AUSTRALIAN   PRAYER   NETWORK   NEWSLETTER July 9 2012

Note from Rowland: Conservative stance: I don ¢â‚¬â„¢t endorse a few of the opinions here. But overall good material for individual and group prayer.

• EGYPT’S NEW PRESIDENT URGED TO UPHOLD CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTIES
• NIGERIA: BOKO HARAM THREATENS “BLOODIEST MONTH YET” FOR CHURCHES
• HOW RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IS THREATENED BY SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
• INDIAN TV SHOW SPARKS REFORM OF TABOO LAWS
• PASTOR ATTACKED AND WIFE GANG RAPED IN BANGLADESH
• AMERICA’S CURRENT SPIRITUAL CONDITION SPARKS NUMEROUS PRAYER MOVEMENTS
• BRITISH DOCTORS SAY NO TO EUTHANASIA

EGYPT’S NEW PRESIDENT URGED TO UPHOLD CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTIES

Dr Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood has been elected as Egypt’s new President. In the presidential election Mr Mursi gained 51.7 per cent of the votes cast while his opponent Ahmed Shafiq won 48.3 per cent. In his first speech as President, Mr Mursi encouraged national unity across the religious divide by pledging “respect for human rights, and maintaining the rights of women and children” and said: “Egypt is for all Egyptians; all of us are equals in terms of rights.” As an active member of the Muslim Brotherhood movement for many years, Mr Mursi was arrested and imprisoned for short periods. He became President of the Freedom and Justice Party, the political party of the Muslim Brotherhood, after the revolution that began on 25th January.

The Muslim Brotherhood has announced that Mr Mursi as President will no longer have an active role in the organisation. Mr Mursi has promised to rule for all Egyptians and to appoint a prime minister who is not affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, as well as a Christian vice-president. However, concerns persist over the influence the group may still wield on government. The party has already reneged on several pledges made since the Revolution, including a promise not to field a Presidential candidate. It is also not yet clear how much power Mr Mursi will wield. Prior to the polls closing, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) issued an Interim Constitutional Declaration that gives the SCAF legislative power following the dissolution of the Islamists-led parliament.  

The interim constitution limits the president’s powers, stripping him of any authority over the army. It also gives the military the right to manage the budget and appoint the 100-member panel tasked with drafting a new and permanent constitution. According to the SCAF’s interim constitution, parliamentary elections will take place one month from the day the new constitution is approved by the national referendum. Pro-change activists and human rights campaigners said the junta’s constitutional declaration rendered the scheduled ‘handover’ of power to a democratically-elected executive ‘meaningless’. The Brotherhood were quick to denounce the declaration as unconstitutional, raising the prospect of a dramatic showdown within the highest institutions of the state.”

Dr Mohamed Saad el-Katatni, the secretary general of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party and Speaker of the People’s Assembly, flatly rejected SCAF’s decision to dissolve the parliament because it is not based on any constitutional principle or procedure. SaadEl-Katatni says the ruling junta does not have the right to implement a court verdict to dismantle the parliament’s lower house – only the people do. Analysts are drawing parallels with Algeria, where in 1991 the military cancelled a second round of elections when it became obvious that Islamists were set to win power. The move triggered a decade-long civil war.   Algerian Islamists are warning that Egypt could be following in Algeria’s footsteps.

El-Hachemi Sahnouni, founder of Algeria’s Islamic Salvation Front, said that what has happened in Egypt is “similar to what happened in Algeria in 1991”. Sahnouni went on “If this happens, it will be a catastrophe not only for Egypt but for all of the Arab countries.” Others believe violence is unlikely. “I don’t see an Algeria scenario,” said Mustafa Kamel al-Sayyed, professor of political science at Cairo University. “Then It was a different context. In Algeria, there was violence from both sides. But in Egypt, there has only been threats.”   Ibrahim al-Houdaiby, an expert on Islamist movements, also dismissed the prospect of widespread violence between the Brotherhood and the generals. “The Brotherhood will use a strategy of pressure to gain posts before finally adapting their policies he said.

