December 2008 Newsletter

PRAISES:
• We thank the Lord and those of you who have responded so generously to our end-of-the-year HPN email two weeks ago. We praise God for the faithfulness of our community! If you haven't read our letter or would like to find out how you can be more involved with the ministry, just click on this link and join us!

UPDATES:
• From HPN Bollywood: "Thanks for the prayers! So far everyone in our Bollywood group has reported that they are safe. Here is what a friend in Bollywood writes: "It is still violent and bloody in the area. The Jewish Centre has been one of the targets. We are all right and most friends are safe. The city however has been under siege. The terrorists apparently came in by ship landing in the harbor and attacking the hotels in South Mumbai. The attack has the markings of an Al Qaeda plan. It has gone for hostages and targeted Israelis - very meticulously planned to create panic and confusion and shut down the city. It is our desire to seek and pray for the Shalom of the city. I ask you to pray for our fellow citizens, the police and army and the families of those who have been killed."

REQUESTS:
• Pray for Michael Jackson who has just converted to Islam and changed his name to Mikaeel. Jackson was raised as a Jehovah's Witness and recently decided to convert, following his involvement with Muslim friends in his current album. He needs our prayers desperately. We believe we will see a miracle in Michael's life.

• Pray for Cat Stevens, who has also converted to Islam and has changed his name to Yousef Islam. He was present at Jackson's conversion ceremony and both men together wore traditional Islamic dress. 

• It's Academy Awards, Critics' Choice Awards, and Golden Globes nomination time and the movies of 2008 are all being judged by our industry. Pray that films of truth, beauty and integrity will be lifted up this year and that people waiting desperately to find out if they will be honored, will find Jesus in the process.

• Pray for Macaulay Culkin, who lost his older sister Dakota Culkin, 29, one of seven siblings. A car struck Dakota last week, when she stepped off the curb in LA. Dakota worked in production design, not wanting to be visible like her brother. Let's pray that Macaulay, who has struggled in his personal life, will find peace, comfort and hope from Jesus during this time. 

• There has been an ongoing tension in Hollywood in the past five months as the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers (AMPTP) battle through negotiations in renewing the actors' film and TV contracts. Now SAG is even internally split as members fight their union leaders to avoid a potential strike, which could devastate our industry. Please pray for a fair and peaceful resolution and that God's people will be the voices of wisdom and reconciliation, leading others to Him. 

UPDATING EVENTS:

• The City of the Angels Film Festival is on for Feb 27-March 1 at the Directors Guild. This year's Festival focuses on the most inspiring, important, and imaginative Independent films of the year. Check it out at: http://www.cityofangelsfilmfest.org/ From: Craig Detweiler 

• We are so thankful for a new addition to the Hollywood Connect website. It is an amazing list of books and DVDs, many by our own friends and members of our Christian community in Hollywood. Be sure to click on the link below to get great Christmas gifts or something for yourself. These books & DVDs encourage our spiritual growth, our knowledge of what others around us are doing and they recommend some great films. Check out the HC STORE at: http://hollywoodconnect.com/amazon-store 

Thanks to all of you for a great year and may you have a joyful and rich Christmas and a wonderful New Year. We'll be back in January 2009 with more prayer focus for Hollywood.