Germany: Christian refugees abused
13 May 2016
Open Doors workers in the country claim that believers, many of them Muslim converts, are sometimes a tiny minority and so are easy targets for insults, being punched, spat at and sexually assaulted. After surveying 231 people earlier this year, Open Doors Germany said Muslim security staff and translators joined in targeting Christians, some of whom reported being too scared to wear a cross or carry a Bible in public. Thomas Muller from Open Doors Germany said that grouping Christians together in the camps and hostels and having more staff from minority groups (Christians and Yazidis) might afford them greater protection. He said, ‘Someone shows a ten-second beheading video and then says, “You're next”.’ Christians who had hoped to be able to live their lives in freedom said, 'We came to Germany and found there is no difference from our home countries at all.’
Rome: plot to attack Vatican and Israeli embassy
13 May 2016
Last Thursday Italian police thwarted an alleged plot by Moroccan nationals to attack the Vatican and the Israeli embassy in Rome. Four people were arrested. Three men and three women, one an Italian, escaped to Iraq and Syria. The transcript of a wire-tapped phone conversation between three of the suspects indicated their link with Islamic State. They discussed possible attacks on the Vatican and the Israeli embassy in Rome. After the attacks in France and Belgium, Italy and neighbouring countries have tightened security resulting in the arrest of people suspected of having a predisposition towards IS ideology or planning assaults. Last month police detained a 22-year-old Somali asylum-seeker working as an imam, suspected of planning an attack in Rome. One line of the transcript read as ‘I swear I will be the first to attack them in this Italy of crusaders, I swear I'll attack it in the Vatican, God willing.’
Corruption in UK and elsewhere
13 May 2016
A summit on corruption was held on Thursday in London. For decades Britain and the west have asked poor countries and failed states to address problems with dodgy money (money invested in western banks, stores, estate agents, and offshore). The president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, came to London to lobby for help regarding tax havens in Nigeria. Buhari sent a letter to England saying, ‘We are embarked on a nationwide anti-corruption campaign. But these efforts are sadly undermined if countries such as your own are welcoming our corrupt to hide their ill-gotten gains in your luxury homes, department stores, car dealerships, private schools and anywhere else that will accept their cash with no questions asked. The role of London’s property market as vessels to conceal stolen wealth has been exposed in court documents, reports, documentaries and more.’ One third of all the trillions hiding offshore are in tax havens linked to the UK, according to Oxfam.
Week of prayer has ‘touched a chord’
13 May 2016
The call for Christians across England to pray for our nation to know Jesus Christ has ‘touched a chord.’ With tens of thousands of Christians taking part throughout England and beyond this week, Archbishop Justin Welby said people are ‘motivated and excited’ about praying together for those they love to know Jesus. Last November the week of prayer ahead of Pentecost was called for and this week cathedrals and churches across the traditions are hosting 24/7 prayer rooms, putting on special services, running prayer meetings, doing prayer walks and many other activities. Churches overseas have also spontaneously responded to the call, with congregations in Belgium, New Zealand, South Africa, Israel and elsewhere joining the wave of prayer. In an interview the Archbishop said: ‘This week of prayer seems to have touched a chord that none of us really expected to the degree it’s happened. Port Stanley Cathedral in the Falkland Islands has joined in.’
Justin Welby on evangelism
13 May 2016
Speaking on Premier Radio, the Archbishop of Canterbury said, ‘Any church that leaves evangelism to the “professionals” is committing missionary suicide. The responsibility of demonstrating in word and works the love of Jesus Christ, in a way that is deeply attractive is the responsibility of every single Christian. Always. Everywhere.’ Archbishop Justin spoke out about how the Church has failed to equip people to share their faith for too long. ‘If you go back to 1944/5 there was a report for the Church of England called Towards the Conversion of England prepared for William Temple. It said that there will never be a conversion of England until every Christian disciple is equipped to share the good news of Jesus Christ. That has always been one of the greatest weaknesses in many churches - not just Church of England churches. We do not spend enough time equipping people to share their faith.’
Christian meetings in parliament
13 May 2016
Christians in Parliament will host a reception on 8 June to mark Her Majesty’s 90th birthday. Please pray that Mark Green in his talk will communicate clearly how the Queen’s Christian faith has shaped her life and reign. On 14 June the national parliamentary prayer breakfast’s subject is ‘The Church in the Middle East'. The main speaker is the bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the UK. Please pray for church leaders as they spend time with their MPs at the breakfast; for Bishop Angaelos as he prepares to speak, and for those praying and doing readings. Also in June Professor Don Carson will speak on 'What can Christianity contribute to politics?' Please pray for good attendance from MPs and staff. Continue to pray for the ongoing Bible study groups, and for all Christians in politics to grow in faith and make new contacts with other Christians and those not yet saved.
London: Europe-focused conference
13 May 2016
Believers from around the world gathered in London for the Empowered21 European Congress from 11 to 13 May. The event is intended to have an impact on Europe. Organisers said, ‘Europe is perhaps more in the world's view than it has been in decades, with the migrant crisis and terrorist attacks.’ Delegates prayed for God to do something fresh in Europe today - there are great signs of revival in Europe. They went on to say they intended to fan that flame of revival and encourage people to get involved and become agents of renewal in the UK. Their focus was addressing the rise of Islam, financial crises and terrorism with scholars focusing on the theology of grace and the Holy Spirit. Also on the agenda was ‘reaching this generation in the digital revolution’, and changing the way in which we engage with the most distracted and disrupted generation in history.
Invictus Games winner praises NHS
13 May 2016
An American soldier has given her Invictus Games gold medal to the hospital team that saved her life at Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire. The swimmer, 25, from Arizona, became gravely ill when she collapsed with a lung condition on the eve of the first games in London in 2014. ‘They absolutely saved my life and I can't thank the UK enough for having that kind of medical support and taking such good care of me. So I gave Prince Harry one of my medals and hope it will find its way back to Papworth.’ She also paid tribute to the NHS, saying, ‘Thank you. I'll never be able to repay you, but what you're doing is wonderful.’