MP welcomed 72 hours of Pentecost prayer

The contribution of the Church to the nation’s spiritual life has been recognised in Parliament in an Early Day Motion (EDM).

DUP MP Jim Shannon tabled the EDM to mark ’72 Hours of Prayer’, an event organised to coincide with Pentecost last Sunday.

The EDM welcomed news “that Christians from across the Isles will be taking part in 72 hours of unbroken prayer”, and asked Parliament to “thank the Church for the continued contribution it makes to the spiritual life of the United Kingdom”.

‘Your kingdom come’

Mr Shannon said: “Often, we celebrate the practical difference that churches make, which is wholly correct, but we must also recognise and appreciate the spiritual difference they make.”

He noted that he would be joining the Church in prayer “for God’s continued plan and purpose for the whole of the United Kingdom in those famous words of Jesus, ‘Your Kingdom Come on earth as it is in Heaven’.”

The Christian Institute and other evangelical groups are calling on Christians to unite again for a separate day of prayer against the assisted suicide Bills at Westminster and Holyrood on 11 June.

A final vote on Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is expected on 20 June to decide whether the Bill progresses to the Lords. And in Scotland, a committee of MSPs will consider Liam McArthur’s Bill after it passed Stage 1. Both dangerous Bills could be defeated if only a fraction of those who voted in favour switch sides.

Unite in prayer

The Christian Institute’s Simon Calvert said: “We hope Christians across the UK will join us in prayer against dangerous attempts to legalise assisted suicide. No so-called safeguards can make these Bills ‘safe’.

“We must ask God to open more politicians’ eyes to the bitter reality that ‘assisted dying’ means helping suicidal people to kill themselves. We thank God that many are already opposing these Bills and we can pray that more will find the courage to speak out.

“Join us on 11 June to pray for a revival of compassion in our society, that we would prioritise caring for the sick in their darkest moments, instead of seeking to help them to end their lives.”