CHPP Daily Brief "Praying for All in Authority" Thursday, December 20, 2018

Congress Passes "First Step Act." Go here for details and see below in Good News section.

Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
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The Daily Brief
"Praying for All in Authority"
Thursday, December 20, 2018

"For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder."
(Isaiah 9:6)

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"Advent: Week Three" -- JOY

	Our Holiday Publishing Schedule

Our Holiday Publishing Schedule:

Adjusted for the Next Two Weeks

Dear Friends,

Well, we are now entering into that very special time of year, when the world rejoices at the Birth of our Savior and our Messiah. Praise God!
In order for our staff to be able to enjoy the holidays in coming days, we will adjust our publishing schedule, as follows:
This week

No Legislative Snapshot on Saturday, December 22nd
Next week:

Monday and Tuesday: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day -- no Daily Brief

Remainder of next week (Wed., Thurs., and Friday) - Daily Brief returns with a streamlined edition

The last edition of this year's Legislative Snapshot will be published on Saturday, Dec. 29th.
New Year's Week:

Monday, Dec. 31st and Tuesday, January 1, 2019 - No Daily Briefs

Remainder of that week: Streamlined editions all week.

The Legislative Snapshot will continue into the New Year, beginning on Saturday, January 5th.

And now, we at Capitol Hill Prayer Partners want to extend our wishes to all of you for a very Merry Christmas, as we rejoice in the birth of our Savior.

Praise the Lord!

	Focus on Israel

1. PM says he'll 'study' US pullout from Syria, as opposition slams him for failure - Times of Israel

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave his cautious imprimatur to the US decision to pull its forces out of Syria Wednesday, saying US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had assured him that the US will continue to influence events in Syria.

But opposition leaders warned that the US departure would undermine Israel's efforts to prevent Iran deepening its presence across the northern border, and said President Donald Trump's decision to leave marked a diplomatic failure by the prime minister.

The surprise announcement of the US pullout Wednesday will seriously impact America's role in the region, including it's capacity to support Israeli efforts to keep Iran from deepening its foothold in the war-torn country.
(Read more)

2. Turkey Says It Will Not Let the U.S. Hold It Back in Syria - HAARETZ

Turkey pledged on Monday to press ahead with plans to target a Kurdish militia in northern Syria, brushing off what it said were American efforts to stymie Turkish military operations east of the Euphrates.

President Tayyip Erdogan said last week that Turkey would launch a new operation within days against the U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish YPG militia in northernSyria. The Pentagon expressed grave concern and said unilateral military action there by any party would be "unacceptable".

Relations between the two NATO allies have long been strained by Syria policy. The United States has backed the YPG against Islamic State fighters. Ankara, however, sees the YPG as terrorists tied to PKK militants who have fought an insurgency in southeast Turkey for 34 years.
(Read more)

3. Report: Lebanese Army Moving Hezbollah Military Equipment to Israel's Border - Jewish Press

The blog Nziv.net on Wednesday cited informed Syrian sources who claim that the Lebanese army has appointed Brigadier General Ali Awarka as director of military intelligence in the Baalbek district, the largest administrative district in the country. Awarka is known for his close ties with Hezbollah.

The same Syrian sources insist that Awarka is in charge of security for the weapons convoys going from Syria to the Hezbollah warehouses in Lebanon. They say he is responsible for transferring the equipment in Lebanese military vehicles to Beirut and southern Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri's press office issued a statement saying Hariri has "assured the Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) General Stefano Del Col that Lebanon is committed to the full implementation of Resolution 1701 and to respecting the Blue Line on its southern border."
(Read more)

4. Danon warns UN: 'If Hezbollah dares to attack Israel, it will bring ruin to Lebanon' - JNS

(December 19, 2018 / JNS) Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon warned the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday about the threat Hezbollah poses to the Jewish state, calling the terrorist group a "lifeblood" from Iran.

"Hezbollah has built a terror base inside a civilian population, with its end on the Israeli side of the border, all financed by Iran," he said in a special session of the U.N. Security Council. "This not only a clear violation of Resolution 1701, but Hezbollah also uses Lebanese civilians as human shields. If Hezbollah dares to attack Israel, it will bring ruin to Lebanon."

