Enlightening articles
Date posted: 26 Sep 2024
Dear Editor,
I have just been reading your September issue on the aeroplane travelling to speak at a mission in Kosovo. I am so pleased I have done this. Two articles especially have spoken to me directly as I prepare to share the gospel.
Christian Afghan women fear ‘double persecution’
Luke Randall
Date posted: 25 Sep 2024
Christian women in Afghanistan are now facing ‘double persecution,’ according to an evangelical mission agency, as draconian new Taliban restrictions take force.
All women have been banned from speaking or showing their faces in public in the Taliban’s latest infringement on women’s rights since reclaiming power in 2021.
Aber 2024: the power of revival
James Allan
Date posted: 24 Sep 2024
The annual conference of the Evangelical Movement of Wales (EMW) took place as usual in Aberystwyth during the second week of August.
The highlight of the conference each year is the preaching of God’s Word in the Great Hall of the university campus. This year’s speaker was David Meredith, Mission Director for the Free Church of Scotland.
bridging cultural divides
Bridging cultural divides: it takes one small step
Jason Roach
Date posted: 20 Sep 2024
'I gave them my freedom (bus) pass and scribbled down the address of the church on the back of a receipt! Praying that they'd come along today.'
If I could have raised one eyebrow I would have. As it was, I simply smiled. It seemed risky... He had only met Araz, Dilvan and Genc* - the three Kurdish men that he spoke of - the day before. They had been housed in a local hotel while their Asylum claims were processed.
news in brief
Urban missionary launch
A free hub – created by and for urban missionaries – has just been launched by The Message Trust. The Proximity urban mission resource hub has been created for churches, individuals and other organisations sharing the gospel in UK estates and inner-city communities.
It ranges from videos and podcasts to advice and teaching and further topics ‘covering all areas of mission’. Proximity is also to create virtual and online communities with regular gatherings across the UK. The Message Trust explained why it has launched Proximity: ‘We know just how tough urban mission can be … sadly many have told us they feel isolated and under-resourced. We don’t want that to be the case anymore.’
When pens are an answer to prayer
Luke Randall
Date posted: 17 Jul 2024
God answers prayer in amazing ways, and He did so in Kenya with just a few pens and pencils, as Robbie Toop of Mission Africa revealed.
The organisation has been sending mission teams to the African nation for ten years and sent Kathryn Lindsay, its first long-term worker, in 2023.
Post-election: A tale of two speeches
John Woods
Date posted: 17 Jul 2024
Preachers, politicians and stand-up comedians still speak to crowds. President Zelensky of Ukraine has combined the last two of these in his colourful career. He has demonstrated the power of well-chosen words delivered in the right place to the right people.
Many speeches have been delivered during the UK election campaign that drew to a decisive conclusion on 4 July.
a Jewish Christian perspective
Not ashamed
Joseph Steinberg
Date posted: 17 Jul 2024
As someone who has been in missionary work in the UK for over 35 years, I have noticed that the church and Christians have grown less confident in sharing Jesus with those around them.
Many fear being ridiculed by identifying themselves as Christians. This is nothing new; Christians have often suffered a fear of rejection because of their faith, thus the Apostle Peter’s exhortation in 1 Peter 3:15 to always be ready to give an answer to anyone who enquires about the hope you have within you.
Olympics 2024: Eric Liddell tracts reach thousands
Christians in Sport
Date posted: 23 Jul 2024
This year presents a huge opportunity to engage sportspeople with the good news of Jesus around major sporting events.
Alongside a Sports Mission Pack, Christians in Sport has partnered with publisher 10ofThose to produce a tract titled ‘Racing for Glory’ on the life and witness of Eric Liddell, a century on from his famous gold medal winning performance at Paris 1924.
letter from Madagascar
Prosperity gospel challenges evangelicals
Joel Morris
Date posted: 12 Sep 2024
Last month, I had the privilege to visit our ministry partner in Madagascar, Pastor Faly, who is based in a local church in the capital, Antananarivo.
His ministry is doing an impressive amount of gospel work in the community and across the nation – from publishing and printing theological books, to training preachers, a youth camp, a new medical ministry, and working with people with disabilities.
Nigeria believers face ‘brutal violence’
Luke Randall
Date posted: 10 Sep 2024
The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) has said, in a statement at the 56th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review in Geneva, Switzerland, that the Nigerian government must do more to protect Christians from the ‘brutal violence’ of extremist groups.
The WEA spoke of ‘patterns of repeated violence’ by extremist groups in Nigeria which are wiping out communities and displacing thousands. It called on the country’s government to do more to ‘disarm violent groups’ and ‘boost security’ in the nation.
