CHRISTIANS WARNED BY HAMAS TO ACCEPT ISLAMIC LAW AS ARAB WORLD WATCHES ON IN SILENCE

Source: Intercessors for America and World Net Daily

Christians in Gaza must adhere to Islamic law if they do not want to be persecuted. The warning came from Islamist militant leader, Sheik Abu Sager who added that Christians who engage in "missionary activity" would be "dealt with harshly."

"No more alcohol on the streets. All women, including non-Muslims, need to understand they must be covered at all times while in public. Also the activities of Internet cafes, pool halls and bars must be stopped...if it goes on, we'll attack these things very harshly," he added.

The Gaza Strip, which, according to the report, has a population of over 1 million, is home to about 2,000 Christians.

In the meantime Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan remained silent as Hamas completed its bloody control of the Gaza Strip, which it described as the first step towards creating an Islamic State in one of the most densely populated and poorest areas in the world. These countries themselves now fear that fundamentalist Islamists may seek to cause similar uprisings in their own countries.

More than 90 people have been killed. Morgues are overflowing and hospitals are overwhelmed with the wounded.

Gaza now faces an uncertain future. The extreme tactics of Hamas could further choke off the region from international aid. And closed borders could lead to a humanitarian crisis.  The Palestinian territories have essentially been split into two parts. Fatah still dominates the West Bank, which is home to most of the Palestinian population.

PRAY FOR THE CHRISTIANS OF GAZA

Now that Hamas is in power, they will be organizing Gaza as an Islamic state. This puts Christians at more risk than usual. Many are now in hiding.

Please pray that:

- the believers would have great wisdom, to know what to do and when to do it.

- they would know if they are to leave Gaza or to stay (some have expressed a desire to stay to help new believers).

- they will not become discouraged and lose hope

- the Lord will protect them from the violence

 - that the Lord will lead them clearly every day, where to go and where not to go

 - that they would have supernatural provision.

BRITISH POLL SHOWS PEOPLE BELIEVE RELIGION DOES MORE HARM THAN GOOD

Source: The Guardian

(Editors note: These figures are disturbing and indicate the effect that radical Islam is having on people's perception of anything to do with religion.  It provides the challenge for the Church and Christians in general to divorce Christianity in the minds of the masses from that of a religion based on rules (as is Islam), to a way of life built on relationships, the principal one being with Jesus himself.  Until and unless we can do that the majority of people will increasingly lump bible believing Christians into the same "box" as fundamentalist Islamists and their hearts will harden towards the Gospel and towards all people of faith with implications for increased persecution.)

More people in Britain think religion causes harm than believe it does good, according to a Guardian/ICM poll. It shows that an overwhelming majority see religion as a cause of division and tension - greatly outnumbering the smaller majority who also believe that it can be a force for good.

The poll also reveals that non-believers outnumber believers in Britain by almost two to one. It paints a picture of a sceptical nation with massive doubts about the effect religion has on society: 82% of those questioned say they see religion as a cause of division and tension between people. Only 16% disagree.

Most people have no personal faith, the poll shows, with only 33% of those questioned describing themselves as "a religious person". A clear majority, 63%, say that they are not religious. Older people and women are the most likely to believe in a god, with 37% of women saying they are religious with 29% of men.

The findings come at the end of a year in which multiculturalism and the role of different faiths in society has been at the heart of a divisive political debate. But a spokesman for the Church of England denied yesterday that mainstream religion was the source of tension. The Right Rev Bishop Dunn, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, said "The perception that faith is a cause of division can often be because faith is misused for other uses and other agendas."

The survey revealed that only 17% of Brits now consider Britain "Christian". The clear majority, 62%, say Britain is better described as "a religious country of many faiths". 

SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER FACES REVOLT OVER GAY MARRIAGE

Source: Intercessors Network

The coalition government of Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt is in danger of collapse over the issue of same-sex marriage. Eight Members of Parliament from Reinfeldt's own Conservative Moderate Party are threatening to revolt if the party does not officially support gay marriage legislation.

Two of Reinfeldt's coalition partners, the Centre and Liberal parties, already have announced their support for the bill. A third party, the Christian Democrats are opposed to same-sex marriage and have indicated they would veto the legislation.

Sweden already has civil partnerships under a law enacted in 1995 that gives most of the rights and obligations of marriage to same-sex couples who register. But the country's homosexual community and moderate politicians have stepped up lobbying to have the law amended to permit homosexuals and lesbians to marry.

A parliamentary committee studying the issue last year called civil partnerships outdated and has recommended Parliament allow same-sex marriage. It also would allow gay couples to marry in churches.  So far Reinfeldt's Conservative Moderates have failed to introduce a gay marriage bill in Parliament and the party has carefully avoided taking a stand.

