Israel & Gaza, Sudan and Iraq are difficult places at present. The Congo Church Association has requested a special week of prayer – see resources here. The Church in Zimbabwe is able to return to its buildings following court ruling. Reports and links follow.
1. – Christian Aid urges maximum restraint in Gaza
Christian Aid is urging Israel and Palestine to uphold international law and ensure that civilian life is protected.
William Bell, Christian Aid’s advocacy officer for Israel and the Palestinians is in Jerusalem.
He said: “At some stage the two sides will need to talk and they should do so as soon as possible in order to avoid further loss of life.
“Civilians on both sides are paying the price for the lack of meaningful engagement to find a viable peace.”
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/3/christian.aid.urges.maximum.restraint.in.gaza/31072.htm
2. – Aid sent to families in Israel
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship) has announced increased funding of emergency aid for families in southern Israel and new security projects to assist communities in the line of fire.
According to a news release, rocket attacks on cities in southern Israel are continuing as the IDF launches a wide assault on terrorists and military infrastructure in Gaza Strip.
A $2.7 million emergency and security aid package includes supplies for the people in communities under fire in southern Israel, including Netivot, Sderot, Kiryat Malachi, Kiryat Gat, Sdot Negev, and Eshkol.
The news release said the assistance includes basic supplies for children and families and the elderly in shelters–including food, medicine, diapers, blankets, mattresses, and generators.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/3/aid.sent.to.families.in.israel/31073.htm
3. – Nuba civilians bombed in Christian areas of Sudan
The Sudanese government has stepped up bombing of its own non-Arab civilians in Christian areas of Sudan’s South Kordofan state the past month, killing a 1-year-old baby and wounding others, sources said.
According to a story by Morning Star News, since South Sudan split from Sudan in a referendum last year, ethnic Nuba peoples in Sudan’s South Kordofan state believe the government’s goal of squashing Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLA-N) rebels carries an increasingly evident goal of ridding the area of non-Arab peoples and Christianity.
Citizen journalists at online news site www.nubareports.org claim that 81 of 102 bombings in South Kordofan in Oct. hit civilian areas under no ground attack. The bombings were not meant to provide air support for ground forces, and they did not hit SPLA-N soldiers.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/3/nuba.civilians.bombed.in.christian.areas.of.sudan/31074.htm
4. – Iraq’s Christians feel frightened and forgotten
Christians have started fleeing Iraq in large numbers again, warns Canon Andrew White.
The ‘Vicar of Bahdad’ said in his latest update that the situation in Iraq has “really deteriorated”.
“The violence is so terrible and once again we are seeing so many of our own people fleeing to Turkey and Lebanon,” he said.
Mr White said people in Baghdad “have nothing”, as he told of a churchgoer who was found begging on the street by a member of the church staff.
“He asked her why she was doing this. She said all the food she had from church has run out and she has no money to pay her rent.
“We will give her everything she needs today but another example of the terrible needs. All may have left us but our Lord is still here.”
Mr White said he had not seen so many people fleeing for several years.
“Iraq is no longer a news issue,” he continued.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/3/iraqs.christians.feel.frightened.and.forgotten/31077.htm
5. – Mounting humanitarian crisis in Democratic Republic of Congo
Anglicans and Episcopalians around the world have been invited to join Archbishop Isingoma Kahwa of the Province of the Anglican Church of Congo, and the Congo Church Association in a week of special prayer for peace in DR Congo.
The Congo Church Association states – Since April there has been a new upsurge of violence and displacement in eastern DR Congo (320,000 people as of late Sept according to the UN including 60,000 into Uganda and Rwanda) following the emergence of a new rebel group called M23 as well as other groups becoming more active across a wide area.
Situations change when God’s people pray, sometimes in ways we are aware of, but not necessarily. In regular news from friends in DRC we hear of many encouragements and blessings as the Good News of Jesus Christ is proclaimed in word and deed, BUT there is the constant plea too for ongoing, persistent prayer for lasting peace because the stark reality is that tens of thousands in Congo are living with fear and insecurity, violence and displacement, hunger, sickness and poverty while longing for peace and the opportunity to return home.
The Congo Church Association, with the support of Archbishop Isingoma Kahwa of the Anglican Church of Congo, invites you to join with us in a week of special prayer for peace in DR Congo from Monday 26th November through to Advent Sunday 2nd December. We hope individuals, groups and churches will commit to pray afresh for a resolution and definitive end to the conflict, violence and atrocities, and for a new era of peace, as well as for the needs of all those affected. Prayer resources will be available on the CCA and CMS web sites from 19th November.
See www.congochurchassn.org.uk/prayerweek.pdf and www.cms-uk.org
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/3/mounting.humanitarian.crisis.in.democratic.republic.of.congo/31087.htm
6. – Zimbabwe Anglicans to return to their churches after Supreme Court ruling
Anglicans across Zimbabwe and the Communion are celebrating today after the country’s Supreme Court ruled that the Bishop of Harare, the Rt Revd Chad Gandiya is the lawful trustee of diocesan church properties. This decision means Anglicans will once again be able to worship in their church buildings, and the diocese can retake control of other properties including schools, clinics and orphanages.
It is the end of a six year-long battle with an excommunicated bishop, Nolbert Kunonga who left the Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) and founded his own rival church. His claims to church properties in Harare and elsewhere in Zimbabwe resulted in worshippers being kicked out of churches–often violently–and clergy losing their homes and places of work.
Bishop of Harare, the Rt Revd Chad Gandiya said he was “elated” at the news that the Supreme Court had ruled in their favour. In an open letter to the Church and its supporters he wrote: “My dear sisters and brothers in Christ, this is your victory! This is your hour! Give all the glory to our almighty Father in heaven. I want to immediately call upon all our people to be gracious in winning the legal battle. Now let the work begin!
http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2012/11/19/ACNS5249