Ofcom reported, ‘the BBC is too white, middle class, and London-centric’ and the new BBC director-general believes ‘comedy output has left-wing partiality and needs a radical overhaul as TV and radio comedy are unfairly biased against Tories, Donald Trump and Brexit. He wants to restore ‘trust and confidence’ by reflecting all sides of the political divide. Tory MP Ben Bradley said that BBC comedy is Left-wing Tories and Brexit rants. ‘If they truly represent all licence-fee payers, that needs to change.’ Meanwhile, a new news channel is to be launched that will be ‘distinctly different from the out-of-touch incumbents’ and has already been awarded a licence to broadcast by Ofcom, under the name GB News. Its founder has said the BBC is a ‘disgrace’ that ‘is bad for Britain on so many levels’ and ‘needs to be broken up’. A rival project is also being devised by Rupert Murdoch’s British media empire. See

The following is based on ‘Reflections on Doing Church Online’ by a researcher in digital religion who points out that people are realising that online church can spiritually interconnect us when we are physically separated. Technological social interaction is growing with weekly congregational  rhythms of regular online morning and evening prayers, musical worship (streamed or interactive) throughout the week; there are daily activities for children, regular ‘Sabbath’ breaks from news and digital media; eating meals together as a family, prayer and contemplation connections; assistance for working from home, shared Bible reading, the encouragement of responsible contact with neighbours, and recruiting for all manner of community support. We can pray that pandemic lockdown re-awakens the church to her mission and calling through fresh expressions of church. Many are saying building-centred churches may never recover from low attendance, and thus low collections, compounded by pandemic-related recession. 

On 3rd September, a group of Christians uploaded a video on YouTube, entitled The Greater Middle East Blessing. In the video, Christians from 11 nations in the greater Middle East, sing The Lord’s Prayer and The Blessing in 8 different languages. The opening sequence of the video states that they came together across political, ethnic and language divides to pray for, and bless, their region. It communicates hope to the hearts of those who watch it and hope for the Middle East because Christ is there through His Church. May it also encourage people to pray for, and stand with, our brothers and sisters in the Middle East, as they continue to be salt and light in the region. see

During the last two weeks in August and for the first time ever, 185 Israeli Air Force pilots went to Germany for training in joint manoeuvres with German pilots. They also joined together to remember victims of the Holocaust and the massacre of Israeli athletes at the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972. This was a very moving expression of a growing trust and deeper friendship between Israel and Germany. God uses our hearts as places of transformation in order to literally turn the world up-side-down.

“Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be?" (Acts 7:49 NIV)

We feel the Spirit of God calling us as individuals, nations, and as a global family into a marked time of consecration. The Holy Spirit is moving upon our hearts to remember all that Jesus has done for us, transforming us into the living stones that God is using to build His dwelling place on earth. We would like to release a call to our global family to set aside time to seek the Lord's face, posture our hearts in worship, and allow Him to speak afresh.

The year 2020 has ushered us all into a new era. We are transitioning into the era of the Kingdom. There is an invitation to partner with God in manifesting His Kingdom here on earth. We feel that we are no longer living in Kairos moments but are, in fact, in a Kairos season. Therefore, we want to take the time to let the Lord speak and establish His plans and ways in our hearts.

We feel the Holy Spirit is bringing a holy alignment between the heart of God and His Bride. As we consecrate ourselves corporately, He will mobilize us as ONE army in holy array and prepare us for the days to come.

28 DAYS OF CORPORATE PRAYER & FASTING
We welcome you to join us for our 4-Part “Preparing a Dwelling Place” series that will take place in the next few weeks. As we enter into the series, we invite you to join us for 28 days of prayer and fasting from September 10th to October 8th, covering the window of time we will be gathering in consecration.

DAILY PRAYER AND PROCLAMATION
During the upcoming 28 days of prayer and fasting from September 10th to October 8th, we have invited different ones from the family to release a prayer and/or proclamation each day to lead the wider family in engaging in this period of consecration.

