Prayer Alert News: UK, Europe, and Worldwide

In March Prayer-Alert intercessors prayed for an inquiry into the unfair arrest and abuse of Pastor Oluwole Ilesanmi, a street preacher. Now, supported by the Christian Legal Centre, he has been offered £2,500 in exemplary damages from the Metropolitan Police in relation to his false arrest, imprisonment and unlawful detention. Also a petition with over 38,000 signatures has now been given to the Home Secretary calling on her to investigate the guidance and training given to police officers nationwide on the freedom to preach in public. May this petition now be acted upon. See

Praise: God for the justice given to Pastor Oluowe, may this case set a precedent for policing procedures. (Isaiah 43:19)
More: https://www.christianconcern.com/our-issues/freedom-of-speech/met-police-pays-damages-nigerian-street-preacher-wrongful-arrest

Last week we prayed for God to direct the UK’s defence ministry and the Royal Navy as they organise safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, either individually or in groups. This week the foreign secretary Dominic Raab announced, ‘The Royal Navy will join a US-led taskforce to protect merchant ships travelling in the Gulf.’ The decision goes against plans laid out by his predecessor, Jeremy Hunt, for a European-led mission in the area which was not favoured by some European countries invited to participate. The US/UK move comes amid growing tensions between the two western powers and Iran over the shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz.

Praise: God for the swift delivery of a maritime task force, may everything they do give ‘reassurance and safety for shipping’. (Deut.31:8)
More: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49240867

The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team and Samaritan’s Purse are ministering at refugee centres in Texas, to offer the love and compassion of Jesus to those who have been granted legal US access. When exhausted immigrant families arrive at a centre, they are offered prayer by local pastors and have an opportunity to take showers, receive new clothes, food and other necessities, along with temporary shelter and organised transportation. Chaplain Jennifer Metallo recalled meeting one Cuban family that began to sob as they spoke to God. ‘This was the first time they had ever been able to pray out loud without fear or repercussion in a public setting. You could see on their faces that they were still apprehensive but the opportunity to do this was so monumental they couldn’t just not risk it’.

Praise: for the centres and may migrants experience peace and rest that lasts a lifetime. (James 2:15)
More: https://www.openheaven.com/2019/08/03/theyre-hungry-to-hear-hope-billy-graham-chaplains-are-ministering-at-the-us-mexico-border/

Priti Patel, the UK’s new home secretary, has pledged support for Jewish communities as UK anti-Semitism hits a six-month high. She has committed to, ‘work closely with the Jewish community’ after Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors anti-Semitism in the UK, published its half-yearly report showing a 10% rise in reported anti-Jewish incidents. That adds up to 892 incidents between January and June with abusive behaviour – including verbal abuse, anti-Semitic graffiti, anti-Semitic abuse via social media and hate mail accounting for 710 of the total number. Social media accounted for 36% of incidents; indicating the internet is a convenient channel to harass, abuse and threaten Jewish individuals and institutions’.She said that anti-semitism has no place in our society and the Hate Crime Action Plan will improve response to all forms of hate crime. ‘We work closely with the Jewish community, and this year increased funding to the Community Security Trust for protective security to £14 million.’

Pray: for an end to people being attacked because of who they are. (Matthew 25:40)
More: https://www.cufi.org.uk/news/uk-anti-semitism-hits-six-month-high-priti-patel-vows-support-for-jewish-community/

The Salvation Army assisted the writers of ITV’s Coronation Street in making the story of Alina, a victim of modern slavery, realistic and sensitive. The storyline aims to help the British public spot the signs of a potential victim while it highlights the practice of human trafficking in the UK. The Salvation Army has held the UK government contract to support adult victims of modern slavery in England and Wales since 2011. As experts in the field of human exploitation, it has helped the show to display accurately how victims might find themselves in these situations and the realities facing them. The Salvation Army said that Coronation Street is very good at taking up issues that people are living through. This is one of those issues that is relevant and happening in our society.

