Rwanda: News media closed prior to election
A week before the Rwandan presidential election the authorities have violated press freedom by jailing journalists and closing news media. Also a newspaper editor was murdered last month. The repressive measures intensified prior to the election with the suspension of 30 news media outlets. By excluding them from an approved government list Rwanda’s leading newspapers and radio stations have been banned. ‘The Media High Council’s measures just before the election are highly suspect,’ Reporters Without Borders said. ‘They aim to prevent journalists from doing their job as independent and impartial observers of the election process.’ Meanwhile, in the first workshop for Rwandan Christian youth, 300 believers were told, ‘You are the future leaders of this country and what you do now determines how and where this country will be in the future. Help your families regarding peace building which will lead to the development of Rwanda.’ See: http://allafrica.com/stories/201008030002.html Pray: that God’s purposes for the country will overcome any adversity. (Ps.37:18-19) More: http://en.rsf.org/rwanda-around-30-news-media-closed-a-few-02-08-2010,38076.html
Pakistan: Discrimination against Christian communities
We have been asked to pray for Christian communities in flood disaster areas who are not receiving aid due to religious discrimination. A trusted source said, ‘Things in the West province Khyber Pukhtoonkhaw are quite bad. The province was already hit badly due to the war against terrorism with military action continuing in some areas. Millions of people are displaced, have lost their houses, businesses and loved ones, and more rains are to be expected. Just in this one province 1300 Christian families have lost all. I have reports that they have been moved into some mission schools in Peshawar and they would need assistance with basic items of life. I know the government is trying to send aid but the devastation is quite huge. Christians already are marginalized and when the aid is given by the government normally it does not reach them due to the discriminatory behaviour and nature of the majority, which adds to their misery. Please pray also for fair distribution of aid in the Punjab and Baluchistan province'. Pray: for God’s mercy and grace to provide all that is needed in this terrible disaster. (Ps.31:1)
INSIGHT ARTICLE Kenya: Pray this weekend for peace
Kenya’s President appealed for peace as Kenyans vote this weekend on a draft constitution intended to limit the powers of the president and set up a commission to settle land disputes that fuelled past violence. Pastor D.S.W. writes, ‘Put our nation Kenya in the hands of God. The leadership is not united. There is much tension towards the referendum and much frustration among tribes receiving letters telling them to leave where they are staying just because of land. This happened during the 2007 election and stirred fighting which resulted in many people being killed. Please pray for us. Spiritually as Christians we are praying and serving God as he called us to be His ambassadors among the nations.’ President Mwai Kibaki and former President Daniel Arap Moi, who opposes the draft, have delivered hate speech during the campaign. This INSIGHT article gives some background information to assist prayers. Pray: for God to drench Kenya with joyful passions and positive anticipation; and for the Kenyan Church to become a symbol of unity. (Ps.131)
INSIGHT ARTICLE: Sovereign Prayers
The monarch and her family are spending part of their summer holiday this week sailing in the Western Isles of Scotland as a special commemoration of Princess Anne’s 60th and Andrew Duke of York’s 50th birthdays. see Over the past five decades as Head of State Queen Elizabeth II has provided stability and continuity in times of political and social change, meeting Heads of State and ambassadors, holding weekly audiences with Prime Ministers and reading state papers from the red box delivered to her daily. (even while on holiday). She has an unequalled store of experience upon which successive Prime Ministers have been able to draw; bridging party politics and providing a stable framework within which a government can introduce wide-ranging reforms. This INSIGHT ARTICLE (click on 'Info' button) is a prayer resource for interceding for the Queen, her family, her government and the Church in the United Kingdom. Pray: for God to mightily bless, lead and protect our Royal family. (1Tim.2:2)
