News from UK, Europe and the World – Prayer Alert

Dear Ron,

‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; (Jn. 11 25)

We are pleased to enclose this week`s edition of Prayer Alert.

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Thank you again for standing with us in prayer over the nations.

We wish all our subscribers a Blessed Easter.

David Fletcher – For the Prayer Alert Team

UK supermarkets say yes to ‘The Real Easter Egg’

For the first time ever, all the UK’s biggest supermarkets have stocked a religious-themed Easter egg. Out of 80 million eggs on sale in the UK, The Real Easter Egg is the first and only one to explain the real story of Easter. Morrisons, Sainsbury, Coop, Waitrose and Tesco have it on their shelves, though stock levels will vary. This egg is backed by church leaders, including the Archbishop of York. At first, all the supermarkets turned down the idea, but the Meaningful Chocolate Company, which manufactures the egg, sold over 250,000 through mail order. This year’s supermarket turn-around is a milestone. The manufacturers donate profits to Tradecraft Exchange, it is a Fairtrade egg, and it appeals to children and adults with its Easter story activity pack in the box.

Praise:

for the spiritual message that is being marketed in the shops to be clearly understood by millions of consumers who are not yet saved. (Ps.34:8)

Buses display Bible verses at Easter

London buses are featuring quotes from Scripture this Easter as part of the ‘Quote Jesus’ bus campaign. Revelation TV is spearheading the campaign. Scriptures including ‘Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die,’ ‘In my Father’s house there are many mansions,’ and ‘I am the way, the truth and the life,’ will be displayed on 75 London Routemaster buses. The campaign will run for two weeks. Promoters said, ‘In the wake of Westminster’s attacks the lack of hope is becoming an issue in this generation. We think the Bible has a lot to say about hope, and our vision is to influence the hearts, minds and perceptions of people, offering them hope and faith for a better future.’ Revelation TV want the campaign to draw people to Scripture, and to find hope amid a world filled with chaos, violence, and hopelessness.

Praise:

God for His promises of a future and a hope that is being spread on public transport to be seen by a generation living in hopelessness. (Is.35:5)

Easter religious programming across the BBC

Recently the BBC has received much criticism for its Christian content, but it has announced a range of new and returning religious programmes for Easter. The line-up of innovative documentaries, music, reflection and worship to mark this cornerstone of Christian faith include an emotional and personal journey to the Holy Land by Fern Britton, Franciscan Friars in Bradford, live worship from Hereford Cathedral, Revd Kate Bottley and the London Community Gospel Choir, and a Good Friday meditation with Revd Lucy Winkett. Such a wide range of programming across television and radio reflects the sanctity of Eastertide and the celebration of the resurrection.

Praise:

God for the BBC’s Christian messages of reflection and inspiration to millions this Easter. (Mt. 10:7)

Disgraceful fundraiser dropped

Fundraisers for the Manchester Passion Play had planned to offer ‘The Full Crucifixion Experience’ for £750 to donors willing to help fund the £50,000 event. Members of the public were going to be hoisted onto a cross outside the city’s cathedral, under one of the ideas posted on a crowdfunding website used by the organising committee to raise £8,000. The idea was branded ‘blasphemous’ and dropped when clergy found out, but the Passion play went ahead. It involved local schools, music and drama. Several thousand watched the event on stage and on big screens last Saturday, and it will be televised by the BBC’s Songs of Praise.

Praise:

God that a ‘good idea’ was replaced by ‘God’s intentions’ for the most important Christian festival of the year. Pray for all irreverence and worldly opinions to be removed from the purity of Easter. (Mt.3:12)

Easter prayer for our nation

‘I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest.’ (John 4:35)
Father, we thank You for every promise you have given for revival and awakening, and for those who have already come to know You in this season. We thank You for Your anointing upon each one of us – to preach good tidings to the poor – to heal the broken hearted – to proclaim liberty to the captives – and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. (Is.61:1) This Easter season, in Jesus’ Name, we call forth salvations, Jesus-centered conversations, prophetic encounters, and we declare our nation will not miss the day of your visitation. Father, even as you are restoring many ministries to the church, we pray for a new season of evangelism. We pray for release for those who will speak to individuals and those who will speak to the crowds.

Pray:

for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be spoken with boldness, clarity, sensitivity, wisdom and God’s anointing this Easter; for it to be heard in hearts and not just heads of all. (Ps.118:16,17)

Good Friday Focus

As Jesus died on the cross, the thirty-foot curtain in the temple, which separated the ordinary people from the very presence of God, was torn in two. It’s a beautiful picture of God the Father saying ‘the way to me is now open’. He is no longer residing in a stone temple but in our hearts, if we invite him in. (written by Andy Hawthorne, The Message Trust)

Pray:

O God, today we thank You for the cross. I pray that not just today but every day the cross will be before us and that others will be aware of Your presence in us more and more. Please use each of us to share the glorious message of the cross to a world that needs it so much. (Mt. 27:51)

Holiday games to help children understand Easter

Many children believe the Easter story because it’s how their parents raised them, but they may not grasp the meaning of Easter. Others only know the secular Easter- Easter eggs, bunnies, etc. Question: how do we help those who don’t understand in their hearts that Jesus is the reason for this season? Answer: play a game with an Easter theme. Look around for crosses on necklaces, hospitals, churches and ask, ‘What do you think happened on that cross to make it so important?’ Say that Jesus happened on that cross. Because of this, his love transforms everything it touches. Or play ‘Connect the Dots’ with prophecy. Explain that everything about Easter was prophesied before it happened! Help children connect the dots of Messiah’s long-foretold Passion (a list of prophecies can be found here.) Then read the Easter story from a children’s Bible.

