Turkey: Kurds, Y.P.G. and dangerous instability
Turkey has launched waves of airstrikes against elements of a Kurdish separatist group known as the P.K.K., with its allies the Y.P.G. (who work closely with America relaying intelligence and coordinates for potential airstrike targets). The resulting strikes help Kurds seize territory along the Turkish border. Turks don’t want Kurds on their border. Kurds have historically sought an independent state, which the Turkish government strongly opposes. The peace rally bombing has come just weeks away from a re-run of an inconclusive general election. For so long a beacon of stability between Europe and the Middle East, Turkey is fighting Kurdish militants in the east and struggling against violence from Syria. Until now most violence in Turkey took place in the Kurdish areas, but twin bombing at a peace rally close to government and intelligence buildings in the heart of Ankara has caused even Turks to be afraid of shopping centres and open spaces. The residents of Turkey just want a normal life. See also: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/08/12/world/middleeast/turkey-kurds-isis.html?_r=0
The power of a booklet in the refugee crisis
In the worst of times God is at work. There’s proof of that with the refugee crisis. Hundreds of thousands have poured into Europe, legally and illegally, some to opened arms to the persecuted, some to closed gates. ‘All sorts of churches and ministries are reaching out,’ says Helen Williams of World Missionary Press. Churches, even in unwelcoming countries, are opening arms, accepting refugees and providing for them. In Hungary several churches went to train stations to give out food, clothing and the Gospel in Hungarian and translated languages to the flood of refugees. Other church groups and a Bible college are also ministering to refugees with the gospel. One of their favourite booklets to give is How to Know God, which was written specifically for Muslims. Almost every person that they gave it to received it gladly. So far they have given away 12,000 Scripture booklets in 10 different languages.
Kidnapped priest released in Syria
Al-Qaeda-linked fighters in Syria abducted an Italian priest known for his peace activism and who has expressed his opinion championing the anti-government uprising in Syria on Vatican Radio. He has now been freed. While reasons for Father Jacques Mourad’s release are unknown, a source told AFP that he said Mass yesterday for the first time since his abduction. He has ministered to Qaryatayn's Syriac Catholic community for 12 years. 2,000 Christians lived there before the war, none remain now, but the Priest works to promote Christian/Muslim dialogue and his ministry has been fruitful. Priests are fully aware of the risks they run, but they remain alongside the Syrian people, both Christians and Muslims. Often they are the only ones people have to turn to. When asked if he was intending to leave the area he said that he would do so only if forced - otherwise he would remain with his people. See also: http://www.sconews.co.uk/news/30317/italian-jesuit-priest-and-peace-activist-kidnapped-in-syria/
A new season for WPC
There has been a bit of a culture-shift at World Prayer Centre (WPC) recently. Here's an in-depth interview with the Ian Cole, the founder of the organisation and the new Director, Steve Botham on what lies ahead for WPC.
Ian, tell us about your vision for a World Prayer Centre.
Ian: I had the vision for a World Prayer Centre in 1992 and for the last 23 years, alongside my wife Pauline and many wonderful colleagues, supporters, fellow Trustees and prayer partners, have worked and continue to work to see the fulfilment of the vision. We have known for a great part of that time that this journey and every aspect of the journey had to be Heaven to earth, and that even the building itself had to be, as we have often said, an Isaac and not an Ishmael.
Steve Botham recently became the Director of WPC. What does that mean for you and Pauline?
Ian: We are so pleased that Steve has accepted the position of Director of WPC. Pauline and I have known Steve and his wife Carol for many years and Steve has been an integral member of the Trustees. His appointment has not only allowed for increased development and growth of the team and our ministry, but also enabled Pauline and I to stand back and assess where we want to put the time and energy that God gives us each day as we seek to hear from Him and be obedient to His call on our lives. Over the years, a growing part of our ministry has been to encourage prayer and those involved in the prayer movement in a number of nations through the International Prayer Council and other global organisations. We count this a great privilege and as God gives us the health and strength, we will seek to serve Him and the body of Christ in this way. By God's grace we are not retiring but we are changing pace. (I think I just heard a chuckle from Pauline's office!!)
