It is twenty years since the end of Moscow’s domination over the Caucasus and Central Asia, but a bitter legacy of the Soviet era is ‘frozen conflicts’ that erupt for various reasons. For two weeks there has been a new wave of fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, which has serious destabilising potential in the South Caucasus. Although the clashes between troops have temporarily halted with a truce, the death of dozens of soldiers and civilians from both sides has caused serious concern among neighbouring countries and regional and outside powers. Azerbaijan’s wealth comes from oil reserves, the trade in which is riddled with corruption. 0.2% of Azerbaijan is Christian, with government persecution increasing. But despite harassment the Church is growing. Pray for the government to build structures that produce lasting benefits for the nation, and pray they will accept Christian values. See also:

With summer around the corner, the International House of Prayer in Kansas is preparing formative events. There will be camps and conferences that prepare people for growth and renewal: –Children’s Signs and Wonders Camps for ages 3–12 where children are trained and released to be wholeheartedly devoted to God. –Teens Awakening Camps where teens learn about their identity in God, intimacy with Jesus, intercession and how to have a lasting impact for the kingdom of God. –A high school conference for young people who desire to live radical lives of devotion to Jesus, encounter His love and bring His power and presence to school campuses and local churches. –A three-week training programme for college students and campus ministry leaders aged 18 to 30, who desire to fuel prayer in their colleges. –A conference to equip and empower pastors, parents, and leaders to pursue God and enjoy prayer.

UNICEF reports that the number of children involved in ‘suicide’ attacks in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger has risen from four in 2014 to forty-four in 2015. One in five suicide bombers was a child. Terrorists are deceiving children and forcing them to carry out deadly acts. Half of the attacks in Cameroon were done by children, one in eight in Chad, and one in seven in Nigeria. The primary group perpetuating these tragedies is Boko Haram. An African proverb notes that children are the reward of life. Jesus didn’t keep the children far away; he welcomed them closely. Tragically we cannot physically reach the children in these countries, but we can pray that children will cease being objects to be used and start being individuals to be loved.

An Australian Christian lobbyist in Victoria is calling on citizens to make contact with their Lower and Upper House parliamentarians as parliament prepares to debate a bill aimed at stopping post-24 week abortions. The Democratic Labour Party MP Rachel Carling-Jenkins, who introduced the bill last week (it will be debated in May) has made a similar call. With 42,000 signatures already collected in support of the bill, we can pray for even more people to let politicians know their views before the debate. This can be done by email, phone calls, letters, or by meeting their local MPs. Also in Victoria, the Australian Christian Lobby is asking the education minister James Merlino to investigate as a matter of urgency a schools programme which reportedly sexualises children. Parents are still coming to terms with the radical Safe Schools programme which tells children their gender is fluid. See:

US car racing star Phil Robertson recently prayed publicly before a NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) event. He said to the crowd gathered at the Texas Motor Speedway, ‘All right Texas, we got here via Bibles and guns, I'm fixing to pray to the One who made that possible.’ Robertson then prayed, ‘Father, thank you for founding our nation. I pray Father that we don't forget who brought us - You. Our faith in the blood of Jesus and His resurrection - help us Father to get back to that.’ Robertson also said he hoped God would ‘put a Jesus man in the White House’, and prayed for those serving in the US military. His prayer received mixed reviews. Some called it a complete disaster; others praised Robertson’s straight talk.

Tyler Connell was in the Himalayan foothills of Nepal distributing Bibles, praying for the sick, and preaching the Good News. As they were trekking to a village they had visited on a previous trip, a man came running full speed toward them. He had heard about their last visit and the power of the God they worship. He fell at their feet on the trail and showed them his paralysed left arm and begged to be healed. Tyler’s small group surrounded the man and prayed for healing in Jesus’ name. Within five minutes the man began to receive mobility, movement was restored, and all pain ceased! He gave his life to Jesus on the spot, and ripped his witchcraft amulet off his neck. Overcome with gratitude he started to dance and shout with joy while waving his ‘new’ mobile arm around in circles. Tyler gives all the glory to God. ‘Ha! Jesus wins! He’s so much better than idolatry!’

One in four hundred Europeans is Jewish, yet the Jewish contribution to fields of knowledge and culture is disproportionate to this figure: for example, more than one-fifth of the Nobel Prizes for science have been awarded to Jews. It has been reported that Jews were particularly targeted in the Brussels airport terrorist attack. Mohammed Abrini, the surviving attacker who was arrested last weekend, has evidently told interrogators that the main target was the outgoing lounge for passengers embarking for Tel-Aviv. Events targeting Jews in Brussels, Paris and Copenhagen seem to signal a return of anti-Semitism in Europe on a new level. See also:

11,000 people remain stranded in Idomeni refugee camp at the still-closed Greece-Macedonia border, where conditions have not improved. A Médecins Sans Frontières field psychologist has observed changes in mood and the impact on the psychological state of the camp. Many refugees carrying some post-traumatic experiences are in a very difficult and vulnerable condition. In the early days of the camp people knew they would cross the border, they were in transit, so they had hope and many of their problems were buried; now these problems have come to the surface. Mental health treatment is increasingly important. Optimistic rumours one day and pessimistic rumours the next spread through the camp like wildfire, sparking a tinderbox of desperation. Greek government spokespersons say Idomeni refugees should not believe false rumours that the border will open any time soon.

In January we featured an initiative to build a wall of one million bricks, each brick representing an answered prayer. This enormous wall will be positioned by a busy motorway where 50,000+ people drive past each day: a wonderful testimony that Jesus is alive and He has answered a million prayers. This initiative needs sustained prayer for it to move forward successfully. A website, complementing the landmark, will give details of each answered prayer - a database of a million prayer testimonies. Please pray for Christians to catch the vision and grasp this unique opportunity to buy a brick in a wall which will stand for generations. Pray also for the funding needed for an autumn exhibition by the Houses of Parliament, which will show visitors all the entries for ‘The Wall’. For more info click the ‘more’ button.

Suicide is the most common cause of death for boys aged between five and nineteen, and the second most common for girls of that age group. MP Norman Lamb said that in his time as Minister for Mental Health he was appalled by the institutional bias against mental health within our NHS that has existed for decades and is intrinsically linked to the stigma and discrimination faced by people with mental health problems. Child and adolescent mental health services are often described as the ‘Cinderella of the Cinderella service’. He has proposed a plan to transform services, accompanied by an investment of £1.25bn over five years, to increase access to the right treatment, in the right place, at the right time. Pray for those involved in NHS mental health services to have God’s wisdom to understand and explore ways to transform the service given to children, and for young people who are currently denied timely access to the treatment they need.