Slavery in the United Kingdom
Last Friday, the country’s first anti-slavery commissioner spoke out against the treatment of modern-day slavery victims by the UK authorities. Kevin Hyland said officers don’t know how to handle victims and there could be as many as 13,000 here, but the way they’re received by authorities is morally unacceptable. He plans to train forces to react better when they discover victims (predominantly from Albania, Nigeria and Vietnam). Human trafficking has an annual trade of $32 billion and trafficking is not in any way removed from us. It’s close. It happens where we live, in the nice quiet towns and villages or amid the buzz and loudness of big cities. God cares deeply for humanity and is constantly moved to action. We have the opportunity to intervene proactively in the lives of those who are bound by fear, who have no freedom and who see no way out.
Prayer for steelworkers
Revd Peter Vickers, a chaplain working at a Tata Steel site where 900 jobs are being axed, is asking Christians to pray for those facing uncertainty, saying, ‘You've got fear of what is going to happen; you've got people feeling anger because others should have done something to stop the situation; then there's the whole worry about their future. Pray for those on the journey of uncertainty - the number given is 900 but that doesn't mean that 900 will walk away without a job. Pray that they can keep a calm head as they look for other employment. Pray also for the emotional ripple effect that Scunthorpe itself will feel. Pray for those with power to make decisions; there are an awful lot of people feeling powerless, and they need to know that those people will use their power wisely.’
Germany: anti-migrant protests and violence
Every Monday evening thousands gather in front of Dresden’s Opera House carrying German flags and singing nationalist songs. One protester said he fears German traditions are being eroded by Muslims. Elsewhere violent attacks and hate speeches are exploding against asylum seekers. Der Spiegel reported a threefold increase in attacks compared to the same period last year. Last Friday night about a thousand people demonstrated in Heidenau against an expected arrival of refugees. The police intervened with tear gas grenades. The refugees are creating a kind of German martial law, where it has been necessary to use schools, gymnasiums and campsites as temporary accommodation centres. The attacks against refugee centres in Germany are so strong that Google deleted a map showing their locations, fearing hate crimes. On Wednesday a converted Christian migrant in a refugee centre was severely beaten up by an Afghan man, who declared that his conversion to Christianity was ‘a sin’.
Hungary: Prime Minister Orban calls on EU to change immigration policies
Viktor Orban urged European leaders to change their immigration policies and involve voters in a debate about the continent's future; otherwise they face a political crisis. Hungary built a steel fence along its borders with Serbia and Croatia that was meant to turn migrants back from Europe, not divert them along a different path to Germany. Orban articulated his party's hard line against the tide of immigrants on state television. He said that European leaders had no mandate to let hundreds of thousands of migrants enter the EU with little or no control and destabilise Europe, saying, ‘We need to start the debate about the future of our continent honestly, without the muzzle of political correctness, without pretence, talking straight. The further migrants travel from their troubled countries, the more difficult it will be for them to return. They must remain in their region and humane conditions must be created for them there.’
Record number of Bibles given out in 2014
Last year saw the highest number of Bibles ever distributed globally by bible societies. Nearly 34 million Bibles were handed out, a 6% rise on 2013; that’s 428.2 million Scriptures distributed. The figure includes full Bibles, Testaments, Gospels and other smaller scripture items. The Americas have reported the highest rates of distribution, with 341.5 million Scriptures, including 14.4 million full Bibles. Brazil gave out more than any other country - 7.6 million full Bibles; it is thought that this was boosted by the many thousands distributed during the FIFA World Cup. Cuba gave away 1.5 million - more than double the total distributed in 2010. The Bible Society reported that more than five times the number of Testaments were distributed in Syria in 2014 as before the conflict began, in 2010.
Rapid church growth in Iran
The Iranian church is growing with increased momentum, as daily reports indicate. Despite persecution, Iranian Christians are courageously preaching Christ. More than one million Scriptures have been distributed to Iranians since 2003. Believers are involved in regular evangelism, and report that most receive the Scriptures with joy. Christian TV, beamed into Iran by satellite, is reaching private living rooms of families that otherwise may never hear the Gospel. The response is significant, with thousands responding to programmes every month. Although satellite dishes are banned, an estimated 28 million people have access to satellite TV (dishes are hidden in the lofts of houses). The official Churches in Iran are closely monitored by the government, so believers meet in house churches, mostly with eight to twelve members. For security reasons, they are forced to multiply once they reach about twelve people. This helps spread the Gospel even more.
