Safeguard Children
This article is not an advertisement for the Sunday Times Campaign to Safeguard Children, however the initiative needs our prayers to protect it as it gains momentum across the nation. The grim statistics of Child pornography are 36% of the internet is pornography; 1 in 4 search queries is about porn; A third of all downloads are porn; Online porn makes $3,000 a second; Latest child victim is 16 year old Charlie Booth who shot himself after receiving a police warning for sexting a girl. Following on from their Symposium last week, The Sunday Times launched a campaign to safeguard children from online pornography. This is intended to increase public pressure on the Government as it goes into talks with the search engines and Internet Service Providers (ISP's): there was a Summit hosted by the Culture Secretary Maria Miller Tuesday during the G8 summit.
Pray: that the Sunday Times campaign will achieve all it has set out to do, pray also for the Culture Secretary Rt.Hon Maria Miller as she speaks out on this issue. (Ps12:6-8)
More: http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/2013/06/19/safermedia-campaign-to-safeguard-children/
Pray for the Armed Forces
The senior chaplains in the Armed Forces, together with the Armed Forces, bishops are encouraging congregations throughout the country to remember the men and women of the Armed Forces in their prayers, particularly on the Sunday after the Armed Forces Day. This is an important development of the vision of the Military Christian Organisations to get the nation praying, individually, in organisations, fellowships and churches in intercession for our Armed Forces and in support of our Chaplains. We are asked to pray that Churches throughout the nation will include prayer for the Armed Forces on Sunday 30 June following the Armed Forces Day and that this will become set into the church calendar.
Pray: for a nation-wide focus on the Armed Forces during the week leading up to this day and that Christians throughout the country will be praying daily for them. (1Th 5:16-18)
More: http://www.afcu.org.uk/docs/prayer_sheet_2013.pdf
Increase in sexually transmitted infections in 2012
Last year saw a five per cent increase in new diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections. According to data published by Public Health England today, figures rose from 428,255 in 2011 to 448,422 in 2012. PHE said the increase was mostly due to improved data collection. However, it warned that the continuing high rates of STI in England ‘suggest too many people are still putting themselves at risk through unsafe sex’. It said this was particularly the case among young adults and men who have sex with men (MSM). With 206,912 new diagnoses last year, chlamydia remains the most common STI diagnosis. New cases of gonorrhoea rose 21% overall, from 21,024 in 2011 to 25,525 in 2012. The MSM community saw a 37% increase in gonorrhoea diagnoses. Under-25s experienced the highest rates of STI, accounting for 64% of chlamydia and 54% of genital warts diagnoses among heterosexuals in 2012.
Pray: that this growth in STI’s will be reversed. (Ps.38:3)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/increase.in.sexually.transmitted.infections.in.2012/32763.htm
France: Mayor faces jail for gay wedding refusal
A French mayor is facing up to five years in prison and a fine of up to £63,000 for declining to carry out a same-sex marriage. Jean-Michel Colo, a mayor in South West France, rejected a wedding application from two men and says he stands by his decision. But under French law, discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation can be punishable by up to half a decade in prison and up to a 75,000 Euro fine. He could also be removed from office, or face suspension over the move – which is being supported by his deputies. Mayor Colo said while it is up to individuals what they do in the privacy of their own homes, ‘if you ask me as the mayor to support it, then I am very uncomfortable with it’. Speaking to a French newspaper, the French Interior Minister said elected officials ‘who do not respect the laws of the republic will risk significant sanctions’. (See Prayer Alert 17-2013)
Pray: for Jean-Michel that he will be given the strength to stand by his decision and receive support for his beliefs. (Lev.20.13a)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/france-mayor-faces-jail-for-gay-wedding-refusal/