Pray:

that through these and other resources, children and families may grasp the love and grace of the Cross of Jesus and what it means for them today. (Ps.17:7a)

Review of English cathedrals’ governance

Bishop Donald Allister’s report on financial problems at Peterborough Cathedral has led the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to commission a working group to review the governance of English cathedrals. The group has been established at a time when a number of cathedrals are facing financial and other difficulties. One of its tasks will be to advise the Archbishops’ Council on whether the Cathedrals Measure – the 1999 legislation that sets out the regulations that cathedrals must follow in their administration – needs to be revised. Bishop Allister made 20 recommendations regarding the cathedral’s management, and he offered ‘reflections’ to the House of Bishops and the national church institutions. He said that he believes that there are lessons to be learned from the Peterborough situation by the Archbishops’ Council, the House of Bishops, the General Synod, and the Deans’ Conference.

Pray:

for the Cathedral Council and the College of Canons to employ the necessary staff with the expertise to scrutinise, and improve where necessary, the current accounting procedures. (Gen. 41:33)

Transform the world with Jesus

This Easter and over the coming months there will be many outreach services, and conferences to encourage the people of God to move on in their faith. Jesus said that one day every nation would not only hear the gospel but be transformed by it. Spring Harvest, New Wine, Hillsong, Creationfest, Newday, Big Church Day Out and Soul Survivor are just a few of the many events happening in showgrounds, churches, country estates, and campsites this year. Pray for every event to be full to overflowing, for God to expand people’s vision of the scope of the gospel, and for renewed and empowered people to leave the events and shine the light of Christ into every area of the lives of those in their communities. Pray for millions of new Christians to be birthed this year across our nation.

Pray:

for Jesus to meet with and transform every man, woman and child at conferences. (Mt. 13:23)

Easter in Estonia

In Estonia, Easter has many names, for example, Ületõusmispüha (resurrection), Lihavõtted (meat-taking holiday, marking the end of Lent), and Munadepüha (egg holiday). Easter Sunday is celebrated with a long lunch, egg painting, and an Easter egg hunt. Decorated eggs are placed in a basket as a centrepiece for the meal table. After lunch is an egg-knocking competition, creating a new champion each year. Competitors tap their egg against their opponent’s, and the shell that doesn’t crack is the winner! Easter customs, like egg-knocking and egg-rolling (with the same aims as egg-knocking), come from old folk traditions. The Joshua Project describes Estonia as non-religious.

Pray:

for God to impact the Church this Easter, with the power of His Spirit invading Easter celebrations and tradition with revelations of the message of the Cross. (Acts 2:28)

Easter in Poland

Spring cleaning (wiosenne porzadki) is associated with the beginning of Lent. On Ash Wednesday believers have their heads marked with ash at a church service; on Palm Sunday they prepare special palms to take to church for a blessing. The blessed palms are kept in the house for the year. Tradition says they protect the household from evil. The following year the palms are collected and burnt outside the church to provide the ash for Ash Wednesday. On Holy Saturday every household prepares an Easter basket (swieconka) full of Easter breakfast foods. The baskets are taken to the church to be blessed, and the contents are eaten the following morning. Easter breakfast is the most celebrated Easter meal in Polish culture, dating back to the 7th century. Before the breakfast begins, families share Easter eggs with each other, wishing their relatives all the best.

Pray:

for the 89% of the Polish people who profess to be Christian to go out in faith and share their beliefs with the (according to the Joshua Project) 12,000 unreached, unchurched people of Poland. (Heb.11:1)

Easter in Russia

Easter is celebrated later because the Russian Orthodox church uses the old Julian calendar. On Holy Saturday churches hold night services and organise religious processions around churches. By that time, kulich, the traditional holiday baking symbolising the body of Christ, has already been baked and Easter eggs painted. The morning starts with visiting neighbours and giving Easter eggs. The common phrase on that day is, Khristos voskres! (Christ is risen!), followed by Voistinu voskres (Truly he is risen!) followed by the kiss of peace (triple kissing). Easter is the day of abundant food after the ‘Great Lent.’ A Russian tradition is to deliver gifts to poor families, distant relatives, orphanages, hospitals, prisons and beggars. They say that from Easter to the Ascension Christ, with the Apostles, travels the earth testing everyone for mercy and kindnesses.

