Indonesia: Anti-Christian incidents in 2011
Acts of violence and intolerance against Christians in Indonesia almost doubled in 2011, with an Islamist campaign to close down churches symbolizing the plight of the religious minority. The Indonesian Protestant Church Union, locally known as PGI, counted 54 acts of violence and other violations against Christians in 2011. Some are saying, ‘The the worst is perhaps yet to come if authorities continue to overlook the extremism threat.’ At least 36 regulations to ban religious practices deemed deviant from Islam were drafted or implemented in the Indonesia in 2011. The hot-bed of extremism is West Java which has about 520,000 Christians. 160 incidents against religious minorities were witnessed by West Java Churches, and on Christmas Day, two churches in Bogor city suffered Islamist vigilantes screaming and threatening Christians as they tried to hold a Christmas service.
Pray: for the growing Church in Indonesia to know God's provision as He builds his church in South Asia. (Ps.60:4-5)
More: http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue15070.html
India: Thousands affected by floods and cyclone
Global development agency Christian Aid has released £50,000 to partner organisations in India after more than 6,000 Indian villagers were forced from their homes and 48 were killed by Cyclone Thane which swept through east-India’s state of Tamil Nadu on December 30th uprooting trees, destroying roads and buildings and bringing down power lines. As villagers attempt to rebuild their homes many are without electricity and clean drinking water. 15000 hectares of paddy crops and 20000 hectares of cashew and jackfruit trees were also destroyed, affecting both immediate survival needs and long term livelihoods. The two most vulnerable groups of concern to Christian Aid are the socially excluded Dalit community and Sri Lankan Tamil refugees.
Pray: for speedy distribution of emergency aid and refugee rehabilitation for the thousands still suffering. (Ps.86:12)
More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16029
India: Extremists infiltrating Christian groups
The Catholic Secular Forum (CSF) reported Islamic and Hindu extremists in India are posing as Christians and infiltrating churches and Christian NGOs to obtain information about them to pass it on to radical groups. The CSF is also concerned that the tendency to post photos of Christian celebrations around the internet and on social networking sites is putting Christians at greater risk. Recently Pastor Khanna was arrested after a video surfaced on YouTube showing him baptising Kashmiri Muslim men. Although Christians in most parts of India enjoy religious freedom, there are pockets in the country, most notably Orissa, where Christians are being targeted by radicals.
Pray: that information about Christians available on the internet would not be used to generate violence.
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/extremists.infiltrating.christian.groups.in.india/29138.htm
Prayer Spaces in Schools'
‘Prayer Spaces In Schools’ are enabling children to explore faith and spirituality in a safe, creative and interactive way. In the UK, prayer spaces are spreading fast. Schools and youth workers say these creative, prayer/reflective spaces provide simple effective ways to communicate and to welcome young people into experiences of Christian faith. Teachers say prayer spaces fit well with different curriculum areas - R.E. and Citizenship being the most obvious but not the only ones. There were 6 prayer spaces in 2008, 12 in 2009, 48 in 2010 and 92 in 2011. There are others known about but not officially recorded. A Conference in London promoting Prayer Spaces in Schools attracted 110 teachers, schools and youth workers; and there were training events in Aberdeen and Belfast that helped speed up the spread of prayer spaces in Scotland and Ireland.
Praise: God for the growing number of prayer spaces being hosted in schools, and may He continue to anoint organisers as they develop new resources in 20212 (Ps.8:2)
More: http://www.prayerspacesinschools.com/news/item/reflecting-on-2011-looking-into-2012
