Prayer Alert News: UK, Europe, and Worldwide

A year after its launch the Church of England’s Alexa skill has been asked over 75,000 questions. The smart speaker skill was originally launched with prayers, explanations of Christian faith and details of where to find the nearest church for local events and services. More family prayers have also been added, and integration improved with A Church Near You, the national church finder tool, showing maps of where the nearest church is. A range of videos have now been added to bring the Christian faith to life and showcase Church social action work across the country. The highest numbers of people using the skill were in the evening. So the teams added a wider range of mealtime, evening and night prayers. The skill is average 4.2 out of five stars on the Alexa store with comments such as ‘Love it – great example to the kids on how to pray’.

Praise: God for Alexa helping people exploring faith to connect 24/7 to Christian resources. (Deut. 4:29)
More: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/news/church-england-alexa-skill-asked-75000-questions-first-year?

On 11 April you were asked to pray for Afghan translators, living in fear of retribution from the Taliban because they once served alongside British forces in wartime situations. The men and their families were promised visas for UK entry, but years later they are still in hiding in Afghanistan. You prayed for ‘the MoD to honour visa promises swiftly’. (Proverbs 3:23) On 27 May the media reported ‘the first Afghan translator arrived in the UK to start a new life with his family after years of death threats from the Taliban.’ Niz, his wife and their five children will live near Coventry, after living five years ‘in the shadows’ because Niz worked as interpreter and was branded an infidel spy. Last week he became the first Afghan translator to begin a new life in Britain.

Praise: God for Niz’s relocation, may the family settle into their new surroundings quickly and be the first of many escaping from the Taliban. (Romans 12:15)
More: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7073533/First-Afghan-translator-served-alongside-British-soldiers-arrives-UK.html

Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is launching a formal investigation into the Labour party over whether they unlawfully discriminated against, harassed or victimised people because they are Jewish. They have been carrying out preliminary investigations since March and will seek to determine whether the party and its employees have committed unlawful acts of discrimination or failed to respond to complaints of unlawful acts in an efficient and effective manner. The EHRC rarely takes action against political parties. In 2010, it ordered the British National party (BNP) to rewrite its constitution to comply with race relations laws because they banned black and minority ethnic Britons from becoming members. The inquiry transpires in the midst of a worrying rise in anti-semitism in the UK and across Europe. See https://www.prayer-alert.net/europe-pa-site/item/11821-germany-jews-told-not-to-wear-skullcaps

Pray: for political parties to protect Jewish communities and combat political racism. (Numbers 22:6b)
More: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/28/equality-body-launches-investigation-of-labour-antisemitism-claims

Britain has a shortage of veterinarians, medical practitioners, engineers, artists, web designers and architects according to the Government Migration Advisory Committee (MAC). Only workers from the European Economic Area (EEA), that’s EU countries plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, enjoy freedom of movement to travel within the area without visas. The UK currently allows 20,700 high-skilled workers entry per year. If a job title is included in the list of vacancies it means there are lower visa application fees, no requirement to advertise the job to UK workers, or meet £35,800 salary threshold for settlement after five years. The MAC recommended there should be a ‘full review’ of the shortage occupation arrangements once it is clear what the future immigration system will look like after Brexit. We can pray for the skilled labour cap of 20,700 to be raised regardless of Brexit, and for appropriate applicants outside of the EEA to be given working visas to cover the manpower shortage in the ‘skilled workers’ categories.

Pray: for work visas for those able to fill industry, education and medicine vacancies. (Leviticus 19:33)
More: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48443716

There has been much improvement over the years in quality of life for children, but we have not yet eradicated the serious harm inflicted on children at risk. Risk is increased by poverty, alcohol- or drug-addiction, domestic abuse and where parents have learning disabilities or mental illness. Childhood neglect can be a gateway to deeper problems. UNICEF reported that approximately one in 10 of all girls under 20 have experienced sexual violence. Children not in school are at greater risk. Wars take place in streets these days. In conflict areas, or where natural disasters have struck, vaccination rates plummet, education stops, trauma multiplies. Worldwide 10-20% of children and adolescents experience mental disorders. The Church is uniquely well-placed to protect children at risk and make them more resilient, resourceful, and hopeful for a brighter future. No other organisation can supply such time, compassion, volunteers, skills, and spiritual resources.

