Church Issues

• Faith group leads calls for independent RSE watchdog: The Values Foundation, which seeks to represent faith and family in the education sector, is calling on the Government to appoint an independent watchdog to monitor Relationships and Sex Education in schools, parts of which become compulsory in September. Read more here. Its petition has already garnered tens of thousands of signatures.
  
• Christian ministry has bank accounts closed: The Core Issues Trust, which offers help to people seeking to escape same-sex attraction or behaviour, has been targeted by LGBTQ+ campaigners and has now had its bank accounts closed by Barclays. Read more here.

World Scene

• EU at impasse over budget and Covid fund: Talks to agree a nearly €2 trillion budget (including a substantial sum earmarked for Covid-19 recovery) have been stalling due to heated disagreements between member states. Read more here.
  
• Seattle, Portland violence continues: Rioters looted and damaged property earlier this week in central Seattle, though no arrests were made. Read more here. Federal agents deployed by the Trump administration to maintain law and order in Portland, Oregon are being restrained by the ruling of a district judge. Read more here. Various investigations have been announced into the ‘improper’ behaviour of federal law enforcement in trying to contain the violent protests which have spread across the US.
  
• Biden courts Muslim vote with pro-Islam comments: Speaking to the Muslim Voters Summit, the presumptive Democratic nominee for the Presidency commented that more should be taught about Islam in American schools, calling it “one of the great confessional faiths”. Read more here.
  
• Kenya bill could approve abortion up to birth, on demand: A controversial bill being promoted by international abortion providers could see an extreme change in Kenya’s abortion policy. Read more here.

Israel & Middle East

• Knesset moves to ban ‘conversion therapy’: Despite opposition from Ultra-Orthodox Jews, the bill passed a preliminary vote, moving to its next stage. Read more here.

Events

• Virtual Run for Israel (online, Sunday 26 July, 2pm): Unable to hold their annual mountain-top race along the Clwydian Range due to the pandemic, a North Wales church is instead staging a ‘virtual video run’ via Youtube, which will enable viewers to demonstrate a “physical declaration of support which honours and glorifies God”. Pastor Michael Fryer, of the Father’s House Sabbath Congregation at Shotton, Deeside, explains: “Advocacy for Israel should be one of the priorities in today’s church because, by doing so, we show that as citizens of Israel [Eph 2:12] we acknowledge what God is doing in our time in re-gathering Jews from every corner of the world to their ancient homeland in accordance with his word through the prophets.”

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: