The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected North Dakota's bid to revive a restrictive Republican-backed law struck down by a lower court that would ban most abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, as early as six weeks after conception. The court turned away the state’s appeal, leaving in place a July 2015 ruling by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that blocked the 2013 law. North Dakota’s law was among the strictest of a series of statutes passed at the state level imposing limits on abortion. The law was challenged by North Dakota’s only abortion clinic, the Red River Women’s Clinic in Fargo.

In a separate case, the high court is due to hear arguments on March 2 in a challenge by abortion providers to parts of a restrictive, Republican-backed Texas law they contend are aimed at shutting clinics that perform the procedure. It will be the court’s first abortion case since 2007.

In the North Dakota case, the appeals court had said it was bound in its ruling by U.S. Supreme Court precedent on abortion, which holds that states may not prohibit abortions before a fetus reaches viability. But the appeals court said “good reasons exist” for the high court to re-evaluate its past abortion decisions in light of medical and scientific advances that show the concept of viability is subject to change.

Republican backers of the North Dakota law had said 40 years of medical advancements should not be ignored. Opponents said a ban at six weeks would mean abortion would be outlawed at a gestation time when many women do not yet even know they are pregnant. On Jan. 19, the high court refused to hear a similar case in which Arkansas sought to revive a Republican-backed law also blocked by lower courts that would ban abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy.

The high court legalized abortion in 1973, but abortion remains a contentious issue among Americans. Some states, particularly those governed by Republicans, have sought to chip away at a woman’s right to end a pregnancy by passing laws imposing a number of restrictions.

Viability, according to medical experts, occurs around 23 to 24 weeks into a pregnancy. Lawmakers in North Dakota, Arkansas and other conservative states have sought to ban abortions at an earlier stage, citing among other things hotly debated medical research suggesting a fetus feels pain starting at 20 weeks of gestation.

The North Dakota case was 15-627, Stenehjem v. MKB Management, U.S. Supreme Court, No. 15-627. (Contributor: By Lawrence Hurley for Reuter News Service – Editing by Will Dunham)

Intercessors are disappointed that the Supreme Court will not hear the Arkansas and North Dakota cases. The court’s decision ignores conclusive evidence proving unborn babies are alive and feel pain in early pregnancy. God is still extending mercy, even to those who wantonly take these innocent lives. Pray much that age and the 2016 elections will pave the way for new Supreme Court justices.

“Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. So truth fails, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice.” (Isa. 59:14-15)

http://www.getamericapraying.com/blog/on-watch-in-washington-january-27-2016/

1. The UPRISING: World Youth Prayer Assembly, July 26-30, in South Korea continues to attract attention and registrations. You and other youth and young adults can register at www.unitedprayerrising.com

Please pray for Jerome Ocampo and his team as well as the Korean partners as they make arrangements to host up to 2500 youth and young adults along with children and senior adults for this historic gathering. We hope that 100 people of God’s appointing will be registered from each of the 12 regions of our world.  

This gathering will be significant for the rising up of David’s across the world.  A global response to fast and pray at the border between North and South Korea will also be significant.  Many locals in Korea are touched by this calling.  The next 3 years will be significant for world revival.  In 2018, 1 million youth will be called to meet in Jakarta, Indonesia.  Lou Engle, leader of the youth movement known as “The Call” is calling for a global fast for the next generation. 

Please pray with us for the release of funding. Please help mobilise your own regions to send 100 suitable youth and young adults.

 Other initiatives for 2016 -

2. Global Proclamation Congress Bangkok - June 15-22. 90 nations will be represented.  Looking to encourage a culture of prayer among Pastors and Pastoral trainers. Pray for Tom Victor who is helping with the prayer component and that the participants will become leaders who carry and propagate a culture of prayer in their ministries.

3. MANI - Movement of African National Initiatives - Network of African churches involved in missions to unreached people groups.  Came out of the AD2000 and Beyond Movement.  March 7-12 - Addis Ababa.  Starting with a 24 hour prayer watch to undergird the event. Pray for Austen Ukachi is leading the prayer effort and for an anointed, productive time for all.

