Cyclone Freddy: missionary’s anguish
Iain Taylor
Date posted: 1 Apr 2023
An evangelical missionary in Mozambique says storms and rain were ‘incessant’ and poorly-constructed houses around her were ‘flooding and collapsing’ as a tropical storm battered the country.
Cyclone Freddy, the longest-ever recorded tropical cyclone, which has returned several times, ripped through the country and neighbouring Malawi with over 600 dead and countless people missing, injured or made homeless.
culture watch
Imperfect, but helpful?
Ian Cooper
Date posted: 1 Apr 2023
The Chosen is an American TV and film series on the Life of Christ, which from uncertain beginnings has become a global success.
It has millions of viewers and has been dubbed or subtitled in scores of languages. With a model of crowd-funding it has raised the vast sums needed for a series which aims to complete seven seasons of eight episodes each, 56 episodes in total. Currently it has done three seasons, 24 episodes, and is available on Netflix, Amazon, YouTube and the Angel Studio and Chosen apps – it’s free on the apps. The director is Dallas Jenkins, a conservative evangelical, 46 and married with four children, whose father Jerry Jenkins was the author of the Left Behind books. So why, when most Christian film series are cheesy or preachy or both, has this been a terrific hit.
Sizer: CEM apologises
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.
Len hopes for divine addition in Europe
64fellowship.com
Date posted: 1 Apr 2023
A US-based prayer fellowship for ministers
is seeking to expand into the British Isles
and Europe.
The 6:4 Prayer Fellowship describes itself as
‘a pastor-led, Biblically-based, international
and multi-denominational
network
of
pastors rooted in the Biblical paradigm of
ministry seen in Acts 6:1-7.
Inverness church plant is planning for new town growth
Sarah Robinson
Date posted: 1 Apr 2023
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.
Christian theology lecturer dismissed for tweet
en staff
Date posted: 1 Apr 2023
This March, Dr Aaron Edwards (37) was fired from his position as a theology lecturer at Cliff College, Derbyshire, following his controversial tweet concerning homosexuality.
The tweet, shared from his personal account, went viral. It read:
Zambia to Abingdon
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.’
Church planter and Bible student wins ‘Miss Germany’
Iain Taylor
Date posted: 1 Apr 2023
The new Miss Germany, Kira Geiss,
is
a committed Christian. She has won a
title that, according to the organisers, is
no
longer about beauty alone, but also
about social engagement and the ability to
empower other people.
‘I think it is time to not only take care of
the healthy maintenance of our planet, but
also to actively engage in allowing people
to heal and grow internally’, she says on
the Miss Germany website, where she
is
described as a
‘theology student, aspiring religious and
community
educator, and
visual merchandiser’.
Cyhoeddir mai Tim Rowlands yw pennaeth newydd y Gynghrair Efengylaidd yng Nghymru
Evangelical Alliance Wales
Date posted: 1 Apr 2023
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.’
‘The easiest conversations I’ve had’ - is this model of mission the future?
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.
Death announced of veteran Bible teacher and scholar
Reuben Grace
Date posted: 1 Feb 2023
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.
news in brief
FGM: campaigner honoured
Campaigner, humanitarian aid-worker and Church Mission Society mission partner Dr Ann-Marie Wilson received an MBE in King Charles’ first New Year’s Honours List. The citation reads that Dr Wilson is being recognised ‘for services to the prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls’, in particular her pioneering to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Ann-Marie’s charity 28 Too Many sought to end FGM in 28 African countries where it is prevalent. Building on more than 3,000 FGM survivors’ stories and mobilising grassroots organisations with advocacy tools, Dr Wilson has helped secure widespread change.
letter from the
Philippines: Mosquitoes, prison, tribes: mission in action today
Reuben & Cathy Saywell
Date posted: 1 Sep 2022
Some say that the first few months of long-term mission work are all about survival. Looking back, by God’s grace, we have managed a little more than that. As expected, we’ve had our fair share of highs and lows already.
It would seem that, since our arrival, blessings and trials have been handed out in equal measure. But all in all, we feel very much that the Lord is at work in Santa Maria, equipping us as we seek to be a witness for the truth to those trapped in false religion, and enabling us to take our first steps towards the planting of a church in this spiritually needy district of Bulacan.
