North Korea: Canadian missionary released
Kevin Garrett and his wife Julia lived for thirty years in China, where they did missionary work and ran a Christian coffee shop. In 2014, they were arrested in Dandong, a city on the North Korean border, and accused of ‘carrying out tasks from Canadian espionage agencies to gather intelligence in China.’ Julia was released on bail in February 2015, but Kevin was kept in custody. Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau helped to secure his release, and Garrett arrived at Vancouver Airport on Thursday. Bruce Clemenger, president of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, thanked Trudeau and his government, saying,‘We are grateful for your persistence in securing Mr Garrett's freedom, and your defence of the core Canadian principle of freedom of religion.’ The Garrett family also issued a statement thanking those who worked to secure Kevin’s release, as well as those who had joined together in prayer.
A generation seeking God
On Wednesday, all around the globe and in every time zone, students gathered at their flagpoles, praying for their school, friends, families, churches, and communities. ‘See You At The Pole’ (SYATP) is an annual day committed to global unity in Christ and prayer for this generation of youth. As in all great movements of prayer, SYATP did not begin in the hearts of people. It began in the heart of God. God used the obedience of a small group of teenagers 25 years ago to ignite what has become an international movement of prayer among young people. Today SYATP is still about students uniting prayer before God, interceding for their generation. SYATP falls in the Global Week of Student Prayer, 25 September to 1 October, when students find new and unique ways, places, and times to pray throughout the week.
GOD IS MOVING!
There's only a month to go until Christians from across the nations gather for Trumpet Call at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham, at 2pm on 15 October. It's a time to worship and pray for God’s will to be done and His Kingdom to come in and throughout the UK, our continent, and our world! Prayer Alert readers are encouraged to come and engage powerfully with God. Over a hundred leaders of different churches, networks and ministries will meet on the morning of that day to stand in unity to worship and prepare the way for the King of Kings. ‘His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him, and through faith in him, we may approach God with freedom and confidence.’ (Eph. 3:10-12)
Christian Labour MP prays for party unity
Alex Cunningham, the MP for Stockton North and a Christian, has asked God to help bring the party together after the unsuccessful leadership challenge by Owen Smith. He was speaking after Jeremy Corbyn was re-elected leader of the Labour Party, winning 62% of the vote. Mr Corbyn said, ‘I will do everything I can to bring our party together, to make it an engine of progress for our country and the people that depend on the Labour Party to protect their interests, and win power to deliver real change in this country. We have much more in common than that which divides us.’ Alex Cunningham said, ‘My prayer for the party is for unity, first and foremost.’
