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.’
Church grows out of WhatsApp group
09 Jul 2021
A church that was formed from a WhatsApp group during lockdown now meets every fortnight. Lay pioneer minister Venessa Pinto distributed postcards during lockdown to her neighbours, inviting them to join the group as a way of staying in touch during the restrictions. ‘Within a couple of days we received many messages, mostly from young adults.’ Venessa said. ‘We started engaging on questions of spirituality and faith and out of that we began meeting on Zoom for social activities and to talk about faith. Gradually that transformed into something more formal and into an intercultural worshipping community that we call Roots.’
Hope for the Countryside prayer walk
09 Jul 2021
From 19 June to 4 September, mission teams from Through Faith Mission are walking the ‘Via Beata’ footpath through the countryside of central England and Wales. The teams are going out literally without bread or money and no agenda or programme, trusting the Lord to provide both their needs and opportunities to share the gospel and serve others (Matthew 10:1-15; Luke 10:1-20). By mid-June, around 100 people had signed up for one or more of the eleven weeks. A similar number have pledged to pray. Join them in praying that the Lord will use the teams to bring the hope of the Gospel to many in the countryside of Britain and encourage rural churches along the way and add to their number. Also you are invited to join ‘Hope Countryside Online Prayer Gathering’ on 31 July, where intercession will be for the churches and communities for rural Britain. See
Canopy of Prayer
09 Jul 2021
As many in England and across the Land are gripped by the euphoria of football and the Euros, multitudes are learning how to prophesy and believe in Hope. With the singing of ‘its coming home’ everywhere, people may not realise it but they are actually declaring Hope. In the same spirit of faith, may we declare as believers that ALL of God’s Will and promises for our family of nations are coming home! May revival, transformation and restoration visions or prophecies that many have been waiting for over many years finally begin to be fulfilled in this generation. On 8 July, believers joined a Zoom call to pray and declare God’s will and Kingdom promises over our land. This is a regular event. Those who miss the prayer gathering will find it is available on YouTube and Facebook to watch again.
Police bill risks criminalising homeless
09 Jul 2021
Thirteen homelessness charities and housing groups made an unprecedented plea to ministers to reconsider the police and crime bill that passed through the Commons this week. It will now go to the House of Lords. They said the bill needs urgent changes to avoid people being arrested and imprisoned for sleeping rough. Traditional Gypsy events like the annual Appleby horse fair face being criminalised, threatening the Gypsy way of life and culture. People will risk fines, imprisonment or confiscation of vehicles, which for Travellers are also their homes. The charities and housing groups said the bill should be scrapped, or amended if it goes ahead. Many people experiencing homelessness sleep in cars; they would be arrested and jailed. An 1824 Vagrancy Act that targeted rough sleeping and begging was abolished, but this new legislation 200 years later would again criminalise them.