But as Jon Alterman, head of the Middle East programme at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies think-tank comments: “This is an opening scene in what is certain to be a drama. It’s hard to imagine how this can pass quietly.” Meanwhile Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said, “CSW congratulates the Egyptian people on the election of their first democratically elected president. We particularly welcome Mr Mursi’s stated commitment to equality of citizenship regardless of creed, age and gender, and urge him to follow through his encouraging statements on inclusive government for Egypt with actions that support democracy, rule of law and equality before the law for all Egyptians, regardless of religious or political affiliation.”

Source: Christian Solidarity Worldwide

NIGERIA: BOKO HARAM THREATENS “BLOODIEST MONTH YET” FOR CHURCHES

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is calling for an increased security presence in five northern and central Nigerian states following a threat by Boko Haram to quadruple attacks on churches and make the coming month “the bloodiest month yet.” This threat follows attacks by gunmen and bombers on churches in northern Nigeria on consecutive Sundays and an armed raid on the Yobe State capital that occasioned many casualties. A spokesperson from Boko Haram has said that the group had around 300 suicide bombers ready to attack churches in predominantly Christian Southern Kaduna and Plateau State. Thegroup claims to have recruited the sons and daughters of Muslims killed during past sectarian conflicts, who have received arms and bomb-making training in Mauritania and Somalia.

Boko Haram also announced plans to attack or take over government buildings in Kano, Kaduna, Yobe and Gombe states, with a major attack on the capital Abuja,   planned as a show of strength to prove that the Nigerian security agencies could not contain them. Curfews have been used to restore order in Yobe and Kaduna States with varying success. In the Yobe State Capital, Damaturu, a curfew was imposed following a sustained attack by around 100 heavily-armed members of Boko Haram that lasted over 24 hours. So far over 50 people are confirmed dead. The curfew was relaxed after Nigerian newsagencies reported the arrest of Habibu Bama, suspected master mind of the Christmas Day bombing at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla, following a shoot-out with the Joint Task Force.   

In Kaduna City, a 24-hour curfew was imposed after reprisal attacks broke out in response to the triple church bombings on 17 June. Attempts to relax the curfew   resulted in more violence, as Muslim youths attacked Christian homes and churches. Though the 24-hour curfew was reinstated, sporadic outbreaks of violence continue to occur throughout the city, and the atmosphere remains tense. The curfew is relaxed for Muslim prayers on Fridays, reinstated on Saturday, and relaxed again for Christian worship on Sunday. CSW’s Advocacy Director Andrew Johnston said, “Boko Haram has made its deadly intentions clear and the authorities must respond by stepping up security in targeted areas, both to protect innocent civilians and to defuse any likelihood of reprisal attacks.”

Boko Haram has again articulated its links with Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Al Shabaab in Somalia. The security implications of this co-operation go beyond Nigeria’s borders and international co-operation is vital to disrupt the organisation’s network. The recent decision by the United States to only designate three Boko Haram members as terrorists, as opposed to the entire organisation, does not address the scope of the problem posed by Boko Haram and will be of limited use in disrupting its networks. Its links to international terrorist networks urgently require a far more comprehensive approach, especially since the de-facto state created in northern Mali by a group sympathetic to AQIM now raises the possibility of an Afghanistan-style base for Al-Qaeda in West Africa.

Source: Christian Solidarity Worldwide

HOW RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IS THREATENED BY SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

Christians are often asked by gay activists why they oppose same-sex marriage. “How does our marrying hurt you?” they ask. Our Christian   response should be “because it will destroy religious freedom and free speech rights”.   The handwriting is on the wall in Canada, which legalized same-sex “marriage” in 2005, in effect completely changing its true meaning. Since then there have been between 200 and 300 legal proceedings instigated against critics and opponents of same-sex marriage. For instance, in Saskatchewan, a homosexual man called a state marriage commissioner, wanting to “marry” his partner. The commissioner, an evangelical Christian, declined to conduct the ceremony for religious reasons.

He then referred the man to another commissioner. But that was not enough for the homosexual couple. Even though they got their ceremony, they wanted to punish the Christian who had declined to conduct it. The case ended up in the courts. And the result? Those with religious objections to conducting such ceremonies now face the loss of their jobs. Canadian churches are also under attack. When Fred Henry, the Roman Catholic bishop of Calgary, Alberta, sent a letter to churches explaining traditional Catholic teaching on marriage, he was “charged with a human-rights violation” and “threatened with litigation.” Churches with theological objections to performing same-sex “wedding” ceremonies are being threatened with the loss of their tax-free status.

