news in brief
From Russia with love
From Siberia to Greater Manchester, Russell Phillips has taken over as pastor of Radcliffe Road Baptist Church, Bury.
While studying Russian at Cambridge, Russell went to Novosibirsk, Russia with the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES). He met his wife Oxana there and they married in Scotland in 1999.
news in brief
Honduras: evangelicals
now in majority
The Roman Catholic Church was
the
majority
religion
in Honduras, central
America, and is officially recognised by the
government. But it has now been overtaken
by evangelicals.
A new survey shows that 43.2% of the
population identify themselves as evangelical
Christians while just 38.2% call themselves
Catholics. 13% of Hondurans say they do
not belong to any religious denomination.
news in brief
Virgin closure
Fundraising platform Virgin Money Giving,
relied on by many churches, will no longer
take online donations as of 1 December.
Leading Christian philanthropy charity
Stewardship has urged church and charity
treasurers to take necessary action to ensure
online donations continue.
The platform – a subsidiary of Virgin
Money – will
close
completely by 22
February 2022. Church treasurers needing
more information can call Stewardship on
020 8502 5600, or visit stewardship.org.uk/
fundraising-churches-charities
news in brief
Eternal Wall prayer drive
Inspired by Nehemiah’s rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall, ‘Eternal Wall: 52 Days of Prayer, Fasting and Worship’ is underway.
It began on 3 September in support of a crowdfunding campaign for the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer, a Christian landmark planned for the West Midlands, UK in 2023. It is to include 75,000 ‘heritage bricks’ celebrating answered prayer as far back as 600 AD. The 52 days of prayer is a flexible prayer schedule that can be followed daily – either individually or in a small group, or in a church or organisation. For more information visit eternalwall.org
news in brief
Argentina: Evangelical Churches Day
The Argentinian province of Neuquén has enshrined in law a new Provincial Day of Evangelical Churches. The date – 31 October, Reformation Day – was chosen as it marks the anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in 1517.
‘We believe it was important to give public recognition and support to the evangelical churches that are doing essential work in our province and our country’, said provincial deputy Darío Peralta (see photo). He stressed that the Congress was ‘happy to highlight their work and make it visible by recognising them and declaring 31 October as the day of the evangelical churches in our province’.
news in brief
USA: two pastors arrested over Capitol riots
James Varnell Cusick Jr., 72, and his son Casey Cusick, 35, both pastors at the Global Outreach Ministries church at Melbourne, Florida have been arrested in connection with the Capitol riots on 6 January.
They face charges including: disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. David Lesperance, a 68-year-old congregant of their church, faces similar charges. Bodycam footage and CCTV images showing the three men inside the Capitol have been presented as evidence.
news in brief
Newham call to prayer
victory
It has been revealed that Newham Council
assured residents in April that a decision
allowing mosques to broadcast the Muslim
call to prayer during Ramadan last year
would not be repeated this year.
In May 2020,
the
sound of
‘There
is
no God but Allah and Muhammad is his
messenger,’
followed by
the command
to
pray, could be heard. Residents complained,
but after an unsatisfactory
response one
resident
challenged Newham’s mayor,
a
Muslim, on a Zoom drop-in, but was met
with ‘excuses’. A legal letter was sent, arguing
that the decision was unlawful on various
grounds. It is not known whether the council
acknowledged any unlawfulness, but it said
it would not authorise broadcasts during Ramadan 2021.
news in brief
PM quotes Psalm 14
Boris Johnson has quoted Psalm 14 when asked by a reporter whether he believed in God.
Asked by ITV’s Robert Peston, the Prime Minister initially said: ‘I don’t discuss these deep issues, certainly not with you.’ But he then added: ‘The foolish man has said in his heart there is no God.’
news in brief
Abortion law change?
The Severe Foetal Impairment Abortion
(Amendment) Bill has passed
its second
stage at the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Disability
rights
campaigner, Heidi
Crowter, who has Down’s syndrome, had
told the Health Committee of the assembly:
‘The law … tells me and other people with
Down’s syndrome that we are worth
less
than those without disabilities. That is why I
want … the laws to be fairer.’