Kazakhstan: Pressure on 'non-traditional faiths' is worsening
The Kazakh government continues to put pressure on foreign missionaries attempting to obtain visas to stay in the country. The Kazakh Church is prepared for matters to get worse. ‘Foreign involvement for the purpose of missionary work in Kazakhstan becomes increasingly difficult to happen,’ confirms Eric Mock, vice president of Ministry Operations for Slavic Gospel Association. Norwegian news network Forum 18 conveys a number of instances in which the Kazakh government has denied visas to foreign missionaries of various minority faiths. A missionary visa, as it is, lasts only 180 days and cannot be renewed. Mock says there is some fear that the visas will become even more restrictive. With clear contempt toward the presence of evangelical Christian missionaries as well as missionaries fof other minority faiths, the Church needs to prepare for any change. Pray: that God would lift the spirit of fear from the Kazakh government over ‘non-traditional’ denominations. (Ac.10:34-35)
Ed Miliband: I don't believe in God
New Labour leader Ed Miliband does not believe in God, he has said. He had previously said his religious views were a ‘private matter’, and his declaration means two of the three leaders of major British political parties are self-proclaimed atheists. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg also confirmed he does not believe shortly after being named Liberal Democrat leader, while David Cameron last year said religious faith was ‘part of who I am’ but admitted he did not go to church regularly. The Labour leader's atheism puts him in stark contrast to his predecessors Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, for whom religion was a central part of their lives. Mr Miliband and brother David are of Jewish descent, but religion did not play a large part in their upbringing by their Marxist father Ralph Miliband. David has said publicly he is an atheist, and was the target of some criticism for sending his son to a Church of England school. Pray: that our nation's leaders recognise by God’s Grace the nation’s spiritual dimension. (Ps. 57:8) More: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20100929/tuk-ed-miliband-i-don-t-believe-in-god-6323e80.html
Most Britons still identify as Christian
New figures from the Office for National Statistics has found that most British people still consider themselves to be Christian. The number of homosexuals, meanwhile, is far lower than previously estimated. According to the office, 71 percent of the population is Christian. The statistic was welcomed by the Evangelical Alliance. ‘Christians have increasingly felt bewildered about what they can and cannot say or do,’ Stephen Cave, advocacy director at the Alliance, commented: ‘Of course faith is personal to each individual but that doesn’t mean to say it’s entirely private – far from it. In fact we welcome dialogue with people of all beliefs, including atheists. Where possible we should engage in conversation not confrontation’. The figures will be good news to those who believe Christianity should still have a prominent role in public life and indicate that affiliation to the faith remains strong in spite of declining church attendance. Pray: for Christians to re-establish our faith as the heart of public life and society.(Pr.1:20) More: http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100924/most-britons-still-identify-as-christian/index.html
Archbishop on prison reform
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu questioned the deterrent effect of imprisonment, severity of sentencing, the pivotal role of communities and the need for restorative justice in his Prisoners Education Trust Annual Lecture. Dr John Sentamu said, ‘We should be pained and troubled by the size of our prison population in Britain, the sheer number of individuals who have given up on community – and feel that community has given up on them. We need to show love and compassion while ensuring justice is served and seen to be served’. Dr Sentamu outlined that reintegration should be the stated aim of all justice and penal systems; and that a culture of blame and condemnation alienates both the victim and offender. The Archbishop said: ‘Putting more and more people away behind locked doors, for longer and longer sentences, does not help society. Neither does it help the individual’. Pray: for a wider range of sentencing options that will better serve society and the individual. (Ps.11:7)