The special session of the Security Council was held on Wednesday following the revelation earlier this month of several tunnels dug by Hezbollah that extend into Israeli territory. Earlier this week, the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that said the Hezbollah had violated Security Council resolution 1701.
(Read more)

5. Prosecution Recommending Bribery Charges Against Netanyahu - Jerusalem Post

State Attorney Shai Nitzan formally confirmed on Wednesday that he has recommended to Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit that he charge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with bribery in Case 4000, the "Bezeq-Walla affair."

Speaking at a conference organized by the economic newspaper Globes, Nitzan revealed that his office had forwarded to Mandelblit its recommendations and that they were some 800 pages long.

"With the completion of the work of the State Attorney's Office, deliberations will begin in the coming days with the attorney-general on the basis of our recommendations," Nitzan said. "After the deliberations are complete, the attorney-general's decision will be announced. We are making every effort to complete all the cases as soon as possible."

The Jerusalem Post first reported in June that Mandelblit viewed Case 4000 as a bullet that Netanyahu could not dodge and as involving such substantial bribery that it could warrant toppling his government.
(Read more)

	The Daily Brief

1. Senate passes stop-gap funding bill in effort to avert government shutdown - CNN

The Senate passed a stop-gap spending bill on Wednesday night in an effort to keep the government funded and prevent a partial shutdown at the end of the week.

A shutdown hasn't been averted just yet: The measure will still need to be approved by the House of Representatives and signed by President Donald Trump before it can take effect.

But the Senate's passage of the short-term measure brings Washington one step closer to staving off a shutdown of some key federal agencies, set to expire at midnight on Friday, just days before Christmas.

The Senate worked late into the night on Wednesday to pass the measure, which had appeared to have hit a snag earlier in the day over a push to advance public lands legislation.

McConnell introduced the measure earlier on Wednesday to fund the remaining parts of the government through February 8, 2019. (Read more)
- Father, we pray this plan to approve spending through February 8 will improve the final appropriation bills and include funding for the border wall.

- You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. (Hebrews 10:36)

2. Trump to pull troops from Syria: 'We have defeated ISIS' - Washington Times

President Trump on Wednesday morning signaled that U.S. forces will soon fully withdraw from Syria, having completed their mission to defeat the Islamic State. "We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency," Mr. Trump tweeted.

The administration reportedly is in the planning stages to remove all of the 2,000 American forces currently stationed inside Syria, which has been devastated by a yearslong civil war and has become ground zero in a broad proxy war involving Israel, Iran, Turkey, Russia and other actors.

Mr. Trump has vowed to bring U.S. forces home from Syria as soon as the fight against the Islamic State was over. Pentagon officials in recent months have stressed that the terrorist organization - which once controlled huge swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria, and had vowed to build a "caliphate" in the region - has been territorially defeated. (Read more)
- Father, we thank You for victory over our enemies and pray our forces will be removed quickly.

- Babylon's warriors have stopped fighting; they remain in their strongholds. Their strength is exhausted; they have become weaklings. Her dwellings are set on fire; the bars of her gates are broken. (Jeremiah 51:30)

3. U.S. pledges billions in aid to develop Central America, curb migration - Reuters

The United States is committing billions of dollars toward development in Central America and Mexico as part of a plan to strengthen economies in the region and curb illegal immigration, the U.S. and Mexican governments said on Tuesday. Much of the new aid pledged on Tuesday is private investment that will depend on the viability of the projects and some of it was a reaffirmation of existing pledges.

Tuesday's announcement defied expectations among some skeptics who thought Trump, a Republican, and Lopez Obrador, a leftist, would clash. "Finally, we see that Mexico and the U.S. are on the same page in understanding and tackling migration from Central America as a regional issue, not something that one country can handle on its own," said Christopher Wilson, deputy director of the Mexico Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington.

