Egypt: Funeral held in Cairo for Coptic Pope Shenouda III
Thousands of people turned out to pay their final respects to Pope Shenouda III, the leader of Egypt’s Coptic Christians for the last 40 years. The funeral was held today at the Cathedral of St Mark in the Abbasiya suburb of Cairo. A day of national mourning has been declared and Copts were given time off work to pay their respects. Throngs of people have lined up to see Pope Shenouda’s body, which has been on display in the cathedral since his death on Saturday, at the age of 88. His death comes at a time of heightened tensions with Muslims and there were concerns that the turnout of large numbers of Christians onto the streets of Cairo would trigger unrest. Pope Shenouda’s four decades at the helm of the Church were marked by increasing restrictions on Christians and hostility from more radical Islamist elements.
Pray: for God’s anointing on the appointment of Pope Shenouda III’s successor. (Ex.29:7)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/funeral.held.in.cairo.for.coptic.pope.shenouda.iii/29504.htm
Egypt: Nuns Traumatized after School Attack
Two nuns in Upper Egypt faced ‘unimaginable fear’ – with one later hospitalized over the emotional trauma – when 1,500 Muslim villagers brandishing swords and knives trapped them inside a guesthouse last week and threatened to burn them out. The next day, the assailants frightened children at the school; attendance has since dropped by more than a third. Accusing the nuns of building a church at the site, the throng chanted Islamic slogans as they surrounded the guesthouse of a privately run, public school in the village of Abu Al-Reesh, in Aswan Province. Two nuns, volunteer teachers at Notre Dame Language Schools, barricaded themselves into the school’s guesthouse for about eight hours. The women were ‘terrified,’ said Magdy Melad, director of the school. School workers hid a third nun from the mob in a separate building on the campus out of fear that the mob would attack her as well.
Pray: for all God’s people in Egypt that God will strengthen and protect them from their enemies. (Ps.12:5)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/egypt/article_1449790.html
Global Day of Prayer & Fasting for North Korea
‘Arise warriors of God! Open Doors invites you to take up your position and pray and fast for North Korea.’ Open Doors is calling on all Believers to come together in prayer and fasting for North Korea on April 15th. The late Kim Jong-Il had passed the baton of leadership to his son, Kim Jong-Un before he died, and many see this year as an opportunity to penetrate the darkness there, with the light of the Gospel of Jesus. Although it's not yet clear what kind of leader the still fairly young Jong-Un will be, it's possible he may be more accessible than his father. Kim Jong-Un inherited a country where between two and three million people have died of hunger and holds hundreds of thousands prisoner in labour camps, including many Christians. For more information follow the source link.
Pray: that our prayers will bring about a breakthrough and the light will penetrate the darkness. (2Sam.22:29)
More: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=9942
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