Signs of hope for Christian unity
The 2011 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity marks the beginning of an encouraging year for the ecumenical movement in Britain, the Student Christian Movement (SCM) said today (11 January). They revealed that they are expecting another record turn-out for their annual conference, which will involve an ecumenical exploration of prayer, and the links between prayer and action. The Week of Prayer will run from 18-25 January and is closely followed by SCM’s Annual Conference, Still Small Voice, which runs over the weekend of 4-6 February at the Swanwick conference centre in Derbyshire. ‘We are really encouraged by the revival of interest in inclusive, ecumenical Christianity,’ said Jenny Morgans, chair of SCM's student council. ‘Over the past year we have had requests for advice and support from students keen to establish ecumenical student groups,’ explained Morgans, ‘conference is a great opportunity for students from different backgrounds to meet and explore their faith together’ Praise: God for the work of the SCM and the message of unity. (Ro.12:4-5)
Signs of hope for Christian unity
The 2011 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity marks the beginning of an encouraging year for the ecumenical movement in Britain, the Student Christian Movement (SCM) said today (11 January). They revealed that they are expecting another record turn-out for their annual conference, which will involve an ecumenical exploration of prayer, and the links between prayer and action. The Week of Prayer will run from 18-25 January and is closely followed by SCM’s Annual Conference, Still Small Voice, which runs over the weekend of 4-6 February at the Swanwick conference centre in Derbyshire. ‘We are really encouraged by the revival of interest in inclusive, ecumenical Christianity,’ said Jenny Morgans, chair of SCM's student council. ‘Over the past year we have had requests for advice and support from students keen to establish ecumenical student groups,’ explained Morgans, ‘conference is a great opportunity for students from different backgrounds to meet and explore their faith together’ Praise: God for the work of the SCM and the message of unity. (Ro.12:4-5)
Sudan: Turnout vote passes 60%
By Wednesday nearly 2.3 million voters had cast ballots in the Sudan referendum vote with more than 60 percent of registered voters, this volume of turnout has gone beyond the threshold needed for the vote to be valid if it creates the new country of Southern Sudan as expected. We are encouraged to continue to pray for a peaceful outcome to the referendum. See The result will be announced February 14th and should there be a split the new country would be declared in July. An independent south would control almost 80 percent of Sudan’s oil production of 490,000 barrels a day, the third- biggest in sub-Saharan Africa, enabling the new country to begin to alleviate the current levels of poverty. Pray: for God’s blessing on His people in Sudan and for Him to protect the area from devices of the enemy. (Pr.16:3)
Mexico: Violence towards tribal believers
Latin American Indian Ministries report, ‘While we want to be positive about the year ahead we must voice a concern for tribal believers in southern Mexico. In the last few months Pastor Armando Lopes was killed travelling home from a doctor’s appointment, three other pastors were killed in the same area recently. Four families of believers were expelled from a village and a church destroyed with believers put on notice. This month six homes were destroyed and the families expelled from the community. Elsewhere a church and many homes were destroyed and fifty families expelled from the village, a further 86 families were expelled later. At the end of 2010 four hundred and ninety eight Indian believers were homeless, living as street people in San Cristobal where they seek protection. This persecution results from new believers boycotting drunken fiestas to saints in the untended Catholic church, celebrations which have really come to represent worshipping ancient pagan gods. Pray: for these ‘suffering saints’ - including many very new believers. Some will establish new villages and build a new church. But the days ahead are challenging. (Ps.24:5-6)
