Alistair Barton, the director of Pray for Scotland, writes, ‘For many the year opens up like a new dawn - full of potential and promise. We may have fresh excitement about what God may do in us, with us, through us, and in our nation. But as the pressures of the world flood in on every side, it can often be difficult to maintain our sense of excitement, anticipation and hope that God will break through the seemingly ever-increasing darkness. Nevertheless, we continue to believe that prayer changes things, and that persistent, faithful prayer can change the destiny of families, communities and nations.’ “Trypraying” is launching a new forty-day prayer guide for Lent entitled ‘Catching the Wave’. Pray for Scotland and Parliamentary Prayer Scotland are jointly promoting a forty-day prayer call from Easter Sunday to the Holyrood elections on 5 May, called ‘As One! - Prayer Shield 2016’.

A 22-year-old man in Maidenhead was arrested under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act by the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command. Police said the arrest was in relation to the commission, preparation or instigation of terrorism. The man is being held in custody in a central London police station, while officers search a residential and business address in Berkshire. The local police area commander for Windsor and Maidenhead stated that he understands that the local community may be concerned following today's operation. He said, ‘I would like to reassure everyone that today's activity is as a result of an ongoing investigation which was intelligence-led. There is no evidence to suggest the community was at risk.’

The Most Revd Dr Foley Beach, Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America, was a full, voting participant in the Primates’ gathering, but did not feel it appropriate to vote as he’s not part of the official Anglican structures. He is in communion with provinces which represent the majority of the Anglican Communion but left the Episcopal Church after it approved consecration of non-celibate homosexual persons to be bishops and gave approval to liturgies for same-sex unions. The Archbishop of Uganda, the Most Revd Stanley Ntagali, left the gathering. This was because canons passed by Uganda’s provincial synod prevented his sitting with the US Episcopal Church or the Church of Canada unless they repented on their stand on the same issue. For him to attend was putting him out on a limb with his people. He didn’t leave out of anger. He just felt he was not being faithful to his duties as an archbishop. So the Primates blessed him, and he blessed them and left. See also article 1 in the British Isles section of this week’s Prayer Alert.

Over a billion people live with some form of disability, and it disproportionately affects vulnerable populations. They often do not receive needed health care, and disabled children are less likely to attend school. They are more likely to be unemployed and are vulnerable to poverty. However rehabilitation maximises functioning and independence; they can live and participate in the community, and barriers can be overcome. Last year’s Lausanne Movement gathering stated, ‘Developing young leaders is a biblically sustainable mission strategy.’ John Stott has said that training the next generation of young leaders should receive the highest priority. At the climax of history, when people from every tribe and nation worship the Lord on His holy mountain, persons with disabilities will be among them. Decades ago we ministered to the disabled; today we have quite a few leaders with disabilities, but need to encourage more.

President Rouhani says the official implementation of the nuclear deal between Tehran and six world powers will increase Tehran’s engagement with the world. Companies will again be able to send skilled workers and university lecturers into the country, opening the door for Christian ‘tentmakers’ to officially enter the country. Young people are the largest population bloc in Iran (over 60%) and are among the most politically active in the Islamic world. Iran is also one of the most tech-savvy societies with an estimated thirty million Internet users, led by the youth, and boasting between 60,000 and 110,000 active blogs (one of the highest numbers in the Middle East). Pray for visas once again to be issued to Christian teachers and technicians and for ‘businesses’ to move into Iran legally. Pray protection for Iranians who are currently engaging with the underground Church.

A pastor and prayer warrior in Pakistan writes, ‘We started the prayer chain for our conference ten days ago, and will close it with a fasting day on Saturday. Thanks to the Lord, we are expecting more than three hundred leaders from all over Pakistan this weekend. Our budget target is $15,000; by His grace so far we have reached $10,000, and I trust in the Lord for the rest. Please join us in prayer for this weekend’s conference. We need God’s security for the venue and protection of church premises and accommodation venues. Other prayer points are: speakers and organisers; management/administration; food; financial provision; and transformation of our vision.’

Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports that the scale of persecution being encountered by Christians in Cuba is unlike anything seen before, with a ten-fold increase in violations of freedom of religion or belief last year (2,300 cases). Cuban church-goers are being arrested and dragged away on a weekly basis. CSW says, ‘Perhaps the Cuban government is trying to limit the potential for social upheaval by cracking down on civil society. The church, after the revolution and following the repressive measures enacted against civil society as a whole, is one of the few places where people can come together. As the government is trying to retain control, Christians are also starting to push back a bit. They're trying to resist in a peaceful, non-violent manner, and we think that the government is trying to assert itself.’ The rise in violations of religious or belief freedoms last year was largely due to the Cuban government declaring two thousand Assemblies of God churches illegal.

Advanced weapons are going from Russia to Syria and then into Hezbollah's hands, according to an Israeli Defence Force reserve officer. The weapons are capable of hitting Israel's gas rigs and paralyzing the Haifa and Ashdod ports. General Yaakov Amidror, who was an adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said that the sophisticated weapons reached Hezbollah as a result of the Syrian civil war. Russia sold its advanced weapons to the Syrians and the Syrians transferred them to Hezbollah. The Russians are said to be aware of what is happening. These first-class weapons, such as Kornet and surface-to-air missiles and perhaps even the very sophisticated Onyx missiles, are now in Hezbollah's possession.

The International Justice Mission (IJM) has been working alongside local authorities in Guatemala rescuing children from sexual violence and securing convictions against rapists and violent criminals by pushing individual cases through the justice system. Guatemala now has a law that defines a crime of sexual violence and has recently elected a new president, Jimmy Morales. Pray that he will make the protection of children from sexual violence a priority for his administration. Some cases were delayed in 2015 and re-scheduled for early 2016. Pray that the hearings in January and early February will see justice-system officials motivated to deal with these cases fairly. Pray that the new president will lead the country with wisdom and integrity, after a tumultuous political year in Guatemala.

An illegal abortion clinic in Selma, Alabama, was shut down due to the power of prayer and God at work. Last June Bound4LIFE Birmingham, along with a coalition of organisations and citizens committed to seeing an illegal abortion clinic closed, gathered for a day of intercession in a church where they heard messages from a number of speakers. The next day, they put their words into action with a public declaration. They put tape over their mouths and held placards as they marched across the town’s bridge. They then held a press conference, asking state authorities to take action to prevent Samuel Lett from continuing his illegal abortions. The protesters saw God work. On December 30, Father Terry Gensemer shared the good news that the abortion facility had been shut down and the city of Selma was abortion-free.