AUSTRALIAN PRAYER NETWORK NEWSLETTER

* OVER 100 COPTIC CHRISTIAN TEENAGERS ARRESTED IN EGYPT

* U.K. RESEARCH SHOWS MARRIED PARENTS 10 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO STAY TOGETHER

* BRITAIN SAYS SORRY TO CHILD MIGRANTS SENT TO THE COLONIES

* EMERGENCY PRAYER FOR NIGER

* VICAR CRITICISED FOR ADVOCATING STEALING

* AMERICAN CHURCHES RECLAIM CHRISTMAS FROM THE SHOPPING MALLS

* EMERGENCY PRAYER ALERT FOR IRAN

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OVER 100 COPTIC CHRISTIAN TEENAGERS ARRESTED IN EGYPT

Egyptian State Security has intensified its intimidation of the Coptic Church and Christians in Nag Hammadi, and neighbouring Bahgoura, by carrying out random arrests of Christian youth. According to a story carried by the Assyrian International News Agency (AINA), the ongoing campaign against Christians started on Jan. 7 2010. AINA said numerous members of families have been arrested, mostly at dawn, without warrants. More than 100 Christian youth have been arrested without charge.

AINA said the arrests of Copts was a pressure card in the hands of Egyptian State Security to force the church and Copts to accept “reconciliation,” in which Coptic victims give up all criminal and civil charges against the perpetrators. Because of the worldwide reaction to the January 5 shootings of six Christians and a security guard, AINA said Bishop Kyrollos was asked to issue statements downplaying the negligence of State Security. It is believed the arrests of the Coptic youth is a pressure tactic to force him to recant his accusations.

According to AINA, Anwar Samuel, a head teacher from Nag Hammadi, told Freecopts that State Security came to their home at 4AM, looking for his nephew Mohareb, who happened to be in Kuwait. He said, “Instead they arrested my three other nephews, Fadi, Tanios and Wael Milad Samuel, and took them away in their pyjamas.”He said they have been subjected to electric shock torture. AINA said Coptic News Bulletin contacted several families who confirmed that males as young as 16 were taken away by the police.

Families told how the police tricked their sons into going with them, by telling them that Bishop Kyrollos wanted them to do so for their safety. Habib Tanios was arrested on charges of firing on people who burnt his home in Bahgoura, although he has no rifle. AINA said that according to sources close to Freecopts, strict state security instructions were issued to the clergy in order to suppress any demonstrations by the Copts affected by the events. The instructions were accompanied by threats that police would be using live ammunition.

Bishop Kyrollos has been critical of the lack of police protection of the church, which is usual during such events. He held State Security responsible especially after receiving death threats. AINBA said conflict between State Security and Bishop Kyrollos arose due to his insistence on compensation for the Copts of Farshout who lost property and businesses caused by Muslim mob violence against them in Nov. 2009. None of the state officials attended the celebrations at Church, which many took as a sign of their knowledge of the forthcoming shootings.

Source: ASSIST News Service

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U.K. RESEARCH SHOWS MARRIED PARENTS 10 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO STAY TOGETHER

New research from the UK has reinforced the importance of marriage in providing the best environment to raise children by revealing that married parents are 10 times more likely to stay together than cohabiting couples with children. At a time when cohabitation is markedly on the increase in both the UK and Australia, the research showed that only one in 15 cohabiting relationships lasts until the first child turns 16, and that the stability of these relationships is on the decline.

In 2006 only 7 per cent of couples who were unmarried when their child was born were still together by the time their child turned 16 (down from 36 per cent in 1992), whereas 75 per cent of couples who were married when their child was born were still together when the child turned 16 (up from 70 per cent in 1992). The comprehensive study entitled ‘Cohabitation in the 21st Century’ was carried out by Christian think-tank the Jubilee Centre and was based on almost 30,000 family cases.

Its findings should be of grave concern to Australians, with the proportion of children born outside of marriage here having almost doubled since 1988 – and one in three children now having unmarried parents. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures the number of children born out of wedlock reached 34 per cent in 2008, compared with 19 per cent in 1988. The Jubilee Centre’s report also dispels some common myths about cohabitation serving as a good trial marriage or reducing the risk of divorce.

