South Sudan: churches write to leaders
15 Jul 2021
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Pope Francis, and Church of Scotland moderator Jim Wallace have written to South Sudan's political leaders on the tenth anniversary of its independence. They said that the anniversary calls to mind past struggles and points with hope to the future, and that the nation is blessed with immense potential. They encouraged leaders to make even greater efforts to enable their people to enjoy the full fruits of independence. They also said, ‘When we wrote to you at Christmas, we prayed that you might experience greater trust among yourselves and be more generous in service to your people. Since then, we are glad to see some small progress. Sadly, your people continue to live in fear and uncertainty, and lack confidence that their nation can indeed deliver the “justice, liberty and prosperity” celebrated in your national anthem. Much more needs to be done to shape a nation that reflects God’s kingdom.’
Saudi Arabia: hajj pilgrimage
15 Jul 2021
Mecca: the holiest city in Islam, reputedly the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad and the destination for Muslims on the sacred hajj pilgrimage. This year, the hajj is from 17 to 22 July. Although the pilgrimage has Covid limitations, Mecca is still preparing for 60,000 pilgrims. The city of Mecca has 1.5 million residents. You have to be a Muslim to get in the city limits. Entering Mecca as a non-Muslim could result in fines, deportation, or worse. How could anyone there hear the Good News that they have a Saviour who loves them? How could the Gospel possibly reach such a closed city? The Holy Spirit and prayer are not limited by borders or bans.
For months, Ethiopia’s civil war has raged in Tigray, demolishing infrastructure and threatening famine. Despite talks of ceasefire, no end to the violence is in sight. Most concerning is the involvement of Eritrean soldiers in the conflict. Pastor Eric Foley says they have destroyed two refugee camps in the Tigray region. ‘They took people who had escaped from Eritrea and were living in the camps back to Eritrea and imprisoned them. Those who escaped the raids fled further into Ethiopia. The Tigray Church is a beacon during all this chaos. People are gathering in churches, grieving at the churches, bringing dead bodies to churchyards to bury them in mass graves. The Gospel is still making a way for people to have hope. The Christians are opening their homes and doing all the things that Jesus taught us to do.’
As all eyes turn to Tokyo for the Olympics and Paralympics, Japanese Christians are inviting the global Church to unite for one million hours of prayer for the spiritual transformation of their nation. An international prayer movement (Japan1Million) is led by the Japan international Sports Partnership and the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association. Their partnership is driven by a vision to see the Church in Japan grow to ten million people by 2024. Working towards that vision, they had hoped to reach a million Japanese people during their Olympic outreach year. Covid closed those doors, but one door remained open; the door to prayer. With less than 1% of its population of 126 million attending church, the Japanese are the world’s second largest unreached people group. Most people in Japan have not been to church, read the Bible or encountered any Christians. Committed prayer is needed for a significant spiritual breakthrough.
USA: survey on religious affiliation
15 Jul 2021
A new survey reveals Americans who identify as having no connection with religion has declined slightly. The survey was part of ‘American Values Atlas’, based on phone interviews with over 50,000 Americans throughout 2020. One of the biggest takeaways from the survey is that the rise of the ‘nones’ has slowed. The term ‘nones’ describes Americans who do not identify with a particular religion and includes atheists and agnostics. Even with this slight decline, religiously unaffiliated Americans constitute a larger share of the American public than the three most prominent religious groups in the US: white mainline Protestants (16%), white evangelical Protestants (14%), and white Catholics (12%). All other religious groups accounted for less than 10% of population, including Christians of colour, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists.
Join the 7 Days of Prayer for South Africa
This report was prepared with grateful thanks to the input of 7 colleagues, Pastors and a Bishop in Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, Limpopo and Western Cape Provinces, South Africa.
Please pray against a spirit of violence and disruption threatening the peace and stability of the nation of South Africa. It started following the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma last week. However, it is widely understood that the root of the ongoing situation is criminal rather than political.
KwaZulu Natal & Gauteng provinces are hotspots at present but there are fears that it may spread to other regions. 45 people have died and 757+ have been arrested during riots and looting sprees over these past 5 days.
