College cuts: doubt over evangelism centre
en staff
Date posted: 1 Nov 2021
An evangelical theological college has axed
the role of Director of Ministerial Training,
bringing into doubt the future of its specialist
centre for training future evangelists.
Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, said loss of income
due to the pandemic necessitated the change
– which means theologian evangelist Greg
Downes (photo) will lose his job as well as
his family home, which went with the role.
Afghan refugee children campaign
en staff
Date posted: 1 Nov 2021
More than £2,000 has so far been raised as part of a campaign to provide winter clothing for Afghan refugee children arriving in the UK.
The initiative is organised by Christian group Afghan Welcome – whose director is Krish Kandiah (see photo), and whose supporters include en contributor Graham Miller of the London City Mission, Gavin Calver of the Evangelical Alliance and many others.
‘Get ready for mission in
2022’, Rico tells churches
EN
Date posted: 1 Jan 2021
Rico Tice (pictured) has launched
the 2022 Passion for Life mission
with 2 Timothy 1:10, reminding
everyone that Jesus has destroyed
death.
In a short video he says: ‘I know the pandemic has been brutal, but
it has opened things up. [People]
are
looking
for answers. We’ve all been
rocked. How can we help people to go from
hunger and spectating, to actively following
Jesus? Let’s come together as we seek to answer that question.’
A Passion for Life took place
nationwide
in 2010 and 2014.
Tice says the hope is that ‘life and
immortality will be brought
to
light as we proclaim the gospel of
Jesus to all corners of the UK.
‘So many
are
talking
about
this being a reset. Surely there’s
no better time for us to gather
together again and proclaim Christ … put
March and April 2022 in the church diary,
and begin praying and planning for a Passion
for Life.’
Steaming on
EN
Date posted: 1 May 2021
A
new
chaplain
has
joined
the
Railway
Mission
–
an organisation
founded in 1881 to
provide pastoral care
and support for staff
on trains and in stations.
Helen Lewis (see photo) is the new Railway
and British Transport Police Chaplain
for
South and Mid-Wales. Helen came to faith in
Christ at the age of 14 and re-committed her
life to serving God while at university.
‘Be prepared,’ Finnish leader warns Western Christians
EN
Date posted: 1 Jun 2021
A Finnish evangelical Christian leader who
is
facing court because of his orthodox
beliefs on sexual morality has spoken to en,
declaring that public opinion is on his side.
However, The Revd Dr Juhana Pohjola,
Bishop Elect of the Evangelical Lutheran
Mission Diocese of Finland
(ELMDF),
criticised what he called the ‘awkward silence’
of the established church in his country.
Stranded! But God is at work…
en staff / Andy Bowerman / The Guardian
Date posted: 1 Apr 2021
An evangelical Middle East chaplain is playing a key role in resolving a long-running dispute which has left five sailors stuck on an abandoned tanker for years.
Andy Bowerman, Regional Director for the Mission to Seafarers, has been visiting the stranded crew of the Panama-flagged MT Iba since May 2019 to ensure they have adequate food, water and fuel – as well as responding to their requests for spiritual support and to questions about what motivates him to help them.
Vaccine passports fear
EN
Date posted: 1 May 2021
Almost 1,000 church leaders have urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson not to impose controversial vaccine passports on churches in England.
In an open letter published a few days ago, the pastors and ministers say they are ‘are wholly opposed to this suggestion’ and say that to ‘deny people entry to hear this life-giving message and to receive this life-giving ministry would be a fundamental betrayal of Christ and the gospel.’
Fletcher and Smyth scandals: ‘who’ and ‘what’ – but not yet all the ‘whens’, ‘wheres’ or ‘whys’…
en staff
Date posted: 1 May 2021
en explains the latest developments – and what may come
What has happened?
First, independent Christian safeguarding charity Thirtyone:eight published a ‘lessons learnt’ report into disgraced former minister Jonathan Fletcher’s time at Emmanuel Church Wimbledon from 1982 and 2012. Previously it had emerged that Fletcher had engaged in naked massages with men as well as beatings on their bare backsides, among other things.
C of E orthodox fight on as new Anglican group set up
EN
Date posted: 1 Jan 2021
Evangelicals in the Church of England have been preparing to contend in the wake of the launch of Living in Love and Faith – while a new Anglican network has also been set up.
At the latest General Synod, a presentation was given on the new Living in Love and Faith (LLF) resources on issues of sexuality and gender.