Yorkshire churches enter groundbreaking partnership
Anglican and Methodist churches in Yorkshire have entered into a groundbreaking regional partnership.
The Church of England and Methodist Church nationally have been committed to greater cooperation since signing a national covenant in 2003, but this is the first time a covenant has been signed between the two Churches at regional level in Britain. The Covenant Area Partnership, between the Leeds Methodist District and the Ripon and Leeds Anglican Diocese was inaugurated at a special celebration at Trinity Methodist Church in Harrogate last Saturday. The partnership covers 85 Anglican parishes and 65 Methodist churches who will work together in mission and ministry, and consult each other on the deployment of staff and resources throughout the region. ‘The lives of both Churches have already been greatly enriched by our determination to work, worship and grow together,’ said the Rev Julian Pursehouse, ‘It is a fantastic opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to one another and to live out our calling to serve our communities in a more dynamic and coherent way.’
Pray: for this new partnership and for those tasked with making it work. (Heb.10:25 )
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/yorkshire.churches.enter.groundbreaking.partnership/30752.htm
Colombia: Pastors being assassinated
20-30 Church leaders are assassinated each year in Columbia. The most recent murder was of pastor Henry Rodriguez, 44, who was shot dead as he left United Pentecostal Church in Bogota’s afternoon service on September 16th .The reasons behind the murder are unknown but it was carried out by what appeared to be professional hit men using a moped, a method commonly used in professional hits in Colombia. While the assassination of a pastor is extremely unusual in Bogota, countrywide church leaders are frequently targeted by illegal armed groups. The Colombian Council of Evangelical Churches Peace said leaders are targeted because of their refusal to cooperate or support the objectives of the illegal armed groups; however, the reasons behind the murder of Pastor Rodriguez are unclear, as he had not reported receiving any threats prior to Sunday. Rodriguez, who was on course to graduate from seminary in October, is survived by his wife and three children. CSW is calling for a full investigation.
Pray: that the Colombian authorities would carry out a full investigation into this and similar assassinations and for those responsible to be brought to justice. (Ps.45:3-5)
More: http://blog.godreports.com/2012/09/pastor-shot-dead-in-colombia-where-20-30-are-assassinated-each-year/#more-2209
Middle East: Terrorism and criminality
The political turmoil which has swept the Arab world has benefited terrorism and criminality, the Council of Arab Interior Ministers head, Mohamed Ben Ali Koumane, said on Wednesday. ‘The preachers of terrorism have profited from the security deficit in the region’, Koumane said. ‘The spread of weapons and explosives has allowed terrorists to get hold of the tools of death and destruction.’ He was speaking at the start of a meeting of Arab security officials on the fight against terrorism, held at the Tunis headquarters of the council, which was set up in 1982 with the agreement of the Arab League. ‘Since last year the Arab region has witnessed political changes that have resulted in acute security crises, directly linked to a rise in crime.’ Koumane said. The deteriorating security situation has provided fertile ground for organised crime, illegal migration plus human and drug trafficking.
Pray: against the wave of violence and lawlessness afflicting Arab countries and for God to bring about His purposes and provision for Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. (Is.59:19)
USA: Human trafficking
On Oct. 19, a conference in Des Moines hopes to recruit an army of Christians to combat the abduction of thousands of children each year. The Preventing Abuse Conference will inform, equip and organize people to be part of the solution to the rampant human trafficking problem of 1,000,000 children reported missing each year - 60,000 to 80,000 are abducted by nonfamily members. The problem is made worse by child pornographyto be an increasingly sexualized culture and the spread of drug cartels smuggling children across the border. The FBI reported child pornography the fastest growing form of pornography on the Internet. Organisers of the conference said, ‘Our conference is focusing on the church. No law enforcement agency can match the vast reach of the church and the church has a moral mandate from God to relieve the oppressed and set the captive free. Once the American church is educated about warning signs of a predator they can make the call that could lead to rescuing a victim.’
Pray: that this and similar conferences would lead to the rescue of thousands of children and the arrest of predators. (Mt.10:16)
More: http://www.wnd.com/2012/10/taking-the-war-to-the-sex-traffickers/
