Afghanistan: Pastor wants to reach Taliban
Pasr Anwar Fazal Masih founder of Eternal Life Ministries International and Isaac TV ministries wants to take the message of Christ to the Taliban in war-torn Afghanistan. He believes this can be achieved if his Pakistan-based Isaac TV can transmit via satellite by August 2010. The setting up of Christian TV in Pakistan, a 170 million nuclear-armed nation, has been commended not only by the Christians of Pakistan but also by many Christian brothers and sisters abroad Meanwhile this Christian leader has called on the international community to keep its focus on the needs of the Afghan people after weeks of rancour between the US and Afghanistan as they try to agree on a democratic way forward after the election. Adding the acute poverty in Afghanistan had to be a ‘top priority’ for the international community and the Afghan government at the upcoming peace 'jirga' - or consultative assembly - and parliamentary elections. See
Pray: that God would use every resource, including technology, to release His love and purposes into the lives of the unreached. (Ps.47:8)
Pagan police get right to take festivals as holiday
Police officers have been given the right to take days off to dance naked on the solstices, celebrate fertility rituals and burn Yule logs if they profess pagan beliefs. The Pagan Police Association claimed yesterday that it had been recognised by the Home Office as a ‘diversity staff support association’ - a status also enjoyed by groups representing female, black, gay, Muslim and disabled officers. Endorsement would mean that chief constables could not refuse a pagan officer’s request to take feast days as part of his or her annual leave. The eight pagan festivals include Imbolc (the feast of lactating sheep), Lammas (the harvest festival) and the Summer Solstice (when mead drinking and naked dancing are the order of the day). Problematically, the pagan festivals also include Samhain (known to non-pagans as Hallowe’en), a day when police leave is often cancelled because of the high incidence of vandalism, violence and antisocial behaviour.
Pray: that the problems caused by all these diverse requests will not damage working relationships or effective policing.
(Pr.28:19)
Middle East: Reconciliation
This weekend Musalaha Ministry of Reconciliation - who promote reconciliation among Palestinian and Israeli believers through the life and teachings of Jesus - are asking readers of Prayer Alert to pray for 40 Israeli and Palestinian young adult believers who are gathering in Cyprus to study one of the most controversial issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: historical narrative. Historical Narrative is often misunderstood, contradicted or denied. The young adults will pray, worship and study together and learn to enhance the body of the Messiah in the country. Please pray for their increased understanding among both the Israelis and Palestinians and that the two would be united in fellowship.
Pray: for unity between our precious brothers and sisters living amongst such animosity and division. (Ps.133)
More: http://www.musalaha.org/
Pakistan 2: Christians beaten and implicated in ‘fake’ police case
On Easter Sunday Christian families on their way to church were attacked by a gang of ‘radical local Muslim youths’ who hurled insults at them for being Christian and celebrating Easter. The men’s comments became ‘perverted’ towards the girls and women. A few Christian youths asked the men to stop mocking, then fighting broke out resulting in some Christians being critically injured and rushed to hospital. Ironically the Muslim men lodged a case with the police against ten of the Christian men and despite some of them being hospitalized with serious injuries they were arrested, charged, and jailed. Bail was granted on April 22nd. Well placed local sources requesting anonymity said, ‘rich, powerful and politically dominant radical Muslim men of the Faqira clan were hurling death threats and threats of dire consequences on the impoverished Christian families and the Christians were ‘still living under the shade of death of horror.’
Pray: for the Christian families to be strengthened emotionally and spiritually under the pain of unjust suffering. (1Pe.3:14)
