Praise Reports

Europe

British Isles

Worldwide

Praise Reports

Dramatic examples of answered prayer

In order to increase the number of people praying for the nation, the Wartime Miracles leaflet has been posted to 25,000 UK churches. In an easy-to-read format, this leaflet helps Christians to intercede with a greater faith by giving examples of dramatic deliverances the Lord gave in answer to prayer during the Second World War. For example, many Christians today are not aware that the English Channel became like a millpond 24 hours after a national prayer day was held on 26 May 1940. It was this calm which enabled little boats to rescue large numbers of soldiers from the Dunkirk area.

Praise: God for this initiative; may thousands of churches apply for their free copies and distribute them locally to strengthen the faithful. (Psalm 30:4)
More: www.heartpublications.co.uk/wartime-miracles/

Quaker Week (28 September to 6 October)

This week, Quakers are describing their personal faith journeys. ‘Quaker Stories’ is the theme of this year’s Quaker Week. These stories will be shared on social media, using the hashtags #QuakerWeek and #QuakerStories. Alistair Fuller, of Quakers in Britain, said, ‘They are planting seeds of renewal for the world they love. Every year, we encourage Quakers to share what their faith means to them. This year we are telling the stories of how they live out their faith in the world, and how this can challenge, inspire and transform us.’ See

Praise: God for the market stalls, media, discussions, worship, and drama, where Quakers will be taking the opportunity to speak out about faith. (Ephesians 4:1)
More: www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/28924

Praise Reports

Brexit: final decisions

Having addressed the Conservative Party conference, Boris Johnson has also delivered new Brexit proposals to the EU. These included plans to replace the backstop, with Northern Ireland staying in the European single market for goods, but leaving the customs union – resulting in new customs checks. Mr Johnson has explained the proposals to MPs, and will update the House of Commons next week. Michael Gove said that the government had given ‘serious proposals’ to the EU; however, one EU spokesman has described them as ‘gravely concerning’, and other commentators are sceptical. The UK hopes to begin a period of intense negotiations, with the aim of reaching a final agreement at the EU summit on 17 October. Let us pray for God to drench European leaders with His strategies as they discuss their response to the latest Brexit plan.

Pray: for every decision to be according to God’s final plan for Europe and the UK. (Jeremiah 29:11)
More: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49890319

Halloween and sharing the hope of Jesus

Halloween is a great time to share the hope of Jesus with all those who come knocking at your door. Each ‘bag of hope’ from UCB and World Vision contains a full-colour, Bible-based booklet and activity sheet. Picture the scene. It is 31 October, the night is drawing in, and the doorbell rings. The Christians in the house know it will probably be trick-or-treaters, so they have two choices. They can pretend not to be in (dim the lights, quick!) or they could greet callers with a big smile and a brand new bag of hope. The bags are free and suitable for children aged 5 to 10. Praise God for the Christian input on that day with church light parties, and resources like the bags of hope.

Pray: for millions of Christians to share their faith with Halloween visitors this year. (Job 5:16)
More: www.ucb.co.uk/bagofhope?utm_term=

Hope for the countryside

‘If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?’ (Psalm 11:3) Beneath the turmoil and conflict in nation and church is a crumbling of the biblical foundations that have supported both through many centuries. As we teeter on the edge of an abyss, pray that believers will be able to see beyond the news and understand the time from the Lord’s perspective. Pray that He will call out a faithful remnant characterised by radical discipleship, loving fellowship, and humble service. Pray for rural believers to understand their calling to light beacons of prayer and make places of sanctuary. Britain’s green and pleasant land has a dark side which is getting darker. While overall crime rates are falling, drug crime is increasing in small towns and villages. According to NFU Mutual, rural crime hit a seven-year high in 2018, with farmers bearing the brunt. Pray to the Father to deliver us from evil, and for His peace to reign in the countryside.

Pray: for believers to shine as lights in the darkness. (Philippians 2:15)
More: www.worldprayer.org.uk/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=917f673e-31e0-4ffb-8b5d-c35edfa5a38b

Churches and communities – ageism

1 October was ‘The International Day of Older Persons’, a day to remind people to stand against ageism and promote a society hospitable to all ages. Older people play a significant role in society as leaders, caretakers and custodians of tradition. They are also vulnerable, with many falling into poverty, becoming disabled, or facing discrimination. As health care improves, the number of older people is growing. Their needs are also growing, as are their contributions to the world. Louise Morse from Pilgrim’s Friends Society says that ageism is also a problem within churches where there is a pastor for younger people, a youth worker, but nothing to make reality of the ideas of older people. ‘If you think about it, God takes the whole of our lives to hone in us the attributes that older people have.’

