Praying for France

According to Operation World, church attendance is one of the lowest in Europe (6-8%); 80% of French people have never owned or even seen a Bible. There are approximately 50,000 full-time practitioners of occult arts (tarot, fortune telling, psychic healing, etc) who easily outnumber the 35,000 full-time Christian workers in France. Muslims make up approximately 10% of France’s population. This is the highest percentage in any European country. France is also home to Europe’s largest Jewish population and anti Semitism is on the rise. Let’s pray for Godly wisdom for her leaders:  President Francois Hollande; Prime Minister Manuel Valls; for those working on the ground in divided communities, for unmasking of other terrorist cells and for a mighty move of God through church and nation. Since 2001 a prayer initiative has taken place during the season of Lent to pray specifically for France. Check out their website for this year’s resources.

Praying for Europe

Most of mainland Europe is covered by the Schengen Agreement (The Schengen Agreement abolished internal borders, enabling passport-free movement between a large number of European countries) as there are no borders controls between these countries – what affects one country affects many – all people including terrorists can freely move between all the 26 countries covered by this agreement. Pray for:
The security services across Europe to work together to tackle those that may be plotting attacks or encouraging others to commit acts of terrorism.
For peace in Europe between the indigenous populations and their Muslim neighbours and communities including the Jewish community, the Romany community and others.
That the church will not be constrained by anti-religious feelings.
The light of Jesus to shine on the governments throughout Europe – so that that which is done in darkness maybe brought to light and dealt with.

UK General Election – May 7th 2015

As the political manifestos are launched and the campaigning begins, how might we pray for this most important of elections?  We need to rise above party politics and pray as never before for ‘His kingdom to come and His will to be done’ in and through the election.

Let’ pray for our own MP’s and those standing for election in our local constituencies; for protection, for the whole election process, for truth to be shared, for balanced  media coverage and for the highlighting of the real issues in need of debate in the coming weeks. As we pray, believe that apathy will be replaced by a real desire by everyone to take part.

The EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE’S website and CARE’s website will provide up to date information and resources as we approach May 7th. We will provide regular updates through our monthly e-News. We also need to remember the outworking of the Smith Commission’s report following the Scottish Referendum before God; for protection for the Northern Ireland Assembly following the Stormont House Agreement (December 2014) and for wise governance to take place in the Welsh Assembly in the lead up to the Election, which all take place during 2016.

“Complexity, fragility and uncertainty are potentially ending an era of economic integration and international partnership that began in 1989. What is clear is that we are confronted by profound political, economic, social and, above all, technological transformations. They are altering long-standing assumptions about our prospects, resulting in an entirely “new global context” for decision-making.” *

Complexity, fragility, uncertainty are not words that spring to mind at the beginning of a New Year with all its opportunities and challenges, hopes and fears, but they are certainly relevant to our nations at this time. Uncertainty is one word politicians, financiers, business leaders, in fact all of us intensely dislike. Stock Markets fall, companies stop investing, and relationships at every level suffer where there is uncertainty.

So if complexity, fragility and uncertainty are the Trumpet sound from World Leaders, what is the Trumpet sound through the Church to be this year? If our Nation and the Nations are facing a complex, fragile, uncertain future, and we are clearly being told that we are, have we as Christians anything to say or carry any responsibility for what may happen in the coming weeks, months and years.

As part of the World Prayer Centre’s response to the situation we believe God has asked us to again blow a trumpet in the land. Against the back drop of economic, political and social complexity, fragility and uncertainty, we must sound a warning of the serious consequences for a nation that has rejected God and His word; The good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings clarity, strength and certainty for now and for eternity for every man, woman, boy and girl in our nations and in the world!
We unashamedly ask for your support as we call our days of prayer, host our annual Swanwick Conference 18-20 March and on Saturday July 4th 2015 we go to the International Convention Centre in Birmingham and blow the trumpet. Many prayer and mission agencies are already standing with us. We invite you, your prayer group and your church to do the same.

Thank you. As we pray together with the leading and guidance of Holy Spirit, we believe this can be a turnaround year for our nations.                                                            Ian Cole
*…taken from the opening paragraph of The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 21-24 January 2015

“IT’S BREAKTHROUGH TIME!”

We met at Birmingham Christian Centre on SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER with a sense of expectation and anticipation. There was an encouraging number of people as we gathered to pray, worship, hear what God is doing in the UK and around other nations and we had the privilege of having GORDON HICKSON from The Mahabba Network.

Following a time of extended worship, IAN COLE shared a story from a recent trip to Egypt. While meeting with prayer leaders from other nations, Ian was stopped by one of the prayer leaders, telling him that he felt God was saying that he HAD to blow a trumpet  in England. There is a deep concern about what is up ahead for the UK and this trumpet should be sounded as a warning to the nation, to awaken. Ian shared that we continue to pray about the highways of prayer, praise, proclamation and worship that God has been speaking about recently for His glory to come…… recognizing that these are exciting, but serious times……

GORDON HICKSON was with us for the day and shared form his heart about the work of Mahabba (meaning love in Aramaic, Arabic and Urdu) Network. Gordon shared how the number one reason for people coming to know Jesus was that they watched the life of a christian friend and the genuine nature of this life drew them to God.

Click HERE to find out how to download resources from The Mahabba Network

We spent a good pat of day in prayer and worship. As we heard more about what God is doing both in this nation from JANE HOLLLOWAY and around the globe, it was wall backed by prayer. In all our praying we were asking God to come into our villages, towns and cities, to come into our families, our relationships and to open our eyes to see Jesus. You can download a very straight forward Advent prayer resource HERE. The day finished as we sung “O come, O come Emmanuel” as a prayer from our hearts.

The next Day of Prayer will; be on Saturday 31 January 2015 – do join us.