Mexico: Violence towards tribal believers
Latin American Indian Ministries report, ‘While we want to be positive about the year ahead we must voice a concern for tribal believers in southern Mexico. In the last few months Pastor Armando Lopes was killed travelling home from a doctor’s appointment, three other pastors were killed in the same area recently. Four families of believers were expelled from a village and a church destroyed with believers put on notice. This month six homes were destroyed and the families expelled from the community. Elsewhere a church and many homes were destroyed and fifty families expelled from the village, a further 86 families were expelled later. At the end of 2010 four hundred and ninety eight Indian believers were homeless, living as street people in San Cristobal where they seek protection. This persecution results from new believers boycotting drunken fiestas to saints in the untended Catholic church, celebrations which have really come to represent worshipping ancient pagan gods. Pray: for these ‘suffering saints’ - including many very new believers. Some will establish new villages and build a new church. But the days ahead are challenging. (Ps.24:5-6)
America: Tucson tragedy
Faith leaders are calling for prayer and ‘soul searching’ in the wake of the shooting of U.S. politician Gabrielle Giffords and 19 others in Tucson Arizona. Evangelical leader Franklin Graham offered words of condolence and encouragement to those shaken by the bizarre incident which killed six people and left more than a dozen people wounded. He denounced the attack as ‘horrible’ and prayed for God to comfort those personally affected by the occurrence. Arizona Bishop Minerva G. Carcano called for healing prayers for the 14 injured, their families and community members of all the victims. Some are pointing the finger at conservatives and rally participants for hate speeches in the political spectrum. Others accuse Tea Party leader Sarah Palin who in a December poll was voted the top religious newsmaker out of six other choices, even though she does not profess to be a Christian. See: Pray: for the freedom of speech that leaders have to be responsibly and graciously used without error or pride. (2Pt.3:17-18)
Tunisia: Riots
Weeks of anti-government protests in Tunisia with police using lethal force is rare in this Islamic country with tight controls to prevent dissent. However the Tunisian Government ordered all schools and universities to be indefinitely closed following continuing violent protests linked to frustrations with poverty, poor job prospects and the country's leaders. The Secretary-General called for restraint urging all parties to resolve differences through dialogue. The US has summoned Tunisia's ambassador to Washington, expressing concerns about the violent riots and encouraging the Tunisian government to ensure civil liberties were protected. They also raised the issue of what they described as the government's apparent interference with the internet and social media sites. See: A Tunisian exiled opposition politician said, ‘The government presents Tunisia as a democracy while everybody knows that it's a fake democracy, and is a corrupted state, a police state.’ Analysts say Wikileaks government corruption leaks may have exacerbated the situation. see also Pray: for freedom of expression and for protection of Tunisian Christians as they quietly work towards bringing the knowledge of freedom in Christ to Tunisia. (Ps.119:45)
Haiti: One year on
One year on from the earthquake that devastated Haiti, the massive aid effort has yet to bring stability to the country as cholera, rape and despair take hold. Some $11bn (£7bn) worth of aid has been pledged to the country over the next 10 years, but much of that money has yet to arrive following concerns about government corruption and ongoing riots after November's disputed election. In the centre of Port-au-Prince, the presidential palace still lies in ruins. What was a large, green open space just beyond the palace grounds is nothing but a sea of tents. After all this time, the piles of rocks, wood and mangled metal that were once homes and offices still line the streets. Mountains of it fester between the homes that were spared, like rotten teeth. For many, the blame lies firmly at the door of the estimated 4,000 international aid agencies operating in the country. Pray: that the funding pledged by various nations and agencies be released. (Zec.7:9)
