Last year the government of Nepal formally criminalized conversion to Christianity. They enacted an "anti-conversion" law that makes it illegal to attempt to convert someone from their faith in the former Hindu Kingdom. Christians make up a small minority of the population, and this move is being seen as one to institutionalize Hinduism and stop the spread of Christianity. According to Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, the Church in Nepal has been growing at a faster rate than nearly anywhere else in the world.
On August 15th, this new law will be enforced. It has been said that Christian leaders will be targeted for arrest and prosecution. Our people have been told that Hindu forces within the government have already drafted a list of Christian leaders to be immediately jailed, and our top leaders are on the list. In the last decade these men have overseen the planting of thousands of churches. It makes sense that they'd being targeted by forces trying to halt the growth of the Church.
We are calling on all believers to join us for a day of prayer and fasting for the people of Nepal on August 14th. By the time that we have finished our day of prayer and fasting, the sun will rise in Nepal, and we pray that the Lord will be with his people, no matter what trials they face.
Some specific prayer points:
- Pray for courage and the boldness to continue sharing Christ (Acts 4:29-31).
- Pray for provision for their families should these leaders be jailed.
- Pray for favor within the government.
- Pray for unity among Nepali believers; that the Church would be united in their response to persecution.
- Pray for Christian lawyers to find loopholes to keep these folks protected from prosecution. (like Paul, is it lawful to beat a Roman citizen?)
- Pray that the work of sharing the Gospel would continue and even accelerate.
- Pray that this persecution would spark an unstoppable movement that would spill over the borders of Nepal into China, India, and Pakistan.
- Pray for strength and that the Spirit of God would embolden believers in Nepal to continue sharing their faith while operating in wisdom.
Our hearts are heavy for our brothers and sisters in Nepal, concerned for their safety, families, and future; but we know the One who holds them. The One who spoke through the Apostle Paul, while in prison, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." May the Lord strengthen his people and give them grace, one day at a time.
Thank you for joining us in prayer for all the believers in Nepal.
Until He Returns,
David
The Timothy Initiative - http://www.ttionline.org
24:14 Global Coalition: A network of organizations, networks and churches which are all committed to the 24:14 vision of praying and working together to start kingdom movement engagements in every unreached people group with urgency by 2025.
To this end, we, the 24:14 Prayer Task Force are seeking to develop a 24/7 canopy of prayer that will pray into this vision of seeing every U/UPG engaged with a team focused on seeing a movement of multiplying churches and disciples. We would like to see at leasat 31 organizations, prayer networks from existing movements, networks and churches commit to cover in prayer one day per month every month.
What we’re asking:
- That each partner org, network, etc will commit to cover in prayer one day per month every month. (eg Every 3rd or every 19th etc) (or less if 24 hour is not possible)
- Each partner is free to divide their 24-hour day of prayer as they see fit (usually into 24 one-hour segments or 48 30-minute segments).
- Since partners will vary in size and numbers each may choose to pray more or less hours depending on their ability.
- Each partner is to identify a prayer coordinator.
- The prayer coordinator will receive and pass along 24:14 prayer points for the month.
- The prayer coordinator will develop and pass along prayer points regarding their own org, network, etc as it pertains to the 24:14 vision.
- The prayer coordinator will follow up with these pray-ers to encourage, train/equip, connect and gather.
- They will give guidance on various, creative ways for their groups to pray.
- They will be in regular communication with a member of the 24:14 Prayer Task Force.
- We ask these prayer teams to journal what they are sensing from the Lord as they pray, how they are led to pray and share back with the 24:14 Coalition.
What you can expect from us:
- A monthly prayer guide of informed prayer points that are specific, measurable, and Bible-based.
- Regular praise reports in order to encourage groups as they pray.
- Monthly or bi-monthly communication with a member of the 24:14 Prayer Task Force. This will be for the purpose of encouraging, informing, identifying gaps and challenges, etc.
NEXT STEPS: YOUR RESPONSE
To join the 24:14 Prayer Canopy please sign up here: http://inheritthenations.net/2414-coalition-prayer-involvement/
- Let us know the day of the month that you can commit to as an organization and how many hours in that day you are committing to pray and fast.
- Please let us know the name and email of the prayer coordinator.
Our thanks on behalf of the 24:14 Prayer Task Force.
WWW.2414NOW.NET
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Child brides - spoon test
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Metropolitan Police corruption
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Visitor’s view of church
26 Jul 2018Ship of Fools have Mystery Worshippers who visit different churches and denominations with a variety of worship styles and congregation size. They report on what the experience was like and whether they would consider going back. One Mystery Worshipper reported feeling like 'the invisible man', and ‘extremely lonely’. Many reviews noted the only welcome is a quick greeting from someone distributing service sheets. One actually felt bullied by pushy congregation members ‘trying to get me to sign things and buy things’. Mystery Worshippers give us an insight into what it feels like to attend church if you have never been before. People 'like us' are often more easily greeted and assimilated, but people who don’t quite fit can end up invisible and lonely. Alarmingly, one church ‘welcomer’ who stood by the door throughout the service was asked who might feel the most left out. She smiled and replied, 'I think that would be me.'
Evangelist calls for new freedom of speech law
26 Jul 2018Street evangelist Allen Coote was arrested outside St Paul's Cathedral for reading the Bible aloud. No members of the public complained: it was cathedral staff who reported him. Allen believes the cathedral’s subsequent concession to allow him just 30 minutes’ speaking time per week was unreasonable and said, ‘The Bible tells us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to everyone. Now, there are many people on the concourse of St Paul's who come from all the nations of the world, and I was just basically reading what they should hear. Some of them were really pleased to stop and just listen to me.’ The cathedral has a policy to limit any ‘source of disturbance’ outside its doors, in order to offer visitors a ‘welcoming space’. Alan is now supporting a campaign by the Barnabas Fund which is calling on Parliament to pass a new law which specifically protects the right to proclaim the Bible in public.