Pray: for the storyline to continue to be talked about so that all that is ‘hidden in plain sight’ will be remembered and recognised when it is seen. (Matthew 10:26)
More: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBRn0IFwsCk

London City Mission said they love London and are privileged to be working among the rich mixture of ages, cultures and languages sharing the good news of Jesus and the love of God with Londoners. The realities and needs of London are – 34% of people are born outside the UK. 112 homeless people died in 2017. 51% of children live in households below ‘Minimum Income Standard’. Across the UK most church outreach events are based around friendship evangelism, so if people have Christian friends they are more likely to have opportunities to hear the gospel than those without Christian friends. People recently arrived in the UK from a country that is closed to the gospel or those with few educational qualifications are much less likely ever to set foot inside a church or even the home of a believer.

Pray: for missionaries working in London and cities across the UK as they share Jesus with the least reached people groups. (Gal.6:9)
More: https://www.lcm.org.uk/blog/2019/07/22/why-do-we-care-about-the-least-reached

More than 15,000 cannabis plants with a street value of £4million were found at an industrial unit in North Lincolnshire. The operation was so big that four former Tesco home delivery vans were used to distribute drugs to cannabis dealers across Scunthorpe, Grimsby, Doncaster and large parts of Lincolnshire and from the factory in Scunthorpe. Five Vietnamese men, who are the suspected growers, were found inside. It is believed they were illegally trafficked to look after the farm. Three of the men were caught. Another two fled the scene and are being hunted by police. The estate where the farm was found was being used by a mixture of major distribution and manufacturing companies and small car repair and business units.

Pray: for the police as they strive to identify and close down similar operations and bring to justice those involved in the production and supply of controlled drugs. (Romans 13:2,3a)
More: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7322491/Cannabis-factory-worth-4million-raided-police-four-Tesco-style-vans-ferry-drugs.html

Ralph Findlay was moved by God to offer a lifeline to some of the UK’s most vulnerable men and created the Christian charity called ‘BLAST Foundation’ to offer inmates and ex-offenders vital training and support, to help free them from the vicious cycles that can result in a lifetime behind bars. As BLAST nears its tenth birthday, a milestone has been marked by a growing awareness of the insufficient assistance available to former prisoners, as well as much-welcomed success stories of lives turned around. They are slashing reoffending rates by building relationships in prison, out through the prison gate and on into the community. Pray for more Christians to support the rehabilitation of prisoners through prayer, volunteering, mentoring and giving.

Pray: for God to multiply this initiative so that more ex-offenders learn Christian life skills. (Gen.1:28)
More: https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/men-without-bars

Christ Apostolic Church in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent’s monthly late-night worship meetings start at 11pm and finish in the early hours. Their worship on 2 August finished at 4am the next day. Residents, in their pyjamas, went to the church in the middle of the night to object to ‘unacceptable’ noise levels but their pleas were ignored. One resident said, ‘It woke up half of Hamil Road and could be heard at Stanfield. A lot of people couldn’t get back to sleep, especially the elderly. A couple of us went over to ask if they could please lower the music and close the door and the reply was ‘no, we have a licence so we will carry on. At 6:25 am the last person left the building. I have no problem with religion but there is a time and place to worship. I’m sure God would not want us to go without sleep.’ Pastor Amos Nuga said he was aware of complaints and would cooperate with the council.

Pray: for the Christian witness of the church to build bridges into the community. (Matthew 5:13)
More: https://www.premierchristianradio.com/News/UK/Church-accused-of-making-an-unholy-racket

Up and down the country there are Christian festivals and conferences over the summer holiday season tailor-made for families, youth, bible study and worship in a variety of uplifting styles; all are united in the belief and declaration that Jesus Christ is Lord. We can pray for the army of volunteer helpers to have an abundance of energy as they serve their brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray for the worship groups to be powerfully anointed, entering the throne room of heaven and taking thousands with them, all worshipping in spirit and truth with fresh expressions of adoration and declaration. Pray for God to protect and inspire the teachers as they share what God has been showing them in their preparations for the event. May all those travelling to and from venues have safe journeys and be powerfully blessed and refreshed while there. The ‘More’ link mentions a few of the many dozens of festivals and conferences.

Pray: for inspiring and unique outpourings of love, peace and joy in 2019 events. (Galatians 5:22)
More: https://www.christiantoday.com/article/uk-christian-conferences-a-guide-for-2019/131534.htm

92-year-old Bruno Dey will be tried in Germany for complicity in mass murder of 5,230 people in the Stutthof Nazi death camp during World War Two. The former guard admitted knowledge of atrocities of murder in gas chambers, where over 65,000 died before Stutthof was liberated on 9 May 1945. This trial is likely to be one of the last against a former Nazi guard. Dr Efraim Zuroff who campaigns for the rights of Holocaust survivors, welcomed the decision to bring Mr Dey to trial. ‘The passage of time in no way diminishes the criminal responsibility of those guilty of aiding and abetting the implementation of the Final Solution,’ he said. There have been two more recent trials of Stutthof guards after 20+ survivors of the camp were located, most of whom are currently residing in Israel.