Since much of the money will come through the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and will not cost U.S. taxpayers, it is "the creative solution that was found that makes this much more palatable to the Trump administration," Wilson said. (Read more)
- Father, we pray these resources will not be misdirected through corruption, but will provide real, tangible benefits to the people in southern Mexico and Central America.

- Righteousness guards the person of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner. (Proverbs 13:6)

4. Judge blocks Trump's asylum crackdown - Washington Times

Judge Emmet G. Sullivan - who a day earlier had excoriated former Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn - ordered the government to allow migrants with iffy claims to be given a full chance to make their case for asylum. And he ordered the U.S. to un-deport plaintiffs in the case who were already ousted under the new policy, saying they deserve to be brought back and allowed to claim asylum.

His decision overturns a move by former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who had tried to block asylum claims of migrants who said they faced gang violence or domestic abuse back home. Mr. Sessions had argued that while traumatic, those reasons strayed far from the political or religious persecution by governments that traditionally made someone eligible for asylum. The Trump administration has said people bringing those claims could be quickly refused, and put into speedy deportation.

The immigrant-rights advocates who fought the case on behalf of asylum-seekers said they were "thrilled" with the victory. "Judge Sullivan's decision ensures that our asylum system remains open to refugees at our border, including those fleeing domestic violence and gang violence," said Eunice Lee, at the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies. (Read more)
- Father, we pray this order from a single federal judge will not be allowed to stand and preempt the entire Executive branch of government.

- Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. (Romans 13:2)

5. Federal Reserve raises rates, over Trump protests, but signals it will slow rate hikes in 2019 - Washington Examiner

Federal Reserve officials voted Wednesday to raise the central bank's interest rate target, the fourth such rate increase of the year, but also signaled that they will slow the pace of rate hikes in 2019. The central bank also lowered initial estimates for economic growth in 2018, and tempered its outlook for U.S. economic growth in 2019.

The Fed also downgraded, slightly, its outlook for U.S. economic growth in 2018, from an estimate of 3.1 percent in September to an estimate of 3.0 percent, which would just barely meet Trump's promise of 3 percent economic growth. Fed officials now only anticipate two rate hikes next year, rather than the two they previously projected as a group, another sign that the central bank thinks the economy could slow from its current pace moving forward.

The central bank decided to move ahead over the protests of President Trump, who has taken the unusual step of vocally criticizing the Fed on social media and in interviews for raising interest rates. (Read more)
- Father, we lift up our economy to You and pray Chairman Powell and President Trump will work together to do what is best for our nation.

- 'The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.'
(Daniel 4:17)

6. Trump establishes new military space command - Washington Examiner

President Trump on Tuesday signed off on the military's first space combatant command, putting it on par with others such as U.S. Cyber Command, and taking a key step toward his proposed Space Force. The creation of U.S. Space Command had been planned for months by the Pentagon and is part of a major overhaul of space operations as the U.S. faces rising threats to its military and civilian satellites from Russia and China.

The Trump administration is still pursuing the Space Force and plans to request legislation from Congress next year to either create a new, entirely separate service branch, or a new service that would exist inside the Department of the Air Force. Trump in a memo ordered U.S. Strategic Command, which now handles nuclear deterrence, long-range bombers, and missile defense, to turn over all its space-related operations to the new space command. (Read more)
- Father, we pray the purpose and organization of this new Space Force will come together quickly.

- The prudent see danger and take refuge. (Proverbs 22:3a)

7. Trump DOJ Announces Bump-Stock Ban, Confiscation - FreeBeacon

The Department of Justice announced on Tuesday it will effectively ban the possession of all bump-fire stocks through a new regulatory rule. Senior DOJ officials told reporters it would become a felony to own a bump-stock within 90 days of the new rule's publication. They estimated March 21, 2019, would be the deadline for the public to turn in or destroy their bump stocks. The officials said they would prosecute those who do not comply with that deadline.

The new rule rewrites current law prohibiting machineguns to incorporate bump stocks. The National Firearms Act of 1934 defines a machinegun as "any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger." The operation of bump-stocks requires an individual trigger pull for each individual round fired. The DOJ nevertheless decided they "initiate a continuous firing cycle with a single pull of the trigger." DOJ officials could not explain the apparent contradiction further during the call with reporters. (Read more)
- Father, we pray You will give wisdom to those who wish to challenge this rule and its penalty for non-compliance.

