British Youth Unite for 'Not Ashamed Day 2011'
Hopeful Christians in the United Kingdom have earnestly gathered to turn their nation back to God. Thousands of people from all over the country came together boldly declaring the Gospel in what was deemed: “Not Ashamed Day 2011.” And hundreds assembled for the “2 Chronicles 7:14 Prayer Rally” held in London outside St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Following the proclamation declared in Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans 1:16, British Christians cried to God on behalf of their country which has grown increasingly hostile to Christianity.
"We want to reach out to them in love and proclaim the hope and the truth that is found only and supremely in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," Andrea Williams, chief executive officer of Christian Concern said to CBN News.
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"The thing that stops me from taking crack cocaine every day is that Jesus Christ took out the root of addiction in my heart. He didn't just put something else in place, he took something out and then he put something else in," former drug dealer Rob Joy testified, according to CBN.
"It's young people, students in their 20s, the youth, calling out to the rest of the church to come and pray.” Rev. Pat Allerton, coordinator of the prayer rally, said.
Prayer is especially needed for fellow believers in the U.K. After numerous reports of unfair treatment and representation towards Christians in the public space, many feel as if they are being targeted by an increasingly secular society.
A Christian employee in Britain, Nohad Halawi, previously filled a lawsuit after being fired from her job following several claims she revealed regarding harassment from fundamentalist Muslims. She was dismissed from her job of 13 years for being “anti-Islamic.”
Hawali told the London Telegraph "that she was told that she would go to Hell for her religion, that Jews were responsible for the September 11th terror attacks, and that a friend was reduced to tears having been bullied for wearing a cross."
Hawali made complaints to the management at the job regarding harassment and religious abuse from Muslim co-workers who often mocked her for her beliefs.
"One man brought in the Koran to work and insisted I read it and another brought in Islamic leaflets and handed them out to other employees," Halawi continued to tell the London Telegraph.
"They said that 9/11 served the Americans right and that they hated the West, but that they had come here because they want to convert people to Islam…This is supposed to be a Christian country, but the law seems to be on the side of the Muslims," Halawi claimed.
Halawi’s case is among the most serious in religious discrimination, but her story is becoming more and more common. Christianity is being side-lined and estranged in British society while many have come to claim that Islam is being offered more protection. Attacks against Christianity are “fair game,” British MP David Simpson suggested sorrowfully.
"In the United Kingdom, the policy seems to be that people can do whatever they like against Christianity – criticize it or blaspheme the name of Christ – as long as they do not insult Islam,” Simpson continued.
It has been reported that most of the in-flight meals on British Airways may soon be halal. Schools in a particular district in England were announced to be halal-only, sending many into a clamor of protest. British airways also allow for Muslims to wear veils, but Christians may not wear crosses.
“In Glasgow, a Christian radio show host was fired after a debate between a Muslim and a Christian on whether Jesus is ‘the way, the truth and the life,’” Soeren Kern wrote in his article Britain: Islam In, Christianity Out, for “Hudson New York.”
“In Birmingham, two Christians were told by police "you cannot preach here, this is a Muslim area." In Cheshire, two students at the Alsager High School were punished by their teacher for refusing to pray to Allah as part of their religious education class.
Also in Cheshire, a 14-year-old Roman Catholic girl who attends Ellesmere Port Catholic High School was branded a truant by teachers for refusing to dress like a Muslim and visit a mosque,” he continued.
We imagine every soul that cried out during “Not Ashamed Day 2011” and the “2 Chronicles 7:14 Prayer Rally” had many more of these instances in mind.
The “7:14” rally was conducted across 50 cities, 12 countries, and 6 continents this year.
Visit www.notashamed.org.uk for more information.
