Saints on the street
Baptist churches have been encouraged to set aside a number of Sundays each year to get out into their neighbourhoods and meet people who would not normally come to church. The future president of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Revd Chris Duffett has launched an evangelistic project called Saints on the Street (St St). 'As the vast majority of people in the UK do not go to church, St St projects take church to the vast majority,' he explained. 'Our hope is that St St may become a vision for Baptist churches in the UK to set aside some Sundays in the year where the morning service is used to engage with people who wouldn't consider going to church.' Recently he invited shoppers in Peterborough to walk along a VIP red carpet to give them the message that God thinks they are 'Very Important People'. Forty copies of Mark's Gospel were given away. Praise: that this Baptist outreach may be effective in bringing the good news to the unchurched. (Isa. 52:7)
Israel: Gaza Strip blockade eased
Israel has announced it will ease its blockade of the Gaza Strip and allow more civilian goods to enter the Palestinian territory. It comes amid growing international pressure to end the embargo. An Israeli commando raid on an aid flotilla attempting to break the naval blockade of Gaza last month was widely condemned. Israel and Egypt tightened the blockade after the Islamist Hamas movement took control of Gaza in 2007. The decision to ease the land blockade, agreed by Israel's security cabinet after a two-day meeting, will see the expansion of the number of products Israel will allow into Gaza via border crossing points. The naval blockade will remain in place. The only item singled out in an Israeli government statement is a plan to allow in construction materials for civilian projects, but only under international supervision. Pray: for an easing of the tensions between the Palestinians and Israelis, and that Gazans would have all they need to rebuild their communities. (Pr.12:20) More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/10338199.stm
USA: Hamas leader’s Christian son faces deportation
Masab Hassan Yousef, the son of a prominent Hamas leader who became a Christian is facing a deportation hearing on June 30 in San Diego because the U.S. Government views him as ‘a threat to America’s national security.’ Yousef, 32, authored the globally circulated book ‘Son of Hamas’ in which he recalls embracing Christianity and working as a secret agent for Israeli intelligence for over a decade to halt ‘terrorist attacks throughout Israel.’ Israeli officials have not commented on the case. The book was published this year, resulting in television appearances on American network shows. Yousef sought political asylum in the US but was told last February he was ‘barred from a grant of asylum because there were ‘reasonable grounds’ for believing he was ‘a danger to the security of the United States.’ Pray: for God to protect Yousef and provide a safe haven for him to put down his roots. (Ps.121:3) More: http://www.worthynews.com/8288-hamas-leaders-christan-son-faces-deportation-from-u-s
Somalia: Family abuses girl for leaving Islam
The tiny, shaken Christian community in Gedo Region reports that a Muslim family shackles their 17 year old daughter to a tree by day and puts her in a small dark room at night because she converted to Christianity. Anonymous source said, ‘When the woman’s family found out that she converted to Christianity she was beaten badly but insisted on her new-found religion.’ Her parents took her to a doctor who prescribed medication for a ‘mental illness'. Traditionally Somalis believe the Quran cures the sick especially the mentally ill so Islamic scripture is continually recited to her twice a week. ‘The girl is very sick and undergoing intense suffering. There is little the community can do about her condition but I have advised our community leader to keep monitoring her condition, but not to meddle for their own safety.’ Pray: that the faith of this young lady would continue to uphold her and that God would release her from this oppression. (Heb.13:13)