4. Pray for the effective organization of three Middle East initiatives – Dubai, Feb. 17-21, 2016;  Turkey - May 17-21, 2016. Many nationalities will be represented. Possible prayer initiative in Jerusalem, Israel, May 23-26, 2016 - with Jews, Arabs and other nationalities across the ethnic, political and denominational spectrum.  Targeting Christian leaders of various ministries, to pray for Israel and the Middle East. 

5. Suggested by Jason Hubbard, a US prayer leader that the IPC convene a global gathering of Prayer leaders in Herrnhut, Germany, the center of the Moravian revival.  2017 is a freer year and is the 500^th anniversary of the Reformation. This would enable other networks to join in with us. It would focus on prayer and Christ's global mission. Let’s pray for His guidance about this possibility.

We were encouraged that so many good prayer events are taking place, including many focusing on unity and reconciliation. 

Through the heartfelt mercies of our God, God’s Sunrise will break in upon us,
Shining on those in the darkness, those sitting in the shadow of death,
Then showing us the way, one foot at a time, 
down the path of peace.

Luke 1:78-79 MSG
prophesy from Zechariah

Path to Peace

“Many more Syrians are trying to flee, with Jordan reporting this week that 16,000 Syrians are in a no-man’s land in the wide-open desert along the Jordan-Syria border.”

First a bit of

PERSPECTIVE

Joining this 16,000, are another 4 million refugees going from one place to the next traveling through Europe and the Middle East in search of safety. 

Every day in no-man’s land is a world of uncertainty and obscurity, “where will we sleep?” “what will we eat?” “will we find a home in the end?”.  Beyond the uncertainties, there are real physical dangers and vulnerabilities for men, women and children.  In the first 2 weeks of 2016 more than 50 people diedmaking the trip from Turkey to Greece by boat. 

They flee darkness only to grope their way toward the light of hope, safety, jobs and most of all peace God hears the cry of the helpless.  Throughout history God’s light has broken into impossibly dark circumstances and situations wooing, speaking to their hearts and miraculously providing for their needs.  This moment in history is no exception.  Hope, peace and light for the journey is being granted to all who respond.

PRAYER POINTS

• God, would you in mercy break into the lives of these refugees with the brilliance of your love and mercy. With each step turn this dark road into the pathway to provision and a growing sense of your loving presence.  Infuse hope, we pray. 
• We ask that you provide for their needs daily. Make the path clear in front of them and grant governments wisdom to create order and healthy places of refuge.  Protect men, women and children as they live and travel through many “no-mans lands” to bring them into physical places of rest and provision.

• We ask for many to hear your message of hope, receive salvation and enjoy inner peace.  Let your light and truth multiply in their hearts and minds through faith in Jesus, even as they face challenges and uncertainty.

LINKS

This migrant crisis is different from all others / BBC 12-24-15

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-35091772

UN war crimes investigate malnutrition claims in Madaya  / EuroNews 1-12-16

http://www.euronews.com/2016/01/12/un-war-crimes-investigate-malnutrition-claims-in-madaya/

Syria: Peace Talks To Start In Geneva On Jan. 29

January 25, 2016 | 15:19 GMT

Peace talks to end the conflict in Syria will begin Jan. 29, according to the U.N. special envoy for Syria, AFP reported. The negotiations, which will be held in Geneva, were set to begin Jan. 25 but were delayed over disagreements about which representatives would take part. The negotiations will last for six months, the U.N. envoy added. The widely divergent goals of the different actors in Syria will make reaching a meaningful resolution extremely difficult. 

Pray that the peace talks will be successful in bringing this long-running, destructive conflict to an end and restoring the Syrian refugees to their homes.

THEME: HEARING AND OBEYING GOD IN TIMES LIKE THESE

DATE: MARCH 7-12, 2016

VENUE: AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION CONFERENCE FACILITIES,

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

INTRODUCING MANI

The Movement for African National Initiatives (MANI) is a network of networks focused on catalyzing African National Initiatives and mobilizing the resources of the Body of Christ in Africa for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

History

The history of National Initiatives in Africa dates back to the 1960’s when many African nations gained independence.  These indigenous initiatives started with the launching of saturation evangelism movements in Zaire and on the central plateau of Nigeria in the mid 1960’s. Over the past fifty years at least 37 African countries have launched National Initiatives to mobilize churches and ministries for national and global evangelization.

