China: Missing Chinese lawyer confirmed alive
Prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng was confirmed alive on Sunday after more than a year without reliable information on his whereabouts. ‘I am tremendously relieved that my husband is alive,’ said Gao’s wife, Geng He, in a statement issued by Freedom Now, a group that represents prisoners of conscience. ‘My children and I have not seen their father since January 2009,’ she said. ‘We urge the Chinese government to allow Zhisheng to leave the country and be reunited with us in the United States.’ Gao, who is one of China’s most famous lawyers and human rights activists, was last seen in February 2009 when a dozen police officers reportedly seized him in public. Gao elicited the ire of the Chinese government by defending groups oppressed by authorities, such as underground churches, practitioners of the spiritual movement Falun Gong, and farmers evicted from their land. Gao himself is a Christian who worships in a house church. (See Prayer Alert 1309, 1509)
Praise: God for the news that Gao is alive and pray now for his release. (Is.42:6-8)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/missing.chinese.lawyer.confirmed.alive/25591.htm
Thailand: Children witnessed power of prayer
A report in Mission Network News has described how a group of Thai orphans at the Vision Beyond Borders (VBB) Children's Home witnessed the power of prayer when their orphanage was threatened with fire. According to the report, on March 19, as fires raced toward the Children's Home, workers sent out urgent prayer requests by e-mail and then moved the children to the top of a hill for safety. At the top of the hill, a staff member reportedly encouraged the kids to start worshipping and praying to God. Though Thailand is in the midst of their dry season, the report noted, they trusted God to send rain. Just before the orphanage was surrounded, the sound of thunder was heard and ‘less than an hour later it began sprinkling, then pouring, until the fires were extinguished.’
Praise: God that the children will use the miracle as a testimony to the power of Christ in their lives and that they will boldly share Christ with the people of their community. (Is.43:12)
More: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=7718
Thailand: Children witnessed power of prayer
A report in Mission Network News has described how a group of Thai orphans at the Vision Beyond Borders (VBB) Children's Home witnessed the power of prayer when their orphanage was threatened with fire. According to the report, on March 19, as fires raced toward the Children's Home, workers sent out urgent prayer requests by e-mail and then moved the children to the top of a hill for safety. At the top of the hill, a staff member reportedly encouraged the kids to start worshipping and praying to God. Though Thailand is in the midst of their dry season, the report noted, they trusted God to send rain. Just before the orphanage was surrounded, the sound of thunder was heard and ‘less than an hour later it began sprinkling, then pouring, until the fires were extinguished.’
Praise: God that the children will use the miracle as a testimony to the power of Christ in their lives and that they will boldly share Christ with the people of their community. (Is.43:12)
More: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=7718
Bishop calls for election which protects the vulnerable
The Bishop of Ripon and Leeds has called for policies from the parties contesting the general election, which promote fairness and support for those most in need. The Rt Rev John Packer says that the ‘burden of cuts’ must fall on those with adequate resources and not on those struggling with debt or unemployment. It comes as ethics look set to play a central part in the election off the back of the scandal over MP's expenses, and slogans from the main parties which address 'fairness'. On taxing and cuts, Bishop Packer says, ‘I shall be searching for signs of a concern for those in most need in our society. So in dealing with national debt, I shall want the burden of cuts to fall on those of us with adequate resources, and not those who have inadequate housing, who are unemployed or who struggle with debt. They need protection.’
Pray: for a genuine desire by the political leaders to support the truly needy in our country. (Dt.15:11)
