Nigeria: nothing short of a massacre
27 Apr 2023
In Kaduna state, Fulani militiamen killed 33 Christians in the predominantly Christian Runji village on 16 April and burned down half of the village. ‘Attackers in their numbers maimed and burned mostly women and children’, a press statement recorded. Locals have long believed that the government is capable and able to stop this evil - but they are not ready and willing to stop it. Nigeria is the leading country where Christians are killed for their faith (5,014 martyrs in 2022), and led the world in Christians abducted (4,726), sexually assaulted, harassed, forcibly married, physically or mentally abused. It had the most homes and businesses attacked for faith-based reasons. Being a Christian automatically puts a target on one's back. ‘Please pray for us’, said resident Mugu Bako. Rev Jacob Kwashi presided over their funerals, bemoaning the government's callous response to increasingly violent attacks against Christians. See
Chile: ‘quick trigger’ law
27 Apr 2023
Protesters and relatives of police officers who were killed in the line of duty took part in a march called by their relatives amid an increase in violent crime, in front of the La Moneda presidential palace in Santiago. Chile is one of Latin America’s safest countries, but its residents are becoming more worried after an upturn in violent crime and a spate of police killings. This month, the government passed a series of laws and allotted an additional $1.5bn to its police force. One of those laws, called the ‘quick trigger’ law, allows police to use force when they feel their lives are under threat. Many Chileans are still haunted by riot police actions during the 2019 protests, and human rights advocates say the new law could lead to impunity for police abuses.
God’s word translated and shared
21 Apr 2023
Sakachep Christians in India celebrated the dedication of the New Testament in their language, which took several years to complete. Now, for the first time, God's Word is available in their mother tongue. After the dedication, eager Sakachep people came forward for their own copy of God's Word. In the coming months several more Bible distributions in new languages are scheduled near the Tibetan border, and in the next few years over 20 new translation projects are planned. Also 771 million people in undeveloped countries catch diseases because they cannot get safe drinking water. The Bucket Ministry reduces that number by sharing God’s love and providing safe, clean water using a filter attached to a bucket that removes harmful bacteria in North America, South America, Central America, Asia, and Africa. Providing clean water also leads to opportunities to share the gospel. In ten years they’ve helped 250,000 families. The difference is lifesaving physically and spiritually.
God restores life
21 Apr 2023
David consumed a lot of cocaine. When he was In hospital after his third overdose, doctors told him his kidneys had failed, he had Hepatitis C, and would need dialysis for the rest of his life. With hopelessness and despair, he mourned his lost life. ’The night before dialysis was to begin, David cried out, ‘God, I don’t even know if you’re real, but if you are, please help me.’ The next day doctors came to his room. ‘We can’t explain it, but you’ve had a complete recovery,’ one told him. ‘You’re being discharged today.’ David wept profoundly. ‘It was mind-blowing,’ he recalls. ‘I don’t know how long I was on the floor asking God to forgive all the things I had done. God is in the restoration business.’
From death to life
21 Apr 2023
A family is rejoicing because Sammy Berko is alive after suffering cardiac arrest before miraculously coming back to life two hours later. He reached the top of the wall at a rock climbing gym, and then went limp. He was lowered and then lifesaving measures were unsuccessfully implemented. ‘They looked at us and said, “I’m so sorry, but he’s gone”’, Sammy’s mum Jennifer said. She and her husband were left in the room to say goodbye to Sammy and Jennifer started speaking to Sammy and to God. ‘As I started praying, my husband said, he’s moving.' The 16-year-old came back to life.
Printing King Charles III ‘s coronation order of service has been delayed because the king wants a ‘diverse’ ceremony, including non-Christian religions, contravening centuries-old canon law that bars Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and other religious leaders from praying during the service. Charles has stated previously his desire to be a ‘Defender of Faiths’ rather than the Faith. Justin Welby is giving the King religious guidance on the significance of his oath, the commitments he will make to his subjects, and the Christian symbolism employed. Both he and the Archbishop of York said that ‘at its centre is a Christian service, rooted in long-standing tradition and Christian symbolism’. After Queen Elizabeth II died, King Charles delivered an exemplary, heartfelt speech, in which he talked of ‘the Church in which my own faith is so deeply rooted,’ giving an apparent nod to his respect for the Anglican Church. How far does his respect for other faiths go?
Prayer, fasting and action
21 Apr 2023
Intercessors across these isles fasted from 17 to 19 April and prayed to push back spiritual darkness. You may not have joined the three one-hour online prayer meetings, but here are some common themes which you can pray and do now. Pray for God’s Kingdom to come down in your street, neighbourhood, town or city. Pray that the Church may rise up boldly to proclaim the Gospel, loving God and loving people. Pray for the younger generation to be visited by God and His Word as they hear and respond to the Gospel. Pray for Bible-believing churches, movements and organisations to unite against unbiblical ideologies, same-sex marriage, and gender Identity. Pray for those in government and leadership. Pray for the incoming monarch, King Charles III. Pray for key prayer needs that are important to you in your location, sphere or context.
Rishi Sunak investigated
21 Apr 2023
Rishi Sunak is being investigated by Parliament’s standards watchdog over a possible failure to declare an interest and if a declaration he made was ‘open and frank’. His wife Akshata holds shares in Koru Kids childcare agency, which could benefit from a new policy unveiled in the spring Budget. It is a pilot of payments for childminders, with more for those who sign up through agencies. Akshata was listed as a shareholder in Koru Kids as recently as 6 March. On 28 March Mr Sunak did not mention her links to Koru Kids when he was questioned over the childcare policy at a parliamentary hearing. When he was asked whether he had any interest to declare, he replied, ‘No, all my disclosures are declared in the normal way’. After the hearing, Mr Sunak sent a letter to the committee saying an updated statement of ministers' interests would be released shortly.