Big response at festival to child trafficking campaign
Some 4,000 children have been protected from trafficking following Tearfund's 'No Child Taken' campaign at this year's Big Church Day Out at Wiston House, Steyning, West Sussex. The festival, now in its sixth year, partnered with Tearfund to raise awareness and generate support to prevent the unlawful trafficking of children across the globe. Big Church Day Out continues to grow each year and focuses on gathering people from across the church family, along with attracting increasing numbers of non-churchgoers because of its value as a great family day out. Crowds of more than 20,000 gathered on the Bank Holiday weekend and were greeted with a mixture of rain and glorious sunshine, classic festival weather. The incredibly varied line-up included artists from all over the world, with genres ranging from Latin rock to R&B, bluegrass to gospel choirs, and much more. It was attended by families and church groups, all connecting with each other on their journey of faith.
Turkey: Christian curriculum in public schools
In a country of 76 million where 99.9 percent of the population are Muslim, positive pro-Christian news is rare. But, Turkey's Ministry of Education has requested that Behnan Konutgan, Director for International Needs Network, would lead a group of Christians to create a Christian curriculum for a religion class for the public schools. ‘Because Turkey is on its way to joining the European Union, they have created a new thing for next year,’ said Konutgan. ‘They will have an elective course for the schools for 5, 6, 10, and 11 grades. They promised to print it. This is wonderful!’ According to the report, Christian students in the past were required to take Islamic education classes. Now any Christian student in a public school can request the alternate religion class. ‘This is the first in the history of Turkey. Pray that this project will be done,’ added Konutgan.
Iraq - Insurgency needs Prayer
Urgent Prayer for the Iraq Situation
Iraqi Christians have requested urgent prayer as the situation deteriorates virtually to the point of all-out civil war.
Sunni militants, many aligned with the radical Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), an al-Qaeda off-shoot group, began their violent take-over on Friday 6th June. ISIS has full control of the northern cities of Mosul and Tikrit and has this morning seized Saadiyah and Jalawla in the eastern province of Diyala. Meanwhile, Kurdish forces, who are seen as a bulwark against the Sunni Muslim insurgents, say they have taken control of Kirkuk.
A spokesman for the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, told Sky News that she is ‘extremely concerned’ by summary executions, extrajudicial killings and the displacement of more than 500,000 people. By Wednesday 11, half a million residents from the Mosul region had fled from the violence, many attempting to find refuge in the nearby Kurdish provinces of Northern Iraq. Huge numbers of people have been displaced in other areas.
Pray that Christians of Mosul, Kirkuk, Bagdad and surrounding areas will know the presence of Jesus, the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the protection of the Father.
Pray that humanitarian assistance would reach all who are in need, whether displaced or remaining in situ.
At the time of compiling this bulletin, Sunni insurgents have vowed to march on to Baghdad. The Iraqi Parliament has delayed voting on a request to grant the PM emergency powers due to it failing to reach the necessary quorum. Government forces have reportedly launched air strikes against positions held by militants in Tikrit and Mosul. The US says it is considering further assistance to Iraq, without giving details.
Pray for the government and military to be united and strong in dealing with this invasion and not to be intimidated.
Pray that they will be able to re-take the cities in the north and western parts of the country that have been overrun.
Hundreds of Christian families are among those fleeing the area, and at least one Assyrian church in Mosul has been burned down in the recent violence. Christians feel particularly vulnerable, especially in the light of the treatment of Christians in the Raqqah province of northern Syria. (In February, ISIS established its authority in Raqqah. Christian community leaders were forced to sign a contract agreeing pay a special tax (known as jizya). They were only allowed to have Christian meetings behind closed doors so as to be neither visible nor audible to Muslims, and Christians were to adhere to Islamic commercial, dress code and dietary regulations.)
Pray that those who have chosen to remain in the cities would not be subjected to violent or unjust treatment.
Pray that Christians will not be discouraged and will continue to unite in authoritative prayer for their nation.
Pray that Christians throughout Iraq will know the peace and presence of Jesus each day, and will remain faithful to him and clear in their testimony.
Mosul and the surrounding Nineveh plain is the traditional heartland of Iraq's Christian communities. Many Christians fled to this region when forced to leave Baghdad and other areas in recent years. Christians are alarmed at the ISIS take-over bid for Iraq and fearful that this will further accelerate the decline of the Christian presence in Iraq.
Pray that God will bring about His purposes for this nation and the surrounding areas. Pray that those who are perpetuating the conflict will know the Spirit's conviction of sin and come to understand the depth of Jesus' forgiveness.
A pastor from Iraq sent the following:
‘The terrorists have captured many towns, killing and destroying many buildings, burning anything they come across. The internet connection is very slow and sometimes disconnected. Huge numbers of families have already left their residences heading for nowhere. There is a huge need for food, blankets, shelters, medication, care for elders and children. There is a lack of everything. At least a couple of million people are homeless in an extremely hot season topping 122 F. Many have fasted and prayed all day Wednesday for the intervention of the Lord to stop this unrest.’
Pray for the millions of refugees that need shelter, food, and water; for a swift and well-co-ordinated response from the government, international community and humanitarian organisations.
Sources:
www.prayer-alert.net
www.meconcern.org
www.ipcprayer.org
www.bbc.co.uk
Pentecost: Britain’s churches take to the streets
Last weekend Britain’s multinational churches took to the streets to celebrate the birth of Christianity in vibrant style. Pentecost festivals called 'the Biggest Birthday Party Ever' took place across the country drawing on the culture of some of the world’s fastest growing churches – sharing free food, dance and music as expressions of their Christian faith. For example churches in Islington, London, staged a free multi-cultural festival in Caledonian Park with music, dancing and food from almost every continent. There was a Ghanaian choir, Argentine opera, Ethiopian and Eritrean traditional music, Mexican music and dance, a Spanish choir and Brazilian traditional music as well as jazz, soul, gospel and folk. Coventry's Big Birthday Bash run by HOPE Coventry organised a free BBQ funded by the local churches, including African drumming, a Chinese choir, and a huge birthday cake cut by the Lord Mayor. The events were linked as part of HOPE.