In British Columbia, the Knights of Columbus agreed to rent its building for a wedding reception before finding out that the couple were lesbian. When they found out, they apologized to the women and agreed to find them an alternative venue and pay the costs for printing new invitations: But that wasn’t good enough. The women prosecuted, and the Human Rights Commission ordered the Knights to pay a fine. The lesbians knew perfectly well what the Catholic Church teaches about marriage, but they sought out a Catholic-owned building, anyway.   Christians are being increasingly targeted, almost certainly to create legal precedents   intended to silence and punish anyone who dares to disagree with so-called same-sex “marriage.”

Source: Crosswalk.com

INDIAN TV SHOW SPARKS REFORM OF TABOO LAWS

Like just about anywhere else in the world, India’s top-rated television shows tend towards the less cerebral end of the spectrum: soap operas, talent contests, game shows and, of course, the cricket. Yet the latest program to captivate the nation of 1.2 billion confronts them with taboo issues such as female foeticide, ”honour” killings and the ethics of the dowry system. Fronted by the veteran Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, “Truth Alone Prevails” has been watched by 400 million people since going on air last month. The show is not only shaping public debate but has also shamed politicians into action. Two states have fast-tracked a law protecting children from sexual abuse and another has promised to open shops selling cut-price generic medicines.

Rajasthan, the state with India’s highest male-to-female ratio, pledged to speed up court cases punishing those who practise sex-based abortion. The Rajasthan High Court has also asked the state government to install   active trackers at all sonography centres within four months.   On Thursday Khan was invited to address the health select committee of the Indian Parliament after exposing medical malpractice on the show. But in an interview, he revealed greater ambitions. ”I am hoping for something bigger. And what is that? I’ll tell you: what is the intent of the show? When somebody watches, do we want them to go out into the street and join a revolution? No. We want him to make a revolution within himself.”

It is something of a landmark for Indian television. No other show in recent times has managed to bulldoze its way into the social consciousness of Indians. ‘   Although the show has received largely positive reviews, it has been accused of ”dangerous over simplification”. Khan has come under fire from those who cannot stomach his transformation from silver-screen heart-throb to ground-breaking presenter. He has been slated for everything from his habit of bursting into tears on set to having the audacity to suggest solutions to other people’s personal lives while having made a hash of his own. He divorced his first wife and left her with their two children: a socially unacceptable sin in many Indian eyes.   Khan says he ignores such criticisms.

Source: Guardian News and Media

PASTOR ATTACKED AND WIFE GANG RAPED IN BANGLADESH

A Bangladesh Pastor and his wife have been attacked by Muslims outside their home. The couple went outside to use the washroom when approximately seven Muslims surrounded them. They tied the Pastor up, blindfolded his wife, and forced her inside the house. The assailants looted the couple’s belongings and gang-raped the wife. They then broke into the nearby church building where they urinated and defecated on the floor. The Pastor was eventually able to untie himself and get help for his unconscious wife. Although the couple testifies that their attackers were Muslim, police officers, the Muslim-owned media, and some influential citizens have made the claim that the crime was actually committed by two Christians and a Hindu under the direction of another local pastor.

When the police stated these allegations in the initial report, the Pastor signed the document without reading it because he was so shaken from the attack. His wife has since written a corrected statement of the events. At last report, the couple were living with relatives to avoid further attacks. Ask God to heal the couple from the physical and emotional scars of the rape. Pray that those who are truly guilty will be found and convicted. Pray that the Pastor and his wife will continue to be a light that draws others to Jesus.

Source: Intercessors Network

AMERICA’S CURRENT SPIRITUAL CONDITION SPARKS NUMEROUS PRAYER MOVEMENTS

The seemingly steep slope of moral decline in America of late is causing immense concern for an increasing number of Christians who are turning to the Lord in prayer. A recent report states that “prayer initiatives are budding” as Believers are joining together more and more-across denominations – seeking help from God for the country. Desperation is building among many within the Church to call upon God in these very challenging days. Conditions today are bringing the Church together as never before. We are battling a common enemy, Satan; addressing a common problem, sin; and presenting a common solution, salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.”   

