Venezuela: poverty, politics, and protests
27 Apr 2018
71% of Venezuelans identify themselves as Catholic, and the Church runs numerous charities plus 170 schools for poor children. The country faces 50% hyperinflation, food shortages, black market influences on prices, and failing health systems, with medicine and equipment increasingly not available. Widespread crime is forcing churches to remain locked. There will be a snap election on 20 May, and in the streets there are ongoing protests against a coalition regime they do not trust. Tensions have grown between President Maduro and local bishops. The president has asked them to leave politics out of the pulpit, calling political comments ‘disrespectful’. Not a single thing can be done easily in Venezuela: paying bills, buying food, commuting, visiting loved ones, finding decent-quality women’s hygiene products. In times of crisis like these, religion plays a comforting role for many. See also
Canada: Toronto prayers after van attack
27 Apr 2018
Ten people were killed and fifteen injured in Toronto’s North York district on 23 April, after a white rental van deliberately drove along the pavement and into the crowds of pedestrians who were outside enjoying the warm spring weather. The rampage lasted 26 minutes before police apprehended Alek Minassian, the driver. Archbishop Colin Johnson said, ‘I weep for those who have died. I join in prayer for those who are physically injured or suffering emotionally from having witnessed such carnage, and for having lost loved ones. It is hard to comprehend such violence.’ Throughout Toronto, churches have opened their doors to offer prayer and pastoral care. Pray for those who will be suffering in the coming weeks from trauma, fear, confusion, anger and heartache.
Armenia: urgent international appeal
27 Apr 2018
On 21 April, 37 human rights organisations and NGOs made an urgent appeal to the UN Council of Europe on behalf of Armenia. The opening sentence was, ‘We, the undersigned civil society organisations, wish to bring to your attention the political situation in Armenia that is a clear confrontation between the existing autocratic corrupt regime and the hope for democracy.’ Until 2015 Armenia had a semi-presidential governance system with direct elections for the president to hold a maximum of two terms of service. To maintain power after the expiry of his two terms, President Sargsyan changed the constitution. Since mid-March civil society groups have campaigned to oppose his election of a prime minister with a life-long dictatorship (a common trend in former Soviet countries). The peaceful protests, started independently by different groups, quickly attracted wide support of tens of thousands of dissatisfied people, who are facing brutal attacks by police and criminal groups every day. See
Iraq and Afghanistan: elections
26 Apr 2018
Iraqi religious figures and institutions are debating the 12 May elections in public. Some call for boycotting them, some recommend voting for new candidates. The Shi’ite religious establishment, believing the previous ‘corrupt people’ robbed the nation, insists that politicians who failed to live up to executive or legislative responsibility must not be re-elected: ‘People must not vote for them again, even if they are members of their clan or sect’. Iraqi people groups have strong tribal loyalty in constituencies. Many see voting as ineffective. In Afghanistan long-delayed elections should be possible on 20 October 2018 despite major security and logistic challenges. Lack of security allowed a suicide bomber to kill 57 and injure 119 at a voter registration centre in Kabul, where civilians had gathered to receive identification cards that would enable them to vote. Pray for God’s protection over all registration centres, and the police officers guarding them in the runup to the elections. See
Generations Praise
25 Apr 2018
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever his faithfulness continues through all generations.
(Psalm 100: 1-2, 5, NIV)
Even in the midst of their hurt, poverty and tragedy, we believe God is always present for the world’s vulnerable children, with His enduring, immeasurable love and compassion.
As we join together for the 2018 World Weekend of Prayer, let us do so with an attitude of praise, not forgetting God’s goodness and faithfulness.
Praising God helps us remember what He has done in the past, see how He is at work now, even in the tough places, and trust that He will shape the lives of generations to come.
How marvellous that our God’s power and our answered prayers today will ripple throughout the years!
We’ll be developing resources for WWP18 in the coming months, including a:
· photocopiable prayer book including specific Bible verses, prayers and child-friendly activities
· collection of short videos giving examples of what children and leaders in our partner networks are most thankful to God for, plus answers to prayer that they see.
· thankfulness diary for May
· sketch and sermon outline/reflection
They will be made available, in due course, through the website www.worldweekendofprayer.com
Vicar of Baghdad ‘led’ to Alderney
19 Apr 2018
Children at the first Bible holiday club for a long time on Alderney heard the story of Moses from Canon Andrew White, the ‘Vicar of Baghdad’. He said God put the island on his heart while he was in Jerusalem. The next day he met a lady who grew up on Alderney, which he took as confirmation that he should visit. He visited a children’s Bible holiday club run by several churches, and spoke to 26 children. ‘He’s such a humble, inspiring man,’ said Lisa Adams, a home-schooling mum of four, who helped organise the club. While there he prayed at the site of Lager Sylt, one of four Alderney Nazi labour camps for French Jews who died there under a five-year German occupation. ‘I never even knew this tragedy happened on my doorstep,’ he wrote on Facebook. ‘This land still needs repentance, restoration and healing.’
White House Bible study group
19 Apr 2018
In 2010 Capitol Ministries began a Bible study for representatives, which now has almost fifty members. When four of the group were elected to the Senate, they asked for a senators' Bible class, which began in 2015. Two months after Donald Trump took office, the same process led to a group for cabinet members. Trump started appointing to his cabinet all the men who were in the House and Senate bible study, men who were known to be believers. Unlike secular media, Christians noticed that the appointees had something in common - they were strong in Christ. Jeff Sessions (former health secretary), Tom Price, and others then started a cabinet Bible study. For the first time in 100 years, the US Cabinet has a Bible study group.
London: The Turning update
19 Apr 2018
In February we praised God for the growth of The Turning since launching in 2016. In the coming weeks the vision will be shared at various locations across London. Organisers are working with denominations and city leaders in a vision for equipping believers in London to share the Gospel and disciple those who respond over the next three years. Their first step is running envisioning events for people to hear the story of how this outpouring of God’s grace landed in Reading, and hear Pastor Jonathan Oloyede share the vision of bringing the vision to London - and what that means for London churches. The first such event will be in Tottenham on 28 April, followed by ones at City Gates Church, Ilford and New Life Christian Centre, Stonebridge Park. Various meetings will then be held across London on following days.