The persecution of Christians across the world continues to increase, according to the publication of the 2016 World Watch List. The CEO of Open Doors said that persecution levels have risen rapidly; every year over 100 million Christians are persecuted because of their beliefs. The most notable increases are in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan and Eritrea. Open Doors has urged the Government to do everything possible within their spheres of influence to affect this situation. David Cameron said standing up for religious freedom is a priority for his government. ‘We are committed to promoting and protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief as one of the foundations of human rights. No matter what faith we follow, charity, compassion, responsibility and forgiveness are values which speak to us all.’
Faith leaders pay respects to David Bowie
15 Jan 2016
Showman David Bowie was enigmatic about his religious views, yet his recent death from cancer brought tributes from the Church. Blogger Tom Kershaw noted, ‘Bowie is more disenchanted with religion than he is with God.’ Justin Welby said, ‘I’m very saddened to hear of his death; I remember listening to his songs and relishing the impact he had.’ The president of a leading evangelical school in New York City tweeted a photo of himself performing a Bowie song, and one of the first to note his passing was a senior Vatican official who tweeted lyrics from Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’ that finished, ‘God’s love be with you.’ Bowie is reported to have said, ‘Questioning my spiritual life has been germane to what I was writing.’
In a twisted new set of online guidelines, Islamic State leaders are urging its followers in the West to pretend to be Christians before committing lone wolf terrorist attacks. A 58-page terror pamphlet entitled ‘Safety and Security Guidelines for Lone Wolf Mujahedeen’ instructs its adherents to trim their beards, wear Western-style aftershave and even pretend to be Christians by wearing cross necklaces in order to avoid arousing suspicion and ensure success in their operations. It reveals some of the ‘best places’ to carry out terror attacks - such as loud nightclubs - and the guide provides disturbing tips for future jihadists. Over the past year IS has released dozens of online documents, instructing their followers on everything from how to build a bomb factory to how to cross into Syria via Turkey without being caught.
A missionary writes, ‘These days the choices young Pashtun (Afghan) men and women have are limited. The economy has taken a hit due to investments by NGOs and government ending.’ He quoted a young man with a degree in engineering saying, ‘I have no chance of getting a legitimate job in Afghanistan. I can work for the Taliban, who pay $300/month, or for IS who pay $700/month. I cannot get a visa to live or work in another country. I could try to flee Afghanistan illegally to Europe. What would you recommend?’ Years of war and many misguided humanitarian efforts have left the country and its people in an unsustainable situation. Some young men have gone to the UAE to work in construction jobs. It usually costs them $2,000 to pay for the opportunity to live with 8-10 other men in a two-bedroom apartment or in a labour camp outside the city.
George, a Queensland street preacher, was arrested last Friday, despite being authorised to preach under the state’s Peaceful Assembly Act. He had preached there on previous occasions without complaints but a police sergeant told him to move on after he mentioned sins listed in 1 Cor. 6:9,10 - adultery, slander, theft, greed, swindling and homosexual conduct. The sergeant said he had offended members of the public by saying that homosexuality and other religions were not God’s way. ‘We have people here who are of other religions. Your words are causing anxiety. A member of the public has had a go at you, and you are antagonising him by quoting from the Bible.’ The group organiser explained that they had official authorisation and under section 45 of the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act, police could not lawfully give a ‘move on’ order. George refused to move on, was handcuffed and arrested for disobeying a police direction, and will appear in court later this month.
Syria: besieged towns
15 Jan 2016
This week two convoys of forty lorries reached the outskirts of the besieged rebel-held Syrian town of Madaya, carrying flour, medical supplies and hygiene products. On Monday the UN found ‘horrifying conditions’ while delivering the first batch of aid to the 40,000 people trapped by government forces. A smaller convoy is en route to two other towns under siege by rebels in Syria’s northwest, as part of a deal between the warring parties. The priority for Thursday's aid delivery to Madaya was wheat flour and medical assistance. The UN's humanitarian co-ordinator has called for all sieges in Syria to be lifted. Pray for this relief not to be a ‘one-off’; pray for the sieges to be lifted; pray for people across Syria struggling to survive; and pray for the safe evacuation of hundreds who are in need of urgent medical treatment.
There is a mixed bag of expectations and anxiety over what this new year holds for Nigeria. Yesterday’s excesses have come home to roost. Time and time again the issue of over- dependence on oil has been a hot topic, and many have said that the nation should look to other sectors such as agriculture and mineral resources also. The shell-shock of crashing oil prices has alarmed the government. 2016 will be an extremely tough year, though many hope it will bring change and an acceleration of meaningful development of other sectors of the economy. Currently over 80% of all government revenue derives from the sale of crude oil.
At the end of 2015 the global anti-corruption watchdog, Transparency International, reported: ‘The police force is the most corrupt institution in Kenya.’ Investigations revealed a hierarchy in the way proceeds of corruption are shared among police officers. Kenya is supposed to be vetting all its police officers as part of a reform package the government agreed to undertake. Meanwhile the International Justice Mission, a Christian organisation, request prayer for breakthrough as they advocate that a corrupt and abusive police should be held accountable under the law. ‘Our team in Nairobi has been working tirelessly to encourage justice system officials to understand the importance of holding corrupt police officers accountable for their actions. We have helped free many innocent prisoners and ensured bogus charges were dropped, but none of the police who abused their power to imprison the innocent have ever been convicted. Please pray for a breakthrough as we work alongside Kenyan authorities to encourage them to hold all police officials, regardless of their status, accountable for their actions.‘