Afghanistan: prayer requests
16 Jun 2017
A missionary reports that the Afghan government is demanding that NGOs write more and more reports. For Bible translators, this means more bureaucracy and finding new ways through changes and confusion. They ask us to pray for wisdom for them as they deal with this situation that could drastically affect their ministry. Also, a project for school-children in a major area is undergoing massive changes. Pray for the right strategy and plans for the coming year and for new donors for all their projects, especially in the west of the country. Please pray for a Finnish lady, who is being held captive, to be released unharmed soon. It seems the country is being torn from all sides, and there are increasingly more incidents where the government’s fragile unity is showing cracks. For the recent PA article about a warlord joining the government, see
Israel: Palestinian children taught hatred
16 Jun 2017
Dr Daphne Burdman, a psychiatrist, pathologist and lieutenant colonel in the US army, says that in both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas-ruled Gaza, there are carefully planned and widespread campaigns to incite children to hatred. This process of incitement has had totally inadequate coverage in the international media, and these deeply ‘successful’ programmes - based on both old and new techniques of persuasion and indoctrination - are being ignored by the west. There is mounting evidence that some techniques are similar to, and been inspired by, those used by totalitarian regimes such as the Soviet KGB and Chinese intelligence services. This incitement of Palestinian children has led to widespread hatred and a propensity for violence among them. Palestinian leaders urge them to carry out violent acts against Israelis, even though they are likely to be wounded or killed. They are promised that they will become martyrs.
Pro-family advocates are in an uproar over a newly-passed bill which allows the government to take children away from parents who don't support the LGBT ideology. The bill replaces the Child and Family Services Act which covered child protection, adoption and foster care services. While the old act allowed parents to direct their child's education and religious upbringing, Bill 89 does not take into account the religious faith in which parents will bring up their child. Jack Fonseca, senior political strategist for Campaign for Life Coalition, urged Christian parents to resist the bill and to ask their religious leaders to stand up for the protection of parental rights.
On 8 June Cape Town, South Africa suffered its worst storm in thirty years. 10,000 people were evacuated, and the military helped to battle multiple blazes which destroyed dozens of homes and damaged a hospital and school. Twenty suburbs were damaged by spreading fires, and whole towns were evacuated. On 14 June severe storms brought down trees and power lines and dumped heavy rain, hail and tornadoes on America’s plains. These violent storms are now spreading across the Midwest, with damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. The Chicago area has had flooding and power lines down. In Bangladesh over twelve inches of rain have fallen between 12 and 15 June, triggering deadly mudslides that have killed 147 so far. The north Indian province of Mizoram (predominantly Christian) has suffered the worst floods in living memory, with much damage and many deaths. June marks the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season, and forecasters predict tropical systems forming in southwest Gulf of Mexico from 19 July. See:
US president obstructing justice?
16 Jun 2017
President Donald Trump is being investigated by special counsel Robert Mueller for possible obstruction of justice. US media say senior intelligence officials will be interviewed on whether Mr Trump tried to end an inquiry into his sacked national security adviser, and about the firing of FBI chief James Comey in May. Mr Trump's legal team said the latest leak to the media was ‘outrageous’, and the president has repeatedly denied any collusion with Russia, calling the ongoing inquiry a witch-hunt. The Washington Post sees Mr Mueller’s decision as a major turning point in his investigation, which until recently focused on the Russian angle. Mr Comey, who had previously been leading the Russia inquiries, told Congress last week that Mr Trump had pressured him to drop the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Gulf tensions continue
16 Jun 2017
A ransom paid by Qatar to Iranian Al Qaeda-linked terrorists to secure the release of members of Qatar’s royal family being held hostage is believed to have prompted Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt to sever ties with the tiny but resource-rich emirate, accusing Doha of ‘funding terrorists’. Qatar is home to 10,000 American troops and a major US military base. On 8 June the US and Qatari navies began manoeuvres, just hours after the USA agreed a major warplane sale to the Gulf kingdom, underscoring a military alliance despite Donald Trump's assertion that Doha supports ‘extremism’. It is not clear when the joint naval exercise was arranged. Washington is sending conflicting signals about its position on the diplomatic crisis. Trump expressed support for the Saudi-led allegations against Qatar, but Pentagon and State Department officials have scrambled to reassure the emirate of support and continued sales of F-15 fighters. Meanwhile Turkey has deployed soldiers and military hardware to Qatar, and will train Qatari police. See
ISIS leader comes to Christ
14 Jun 2017
We are hearing amazing stories coming out of the Middle East about how Jesus is at work in visions, signs and wonders! Watch this true story of an ISIS 'Prince' who found salvation in Christ.
Nothing is too hard for the Lord!
Justin Bieber preaches at Manchester concert
09 Jun 2017
Christian pop star Justin Bieber spoke powerfully of God’s love to 50,000 people at the One Love Manchester concert on 4 June. The crowds included thousands who had been at the Manchester Arena at the time of the bomb two weeks earlier, and the concert paid tribute to the 22 who died, the injured, the emergency services and all who responded. Bieber sang his hit song and got the crowd to chant 'love'. Then he declared, 'I'm not going to let go of hope. I'm not going to let go of love. I'm not going to let go of God. Put your hand up if you're not going to let go. God is good in the midst of the darkness. God is good in the midst of the evil. God is in the midst, no matter what's happening in the world. God is in the midst and He loves you and He's here for you.'