Egypt: persecution by IS militants
24 Feb 2017
50-year-old Christian schoolteacher Gamal Tawfiq was shot in the head on his way to El-Samran School in el-Arish, Northern Sinai. His killers rode motorbikes. Also this week militants killed local Christian vet Bahgat Zakher. Last month a Christian merchant was gunned down by militants in his shop, and five Coptic Christians had their throats slashed in a killing spree. In December IS bombed a Cairo church killing 27 people and wounding 40+. IS called it a 'martyrdom operation' targeting 'infidels' and 'apostates'. Ishaq Ibrahim of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights said, ‘We are witnessing an increase of Christian killings that I think will turn into a repetitive pattern in el-Arish’. On 20 February IS released a video calling for the slaughter of Egyptian Christians. See:
Australia and USA: abortion issues
24 Feb 2017
Queenslanders will be looking to their parliament to reject a radical abortion bill after it failed to garner the support of a parliamentary committee charged with investigating its merits, according to Australian Christian Lobby Queensland director Wendy Francis. She called on both major parties to stick by their election commitment not to change current abortion laws, in the face of growing community opposition to the proposed bill. Pray for this law to be rejected by all Parliamentarians. Meanwhile, recently in Washington tens of thousands of anti-abortion activists 'marched for life', spurred on by Donald Trump who has vowed to end taxpayer-funded abortion. Pray for babies to be protected when they are most vulnerable, in the womb, and for governments to give dignity and value to unborn children. A huge part of the pro-life movement puts these values into action See:
Central Asia: hostility towards Christians
24 Feb 2017
Christians in a predominantly Muslim region of Central Asia risk almost daily harassment for sharing the Gospel. In Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, the growth of Islamic extremism helped make 2016 the worst year ever for Christian persecution. Artur (not his real name) said, ‘If you are a Christian living in any of the five former Soviet Republics of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan or Turkmenistan, you are intimidated, harassed, or - worse - jail time, for telling others about their faith. When the authorities discover someone has converted to Christianity, they will gather relatives, friends and family of the accused and bring him or her before an Islamic council of elders. The convert then stands before the group and has to decide between faith or family.’ Twenty-five years after the Soviet Union disappeared and these republics gained their independence, the five 'Stan States' have become repressive and hostile towards people of faith.
Join the Christian Enquiry Agency prayer team
21 Feb 2017
Each week the Christian Enquiry Agency (CEA) receives prayer requests from people of all ages and circumstances in life. Could you join the CEA e-mail prayer team?
CEA coordinator Peter Graystone says: ‘Some people ask us to pray in heartbreaking circumstances. Some know so little about Christianity that they barely know what to ask. Some just want to type an anonymous insult. But we have been astonished at what people who would never go through the door of a church, share of their lives from the safety of their computer.’
Enquiries and prayer requests come to the Christian Enquiry Agency mainly from people who visit the website www.christianity.org.uk - 1,000 people visit the site each week.
The Christian Enquiry Agency prayer team receives weekly emails, which pass on the prayer requests from people who visit Christianity.org.uk. (Names are disguised for privacy.) If you would like to join the Christian Enquiry Agency prayer team, please email Peter Graystone: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Find out more at www.christianenquiryagency.co.uk
17:21 Vision
21 Feb 2017
Read about the 17:21 vision.
The vision statement is that from March to October 2017, evangelicals of all backgrounds and traditions will be affirming their commitment to unity for mission at events, festivals and conferences.
The prayer of Jesus in John 17 verse 21 encourages and challenges us “May they all be one that the world might believe”.
With shared prayer, readings, songs and an artistic symbol of unity, tens of thousands of Christians across the UK will have the opportunity to celebrate unity for mission in 2017.
Rapper turns Grammy Awards into worship session
17 Feb 2017
On Sunday, Chance the Rapper became the first artist to win a Grammy award without selling physical copies of his music - or selling much of his music at all. He won three Grammys (best new artist, best rap album and best rap performance), defeating the likes of Kanye West, Drake and DJ Khaled. Later, he was joined by Kirk Franklin and other singers for a performance of Colouring Book's ‘How Great’ and ‘All We Got’. They were accompanied by a huge gospel choir who helped them end the triumphant night in true Sunday worship fashion. ‘Ya better stand up right now and stop playing, I'm worshipping my God. He's powerful, merciful, worthy’, Chance declared while he and Franklin went back and forth praising God at the mainstream awards ceremony. Earlier in the evening, he said, ‘I want to thank God for my mother and my father, who supported me since I was young, for Kirsten, for Kensli, for all of Chicago, and I want to thank God for putting amazing people in my life.’ The 23-year-old rapper from Chicago releases his songs online without charge.
A cancer patient’s act of kindness
17 Feb 2017
A note was left on a vending machine at a cancer hospital in Manchester asking people to help themselves to free treats. Staff at The Christie found the anonymous note on Sunday on a machine where the tray had been left full of paid-for snacks. The donor said they hoped the ‘random act of kindness’ would ‘brighten up someone's day’, and ended by saying ‘Finally, if you can, try and spread the kindness.’ Nurse Emma Widdowson said: ‘It made me feel so happy I was beaming all day. Who doesn't want chocolate on a Sunday?’ Healthcare assistant Lauren Hunstone said: ‘It just perked up everyone's day that someone would do something so lovely out of the goodness of their own heart, not wanting to take any sort of thanks.’ The Christie was recently praised by health inspectors for providing ‘exceptional’ care and being a ‘leader in its field’. It is the largest single-site cancer centre in Europe, treating more than 44,000 patients a year.
Friday Focus - the quality of mercy
17 Feb 2017
Acts 3:1-10: Peter and John could not bypass need. They had been called by Jesus Christ and filled by his Spirit. Moved with compassion for the beggar, they gave what they had. They had Jesus. They boldly stepped out in faith in Jesus’ name. In the face of need, is knowing Jesus the motivation for all we are doing, and are we confident to share him with others?
(written by Fred Drummond, Evangelical Alliance)