Justin Welby in post-Brexit think-tank
18 Nov 2016
The Archbishop of Canterbury will spend the next two years as part of a commission launched by a left-leaning think-tank that aims to rewrite the rules for Britain’s post-Brexit economy. He will join, among others, the general secretary of the TUC and the chairman of the John Lewis Partnership on the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) programme that will seek remedies for six key UK weaknesses. These are seen to be: the fact that our successful economy masks weak investment; a trade deficit; a budget deficit that will grow as the population ages; the capture of the fruits of growth by a small minority; the gap between the south-east and the rest of the country; and poor progress in meeting the country’s climate change ambitions. None of these six problems is a recent phenomenon. Each one has been worsening for a quarter of a century. Downing Street is keenly interested in the commission’s work.
Scotland: national day of prayer
18 Nov 2016
30 November is St Andrew’s Day, and the Church of Scotland has called for a dedicated national day of prayer this year. St Andrew, eventually crucified upside down, is the patron saint of fishermen, and his feast day is most often remembered in fishing villages, especially in his native Scotland. The day sometimes coincides with the start of Advent (the first Sunday after 26 Nov). This St Andrew’s Day, please pray for Scotland’s Free Church to be free of complacency, and for the preaching the word to be central to all evangelism. Pray for many Christians to reflect on their lives in the light of the life of Andrew, the first-called apostle. May they also reflect on the first day of Advent, and the significance today of the message of the coming of Christ. See also
Muslim convert persecuted for his beliefs
18 Nov 2016
Nissar Hussain and his family, including six children, have been forced to flee their home for the second time, amid fears for his safety after suffering seven years of persecution from his Muslim neighbours. He converted from Islam to Christianity and appeared in a 2008 TV documentary about mistreatment of Muslim converts. He was hospitalised a year ago after a brutal attack caught on CCTV. This week the fifty-year-old and his family were moved to a safe place by armed police. Mr Hussain said the culmination of continued 'extreme persecution' had devastated his family,and the dramatic arrival of armed police was a complete surprise. He said, 'My family are distraught and very traumatised to be leaving. But when your life is at stake, there is no other choice.' Mr Hussain converted to Christianity twenty years ago, but in recent years he has been subjected to harassment and violence, particularly after the documentary.
Millions struggling to pay utility bills
18 Nov 2016
One in three households with at least one person in a full-time job - four million in total - say it is difficult to afford their energy payments. Half of them (49%) will cut their energy use over the winter to keep payments low, and one in three will not be switching on the heating even as temperatures plummet, despite two-thirds worrying about the effects on their family’s health. The situation is set to worsen as major suppliers prepare to raise their prices, warns comparison website uSwitch.
A growing movement across Europe
18 Nov 2016
The Salafi movement is an ultra-conservative movement within Sunni Islam that developed in Arabia against a background of European colonialism. It advocated returning to the traditions of the ‘devout ancestors’ (the salaf). The movement divides into three categories - the purists who avoid politics; the activists who are involved in politics; and the jihadists. Salafi is synonymous with Wahhabism - see last week’s Prayer Alert article about Switzerland. For months there have been reports of Salafists disguised as aid workers canvassing Europe’s refugee shelters for new recruits from Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Some Salafists offer gifts of money, clothing, translation services, or invitations to Salafists’ homes for tea. Bosnia now suffers from Salafi movements which spread there after the Balkan war. They were brought there by Muslim extremist fighters who travelled to Bosnia to fight for the nation. In February the Independent newspaper reported that there are up to 5,000 jihadists, trained abroad, in Europe. See also:
France: politics could change completely
18 Nov 2016
France's prime minister Manuel Valls has said that far-right leader Marine Le Pen had a chance of winning next year's presidential election, boosted by the momentum of Donald Trump's shock win in the United States. While attending a Berlin economic conference, Mr. Valls said it was ‘possible’ that the populist candidate of France's anti-immigration National Front could win. Le Pen is widely tipped to reach the second round of the election on 7 May , where she would face either a candidate from the left or the right. Warning of ‘the danger presented by the extreme right’, Valls said, ‘This means that the balance of politics will change completely.’
Trump’s comments on Middle East
18 Nov 2016
Donald Trump has told the Wall Street Journal, ‘As a deal-maker, I’d like to do the deal that can’t be made - and do it for humanity’s sake.’ He hopes to orchestrate ‘the ultimate deal’ between Israel and the Palestinians which would resolve ‘the war that never ends.’ On Syria, Trump rejects calling for the removal of President Assad, and is focused on combatting IS. He also said,‘Israel and America share many of the same values, including freedom of speech, freedom of worship and creation of opportunities for all. Israel is the one true democracy and defender of human rights in the Middle East.’ Pray for wisdom to be given to the Trump administration, in the words they choose to speak and in the choices they make.
South Sudan: unity or upheaval?
18 Nov 2016
Vice-president Riek Machar and his supporters fled Juba in July after fighting broke out between government forces and his own. He is a Nuer, and President Salva Kiir is a member of the Dinka. Tribal rivalries are at the heart of the dysfunction of South Sudan's government. The unity the tribes shared in their fight for independence from Sudan has dissolved into bitter conflict, with terrible atrocities committed by both Nuer and Dinka. Both Kiir and Machar have abused their positions and misled their people, keeping many ignorant and uneducated.They have also mismanaged billions of dollars poured into South Sudan by foreign countries. Pray for the two sides to reach agreement in forming a unity government. Pray for both men to be exposed for their lust for power, greed, witchcraft, evil and wickedness.