Christians Against Poverty is urging people not to give into the temptation of taking a loan to cover the cost of their Christmas celebrations. The debt counselling charity says it is not out to kill the festive season but that it wants people to have a clear spending strategy to see them safely into the New Year. Chief Executive Matt Barlow believes such a strategy is wise as yet more economic uncertainty looms on the horizon. ‘These are difficult times for a lot of us and the temptation is to say 'at least we’ll have a great Christmas' and use that as an excuse to spend what we haven’t got,’ he said. The charity has released its top ten tips for avoiding festive debt. These include being honest with family members if things are tight, not buying gifts for others out of obligation, and clubbing together with relatives to buy the kids’ presents.

Pray: for Christmas to be a simple, honest celebration of Jesus’ birth rather one of financial excess. (Pr.1:3)

More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/dont.do.christmas.on.credit.debt.charity.warns/27142.htm

The organisers of a national day of prayer are mobilising churches and networks across the UK in a season of united prayer and outreach (See Prayer Alert 2410). Last weekend’s gathering at West Ham football stadium drew some 20,000 Christians. A season of 500 days of prayer was announced that will start on August 1 to run until December 31, 2011. The 500 days of prayer will mobilise churches in prayer prior to a major prayer gathering at Wembley Stadium planned for 2011 and a year of prayer scheduled for 2012 to coincide with the Olympics in London. Individual Christians are being asked to set their alarms or mobile phones to noon every day and take one minute to pray the Lord’s Prayer over the UK.

Pray: that this initiative’s momentum will continue with the blessing of the Holy Spirit. (Jas.5:16)

More: http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=32884&PN=1&TPN=1

Prominent clerics, including Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, argue that supporters of homosexual rights must not be allowed to ‘coerce silence’. Their comments centre on a landmark legal challenge by a churchgoing couple who were banned by a council from becoming foster parents because they believed homosexuality was unacceptable. The bishops claim that the case will determine whether Christians can continue to express their beliefs in this country. They say that the High Court will be ruling on a ‘clash of rights’ which threatens to label religious belief as ‘problematic’ if it decides that it is acceptable to discriminate against those with traditional Christian views on homosexuality. For background information to the case see: Lord Carey said ‘So many Christians are being marginalised as a result of this hard secularism which is knocking traditional ethics’.

Pray: that secularism will be checked and religious freedom of expression will be upheld. (Mk.16:15)

More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/8098796/Christians-freedom-to-express-beliefs-is-at-risk-warn-bishops.html

Christians in the UK are facing increasing marginalisation and oppression under new laws originally intended to safeguard equality, Christian leaders have warned. The frank warning was delivered to around 1,000 Evangelical Christians at the Bible by the Beach conference held in Eastbourne over last weekend. They heard how equality laws have led to the dismissal of Christians who offered to pray for clients or patients, the closure of adoption agencies that refuse to place children with same-sex couples, and charities losing funding because of their Christian ethos. The conference explored the court ruling last week involving Gary McFarlane, (See Prayer Alert item above &1810) a relationship counsellor with Relate Avon who was dismissed for telling his employers that he could not counsel same-sex couples because of his Christian beliefs. The speaker warned that Christians needed to be aware that ‘rampant, illiberal secularism’ had become the prevailing attitude in the UK.

Pray: that God would strengthen all those in the front line of attacks against their faith. (Ps.18:32)

 
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christians.warned.of.increasing.marginalisation.in.the.uk/25834.htm

The head of the Christian Legal Centre has condemned the first ever TV advertisement for abortion services. Marie Stopes made TV history when it advertised its abortion services on Channel 4 on Monday. The ad asked ‘Are you late?’ referring to women who may have missed a period. It will run throughout June. It is being broadcast as part of a wider campaign by the registered charity to ‘confront the taboo of abortion.’ The plans have upset pro-life and Christian groups, who are considering legal action to halt the broadcast of the advert. While commercial abortion clinics are prohibited from advertising on TV by the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice, the ban does not cover not-for-profit abortion providers like Marie Stopes.

