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United Kingdom News
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Pastor beaten in London
Pastor Noble Samuel
Photo from YouTubeOn March 16, Pastor Noble Samuel (48) was brutally attacked by three men while driving to a studio in Wembley, North London where he films an Asian gospel television show. The men pulled out in front of him in a car and asked him directions in Urdu. One of the men then grabbed Pastor Samuel by the hair, forced open the car door and began to slap and punch him and attempted to smash his head against the steering wheel. The attacker ripped the cross from Pastor Samuel's neck while the other two men stole his laptop and his Bible. They threatened to come back and break his legs if he continued his television program. Once the men left, however, Pastor Samuel continued on to his studio and filmed his program as planned. He had reportedly received phone calls in recent weeks from Muslims angered by the views on Islam he expressed on his show.
Pray for healing for Pastor Samuel. Ask God to protect him and his family. Pray that he will be a bold and steadfast witness for Christ as he faces opposition for his faith.
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Equality Law in Great Britain Causes Grave Concerns
Despite opposition from Christian groups, the British House of Commons passed the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation Regulations) 2007 on March 19 without debate in the house. On the evening of March 21, it was passed by the House of Lords after two and a half hours' debate. Only three of the twenty-six unelected bishops in the House voted on the bill.
The law forbids any discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. While exceptions are made for churches and other faith-based organizations, they do not apply to churches or other religious organizations under contract with the government to provide services such as adoption and private education (read the text of the proposed law). The Catholic adoption agencies are prepared to close rather than place children with homosexual couples, according to Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, who has openly criticized Prime Minister Tony Blair and his government for the tactics used in passing the law. Blair has been firm in rejecting any religious exemptions to gay adoptions and has given church-run agencies twenty months to change their policies.
Pray that U.K. Christians will be faithful to God's Word regardless of what men say (Acts 5:29).
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Ministry Leader Arrested in Wales for Scripture Quotes on Homosexuality
Stephen Green, director of the UK organization, Christian Voice, was arrested on September 2 as he was distributing a pamphlet to those attending a homosexual Mardi Gras event in the Welsh capital of Cardiff. He was approached by an inspector from the "Minorities Support Unit" of the police after some of the participants took offense at the content of the leaflet (click here to view a copy of the leaflet). When he went outside the park and continued distributing the offending material, he was arrested and charged with "threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby, contrary to section 5(1) and (6) of the Public Order Act 1986." A spokesman for the police told London's Daily Mail that Green had not been violent or aggressive, but that the arrest was solely because "the leaflet contained Biblical quotes about homosexuality."
Pray that the Word of God will take root in the hearts of those who received the pamphlet, and that they will come to know Christ (Luke 8:4-8). Pray that Stephen will respond to his accusers with love and compassion (Matthew 5:43-48). Pray that all charges will be dropped against him.
