USA: election earthquake
Thousands of demonstrators, many shouting ‘Not my president’, took to the streets of several US cities protesting against Donald Trump’s election. They burned orange-haired effigies of the businessman. Pray for a smooth presidential handover and for unity and helpful attitudes to replace divided, aggressive attitudes. Brian Johnson, worship leader at Bethel Church and writer of 'One Thing Remains', tweeted, ‘We pray that our president-elect feels the weight of responsibility and responds with respect, dignity, honour, and wisdom’. The financial world knows very little about Trump’s policies and could reflect that with instability. Pray for global steadiness and wisdom for those dealing with uncertainties. There was a specific Jewish component to this election; some voters are reassessing their view of what it is to be Jewish in the USA as anti-Semitism was unleashed by Trump followers. Across the nations people are also concerned about Trump's comments denigrating NATO and his calls for nuclear proliferation. See also
Syria: Aleppo
Christians in Aleppo struggle to survive. One said, ‘We pray, please God give us strength to remain strong. We are praying for Him to give us the tolerance to accept our situation and to live our faith whilst suffering in this time.’ The poor and the poorest are those who remain. One US dollar used to be 50 Syrian pounds, but now it is 500 or 600. Meat, cheese, fruit and vegetables are available but they are too expensive for many. In the Christian quarter there are 3,221 Christians over the age of 80 who have no one to turn to; their families left the country to escape the war. Sadly, the elderly are neglected even by the churches. As the media focus on the besieged rebel-held eastern enclave of Aleppo, Christians in the government-controlled areas are fighting a daily struggle to survive. Medicines are expensive, and most patients cannot afford them.
Lebanon: presidential election
On 31 October a two-year presidential political stand-off in Lebanon ended when parliament elected Michel Aoun as president, ending a presidential vacuum. Though people’s opinions about Aoun are mixed, the Lebanese people came together as one to celebrate their new president. But there has been bickering behind the scenes. Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea said on Wednesday that the Christian political parties will not hamper the formation of the new government, and that civil war will not erupt if they are not given the finance portfolio. The finance ministry portfolio is paramount in the government. There is a team in the Lebanese Forces that has been preparing for it more than any other portfolio. There has been backbiting over the finance portfolio and distribution of ministries. Pray for the formation of the new cabinet; may it work as one coherent team to take the country from failure to a successful efficient state.
Kenya: justice for Willie, Joseph and Josephat
In July an International Justice Mission (IJM) investigator and human rights lawyer, Willie Kimani, and two friends, Joseph Muiruri and Josephat Mwenda, were abducted and murdered; this sparked a global outcry for #JusticeinKenya and an end to police abuse of power. Five alleged perpetrators are in custody, and the first phase of the trial should begin this week after many delays. Over the next few weeks IJM invites us to join them in keeping its Kenya team and families of the victims uplifted in prayer. IJM will post updates online to help us with informed intercession during of the trial. To access updates, click the ‘More’ button. Meanwhile please pray that the court will proceed despite the continued absence of defence counsel, that the judge will not allow another adjournment, and for the witnesses and families of victims to have patience and perseverance through this difficult period.
