Zimbabwe
05 Aug 2016
After years of crippling hyperinflation and unemployment Zimbabwe is on the verge of complete collapse and open revolution. A local pastor posted videos on social media under the hashtag #thisflag. and was swiftly arrested after a successful stay-away (workers stayed at home in peaceful protest). On the day of his trial, thousands of church leaders, lawyers and champions of freedom descended on the magistrate’s court where he stood accused of encouraging violence. However, his videos called for peaceful non-violent protest and prayer for the nation, begging leaders to stamp out corruption, injustice and police brutality. The prosecutor then submitted a changed charge of treason (punishable by death). In the face of shield-bearing, baton-wielding riot police, the protesters outside the court knelt down, lifted flags and Bibles and prayed for justice and freedom. Miraculously, justice prevailed and the magistrate threw the case out because of a technicality. He was released. The battle for a free and prosperous Zimbabwe has begun.
South Korea: After the Uprising
05 Aug 2016
Pray for the flames that were ignited among the youth during the Uprising last week to be fanned into great fires of healing and restoration across the nations. Pray for God to direct and lead the next generation into a deeper walk with the Lord and effective evangelism. Pray for the protection of all those who led the worship, teaching and intercession. As they gave out, so may God pour out His refreshing. Pray that God’s prophetic words would be fulfilled, for hopes and dreams of this generation of youth; may God’s power be demonstrated in their hearts and lives and service. Pray for God’s victorious life to continue filling them and overflow through them to others across the nations, generating faith amongst His people. Pray that they would powerfully step out into the giftings He has given them as they are led by His word and prompted by His Holy Spirit to grow in His kingdom .
Europe refugee centres and child brides
05 Aug 2016
This week in Afghanistan a cleric in his 60s was arrested after marrying a six-year-old girl. Mohammad Karim claimed he married the child as a ‘religious offering,’ and her parents agreed. Elsewhere, in European asylum camps child brides are being allowed to stay with their older husbands. Scandinavian asylum centres are defending the practice by saying husbands may be the only person brides know and trust even though child abuse is suspected. In Norway during 2015, ten migrants under the age of 16 were married (four had children). Oslo does not ratify conventions by the Council of Europe aimed at avoiding child abuse and exploitation. In February, dozens of young female asylum seekers were discovered living with older men in Danish refugee centres . A month earlier, 70 married under-age girls were in Swedish asylum centres in Stockholm and Malmo. See: https://www.rt.com/news/353996-afghan-cleric-married-girl/
Germany: Weapons stolen from US military base
05 Aug 2016
Special agents from the US Army Criminal Investigation Command are investigating the theft of guns and other military equipment from an arms room in a Stuttgart base. The Army declined to say what kind of or how many weapons were stolen or to identify the unit targeted, citing the active investigation. A possible breach of the base fence is also part of the ongoing probe ‘and something we are looking at very closely,’ said Ray Johnson, a spokesman for the Army's Installation Management Command-Europe. A military official who was not authorised to speak to the media said that the site was Panzer Kaserne and that the theft included an unspecified number of guns. Panzer Kaserne is home to elite units such as Army Green Berets and Navy SEALs, as well as the garrison's headquarters and support units. The break-in comes at a time of heightened security concerns in Germany in the wake of a wave of high-profile terrorist attacks.
Theresa May and David Cameron's honours list
05 Aug 2016
The ex-PM David Cameron's resignation honours list was leaked by a newspaper and has drawn much comment. The reality with honours lists is that there are names that will warm our hearts and names that will anger us. Controversy has surrounded the honours system since its infancy. Theresa May has said she will not intervene over her predecessor’s list because it would ‘set a very bad precedent’, but Labour deputy leader Tom Watson said that if the list was accurate, it showed that ‘cronyism runs rife’ in Mr Cameron's former administration, and most reasonable people would say it is unacceptable to give an honour to his wife's stylist, or knighthoods to MPs like confetti.’ The oil firm boss and Conservative party donor Ian Taylor (reportedly in line for a knighthood) has written to Mr Cameron and Theresa May asking for his name to be withdrawn from the list. See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-36960686
London City Mission – doorway into God’s kingdom
05 Aug 2016
Adam, a London City Mission (LCM) worker, writes, ‘Two of our workers run craft and Alpha groups for marginalised women, while others run energetic youth and kids’ clubs in our Forest Gate and Dagenham centres. We partner with groups like Ambassadors Football to engage with fathers, we run community lunches and drop-ins to engage with the unemployed and those struggling with mental health and addiction issues. We run Christian-Muslim discussion groups to engage with Muslims, and offer training to churches wanting to reach out to their Muslim neighbours.’ Click the ‘more’ link to hear about and pray for Ali Gaspar, rap artist and LCM worker, on a tough estate, and learn how Jesus changed his worldview. Learn top tips on how to share the gospel across cultural barriers. Look at an infographic map of LCM ministries in needy boroughs.
Police launched an internal inquiry after footage emerged of a young black man being pinned to the ground by a group of British Transport Police officers and having a spit hood placed over his head at London Bridge Station. The officers claim Aihie became ‘aggressive’ after they intervened in an argument between him and his girlfriend. The footage shows Aihie yelling ‘it hurts, it hurts,’ as he is pinned to the ground and forced to have a hood completely cover his head. Meanwhile a Christian campaigner called on Theresa May to ensure ethnic minorities are properly represented in senior government roles. Simon Wooley, from Operation Black Vote, said his message for the Prime Minister was, ‘there are a record number of black MP’s right now in Parliament, and not all of them are being given prominent roles. We need to see a plan to tackle persistent racial inequality and greater representation.’ See also: https://www.rt.com/uk/353932-police-black-arrest-video/
Goddard inquiry truth project
05 Aug 2016
The Goddard inquiry was set up in 2015 in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal to gather evidence on historical institutional child abuse in Britain. The inquiry is asking victims who were abused and reported the abuse to authorities but were either ignored or the report not acted on properly, to come forward. 600+ people have taken part and the inquiry panel is encouraging more victims and survivors to come forward as the first ones begin giving testimonies to a public inquiry into child sexual abuse. This is an unprecedented national ‘truth-telling’ project designed to catalogue decades of suffering. Pray for the 2,000+ people who have contacted the Goddard inquiry so far to finally receive appropriate care and healing. Pray for others not yet brave enough to speak out, may they bravely step out and be freed from flashbacks, fear and emotional pain.