According to the prayer initiative One Cry, which urges the faithful to pray for America, this is a ‘national spiritual emergency.’ They claim that “true revival is the only hope to reverse our spiritual recession and enable us once again to display the beauty of Jesus Christ and His Gospel throughout the world.” Another ministry, CryOut America, has issued a ‘call to prayer’ for September 11, 2012, and on September 29th, Philadelphia will be host for the America for Jesus solemn assembly.

Source: Charisma News

BRITISH DOCTORS SAY NO TO EUTHANASIA

The annual British Medical Association (BMA) conference has reiterated its opposition to euthanasia. Prior to the Conference there had been a campaign to try to get the BMA to take a neutral stance on the issue, but   members voted against that proposal.   Dr Dai Samuel said, “We must question what we, as doctors, stand for. I do not consider the killing of patients – whatever the reason – justified. That is murder and I cannot commit that offense.” Dr. Hamish Meldrum said, “I don’t come to this conclusion from any strong religious view, but from having worked as a doctor for 40years. where I have always felt I have been able, in almost every occasion, to support my patients when they were dying without having to actively end their lives. This is a vote for common sense”.

Source: The Information Daily

Have you visited our Web site?  Australian Prayer Network

~~

Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 165 | Wed 27 Jun 2012

To view this RLPB with hyperlinks, go to Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin
blog  http://rlprayerbulletin.blogspot.com

UPTICK IN CHURCH CLOSURES AND ATTACKS IN INDONESIA

The number of recorded violations of Christians ¢â‚¬â„¢ religious rights in Indonesia reached 40 in the first five months of the year, nearly two-thirds the number in all of last year, according to the Jakarta Christian Communication Forum. Christians in Indonesia faced 64 cases of violations of religious freedom last year, up from 47 in 2010, said Theophilus Bela, president of the group. Bela said he was worried about the growing incidence of violence and church closures, as his group recorded just 10 anti-Christian incidents in 2009. There were 40 such incidents in 2008, he said. At least 22 churches have been forced to close this year, including 18 in the Singkil regency of Aceh Province that were sealed last month as local authorities either sided with or came under pressure from extremist Islamist groups.

The closures in Aceh followed last month ¢â‚¬â„¢s election of a hard-line Islamic governor. Violence against Christians has also increased, with most incidents taking place in areas surrounding Jakarta and Singkil, said Bela, who is also secretary general of the Indonesian Committee on Religion and Peace, a group that promotes inter-religious dialogue. Local Christians complain that the impractical requirements of a 2006 decree, the Revised Joint Ministerial Decree on the Construction of Houses of Worship, provide the pretext for Islamic extremists and officials to close churches, revoke permissions and delay building permits. It mandates religious groups obtain the signatures of at least 90 members and 60 area residents, as well as approval from the local religious affairs office.

Over the wailing of church members, the government of Bekasi sealed 3 churches because they had not fulfilled the requirements of the Joint Ministerial Decree. At a tense meeting with Bekasi officials the Rev. Hotman Sitorus of the GKRI church begged to be given two more days beyond the planned closure date, so the   church could hold a special service for the confirmation of 24 people and the baptism of one.  ¢â‚¬Å“However, the government did not grant it to us, ¢â‚¬  Sitorus said. Sitorus said his 150-member GKRI church has since secured 90 signatures of members and 60 signatures of area residents and submitted paperwork only to have Bekasi officials return the application, saying it needed to be verified by local block captains. The building permit has still not yet been granted.

The problems can be traced to the election of a new block captain, who belongs to a hard-line Islamic group. The general secretary of the Indonesian Fellowship of Churches, Pastor Gomar Gultom, said the church should continue worshipping even though the local government has sealed their building.  ¢â‚¬Å“According to Article 9 of the Indonesian Constitution, the government guarantees the right to persons of all religions and faiths, ¢â‚¬  Gultom said.  ¢â‚¬Å“Because of this, no person can deny another the right to worship. ¢â‚¬    Gultom encouraged congregations to worship each week without fear.  ¢â‚¬Å“It is true that when Christians are restricted, they spread, ¢â‚¬  he said.

