Society & Politics

• No longer a Covid pandemic? A growing number of medical doctors and scientists throughout the world have claimed that much of the global reaction to the coronavirus has been based on fear and misinformation, rather than on scientific reality. Some, like Dr Mike Yeadon, who has spent over 30 years leading new research in the pharmaceuticals industry, claim the Covid-19 virus is no worse than other flu type viruses, and in no way should involve the outrageous damage being done to world economies and individual lives. Dr Yeadon insists that the evidence clearly shows that from late summer and into autumn, there have been fewer respiratory deaths than during the same time-periods in all five of the years since 2015. As a result, Yeadon claims the pandemic was in reality over before the end of June. Read more here. Some of Yeadon’s claims are backed by leaked reports which suggest that although NHS hospitals are currently around 84% full in general, this is significantly LESS than the same time last year, when they were 92% full. Read more here.

Church Issues

• Christians unite to call for end to public worship ban. Hundreds of church leaders, including several Archbishops and many evangelical leaders, have called on the Government to reverse its decision to close church services during the second lockdown. Read more here. Leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, said the decision "clearly shows a misunderstanding of the importance of religious faith" and called churches "among the safest places" people can visit. In a well-publicised speech in the House of Commons (at the start of which the Prime Minister walked out), Theresa May shared her deep concern that future governments with "the worst of intentions" could make public worship illegal if services are allowed to be stopped during the second lockdown. Read more here and here. In fact, the Government’s Chief Medical Adviser and Chief Scientific Adviser have admitted that the decision to close churches in England is not based on clear evidence. As a result of the backlash from faith leaders, Matt Hancock has hinted that worship rules during lockdown may change.
• Archbishop calls for prayer each night at 6pm. The Archbishop of York, the Most Rev Stephen Cottrell, has called for believers to make this second lockdown “a month of prayer, where we can renew our own intimacy with God, renew our dependence upon God, cry out to God, that God will give us the resources we need to get through this pandemic." The archbishop urged people to make a habit out of praying at 6pm every evening during the four-week lockdown, even just for a few minutes each evening. Read more here
• ‘Wartime Miracles’ film calls for national repentance. The Wartime Miracles Leaflet which was posted to 25,000 churches across the British Isles two years ago has now been turned into a free film, ideal for use during the pandemic. This ten minute film initially explains how the Lord answered the prayers of the nation, bringing about the Miracle of Dunkirk with a calm sea descending upon the English Channel. It then goes on to show how the nation has turned away from Him and rejected His Commandments, and calls for personal and national repentance. As the film points out, “How can a Holy God bless or protect a Nation from evil, while it rejects His Laws?” View the short film here.

World Scene

• American election chaos. The world’s eyes have been on America this week, in witness of the dramatic aftermath to the national elections. Clearly, Trump gained far more support than the international mainstream media had vouched for. Nevertheless, at time of writing it looks increasingly likely that Joe Biden will win. Trump, however, has claimed a vast conspiracy against him, and his campaign has filed lawsuits in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Georgia, on the basis of voter fraud. On the other hand most Democrats, and even many Republican leaders, insist there is no evidence the system is corrupt. Read more here.
• Growing concern of a potential genocide in Nigeria, with an average of five Christians killed every day. Christian aid agencies report the slaughter of eleven worshippers at an evangelical church in Kaduna state, Nigeria, including the pastor. After shooting their victims, the Fulani militants hacked some of the wounded to death with machetes. Read more here. Attacks against Christian villages have skyrocketed in the north and middle belts of the country, especially given the sophisticated weapons they are now using. Fulani militants killed more than 2,000 people in 2018 alone, making them six times deadlier than Boko Haram terrorists. Read more here. Meanwhile, in a glimmer of good news, a video released by captors shows that a pastor in Nigeria who was abducted by Islamic terrorists on October 19 is still alive.

Upcoming Events

• Evangelist David Hathaway will lead a Service of Prayer and Remembrance this Sunday, 8 November, from 19.00-20.30. It will be shown on Revelation TV (Sky 581) and on this website. Intercessions are due to be led by Colin Urquhart, Ian Cole, Clifford Hill, James Aladiran and others. Worship will be led by Vinesong, Huw Priday and Worldwide Mission Fellowship.
• Meanwhile, the Evangelical Alliance has called a UK Day of Prayer on Friday, 13 November. Read more here