Pray:

for the 80% of the Russian population who are not yet Christian to be reached by the 20% who are. (Mt.24:14)

The fruit of the Gospel this Easter

Millions will unite to remember one thing this week. ‘He is risen!’ Yet His heart grieves over the Church’s rampant unfaithfulness. Congregations can be filled with cultural Christianity rather than lives fully surrendered to the risen Saviour. Prosperity gospel, works-based gospel, cheap grace, false teachings, sin, self-absorption, and nominalism are blinding and enslaving much of His body across the nations. Matthew 7:16 says, ‘By their fruit, you will recognise them. Do people pick grapes from thorn-bushes or figs from thistles?’

Pray:

for Easter to be a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus and the renewal of His Church. (Eph. 2:8-9)

Easter violence

Egypt has had three days of mourning after two bombings of Coptic Christian churches by IS on Palm Sunday, killing 49 and injuring dozens. In response to the attacks, Egypt will set up a supreme council to counter terrorism and extremism. At the end of March Israel reported, ‘Egypt is likely to be subject to an IS terror attack in the near future.’ Eitan Ben-David, head of Israel’s counter-terror bureau, said, ‘We don’t want to cry wolf but we really believe that the threat is serious.’ In many countries, particularly Nigeria, Easter prompts heightened tension between Christians and Muslims. Nigerian churches will be overwhelmingly full, and Easter Monday is a holiday with crowds gathering at markets, beaches, etc. Historically Nigeria has experienced horrendous Easter church bombings. Other countries also experience Christian / Muslim tensions at Easter. In Pakistan last Easter, 75 were killed and 340 injured in Christian-targeted bombings. See also

Pray:

for Nigeria, Egypt, Pakistan and other countries where being a Christian is a risky choice. Pray for their governments to take tough preventative action in areas where vulnerable crowds gather. (Job 5:21)

Easter traditions in Mexico

Semana Santa (Holy Week) is very important in Mexico. Processions and passion plays take place throughout the country, with different areas and communities celebrating differently with varying degrees of lavishness. On Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos) there are processions re-enacting Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and woven palms are sold outside churches. Celebrations on Maundy Thursday (Jueves Santo) include visiting seven churches to recall the vigil the apostles kept in the garden while Jesus prayed before his arrest. There are foot-washing ceremonies, and of course Mass with Holy Communion. On Good Friday (Viernes Santo) there are solemn religious processions in which statues of Christ and Mary are carried through towns. People often dress in costumes to evoke the time of Jesus. Passion plays are presented in many communities. The largest is south of Mexico City, where over a million gather. Some places burn an effigy of Judas on Holy Saturday. There are no Easter Bunnies or chocolate eggs in Mexico. People go to church and families celebrate quietly.

Pray:

for the implications and significance of Holy Week to be blessed powerfully this year. (1Ch. 4:10)

Easter in Greenland

There are 3,300 Americans, 7,600 Danes and 44,000 Eskimos in Greenland, and although they profess to be a Christian country, the most important Greenland holiday is National Day followed by Arctic Palerfik, an April dogsled event, and the Polar Circle Marathon. At Easter homes and shops are decorated in green and yellow with branches and daffodils. The Easter symbol is the egg, and a tradition is sending teaser letters. In the weeks before Easter people cut out elaborate letters, on which they write a so-called teaser verse. The anonymous letter is signed with a number of dots corresponding to the number of letters in the sender’s name. The recipient must guess who sent it. The pledge is a chocolate Easter egg redeemed at Easter. The letter is accompanied by a snowdrop, the first flower of the year.

Pray:

for Christ and his resurrection story to experience a resurgence in Greenland’s Easter revels. (Ps. 80:3)

Easter in China

New Catholics are traditionally baptised on Easter Sunday. In recent years, there has been a large increase of baptisms in Catholic churches at Easter time. Chinese Catholic churches don’t have an official connection to the Pope. Some established churches treat Easter like a mini Chinese New Year, complete with red paper slogans called chunlián (??) on the church building and in the homes. There can be special music and decorations, with Easter eggs given as gifts or sold outside the church. Smaller Christian home groups celebrate as family or friends quietly or even secretly say simple prayers, talk and meditate on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Pray:

for God’s Holy Spirit to be in all Easter meetings, particularly the small secret gatherings. (Mt. 19:30)

Zambia – Opposition leader arrested for alleged treason

Hakainde Hichilema, the leader of the Zambian opposition United Party for National Development (UPND), was arrested by police in his Lusaka home on Tuesday, 11 April 2017. The police liberally fired tear gas and, according to HH, as he is widely known, ‘tortured’ his staff and ransacked the New Kasama property. They also stole ‘colossal’ amounts of cash, along with carpets and food. Hichilema has now been charged with treason and is being held at Lilayi Police Staff College outside the capital for questioning. Hichilema’s motorcade apparently failed to give way to that of President Edgar Lungu in Mongu three days earlier, spiking tensions. HH and his supporters have since as a result refused to acknowledge Lungu as president since the 2016 elections, citing election fraud. To charge Hichilema for treason for interfering with a motorcade would seem to be self-defeating. Yet it could also be a feint to test the response of the international community.

Pray:

For Hichilema to be released and for appropriate international intervention in this tense situation. (Pr 21:15)