Pray: for God to give the families of Holocaust survivors peace of mind and to heal the ancient wounds of the families that weren’t meant to live but did. (Psalm 147:3)
More: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-49276729

The Republic of Cyprus is in the EU, but the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is recognised only by Turkey, and is internationally isolated. Ankara’s latest move to increase drilling for oil off the coast of Cyprus by sending a third ship to the eastern Mediterranean, despite EU warnings, comes on the eve of talks between the president of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot leader. At the time of writing, Cyprus president Nicos Anastasiades and Mustafa Akinci are expected to discuss ways of resuming negotiations aimed at reuniting the divided island after talks failed two years ago. In 1974 Cyprus split, 165,000 Greek Cypriots fled or were expelled from the north, and 45,000 Turkish Cypriots from the south took their place. In the years since then there have been failed talks to re-unite the island of Cyprus as Greek- and Turkish-Cypriot communities stand by their right to take their old homes back, or be compensated.

Pray: that raised tensions over Turkey’s drilling operations will not be allowed to hinder ongoing talks to unite Cyprus. (Isaiah 1:17)
More: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-49275949

A human-monkey hybrid was created in a Chinese laboratory by injecting human stem cells capable of creating any type of tissue into a monkey embryo. The experiment was stopped before the embryo was born. The scientists were Spanish but held the trial in China to evade a ban on such procedures in Spain. They said a human-monkey hybrid could have been born. The embryo was genetically modified to deactivate genes that control organ growth. Ethical concerns were raised over stem cells migrating to the brain. The scientists said mechanisms were in place for cells to self-destruct if that happened. Thomas Aquinas said that if when doing something morally good there is an unintended side-effect that’s OK as long as the side-effect was not the objective. We can pray for all countries to forbid crossing the physical and spiritual laws separating one species from another. What would happen to the hybrid’s soul, conscience, spirit?

Pray: for medical advances to save lives to be welcomed without violating God’s rules of creation. (Genesis 1: 27, 28)
More: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/human-monkey-hybrid-china-organ-transplant-stem-cells-embryo-a9037506.html

Malawi has been in a week of repentance and prayer for peace ( 5 – 11 August) in response to ongoing post-election unrest and riots over allegedly rigged presidential elections. As intercessors pray for their country, peaceful protesters took to the streets of the nation’s four main cities in a call for the resignation of the embattled electoral commission chairperson. However commentators are calling for deep soul-searching to bring back sanity in the streets as criminal elements are taking advantage of the demonstrations to burn tyres, clash with police, loot shops, and torch government premises and property. They blame Pastor Dr Jane Ansah for alleged election fraud involving doctoring election papers with Tippex. Ansah maintains her innocence and says she will not bow to ‘mob justice’. The Constitutional Court in Lilongwe started a case on 8 August in which opposition parties have applied for the nullification of the election results and a rerun of the elections. The hearing is expected to last for 24 days. See 

Pray: for peace on the streets and uncorrupted ruling in the courts. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
More: https://www.nyasatimes.com/activist-condemns-criminal-elements-in-malawi-demos-time-for-deep-soul-searching/

Koidu Town’s processing plants and surrounding earthworks create a rich diamond mine. Since the 1930s it has brought employment and prosperity to the region but it fell into the hands of South African mercenaries during the civil war and has been a private enterprise ever since. Koidu Limited took control of the mine in early 2000, evicting hundreds of residents from their homes leaving them destitute, to make way for the expanding diamond mine. Local leaders and land administrators did not uphold citizens’ land rights or protect their homes. The hundreds of millions of dollars generated by the extraction of diamonds continues to leave the community and the country with no benefits. Recently Transparency International has been working to expose the corporate corruption and bring justice to those evicted and living as refugees. Pray for the promises of running water, schools, clinics and recreation grounds to be honoured and the homeless to be compensated.

