How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Romans 10:14
Many millions of people are on the move across the Middle East and Europe. While their plight may have dropped down the news agenda, they continue to arrive in huge numbers. Many of them are now living in camps or communities far from home; some are living in the UK, perhaps even in areas near your church.

All too often, the stories of these migrants and refugees are reduced to a bewildering array of statistics. While the numbers are huge, bare figures mask the reality of individual lives torn apart by the horrors of war and economic deprivation.

Very few of the refugees and migrants know Jesus Christ or the eternal hope he offers. Very often, they are asking profound questions of their inherited faith. While many of these people are facing great hardship, their single biggest need is to know Jesus Christ – and that is why the #HowWillTheyHear campaign has been launched.

#HowWillTheyHear is a collaboration between Serving In Mission UK and several other agencies. It is designed to mobilise prayer and people to ensure migrants and refugees are told the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The initial focus of the campaign is on our 10:14 prayer initiative. We understand the all-important role prayer has to play in ensuring this vital gospel work can press ahead. We have produced this prayer guide to help you think through and pray through some of the major issues involved in sharing the gospel with migrants and refugees.

Inspired by Romans 10:14, we would love you to join with us in praying for the refugees and migrants for 14 days, starting on October 14. From then on, would you consider setting an alarm for 10.14am, so you can remember refugees and migrants in a prayer every day?

As the prayer campaign gets underway, we will also be helping people move into direct mission work with refugees and migrants. We have placements in UK churches, in European churches and in Middle Eastern churches, all ready to be filled by gospel workers with a heart for this ministry.

For more information about the campaign or to sign up for the 10:14 prayer initiative go to www.howwilltheyhear.net

Fifteen years ago, Stoke-on-Trent came 134th out of 134 places in a survey of the best places to live. Our friend Lloyd Cooke, a proud Potteries lad was distressed. “This happened on our watch”, he told the church leaders.

They started to run citywide prayer events to pray for change and improvement. They invited local politicians and civic leaders to work with them and gradually started to see change, whilst significantly strengthening church unity in the city. Alongside this they began to explore what input the church was making and found the work with the elderly was four times bigger than the work of Help the Aged. The churches work with children, young people and families was essential to the city. The church now has credibility and a shared responsibility for the good of Stoke-on-Trent. Alongside this Beacon House of Prayer act as watchers for the city, praying for Stoke, and people to come to Christ.

The Stoke story is mirrored across the country. In Bristol, churches have repented of the cities role in slavery, held large prayer gatherings and seen a very active Christian become their elected mayor. They have started to get prayer into every aspect of the city, because they believe Jesus is Lord of Bristol’s politics and arts, its business and its children and education, its health and its communities.

In Liverpool, the passion for the city is tangible with many people coming to Christ after concerted prayer for the city. This prayer has seen large drug imports exposed, a thousand Iranian and Iraqis come to Christ and the obtaining of justice for the 96 Hillsborough victims.

There are many more stories from across the UK. The whole Turning movement, which has seen thousands come to Christ, is based on working with places where the church is already praying and working together. God is shouting a very clear message to us – He cares about our place and He wants to redeem it. Whether it is the tiniest village or a thriving city, Jesus is building unity and a shared passion for mission.

On 6-7 October the Movement Day conference takes place in Westminster Central Hall. The national, denominational, and city leaders will proclaim this is the time for unity in the Church, for the Church to bring unity to the nation and for us to refresh our commitment to take the Gospel to the nations. The conference will be a launch pad for increased prayer and mission across our large towns and cities.

It joins a global movement. Houston, Texas is responding fast to the devastation that has hit them because the church has built strong supportive relationships.

Mumbai in India sees the churches working together to rescue and restore child slaves, outreach to the prison and prayer walk the boundaries of this 22 million strong city.

Lloyd Cooke has a deep and very obvious passion for Stoke-on-Trent. He loves his place, he has seen what can change when the church realises it is better working together than standing alone. We can follow Lloyd – praying with expectations for our place and working with others to bless it.

We will feedback from Movement Day but please keep it in your prayers and go to www.movementday.uk for more information.

On 18 March 2016 Prayer Alert readers prayed for the safety of an Indian priest who had been abducted when a Catholic care home for the frail and disabled in Aden was attacked. See On 12 September India’s foreign minister released a tweet that read, ‘I am happy to say that Father Tom has been rescued’. Last December he appeared in a video, begging for his life. Pope Francis appealed for his release, but nothing seemed to happen. The video confirmed he was in very poor health. He will now go to Rome, where he will get medical treatment.

Courts on opposite sides of the USA convicted two men for sexually exploiting children thousands of miles away in the Philippines. Two young survivors flew to California to testify in one of the trials. Last weekend they were home, knowing that their voices had been heard and the men will terrify no more. The FBI shared intelligence with the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the International Justice Mission supported the follow-up operations in the Philippines. The girls are now 10 and 13 years old. Their families supported having their daughters participate in both the local trial and the trial in California, a significant amount of time and preparation. One of the girls’ mothers explained that she was ‘willing to leave our families at home and testify abroad to fight for justice for what the men from California did to our children.’