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Dear Friends,
Today I received
an e-mail from a friend
of a friend who has
a friend who lives
in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean
speaks of the witch-hunt
that is going on by
Mr Mugabe's 'militia's'
to find and beat any
who helped with the
opposition party's
electoral campaign.
He speaks of children
high on drugs terrorising
people and raiding
shops so that food
is in very scarce
supply. Fear is everywhere
and the Government
seems no closer to
announcing election
results. 'Power corrupts
and absolute power
corrupts absolutely.'
Ann and I attended
a reception last week
in the Great Hall
at Stormont to celebrate
25 years of CARE (Christian
Action Research and
Education). CARE exists
to lobby Parliament
on moral issues, to
provide quality research
and education for
churches, schools
and anyone interested
in the moral challenges
facing our nation
today. It also seeks
to provide practical
care for those in
difficult situations,
for example, a network
of caring homes in
which women may be
cared for and supported
through an unwanted
pregnancy as an alternative
to having an abortion.
The event was sponsored
by Jeffrey Donaldson
MP MLA and was attended
by Rev Martin Smyth
with the keynote speaker
being Lord Brian Mawhinney.
Both Jeffrey Donaldson
and Lord Mawhinney
spoke very warmly
of how they have been
supported and helped
over many years as
Members of Parliament
by CARE. They spoke
of the need for real
prayer for politicians
and policy makers.
But not just prayer,
also action - writing,
lobbying, preaching,
teaching, discussing,
and exercising a voice.
We do not live in
Zimbabwe! We have
a voice and we need
to use it. Evil succeeds
when good people do
nothing.
Last year we joined
in the campaign to
end slavery and human
trafficking and linked
it to the use of slave
labour in producing
most of the chocolate
we eat. Jeffrey Donaldson
mentioned to me how
many cards he had
received from Legacurry
people with regard
to the Human Fertilisation
and Embryology Bill.
It isn't hard for
MP's to discern a
writing campaign.
And it expresses concern
to which they listen.
Our democracy is
a blessing we must
hold dear. Pray for
our politicians. Take
an active interest
in current national
and global affairs.
Turn News items into
prayer even 'bullet
prayer' as you nip
out and in from the
kitchen to see the
teatime news. Use
e-mail to contact
MP's and not just
your own. Also lobby
those who do not hold
to the same position
as Christian MP's.
Find out more about
CARE www.care.org.uk
and support their
work.
Let us use our democratic
voice for God's Kingdom.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Rev Bobby Liddle
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