British lorry drivers in Calais in danger
It is being claimed that the migrant crisis is putting the lives of British lorry drivers at risk in Calais - and the government is being accused of not doing enough to protect them. Lorry driver Stephen Paul Morecroft has been describing his fear as he does his job to a BBC reporter, ‘They've got gas and knives and ammunition now. I don't know where it is going to end.’ Last month the boss of a British haulage firm claimed that the migrant crisis in Calais has descended into lawlessness and warned that it won't be long before someone is killed. One female driver said they attempted to open the doors to her vehicle and attacked the vehicle, leaving her very shaken. They are saying the situation is completely unacceptable and hauliers need someone they can go to in order to sort out this situation. To watch Mr Morecroft’s interview, go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35047731
A call to prayer following the decision for military action in Syria
Whatever we feel about the Government's decision for military action in Syria, we must pray! Christians cannot underestimate the spiritual warfare we are now in - not demonising peoples or communities, but prayerfully intercepting the powers of darkness seeking to steal, kill and destroy. Dr Jonathan Oloyede is calling us to stand in the gap and pray protection, blessing and intervention over our streets, communities, towns and cities now that Great Britain is at war. As the Church, we are under the authority of our Lord to blow the trumpet and sound the alarm! We must ask for God to thwart the plans of those who are planning acts of terrorism within the UK and abroad, praying protection over those in our armed forces engaged in airstrikes and praying for our intelligence services, police and ancillary departments directly or indirectly involved in the safety of all peoples in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
RAF continue to bomb IS targets
Royal Air Force aircraft have continued airstrikes against the IS terrorist network inside Syria and Iraq. RAF Tornados and Reaper drones have now been reinforced by a detachment of Typhoon fighters, which carry the same Paveway IV precision guided bombs as the Tornadoes. The deployment of the Typhoons and an extra two Tornados offers a significant increase in strike capacity to both the RAF component and the wider coalition air campaign. Pray for wisdom and accurate intelligence for those conducting these airstrikes and for protection of the innocent; for protection for the RAF pilots carrying out these raids; for the families of RAF personnel stationed in Akrotiri, Cyprus, and particularly for the families of the 300+ RAF personnel deployed at short notice, who remain at home in the UK.
Flood defences
It is going to be a grim Christmas for many in Cumbria as they clean up after the floods. Those who were also affected by the 2009 floods might not be inclined to believe the ‘once in a lifetime’ mantra which accompanied last weekend’s weather. The Met Office’s chief scientist suggested that all the evidence points to a link between climate change and our record-breaking winter rainfall, and new methods of prevention and cure must be found and funded. As a nation of islanders we may have to rediscover a lost resilience in our relationship with water. Many are now saying that councils should utilise the skills of those who know the countryside best - and pay farmers appropriately to take natural flood management seriously. Pray for wise land management of the large swathes of north-west England, southern Scotland and Northern Ireland that are vulnerable to flooding.
