Canon John Simons and Andy Page were privileged to attend the World Prayer Assembly in May, where John helped staff a Prayer Alert stand and Andy did some presentations on Using Technology for Prayer.
More than 9,000 people attended the event in Jakarta, Indonesia, at the Sentul Conference Centre - with another 2,000 on the waiting list. Delegates were able to visit a 24-7 prayer room at the top of a Prayer Tower, which overlooks the region.
John Robb, the event organiser said after the event, 'God by His Spirit was working so many agendas in the lives of those who took part that it is impossible to recount all that happened or was reported. So many said their lives and ministries would never be the same. We have received encouraging reports from a number of nations as participants have begun to implement strategies of prayer mobilization and other actions that they were inspired to undertake during the WPA. Praise God for all He did and continues to do through this gathering! Following the conference, Crosswinds team member, Andy Page was asked by Pastor Austen Ukachi to assist him with mobilising prayer for Nigeria after a spirit filled plenary session meeting of the 30 Nigerian delegates.
The Prayer Alert Team were delighted with the interest in the project, with many people signing up to receive the weekly prayer bulletin.
Beyond the Letterbox
26 Jan 2016
Lent is very early this year starting on the 11th of February. We have written a Lent resource, designed for Individuals, home groups or whole Church engagement. Each week has a scripture and one neighbour challenge for the week. For those of us who would like to do one small thing each day (Sunday's excluded as a day of rest), there are an additional 33 suggestions for you. There are also 7 prayer themes each week.
For those wanting to dig deeper into scripture, there is a reflection about the scripture and some questions to make you think about how the scripture relates to your neighbourhood.
The whole resource is 20 pages long and costs just £1 per booklet. We are going to print next week. In order for us to know how many to print, please pre-order now. We have asked a church leader for an opinion and he is keen to use it as a basis for a sermon series either this year or next year. We also have already had another ministry order 200 booklets for their ministry contacts to help them engage in Lent. Delivery first week of February. Click here to order.
Although the Episcopal Church in the USA allows its clergy to perform same-sex marriages, Chief Justice Roy Moore has ordered the reaffirming of the marriage law in Alabama with an administrative order saying, ‘Alabama probate judges have a ministerial duty not to issue any marriage license contrary to the Alabama Sanctity of Marriage Amendment. Confusion and uncertainty exist among the probate judges of this State. Many judges are issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples; others are issuing marriage licenses only to couples of the opposite gender or have ceased issuing all marriage licenses.’ Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel said, ‘In Alabama and across America, state judiciaries and legislatures are standing up against the federal judiciary or anyone else who wants to come up with the view that somehow the Constitution now births some newfound notion of same-sex marriage. The opinion of five lawyers on the US Supreme Court regarding same-sex marriage is lawless and without legal or historical support.’
Iran releases Pastor Saeed Abedini
22 Jan 2016
We rejoice that Pastor Saeed Abedini, an Iranian believer from a Muslim background, has been released from prison. He has US citizenship and had been imprisoned since September 2012, accused of undermining national security, due to his involvement with house fellowships. During his imprisonment he had serious health issues, suffered physical and verbal abuse, and received death threats on account of his faith in Christ. Saeed was released as part of a prisoner exchange between the US and Iran that also saw the release of three other Iranian-Americans: Jason Rezaian, Amir Hekmati and Nosratollah Khosravi. Saeed’s wife, Naghmeh, expressed her joy and surprise at the news of his release and thanked everyone around the world who had been interceding for Saeed and his family (1.1 million people joined the ‘Save Saeed’ campaign). Iranian Christians request our continuing prayer that Saeed and his family will know God's strength in the necessary adjustments, and that other Christians detained in Iranian prisons will be encouraged and released soon.
European prayer canopy
22 Jan 2016
If we ever needed to pray for the cooperation of European countries in peace, freedom and solidarity, it is now. Through the Greek crisis the Alliance held together. Is the refugee situation to break it? With incalculable consequences? Germany, a former destroyer of Europe, has become the guarantor of the construction of Europe in peace and unity. Many believe that God is saying that the future spiritual life of Europe will come from Germany. It was in Germany in 2006 that the prayer movement ‘European Union of Prayer’ (www.euofprayer.eu) was born. Every six months this group meets in the home country of the EU President and prays there for that country, for Europe, and for Israel. But there is more to the vision: it is to be a continuous prayer blanket over the continent. Thank God that this has started! Christians of Europe have on their hearts to give fifteen minutes or more each week to pray for the European nations. They receive a fourteen-day prayer letter to launch them, and by praying they weave a thread into the canopy of prayer over our continent.
German police arrested more than 200 people last Tuesday after masked right-wing supporters went on a rampage at an anti-Islamisation rally of roughly 2,000 in the eastern city of Leipzig. The extremists, who are known to police as hooligans, went on the rampage during a march by supporters of the anti-migrant Pegida (Patriotic Europeans against the Islamisation of the West) movement. The ‘peaceful’ demonstration was a protest against German chancellor Angela Merkel’s open door policy for refugees. German police said that as anti-Muslim supporters marched peacefully in the city centre, a separate group of 211 people walked through the largely left-wing Connewitz district before setting off fireworks, erecting barricades, and vandalising property. The top floor of one building caught fire. See also article 3 in this week’s British Isles section.
The meeting of Anglican Primates took place in Canterbury last week. At its conclusion, they stated, ‘It is our unanimous desire to walk together. However, given the seriousness of these matters we formally acknowledge this distance by requiring that for a period of three years the Episcopal Church in America will no longer represent us on ecumenical and interfaith bodies, and should not be appointed or elected to an internal standing committee. While continuing to participate in the internal bodies of the Anglican Communion, they will not take part in decision-making on any issues pertaining to doctrine or polity. We have asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to appoint a task group to maintain conversation among ourselves with the intention of restoration of relationship, the rebuilding of mutual trust, healing the legacy of hurt, recognising the extent of our commonality, and exploring our deep differences, ensuring they are held between us in the love and grace of Christ.’ See also article 1 in this week’s world section of Prayer Alert.
Christians in Parliament prayer requests
22 Jan 2016
Please pray that the fortnightly Tuesday lunchtime services on the parables of Jesus over the coming months will be a source of encouragement and nourishment to those who attend and for the speakers as they prepare what they will say. On 21 March the Speaker’s house event will include a talk on an Easter theme: please pray for a good attendance from MPs and staff. The annual national parliamentary prayer breakfast will take place on 21 June, and will be chaired by Fiona Bruce MP. The main speaker will be Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the UK. Please pray for the preparations for the breakfast, and for many church leaders to attend with their local MP. Please also pray for the ongoing Bible study groups with both MPs and staff.