Govt needs to make ending slavery a priority, says Christian human rights group

David Westlake, chief executive of International Justice Mission made the plea following the omission of a reading for a proposed bill on protecting victims of modern day slavery on Friday in parliament.

The Modern Slavery (Victim Support) bill has been introduced by Lord McColl in the House of Lords and also sponsored by Iain Duncan Smith MP.

 

Westlake said the bill would give victims time to resolve complex immigration or refugees cases before facing deportation.

Explaining why MPs weren’t able to debate the details of the bill, Westlake explained to Premier: “It’s not a government bill at the moment – it relies on a very small amount of parliamentary time.

“Today the bill is number 15 on the list of backbench bills to be considered so it’s not going to get read today.”

The government has already committed £200 million of UK aid funding to tackle modern slavery but many say this bill needs to be passed as soon as possible.

More than 50 MPs, Lords and clergy signed a letter in The Times which called for the government to “lend it’s full support to the bill before it runs out of time”.

Westlake added: “What this bill actually does is increase the level of support for someone.

“It doesn’t let them stay indefinitely; it doesn’t kind of say that ‘this is an easy way in for beating immigration’ but it says ‘you can stay here while we sort things out, while we help you…

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My Christian faith makes me more aware of my weakness

The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural affairs was speaking during an interview with Elizabeth Oldfield from the Christian think tank Theos.

Mr Gove said: “One of the things I find of most people who have a personal faith is it makes you more conscious of your fallibility.

“I don’t want to name names but there’s a well-known thinker who is unabashedly atheist who argues with a degree of certainty and absolute assurance in the power of his logic that very very few religious people in my experience would ever dare attempt to muster.”

The comments came following the 11th annual Theos lecture, which Mr Gove gave. His speech was entitled ‘When will there be a harvest for the world?’ and focused on issues relating to the environment.

Mr Gove argued politicians should not apologise for “drawing, and reflecting, on the insights and wisdom found in the words, actions and thoughts of religious leaders.

“I speak as a Christian, convinced that the moral teachings of the Christian Church, the example of Christ’s life and Christian theology all help us in reflecting on the responsibilities we all have to others.

“For Christians, the ethical responsibility we have towards the environment is encapsulated in the concept of stewardship. Christians are called to remember their rightful place within Creation – and the vast web of life it…

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‘Useful’ presents beat funny or expensive ones, says Christian charity

Topping the chart, 50% of shoppers say they will focus on buying presents that are useful or have been specifically requested by the recipient.

The research into the UK’s Christmas shopping habits was commissioned by child development charity Compassion UK which has launched its Make My Christmas appeal to help give gifts to almost two million children living in poverty around the world.

Researchers who polled 2,000 UK adults found that shoppers have an average of seven people to buy gifts for and that two in five people (38%) find Christmas shopping stressful or worrying, with women getting more stressed than men.

The charity will be providing Christmas presents for children in developing countries and were encouraging Christians to think of doing the same thing as they try to source bargains on Black Friday. They match children with sponsors who help fund their education and pay for small gifts so they can mark Christmas.

Christian singer-songwriter Chloe Reynolds (pictured), who is an Ambassador for Compassion, told Premier’s News Hour about the difference a gift can make. Chloe met Valencia, a child she sponsors, while on a visit to Kenya recently and gave her a skipping rope.

Reynolds told Premier: “She’d never seen one with handles, and she was so moved that she owned her own skipping rope that she was in tears.

“It was incredible to me. Something that cost a…

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Open Heaven 24 November 2018 – Divine Promotion

Open Heaven 24 November 2018 Saturday Daily Devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Divine Promotion

Topic: Divine Promotion (Open Heaven 24 November 2018)

Memorise: “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.”- Psalm 75:6

Read: Psalm 75:5-6 (KJV)

5 Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.

6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.

Bible in One Year: Ezekiel 24-26, John 2

Open Heaven 24 November 2018 Saturday MESSAGE:

The title of our reflection today is “Divine Promotion”, because experience has shown that there are evil ways of getting promoted. However, promotion gotten through diabolical means does not last, and neither does it do any good to its beneficiary. The history of mankind confirms that getting promoted diabolically always has its adverse effects, so much so that its beneficiary will regret it in the end. A classical example of someone who wickedly promoted himself to be king was Macbeth in one of the Shakespearean plays. Although he got to the throne, he never enjoyed it. Also, the story of Absalom who deviously stole the hearts of his father’s subjects to become king confirms that only those who are divinely promoted are actually promoted (2 Samuel 15-18). His diabolical climb to the top tragically led to his untimely death. His body was tossed into a pit, and a very great heap of stones was placed upon him. Your story will not end in tragedy in Jesus’ Name.

