Sudan: UK describes ‘ethnic cleansing’ in Darfur
19 Oct 2023
Recent analysis of satellite and social media data reveals that at least 68 villages in Darfur have been set on fire by Sudanese armed militias since the civil war began in April. The UK minister for Africa, Andrew Mitchell, said this bore ‘all the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing’ - the first time the government has used the term to describe what is happening in Sudan. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who leads the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), said that he would cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to bring those guilty to justice. Much of the ethnic violence is blamed on militias which are part of - or affiliated to - the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the paramilitary group fighting the SAF for control of the country. The RSF has repeatedly denied any involvement in the violence in the region and has called for an independent international investigation. The analysis has been carried out by the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR), which uses Nasa heat-recognition technology and satellite images to identify fires and matches them with images on social media.
A court in Pakistan has sentenced a Muslim man to 25 years in prison for killing a Christian woman who rejected his marriage proposal. Muhammad Shahzad, also known as Shani, was sentenced in Islamabad for killing Sonia Allah Rakha, a 24-year-old Christian woman. The judge commended the police for their thorough investigation, which led to Shani’s conviction while acquitting three other accused individuals, the group said. Shanik shot Sonia on 30 November 2020, after her family declined his marriage proposal due to religious differences. He initially fled the scene but was later apprehended by the police.on. The victim’s family said that the accused had been harassing Sonia for the previous six months and had tried to force a physical relationship with her.
USA: another failure to elect a House speaker
19 Oct 2023
On 18 October Jim Jordan, a hard-line conservative and staunch ally of former president Donald Trump, lost a second bid to be elected as speaker of the House of Representatives. Jordan, a nine-term lawmaker from the midwestern state of Ohio, won only 199 Republican votes in the second round of voting, as 22 Republican colleagues voted for other lawmakers for the top position in the lower chamber of Congress. He also trailed Democratic minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, who won the votes of all 212 Democrats, although he has no chance of becoming speaker of the chamber that is narrowly led by Republicans. Since Kevin McCarthy was ousted as speaker two weeks ago, the House has been rudderless. It has been unable to consider any legislation, such as a spending measure to avert a partial government shutdown when current funding runs out on 17 November, or a straightforward, bipartisan resolution to support Israel after the attack by Hamas militants. With Jordan’s defeat, it is not immediately clear what steps the House might take next to fill the speakership.
Venezuela / USA: sanctions to be eased
19 Oct 2023
The USA is easing sanctions on Venezuela after the government and opposition agreed on 17 October to have next year's election monitored by international observers. They also promised to give all candidates access to public and private media, and to guarantee their free and safe movement throughout the country. In addition, the two sides have agreed to update the voter registries, to ensure that the millions of Venezuelans who have emigrated can exercise their right to vote. But the opposition and the government still disagree on whether the agreement allows for the exclusion of opposition frontrunner María Corina Machado. US sanctions will be eased on Venezuela's oil, gas and gold sectors, but other sanctions imposed over the suppression of protests and the erosion of democracy remain in place. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also called for the release of ‘all wrongfully detained US nationals and Venezuelan political prisoners’.
REV 12:11 - 21 Days of Prayer for Israel
OCTOBER 11 - NOVEMBER 1
On behalf of all of the IPC family, I want to thank you so much for praying with us during these 21 days at 12 Noon for 11 minutes each day on behalf of Israel, for Jews, Arabs and internationals.
We are praying for:
- A Great Harvest
- The Peace of Jerusalem
- God to Restrain and Contain this war
…from our key verse, Revelation Chapter 12 Verse 11:
‘They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives even unto death, soaked in blood, strong in witness, sacrificial in life.’
12:11 – Praying at Noon for 11 Minutes each Day
Now, as we're praying at noon, each day in our different time zones, we will literally be praying around the clock on behalf of the peoples of the nation of Israel.
3 Scriptures:
We believe this is a war over the harvest.
- The second chapter of Peter verse three reads: God's desire is that none would perish, but all come to repentance.
- First Timothy two verse four the word says God wants all to be saved, and come to a knowledge of the truth.
- And let's remember Matthew 5:44, Jesus says, But I tell you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.
Let’s Plead the Promises
We know that God releases His power in response to the prayers of His people. So let's plead the promises of God from God's Word. We plead from the answer with the answer in mind. And as we pray according to God's will, and for his renown, his activity always increases, it will increase in the midst of this war.
It will be for His glory for our joy for the salvation of multitudes in Israel and in the Middle East.
Global Esther Fast – Oct 15-18
Our friends at the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem have called a Global Esther Fast October 15, through to the 18th. As the Lord leads you, let's join them for three days in desperate prayer with fasting for breakthrough.
Prayers for the Impacts of the War
Let's continue to pray for the families of the Jews and families of Palestinians who have been killed, and will be killed in this war. Let's grieve with them.
Let's pray for their protection. Let's pray for their grieving to lead them to revelation that Jesus is the Lord, the God of all Hope, and the God of all comfort.
I want to ask us to continue to pray that Jesus would appear to them in dreams and visions, in the midst of their pain.
Let's pray for the soldiers and families of soldiers to cry out to God and have revelation of Jesus as the Comforter, the great prince of peace and the all mighty God.
Let's pray for believers that are in the land, to have incredible opportunities to share their faith with those who are hurting, and meet practical needs as a tangible expression of Christ in their midst.
Links to more info + Videos
Watch the Video with this Email
International Christian Embassy Jerusalem – Esther Fast
Asher Intrater’s talk on Revelation 12
12:11 Prayer Points for Harvest and Peace
The IPC Call to Pray for the War Situation
Let's remember to keep our eyes on Jesus right in the midst of all the news, the pain, the anger, the grief. Let's worship the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of kings, Lord of the nations, the worthy Lamb who was slain.
May He receive the due reward for his suffering in the land of Israel.
For the Glory of the Lamb,
Dr Jason Hubbard – Director
International Prayer Connect
Give thanks for Loren Cunningham
12 Oct 2023
Loren Cunningham, the founder of Youth With A Mission (YWAM), passed away at 88 on 6 October. He holds the unique distinction of being the first person to journey to every sovereign nation, dependent territory, and over 100 other regions, fulfilling the Great Commission's call. He revolutionised missions by enabling young people to serve globally, short-term, interdenominationally, and without pay. YWAM, founded in 1960, has expanded to reach every nation through evangelism, training, and mercy missions. Despite its status as one of the world's largest mission movements, Loren always attributed its success to Jesus. Under his leadership, YWAM launched global initiatives like King’s Kids International, the University of the Nations, and YWAM Ships. He leaves behind a profound legacy, inspiring generations to continue his mission of spreading God's love worldwide.
Türkiye: first new church in 100 years
12 Oct 2023
On 11 October, a long-awaited day, St Ephrem Church in Istanbul was opened - the first Christian place of worship to be built in Türkiye in a hundred years. Around 20,000 Syriac Orthodox live in the metropolis, but until now they had only one church. Archbishop Yusuf Cetin said: ‘At some big ceremonies, more than half of the congregation stood outside. That is difficult when it is very cold or very hot. That's why in 2010 years ago we visited the president and the prime minister and started a dialogue.’ Following this, the congregation was allocated a plot of land and bureaucratic hurdles were overcome. These included a court case with the Catholic community in the area. However, if you ask the Catholics in Istanbul today, there is no longer any talk of a dispute. The building of the church is a historic event, says Fr Claudio Monge: ‘Not only all Christians, but also all those who have worked for an inclusive country that respects diversity and considers it an enrichment, can only rejoice!’
Box office success for Christian film
12 Oct 2023
Sound of Freedom is a film whose director, producer, and main star are all Catholics. Inspired by a true story about child trafficking, it emphasises themes of piety and divine calling. The plot follows a security agent who rescues a boy from ruthless traffickers, only to discover that the boy's sister remains in captivity. He quits his job and embarks on a treacherous journey into the Colombian jungle to save her, risking his life for a noble cause. As his sense of purpose intensifies, he is portrayed with a saintly aura, delivering messages like ‘God's children are not for sale’. The film has been praised for avoiding certain clichés often associated with ‘Christian’ movies. It has found success at the box office, ranking second behind Mission Impossible in its opening week. Its strong message resonates with audiences and highlights the importance of combating child trafficking while staying true to one's faith and convictions. For more information, see