Affordable accommodation needs
The organisation Housing Justice is the national voice of Christian action in the field of housing and homelessness. They believe that human dignity is challenged by the lack of decent housing; so they support night shelters, drop-ins, and hundreds of practical projects nationwide by providing advice and training for churches and other community groups who work with homeless people. They provide a range of supportive forums to ensure that people feel free to express their views in a positive environment and that their opinions are heard. They work to unite Christians and churches of all denominations across the country to work for change and embrace partnerships with people of all faiths (and none) who share our values of social justice and compassion.
Nursery 'raised fears of radicalisation over boy's cucumber drawing'
Staff at a nursery school threatened to refer a four-year-old boy to a de-radicalisation programme after he drew pictures which they thought showed his father making a ‘cooker bomb’. The child’s drawing actually depicted his father cutting a cucumber with a knife, but staff misheard his explanation and thought it referred to a type of improvised explosive device. The boy’s mother showed the Guardian video footage of her son in which he is playing happily on the floor of his home and is shown a cucumber and asked what it is. ‘A cuker-bum,’ he says, before going back to his toys. In between the odd tear and laugh of disbelief, the mother spoke about the experience. At one point she was told, ‘Your children might not be taken off you - you can prove yourself innocent.’ In another exchange with nursery staff, she added, ‘When you look at me, do I look like a terrorist?’ The reply was, ‘Well, did Jimmy Savile look like a paedophile?’
Threats to Israel on border with Syria
A senior Israeli Defence Forces official warned: ‘The relative quiet on Israel’s Syrian border can be shattered by Hezbollah, IS, or another fringe jihadist group making a statement about its dedication to fight against Israel’. The Syrian threat is not only intentional attacks, but also spillover from the rebel infighting and battles against Assad’s forces. The immediate threat comes from jihadi organisations that are less interested in capturing territory and more interested in either anti-Israel ideology or a desire to please Iran by carrying out attacks against the Jewish state. Ask God to protect Israel from the al-Nusra organisation, which has a few tanks and some light machinery and is known to have ties with al-Qaeda, who are devoted to the destruction of Israel. Also, Hezbollah has a presence in Hader (Assad-controlled territory). It’s a prime base of operations as there is less for the IDF to destroy in retaliation for an attack.
Yemen: attack on Catholic care home
Yemen's civil war has split the country in two, with ongoing warfare and humanitarian needs. Shiite rebels control the north. The south is controlled by a government backed by Saudi Arabia. There is a power and security vacuum: lawlessness and extremist groups such as al-Qaeda prevail. Christians need our prayers. Last Friday a care home in Aden for eighty elderly and disabled, run by the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity and founded by Mother Teresa, was attacked. At least sixteen were killed. The dead include four missionary sisters (two from Rwanda, one from India and one from Kenya) and several of their helpers (including at least five from Ethiopia). No members of the community they served were harmed. There is concern for the safety of an Indian priest, whose whereabouts are unknown. Pray that families, friends and colleagues of those murdered will know the comfort of Jesus.
