Israel: Message of peace to Arab citizens
Prime Minister Netanyahu reached out to the Arab citizens of Israel in a video message in Hebrew, English and Arabic and encouraged them to take on a greater role in Israel’s success. Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed the Arab citizens of Israel with a message of peace and encouragement. He noted that Arabs already hold high positions in Israel including in its parliament, hospitals and businesses and said his vision is that young Arab boys and girls will grow up knowing they can achieve anything in Israel as valued and equal citizens in Israel’s democracy.
Pray for Pakistan
A missionary writes, ‘We must look at Pakistan in a new way. One out of 13 unreached people groups are in Pakistan. On the persecution scale the situation in Pakistan is increasing. In 2003 Pakistan was rated #59, this year it is at #6. This part of the world needs much prayer. The devil and his legions are working at an increased and higher level. In the last three months missionaries across the country are having visas refused and rejected on a scale we have never seen before, even affecting those working in hospitals and schools. Nationals say that when missionaries are thrown out, the persecution level for local Christians will greatly increase. PRAY very directly for a reversal of these visa refusals. Visas are just one example, but many other things are rapidly happening. Prayer is the only hope for serious reversal of evil in this country and people coming to Christ.’ There is no ‘more’ link as this article was prepared from an email. Further prayer points will follow from this same source, in next week’s Prayer-Alert.
Iran: Pastor charged with action against national security
Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, sentenced to death for apostasy and later acquitted in 2012, has now been charged with ‘acting against national security’. On 24 July Yousef Nadarkhani was summoned to the Revolutionary Court in Rasht and formally charged with ‘acting against national security’ - a common charge brought against church leaders in Iran - and accused of Zionist activities and evangelism. Yousef was given until 31July to raise the equivalent of $33,000 bail or face arrest. Those close to Pastor Yousef request prayer that: -the oppressive actions against him will stop and the new charges of ‘acting against national security’ will be dropped; -that God will give His peace to Yousef and his family, and that they will not be anxious; -that some of the officials involved will love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him.
Syria: Aleppo residents to flee or starve
Last Saturday, with 300,000 people trapped in rebel-held eastern Aleppo and food supplies expected to run out in August, Syrian state media reported that ‘buses with dozens of families had left eastern areas along a humanitarian corridor’. On Sunday night a campaign was launched on the eve of the 71st anniversary of the founding of the Syrian army. By Monday, Aleppo’s rebel fighters had launched their military operation aimed at breaking the weeks-long regime siege of the opposition-controlled eastern part of the city. The civilians’ plight, caught in the middle of all this, has led to growing international alarm. Civilians are surrounded by brutal aerial bombing campaigns from Bashar al-Assad and his Russian allies. Even chemical bombs have allegedly been used. The last hospitals in the area have been destroyed. They need prayer now more than ever. This battle is an urgent humanitarian catastrophe which could end all hope of a negotiated peace