Pray: for the godly nurture of children to be a hallmark of the Christian Church. (Psalm 55:22)
More: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Zwof7Lc8Q81uqdYIzRvWndH–8NSjP7zuVXYngrdAIg/edit#

Reverend John Parker has resigned over the way a Church of England school handled an eight-year-old pupil’s plan to change gender. He supported the boy’s wish to become a girl but was silenced when he raised concerns that parents and pupils would be kept in the dark. He feared staff and governors had been misled by a transgender lobby group which advise the school. After his concerns were dismissed by the bishop Reverend Parker quit the church which he had served for 14 years. His resignation letter spoke of his fear that children were being ‘sacrificed on the altar of trans ideology’, in Church schools. Mr Parker said, ‘I was basically told by my bishop that if I wished to follow the teachings of the Bible faithfully then I was no longer welcome in the Church. It felt like I was being silenced by the Church and the school.’

Pray: for Christian guidelines for schools encountering gender change issues, and for God to open diocese doors of engagement for Revd. Parker. (Psalm 109: 31)
More: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7070773/Vicar-resigns-schools-plan-eight-year-old-pupils-sex-change-secret-parents.html?

Trafalgar Square will be transformed into a joyful family festival and service. The day is packed with festivities; live performances from acts including worship leader and Grammy award winner Matt Redman and The Kingdom Choir, made famous around the world for a memorable performance of Stand By Me at the wedding of HRH Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle last May. There will be something for everyone, from uplifting live music, spoken word, dance, prayer workshops and crafts – to family fun and activities to keep the kids entertained. The Pentecost service will be between 4-6pm with praise, worship, witness, word and prayers. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby will be at this Pentecost celebration and is inviting all in London to take part of a joy filled celebration thanking God for the water of life and committing to be those through whom that water flows into a thirsty world.

Pray: for God to be prominent in this and the many other Pentecost celebrations happening across the nation, may many lives be changed. (Romans 8:27)
More: https://www.london.anglican.org/event/2019/06/09/trafalgar-square-beacon-event/

Thursday 6 June is a significant day for our nation. This year, we mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day when allied nations came together in a tremendous act of courage, sacrifice and God’s divine intervention – that became the turning point in World War II. It is the day before Prime Minister May resigns, and we can entrust our nation to the hands of God, as we enter the next chapter of our history. Christians believe in the power that comes from heaven when we come together in prayer. We may all have different views, but we can unite in praying for God’s will. ‘Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be done’ for the UK. In a mark of solidarity between nations that characterised D-Day, the event will have minority churches lead prayers in Parliament Square, London between 7 and 8 pm on Thursday 6 June, or at other prayer events on the day across the nation.

Pray: for thousands across the UK to host prayer events, ushering in Kingdom changes. (Psalm 43:3)
More: https://passionforthenation.uk/

As Theresa May steps back from her position of Prime Minister and eleven men and women step into the ‘race’ to take her place, we can pray for a heavenly outpouring of wise strategies and an air of calmness to diffuse the current Westminster upheaval. Ask for God’s Spirit to permeate conversations and media comments with positive expectations that would replace fear, frustration and criticism. As far-right and nationalists in Italy, France, Poland and Britain gained support in Europe’s elections, there are forecasts of politics being shaken in these nations – none more so than Britain. Please pray for the people appointed to represent Britain in Europe to have extraordinary negotiating skills as they sit at a changed negotiating table, and may our next Prime Minister be heaven’s choice, serving with honesty, strength of character and a godly focus on renewal. May our leader speak and act with strategies that bless the nation.

