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‘Growing in faith, hope and love’ was the theme of this year as hundreds of people joined for the face-to-face meetings from 3-7 July.

The strapline of the Bournemouth Bible Week is 'Gathering the Churches, Preaching the Word.' It was encouraging to see larger numbers meet together this year than has been possible since 2020. 

An event hosted by Christian Unions in the city of Liverpool was so highly anticipated that students had to stand outside the venue to remain in earshot.

Students in University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores, and Liverpool Hope universities (pictured left and centre) came together to host a week of daily, high-profile, evangelistic events entitled ‘Truth Defined’. With students facing a much more unsettled and uncertain future, greater numbers than ever are open to considering faith, with over 100 students crowded into a packed-out venue.

‘What’s stopping you taking the step to become a Christian?’ For Chris, a student at Nottingham Trent University, this Spring was the point at which he was able to answer ‘nothing’ – and give his life to Jesus Christ, writes Kitty Hardyman of Christian student organisation UCCF.

Chris made his commitment of faith attending the Word Alive conference alongside faithful friends from Nottingham Trent Christian Union who had walked with him during the past four years at university. The journey had been long, but surrounded by 800 other undergraduates and the wider church family, it was at Word Alive that the decision was set plainly before him, and he was able to say: ‘I’m in’.

David Baker

Date posted: 1 May 2023

The impact of George Verwer, the mission pioneer who has just died (see obituary here), was so extensive that for me, as with many others, he has seemed like a constant influence, even though we never met.

My first encounter with his work was when one of the OM ships visited Bristol, where we lived, in the 1970s. To a small boy, the idea of Christians voyaging round the world giving out books seemed an exotic, alluring and rather exciting one, and I still remember the smiles of those serving on the ship.

Nicola Laver

Date posted: 1 Jun 2023

Coronation Day was unforgettable for the nation, but it will also be remembered by some as the day they met with the King of Kings.

On the weekend of 6 May, hundreds of Christians joined Royal fans around Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and elsewhere in central London handing out gospels and Christian literature. Thousands of tracts and the coronation booklet God Save The King – co-authored by Roger Carswell and Alan Marsden – found their way into the hands of ordinary people, as well as celebrities such as TV hosts Ant and Dec and other guests at the Coronation.

What does mission in the local church look like in 2022?

The answer is that it is as gloriously varied as each individual congregation and its members.

Nicola Laver

Date posted: 1 May 2023

Churches and communities across Britain and beyond have been finalising their preparations ahead of the Coronation.

Jonathan Gillespie, assistant curate at All Souls Langham Place, says: ‘It’s a missional opportunity to point to monarchy under Jesus’ loving rule.’ And Ben Topham, associate rector at St George’s Church, Stamford and St James Gerrards Cross, pointed out that many will get invited to family events and street parties. ‘We are encouraging our church family to plug into those, to be a Christian presence in those places.’

Around 90 people from congregations in the Glasgow and Argyll Presbytery of the Free Church of Scotland have attended the first ‘Healthy Church Gathering’ organised by the Free Church of Scotland.

Two main sessions were held. The first session focused on what it means to be a healthy Christian and what a healthy church looks like. Andrew Giffen, CEO of the Free Church of Scotland, spoke about these topics, with opportunity for discussion around tables.

A pioneer of the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) has marked his 101st birthday by taking to the skies again.

Jack Hemmings, who is also a former RAF Squadron Leader, was given the flight as a surprise present.

Nicola Laver

Date posted: 1 Feb 2023

Korean Christians are preparing to descend on Wales this summer – with Welsh churches urged to prepare for a week-long Korean Prayer Mission and pray for a fresh revival.

Organised by the Director of the Europe Prayer Mission, Namjin Kim, the mission is due to take place on 3–10 July. Kim, who recently returned to the UK after a three-week visit to South Korea, had been invited by 11 Korean churches to share with them the spiritual state of Wales and to pray together for the country.

The head of Brighton City Mission has died. Mike Jourdain was described as someone with ‘great faith, passion and ability’ by Nick McQuaker of the Sussex Gospel Partnership.

Will Cockram, pastor of Cuckfield Baptist Church wrote: ‘Mike was treated for oesophageal cancer three years ago, but around Christmas it reappeared. Whilst given initial confidence from the medics over Christmas that it was treatable, Mike’s health declined very steeply, and the family were given the news that it was very possible that it might not be treatable and that he had months –possibly weeks – to live. He died six days later (17 January) in a hospice, aged 58. He leaves his wife Wendy, his daughter Clio, and a church family that is rejoicing for him, but grieving very deeply. We would covet your prayers.’

