General
A selection of the week's happenings for your prayers.
Society & Politics
- No-fault divorce bill dropped: Due to the early cessation of this Parliamentary session, the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill has failed to reach the end of the Parliamentary process and will consequently be dropped. Read more here.
- 20,000 protest silently against abortion in NI: A mass silent protest has been held outside Stormont against the UK Government’s impending imposition of legalised abortion. Read more here. Also this week, a cross-party delegation has delivered thousands of pro-life postcards to Boris Johnson, protesting the law which is due to come into force on 22 October. Read more here.
- Labour MP John Mann quits to take up anti-Semitism role: The vocal Corbyn critic is standing down at the next election to become the Government's anti-Semitism tsar. Read more here.
- Blair think-tank proposes end to free speech: A report from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change suggests that the Government needs to crack down on online, non-violent expressions of ‘intolerance’ and ‘division’. The Gatestone Institute describes the report as radically authoritarian and anti-democratic. Read more here.
- BBC teaches children ‘over 100 gender identities’: A PSHE video made by the BBC for children aged 9 to 12 claims that gender is ‘who you are on the inside’ and that people can go to prison for disrespecting those who are different. Read more here.
Church Issues
- Asia Bibi’s first interview since release: The Pakistani Christian has interviewed with the Sunday Telegraph following her release from prison and resettlement in Canada. She has used the occasion to raise awareness about the many others in a similar situation. Read more here.
World Scene
- EU Central Bank announces rates cuts and quantitative easing: In the midst of ongoing fears about the global economy, the ECB has announced its biggest package of economic stimuli in three years, in an attempt to revive the bloc’s flagging economy. Read more here.
- Trump fires John Bolton: The shock departure of the National Security Advisor, ostensibly over policy disagreements, is prompting questions about the direction the Trump administration may be taking on the Middle East. Read more here and here. Also this week, which saw the 18th anniversary of 9/11, the US has continued its war on terror with a raft of new sanctions on terror groups including Hamas and 40 tons of bombs dropped on an ISIS-held island in the Tigris River. Read more here.
Israel & Middle East
- US evangelicals visit Saudi crown prince: A nine-person Christian delegation from the USA, led by Joel Rosenberg, has visited the Gulf nation reportedly to promote dialogue and greater Arab support for Israel. Read more here.
- Israel goes to the polls: 17 September will see Israelis vote for the second time this year. Netanyahu has announced that if he wins, he will begin the process of applying full Israeli sovereignty over Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria, beginning with those in the Jordan Valley. Read more here.
Events
- Abortion: Killing off the human race? Saturday 21 September (central London): Join Voice for Justice UK and speakers including the Rt Hon Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP in calling for a reduction of the time limit for abortion. The Emmanuel Centre, Westminster, 10am-5pm, tickets £30 (concessions £15). Click here to find out more and to register.
- Abortion: Choice, Necessity or Injustice? Thursday 26 September (Bristol): Join the Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform at their Bristol launch for an evening of inspiration, education and activation on this vital issue. Buckingham Chapel, 7:30pm. Click here to find out more and RSVP. The following day there is also opportunity to join apologetics training and take part in an educational street display in the city centre.
- SPUC annual conference, 13-15 September (Derbyshire): Join other SPUC supporters and a number of prominent speakers at this critical time in pro-life campaigning. The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick. Tickets £200. Click here to find out more and to book.
- ‘Our kids are being taught WHAT?!’ Saturday 12 October (north-west London): A one-day conference to discuss the Government’s new RSE curriculum. Hear from expert speakers and receive practical advice on how to respond. Masons Avenue, Harrow, 10am-6pm. Tickets £25 (£10 concessions). Click here for more information and to book.
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 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)
For regular news briefings about Israel, the Jewish News Syndicate is also recommended.
