The government wants to know how difficult it is to be a Christian at work – so let’s tell them
You can almost guarantee these days that every couple of months there’ll be another ‘Christian persecution’ story making its way into the papers that tells of a Christian trying to get on and do their job, but because they choose to stay true to their beliefs they end up being accused up of being intolerant and awkward. Christians in Parliament and the Church of England have asked for an online questionnaire on this issue to be promoted amongst Christians. If you have something to share about faith at work, whether it is big or small, it will take about 30 minutes to fill the online form in. http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/about-us/our-work/key-projects/religion-or-belief-tell-us-about-your-experiences If you know someone who has an experience that has affected them then please pass the link on. We have until October the 14th to tell the government what is really happening up and down the country in our places of employment.
United Kingdom: After the vote
Whatever the result, the Referendum will have a profound impact on the whole of the UK. It remains to be seen what effect the emotions and forces released by this campaign will have on the unity of the British state, as parts of England are now calling for strong regional assemblies with devolved powers similar to those enjoyed by the Scottish Parliament and, to a lesser extent, by the Assemblies that exist in Wales and Northern Ireland. Please pray for the spiritual life of our nations after the vote. Pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our nations, that Church leaders will rise again, empowered to be bold, fearless and to speak with wisdom and authority into every level of society. Pray that the chorus of recent intercession ascended to heaven will bring about a situation that whatever the result, the atmosphere over these nations will be changed for the better, and permanently.
Scotland: After the vote
The question YES or NO will have far-reaching consequences, alienated communities, divided families and even separated church congregations. In a recent TV debate the candidates for both sides agreed on the need of justice and fairness but disagreed on how it could be achieved. In the coming months we can pray that there will no longer be us and them, only us in the communities that have recently become divided. The eyes of the world are on us, perhaps wondering how we deal with our differences.On Radio 4 Thought for the Day on Wednesday the Rev Lorna Hood suggested that we look at Jesus’s disciples. Matthew the tax collector and Simon the Zealot were divided in their politics and opinions of how Jesus’s mission could be accomplished. Yet with His guidance they took God’s message of love and hope to the ends of the earth.
God’s healing power at an IHOP event
At a New Jersey summer camp children are encouraged to pray for the sick. A team member writes, ‘During the service I called out a word of knowledge about cancer and a woman with ovarian cancer came forward. The children prayed over her for over an hour, contending for the cancer to be gone. The scene was glorious as I watched the children praying fervently for a miracle from the Lord. One young boy told Lois that he had had a vision of the tumour being struck with a hammer. The lady visited the doctor soon after receiving prayer. There is no cancer anywhere in her body! The doctor told her that the mass was broken off like it was struck with a hammer and that it had passed from her body with no trace left behind. Amazing! When God heals a body, the works of God are displayed (Jn. 9:3)