Keswick 24: Feeling spiritually dry?
Mark Ellis
Date posted: 17 Jul 2024
I know what it’s like to feel dry. To feel Jesus is distant. To know in my head I couldn’t be closer; that my life is now hid in Christ. But not to sense that in my heart. To feel my eyesight is clouded and my heart is stale.
And the Keswick Convention is not the answer to my problem. But it can help. Because our good God gives us many ways to bring our hearts closer to the sunshine of the gospel; many ways that will melt our hearts as we look to Jesus. And what I love about the Convention is that it’s like an oasis. It’s an opportunity to be refreshed. And then sent back out again.
Scripture Union’s new boss aims for 95% of children
Iain Taylor
Date posted: 17 Jul 2024
Dave Newton took over as National Director of Scripture Union (SU) in March. Now he has his feet under the desk, Evangelicals Now asked him about his vision for its future.
SU was originally founded in 1867 to help adults and children know God through the Bible. Today, its 1,500 volunteers run over 60 camps and missions a year.
South Asian interchange
The cost of following Jesus
Rani Joshi
Date posted: 5 Sep 2024
In recent months, as I’ve been meeting more South Asian believers who have come from other faiths, I questioned if we really understand the cost of following Jesus and what discipleship looks like for those who have come from a different faith. Especially from a ministry context.
Over 5.5million people in the UK are from a South Asian background and do not know Jesus. If mission and evangelism is at the heart of what you are doing, then it’s important to understand how to help people transition well, remain in their communities and culture (if they feel called to).
We need divine help more than ever, Ukraine pastors say
Iain Taylor
Date posted: 31 Jul 2024
Only divine intervention can bring about a lasting peace in Ukraine, church leaders there say.
That’s the message from a mission organisation working in the heart of the ongoing and bloody conflict caused by Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked invasion.
everyday theology
Are you a ‘real sinner’?
Michael Reeves
Date posted: 4 Sep 2024
Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’
news in brief
Laos: pastor murdered
A pastor has been shot and killed by masked gunmen on motorbikes in a village in Northwestern Laos, as reported by The Christian Post.
Thongkham Philavanh, aged 40, who was a pastor in Vanghay Village and the head of Lao Evangelical Church, was shot seven times as he was feeding his chickens and ducks. He died on his way to hospital, leaving his wife and two teenage children in mourning.
letter from Spain
God at work - even in Benidorm
Trevor Ramsey
Date posted: 30 Aug 2024
It started as a normal Friday. We had gathered in the rented church building in Benidorm to remember our Lord’s death with the breaking of the bread - a service which we held every Friday morning. It was just a small gathering but we are always aware that we are honouring Christ and always expectant for lives to be changed.
About 20 were about to start worshipping the Lord when a young lady walked in. She was bilingual with an English mother and Spanish father - one of the thousands of similar individuals along Spain’s famous Costa Blanca.
defending our faith
The training challenge
Chris Sinkinson
Date posted: 29 Aug 2024
One of the great challenges facing the church is how we train the next generation of apologists, pastors, evangelists and other workers.
The needs are great. I know many churches who are looking to recruit pastors but struggling to find someone appropriate. Likewise, how do we train apologists? Many online apologists using YouTube and other forms of social media are self-taught, mean well, but sometimes mislead.
Teesside outreach sees 1,400 respond
Iain Taylor
Date posted: 7 Jul 2024
Festival Teesside, featuring evangelist Andrew Palau, was ‘a massive success’ and the ‘fruition of 15 years of hard work,’ says mission organiser Stephen Sutton.
Sutton, who is pastor of Beacon Baptist Church, Middlesborough, also said that the gospel seed had been sown and that local churches were now deploying ‘the skills of the harvest field’ which the Palau team provided.
Christian schools alarmed by charging of VAT on fees
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 24 Aug 2024
The imposition of VAT on private school fees threatens the survival of small Christian schools, which are ‘worlds away from the Harrows and Etons of this world’, the Association of Christian Teachers (ACT) is warning.
Meanwhile, the head of a small private school says Christian parents are being punished, and has challenged the church to support families and Christian education.
What should you look for in a church?
It is the season when supermarkets and Ikea are filled with young adults and their parents doing ‘the university shop’.
Journalists begin rehashing their annual articles: '24 tips for starting university', filled with sage advice about starting freshers with plenty of cold remedies and bringing chocolate brownies to share with new housemates. Parents are advised to 'let go and remember that their child is an adult'.