Vaccine nationalism
04 Feb 2021
A battle between the EU and UK reveals the ugly truth about vaccine nationalism that is appearing across the globe. The UN General Assembly showed unity as global deaths approached a million last year. They said, ‘When a vaccine is developed, the world's most vulnerable should be first in line.’ The vaccines are here and solidarity between the nations has disappeared entirely. The EU has secured enough doses to cover its population three times. Canada has purchased enough to cover a population four times its size. The UK has agreements with vaccine suppliers, and did not expect the EU to disrupt the fulfillment of these contracts. However, the EU almost invoked a Brexit deal clause to prevent the UK from receiving vaccines from Europe. While stocks are limited governments will put their own populations first. Pray for pharmaceutical companies to share their ‘know how’ with poor countries to enable them to produce their own vaccinations.
Global weather challenges
04 Feb 2021
In the USA a powerful storm sent waves crashing into sea walls and caused flooding in coastal communities from New Jersey to Maine. In Australia bushfires have forced thousands to flee Covid-19 lockdowns in an ‘unprecedented situation'. By 3 February the fire had destroyed 71 homes and injured six firefighters. In addition to the dangerous blazes, tropical storms churning off the coast could help to contain fires. Also widespread record-breaking snow pummelled northeast America, shattering centuries-old records, and is expected to spawn another whopper next week. Pray for God to watch over all who have lost their homes and businesses to the Australian fires. May they be able to achieve social distancing in relief shelters. Pray for God to give peace to people experiencing travel disruption, particularly those in stranded vehicles. Pray for aid and help to reach isolated rural communities, particularly those with power cuts.
Iraq: IS resurgence with Baghdad bombings
04 Feb 2021
Christians in Iraq remain shaken by the twin suicide bombing in Baghdad. It was the first mass-casualty attack since 2018, killing at least 32 people and wounding more than a hundred. IS took credit, stirring fears of a resurgence. Samuel of Redemptive Stories says believers are shaken, but they’re pressing on to make Christ known. ‘I had the privilege to talk to a pastor on the very night of the suicide attacks and he said, ‘Our spiritual condition as a church is well; our physical condition is well; but our emotional state, as a church, is sad. The church had seen three years of almost peaceable activity. Now suddenly, out of nowhere, there are these significant attacks. The hope of Christ shines brightly amid such tumult.’
International Christian Concern (ICC) has observed a marked increase of reported religious freedom violations within Turkey since the start of the New Year. While most of these recent violations impact church buildings, they also include a lack of interest by the authorities in pursuing and protecting justice for Christian victims. Churches are seen as a source of income both by the government (faith tourism) and by society (treasure hunters). Otherwise, church buildings are neglected by the government and often turned into mosques. Pray for the protection and perseverance of believers in Turkey. Pray that the government will honor Christian landmarks and churches.
Indonesia: earthquake survivors
04 Feb 2021
The earthquake that hit Sulawesi on Friday 15 January destroyed many Christian homes and church buildings. Survivors are in urgent need of humanitarian aid. Desperate Indonesian pastors are pleading with Barnabas Fund for suitable tents, blankets, food and baby milk for their homeless church members. The government’s emergency response and aid for the survivors is inadequate and will end altogether on 8th February. The makeshift camps are in the middle of the rainy season - humid days punctuated by intense downpours. Pray for all the hungry, homeless survivors sheltering in crude camps. May they know the peace of the Lord and hope for the future. Pray for the desperate Indonesian pastors to have the resources and support needed to look after their homeless church members.
Nigeria: Chibok girls and Boko Haram
04 Feb 2021
In 2014, militants stormed a boarding school in Chibok and kidnapped 276 girls. Dozens escaped almost immediately; another girl was found in May 2016. After government/Boko Haram negotiations, 21 more girls were released, then 82 were freed in a prisoner swap in 2017. Since then, nothing had been heard of the remaining captives, until Halima Ali Maiyanga called her father to say she had managed to escape on 28 January. ‘She asked me, Is this my daddy? and she started crying. The crying was so much I couldn't hear her very well. I was crying too. I never expected to hear from her again. Our house is full of people rejoicing with us.’ Halima and others are safe and being looked after by the Nigerian army. While we praise God for their escape, please continue to pray for the remaining girls and their families.