These clips will be released daily at 8:00PM PT (Vancouver) on our Facebook, Instagram and YouTube page. Feel free to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications to receive them immediately.

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1. Food/Hot meals targeting vulnerable internally displaced people for next 30 days
2. Medicine/ gap coverage for those who lost their homes and are in need of medicine and minor medical expenses
3. Rehab of destroyed homes/ Boarding up busted windows and doors
4. Street and home cleanups

1. For a well-coordinated relief response and that both the local and international NGOs will cooperate and work together in a synergistic manner to provide rapid and effective assistance.
2. The healing of the nation as it is deeply wounded and that the church will rise and fulfill its purpose and be a light in the midst of darkness.
3. For the rioting and violence to stop and for God’s peace and order to prevail.
4. That the Islamic agenda will not be able to be implemented.
5. For an independent judicial system that is not under political power so that corruption could be judged.
6. For the economic situation in Lebanon to be resolved and Lebanon to become prosperous again.
7. That the promises of God for Lebanon (being transformed in a moment into a fertile field) will be fulfilled.
8. That the many Syrian refugees who are in Lebanon will be able to go back home.

As of Wednesday morning, the novel coronavirus has infected more than 18.5 million people across 188 countries and territories, resulting in at least 700,896 deaths. In the U.S., all 50 states plus the District of Columbia have reported confirmed cases of COVID-19, tallying more than 4,771,519 illnesses and at least 156,830 deaths. Pharmaceutical companies around the globe are in a race to find a verifiable and safe vaccine, with human trials now taking place. Meanwhile, there is growing support among physicians and epidemiologists for the use of hydroxychloroquine.  Compelling testimonies are being publicised showing that when taken in tandem with zinc and particular anti-biotics (azithromycin or doxycycline), it has had remarkable results. Let's be praying that political differences can be laid aside so that the merits of this treatment can be confirmed speedily through clinical trials so that many people can benefit widely from it.

Pray that the covid-19 virus is stopped in its tracks.
Pray for a verified vaccine to be successfully developed and produced.
Pray that the inexpensive and effective use of hydroxychloroquine can be trialled and rolled out quickly, so that all nations can benefit from it.
Pray that the economic and societal impacts of the global pandemic will be minimised and reversed quickly.

More info: https://www.ipcprayer.org/ipc-connections/item/13224-covid-19-pandemic-prayer-update.html

Intense rain and severe flooding has been battering China since early June serious flooding across 27 of the country's 31 provinces.  Currently, the water level of 433 rivers is above the flood control line, with 33 of them reaching record highs.  It has already affected more than 37 million people, leaving 141 dead or missing. Economic losses are estimated at 86 billion yuan (US$12.3 billion) so far.

Let's agree in praying for the heavy seasonal rains to stop and for the waters to subside.
Pray for the millions of displaced people and for the huge numbers of families whose homes and livelihoods have been affected.
Pray that support and assistance will reach people in all of the affected areas.

More info: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-53434767

Lebanon: Beirut rocked by massive explosion -

Rescuers are searching for survivors after a huge explosion killed at least 100 people and injured more than 4,000 in Beirut, yesterday evening.  The main blast was caused by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate - used in fertilisers and as an explosive - which was left unsecured in a warehouse for six years at the city's port. Thousands have been left homeless and families are still counting the casualties and searching for the dead.  There could not be a worse time for this to have occurred in Lebanon, a middle-eastern country already struggling with economic and political turmoil.  The hospitals were already under immense pressure, with depleted resources due to the covid-19 pandemic. Many of the people of Lebanon are angered by this disaster which could have been avoided.

Let’s be in prayer for the people of Beirut and the Lebanese government at this time:

Pray for the injured and the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic event.
Pray for the hospitals and emergency services who are struggling to cope with the magnitude of this disaster on top of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Pray that the international community will bury their differences and generously provide humanitarian assistance, medical aid and help with rebuilding the port which is the key entry point for food and other essential resources.

More info: https://www.middleeasteye.net/topics/inside-lebanon