Julian Hardyman has ended his ministry as pastor of Eden Baptist Church in Cambridge and is heading unexpectedly to Madagascar.

He had become Associate Pastor in 1996 and then Senior Pastor in 2002. To their surprise, Julian and wife Debbie (see photo) discovered the Lord was calling them in a sudden and dramatic way in a single weekend in September 2021 to leave Eden and Cambridge, to serve as missionaries in Northern Madagascar. The church joined in the discernment process and so their pastor and his wife will become Eden Mission Partners and members of evangelical mission organisation SIM.

Nicola Laver

Date posted: 1 Feb 2023

An evangelical church minister has headed for the spiritual harvest fields of TikTok, one of the latest and most popular social media platforms, to evangelise a new, younger audience – and he’s starting to reap success.

David Sims, vicar of St Thomas’ Church in Aldridge, Walsall since 2021, has amassed more than 10,500 followers on his @ tiktok_vicar profile where he runs virtual church services, reads the Bible and raises controversial subjects.

Mae’r Gynghrair Efengylaidd yn llawn gwefr o gyhoeddi y bydd Tim Rowlands yn ymuno â thîm y staff fel pennaeth y Gynghrair Efengylaidd yng Nghymru o’r 1af o Ebrill, i gynorthwyo’r eglwys yng Nghymru yn ei chenhadaeth leol ac i fynd â’i llais i’r gymdeithas ehangach ac i’r llywodraeth.

Cymeradwyodd Gavin Calver, Prif Swyddog Gweithredol y Gynghrair Efengylaidd, y penodiad gan ddweud: ‘Rwyf wrth fy modd bod Tim am ymuno â ni i wasanaethu a chynorthwyo’r eglwys yng Nghymru. Mae’n arweinydd eglwys profiadol sy’n gwybod drosto’i hun sut y gall yr eglwys ymgysylltu’n wleidyddol ac yn ddiwylliannol yng Nghymru. Edrychaf ymlaen at wasanaethu gydag ef ac at weld Duw yn symud yn nerthol ledled cenedl Cymru.’

Jim Sayers

Date posted: 1 Apr 2023

Abbey Baptist Church in Abingdon has a new pastor – from Zambia! Chris and Helen Hawthorne enjoyed many years of ministry in St John’s Wood in London, and have spent three and a half years serving with Grace Baptist Mission at Proclamation Institute Zambia (PIZ). Chris was inducted as pastor in Abingdon on 18 February, with Richard Underwood from FIEC preaching.

Chris said Zambia has been a great gospel opportunity. People want to speak about Christ, supermarkets play Matt Redman songs, and Christians are welcomed at many doors. ‘One day at PIZ, we were doing some text work and the passage clearly convicted everybody in the classroom. The whole class went quiet. The following day we were talking about preaching, and the way God worked the previous day made it clear that the power is not in the presentation (like the big show often seen in Zambia), but in being clear with the gospel. Our time in Zambia further convinced me that the heart of church ministry is teaching the Bible really clearly and prayerfully, and making sure people understand what it means for their lives. There are some great Zambian churches doing just that, and seeing significant fruit.’

Nicola Laver

Date posted: 1 Apr 2023

Christianity Explored Ministries (CEM) says it regrets not being firmer following a complaint it received in 2014 about Stephen Sizer.

In a statement to en, the organisation said: ‘Stephen Sizer volunteered with CEM, as a trainer and advocate, on several occasions between 2008 and 2020.

A church plant has launched in the new community of Tornagrain, near Inverness.

Tornagrain Community Church is being led by Innes Macsween (see photo with his wife Anna and their two children), who is the Assistant Minister at Smithton Free Church in Inverness. He is supported by a launch team of around 25 adults and 12 children.

Milla Ling-Davies

Date posted: 1 Jul 2022

If you were asked how a Christian Union runs an evangelistic event, you might guess it would look something like this: a short talk, time for a Q&A, and perhaps some food.

You’d be right. CUs have long operated within this structure and seen encouraging fruit come from it. This year, however, the CUs in Leeds pioneered a different approach.

Valerie Griffiths (1933–2022), a gifted Bible teacher, scholar and advocate for women in the church and mission, went to be with the Lord on 5 December 2022.

Valerie worked with OMF (formerly known as the Overseas Missionary Fellowship) for 23 years, first in Japan and later in Singapore, alongside her late husband Michael, who died in January 2022. Michael served as General Director between 1969 and 1980.