Norwich Reformed Church Threatened With Closure

Dear Christian Friends

The following from Dr Alan C Clifford is to be treated as a matter of extreme urgency.

"The Norwich City Council have received a complaint from a Muslim man who objected to my leaflet 'Why not Islam?' On the grounds of it being regarded as hate literature, both the bookstall and NRC's [Norwich Reformed Church] use of the community centre are now under serious threat. XXXXX XXXXXX 'phoned to tell me that he's received a 'hot' letter from the Council. Whatever else this might lead to, it could become an opportunity for nationwide Gospel witness. So we will need your help also!

So please pray for us."

Alan has had a bookstall in Norwich City centre for some 17 years and it's like a magnet, attracting all kinds of people to stop and chat.  His church, Norwich Reformed Church, was established about the same length of time, bearing witness to the authentic Gospel with authentic reformed worship.  The church has met in the Council community centre all these years, and both these are now under very serious threat.  I have been there numerous times over the years, and I know some of you have been to Alan's church.  But all of you can pray.

Alan has maintained a clear Gospel witness and ministry here for almost two decades, and is the only minister I know of who is addressing and challenging the Islamic menace; as well, he is providing the only viable alternative to the false Muslim religion.  

How many ministers do you know who are being challenged by the state over their witness for the Gospel?  How many are upsetting the servants of darkness to the extent that they are reported to the authorities?  Not many, I fear.  Alan Clifford is one, and is fearless, not reckless, in his witness to Christ and the Gospel for all.

It is interesting that when the state does not like what a Christian witness is doing, it can find ways of silencing them.  His church in the city is in grave danger of being asked to leave the Community centre and to close its open-air witness in the city centre because he has upset a Muslim through his loyalty to Christ and the Gospel.  So far as these unbelievers are concerned, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is 'hate literature.'  

PRAYER:

Pray for Alan and his wife and the church family there that God will intervene in the interests of the Gospel. 

Pray that God will over-rule in this situation and that great victory will be given to the Gospel.

Pray for Alan's personal safety - Gospel haters are not slow to take the law into their own hands, and to use the atrocious law we have in our country to justify their evil actions.

Pray that God will use this situation for the evangelisation of these entire islands.

Pray also that we might have ministers who are prepared to address and challenge the current issues that promote false religions.

THIS IS MOST URGENT.  Bring this matter to your church prayer meetings and ask Christians to pray for this.