Pray: for the government to ensure adequate living conditions for victims of land corruption. (Pr. 29:2)
More: https://www.transparency.org/news/feature/blood_diamonds_and_land_corruption

Jammu and Kashmir (JK) is in militarised Kashmir, an Indian region dividing India and Pakistan. On 5 August Indian authorities revoked JK’s special status that had allowed them to make their own laws, and anticipating resistance they imposed an unprecedented clampdown – shutting down the internet, media and mobile phones, barring movement and jailing Kashmiri leaders. They argued that JK’s ‘special status’ hindered integration by their Muslim majority population with the rest of Hindu India. The disputed region has had two wars fought over it by India, Pakistan and China. Narendra Modi reached out to people of JK, in the five languages spoken there, trying to instil peace on the troubled streets of a new Kashmir; which has been stripped of its constitution, flag, and hereditary rights. A historical powder keg has been ignited. The US asked Pakistan to refrain from ‘retaliatory aggression’ as airspace corridors were closed and bilateral trade suspended. China’s foreign ministry voiced ‘serious concern’ over India’s contentious move over an area claimed by both countries. See

Pray: for peaceful demographic changes in the Muslim-majority region; for Pakistan and China to resist further conflict. (1 Peter 3:11)
More: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/08/besieged-indian-troops-kashmir-mourns-loss-autonomy-190807064247484.html

Foreign street vendors have clashed with Johannesburg police attempting to seize counterfeit goods. An armed police vehicle was pelted with stones and rubbish bins by street vendors accusing the police of terrorising them after the raid turned into violence and petrol bombing. The police retaliated by firing rubber bullets to disperse the protesters. The African Council of Hawkers and Informal Business condemns the brutality against Hawkers by the Johannesburg Metro Police and South African Police Service. SABC News reported, ‘the police were not attacking but trying to evict the illegal vendors from a congested area in town’. The ANC condemns stoning, petrol bombing and attacks on police by foreign nationals. Police are continuing with raids to remove counterfeit goods in Johannesburg and across the country. South Africa is complex. Locals resent migrant street traders, many sell contraband / fake / illegally imported goods. Many distrust corrupt authorities and there is high unemployment. Disputes quickly escalate into a riot.

Pray: for God to replace racial discrimination with honesty and harmony and for the economy of South Africa to grow through honest trading and wise negotiating. (Jerimiah 33:6-8)
More: http://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/police-vow-to-clamp-down-on-illegal-trading-in-joburg-cbd/

Yemen – Five years of war between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and Saudi/US backed government forces have created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. This Iran-Saudi rivalry threatens to grow as Houthis increase rocket attacks on Saudi Arabia. Syria – Assad, aided by Russia and Iran, has won the war. But killings in Idlib Province continue. Libya – A UN-recognised Government rules in Tripoli. A rival government controls much of the east. Each side has oil fields within its territory and its own central bank in this civil war. 1,000+ have been killed and 1.3 million people need urgent humanitarian help. Democratic Republic of Congo –25 years of violence has displaced 4.5 million people. A new government has not brought peace. Armed groups wreak havoc in a conflict fuelled by access to lucrative mineral reserves. A year-old Ebola outbreak has been declared a Global Health Emergency. Afghanistan –Washington is currently trying to convince the Taliban to engage directly with the Kabul government. There is a report today of a new Taliban reconciliation initiative.

Pray: for aid and healing to be released into areas of need and robust negotiations usher in peace. (1 Thessalonians 5:15)
More: https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?e=2b376728db&u=7404e6dcdc8018f49c82e941d&id=2545f50215

We are made in the image of a creative God and our creativity can bring him glory. The arts are an asset in mission work, they are personal. Artistic expression and response prevent the Christian faith being reduced to formulas, programmes, or clichés and our complex selves respond not just to facts or emotion, but also to the sense of beauty or ugliness. The creative arts add extra dimensions to a person’s encounter with God. Humans hunger for stories and beauty and Christian arts can enlighten a dulled world, sustain Christians in trials, and spark hope in seemingly hopeless situations. The arts bind communities together. Collective sung worship, aesthetically pleasing paintings, sculptures, buildings etc.can unite people in communal devotion to God. Art can find soft places in hard hearts. Pray for the multiplication of Christian artistic endeavour throughout the world.

Pray: for Christian artists to stay rooted in Christ, in truth and in love. (Exodus 35: 35)
More: https://omarts.org