Source: Compass Direct News

[  Top  ]

CONTINUING PRESSURE ON CHURCHES AND CHRISTIAN LEADERS IN IRAN

Iranian Christians have requested renewed prayer as the Government’s campaign of intimidation against Christians and Churches continues. This campaign is targeted both at the small remaining number of officially recognised Protestant churches, and also against the house church movement. In early May leaders of the Assemblies of God church in Tehran were ordered by the Ministry of Intelligence to submit the names and ID numbers of all members. The church has long been under close surveillance; the latest order makes it even more difficult for those from Muslim backgrounds to attend the church. More than 20 believers remain detained across Iran, because of their Christian faith or activities.

Those arrested in raids since early February 2012 include five who remain detained in Tehran, five in Shiraz, three in Kermanshah and at least two in Isfahan. Five others in Isfahan were confirmed released in early May, including Hekmat Salimi, the lay leader of St Luke’s Anglican Church. Believers who have been held for more than a year include Noorallah and Farshid who were both arrested in December 2010, and Yousef who has been detained since October 2009 and remains under a death sentence. Behnam, serving a sentence in Karaj since May 2011, continues to suffer ill health. Iranian Christians supporting these believers thank us for our prayers. They request our continued intercession asking that:

*     all Christians in Iran will know the protection of the Father, comfort of the Son and the guidance of the Holy Spirit and that Church and fellowship group leaders would know the Spirit’s discernment and wisdom

*     all those still detained for their faith will be released soon and, together with their families, will know the peace, presence and protection of Jesus

*     All officials involved will love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him.

Source: Windows International Network

[  Top  ]

EIGHT AFRICAN NATIONS ON THE BRINK OF STARVATION

The United Nations is asking the world to help millions of West Africans who are facing a crisis of epic proportions. The people in eight nations are on the brink of starvation. At least three million of them are children. A tiny village in Niger is the starkest example of the hunger that grips eight African countries bordering the Sahara Desert. Families in this area depend on farming, but severe drought has resulted in crop failure. Huts normally used to store grain are empty, leaving mothers like Mariama struggling to feed their families. “I don’t think any of us can accept that this mother had to go and pick wild food for her children to eat,” Denise Brown, with the World Food Program, said. “If she doesn’t go and do it every day, then they don’t have anything to eat.”

Aid agencies are doing what they can to deliver food to the region, but so far they have not been able to raise even half the money needed to help the millions in need. Even more people could run out of food before the next fall harvest. A little girl named Nafissa is being treated at a health clinic where doctors weigh, measure, and monitor the nutritional survival of the children. She’s a year old, but she weighs just eight pounds – about the size of a newborn baby in the West. Three million children are already on the brink of starvation, and 18 million people are in danger. Brown urged the people of the world to get involved, saying, “These people, these women, these children, they deserve our attention, they deserve our time.”

Source: CBNnews.com

[  Top  ]

AVOWED ATHEIST RETHINKS HIS BELIEFS AFTER VISITING CHRISTIAN MINISTRY IN AFRICA

In an article written by Michael Perrett, he explains why the reality of Christian mission work in Africa defied his atheist beliefs. After visiting a poor village in Africa where a Christian charity had provided a water pump, Perrett begins: “It inspired me, renewing my flagging faith in development charities… It confounds my ideological beliefs, stubbornly refuses to fit my worldview, and has embarrassed my growing belief that there is no God. Now a confirmed atheist, I’ve become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people’s hearts.

It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good. He also confronts the illogical Western practice of cherishing other cultures  ¢â‚¬” despite of, and regardless of, their moral and ethical short-comings ¢â‚¬” to the point of elevating them above our own. Concludes Perrett, “Christianity… with its teaching of a direct, personal, two-way link between the individual and God… offers something to hold on to for those anxious to cast off a crushing tribal group think. That is why and how it liberates. A whole belief system must first be supplanted. And I’m afraid it has to be supplanted by another. Removing Christian evangelism from the African equation may leave the continent at the mercy of a malign fusion of Nike, the witchdoctor, the mobile phone and the machete.”

Source: Intercessors Network

Have you visited our Web site?  Australian Prayer Network