India: Caste System castoffs
India's economy is booming with more millionaires per square mile than anywhere else on earth, the huge and youthful population of nearly 1.2bn will overtake China's by approximately 2050. But hundreds of millions still live in abject poverty in rural areas - more than 830 million live on less than half a US dollar a day. India has more cases of malnutrition than the whole of sub-Saharan Africa and the worst affected areas are central and eastern India where many Christians live amongst the lower caste. Development has come but done little for rural Indians. Mining companies turned people off their land with little in the way of compensation. A civil rights worker fears for the future of the nation if the divide between its rich and poor continues to grow. ‘People have been left out, marginalised completely and are no longer going to take it lying down, if policies are not changed the situation will get out of hand.’ Pray: that God’s laws will inspire government decisions so that repression is removed. (Ja.1:27) More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9166000/9166402.stm
China: Authorities raid Christian's home
Approximately 10 police officials raided the home of a Christian in Beijing searching for Hua Huiqi, a formerly imprisoned pastor. Every room in the house was ransacked, including a bedroom belonging to a child. The officials questioned the homeowner about intentions to meet with foreigners later that evening. In response to the incident the owner later spoke these powerful words: ‘Because the Beijing police have crossed the line, and have blatantly and continually abused the basic rights of my entire family, I hereby announce that today I will begin to continually fast and pray. I will pray to the Lord to bless China and to fill it with righteousness! I also request, brothers and sisters, that you pray for me and my family, and that God may grant us freedom from fear!.’ Prayer Alert office asks you to spread the news of this article so that many Christians will stand with Hua Huiqi for China. Pray: that Hua Huiqi will not give in to fear and for other Christians facing opposition in China to remain confident in Christ. (1 Pe.3:14-17) More: http:// ww.persecution.net/cn-2010-11-04.htm
INSIGHT ARTICLE: Saudi Arabia: Hajj awareness campaign underway
This year Hajj falls on November 14th to 17th. The Hajj (or pilgrimage to Mecca) is one of the five pillars of the Islamic religion. Muslims from all over the world flock to Mecca to perform rituals believing the Hajj cleanses them from all sins. As Christians we would never condemn Muslims from wanting to be clean of sin, and by clicking on the info button below and using this weeks INSIGHT’s into the 4 days of Hajj we can enter into informed intercession for Muslim seekers of God. Also see a Hajj 5 minute video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUofxXeT3VM The Saudi government’s preparations for the pilgrimage includes officials spending five hours a day spreading a message of Hajj awareness to security challenges on the pilgrimage route. As Christians we can also prepare for the Hajj and pray that God's Holy Spirit will meet seekers at every junction of their pilgrimage route. Pray: for 1.4 billion Muslims globally to see the risen Lord and for the 3 million pilgrims to be physically safe from stampedes and ‘Mecca flu’ disease. (Lk.24:45)
Christians to ‘prepare for persecution’
Barnabas Fund says Christians in the West need to be ready for suffering if they are to make a stand for Christ. They are inviting churches in the UK to dedicate one Sunday in November to the issue of persecution around the world – as well as at home. The theme of this year’s Suffering Church Sunday, ‘Be on Your Guard’, reflects Barnabas Fund’s growing concerns over the freedom of Christians in the West. ‘More insidious threats are creeping into Western society – and we need to be prepared,’ the group said. It warned that full religious liberty, including the freedom to choose one’s faith, was ‘under attack’. It said religious liberty was being ‘publicly undermined’ by world leaders on the international stage, who have adopted the term ‘freedom of worship’ instead of ‘freedom of religion’. ‘Any person of faith knows that religious exercise is about a lot more than freedom of worship.’ Pray: for God to strengthen us to make a stand for Christ. (1Pe.5:9) More:http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/christians.in.west.told.to.prepare.for.persecution/27018.htm