- These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. (Colossians 2:22)

8. 5 Takeaways From the Trump Administration's School Safety Report - Daily Signal

The Federal Commission on School Safety, established in response to the Parkland, Florida, school shooting in February, issued its final report, making a series of recommendations. The 177-page report also tackles building security, violence in the media, and school resource officers.

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos noted that Trump previously signed two bills this year, one to fix the national criminal background check system, and another boosting federal grants for school safety.

The report notes the need to reverse the Obama administration's policy guidance on how local school districts should be able to discipline misconduct by students. "Maintaining order in the classroom is a key to keeping schools safe," the commission's report says. A major problem cited about school shootings is that they make the gunmen famous, DeVos said. The report calls for local governments and media outlets to adopt a "No Notoriety Campaign," defined as "not using shooters' names or photos, but instead focusing on facts and victims," the report says. The report notes that "school-based mental health and counseling for young people is an important aspect of prevention." (Read more)
- Father, although this report is many steps in the right direction, the biggest problem in our schools is a rejection of You and the redemptive work of Your Son, Jesus. Forgive us, Lord, for substituting human wisdom for Your Word. Remove the barriers to acknowledging You and teaching Your Word to our children again.

- Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 11:18-19)

9. Up to 319 people dead as Congo Ebola outbreak worsens - CNN

One of the deadliest Ebola outbreaks in history continues to worsen in the Democratic Republic of Congo with as many as 319 people now dead. The Ministry of Health said Tuesday that 542 Ebola cases had been recorded in the province of North Kivu -- 494 of which have been confirmed. On average, Ebola -- which causes fever, severe headache and in some cases hemorrhaging -- kills about half of those infected.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said efforts to contain the outbreak have been hampered due to "non-engagement" from local communities and armed conflict in the region. North Kivu, which includes the cities of Beni, Kalunguta and Mabalako, remains the epicenter of the outbreak, though cases have been reported in neighboring Ituri province, according to the WHO. The two provinces are among the most populated in the nation and border Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan.

The public health agency estimates that more than a million refugees and internally displaced people are traveling through and out of North Kivu and Ituri, which could hasten the spread of the virus further. The Congo outbreak is the second-deadliest ever, behind only in West Africa in 2014, when the virus killed more than 11,000 people. It is Congo's 10th epidemic since 1976, and second this year. (Read more)
- Father, we pray for those suffering with Ebola to be completely healed, and we ask You to intervene and prevent the spread of this disease to additional people and places.

- He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped. (Numbers 16:48)

10. Gatwick Airport shut down by mystery drones with tens of thousands of passengers engulfed in travel chaos - Fox News

A pair of drones swirling in the skies around London's Gatwick Airport have wreaked havoc on the travel plans of tens of thousands of passengers who have been delayed, diverted or stuck in the middle of the holiday getaway.

As of midday Thursday at the country's second-busiest airport, the runways remain shut down. Those affected by the disruption flooded social media with images and videos of restless passengers lining the hallways of its terminals.

The drones were first spotted Wednesday night and more than 100,000 passengers had been scheduled to pass through Gatwick Thursday on 760 arriving and departing flights, an official said.

"We believe this to be a deliberate act to disrupt the airport," Gatwick Police Superintendent Justin Burtenshaw told Sky News. "However, there are absolutely no indications to suggest this is terror-related." (Read more)
- Father, we intercede for this "mess" in England. We ask for Your grace and Your peace to descend upon those who have been stranded at Gatwick Airport; and for wisdom for the authorities who are trying to secure the safety of all involved, in Your Name, amen.

