Church Scene

• LGBTQ+ issues high on Synod agenda: The CofE assembly has included the issuing of new prompts for conversation about sexuality issues, as well as the presenting of a report about the apparent ‘dangers’ of so-called ‘conversion therapy’. The House of Bishops has faced backlash over their guidance for re-baptising transgender people. Archbishop Welby has urged people to give up ‘cynicism’ for Lent.
  
• German Catholics outnumber Protestants: For the first time since the Reformation, the number of self-identifying Protestants in Germany has dropped lower than the number of Catholics. Both groups have declined, but the former more quickly. Read more here.

World Scene

• French Jewish cemetery desecrated: 80 gravestones defaced with swastikas were discovered on Tuesday. Read more here. Emmanuel Macron visited the site later in the day, amidst a soaring anti-Semitism crisis in the country. The news comes as Germany reports a 10% increase in anti-Semitic incidents in 2018.
  
• Tennis star in hot water over transgender comments: Tennis champion and gay rights activist Martina Navratilova is receiving criticism after saying that it is ‘insane’ and ‘cheating’ for men to declare themselves women and be allowed to compete in women’s sports. Read more here.
  
• Two states pass fetal heartbeat bills: Both Mississippi and Kentucky have both voted to ban abortion after the heartbeat of a baby can be detected (6-12 weeks). At least 10 states are either currently considering or have passed such legislation. It is unclear whether the bills will withstand legal challenges. Read more here.
  
• Facebook imposes ‘sharia censorship’: The Gatestone Institute reports on how the social media giant is bowing to Islamist terror groups and censoring criticism of Islam. Read more here.

Israel & Middle East

• Palestinians reject $2.7 billion in tax payments collected by Israel: Acting on a new law allowing some of the tax payments Israel collects on the PA’s behalf to be withheld over its policy of rewarding terrorists and their families, last Sunday Israel’s security cabinet agreed to withhold just over 5% of each month’s transfer. PA President Abbas retaliated by refusing to accept the payments in their entirety, some $2.66 billion annually, possibly as much as a third of the PA’s total budget. Read more here. The result may mean the collapse of the PA.
  
• Israel blasts off to the moon: The ‘Beresheet’ rocket, named after the opening line of Genesis, was launched from Cape Canaveral early on Friday morning. If successful, Israel will become the fourth nation in the world to land a spacecraft on the moon. Read more here.
  
• Fresh outbreak of violence at Temple Mount: Incursions into a sealed-off area by the East Gate have prompted intervention by Israel, which in turn resulted in clashes with Palestinian protestors. Read more here.

Upcoming Events

• Prayer outside Parliament: Monday 25 February, Westminster, 4:30pm. Join Voice for Justice in praying outside Parliament as MPs debate parental rights to withdraw children from compulsory sex and relationships education. Find out more here.
• Issachar Ministries conference: Monday 18 – Wednesday 20 March. ‘Brexit: Hardship or Harvest?’. Swanwick, Derbyshire. Call the office for more details and to book: 01767 223270.
  
• A Day of Prayer in Westminster: Friday 29 March (Brexit Day). The Emmanuel Centre. Organised by Issachar Ministries. With Dr Clifford Hill, David Hathaway and others. Click here for more information and to book tickets.

Recommended Sources

At Prophecy Today UK we are aware that the world is moving very quickly and it is difficult to keep up with all the latest developments – especially when the material circulated by our mainstream media is increasingly far from reality and definitely not devoted to a biblical perspective!

Though we are not a news service, we want to help keep you informed by passing on updates and reports as we are led. This will be a selective, not an exhaustive, round-up, which we hope will be helpful for your prayers. Click here to browse our News archive.

We also recommend the following news services for regular updates from a Christian perspective:

• Christian Concern (UK)
• Christian Institute (UK)
• JNN News (Barry and Batya Segal, Israel)
• Worthy News (Israel)
• Family Watch International
• Barnabas Fund
• Kehila News (Israel)