Welsh Christian Party win another Council seat
13 May 2010Martin Wiltshire has become Britain’s second Cllr (Elect) for the Christian Party ‘Proclaiming Christ’s Lordship’ in the Town Council by-election held yesterday in Llandrindod Wells West Ward just 9 months after the leader of the Christian Party of Wales, Jeff Green won their first town council seat. The election was triggered when Councillor Jones resigned two month ago for personal reasons. Cllr Wiltshire is a self-employed family man who has lived in the Ward for many years. Cllr Wiltshire beat the two other contestants by winning 51% of the votes. The second and third places shared the rest.
Praise: God for the election of Cllr Wiltshire that his faith and actions will be testimony to God’s hand on his life. (2Ti.2:15)
Welcomed back to Church
23 Oct 2010
There were around 6,500 more people in Baptist churches on September 27, according to figures collated from reports on the day. The Big Welcome, or Back to Church Sunday, saw at least 475 Baptist churches taking part, with an average of 13.7 extra attendees. A quarter of those taking part had not done so before. If, as in previous years, around 12 per cent of those attending decide to become regular worshippers, this translates to another 780 people becoming part of Baptist churches. The Revd Ian Bunce, head of the Baptist Union of Great Britain's mission department, said that the event had gone very well. 'A number of churches have been surprised at how successful it has been,' he said. 'People are now saying that they need to put these principles into the everyday lives of their congregations, rather than leaving it to a particular Sunday.' (See also Prayer Alert 3710) Praise: God for all those who have returned to Church and may the principles of Welcome Back become part of everyday Church. (Heb.10:25)
Wednesday Afghanistan prayer meetings
21 Oct 2011Every Wednesday evening at eight o'clock Afghanistan time, prayer meetings are held in Camp Bastion and other military bases in the region. Christian troops on operations are asked to add their prayers at that time if they are able. A growing number of Christians in various parts of the world are now 'attending' these prayer meetings as 'virtual' members. Please consider joining this band of supporters, the UK time for the meetings is 1630hrs.
Praise: God as they all join together constantly in prayer. (Acts 1:14a)
More: http://www.afcu.org.uk/
‘Knife bins are making a difference and helping to prevent youth crime,’ said a practising Christian, Michael Smith, at the launch of his new weapons disposal scheme, Word 4 Weapons. Smith was inspired to do something to stem the increasing numbers of stabbings and killings amongst young people across the UK and as a result founded the charitable organisation entitled Word 4 Weapons in 2007. In partnership with The Salvation Army, Ascension Trust, Christian Police Association and churches of varying denominations, Word 4 Weapons ran a pilot project last year placing knife bins in strategic parts of London where people could dispose of their weapons. In exchange they received a trendy bag called ‘All I Need’ which contains a Bible, Cops and Robbers comic, book of help plus much more to help them positively to turn their lives around. They now have 10 knife bins strategically placed across London with a further 10 bins to be in place by the end of this year. Praise: God for the success of this scheme in 2007 and pray that this fresh initiative will be even more successful. (Is.52:7) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/weaponsforbibles.scheme.rolls.out.across.the.capital/26054.htm
A new wave of revival is sweeping through schools as God is moving among the youth of South Africa, says Matt Hogarty, principal of Oasis Christian Academy in Howick, Kwa-Zulu-Natal. He says that as a result of what God has been doing at Oasis, a team from his school was invited to minister at a Government school in Pietermaritzburg earlier this month and about 500 learners there committed their lives to Jesus. There was also a powerful time of ministry during which children opened up about issues of abuse and trauma in their lives. Since last month Gateway News has reported on a growing prayer walk movement at Port Elizabeth schools with reports of healing miracles and changed lives; a powerful move of God at a Uitenhage Christian School that has impacted a neighbouring Government school and spread to a Christian school in Alexandria; and an outbreak of revival at a Christian school near Tzaneen in Limpopo.
Praise: God for this move of the Holy Spirit through the schools and young people. (Mat.28:19)
More: http://gatewaynews.co.za/2013/06/27/wave-of-revival-sweeping-through-sa-schools-kzn-principal/
Vietnam: Witchdoctor who found Jesus
19 May 2010‘I grew up in a very strong Buddhist family in Vietnam,’ says Tran Dinh (Paul) Ai. ‘My father was a very successful Chinese medical doctor.’ Ai's father vowed he would send his son to the Buddhist temple for training as a monk. At age 14 Ai arrived at the temple, but after a year of study he became disenchanted with the ‘hopelessness of Buddhist doctrines.’ Seeking a more powerful religious experience, he studied the dark arts, to become a witchdoctor. In 1970, as protests mounted against the Vietnam War in the US, American missionaries entered Ai's town in South Vietnam. ‘A lot of people in my town went to the crusades and met the Lord.’ Gradually a dawning realization swept through his mind. ‘I realized that Buddha was a good man who was wise, but Buddha died. He never promised to save anybody or help anybody,’ he says. ‘Then I realized Jesus Christ is different. He is not only good and wise, He rose and He's alive!’
Praise: Godthat the work of Christ’s mission is received with such success everywhere. ( Ac.15:3)
More: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=7775
Victory over Sunday working
10 May 2012Following the late intervention of the Christian Legal Centre, an employee of a major London tourist attraction is able to continue in his job, as his employer has now agreed to let him take Sundays off so that he can worship at church. The employee, who is involved with his local church and several volunteer schemes, had been in negotiations with his employers for over a year and a half over whether he would continue to be forced to work on Sundays. With the Christian Legal Centre's help, his employer has now backed down and has given him a new rota enabling him to spend Sundays worshipping at his church. By contrast, his employer had allowed a Muslim employee not to work on Fridays. The victory will encourage many Christians, some of whom have been under pressure to choose between working on Sundays or losing their jobs. (See Prayer Alert 08-2012)
Praise: God for this answer to prayer and pray that it would establish a precedent. (Gen.2:2)
Victory in Maidstone lap dancing case
27 Oct 2012Yesterday (22 October) Maidstone Council threw out an application for lap dancing to take place at a venue located seconds away from Maidstone town centre in Kent. The Christian Legal Centre supported local residents who argued that such a venue was not suitable in an area being regenerated by the Council where there are already schools, churches and shops nearby. Maidstone Council received more than 100 letters of objection in advance of the hearing and the Council heard from a member of the town’s street pastor scheme. Michael Phillips, the solicitor representing many of the objectors, said that granting the application would be wholly inappropriate and would effectively be turning Bank Street, where the premises are located, into a sex street. His arguments persuaded the Council, who rejected the application on the basis that a licence for lap dancing would be inappropriate in that location.
Praise: God for the success of this objection. (Job.5:12)
More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/victory-in-maidstone-lap-dancing-case