- "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27)

	The Daily Jot (Part One)

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

The battlefield of darkness and light

The headlines around these holidays are alarming. The narrative seems to be pointing toward a great recession, economic disruption, government disruption, political disruption, social disruption. Disruption on all levels, according to the news media. There is no rest from disruption. It is so, because the media and the disrupters make it so. So there they are making their noise, accusing others of what they are doing, judging people from the content of their own hearts, spewing forth hate, derision, suspicion and darkness. What is it to us? Why do we have to allow them to occupy the battlefield of our minds? Does their darkness overcome the light of Christ and the Holy Spirit in each of us? I stand to say "NO."

In John 8:12, Christ said, "I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." In Matthew 5:14-16, Christ affirms this transfer of light, saying, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Philippians 2:14-15 says, "Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."
Proverbs 4:14-18 says, "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day." Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." There is a pattern here that there is a path we all travel, but we do not have to travel in darkness because Christ is the light for the just. He transfers it to his disciples that they might also be the light of the world.

As you see friends and family during this season, you do not have to take part in the darkness around us. You can be that light to others, that joy in the midst of sorrow. Everyone seems to be at everyone else. Peace is but a fleeting moment like an insincere greeting. Remember, though, that as the light of the world, you are also an ambassador of Christ, an emissary of the kingdom of God. We don't have to enter into the darkness because it already has been defeated by the King of Kings. Renew your mind. Have a perspective of light. As is written in 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind." So let your light shine.

Have a blessed and powerful day,

The Daily Jot Staff

	The Daily Jot (Part Two)

Thursday, December 20, 2018

We must learn to discern

Hosea 4 begins with "Hear the word of the Lord, you children of Israel: for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land." Verse 6 says, "My people are destroyed for the lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you." The context is God's people turned away from God and no longer practiced truth, mercy or knowledge of God. The knowledge of God provides relationship, wisdom, discernment, truth, love, and justice. When God's people reject his knowledge, destruction follows. It is imperative God's people stay in relationship with him, especially these days, for there are those who seek to destroy.

The New York Times (NYT) has published an investigative story that illustrates just how important it is to draw close to God and seek his wisdom and discernment. NYT revealed how a group of Democratic Party technology experts conducted a secret project during the Alabama Senate race to deliberately misinform voters so that Democrat Senatorial candidate Doug Jones would defeat Republican Roy Moore. The project emulated the very same tactics the Russians employed during the 2016 presidential election. It used Twitter and Facebook to target conservative voters, use false information, promote third party candidates, and encourage write-in candidates.
Jones defeated Moore by 21,924 votes out of over 1.3 million ballots cast. Interestingly, there were more than 22.800 write in votes. Democratic Party operatives are denying that the $100,000 secret project made any difference in the outcome, but it's difficult to discount a relationship between those 22,800 write in votes, which would not have gone to Moore, and the 21,924 vote margin of victory for Jones. They are downplaying it because they know full well it worked. NYT reports that the secret project brought together the immediate past "president's" tech experts funded by the co-founder of Linkedin using American Engagement Technologies as a pass through and Investing in Us as a collaborator.

Investing in Us told the NYT that their "purpose in investing in politics and civic engagement is to strengthen American democracy." Destroying the American republic is more likely the goal. Here we have a NYT narrative that the Russians taught the Democrats how to disrupt elections. That doesn't meet the straight face test. The left has weaponized social media and truth has become a hidden riddle. This is just one example. This type of deception is occurring in all facets of societies across the world. It is easy to be deceived and believe things we want to believe, but they may reflect only small truths sewn into the fabric of lies. As men and women of God, we need to draw closer to Him, seek his wisdom and pray for discernment that we are not deceived.

Have a blessed and powerful day,

The Daily Jot Staff

	More Daily Features

More Daily Features

(See below . . .)

- The Persecuted Church
- Classic Hymns
- Signs and Wonders
- The Good News Corner
- Worship with Us Today!

Prayers for the Persecuted Church

"Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body." (Hebrews 13:3)

Please visit the website for International Christian Concern to lift up prayers for the persecuted around the world, every day. Their link is: www.persecution.org -- or go here to connect. Thank you for interceding for our brothers and sisters who are suffering in Asia, the Islamic World, and the Far East.