The report states that while two-thirds of cohabiting couples do go on to marry, cohabitation “forms a route into divorce and separation”. “Cohabitation is typically a short-lived and fragile state on its own terms, and those couples who cohabit prior to marriage are at increased risk of divorce”, the report said. The report has once more thrown the spotlight on the need for governments and the community to promote and advantage marriage because of its key role in building a healthy society and avoiding the heavy social and financial cost of family breakdown.

Source: Australian Christian Lobby

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BRITAIN SAYS SORRY TO CHILD MIGRANTS SENT TO THE COLONIES

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said sorry to thousands of people who were sent as children to the colonies. It is estimated 150,000 youngsters from poor families were shipped off to a supposedly “better life” in countries including Australia and Canada. The former child migrants have told how on arrival they were separated from their siblings, and put into foster homes, state-run orphanages and religious institutions. Others were educated only for farm work. Many were subjected to brutal physical and sexual abuse by those who were meant to be caring for them.

The Prime Minister told the Commons the scheme – which ran until the 1960s – was misguided, and ruined lives. He also announced the creation of a £6 million fund aimed at restoring families torn apart by the programme. Forty survivors flew to London to listen to Mr Brown’s statement given in the House of Commons, and meet him afterwards at an event in Westminster.

Kathleen Griffin the author of ‘The Forgiveness Formula’ explained why the announcement was so badly needed:“Symbolically it is very important, as obviously Gordon Brown himself had no part in this abuse, but he is apologising on behalf of the British government and that is very important to say we did this and it was wrong. It will help people move on.” Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd addressed a similar gathering of 1,000 victims known as the “Forgotten Australians” in Canberra last year saying sorry to the thousands of British migrants who were abused.

Source: Premier Christian News

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EMERGENCY PRAYER FOR NIGER

Armed soldiers fought their way into President Mamadou Tandja’s palace on February 18, 2010, arrested him and “dissolved every democratic institution in the nation” of Niger. Although the coup was condemned by other countries and Niger was immediately suspended from the African Union, opposition leaders expressed thanks for Tandja’s removal and called on the military junta to hold free elections. Observers said the coup in Niger should serve as a wake-up call to African strongmen. (Strongmen are leaders who rule by force and threats of violence.)

President Tandja’s recently pushed through an amendment to the constitution, making him president for life. Tandja first came to power in 1999 but in 2009, he changed the constitution to extend his term and expand his authority. More than 10,000 people took to the streets after the coup to express their support for the takeover which many consider a first and necessary step in returning the nation to true democracy. Nigeriens are also hopeful the new leaders will provide them with relief from “poverty and corruption.” Niger is one of the poorest nations in the world. Please pray for:

* the Lord to lead Niger through this difficult and volatile period. Pray for the interim leaders to hold fair elections and for the Lord to orchestrate elections and raise up officials who will serve the people, keeping their promise to eliminate poverty, deception, and corruption.

* peace throughout Niger as the government is in transition. Pray for all political parties, segments of society, and people groups to work together for the good of Niger rather than fight against each other for control.

* believers to have greater freedom of worship. Pray for the Lord to give them boldness in witnessing to their Muslim neighbours. Pray for the veil the enemy has placed over the eyes of the followers of Islam to be removed and for them to see the light of the gospel of the glory of Jesus Christ.

Source: Windows International Network

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VICAR CRITICISED FOR ADVOCATING STEALING

Poor people who are desperate have been advised to shoplift from major stores – by an Anglican priest. The Rev Tim Jones said in a sermon that stealing from shops was better than burglary, robbery or prostitution. He told stunned parishioners at St Lawrence’s in York that it would not break the eighth commandment ‘Thou shalt not steal’. But his sermon has sparked outrage. The Diocese of York says Mr Jones is guilty of giving ‘very bad advice’ to poor people. A spokesperson for the Diocese said: “That’s great that he is raising these issues because they are very real issues for people who face extraordinarily hard financial problems. But to offer shoplifting as a way out of that problem is misguided and very bad advice.” A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police also condemned the idea, branding it irresponsible, and insisting shoplifting is a criminal offence. The father of two, whose congregation is a mix of people, said his advice to people during a time of recession is that they should not hurt anybody and do the best they can.

