiris and is favoured by many of the country ¢â‚¬â„¢s Christians.

Despite comprising around 10% of the population, Christians fill only 1.4% of the seats in the new parliament. Christian candidates won just two seats in the elections; five Christian candidates were subsequently appointed by the head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, who, acting in the place of the president, has the right to appoint ten MPs. Egyptian Christians are concerned about their future under the new parliament. A Christian group released a statement expressing discontent with the election results and asked the Islamists if they will treat the country ¢â‚¬â„¢s Christians as equals and how they intend to deal with Christian women who will not cover their hair or faces.

The new parliament will help shape the country ¢â‚¬â„¢s future, as it will choose the 100-member body that will draw up the new constitution. Under a temporary agreement, an FJP representative will be installed as the parliament ¢â‚¬â„¢s speaker with al-Nur and Wafd representatives serving as deputy speakers. It remains to be seen whether or not the FJP and al-Nur will join forces in parliament, but the two groups have thus far expressed different priorities. The former has said that it will focus on economic and social issues, while the latter wants to pursue a more overtly Islamist agenda, focusing on issues such as women ¢â‚¬â„¢s dress, alcohol consumption and the contents of popular culture.

 

Source: Barnabus Fund

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ELIMINATING FITNA IN INDIAN ADMINISTERED KASHMIR

Fitna can be defined as anything that could shake the faith of a Muslim. Islam regards fitna as persecution that must be eliminated. The Qur’an mandates that fighting/jihad continue “until there is no more fitna” and all worship is acknowledged to be for Allah (Qur’an 2:190-193). Responding to the recent baptism of seven Christian converts in Srinagar, Kashmir’s apostaphobic dictators of Islam have committed themselves to eliminating fitna in Kashmir. Their strategy of choice is the peddling of disinformation by which they hope to achieve two ends:

1)   they hope to incite Islamic indignation, zeal and rage amongst the Muslim majority, so that Kashmiri society becomes less tolerant of fitna; the lives of Christians are made so miserable that they are no longer a source of fitna; and churches are driven underground where they can no longer be a source of fitna. If they can eliminate fitna, then Kashmir’s Islamists will have empowered themselves significantly.

2)   by falsely accusing Christians of hurting religious sentiments, threatening social harmony and offering monetary inducements for conversion, they are deliberately avoiding the language of Sharia law while deliberately exploiting the language of the Indian penal code which criminalises “any act which is prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different religious groups”;   By exploiting such nationally and internationally acceptable blame-the-victim language, the Islamists hope to justify and legitimise their repression while avoiding sanction. If they can repress, persecute and Islamise with impunity, then they will have empowered themselves significantly.

Source: Religious Liberty Monitoring

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AL-QAEDA ON THE MOVE IN YEMAN

Al-Qaeda has seized the Yemini city of Rada. Though the militants have controlled a number of towns in the south, this is the closest they have come to the capital of Sana’a. Many terrorist sleeper cells are thought to be located in this area. In response to protests, President Ali Saleh agreed to step down from office when elections are held this month. However, some believe he is now allowing al-Qaeda to advance in order to remain in office. When the terrorists took control of Rada, they released hundreds of jail inmates. Some were already loyal to al-Qaeda and others chose to join them. Al-Qaeda now controls seven population centres in Southern Yemen.

Please pray for:

*     the Lord to accomplish His plans and purposes in this nation. Ask the Lord to raise up leaders who will govern with integrity and in the fear of the Lord. Pray for al-Qaeda to be defeated and for the salvation of its leaders and members.

*     the people of Yemen to be set free from the bondage of Islam. Pray for the Lord to open their hearts and minds so they will know Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord.   Pray for this time of unrest to become an open door for the Gospel. Pray for Yemenis to be receptive to the Good News of Jesus Christ.

*   men, women, and children to put their faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord and for God to draw Yeminis to Himself by His Spirit. Pray for the Kingdom of God to come to Yemen with miracles, signs, wonders, dreams, and visions.

 

Source: Windows International Network

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MIDDLE CLASS BECOMING ECONOMICALLY POWERFUL IN INDIA

India ¢â‚¬â„¢s middle class is growing and becoming very economically powerful. As their power and influence grows, they are beginning to question some of the  ¢â‚¬Å“old ways, ¢â‚¬  that their parents and grandparents took for granted. The younger generation is seeking something to bring more meaning, more significance to their lives. But with only one true evangelical Christian to about 6 million people, the Bride of Christ needs to look at how she is responding to their search. The corporate world is certainly making an impact. Consumerism has hit India hard.

Indians are responding, seeing if the affluence the west loves so well is what brings happiness. We often wonder what idol will hold more bondage over the Indians as time continues. Will it be Shiva, Krishna, Ram, or Ganesh? Or will it be money? Pray to Almighty God that none of these will prevail, but that Indians will turn to Jesus, finding their true significance through serving Him. Ask God to stir His church to respond in ways that give India ¢â‚¬â„¢s young middle class a better option. Pray for more workers for this vast harvest field!

Source: Intercessors Network

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40 DAYS OF PRAYER AND FASTING FOR PAKISTAN 20th FEBRUARY TO 30th MARCH 2012

During a similar 40 day prayer campaign held in 2011, God opened new doors when almost a 1000 churches and ministries in 30 cities across Pakistan prayed for thousands of hours for the church and the nation. Feedback was received of how the Holy Spirit led people to intercede in a new way for the country and the people. As they started praying, the anointing of intercession, tears and compassion came as never experienced before.   In 2012 the Pakistani Church is again entering another nationwide 40 days of prayer from 20th February to 30th March 2012. Pray for the Church and the Christians of Pakistan as they enter this season of prayer under very difficult circumstances.

 

Source: Global Day of Prayer

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MAJOR VICTORY ON EUTHANASIA IN EUROPE

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has adopted a non-binding resolution stating: “Euthanasia of a dependent human being for his or her alleged benefit, must always be prohibited.” The purpose of the resolution defines the principles that should govern the practice of “living wills” or “advance directives” in the 47 States of the Council of Europe. The European Centre for Law and Justice Director Gregor Puppinck welcomed the adoption of the resolution. “This Resolution is a major victory for the protection of life and dignity because “living wills” or “advance directives” are open to abuses, and are a backdoor for introducing euthanasia into legislation ¢â‚¬  Puppinck said.

Source: LifeSiteNews

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