Pray: for calm governance of the UK by those fulfilling their God-given ministry. (2 Kings 22:2a,b)
More: https://www.prayer-alert.net/pa-pray/regions/british-isles/itemlist/search?searchword=theresa+may

Italy intends to close all ports to NGO ships rescuing migrants crossing from Africa to Europe. The UN said that the decree intensifies the hostile climate and xenophobia against migrants. Meanwhile over 40 migrants from the German aid group Sea-Watch remained off the island of Lampedusa waiting to disembark its passengers. There are thousands looking for a new start after difficult journeys. In the middle of his nursing training, Hassan was drafted for five years of Eritrean military service, so, with his twin brother walked 550 miles overland to Khartoum, lived in a UN refugee camp for four months and hid in a truck caravan for 2,200 miles to Libya. Eight months of hard labour gave them enough for fake papers and a rubber dinghy holding 45 adults that crashed on a Sicilian beach. They managed to travel to Denmark, applied for refugee status and are hoping, eventually, to join friends in the UK.  See https://prayercast.com/displaced-people-in-europe.html

Pray: for God’s deliverance for displaced people at the mercy of cruel environments. (Exodus 22:21)
More: https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2019/05/19/world/europe/ap-eu-europe-migrants.html

A skullcap, sometimes called a kippah or yarmulke, is a cap worn by some male Jews under religious rules that say their heads should be covered. Commissioner Felix Klein, the German government’s top official against anti-semitism, has warned Jewish people not to wear skullcaps in parts of the country because of a rise in anti-Semitic attacks. Mr Klein told the Funke newspaper group, ‘My opinion has unfortunately changed compared with what it used to be. I cannot recommend to Jews that they wear the skullcap at all times everywhere in Germany.’ According to statistics released earlier this month, anti-Semitic incidents were up by 19.6% to 1,799 in 2018, with 89.1% of them involving far-right perpetrators. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said he was deeply shocked by Mr Klein’s words. He added, ‘We will never submit, will never lower our gaze and will never react to anti-semitism with defeatism – and expect and demand our allies act in the same way.’

Pray: for God to prompt the State to ensure Jews can go anywhere without fear. (Genesis 28:15a)
More: https://news.sky.com/story/jews-told-not-to-wear-skullcaps-in-parts-of-germany-11728764

A cell phone tornado alert prompted Rich to take his 83-year-old mother toward the basement. They went down four steps when they heard a loud boom. His home was destroyed. Walls bent, doors tilted, roof gone. Another house crippled in a stretch of severe weather that has devastated communities from the Rocky Mountains to the Mid-Atlantic in recent weeks. Multiple tornadoes are destroying homes, downing power lines, uprooting trees; torrential rain is overflowing storm sewers and flooding rivers. Hundreds are injured and the death toll is rising. In the Columbia area alone last week, tornadoes caused over seven deaths and scores of injuries. National Federal weather forecasters logged 500+ tornadoes in 30 days. On the East Coast, tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings were issued in northern New Jersey and New York. Forecasters said the briefest of reprieves might not come until 1 June, saying, ‘We are in uncharted territory.’ See https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/05/29/us-reels-serious-series-tornadoes-40-years/

Pray: for families in mourning, farmers and homeowners who have lost everything. (Romans 15:13a)
More: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/28/us/tornadoes-usa.html

During Donald Trump’s state visit to Japan he told Emperor Naruhito that he would support Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s efforts to act as a mediator between the US and Iran. Abe will visit Tehran next month for talks with the President, Hassan Rouhani. Trump also gave his backing to Abe’s attempts to set up a first summit, without preconditions, with the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, hours after the regime described his national security adviser, John Bolton, as a ‘warmonger’. Currently Tehran has no interest in talking to the US administration and last week sent 1,500 troops to the region. Trump wants Iran to have no nuclear weapons. Trump’s conciliatory tone extended to North Korea, despite deadlocked denuclearisation talks and Pyongyang’s recent testing of short-range missiles. He said his relationship with Kim was one of ‘great respect’, and talked up the prospects for progress on dismantling North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme.