Thank you so much for your prayer to Nepal! Praise the Lord! A new constitution in Nepal for a secular nation after about 9 years practice!
I copied this Today 20th September 2015 national news:
“President Ram Baran Yadav announced the promulgation of Constitution of Nepal, 2072 at a special meeting of the Constituent Assembly (CA) on Sunday. The President announced the commencement of the new constitution endorsed by the Constitutional Assembly and authenticated by CA Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang from today. The CA Chair also presented the copies of the new constitution which saw passage from the CA as per sub-section (3) of the CA Regulation 110. The CA meeting was attended by the Vice President Paramananda Jha, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha.
The special ceremony was also attended by CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, former prime ministers and CA members Sher Bahadur Deuba, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Jhalanath Khanal, Baburam Bhattarai among others.
Similarly, Deputy Prime Ministers duo Prakashman Singh Bam Dev Gautam, ministers, former CA members, high ranking officers of Nepal government, civil society representatives, industrialists, chief of the diplomatic missions, media and others.”
All the glory to God!
In Prayer
Govinda
For prayer-
Govinda also has reported that there is still instability in the nation so let’s pray God’s peace and order for Nepal. He and his colleagues also want to build a house of prayer and need financial provision to do this.
Update from September 26:
Remember in your prayer for Nepal that India has blocked every essential supply to Nepal from yesterday. Right now gasoline and other supplies crisis has been increasing. Please pray for China that God would open the border from China so that China may supply all essential needs for Nepal.
Pray that the Lord would calm the country's political crisis and make very mutual relationship between Nepal and India. Some political parties are still against the new constitution. Pray for the Lord's hand to be upon Nepal.
From Govinda who leads a house of prayer in Kathmandu, Nepal
Thank you for your prayers for Marriage in Australia. I sent a prayer request for your prayer for marriage in Australia almost one month ago. At the time Katy Faust, from the USA, was visiting Australia to help us defend Marriage between a man and a woman.
Katy filed an Amicus brief in the battle for marriage in the USA and has an amazing story to tell. She was a child of divorce and her mother subsequently re-partnered with a another Lesbian. Katy was brought up by her biological mother and her mother’s lesbian partner. She is strongly against homosexual marriage because of her experiences.
WE ASKED YOU FOR PRAYERS FOR KATY FAUST AS SHE APPEARED ON Q&A AN AUSTRALIAN TV PROGRAM. – PRAISE THE LORD GOD ANSWERED YOUR PRAYERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Traditionally the Q & A TV show has been in the past heavily biased against anyone who believes in life, love, marriage and religious freedom. I asked that you pray that God will give Katy the words to say, supernatural insight and wisdom to speak up for the rights of children to a mother and a father. God did a miracle in that Katy Faust probably gave the best defense for marriage and the rights of children yet heard on Australian TV. Secondly God raised up an atheist to defend her on Australian TV. Together Brendan and Katy hit the ball out of the Ball Park. Thank you for your prayers.
1. Katy Faust articulates a strong case for the rights of Children on Q&A and then gets attacked. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8mBl94HwCI&safe=active
2. God raises up an atheist Brendan O’Neil to speak up for her and defend her on Q&A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnzpMKb-Wk4
Since this time we have seen a significant shift in a positive sense in the homosexual marriage debate in Australia. Yours prayers have made a difference. It would be amiss of me not to thank you for your prayers. We as a nation have prayed for America over the last few years. Most recently the seven days of prayer and fasting for the USA in early May 2015 centered around the USA National Day of Prayer. We will continue to do so. Thank you for your prayers for Australia. See full prayer report below detailing 9 Miracles. The last two were directly related to your response to our prayer request. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS!!!! As Alfred Lord Tennyson said, “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.”
Yours for the USA and Australia
Warwick Marsh
PS Sadly we recently lost our pro-marriage, pro-life and pro-faith Prime Minister Tony Abbott because of an internal coup behind the scenes. Malcom Turnbull the man who replaced him is the opposite so we greatly appreciate your continuing prayers.
PO BOX 378
Unanderra
NSW 2526
Australia