Over a billion people live with some form of disability, and it disproportionately affects vulnerable populations. They often do not receive needed health care, and disabled children are less likely to attend school. They are more likely to be unemployed and are vulnerable to poverty. However rehabilitation maximises functioning and independence; they can live and participate in the community, and barriers can be overcome. Last year’s Lausanne Movement gathering stated, ‘Developing young leaders is a biblically sustainable mission strategy.’ John Stott has said that training the next generation of young leaders should receive the highest priority. At the climax of history, when people from every tribe and nation worship the Lord on His holy mountain, persons with disabilities will be among them. Decades ago we ministered to the disabled; today we have quite a few leaders with disabilities, but need to encourage more.
President Rouhani says the official implementation of the nuclear deal between Tehran and six world powers will increase Tehran’s engagement with the world. Companies will again be able to send skilled workers and university lecturers into the country, opening the door for Christian ‘tentmakers’ to officially enter the country. Young people are the largest population bloc in Iran (over 60%) and are among the most politically active in the Islamic world. Iran is also one of the most tech-savvy societies with an estimated thirty million Internet users, led by the youth, and boasting between 60,000 and 110,000 active blogs (one of the highest numbers in the Middle East). Pray for visas once again to be issued to Christian teachers and technicians and for ‘businesses’ to move into Iran legally. Pray protection for Iranians who are currently engaging with the underground Church.
Pakistan: pastors’ and prayer leaders’ gathering
22 Jan 2016
A pastor and prayer warrior in Pakistan writes, ‘We started the prayer chain for our conference ten days ago, and will close it with a fasting day on Saturday. Thanks to the Lord, we are expecting more than three hundred leaders from all over Pakistan this weekend. Our budget target is $15,000; by His grace so far we have reached $10,000, and I trust in the Lord for the rest. Please join us in prayer for this weekend’s conference. We need God’s security for the venue and protection of church premises and accommodation venues. Other prayer points are: speakers and organisers; management/administration; food; financial provision; and transformation of our vision.’
Cuba: unprecedented church crackdown
22 Jan 2016
Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports that the scale of persecution being encountered by Christians in Cuba is unlike anything seen before, with a ten-fold increase in violations of freedom of religion or belief last year (2,300 cases). Cuban church-goers are being arrested and dragged away on a weekly basis. CSW says, ‘Perhaps the Cuban government is trying to limit the potential for social upheaval by cracking down on civil society. The church, after the revolution and following the repressive measures enacted against civil society as a whole, is one of the few places where people can come together. As the government is trying to retain control, Christians are also starting to push back a bit. They're trying to resist in a peaceful, non-violent manner, and we think that the government is trying to assert itself.’ The rise in violations of religious or belief freedoms last year was largely due to the Cuban government declaring two thousand Assemblies of God churches illegal.
Advanced weapons are going from Russia to Syria and then into Hezbollah's hands, according to an Israeli Defence Force reserve officer. The weapons are capable of hitting Israel's gas rigs and paralyzing the Haifa and Ashdod ports. General Yaakov Amidror, who was an adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said that the sophisticated weapons reached Hezbollah as a result of the Syrian civil war. Russia sold its advanced weapons to the Syrians and the Syrians transferred them to Hezbollah. The Russians are said to be aware of what is happening. These first-class weapons, such as Kornet and surface-to-air missiles and perhaps even the very sophisticated Onyx missiles, are now in Hezbollah's possession.
Guatemala: protection for children
22 Jan 2016
The International Justice Mission (IJM) has been working alongside local authorities in Guatemala rescuing children from sexual violence and securing convictions against rapists and violent criminals by pushing individual cases through the justice system. Guatemala now has a law that defines a crime of sexual violence and has recently elected a new president, Jimmy Morales. Pray that he will make the protection of children from sexual violence a priority for his administration. Some cases were delayed in 2015 and re-scheduled for early 2016. Pray that the hearings in January and early February will see justice-system officials motivated to deal with these cases fairly. Pray that the new president will lead the country with wisdom and integrity, after a tumultuous political year in Guatemala.