Pray: for work environments, and communities, to meet the needs of older, vulnerable people, and for churches to be more inclusive to all age groups of believers. (Psalm 71:18)
More: www.unfpa.org/events/international-day-older-persons

Children told: ‘over 100 gender identities’

A BBC teaching video states that there are 100, if not more, gender identities as well as male and female. Among the ‘trusted adult’ speakers is transgender activist Leo Lardie, and the 9- to 11- year- olds appear uncomfortable as she talks about her genitals. She says that people who criticise transgenderism ‘don’t know any better yet’. A gay head teacher tells the youngsters they should not just accept differences between people but ‘celebrate them’. Finally, the children are threatened into conforming by being told that ‘people can go to prison if it is shown they’re disrespecting or being hateful to people because of a difference that person perceives’. Coalition for Marriage said, ‘These claims are nonsensical. The video series is supposed to help teachers deal with sensitive subjects in age-appropriate and honest ways. It does neither.’ Meanwhile a Christian mother is mobilising parents against LGBT lessons.

Pray: for educators and media to listen to doctors who are warning ‘serious, irreversible damage is being done by our over-eager and misplaced interventions’. (Genesis 1:27)
More: www.heartpublications.co.uk/bbc-indoctrinates-kids-in-gender-ideology/

Schools – religious education laws

A study by religious education teachers has reported more schools failing to meet UK legal requirements around religious education provision. 40% of community schools without a religious character failed to meet requirements to provide RE, up from 34% last year. 50% of academy schools with a religious character skipped RE provision for ages 14 to 16. UK state schools are required to provide RE lessons to everyone, regardless of whether they have chosen the subject for GCSE. However, 64% of age 14-15 and 59% of age 13-14 had received no RE at Key Stage 4. Many schools were getting away with making no RE provision because of ‘failing’ accountability structures. In some schools where RE was provided, parents took steps to remove their children from the lessons. 80% of schools did not plan to make GCSE RE short course entries in the 2018/19 academic year.

Pray: for the Government to take action and establish a national plan for RE, to reverse the decline so that pupils receive this crucial part of their learning. (Proverbs 22:6)
More: www.christiantoday.com/news/rise-in-the-number-of-schools-ignoring-religious-education-laws/133331.htm

Scrapping council meeting prayers

In an attempt to be more ‘inclusive’, North Somerset Council voted last week to abolish its Christian prayers before council meetings, also rejecting a proposal to replace them with a period of ‘reflection’. Christian Legal Centre’s Michael Phillips commented ahead of the vote, ‘If we remove every last vestige of Christianity, we are really left with nothing. When we turn our backs on what is good, we are left in a complete and utter mess.’

Pray: for this decision to be overturned and a Christian ethos reestablished. (Psalm 18:21)
More: christianconcern.com/comment/ripping-out-christian-foundations-will-lead-to-utter-mess/

Praise Reports

Albania: Christian momentum

For years Albania was closed to the gospel. Many see concentrated prayer and intercession as major reasons why it is now open for ministry and scripture translation is being undertaken. There are three complete translations of the Bible in Albanian; one literal, one paraphrased, and one Catholic. The NT has been retranslated into modern Albanian, and a new OT translation is under way. Pray for accuracy, timely completion, and widespread use of the Scriptures. Religious literature from many faiths flooded the country after Communism fell. Christian books are now published there, but there are very few Christian bookstores. Pray for the impact of useful Christian books and literature, and outlets for their circulation.

Pray: for Christian radio and internet programmes to reach people in isolated communities. (John 10:27)
More: www.operationworld.org/country/alba/owtext.html

Greece: UN warning after migrant fire

13,000 people are crammed into a facility designed for 3,000. The UN has called for migrants to be transferred immediately from the squalid Moria camp on Lesbos to the mainland after a fire killed a mother and child. Lesbos lies in sight of Turkey’s coastline. As quickly as people are transferred to Greece’s mainland, more asylum-seekers arrive from Turkey. On 29 September a blaze consumed shipping containers where families are housed. A woman and child died in the fire, and 17 people were hurt. Clashes erupted between migrants and police, who fired tear gas to control the chaos. Humanitarian organisations condemn the conditions at the camp, where many are sleeping in tents in olive groves. Pray for the police and authorities to respect and care for migrants who have covered dangerous terrain to get as far as Greece, and then been made to live in conditions described as ‘critical’.

