‘Beyond the Pandemic: Is there any word from the Lord?’ by Rev Dr Clifford Hill
When a pandemic is unleashed, how should Christians respond?
Beyond the Pandemic provides a Biblical view of the contemporary world situation.
It focuses upon what the Biblical prophets called “the deeds of the Lord” – the historical evidence of the activity of God in the life and times of the leaders of Israel and Judah, from Moses to Malachi. This revelation of the nature of God is set alongside contemporary events, providing a prophetic view of God’s purposes in these troubled times.
After years of warnings to our society, which has turned its back on Him, who is both Creator and Sovereign over the world in which we live, we must either repent or face yet worse afflictions; Hill points us to the only effective remedy – God’s word spoken through Isaiah 45:22, “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God and there is no other.”
The Rev. Dr Clifford Hill MA, BD, PhD, Sociologist and Theologian, is a lecturer, preacher and broadcaster who has written over forty books. He is an ordained minister in the Congregational church, has led multi-ethnic congregation in London and continues to exercise pastoral oversight of an inner-city church.
He is editor-in-chief of Prophecy Today UK, which seeks to apply God’s word in the Bible to current affairs and, with his wife, Monica, is joint director of Issachar Ministries which supports Christians in prayer and action.
Beyond the Pandemic is published by Wilberforce Publications and is available to purchase:
CLC bookshop - https://clcbookshops.com/Products/ViewOne.aspx?ProductId=131212&sq=beyond%20the%20pandemic
Amazon - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/191612111X/
Find out more at Wilberforce Publications: https://www.wilberforcepublications.co.uk/
We are excited to announce the launch of a Global Online 24/7 Prayer Room beginning January 1st of 2021! This "Global Family" is a collaboration of many international ministries from all six continents and will be hosted in many languages using Zoom.
We would like to invite YOU to join us. Each hour will be Spirit-led, Bible-based, Worship-fed, and Christ-exalted times of prayer to multiple gospel movements across the earth. We are encouraging facilitators to include a special time each hour on the remaining unreached peoples.
First, we want to invite you (personally, your church, city, organization, network, etc.) to join us when available each week of 2021 to join hands with this collaboration in prayer.
Second, we'd like to invite you (with at least one back up person who could act as room host) to commit to facilitating prayer the same hour each week for the 52 weeks of 2021.
There will be training and resources available to Hour leaders as we near to the start of the 24/7 Global Family. For more information and how to sign up, visit https://www.globalfamily24-7prayer.org
To Christ be the Glory,
Jonathan Friz, 10Days
Dr. Jason Hubbard & John Robb, IPC
Dr. Jonathan Armstrong, AQ
Elizabeth Adleta, FPS
Soloman Lujan, the Seed Company
Jenny Oliphant, Ethne Prayer Team
UK scientists warn over Christmas mingling
26 Nov 2020
People across the UK are being urged to think carefully before they take advantage of the relaxation of restrictions over Christmas. Government adviser Prof Andrew Hayward says family gatherings are a ‘recipe for regret’ for people. The devolved administrations have agreed UK-wide rules to allow families to meet between 23-27 December and three households will be allowed to be in each other's homes. The plans have been criticised by pub owners as meet-ups in hospitality venues are banned. The head of the European Commission has said countries could face a third wave if they ease restrictions too early. Nearly 60 million cases have been confirmed globally with around 1.4 million deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Hymn ‘As the deer’ at American music awards
26 Nov 2020
Katy Perry went back to her Christian roots for her performance at the American Music Awards. The pop star was joined by country music star Darius Rucker to sing their duet ‘Only love’, but she began the performance with a short version of the hymn ‘As the deer’ that is based on Psalm 42:1: ‘As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.’ Perry’s parents are pastors and started their daughter’s career as Christian artists. She got her big break in 2008 with a secular song. Then in 2018 she said, ‘My mum has prayed for me my entire life, hoping I'd come back to God. I never left him, I was just a little bit secular, I was more materialistic and more career-driven. But now it's more about spirituality and heart wholeness.’
Archbishop: go to church on Christmas Day
26 Nov 2020
The Archbishop of Canterbury has urged people to return to church on Christmas Day, as social distancing rules are relaxed over the festive period. Justin Welby said that people should not be put off physically attending worship on 25 December. He told BBC’s Newsnight, ‘Yes, of course they should go to church. Go to church online. Go to church physically. You'll find that far fewer people will be there, because we're keeping people two metres apart. Go to church, pray. Remember at the heart of Christmas is the gift of Jesus Christ, by God, to give us hope and life and a future. And it's that hope that's at the centre of Christmas.’ The archbishop added, ‘I will certainly be in church. That's one of the safest places going at the moment, and it will be permitted from the end of lockdown. But there will be very few people there.’
Red Wednesday - 25 November
26 Nov 2020
25 November was dedicated to drawing attention to persecuted Christians. A Twitter account advertised the date and invited comments. Archbishop Eamon tweeted on behalf of Catholic News Ireland, ‘Covid-19 restrictions remind us to pray for those who are never free to worship and who are imprisoned for their faith’ Fr Michael J Kane tweeted, ‘Our Church lit up in red to mark Red Wednesday, showing support & solidarity with our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters around the world.’ Dominic Raab tweeted, ‘The UK stands in solidarity with those who suffer for their faith or belief, as we continue to strive for freedom of religion or belief for all. We join churches & landmarks around the world, turning red in support of persecuted Christians everywhere.’ The Carmelite Nuns GB tweeted, ‘Today is #RedWednesday. We pray especially for persecuted Christians throughout the world and for the important work of Aid to the Church in Need.’
Covid-19 vaccines
26 Nov 2020
British / Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca has announced promising results in developing a vaccine. An early analysis of some of its late-stage clinical trials, conducted in the UK and Brazil, showed that its coronavirus vaccine was 70.4 percent effective in preventing Covid-19, suggesting that the world could eventually have at least three working vaccines - and greater supply - to help curb the pandemic. However, doubts are being expressed about the results of the trials, mainly because they are based on a very small sample of people. British scientists are defending the validity of the findings, and look forward to further evidence becoming available in December. See
Assisted dying challenge
26 Nov 2020
Paul Lamb is paralysed below his neck apart from limited movement in his right arm after a car crash in 1990. He said he was ‘devastated’ after a Court of Appeal refused him permission to bring a legal challenge over assisted dying. He argued the current law, banning assisted suicide, is discriminatory and breaches his human rights. He said he felt ‘powerless’ and urged the government to launch an inquiry. The Ministry of Justice said any change in the law would have to be considered by MPs. In an open letter to justice secretary Robert Buckland, Mr Lamb said he was writing ‘to urge you to take notice of this decision and launch an inquiry into assisted dying, and ask if you might meet with me to discuss this important matter’. Humanists UK are supporting Mr Lamb in his case.