September 17th – September 23rd, 2020
PRAY FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS ADMINISTRATION
The president and first lady attended a memorial service at the Flight 93 National Memorial on 9/11, where he honored the 41 passengers who sacrificed and paid tribute to the nearly 3,000 Americans who lost their lives, and honored the “extraordinary sacrifice” of first responders on the fateful day, calling them all “heroes.”
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said the Administration stands “in absolute opposition to any form of violent extremism, whether by white supremacist extremists or anarchist extremists,” calling both of them domestic terror threats.
Pray for the president and his administration as they seek to restore calm and a sense of law and order to the streets of America.
PRAY FOR OUR CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS
The acquisition by China of the U.S. vitamin company GNC needs to be reviewed, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida said, adding, “It’s not about intellectual property…it’s about data. GNC holds data on millions of Americans that have been their customers.”
Three senators from the Commerce and Judiciary Committees introduced legislation targeting a federal law that largely exempts tech platforms such as Facebook and Twitter from legal liability for the material their users post and censoring content.
Pray that congressional members would be able to work cooperatively together over the next months.
PRAY FOR OUR JUDICIARY
A three-judge panel in the Southern New York U.S. District Court blocked an order from President Trump that attempted to keep illegal immigrants’ census numbers from apportioning congressional districts.
A federal judge in Texas ruled that the state’s system of verifying signatures on mail-in ballots was unconstitutional in verifying a signature on the flap of the envelope as “plainly” violating certain voters’ constitutional rights” and should be immediately corrected in advance of Election Day.
Pray for judges across the country being tasked with ruling on issues relative to the election or the representation of individuals in Congress.
CURRENT EVENTS
WARS AND TERRORISM
The number of attacks that U.S. troops stationed in Iraq are experiencing has increased from last year as militia groups keep targeting U.S. military bases and at higher frequencies, said CENTCOM Commander General Frank McKenzie.
Afghanistan’s first vice president was injured and at least 10 civilians were killed when a roadside bomb detonated in Kabul as his convoy passed in what has been labeled a targeted vicious terrorist attempt.
With the large reduction of troops from Iraq, pray for America’s military personnel still remaining to be safe from insurgent or Muslim militia groups.
FOREIGN INTERESTS AND CONFLICTS
Russia and Turkey have employed thousands of Syrian mercenaries to fight in Libya where they are now using high-end Russian weaponry against the U.S.-supported government, the U.S. Africa Command confirmed.
A global coalition of more than 300 organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, are calling on the United Nations to create a watchdog to investigate human rights violations carried out by the Chinese government.
Pray for U.S. officials who will respond to attacks being waged against the U.S.-supported government in Libya.
ISRAEL AND THE MIDDLE EAST
President Trump announced that Bahrain is joining the United Arab Emirates in normalizing ties with Israel, opening up full diplomatic and economic opportunities, as relations steadily improve in the Gulf.
Iran and Turkey are pushing back on Bahrain’s deal with Israel, calling the deal “shameful” and adding that its “result will undoubtedly be growing anger and the lasting hatred of the oppressed people of Palestine, Muslims, and the free nations of the world.”
Pray for the ongoing determination of some in the Arab world to join with the UAE and Bahrain in establishing diplomatic and economic ties with Israel.
THE ECONOMY
Optimism among small businesses is back above the historical 46-year average as many are looking to hire and more are reporting higher earnings, yet many remain struggling and are uncertain about the future.
Job openings jumped to 6.6 million on the last day of July, the Labor Department said; but workers in retail and professional and business services were quitting because of fears of exposure to COVID-19 and problems with childcare.
Pray that containment of the coronavirus may be sufficiently determined to allow businesses, schools, churches, and childcare facilities to reopen.
ACROSS THE STATES
A new report studying school funding in New Hampshire said the state’s current system is inequitable for both students and taxpayers, with poorer communities paying higher tax rates for less educational resources that result in lower student outcomes.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has been asked by a coalition of business, education, and non-profit organizations to greatly expand digital access statewide and close the broadband access gap in many rural areas.
Pray for state governments dealing with the disparities between poorer and rural areas who have fewer services at a higher cost than those in cities.
VERSE OF THE WEEK
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. – 1 Peter 3:8