Pray: for an acceleration of transfers to the mainland, and improved conditions in Moria. (Psalm 142:4)
More: www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/un-pressures-greece-after-fatal-migrant-fire-38550195.html

Germany: prayer walk

A prayer walk along the former east-west border is being undertaken by German intercessors, from 3 October to 9 November, with the slogan ‘From a lifeless divide to a new lifeline’. The walk will take place along two routes, one from the north and one from the south, to a central meeting point. Its aim is to thank God for freedom and unity, and to pray for further reconciliation and understanding between former East and West Germany.

Pray: for God’s protection and direction for all engaging in this project. (1 Kings 8:28b)
More: www.waechterruf.de/gebetsbriefe/gebetsbriefe/gebetsbrief/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1108&cHash=6a4b357585c77fc224d3a118c593f8d2

Praise Reports

Sudan: prayer needs

Sudan’s dominant religion is Islam, and it ranks 6th in the persecution table. Almost 50% of the population live below the poverty line. President al-Bashir was forced to step down after thirty years in power marked by oppression, genocide, and human rights abuses. The military now rule the country, and sharia law throughout the country allows stoning and amputations as punishments. Bashir’s military was responsible for bombing Christian civilians in the Nuba mountains. Christians are often subject to brutal treatment from the surrounding culture and from authorities; conversion from Islam to Christianity is punishable by death. Church buildings are regularly attacked and burned. The Christian community in Sudan is waiting and watching the uncertain future under military law. Pray for God to work in the hearts of Sudanese leaders, convicting them to seek justice and peace through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Pray: for the next leaders of Sudan to allow Christians and other religious minorities to live out their faith freely. (Romans 13:3a).
More: www.windowreporter.com/prayer-points-day?day=2

Silk Road prayer

The ancient Silk Road connected east and southeast Asia with Iran, the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa, and Southern Europe. Recently, after Central Asian pastors and leaders fasted and prayed for three days, a vision to raise up strong, unified, consistent prayer for this region of the world was ignited. With Central Asian Consultation, they are launching ‘Silk Road Prayer’, sending out regular prayer updates with specific information on how to pray for current needs in the region, and using social media to spread information for focused prayer. Intercessors everywhere are invited to join them in this effort to see God move in a new and unprecedented way along the ancient Silk Road. May believers and churches facing persecution across the region have His great strength to stand strong. Current needs are for churches in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to have registration to meet freely without persecution and a Kazakh church to have justice in a court case.

Pray: for God to mobilise more united prayer along this route and the nations it touches. (James 5:16b)
More: www.ipcprayer.org/ipc-connections/item/12248-re-launching-silk-road-prayer.html

Egypt: thousands jailed after protests

Selahattin Demirtas stood against President al-Sisi in the last election before he was arrested on terrorism charges. He is still there along with thousands of other ‘terrorists’. Businessman Mohamed Ali accuses al-Sisi of wasting public funds on vanity projects despite widespread poverty. The former military contractor, living in self-imposed exile in Spain, has called for a ‘million-man march’ to topple al-Sisi in a video that has gone viral. Demonstrators have been responding to Ali’s call that ‘all squares are Tahrir Squares’. On 25 September Egyptian authorities arrested 1,100 people, including several high-profile individuals. Two days later, they arrested a further 2,000 nationwide but acknowledged only 1,000. News and political websites are now blocked, and the internet services that protesters relied on to communicate and document government abuses are interrupted. Security forces have deployed armed masked men and riot police to prevent further challenges to the regime, at least for now. See

Pray: for God to give wisdom and discernment to weary Egyptians coping with political and economic turmoil and pro-government media. (John 8:32)
More: www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/a-tense-and-divided-egypt-braces-for-more-protests-on-friday/2019/09/27/a7b779d4-e086-11e9-be7f-4cc85017c36f_story.html

Cameroon: Boko Haram cut off women’s ears

Boko Haram terrorists abducted three Christian women from their homes in a night-time raid on a mainly Christian town in the far north of Cameroon. They dragged their victims to the outskirts of the town, where they sliced off one ear from each victim. They then released the women, threatening that they would return in the future. The injured women were taken to a clinic about 160 miles away, where they received medical treatment. Boko Haram, operating in the region surrounding Lake Chad, has stepped up attacks on Christian villages in the north. Some villages have been repeatedly targeted, and Christians taken away into captivity. Pray that the cruel extremists will be brought to justice. May the extremism that is now rife in West Africa diminish. Pray that love will conquer hate, and that peace will reign.