The Supremacy of Christ
21 Jan 2016
The Supremacy of Christ is a key foundational issue for us in WPC. Ian Cole spoke passionately about it at both the UK and European Trumpet calls and we declared the Supremacy of Christ together reading from Colossians 1:15 – 20. What is our expectation as we pray? Imagine you are leading an army unit besieged by enemy forces and you have the option of a direct call to the SAS who will immediately send their best troops and resources – alternatively you could send an email to the Ministry of Defence and hope it will eventually reach the right committee. Sometimes we pray as if we need to send that polite memo but the reality of the supremacy of Christ is that we have authority through Jesus to see amazing things happen.
Paul starts Colossians saying he does not cease from praying that they be "filled with all spiritual knowledge and understanding, to lead a life worthy of the Lord." He then outlines his understanding of who Jesus is.
'He is the image of the invisible God' – when we see Jesus we see God, when we understand Jesus we understand the character of God. If we want to be like God we need to become more like Jesus.
'All things were created through Him and for Him' - this is a stark simple theology – He is the God of all things. There is no sacred/secular divide – Jesus is Lord of all.
'He is the head of the body, the church' - Jesus is the brains of the Church, everything is controlled through the head; the body responds to instructions from the head. He has all authority over His Church, we need to let Jesus take that authority.
'For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell' – Jesus is fully divine, and fully God. 30 years after His death Paul asserts that this Rabbi from Nazareth, this man hung on a cross is God Himself. He was so much more than a good man, or moral leader and teacher, He was, and is, God.
Jesus is the Reconciler – He has reconciled 'to Himself, all things'. He heals, redeems, releases, forgives and brings all things together under His authority. He reconciles each of us with Himself – we have relationship with Him. In Colossians 2, Paul goes on to describe the triumphant Jesus who has 'disarmed the principalities and powers'. We do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against spiritual powers and authorities, but we wrestle knowing that Jesus is victorious. He is the Lord of Hosts, the Victor on the Cross, the one who has defeated death and rules over all things.
So we see Jesus with authority and power over all things. He is the Head of the Church; He has reconciled us to Himself. Then Paul reveals one more key piece in this theological jigsaw – 'Christ is within us, the hope of glory."
Where we go Jesus goes, when we pray Jesus is with us, when we gather together Jesus is in our midst. As we proclaim the Supremacy of Christ – over our lives, homes, workplaces, communities and nation – we declare tremendous truth and we raise our faith.
As Paul says in Philippians, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." In these days of challenge and shaking let us grow in our confidence, not in ourselves but in our awesome Jesus, who is supreme over all things.
Written by Steve Botham, Director
Trypraying - The Road Ahead
19 Jan 2016
"The only impossible journey is the one you never begin."
We are on a journey. It's full of excitement and hope and, like the Israelites of old, it needs the presence of God all along the way. It's a journey to see change in our lives and the towns and cities where we live. Specifically it's to pray for 40 days and then to invite everyone else to try praying so they can meet the creator God.
Over the next 10 weeks there are three stages to the journey...
In January.
Several places are looking to book advertising. In Scotland there is a target of £80,000 to book bus adverts for ALL Scotland. Some places in England are arranging for bus advertising. During each of the last 5 years money has come mostly from individuals andchurches rather than trusts. If your city/town is interested to join in this aspect contact us immediately to see if we can make a combined booking. We would love a few large gifts, matching gifts or underwriting to help this. The figure for Scotland means that £120 buys one hour of advertising across ALL Scotland and £3000 buys a whole day.
In February.
Launching a 40 day prayer initiative from Wednesday 10th February (for Lent). With 100s (1000s?) of people praying for their big issue, for revival and for three friends to become Christians this may be the power-house of what happens this year. We hope for simultaneous prayer gatherings in several cities. We have a new 40 day prayer guide to help this called 'Catching the Wave'. Order copies for yourself, your house group or your church.
In March.
Click the image below for video. 1000 churches engaged with the 'Use it and lose it' strategy. The idea of using the trypraying booklet in this way is a simple and straightforward strategy that any church can use. We just need to start conversations. Is your church one of those that will join in? Join in.
Visit the trypraying website.