A good example of a person divinely promoted is King Solomon. There was no manipulation of any kind by him to be king. His anxiety towards the throne and its responsibilities confirm that he did not see himself as qualified. It was God who qualified him. When God calls you, He knows that you are not qualified; it is His mercy that qualifies you and begins the work of reconstructing your life to meet His standard. Revealing Solomon’s mindset, 2 Chronicles 1:7-10 says:

7 In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee. 8 And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead. 9 Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. 10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?”

Here we see gratitude in the one that is divinely promoted. Solomon saw his elevation to the throne as an act of God. He celebrated the faithfulness of God to his father, because by his ascension to the throne, a royal dynasty was established for the first time in the history of Israel. We also see humility in Solomon – he asked for wisdom because he knew he lacked the wisdom and understanding needed to manage his divine promotion. Those who diabolically scheme their way to a position of authority never perform well, and their end is always disastrous. Beloved, what is that promotion you desire? Wait for divine intervention and don’t manipulate anything. God will promote you in such a way that will bring glory to His Name.

Open Heaven 24 November 2018 Saturday Prayer Point:

Father, I wait earnestly for the promotion that is facilitated by You alone; please promote me.

Also Read: Open Heaven 22 November 2018 – Dangers of Ignorance

Open Heaven 24 November 2018 Saturday Hymn 4: Trust and Obey

1. When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His word
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey

Chorus:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2. Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt nor a fear
Not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

3. Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief nor a loss,
Not a frown nor a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.

4. But we never can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favour He shows,
And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

5. Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do
Where He sends we will go
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Open Heaven 24 November 2018 Saturday Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC. Open Heaven 24 November 2018 Saturday Daily Devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Divine Promotion.

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Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

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Lord Ahmad challenged on Asia Bibi response

Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need have released their bi-annual report on religious freedom.

In summary, they found that the situation for minority faith groups has deteriorated in 18 of the 38 countries under review.

The report covers these countries in more detail: India, Burma, Iraq, Philippines, Egypt, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Spain, France and Mexico.

Russia and Kyrgyzstan were added to the ‘discrimination’ category for the first time.

To launch the report, Lord David Alton of Liverpool invited Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Prime Minister’s special envoy on freedom of religion and belief to speak to a crowd of politicians, campaigners and journalists in the House of Lords.

Lord Ahmad spoke about how he was personally concerned with the issue of freedom of belief as an Ahmadi Muslim, a group who have also been targets of persecution. 

Three politicians asked questions of Lord Ahmad.

Rehman Chishti MP, who resigned last week as Vice-Chair of the Conservative Party over the withdrawal agreement and the government’s response to Asia Bibi’s release challenged Lord Ahmad on the UK’s tentative attitude about saying whether…

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Kenneth Copeland Devotional 24 November 2018 – Let Your Life Shine

Topic: Let Your Life Shine [Kenneth Copeland Devotional 24 November 2018 ]

Be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.1 Timothy 4:12

One thing the world needs to see is good examples. They need to see believers walk in love and purity and faith in their homes, in their schools and in their businesses.

The Apostle Paul exhorts us in Romans 12:17 to live above reproach in the sight of all men. Other scriptures teach us to avoid all appearance of evil. So, when you go after God, don’t walk out on the edge, trying to see how much you can get by with. Go all out in God’s direction. Conduct yourself in a way that will put to rest any question about whether or not you’re a Christian. Let the people around you see your love and faith and purity in every situation.

Your example will go a lot further than your words. When our son, John, was a little boy, we were spending time with my grandparents. John was sleeping with my granddaddy and he woke him up in the night and said, “Pop, I have an earache. Would you pray for it?” Well, my grandparents were raised in a church that didn’t believe in healing. I don’t know what Pop did, but it didn’t work. So, John just got up and said, “I’m going to go get in bed with my mother. When she prays, it stops hurting.” About 18 years later, Pop told me the story.

You see, I had set an example of faith and love and John remembered it. While your children are growing up, they might forget some of the sermons you’ve preached or act like they’re not interested in the things of God. But they’ll never forget your example.

Even at the place where you work or go to school or just in your neighborhood, people might reject or argue with the words you say. But they’ll never refute or forget your acts of love.

Don’t let petty sins and spiritual compromises cast a shadow over your example. Live above reproach and let the light of Jesus shine brightly through you.

Scripture Reading: Romans 12:9-21

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Kenneth and Gloria Copeland’s Daily Devotional Here’’

This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith – prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.

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Andrew Wommack Devotional 24 November 2018: Prophesy – To Build up the Body

Topic: Prophesy – To Build up the Body [Andrew Wommack Devotional 24 November 2018]

Luke 22:64 “And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?”