Classic Hymns

O HOLY NIGHT

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." (Micah 5:2)

Lyrics

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appear'd and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born; O night divine, O night, O night Divine.
Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming, With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand. So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, Here come the wise men from the Orient land. The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger; In all our trials born to be our friend.

He knows our need, to our weaknesses no stranger, Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend! Behold your King, Before Him lowly bend!
Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother; And in His name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever, His power and glory evermore proclaim. His power and glory evermore proclaim.

Melody

Please go here.

About the Author:

Words: Adolphe Adam, 1847

Signs and Wonders

Meteor is cause of mysterious light over SF Bay Area, observatory says

A mysterious light with a twisting, smoking tail appeared in the early evening sky over the San Francisco Bay Area on Wednesday, but local astronomers had a scientific explanation.

It was a meteor, according to the University of California's Lick Observatory near San Jose.

"A bright meteor was visible in the skies over the Bay Area shortly after sunset this evening, leaving a bright trail that was visible for many minutes in the western sky," the observatory wrote on Facebook. (Fox News)
(To view this photo, go here.)

"I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke." (Acts 2:19)

The Good News Corner

A Bi-Partisan Christmas Miracle: First Step Act Passes the Senate; Gives President Trump a 'Signature Policy Victory' Hailed by Both Conservative and Liberal Groups

The prison-reform bill would ease the way for some prisoners to win early release to halfway houses or home confinement, according to Reuters, and aims to establish programs to head off repeat offenders and protect first-time non-violent offenders from harsh mandatory minimum sentences.

"It's something that's so important to the faith community. I believe the heart of the First Step Act is redemption. It's actually an opportunity to give nonviolent prisoners a chance to rebuild their lives. If they, through years of good record and contributing and taking care of their families, do right, then they can actually have the word 'felon' taken off their permanent record. They'll be able to get better jobs and build their families for generations with blessing instead of the curse of having that word," Jentezen Franklin previously told Charisma.
Major faith leaders, including key Pentecostal preachers, advocated for the legislation and praised the vote as a groundbreaking step forward that can advance the Kingdom of God.

Here's what they are saying:
Vice President Mike Pence:

Congratulations to US Senate for passing @POTUS' Criminal Justice Reform with an overwhelming Bipartisan vote tonight! The First Step Act will reduce recidivism, make communities safer & save taxpayer dollars. House should vote to send this HISTORIC reform to @POTUS' desk ASAP!

President Donald J. Trump:

America is the greatest Country in the world and my job is to fight for ALL citizens, even those who have made mistakes. Congratulations to the Senate on the bi-partisan passing of a historic Criminal Justice Reform Bill....
(Read more here)
Source: Breaking Christian News
- Father, we pray the FIRST STEP Act will be effective in equipping inmates to have productive, crime-free lives.

- Oh, do not remember former iniquities against us! Let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us, for we have been brought very low. (Psalm 79:8)

Worship With Us Today!

Casting Crowns - Oh My Soul

To worship with us today, please go here . . .

	About CHPP

About Capitol Hill Prayer Partners

Our Mission Statement

Capitol Hill Prayer Partners (CHPP) is a ministry which is positioned on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., helping members of the Body of Christ to "pray for those in authority over us" in our federal government. Our primary purpose is to offer intercession on site for the members of Congress and their staffs each day that the Senate and the House of Representatives are in session; and our chief prayer focus is that "God's will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." [Matthew 6:10].
Because Jesus Christ has shed His blood for all, we, too, pray for ALL, in a nonpartisan manner. Also, because the scriptures indicate that "the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 4:17), we are confident that fervent prayer, offered in the halls of the highest chambers of government in our land, can avail much for America. Capitol Hill Prayer Partners welcomes those who feel called to join us, engaging in this strategic work of intercession for our nation: "For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God." [Romans 13:1]

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Note: You may also learn more about CHPP by going here to visit our blog. Thank you!

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	Join Our Bible Readathon!

Our Bible Readathon Continues

"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105)

We are now reading the Word of God every night (except on Sunday mornings) from midnight to 6:00 a.m. EDT. We are reading through the whole Word, from Genesis to Revelation, and beginning again in Genesis when finished.

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