The power of positive prayers
Methodists are being encouraged to speak ‘words of blessing’ over the Church, its vision, planning, ministry, members and leaders, as part of a new Connexion-wide prayer initiative. Entitled ‘The Power of Blessing’, this initiative has been launched by Methodist Evangelicals Together (MET) – a movement of British Methodists ‘committed to prayer and revival’ which is believed to be the biggest independent organisation in the Connexion. With the support of the Connexional Team, MET will be releasing a series of resources during the coming months, designed to stimulate Methodists of all traditions to use prayer to bless the work of the Church, their communities and the nation. ‘The Power of Blessing’ follows in the footsteps of the Church’s ‘Year of Prayer Without Ceasing’, which promoted a programme of continuous prayer across the Connexion. After this programme ended, in August 2006, the MET executive began to consider new ways of building on the scheme and encouraging more prayer within the life of the Church.
Pray: for the success of this prayer initiative. (Jas. 5:15-17)
Wycliffe, DOOR to translate Bible for deaf people
Wycliffe Associates and a ministry to the deaf have announced a new partnership to translate the Bible into sign language for the millions of people who do not have access to the Scriptures. Deaf Opportunity Outreach International (DOOR) will work with Wycliffe Bible Translators and teams of deaf translators to bring the Scripture to video format. ‘Being blind separates you from things, but being deaf separates you from people,’ explained Bruce Smith, president/CEO at Wycliffe Associates. ‘We want to make sure that being deaf doesn’t separate you from God,’ Smith said. According to Wycliffe Associates there are more than 200 identified sign languages being used in the world and some 70 million people worldwide communicating with sign language.
Praise: God for the work of Wycliffe and DOOR bringing the Word of God alive to all people. (Ro.8:35a)
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/wycliffe.door.to.translate.bible.for.deaf.people/25825.htm
Wycliffe, DOOR to translate Bible for deaf people
Wycliffe Associates and a ministry to the deaf have announced a new partnership to translate the Bible into sign language for the millions of people who do not have access to the Scriptures. Deaf Opportunity Outreach International (DOOR) will work with Wycliffe Bible Translators and teams of deaf translators to bring the Scripture to video format. ‘Being blind separates you from things, but being deaf separates you from people,’ explained Bruce Smith, president/CEO at Wycliffe Associates. ‘We want to make sure that being deaf doesn’t separate you from God,’ Smith said. According to Wycliffe Associates there are more than 200 identified sign languages being used in the world and some 70 million people worldwide communicating with sign language.
Praise: God for the work of Wycliffe and DOOR bringing the Word of God alive to all people. (Ro.8:35a)
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/wycliffe.door.to.translate.bible.for.deaf.people/25825.htm
Right to appeal refused for Christian counsellor
Lord Justice Laws today refused permission to Gary McFarlane to have his case heard before the Court of Appeal. Mr McFarlane, a relationships counsellor from Bristol, sacked by the Relate Relationship organisation after he refused to provide sexual counselling to homosexual couples because of his Christian beliefs, asked that his case be heard by different judges to those who ruled against Lillian Ladele in December 2009. Church leaders have been deeply concerned by the ruling by Lord Neuberger, the Master of the Rolls, on behalf of the Court of Appeal, in the case of Lillian Ladele - a registrar who refused to conduct civil partnerships ceremonies because they were against her Christian beliefs - and have argued that the Court of Appeal’s decision effectively means that the right to express a strong Christian faith must take second place to the rights of homosexuals under Labour's equality laws. (See also Prayer Alert 1610)
Pray: that despite this refusal ways will be found to reverse this decision. (Ps.7:6)