Teaching and learning in the scriptures, are much more than academic. It involves being guided by God’s principles in relationship to others, as well as knowing and responding to God. It calls for the learner to put the Word of God into practice, not just hear it (Jas. 1:22). It involves hearing a word from the outside and putting it on the inside, so that it may be expressed in our every action. Proverbs 2 tells us to incline our ear unto wisdom, apply our heart to understanding, cry after knowledge, lift up our voice for understanding, seek her as silver, search for her like hidden treasures, and then we will understand and find the knowledge of God (Prov. 2:1-7). God says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6), and He admonishes us to meditate on His Word day and night that we may observe to do all that is written therein.

All things should be done unto edifying. If those present cannot be taught by what is being done, then it shouldn’t be done. Just as with the gift of tongues (that was spoken in the church to benefit everyone) so it is with prophecy. Those who listen will learn and be comforted.

The end result of prophecy is to comfort, encourage, edify, strengthen, exhort, stimulate and help. These should be the guidelines for prophecy within the New Testament church.

We, as believers, are given the sole responsibility in ministry to build others up. This takes place in various ways as we walk in love, promote harmony and peace, and seek the true welfare of others. We must prophesy unto the edifying of the church, and speak things that are good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Andrew Wommack Daily Devotional

This message was written by The Association of Related Ministries International (ARMI) is an extension of Andrew Wommack Ministries (AWM). ARMI is a unique partnership committed to providing resources to help like-minded ministers succeed in a spirit of excellence and to draw from the experience and expertise of both the AWM and Charis Bible College staff. (www.awmi.net).

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Billy Graham Devotional 24 November 2018 – Word and Deed

Topic: Word and Deed [Billy Graham Devotional 24 November 2018]

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever. — Psalm 118:1

This year as we observe our season of thanksgiving, let us be grateful not only in word but also in deed. Let our gratitude find expression in a resolve to live a life more unselfish and more consecrated to Jesus Christ. When we sit around our tables laden with sumptuous delicacies, let us not forget that half the world will go to bed hungry. As we enjoy the comforts of our cozy homes, let us not forget that great numbers in other parts of the world have no homes to go to.

When we step into our sleek automobiles, let us not forget that most of the people in the world cannot afford even a bicycle. In the Lord’s Prayer as recorded in the sixth chapter of Matthew, we read, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Scripture teaches that the good things of this life are the gifts of God, and that He is the donor of all our blessings. Thanksgiving? Yes. Let us get on our knees humbly and thank God for the blessings He has given us, both material and spiritual. They have come from His hands.

Prayer for the day: You bring me such abundance, almighty God. As I think of Thanksgiving Day, may my heart be completely consecrated to Your Son, Jesus Christ, so that through Him my life will show my gratitude to You.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Billy Graham’s Daily Devotional HERE

Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.

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Stephen Colbert shares why he returned to Christ after becoming an atheist

The Late Show comedian told Rev James Martin on the Faith in Focus program that he stopped being a Catholic in his 20s.

“I had lost my faith in God, to my own great grief,” Colbert said.

 

“I was sort of convinced that I had been wrong all this time, that I had been taught something that wasn’t true.”

Colbert explained that a stranger gave him a pocket Bible when he was 22-years-old.

After reading Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount, he was “absolutely, immediately lightened”.

 

“I stood on the street corner in the cold and read the sermon. And my life has never been the same,” he added.

When asked about how he views God today, Colbert replied: “It’s Jesus Christ. Not an old man with a beard.

“If I can love, I can be free. When I think of love, I think of God, and when I think of God, I think of love.”

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Second missionary shot dead in a month in Cameroon

Fr Cosmas Omboto Ondari was standing outside his church in the South West region on Wednesday when he came under fire.

In a statement released on Facebook, local Catholic leaders described the shooting as a “heinous crime”. They said government forces were to blame.

The Diocese of Mamfe said: “While we mourn with the Mill Hill family and the national family of Fr Ondari, we trust that he died doing what he has offered his life for.

“He was serving humanity far away from home and family, but he was one with the people of Kembong who loved him so well and whom he loved so much.”

Media reports suggest Fr Ondari – who belonged to the Mill Hill Missionaries – may have been caught in cross-fire between soldiers and armed separatists.

 

The 33-year-old Kenyan national had been serving as an assistant parish priest at St Martin of Tours in the village of Kembong.

Last month, Premier reported how an American missionary working in Cameroon was shot in the head and killed in front of his family.

Fighting between English-speaking separatists and government forces in Cameroon’s South West and North West regions has intensified since 2016. Hundreds of civilians have died.

Believers Baptist Church in Warsaw, Indiana

 

Having long-claimed discrimination under a national political system dominated by French-speakers, separatists want Anglophone areas to become an independent nation -…

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