A report issued by the committee last year noted a public opinion poll showed that 46 percent of Swedes are supportive of gay marriage, while 31 percent are opposed. The remainder were undecided.  Reinfeldt has said the party will make a decision on the legislation at its annual convention in the fall. The eight MPs pressuring him to act sooner are said to include at least one cabinet minister.

NEW PRAYER INITIATIVE TO END THE VIOLENCE IN IRAQ

Source: International Prayer Movement

A new prayer initiative to mobilise churches throughout the world to pray for an end to the violence in Iraq has been launched. Each church  who registers is asked to commit to praying for 3 minutes each week (in their Sunday services) for the violence to end in Iraq. Between 1st January and 24th April 2007 there have been 1010 fatal attacks in Iraq. 764 of these occurred in just 10 cities of which 408 were in Baghdad alone.

The prayer focus is on these 10 most violent cities of Iraq, including the 9 districts of Baghdad. Using an interactive map on the http://www.iraqprayer.org/ website, churches can sign up to pray for one of these cities or districts. The web site also contains background information on Iraq and related details to help people pray.

This new prayer initiative comes out of partnership with prayer leaders from many nations and Christians living in the Middle East. Organised in London, the initiative is endeavouring to connect Christians from across the world who share a love for Iraq and a heart for prayer.

James 5:16 says that the prayer of the righteous is very powerful. The focused prayer of churches worldwide can make a difference to seeing the violence end. Interested Churches can sign up to pray for an end to the violence in Iraq at www.iraqprayer.org.

WORSHIP IN GAZA CHURCH DISRUPTED

Source: Baptist World Alliance

The fighting between Hamas and Fatah, the two major opposing forces in  Gaza, has disrupted life for Christians in the Palestinian territory.  Rev. Hanna Massad, pastor of Gaza Baptist Church, had to call an abrupt end to a worship service last Sunday due to heavy gunfire. "Last Sunday night I was not able to finish my sermon because there was heavy shooting close to the church building while I was preaching. The people became very nervous and afraid, so we stopped the meeting," he said in an email message to the Baptist World Alliance.

Both Fatah and Hamas are engaged in a civil war that has intensified over the past several weeks. Fatah, which previously controlled the Palestinian Authority government, became the main opposition party after it lost its majority to Hamas in the Palestinian parliament in a general election in January 2006. Hamas won 76 of the 132 seats in the chamber, while Fatah won 43 seats. Since Hamas' election victory, sharp infighting has occurred between the two groups, which recently escalated into full civil war, leading to many Palestinian deaths.

Massad reported that a Baptist family had its house bombed, slightly injuring one family member, and that the Gaza Baptist Church was commandeered by Palestinian Authority police as a lookout point. The building, which is six stories high and was dedicated in November 2006, was similarly seized and used during another major flare-up in February. "In the last few days, the PA Police took our church building.. When they asked us, we said no, so they just broke in," Massad.

"Most of the people in Gaza are watching and waiting to see what will happen. Nothing is clear. All the borders are closed. We are in the biggest prison in the world," Massad said. But despite the fighting and tensions, Massad reported that "We continue to experience the power of God's presence, His peace and love at this time."

SPIRITUAL REVOLUTION UNDERWAY IN MIDDLE EAST

Source: Intercessors for America

More Muslims converted to faith in Jesus Christ over the past decade than at any other time in human history. A spiritual revolution is underway throughout North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. As a result, a record number of Muslims have turned to Christ this year, despite intense persecution, assassinations, and widespread church bombings.

Joel C. Rosenberg, while living in the Middle East, interviewed more than three dozen Arab and Iranian pastors and evangelical leaders throughout the region. The picture they paint is one of Christianity being dramatically resurrected in the region of its birth.

Some Examples:

IRAQ - More than 5,000 new Muslim converts to Christianity have been identified since the end of major combat operations, with 14 new churches opened in Baghdad, and dozens of new churches opened in Kurdistan, some of which have 500 to 800 members. Also, more than 1 million Bibles shipped into the country since 2003, and pastors report Iraqis are snatching them up so fast they constantly need more Bibles.

EGYPT - Some reports say 1 million Egyptians have trusted Christ over the past decade or so. The largest Christian congregation in the Middle East meets in an enormous cave on the outskirts of Cairo. Some 10,000 believers worship there every weekend. A prayer conference the church held in May 2005 drew some 20,000 believers.

AFGHANISTAN - Only 17 Muslim converts to Christianity before 9/11/01, but now there are more than 10,000 believers. Dozens of baptisms take place every week.

IRAN - In 1979, there were only 500 known Muslim converts to Christianity, but today Iranian pastors and evangelical leaders say there are more than 1 million Iranian believers in Jesus Christ, most of whom meet in underground house churches.