Pray: for the Lord to bless and comfort those who were mutilated because of His Name. (Psalm 57:1)
More: barnabasfund.org/sites/default/files/resources/prayer-focus-update/2019/pfu-a4-oct19.pdf

Nigeria: government detains trafficking survivors

According to a Human Rights Watch report, survivors of human trafficking are being locked up in shelters by the Nigerian government. 76 of them are women suffering from depression, anxiety, insomnia, flashbacks, aches and pains. Despite attempts to combat human trafficking and provide support for survivors, care for victims is still severely lacking. Nigerian authorities are illegally detaining traumatised survivors, and inhibiting their recovery from the experiences they went through. They are not allowing survivors to leave at will, in violation of the country’s international legal obligations. The detentions overwhelmingly affect women and girls between the ages of 8 and 17, putting their recovery and well-being at risk. Some were promised well-paid jobs as domestic workers, hairdressers, or hotel staff but were then tricked and trapped in exploitation, and forced to pay back huge ‘debts’ for their travel.

Pray: for medical, counselling, financial support and reintegration into society or reuniting with their families for all the men, women and children. (Psalm 23:4)
More: www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/08/nigeria-government-detaining-trafficking-survivors-report-190827085056733.html

China: TV – a weapon in an arsenal of repression

Since Hong Kong’s anti-government protests began, Beijing’s state TV (CCTV) has gone to great lengths to demonise protesters and mislead Chinese and international audiences about the nature of the movement. CCTV’s flagship news programme runs segments denouncing the protests, claiming they are linked to ‘external forces’. It also reported that a protester had blinded a woman, whereas she was actually struck in the eye by a police bean-bag round. The station’s international arm released videos and graphics on YouTube and Facebook, comparing protesters to Islamist militants and claiming they are backed by US spy agencies. Recently a news video platform urged its 89 million followers to identify, investigate, and publish online the personal information of Hong Kong protesters and journalists – thus targeting the political enemies of the Communist party, which celebrated its 70th anniversary on 1 October. It has taken China less than 70 years to emerge from isolation to become one of the world’s greatest economic powers.

Pray: for wisdom and truth emanating from Christian communities and overseas broadcasting to outweigh distorted communist media. (Isiah 59:19)
More: freedomhouse.org/china-media/china-media-bulletin-cctv-spreads-disinformation-hong-kong-journalists-attacked-activists-die-in-custody-no-138

Four power struggles

In North Korea leaders put workers’ wages into a government fund used to strengthen defence power, including nuclear development, importing luxury goods, operating the Labour Party, and constructing political achievements. Workers’ complexes are surrounded by barbed wire and under military surveillance, like labour camps. Peru’s power struggle is creating the worst political crisis in decades, with both the president and the vice-president claiming to be the country’s rightful leader, and its congress closed while surrounded by riot police. Peru’s dysfunctional and corruption-ridden political system has courted crisis for years, with three of its past presidents under investigation and one dead after shooting himself during his arrest. In Iraq at least ten are dead and 286 wounded, after riot police fired on thousands of demonstrators against unemployment, government corruption, and poor services. In Cape Town civil unrest and anarchy on the roads is being created by taxi operators displeased by strong-arm police tactics over their reckless driving. See also and and

Pray: for God to shake the nations so that the exploited are given justice, the oppressed are protected, and power struggles are overpowered by honesty and humility. (Haggai 2:7)
More: cornerstoneusa.org/index.php?document_srl=29326&mid=TodayPray_bulletin#0

Praise Reports
Please feel free to distribute Prayer Alert to anyone you feel will benefit from its ministry. All we ask is that you do not edit or change it in any way or charge for its use without contacting us first for written permission

Prayer Alert is produced in partnership with
The World Prayer Centre, Cornerstone House, 5 Ethel Street, Birmingham, B2 4BG, England.
The views expressed in Prayer Alert and on our website are those of the authors, organisations and websites named, and are not necessarily those of the Prayer Alert Editorial Team, the Prayer Alert Steering Group or the World Prayer Centre or any of its employees or trustees. While we try to ensure that the information we provide is correct, mistakes do occur and we cannot guarantee the accuracy of our material. If you do notice any mistakes then please let us know.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This
Skip to toolbar