This is a quote from one of our servicemen: ‘I'm a month into my new job and haven't come across any Christian groups yet. Mind you, I'm working at (named headquarters) so haven't come across my family much either - there is an interesting work ethic.’ Please pray for isolated Christian brothers and sisters to find Christian fellowship. Please pray also for those with mental illness, as a result of being on the front line. Pray for a recognition by the authorities that it is real, and needs as much treatment as physical injuries. (There is an ‘Armed Forces Covenant’ to ensure that no member of service personnel, current or former, is disadvantaged due to their military service.) Pray for sufficient resourcing and excellent quality care and support to be provided for all the wounded. Please also pray for the Strategic Defence Review, that numbers will not be cut beyond what is sensible and reasonable.

Britain’s counter-terror chief, Mark Rowley, said he will fight for police to be kept on the beat, amid fears that budget cuts will see fewer officers gathering vital intelligence needed to thwart a growing tide of people trying to stage terrorist attacks. His comments came as he warned that hundreds of people who travelled to Syria to join Islamic State had returned to Britain, and there is a growing threat of attacks (several plots to kill were foiled recently). There are five Government counter-terrorism threat levels. They indicate the stages of security needed to protect our nation. They range from LOW - an attack is unlikely - through to SEVERE - an attack is expected imminently. The current threat level from international terrorism is SEVERE. Terrorism in the UK remains real and serious. An attack could take place at any time and any organisation could be directly or indirectly affected. See also

The suicide of a 92 year-old Christian woman, dubbed Britain's oldest poppy seller, has prompted calls for an ‘Olive's Law’ to be introduced, to curb unsolicited phone calls from charities looking for money. According to her family and friends, Olive was driven to her death partly because she was ‘exhausted’ by the constant demands of cold calls and direct mail from charities, many of which she had supported over the years. Now the Government is being urged to take action, by introducing a so-called ‘Olive's Law’. Labour MP for Bristol East, Kerry McCarthy, said, ‘We don't want to impede charities in their efforts to raise much-needed support, but if a law change is needed to stop vulnerable people like Olive being harassed, then so be it.’ The Institute of Fundraising Standards Committee said it will bring together representatives from across the charity sector to review the case.

A YouGov poll of 3,000 adults found that the public are interested in religious leaders, but no longer give them the authority they used to possess. To influence people and make a difference in today's world, religious leaders have to possess personal charisma and an important post. They also have to show they have triumphed over personal struggle and strife of their own. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, was found to have made the ‘best contribution’ to moral and religious life in Britain. Pope Francis was joint second with the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. The British are particularly impressed by leaders who have made stands for the marginalised.

The leaders of four Protestant denominations have written an open letter to Prime Minister David Cameron urging him to review the benefit sanctions regime and to delay a decision on replacing the Trident nuclear weapons system. They also urge ‘assertive international action to uphold human rights and deliver humanitarian assistance in Syria’ and ‘action to make freedom of religion a human rights priority in all aspects of foreign policy’. The open letter was signed by leaders of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Church of Scotland, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church. It says, ‘We hope and pray that as you make decisions about your programme for government, you will choose to offer the greatest support to those of our neighbours who are the weakest, the most vulnerable and the most in need of our help. Such policies will not always be popular, but they are necessary if we are to live out the common good.’

A Christian couple whose adopted children were taken into care have been granted permission for their case to be heard in full before the Court of Appeal. At the conclusion of a hearing Lady Justice Black ordered the case to proceed to a full hearing for a review as to whether the Family Court had taken the right factors into account when deciding the boys’ future, and whether they had given proper weight to the good parenting given to the children for three years prior to their forced removal. They had provided a loving home for the two boys who had come from highly traumatised backgrounds. The Christian Legal Centre said they are dealing with an increasing number of cases where children are separated from parents and because of the closed nature of the Family Court system it is difficult to expose such heartbreaking injustice. This has to change.

Britain’s counter-terror chief, Mark Rowley, said he will fight for police to be kept on the beat, amid fears that budget cuts will see fewer officers gathering vital intelligence needed to thwart a growing tide of people trying to stage terrorist attacks. His comments came as he warned that hundreds of people who travelled to Syria to join Islamic State had returned to Britain, and there is a growing threat of attacks (several plots to kill were foiled recently). There are five Government counter-terrorism threat levels. They indicate the stages of security needed to protect our nation. They range from LOW - an attack is unlikely - through to SEVERE - an attack is expected imminently. The current threat level from international terrorism is SEVERE. Terrorism in the UK remains real and serious. An attack could take place at any time and any organisation could be directly or indirectly affected. See also

Britain’s counter-terror chief, Mark Rowley, said he will fight for police to be kept on the beat, amid fears that budget cuts will see fewer officers gathering vital intelligence needed to thwart a growing tide of people trying to stage terrorist attacks. His comments came as he warned that hundreds of people who travelled to Syria to join Islamic State had returned to Britain, and there is a growing threat of attacks (several plots to kill were foiled recently). There are five Government counter-terrorism threat levels. They indicate the stages of security needed to protect our nation. They range from LOW - an attack is unlikely - through to SEVERE - an attack is expected imminently. The current threat level from international terrorism is SEVERE. Terrorism in the UK remains real and serious. An attack could take place at any time and any organisation could be directly or indirectly affected. See also

Our nation is in pain with abused children, broken families, lonely elderly, community tensions and youth with a sense of hopelessness. The Church is called to stand in the gap for change in our communities. The World Prayer Centre, Birmingham believes it’s time for our nation to ‘sound the alarm’ and proclaim the Good News to the nation. They are inviting all Christian believers to come to a National Day of Worship and Prayer at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham on Saturday 4 July 2015. Religions and ideologies are rushing to fill a spiritual and moral vacuum created by a society that says, ‘We don’t do God and we don’t need God’. This ‘TRUMPET CALL 2015’ National Day of Worship and Prayer is a day when we can stand together in humility and unity to declare the Lordship of Christ over our nation. Purchase tickets from here or call 0121 633 7393.