Affordable accommodation needs
18 Mar 2016
The organisation Housing Justice is the national voice of Christian action in the field of housing and homelessness. They believe that human dignity is challenged by the lack of decent housing; so they support night shelters, drop-ins, and hundreds of practical projects nationwide by providing advice and training for churches and other community groups who work with homeless people. They provide a range of supportive forums to ensure that people feel free to express their views in a positive environment and that their opinions are heard. They work to unite Christians and churches of all denominations across the country to work for change and embrace partnerships with people of all faiths (and none) who share our values of social justice and compassion.
Staff at a nursery school threatened to refer a four-year-old boy to a de-radicalisation programme after he drew pictures which they thought showed his father making a ‘cooker bomb’. The child’s drawing actually depicted his father cutting a cucumber with a knife, but staff misheard his explanation and thought it referred to a type of improvised explosive device. The boy’s mother showed the Guardian video footage of her son in which he is playing happily on the floor of his home and is shown a cucumber and asked what it is. ‘A cuker-bum,’ he says, before going back to his toys. In between the odd tear and laugh of disbelief, the mother spoke about the experience. At one point she was told, ‘Your children might not be taken off you - you can prove yourself innocent.’ In another exchange with nursery staff, she added, ‘When you look at me, do I look like a terrorist?’ The reply was, ‘Well, did Jimmy Savile look like a paedophile?’
Threats to Israel on border with Syria
18 Mar 2016
A senior Israeli Defence Forces official warned: ‘The relative quiet on Israel’s Syrian border can be shattered by Hezbollah, IS, or another fringe jihadist group making a statement about its dedication to fight against Israel’. The Syrian threat is not only intentional attacks, but also spillover from the rebel infighting and battles against Assad’s forces. The immediate threat comes from jihadi organisations that are less interested in capturing territory and more interested in either anti-Israel ideology or a desire to please Iran by carrying out attacks against the Jewish state. Ask God to protect Israel from the al-Nusra organisation, which has a few tanks and some light machinery and is known to have ties with al-Qaeda, who are devoted to the destruction of Israel. Also, Hezbollah has a presence in Hader (Assad-controlled territory). It’s a prime base of operations as there is less for the IDF to destroy in retaliation for an attack.
Yemen: attack on Catholic care home
18 Mar 2016
Yemen's civil war has split the country in two, with ongoing warfare and humanitarian needs. Shiite rebels control the north. The south is controlled by a government backed by Saudi Arabia. There is a power and security vacuum: lawlessness and extremist groups such as al-Qaeda prevail. Christians need our prayers. Last Friday a care home in Aden for eighty elderly and disabled, run by the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity and founded by Mother Teresa, was attacked. At least sixteen were killed. The dead include four missionary sisters (two from Rwanda, one from India and one from Kenya) and several of their helpers (including at least five from Ethiopia). No members of the community they served were harmed. There is concern for the safety of an Indian priest, whose whereabouts are unknown. Pray that families, friends and colleagues of those murdered will know the comfort of Jesus.
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the Russian Orthodox Church are planning an October summit in Moscow on religious persecution. The summit will shine a global light on persecuted Christians and draw attention to this crisis. Delegates from around the world will be able to join hands with people of other churches and denominations to pray for their brothers and sisters in Christ. They will hear firsthand reports of the suffering that is taking place. Also, earlier this week, a new 280-page report chronicling the persecution of Christians by IS was submitted to the US state department, proving that there is enough irrefutable evidence for the agency to designate IS atrocities against Christians as ‘genocide.’
Turkey: ministry and missionaries
18 Mar 2016
Multi-lingual missionaries know persecution but continue to distribute tracts and share the gospel with Turkish, Iranian and Iraqi people groups using materials in Farsi, Arabic, Turkish and other languages. People in the villages are very receptive and open to the gospel. Once word gets out that missionaries are in a village the authorities come and stop their ministry, so they go in and out in less than one day, then wait for another opportune time to visit. Cities are more open. Authorities have a hard time controlling missionaries. They go door-to-door, giving out 12,000 evangelistic tracts, New Testaments, and other materials every month. New believers are formed into small groups. This organisation and other similar ones need translators for unreached people groups, funding for laptops (internet cafes are not safe), vehicles (they travel miles in their work), and most of all God’s anointing, direction and protection.
North Korea’s fifth nuclear test
18 Mar 2016
It was reported today that North Korea has test-fired two ballistic missiles, the fifth time it has done so. This was in defiance of the sanctions resolution which the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted this month against the country. A panel of experts found ‘serious questions about the efficacy of the current United Nations sanctions regime’, said the Arms Control Association. The most recent Security Council resolution addresses deficiencies in sanctions by providing states with new tools and expanded authority to enforce limitation measures more effectively. This could help curb North Korea’s access to dual-use materials and technologies. On 31 March leaders of more than fifty nations will gather for the fourth and final nuclear security summit. See
In television’s ever-growing quest for shock-driven ratings, Channel 7 has stooped to a new low with its ‘Seven Year Switch’ offering. Australian Christian Lobby managing director Lyle Shelton said a programme glamourising partner-swapping and disloyalty did not present a vision of flourishing human relationships conducive to building a civil society. ‘Channel 7 really should ask itself if this presents a vision of human dignity or is just crass voyeurism. Many marriages and relationships have produced children by seven years. Is glamourising partner-swapping really a good idea for the individuals and children who may be involved?’ Mr Shelton said that the programme plumbed a new low of so-called reality television. He urged shareholders to express concerns to management: complaints could be lodged online, on the Channel 7 Facebook page, or on twitter @Channel7.