Pray: for the triangles of leaders to have positive face to face, frank meetings. (John 16:33b)
More: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/27/donald-trump-welcomes-japans-offer-of-mediation-with-iran

Over 40 civilians killed on 28 May were the latest casualties from barrel bomb bombardments in northwest Syria that have damaged schools and hospitals. Families are dying from government fire on towns in Idlib and the Aleppo countryside which is under the control of jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The region is supposed to be protected from government offensives by a buffer zone deal, but the area has come under increasing bombardment by the regime and Russia since late April. 260+ civilians have been killed in the spike in violence since then. The UN said that over 200,000 civilians have already been displaced by the recent upsurge of violence and an all-out offensive on the region would lead to a humanitarian catastrophe for its nearly 3 million residents. Over 20 health facilities have been hit by the escalation. Nineteen remain out of service.

Pray: for the buffer zone to be restored, for strength courage and protection to rescue teams. (Isaiah 40:29)
More: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/05/29/world/civilian-toll-mounts-syria-regime-pounds-jihadi-bastion/#.XO5DW4hKiM8

The Australian Christian Lobby is raising the profile of the need to protect religious freedom. They are stating that for some time now, the threat to religious freedom in Australia has not been merely a threat, but a reality and Australians now live in a country where religious freedom isn’t guaranteed. Countless court cases and new laws have already prevented Christians from living out and sharing their faith – and the cost is great. Loss of religious freedom paves the way for loss of other freedoms, and also restricts Australian Christians from sharing their faith with others. Pray for the voice of the Christian Lobby to be heard by the Governor-General, and in the Senate and the House of Representatives, and for those in society who are doing and thinking wrongly to be changed.

Pray: for God to bring Christian values into the mindset and law-making of governing authorities. (Exodus 20:2a,3)
More: https://www.acl.org.au/donate_eofy_1905e1

Former defence minister Avigdor Liberman whose party draws support from Israel’s largely secular Russian immigrant community, refused to join the government unless a military draft bill, crafted in the last Knesset, would be passed unaltered. The ultra-Orthodox parties dismissed this outright. Netanyahu needed 61 seats to form a governing coalition, but disagreements between secular and Halachic parties meant he was five seats short to form a coalition government by a 30 May deadline. A Halachic party is founded on Jewish law based on the Talmud, which is law passed down orally, not written. The deadline has passed, so the State of Israel is going to the elections again. In his comments following the dissolution, Netanyahu declared that Likud ‘will run a sharp and clear election campaign, and we will win.’

Pray: for communities and leaders to hear God’s whisper saying this is the way, walk in it. (Jeremiah 4:4)
More: https://worldisraelnews.com/netanyahu-fails-to-form-govt-new-election-called-for-september-17/?

A man screaming ‘I will kill you’ and carrying a knife in each hand attacked Catholic schoolgirls waiting at a bus stop in Kawasaki, slaughtering two and wounding 16 others. He then stabbed himself in the throat and died. Most of the victims attended a private school founded by Soeurs de la Charité de Québec, an organisation of Catholic nuns in Quebec City in Canada. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, ‘It was an extremely harrowing incident in which many small children were victimised, and I feel strong resentment. I will take all possible measures to protect the safety of children.’ Japan has one of the lowest crime rates in the world.

Pray: for God’s comfort to all those affected by this crime. (Psalm 23:4)
More: https://www.premier.org.uk/News/World/Catholic-school-pupils-killed-in-Japan-knife-attack

Over the years Prayer-Alert has highlighted the plight of Brick-Kiln Workers; but it still goes on. Amanat worked seven days a week in a brick-kiln making 1,000 bricks daily, earning the equivalent of £4.20 that he never saw because it went back to the brick-kiln owner, paying interest on a loan he took out at a time of family crisis. His situation was hopeless. He had to borrow further money to buy food for his children. There are thousands of Pakistani Christian brick-kiln workers like him with debts keeping them bonded to their boss, unable to leave and get another job. Their wage just pays off interest on an impossible debt. They are despised, despairing and trapped bonded slaves. But Amanat got lucky. Barnabas Fund paid off his debt and with nothing being deducted from his wages any more, he can pay for his children’s schooling, or learn a new trade.

Pray: for more provisions and tithing to enable charities to free families from their debts. (Matthew 18: 27)
More: https://barnabasfund.org/en/appeals/set-free-christian-brick-kiln-workers-in-pakistan