Egypt: Orthodox leaders request prayer
Funerals have been held for 26 victims of an attack against Christian protestors in which hundreds were wounded, in what was possibly the worst violence against Egyptian Christians in modern history. The Coptic Orthodox Church held three days of fasting, prayer for divine intervention and mourning. An email from Archbishop Mouneer said, ‘I request your urgent prayers as the situation here in Cairo is very inflamed. Many Christians demonstrated after the incident of the burning of a church building (see P.A.40-2011). The demonstrations started peacefully as the people were requesting investigations for incidents of burning and demolishing churches to be completed; and the new law for building churches (promised four months ago) to be passed. Then it turned very violent between demonstrators and the military. On Wednesday there were separate meetings with the House of Bishops and political leaders to discuss a way out of this very difficult situation. I would appreciate your prayers for our beloved country.’
Pray: that the Christian and Muslim religious leaders would be able to discuss and implement a way forward for the situation to be defused; also for Christians to know the presence and peace of Jesus. (Ps.3:3)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/egypt/article_121782.html
Afghanistan: Part One – 10th anniversary of conflict
An email from Afghanistan reads, - 'There are more wholehearted followers of Jesus in Afghanistan than there have been since the conquest of Islam (from AD 642 to AD 1000) From the time of the Apostle Thomas there had been training schools and missionaries sent to the Far East. Now in 2011 there are several thousand believers meeting house-to-house, meeting through cyberspace, and occasionally renting meeting rooms at hotels. Every major town in the country has an underground group of followers of Isaaye Masih (Jesus Christ). There is also the Diaspora of Afghan believers in Pakistan, India and other nations. There has never been this much political freedom for women and emerging groups of young leaders. Women can vote. There are more schools, educational institutions, social services, professional training courses, civil action groups, cultural societies and sports leagues in Afghanistan than there ever have been at any other time in its modern history. US and allied intervention created the environment for this, mistakes notwithstanding.
Pray: that Afghanistan would embrace its Christian heritage - witnessing to her neighbours far and near with training schools and mission. (Mat.16:18)
Afghanistan: Part Two – 10th anniversary of conflict
Part 2 of an email from Afghanistan - 'Pakistan is committed to a broken, bloody Afghanistan, and has thrown its budget and its intelligence services into equipping the Taliban, al-Qaeda, and any other group that would agree to decimate that nation. One reason is the fear of the dissolving of its current border with Afghanistan (the Durand Line) which ceded nearly half of Afghanistan away to British India (now Pakistan) for 100 years. The treaty expired in 1993. The Afghans all agree that Pakistan unlawfully occupies some of their best land, the heartland of the Pashtuns. Pakistan knows that a strong, united Afghanistan will press its claim for what amounts to almost half of Islamabad's own beleaguered territories. The Afghan leadership ethos is full of bribery, black market, blood loyalties, and blood feuds. Pray for the tribal elders of each locality, whose corporate decisions can either strengthen or fragment the fibre of their society far more than the Kabul government or its foreign allies.
Pray: that elders would shut out the men of blood from their midst and welcome men tasked with development; also that their sons would be saved from the delusion of Islamic martyrdom. (Is.32:1,2)
Zimbabwe: Archbishop asks Mugabe to halt attacks on Anglicans
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams met President Robert Mugabe on Oct.10th to deliver a dossier of attacks on Anglicans by excommunicated Bishop Nolbert Kunonga. Kunonga formed a breakaway clique in 2007, seized church property, violently prevented Anglicans from worshipping in their buildings and intimidated clergy. Some priests received death threats at gunpoint. The dossier was made public on Oct.11th stating, ‘We respectfully ask that you as head of state put an end to this illegal harassment and allow us once again to use the properties which are rightly ours so that we may worship God in peace and serve our communities and our country.’ The document was signed by Archbishop Albert Chama, head of the Anglican Church's Province of Central Africa, five bishops from Zimbabwe and Bishop Trevor Mwamba from neighbouring Botswana.
Pray: that the meeting and show of solidarity with local Anglicans against violence would bring about change for Zimbabwe’s Christians. (Ps.133)