As we are preparing this Prayer Alert we are receiving reports of the use of rubber bullets by the forces to deter looters around Johannesburg. Durban has pockets of unrest with occasional gunfire being heard.
Across Gauteng Province, shops and businesses remain closed (in the Towns and Cities). In the Townships, shops have been looted, emptied and destroyed. There is no bread and milk and people are boarding taxis to the towns and cities to buy essential groceries. Township Garages are closed, cars are travelling long distances seeking fuel. It remains very tense. There are reports of continued looting in Soweto and Orange Farms Townships. Elsewhere, we are hearing of live ammunition being used by security forces.
On Monday, 10 people lost their lives in a stampede of looters at a shopping mall in Soweto. A policeman is among those killed.
South Africa has been on the crest of a devastating third wave of covid-19 with huge pressures on the medical services and hospitals. Recent lockdowns have had a severe impact on the poor, many of whom live on what they earn in cash each day, and as a consequence, have gone hungry.
The churches have been prevented from meeting for 4 weeks with good government intent, due to the covid lockdown, although many have questioned the basis of the decision. This has caused isolation among poor communities and reduced the often meagre income of the pastors to virtually nothing. IPC regional representatives are endeavouring to mobilise prayer and to encourage the churches in these two provinces.
Additionally, there have been increased continuous power cuts (load-shedding of electricity) for up to 24 hours at a time causing much anger among the people.
As well as the widespread looting & vandalism of shopping malls there are incidences of attacks on road traffic and looting and damage at schools and farms. The repair will likely cost South Africa many millions amidst what is an already shaky economy.
It is believed that this is a backlash to a lot of evil & corruption being exposed over the past year as well as Kingdom breakthroughs.
Pray that the Church will arise, proclaim the truth of God’s Word and also the prophetic destiny of South Africa!
Let’s Pray for South Africa:
- That the looting, violence and civil unrest will stop and peace will return to the streets.
- For the Police Force and the Defense Force that they will be able to restore and maintain order.
- That the South African people will not respond in fear but stay calm, focused and be in a position where we anchor ourselves in the Lord.
- That food and fuel supplies will be delivered to all those who need them.
- For resolutions to be found for the underlying social and economic problems.
- For the creation of more jobs in South Africa. There is a very high unemployment rate.
- For the Churches to be able to gather again and Pray together - 'Together we will stand, divided we will fall'
- That the covid vaccinations and medical services will be restored to their intended levels.
- For the President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Government and the Police of South Africa to lead, govern and administer justice with wisdom and integrity, standing against corruption.
- That we are able to seek God as a nation during this time. Pray for the hearts of our leaders to turn back to God. (2 Chron 7:14)
- Let's pray Psalm 140 with (and for) the people of South Africa
‘The words came alive’
09 Jul 2021
Richard Sandland was ordained on 4 July and will serve in the parish of Bromsgrove, ten years after watching a play that changed his life. In his previous job at the Royal Shakespeare Company, they did a play called Written on the Heart, about the writing of the King James Version of the Bible. In one scene, Lancelot Andrewes and William Tyndale debated translations of the Beatitudes. He recalls, ‘As I watched and listened these words came alive for me. Gradually, I realised that I had been wrong all my life about God.’ As a direct result, Richard bought a copy of the Bible and began attending church in Kidderminster. Reflecting on his journey to ordination, Richard says, ‘God has drawn me on, step by step, until I reached a place where I knew the call was right.’
Nigeria: Naomi’s story
09 Jul 2021
Naomi, a Nigerian Christian widow, never expected to suffer persecution, but when her town was overrun by Islamists, she was ready. Her Bible had taught her, ‘Persecution is God’s Word being fulfilled.’ While Naomi was working her farmland outside the city she heard distant gunfire. She immediately ran toward the sound, concerned for her children at home. After passing scenes of horrific violence on her way she gathered her children and fled to nearby mountains, where they stayed before moving to a Cameroon refugee camp. Poor conditions there forced them to return to Nigeria. When mission workers learned of her situation, they helped the family move into their own home and arranged for the children to attend a good school. Naomi said, ‘Attacks made my faith stronger.’