So, where are you at with the vision for the building?
Ian: The vision for the actual World Prayer Centre still burns in our hearts. We believe God has His hand on the actual site, and that one day in God's time and in His way we will see the vision come to fruition. The scriptural foundations of the vision came as I read the story of Nehemiah where the people stood shoulder to shoulder, building the gates, the walls and the towers with trowels, swords and a trumpet blower. As we move into the next phase of our journey, the towers from where the watchman watch's and warns, take on fresh meaning and purpose for us and the whole team, not only locally and nationally but across the world.
As the new Director of WPC, tell us a bit more about your background and getting involved with WPC?
Steve: I come from a business background and was the CEO of Caret Consulting Group a well-established firm focused on leadership and change. My strengths lie in strategy, working with groups and teams, executive coaching, community development and leadership training. I am just coming up to my 40 year anniversary as a Christian and have always looked to combine my calling into the marketplace with my faith. I was on the leadership team of my church Riverside in Birmingham and have been very involved with a range of Christian projects across the city. God has opened doors - many surprising ones for me to be a watchmen and I have good contacts with leaders in the council, health, economic growth and community growth across the city.
I have always been interested in prayer and how God wants us to know his heart of compassion and his vision for change. Last year started with a period of real challenge for WPC and increasingly I felt it was time to give more support and use my strategy and change experience to help look at the future direction and calling of WPC.
How are you looking to move forward with the vision of WPC?
Steve: I have five key areas of focus:
- To grow prayer - simply put I want more people to pray - it draws us closer to God and empowers the church. We are working on the website, social media, new resources and with other organisations to grow prayer. We believe this is a key moment when Jesus is mobilising us to pray.
- Deepen prayer - there are those with a deeper prayer calling, we need to see more watchmen with grace and authority to mobilise others to pray, we need to pray into spiritual change and release blessing. These are changing times so we need to be open to learn and to go deeper.
- Build unity - WPC is a generous networking organisation and we feel that doors are being opened for us to encourage, support, and enable. Unity is about Jesus, representing Him better, serving Him more successfully and making Him number one.
- Providing day-by-day leadership - Ian and Pauline will continue to inspire us, pray with us, and engage in much of the strategic thinking. My role is to make change happen with the wonderful WPC team, our support base and our partners in the UK and working with Ian and Pauline in Europe.
- Communication - we are at a significant growth point for WPC. We need to be able to communicate quickly and mobilise prayer around fast-changing issues like the refugee crisis and all the knock-on issues this will produce. It means being more deliberate in fundraising - encouraging people to invest in moving prayer forward. It means our prayer events will be supplemented by more day-by-day communication to enable us to pray effectively in our families, neighbourhoods, cities and nations.
What are the areas that you want to grow and develop within WPC to fulfil its calling?
Steve: WPC has a watchman calling to give direction and prayer encouragement. I have been watching and looking at strategic things in my city, Birmingham, for many years. There are so many practical issues for us to pray into as God calls us to lift Him up, to bless what is good and provide spiritual protection. We have a national and a global perspective and we partner with like-minded organisations. E.g. looking at Europe, we ask "what is God doing in nations like Germany, Hungary, Greece at this time" and then looking at the deeper spiritual issues - is God testing our hearts? What are the prayer issues in this time of significant shaking?
At the core of this is more prayer and greater awareness of the issues on our doorstep as well as on the news. Jesus came to dwell amongst us. He is supreme over all things. I personally feel this is a great privilege and adventure - following in His footsteps as He shapes and enables change.
So in conclusion, there are exciting times ahead for WPC. We would so value your continued prayers for us as we press on into all that God has for us in the coming days.
