Chalke asks next PM to acknowledge contribution of Christians
Faithworks’ founder Steve Chalke is calling upon the next Prime Minister to acknowledge the indispensible contribution to the economy made by the Christian voluntary sector. Chalke said that such recognition from the incoming Prime Minister would be a vote of confidence that would drive Christians to serve their local communities even more. ‘The Christian contribution to society is hugely significant,’ he said. ‘Local churches contribute millions to regional economies across the country and if Westminster more openly acknowledged this, the encouragement it would bring to the unsung army of volunteers and paid staff in churches and other Christian groups would release a tsunami of care which would help compensate for the inevitable forthcoming public spending cuts.’ According to the group, an estimated 370,000 Christian volunteers contribute services to the value of around £486 million each year in England alone, donating around 65 million hours of their time.
Pray: for recognition and encouragement of the Christian voluntary sector by the incoming government. (Is.61:9)
Zimbabwe: Possibly increased violence and pray for pastors’ conference
Two issues supplied by a reliable but anonymous source. First: ‘Robert Mugabe’s Zanu Party (PF) is recruiting youths for training in sophisticated murder and torture techniques for a campaign of violence against the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T). The campaign of terror is expected to roll into motion in July after the South African soccer World Cup ends and the media spotlight shifts elsewhere. High-level sources within Zanu (PF), MDC-T and the security services said the purpose of this plan was to plunge the country into total anarchy making it impossible to continue with the drafting of a new constitution. The youth recruitment drive is expected to be funded by the state, there are 10,000 illegally recruited members of the Zanu (PF) youth militia on the government payroll. Second: Next week there is a Pastors' conference where leaders will be praying for unity and repentance between leaders and denominations to see both 2 Chron 7:13-14 and Isaiah 58:6-14 coming to pass especially in Zimbabwean Churches!’
Pray: for God's healing of relationships within Zimbabwean society at every level and for the stronghold of fear and death to be broken over the territory.(Eph.2:14)
Sudan: Christians pray ahead of elections
We are urged to pray for the country’s first democratic elections in 24 years taking place from April 11 to 13 that could help pave the way for lasting peace, or spark another civil war. Relief organisation Samaritan’s Purse International said, ‘In 17 years of doing relief work in Sudan we’ve witnessed so much horrific violence. With this historic election Sudan sits at a crossroads and has an opportunity for long-term peace. We are asking every Christian to join us in prayer for the people of Sudan’. Sudan has been embroiled in a 21-year civil war sparked by government efforts to impose Islamic law on the mostly Christian south. The war was one of the longest lasting and deadliest of the late 20th century with an estimated 2 million civilians killed in southern Sudan and more than 4 million people displaced because of the violence.
Pray: that all polling stations will be safe and secure, for peaceful elections, for political stability in Sudan and for an end to the conflict in Darfur. (Ps.12:5)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christians.pray.ahead.of.sudan.elections/25580.htm
Seven aids for general election intercession
For those of us finding it difficult to hear God’s still small voice in the orchestra of political sound bites there are a number of valuable websites available to help our intercessions in the final lap of the election race. (hustings) documents a summary of the local husting meetings held in the past few weeks. (2) The Care General Election Prayer Guide can be downloaded from Prayer Forum (3) Initiatives and suggestions from Christians in Politics can be downloaded at Susa (4) A concise election twelve point prayer plan is on the World Prayer Centre website (5) 24-7 Prayer offer an election prayer meeting plan that can be downloaded from EAUK (6) Information concerning the Christian Peoples Alliance candidates and speeches are at (7) This week's Insight article is a scripture based prayer pointer distributed through the Parliamentary Prayer Fellowship. Click the 'info' button.
Pray: as the Lord leads into areas of government and the election process. (1Ti.2:1-2)