Myanmar: military coup
04 Feb 2021
Myanmar's military took power on 1 February. Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party are now under arrest. The coup ends a democratic experiment in a country where generals usually rule. In 2017 Suu Kyi shocked the West by defending the generals’ ‘ethnic cleansing’ of the Rohingya Muslims. But as her star faded in the West, it became brighter at home where the Rohingya are considered invaders. Riding on her popularity, her party won last November's election, intensifying tensions between the civilian government and the army. The generals only won 7% of the vote and cried election fraud, threatening to suspend the constitution if their claims were not investigated. This coup reverses the generals' declining influence in one fell swoop. The new leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, will remain in charge until 2022. Meanwhile, the economy will be crippled by fresh international sanctions, and Myanmar will become the pariah it was a decade ago. There have been widespread civilian protests against the coup, and the military have responded by shutting down Facebook ‘for the sake of stability’.
We brought breaking news a few days ago of the military coup in Myanmar. The situation there is extremely serious.
The brief history is.... independence from the British rule - 4 January 1948 First military coup - 2 March 1962 Second military coup - 8 September 1988 Third military coup - 1 February 2021
On February 1, 2021 the Myanmar military detained Aung San Suu Kyi and other government leaders in a coup. They announced that they will take control for at least one year. The internet was shut down, but it appears to be partially back online. Day to day life is a challenge as soldiers are out on the streets and banks are closed. People are angry, sad and fearful of the uncertainty of what comes next.
Let's pray in unity across the world for the situation:
- Pray that this action will be something that can be turned for good, and prayer that this is a step towards the breakdown of the military’s power, which has now overtly exposed itself as the real power in Burma. Before this, the Burma military made a pretense of Aung Sang Suu Kyi and the National League of Democracy and other groups having some control; but in reality, the military held the true power behind the scenes. This coup has revealed that.
- Pray for the hearts of those who staged the coup, that they would see the love of Jesus and that there are other ways to serve and lead, and that God would have mercy on them.
- Pray that those detained would be released and that attacks against the ethnic minorities/tribal groups would stop.
- Pray that negotiations currently taking place between the military and government bring a peaceful resolution to the situation.
- Pray that there will be no violence or killing.
- For peoples’ daily needs, particularly the poor, as banks, markets, and services have been disrupted. Rice, the staple food, has increased in price, as have other day-to-day needs.
- Please pray for health services in Myanmar. All the doctors, nurses, and health workers are not going to the hospitals and clinics, saying they do not want to work under the dictatorship.
- Pray for people who are currently sick, especially those with Covid. This walkout significantly affects their care.
- Pray for the many small businesses whose operations are interrupted. Countless families depend on these kinds of business for their daily income, and they usually rely on this daily income to afford their daily food.
- Pray for the education system: right now, all the universities and colleges have come out as opposed to the military dictatorship. The Ministry of Education and student organizations are planning walkouts. In the long term, pray that the levels and quality of education would be upgraded to be of a standard equal to neighboring countries.
- Pray that UN sanctions will not harm the innocent civilian population. May this be a punishment felt by the military leaders and have an impact on their policies. Pray that any UN actions will be effective in bringing positive change.
- Pray for Aung San Suu Kyi’s protection: that they will not torture, harm, or poison her (we are afraid that this is a possibility, according to previous history such as the 1988 military coup).
For the longer term, remember to pray for God’s eternal purposes to prevail:
- Pray for foreign and domestic missionaries in Myanmar
- Pray for different NGO groups in Myanmar
- Pray for Churches in Myanmar
- Pray that Churches could be united to fight against the spiritual darkness to establish the Kingdom of God
- Pray for Church Planting Movements to accelerate in Myanmar
- Pray for the evangelization of the Unreached People Groups of Myanmar
- Pray that a great revival would take place in the heart of Myanmar