USA: Aid needed for tornado victims
Last week a tornado outbreak of 440 warnings in five states killed 39 people and completely flattened whole townships. Meteorologists say this only comes along once every 10 or 20 years. The Salvation Army has sent in Emergency Disaster Service teams from nearby New Albany to the badly damaged town of Henryville in Clark County, where mobile canteens have been set up. Another team is providing food for 200 people at the Red Cross shelter in Charlestown. In Washington County, they are providing food for nearly 400 victims. The Salvation Army is assessing what's needed and providing support to the victims of these storms, and believe they will be meeting needs for a long time.’ Father Schaftlein in Henryville, a town severely affected said, ‘Although the response to provide help to those people affected has been significant, sustaining that outreach over the course of several months will be vital.'
Pray: for excellent communication between the various service providers, enabling swift, successful and appropriate aid wherever it is needed. (Php.4:19)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/salvation.army.aids.tornadoaffected.communities/29423.htm
Iran: Unknown condition of another Christian detainee
Esfahan: Iranian security authorities had promised to release Enayat Jafari in one week if the media were not informed about this incident! However although the media promised, two weeks have now passed and still no precise information is available on this Christian detainee's situation. According to reporters of Iranian Christian news agency, Mohabat News, this is the first time that his name is being published as a detainee who was recently arrested in Esfahanon 22 February, 2012, at 7:00 a.m. Intelligence officers of Esfahan introduced themselves as agents of the Electricity Company. As the door was opened they invaded Mr Jafari’s home and arrested him. As usual they carefully searched his entire house, taking many of his personal belongings including his laptop, phone cards, books, CDs and even children's cartoons.
Pray: for the peace of God for Mr Jafari, his wife and three-year-old son, pray also for His protection and swift release. (Jer.30:16-17)
Kurdistan: Plans to review Christian schools
A Christian in Erbil writes, ‘If you have not yet heard there was a tragic shooting incident in Sulaimaniyah School of the Medes last week - a student killed an American teacher and then himself. Now it seems the issue is having larger influence on the Christian work here. Please find the following article about these discussions and pray that the present freedom could continue.’ Aknews reported, ‘The killing of an American private school teacher by one of his students has prompted calls for the revision of program modules at the Christian Medes School in Sulaimaniyah. The Kurdistan Teachers Union believes that the murder-suicide was motivated by religious reasons and the student was agitated by the school promoting Christianity. We have information which confirms that in some private schools in Erbil, Sulaimaniyah and Duhok cities, a certain religion or sect (Christianity) is being promoted in a mainly Muslim country like Kurdistan.
Pray: the Ministry of Education would prevent further incidents while maintaining a Christian presence in the education system. (Ps.20:1-2)
More: http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/3/293682
Lebanon: Syrian Christians fleeing to Lebanon
1,000 Syrians are now fleeing the country daily for Lebanon. Pontifical Mission Societies in Lebanon expressed the Church’s response, ‘We have Christian families who have fled Syria from violence or the oppression of the regime. There are families who have relatives in Lebanon who have fled here and want to change their lives looking for work. The Church's response in Lebanon has been hospitality and care of these people. We host them in parishes, provide food and clothing, assist them at an economic level and insert them into the social fabric. As a Church we reiterate that we are against violence, we want to promote peace and encourage dialogue. As for the Christians, the danger that looms is a scenario like Iraq, where Christians are forced to flee the country. The risk is that a dictatorial regime is replaced with an Islamist type which imposes the Sharia.’
Pray: God’s provision for those in desperate fear, leaving behind everything as they look for new beginnings. (Jos.1:9)
More: http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=13580
