Displaying items by tag: Religion

The General Election is an excellent opportunity to put the cause of persecuted Christians on the agenda of your election candidates - and ultimately your future MP. You can do this by asking a question about freedom of religion or belief at your local hustings (events where election candidates debate policies and answer questions from potential voters). Hustings are organised by a range of community groups, including many churches. The following are a few suggested questions to use: If you become an MP, how will you engage with issues of international freedom of religion or belief? If your party forms the next government, in which ways will it stand up for freedom of religion or belief around the world? What are your party's plans for protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief in the government’s foreign policy and aid strategy? You can download and print these and other questions at:

Rev Gavin Ashenden (featured in a Prayer Alert article on 5 May about a controversy over the Qu’ran being read in church) responded to a survey showing that one in four British adults who consider themselves Christians do not believe that the resurrection of Jesus really happened. He said that such people ‘made the mistake of confusing British culture with Christianity,’ according to The Daily Telegraph, which ran the story. ‘Those people who neither believe in the resurrection nor go anywhere near a church cannot be Christians,’ he said. ‘As with so many things, the key is in the definition of terms. Discovering the evidence for the resurrection having taken place to be wholly compelling is one of the things that makes you a Christian.’

On 5 May Prayer Alert readers were invited to praise God for many baptisms of former Muslims. At the time Pastor Paul mentioned that he had been stoned and injured by radical militants after one of these baptism services. It was thought not be a serious injury: however, now he is in urgent need of prayer. He had been recovering from his injuries first at a secret location and then at his home after skull surgery, but last Sunday he was rushed back to hospital for more surgery. Doctors discovered infection within the injured areas of his head. A colleague said that last week, he had been back to evangelical activities, visiting several homes and preaching in a meeting. More threats on him and his family ensued, and after that he had pain and breathing problems.

Many believe this election is a key step in God’s plans for our nations, and are expecting a great move of God with a time of harvest. The election comes four days after Pentecost - the celebration of God’s Spirit breaking out. God is placing an opportunity in our hands to bless the UK. Please encourage your friends and church to pray. Just as the political parties stir people up to canvass and promote their issues, we should be encouraging people to pray. Every election is contested spiritually, and this is no exception, Satan will be resolute in resisting God’s sovereign purpose. God calls us to partner with Him to bless where we live locally and bless our nations. We need to pray for God’s sovereign will and purpose. Pray also for the Christians standing for election to know His peace, and walk close with Him in this busy and demanding time.

Justin Welby had a 'profound sense of grief and sorrow' after listening to Palestinian Christians’ testimonies of living with a concrete separation wall near Bethlehem. He said, 'You cannot come and hear the testimonies I heard, you cannot hear from the people who live here, without your heart becoming heavier and heavier, more and more burdened, with that sense of people whose history has led them to a place where all they have known is disintegrating.' He also commented on Donald Trump’s possible role when it comes to bringing peace between Israel and the Palestinians. He said, 'We know from history in this region that determined leadership by the president of the USA, together with patient working by lots of other people in the background, often unknown, can tip things very, very decisively - it has done so in the past.' See also:

A conference for prayer and mission leaders from across Europe is happening right now (4 to 14 May) in Herrnhut. They are evaluating the current position of mission to the unreached peoples of Europe and praying strategic, informed prophetic prayers for breakthrough. Pray for even more anointing of prophetic sensitivity on these leaders in the last few days of the conference. Pray for a mighty move of His Church moving forward with the gospel as a result of this event. May the prayers of God’s people pave the way for the gospel to be preached, with power and miracles following, in every European language and dialect. Pray for all the networking and connections that have happened through the course of this conference to be acted on with Holy Spirit anointing. It is crucial that these delegates connect more deeply and purposefully. May fruitful networking birth new initiatives this week through closer linking of the prayer and mission movements.

An intercessor writes: ‘Since the 1989 fall of communism, Poland has experienced unprecedented growth and prosperity. For example, during the 2008-2014 economic crisis, a time of turbulence for the world economy, Poland’s GNP (Gross National Product) grew by 25%. The prime minister during that period was Donald Tusk, now president of the European Council. Since the change of power the situation now needs much prayer. People now running the country have already destroyed the constitutional court, public media, and integral parts of our educational system, to mention just a few. We are heading towards a big crisis both economically and politically, potentially with some serious social unrest.’

An intercessor writes: ‘The way that people can pray and support us in Spain is by expressing interest in our 365 Prayer Initiative, and praying for it. This is the 9th year of the churches in Spain praying day and night in a coordinated way. We are working to strengthen the stakes of our tent, and we appreciate every prayer and word of encouragement that we can get. We feel that if the Church is praying, the political and social issues will all fall into place. So please pray for this army of prayer warriors in Spain, and for us as we lead it. The rate of unemployment is 22%; among the young people under 25 years the rate is over 45%. Our GNP is at 3.2%, higher than the average in Europe. Nevertheless, the economy of Spain is in a gradual growth.’

Muslims are our neighbours, and Jesus said, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ (Matt. 22:39) Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting to bring the faithful closer to God and to remind them of the suffering of those less fortunate. Over the last few years Christians have been praying for Muslims to meet Jesus during their search for a closer relationship to God; and we are now hearing encouraging stories about unprecedented numbers of Muslims coming to the Lord during Ramadan. Each year a new illustrated prayer guide is published in a number of languages and locations around the world. Pray and ask God to use you, your prayer group, and your church in this year’s 30 Days Muslim Prayer Focus.

Behind the facade of a ‘tropical paradise’ are tragic realities: the highest divorce rate in the world, rising crime, widespread child abuse, pervasive drug use and over 200 young people joining IS.  All citizens are required to be Muslim. There are no churches, and there is no official access to God’s Word.  The Gospel of Luke and Acts are currently available in Dhivehi, but are not permitted to enter the country. No mission work or Christian literature has ever been legally allowed within the islands. Widespread traditional beliefs in spirits combined with Islam leave many almost entirely untouched by the Gospel, trapped in fear and without access to Jesus. Pray for miraculous opportunities for Maldivians to hear the Gospel, and that the government's attempts to silence it may instead raise up a Maldivian church.