The Movement for African National Initiatives (MANI) was birthed when 320 delegates from 36 African nations met in Jerusalem for the African Millennial Consultation in March 2001. MANI is the result of the participants shared convictions that: Africa's hour had come to take primary responsibility for the final gospel thrust in Africa and beyond and that the African Church was uniquely positioned to play a major role in world evangelization in the 21st century.

The AD 2000 and Beyond Movement, which in the 1990’s had encouraged many African nations to develop National Initiatives focused on the fulfillment of the Great Commission, was in the process of disbanding and the delegates determined to establish a continuing African movement. Participants unanimously adopted the 'Jerusalem Declaration,' affirming their commitment to pick up the torch for national and global evangelization being laid down by the AD 2000 and Beyond Movement.

Purpose

MANI’s purpose is to affirm, motivate, mobilize and network Christian leaders (churches) by inspiring them with the vision of reaching the unreached and least evangelized in Africa and the wider world, through advocacy and support for National Initiatives; the communication of up to date research, reports and models; consultations and prayer efforts focusing on the unfinished task.

Two Decades of Continental Consultations

Strategic consultation is one of the primary engagements of MANI. Renewed vision, strategic planning and focused zeal for the fulfillment of the Great Commission results when Church leaders gather together at an opportune time to share accurate information and pray together. Every five years MANI holds her Continental Consultation. The objective of each consultation is to celebrate what God is doing in, with and through the African Church in furthering His redemptive plan among the peoples of the continent and the world; to review past objectives, listen to God for fresh insights, leading and direction, so as to focus our energy on such directives during the intervening period before the next consultation which is usually after a five year interval.

GCOWE '97

In July 1997, 1,200 African leaders from 46 nations came together in a consultation on African National Initiatives at the GCOWE '97 in South Africa. This consultation accelerated the birthing and development of structured African National Initiatives. This catalytic event led to the proliferation of new national movements, such as Finish the Task Kenya. 

JERUSALEM 2001

In March 2001, 320 delegates from 36 African nations met in Jerusalem for the African Millennial Consultation (AMC 2001) to celebrate and share the blessings of God in the evangelization of Africa over the years, and to consult together on the unfinished task in Africa and the world. This consultation gave birth to MANI, a strong continental awakening - a Kairos moment for the African Church.

MANI 2006 – Nairobi, Kenya

MANI 2006 gathered together 520 leaders of influence from 65 countries. Nearly every African nation was represented by a delegation of high level leaders representing the major sections of the Body of Christ. The consultation created a platform to celebrate the vibrant growth of the African Church and to voice profound hope in the Lord’s intentions for the continent. The following years witnessed a continental harvest on the critical issues raised at the consultation: the necessity of discipleship, transformational leadership, united prayer and the empowerment of women for ministry, HIV/AIDS, holistic community transformation, the challenge of Islam, etc.

MANI 2011 – Abuja, Nigeria

In September 2011, a total of 614 participants from 60 countries gathered in Abuja Nigeria for the consultation of the Movement for African National Initiatives. This Consultation gave birth to Strategic Networks: Denominational Leaders, Emerging Leaders, African Women in Ministry, Strategic Prayer Network, etc, and many untold testimonies of post consultation engagements at local, regional and network levels.

MANI 2016 - ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

MANI 2016 Continental Consultation is the 3rd of the post-Africa Millennial Consultations since AMC 2001. It is aimed at ensuring that every effort is being made in carrying out what we understand as the mission mandate of the African Church in the present context and realities of events in our continent and in the world is being done according to the dictates and leading of the Holy Spirit; God’s Director of Missions, hence the theme chosen for this period.

Who should attend MANI 2016?

The consultation is open to Church Leaders, Ministry Leaders, Missionaries, Christian Leaders in the Market place and Emerging Leaders and other Christian workers.

If you would like more information to attend this continental event, please see these links. finalcommand.org/MANI/MANI_Registration.html or (www.maniafrica.com)

For more information on how to become a prayer partner for this event, please contact Austen Ukachi at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Please pray for the effective organization of this important event. Pray for the right people from across Africa and beyond to take part, for His provision financially and for clarity and unity regarding how to go forward together to reach the unreached in that continent and the rest of the world.