The series of UK changes caused by the EU referendum result may have slowed down as Government ministers take their summer breaks, but behind the scenes there is undoubtedly much activity as politicians, civil servants, business and other national leaders work on strategies to deal with changes in direction. When should the formal process of exiting the EU start? What is to be the UK's range of negotiating positions on such a wide range of subjects? Do we have the skills needed to ensure as favourable an outcome as possible? What are our 'red lines' beyond which we will not go? On top of all that our political leaders need to deal with the fractures and fault lines both within and between the UK nations that were so evident during the campaign and immediately after the result. Politicians face huge challenges on a wide range of topics and need our prayers.

It is time to pray for a mighty move of God in our nation. As we pray, God aligns our hearts with His. For some He will heal the disappointments of the past and say ‘renew your faith and get ready’. To others He will say, ‘Don’t be nervous; you can do all things as you draw close to me’, and to others He will say ‘You have chosen to listen to what the world says about you, now listen to me.’ As we pray, His word becomes alive in our hands, verses are illuminated, and spiritual truths are reinforced. Prayer for spiritual awakening starts with our prayers. On 15 October the World Prayer Centre will have its Trumpet Call National Day of Prayer in the International Convention Centre, Birmingham, with the theme of Jubilee. The term ‘jubilee’ in the Old Testament was given to the last year of a 50-year period.

Black and ethnic minority people in Britain face ‘entrenched’ racial inequality in many areas, including education and health. A review by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which also looked at employment, housing, pay, and criminal justice, found an ‘alarming picture’. Black graduates earn 23.1% less than white graduates and more ethnic minorities are unemployed. There is a combination of a post-Brexit rise in hate crime and long-term systemic unfairness and racial inequality. The commission recommended that responsibility for a strategy should be brought under one secretary of state, and new targets to improve opportunities and outcomes for ethnic minority communities should be introduced. The Government said black and ethnic minority employment rates had improved. ‘But there is clearly more to do. We are delivering a racial equality programme on employment, university places, apprenticeships, start-up loans and recruitment to police and armed forces.’ a spokeswoman added.

Churches, homeless missions, street pastors, foodbanks and other organisations that want to raise money for new Bibles can use a new crowd-sourcing website designed by the leading Christian publisher of New International Version Bibles, Hodder Faith. The site, givingbibles.com, enables organisations to set up an appeal within minutes and then share it with friends, family and other supporters. Hodder Faith said, ‘GivingBibles.com is a very exciting new venture. With more and more churches and Christian organisations embracing digital methods to communicate with their members and supporters, it's great to be providing such a valuable tool to enable them to provide the Bible resources they need.’ Ian Metcalfe, director of publishing at the group, said, ‘This is the most exciting initiative I have been involved with in my whole time in publishing, and it is amazing to see it come to life’.