He said: “The strong temptation is to burgle or rob people – family, friends, neighbours, strangers. “Others are tempted towards prostitution, a nightmare world of degradation and abuse for all concerned. Others are tempted towards suicide. Instead, I would rather that they shoplift.” A spokesman from the Christian Police Association said there has to be a better solution: “Instead of telling people who are hungry that they should go out and steal, we should be, as churches, looking for radical and innovative ways to help people who are hungry to obtain food.”

Source: Premier News

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AMERICAN CHURCHES RECLAIM CHRISTMAS FROM THE SHOPPING MALLS

A new church-based initiative which swept the USA in December has helped put ‘Christ’ back into ‘Christmas.’ The new movement, called Advent Conspiracy, helped people across the United States to dedicate themselves to rethinking Christmas—and reclaiming its original intent, according to Mike Tolson, writing for the Houston Chronicle. He said that the church-based initiative has spread like a viral video since a few Houston pastors came up with the idea four years ago, with more than 5,000 churches across the nation participating this past Christmas.

Tolson states the Advent Conspiracy was born of a common complaint: There was too much time and money spent shopping, too little time spent enjoying family and friends and almost no time devoted to the Scriptural messages of service delivered by the One whose birth is celebrated on December 25. He added that the Advent Conspiracy has a four-prong approach to the holiday designed to push followers away from mindless consumerism and towarda celebration filled with purpose.

Tolson explains the four legs of their strategy. He wrote: “Worship fully, not just a quick trip to an overcrowded sanctuary on Christmas Eve. Spend less, not avoiding gift-giving but rolling back the extent of it. Give more, both of your time and your resources to help others. And love all, with a special consideration for those in the humblest of circumstances.” This was not a hard sell to their congregations, said Tolson. “But,” says Tolson, “what was surprising was how many churches of all sorts responded. Big churches, small ones, across all ‘isms’ and doctrinal stripes.”

Source: ASSIST News Service

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EMERGENCY PRAYER ALERT FOR IRAN

Iran has successfully test-fired a new “optimized” version of a missile capable of reaching Europe and Israel. As Allied nations continue to attempt to engage Iran in dialogue about its nuclear program and are threatening to impose economic sanctions, Iran remains steadfast in its refusal to cooperate and Iran shows no interest in discussing its nuclear ambitions. Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi told the press “Iran’s missile capabilities are strictly defensive and at the service of regional peace and stability.”

Iran tends to test and display new war weapons when pressured by international powers. Reports have also been released suggesting that in 2007, Iran began a program to develop a “neutron initiator” which would create a nuclear explosion. As one journalist noted, “concern over Iran is in an accelerating mode without any positive endgame in sight.”

PRAY FOR:

* the Lord to give world leaders wisdom in dealing with the government of Iran. Pray for supernatural insight from the Holy Spirit into what is motivating their drive for nuclear weapons and their desire to destroy other nations.

* this time of uncertainty in Iran to be used to draw many Iranians out from the bondage of Islam and into the freedom of life in Christ Jesus. Pray that Iranian Supreme Lead Ayatollah Khamenei, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and the rest of the officials currently in power in Iran will have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. Pray for the Lord to reveal Himself in dreams and visions to them, transforming these “Sauls” into “Pauls.”

* the protection of Israel and the nations of Europe within range of Iran’s new missile. Pray for the Lord to be their rock, fortress, and deliverer. Pray for the Lord to give His angels charge over this region to defeat any attacks the Iranians or any demonic forces might try to launch. Pray for the nuclear program in Iran to meet with delays and failures. Pray for the Lord to confuse the scientists and keep the materials and research necessary to build a nuclear bomb out of their hands.

* Believers to be used to preach and demonstrate the Gospel to their Muslim neighbours, families, and friends. Pray for open doors for the Good News to be shared. Pray for boldness and strength as Christians face persecution. Pray for multitudes of Iranians to come to faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. Source: Windows International Network

http://www.ausprayernet.org.au/

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