Pray: for a balanced approach to counselling rather than a direct route to abortion as seems to be promoted in the advert. (Rev.4:11b

More: http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100520/christians-upset-over-uks-first-tv-abortion-ad/index.html

Churches have united in London for the historic launch of a global Christian response to corruption. EXPOSED is being led by Christian organisations including Micah Challenge, The Salvation Army, Bible Society and the World Evangelical Alliance. It is the first time that so many Christian organisations have united to stand against corruption. The campaign aims to shine a light on corruption, which they warn is a major contributing factor to global poverty. Campaign chairman and International Director of Micah Challenge, Rev Joel Edwards, said: ‘No nation is immune. This current economic crisis means that greed, the excesses of corporate cultures, dishonesty and unaccountable behaviour has touched us where it hurts. ‘EXPOSED is here to join an increasing chorus of concern, which says ‘enough is enough’. ‘It is an opportunity for the church to do what we are called to do: to raise our voice in holy outrage and provide practical offerings of hope.’

Pray: for people worldwide to commit to and promote practical steps for ethical behaviour in business, government, the church and wider society. (Ac.2:40)

More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/christians.unite.against.corruption/30807.htm

Christians in Britain are being unfairly targeted for hate crime prosecutions, according to a new report by the Civitas think-tank. The report, entitled A New Inquisition: Religious Persecution in Britain Today, also warns that existing hate crime legislation poses a danger to freedom of speech. Jon Gower Davies, the report’s author, said: ‘Some police forces and the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] seem to be interpreting statutes in favour of ethnic and religious minorities and in a spirit hostile to members of the majority population, defined as ‘White’ or ‘Christian’.’ Many of the prosecutions have been for causing ‘religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress’ under the Public Order Act. The report’s findings are likely to be welcomed by many Christians who have become increasingly alarmed at the growing number of Christians encountering problems with over-zealous police officers. Critics of such offences say they are open to being misapplied, so that otherwise lawful behaviour is wrongly criminalised.

Pray: for the balance to be redressed and that which was considered normal Christian debate can once again be deemed acceptable. (1Th.2:4)

More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/christians-unfairly-targeted-for-hate-crime-prosecutions/

Barnabas Fund says Christians in the West need to be ready for suffering if they are to make a stand for Christ. They are inviting churches in the UK to dedicate one Sunday in November to the issue of persecution around the world – as well as at home. The theme of this year’s Suffering Church Sunday, ‘Be on Your Guard’, reflects Barnabas Fund’s growing concerns over the freedom of Christians in the West. ‘More insidious threats are creeping into Western society – and we need to be prepared,’ the group said. It warned that full religious liberty, including the freedom to choose one’s faith, was ‘under attack’. It said religious liberty was being ‘publicly undermined’ by world leaders on the international stage, who have adopted the term ‘freedom of worship’ instead of ‘freedom of religion’. ‘Any person of faith knows that religious exercise is about a lot more than freedom of worship.’

Pray: for God to strengthen us to make a stand for Christ. (1Pe.5:9)

More:http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/christians.in.west.told.to.prepare.for.persecution/27018.htm

Christians are being invited to ‘light up' beacons of hope for the world's impoverished communities through a week of prayer. Tearfund is asking Christians to take part in One Voice 2011, a worldwide week of prayer focused on social justice issues and ending global poverty. The aid agency is urging Christians to pray for people still suffering in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake, as well as thousands of refugees displaced by post-electoral violence in the Ivory Coast, and those affected by the floods in Pakistan. Tearfund Chief Executive Matthew Frost said: ‘One Voice 2011 hopes to make an incredible difference to the world’s poorest people, those suffering social injustice and the effects of natural disasters. As Christians, when we engage with God in prayer, we re-focus our hearts on the mission Christ calls us into - to love our neighbours, to reach out to people living in poverty and care for those in need.’

Pray: for One Voice 2011 and for all those that Tearfund wish to support. (1Sa.2:8)

More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/christians.to.light.up.for.poverty/27511.htm