What can the world’s biggest YouTuber teach you?
Jonny Abbott
Date posted: 1 Feb 2023
As a theology graduate, former pastor and now on the staff at Moorlands College in the communications department, I am learning all I can from everywhere I can about how we can get our message across in the contemporary world. Where to turn?
Well, I have just watched a video of a car with a jet engine strapped to it. The goal is to see how many buses it will jump over. If you were one of the 47 million people who have so far watched the video you will know that this was just one of eight other equally audacious ‘experiments’ put together by YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, AKA ‘Mr Beast’ (see photo). If you haven’t seen any of Jimmy’s videos before, they involve everything from subscribers competing for private islands, to creating a replica of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. As the most subscribed-to individual on YouTube, Mr Beast is redefining what the modern-day entertainer looks like.
‘Wise, gifted’ leader dies
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 1 Feb 2023
The Revd Dr Paul Bailie, Presbyterian minister, lecturer and lover of Africa, died unexpectedly on 15 November 2023, just days after turning 54.
He was ordained by the Presbyterian Church of Ireland (PCI) in 1995; and from 2007 he had been chief executive of Mission Africa, one of the oldest interdenominational evangelical missions in the UK. He had recently joined the ICC Executive Committee representing the Presbyterian Church.
Rob and staff
en staff
Date posted: 1 Mar 2023
Rob Munro has become the new Bishop of Ebbsfleet, the Church of England bishop with delegated oversight of 147 complementarian evangelical parishes.
Previously Rector of Cheadle, Cheshire, Rob trained for ministry at Oak Hill College and studied for his doctorate at Reformed Theological Seminary in the USA. He has also served on General Synod, is a member of the Dioceses’ Commission, chairs the House of Clergy for Chester Diocese, is the Chair of the Fellowship of Word & Spirit, and is on the Councils of Latimer Trust and Church Society.
Tony Thiselton: theologian
www.durham.ac.uk
Date posted: 1 Mar 2023
The death has been announced of evangelical theologian, Biblical scholar and college principal Professor Anthony Thiselton. He was Principal of St John’s, Durham, from 1988 to 1992.
Tony Thiselton was one of the leading Biblical scholars of his generation, where his main contribution was in the area of hermeneutics but he had a wide range of interests with contributions in systematics, philosophical theology and ethics. He was ordained in 1961, and served the Church England in both parish ministry and at General Synod. In addition to being Principal of St John’s Durham, he had also been Principal of St John’s Nottingham and head of theology at the University of Nottingham. As well as a number of honorary degrees, he was a Fellow of the British Academy.
Wallsend: hope
AMiE
Date posted: 1 Mar 2023
A church launched last year in Wallsend has a newly-ordained minister.
Hope Church Tyneside was launched in May 2022 after a local Church of England congregation voted to leave the denomination and join the Anglican Mission in England (AMiE). A significant number of the members chose to join them in this endeavour, following the spiritual course which had been set years previously.
And now Baptists face same-sex marriage battle too
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 1 Mar 2023
The Baptist Union (BU) could change its rules to allow the ordination of practicing homosexuals as early as October 2023 – but evangelical ministers within the union are making moves to defend the orthodox position.
In January, an in-person meeting of the newly-formed Evangelical Baptist Ministers for Marriage was held, against the background of increasing division over the issue of allowing the accreditation of practicing gay ministers. More than 220 orthodox evangelical baptists attended the meeting.
politics & policy
What is free speech for?
James Mildred
Date posted: 1 Mar 2023
We all love free speech. It’s a precious thing that aids the mission of the church because it means we can proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, largely without fear of police interference.
Free speech also means that we can teach what the Bible says on issues where we are especially counter-cultural, like human identity and sexuality, or being genuinely pro-life.
The ‘disturbingly disingenuous’ claims of many bishops
February’s General Synod vote to welcome the House of Bishops’ proposals was momentous and has thus provoked strong reactions.
Christopher Cocksworth, the Bishop of Coventry and leader of the Living in Love and Faith process, observed: ‘The proposed provision has united a broad alliance of evangelical networks, and some significant catholic voices, in suspicion, bewilderment, consternation and, among most [of] the evangelical spectrum, rejection.’