We are thrilled that just one week before the publication of Prophecy Today UK, the project was birthed in prayer with an all-day meeting at Regent Hall (The Salvation Army), Oxford Street, London.
This was sponsored by Issachar Ministries, with supporters coming from as far away as Cornwall and Northumberland, and other prayer groups meeting around the country. The event was filled with the presence of the Lord and a wonderful sense of expectation.
Amidst the prayer and worship, we had the honour of welcoming three fantastic guest speakers: Wale Babatunde, Paul Szkiler and Rachel Wagstaff (Christian Concern), who each used their specialist knowledge to highlight prophetic insights into:
- The global economy
- The moral and spiritual state of the nation
- The effects of current legislation upon the lives of Christians in Britain.
Members of the Editorial Board also took it in turns to introduce different sections and themes that the new Prophecy Today UK magazine will cover. Their suggested starting points for prayer are listed below.
Please continue to pray for these issues and for Prophecy Today UK’s coverage of them, as the Lord leads you.
Topics and suggestions for prayer
Society and Politics
Prayer for this section of the magazine focused on the upcoming General Election, and included the following points:
- That the result will be fully in line with the will of God
- For the election of godly MPs
- That Britain will have a Government that understands the world scene, and pursues justice and righteousness both at home and overseas
Prayer also focused on the threats currently facing Christianity and its expression in British public life:
- For Christians to be visible and vocal in the public square
- That the witness of Christians who are suffering under Equality Laws will impact the nation positively
- That Britain’s Christian heritage will not be totally lost
For resources on how to pray and witness in the General Election period see the special election websites of Christian Concern and CARE.
World Scene
Prayer for this section of Prophecy Today UK focused on the following countries and issues:
- USA – particularly its relationships with Russia and Israel
- Russia – its recent military build-up and the violence in Ukraine
- Iran - its recent nuclear activity
- World-wide terrorism and the rise of Islamic State
- Global persecution of Jews and Christians, the Gospel going out
Prayer was also offered that Prophecy Today UK’s coverage and analysis of these complex topics would be biblical, insightful and Holy Spirit-inspired.
The Economy
During this section, prayer focused in on the following select economic issues:
- Debt problems in the UK, their enormous cost and impact on quality of life. Efforts like CAP that are helping people to become debt free.
- Greece’s current economic problems. The unemployment and economic suffering which are accompanying this.
- Nigeria’s presidential election and need for a Government that will wisely manage its oil-rich economy.
Church Issues
Prayer for the British Church focused on the following points:
- Thanking God for the rise of small fellowship groups around the country and praying for their increase and prosperity
- The twin challenges of secularism and Islam: that Christians will be equipped to respond
- The need for strength, courage and resources:
- For witnessing as a minority group in increasingly difficult times
- For passing the truth of the gospel on to the next generation
- For remaining true to the Church’s biblical roots
- For the Church to fulfil its prophetic role in British society
Israel & Middle East
Prayer in this section focused on the following issues:
- The rise of anti-Semitism in the UK and Europe, related to the conflict in and around Israel (Ps 121:4)
- The need for fair, balanced media reporting about Israel
- Unity and wisdom for Netanyahu and new Israeli Government (Pro 21:1)
- The rise of Islamic State (Ps 68:1, Matt 5:44)
- Muslims rejecting extremism and seeking answers (Jn 14:6)
- Building bridges between communities (Eph 2:15)
Prayers were also offered that Prophecy Today UK’s coverage of this difficult set of issues would be biblical, balanced and loving, for the prospering of its public voice and role in raising awareness both within and outside of the Church, and for its analysis to be directed and inspired by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Teaching
Prayer was requested for:
- Wisdom and insight for the writing team
- The development of a long-term strategy for Prophecy Today UK’s study materials.
Resources
Prayer was also requested for:
- Sifting resources and choosing the right titles
- Clarity in writing, and for sensible, balanced, helpful reviews
- Finding wise reviewers
- Building good relationships with publishers.
The Prophecy Today UK team are extremely grateful to all who attended the meeting, and to all who were with us in spirit.
