Gaza: ‘Unique witness’ as believers make a difference
Luke Randall
Date posted: 20 Jun 2025
The contribution of Gaza’s shrinking Christian community to the relief effort in Gaza is acting as a unique witness to its locals, according to a mission worker.
In an exclusive interview with en, Hanna Massad, head of Christian Mission to Gaza (CMG), spoke of how Gaza’s believers are working to make a difference as the war between Hamas and the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) rages on.
Russian Christians grieve war with Ukraine
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 17 Jun 2025
As Russia-Ukraine peace talks drag on with little resolution, the death toll continues to rise in Eastern Europe - and for many Russian Christians, the ongoing invasion of a country with which they have shared such close partnership is the cause of “great sorrow.”
Ukraine Losses, a website that records Ukrainian casualty data, currently lists 76,000 Military deaths while estimates of Russian losses are upwards of 100,000 according to the BBC.
Alpha celebrates most successful year since 1977
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 16 Jun 2025
Alpha International, which runs the well-known “Alpha course” to help people explore Christianity, is celebrating its most successful year since it started in 1977.
Last year, more than 2 million people across the world learned about the gospel through more than 80,000 Alpha courses hosted in 146 countries worldwide.
Israel-Iran: Urgent prayers for peace
en staff
Date posted: 16 Jun 2025
Christian organisations are calling for urgent prayers for lasting peace in Israel, Iran and the wider Middle East.
On social media, Messianic Jewish organisation Jews for Jesus posted a video from an unnamed staff worker in Israel in which he said: “It’s 4:00 AM in Israel [and] we’ve been awakened twice by push alerts and alarms … Would you stand with us and pray for the peace of Jerusalem; pray for peace in the whole area of the Middle East.
European Congress on Evangelism held for first time in 29 years
Chris Sinkinson
Date posted: 14 Jun 2025
During June, over 1,000 Christian leaders and evangelists gathered in Berlin for the European Congress on Evangelism, hosted by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
Last held in 1966, it was a significant opportunity to bring together believers from over 50 countries to be reminded of their calling to preach the gospel.
letter from America
The importance of a 'learned ministry'
Josh Moody
Date posted: 13 Jun 2025
With the recent relocation of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) to Canada from Chicagoland, there have been many conversations spurred about the future of seminary training and theological education for ministry.
Anecdotally, there are reports of students increasingly finding the financial burden of a full-time on campus M.Div. seminary education exorbitant.
Turkey: Churches and hostility both grow
Luke Randall
Date posted: 8 Jun 2025
Christianity is growing steadily in Turkey, but challenges remain amidst increasing hostility, with reports claiming that foreign Christians are being denied entry into the country.
Christianity has grown exponentially in the west-Asian country, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s (CSW) Research and Advocacy Officer for the Middle East and North Africa, who told en that a total of about 100 Christians in the 1980s has grown into about 100 congregations today. However, religious minorities find themselves “increasingly vulnerable to hate speech, discrimination and intolerance”.
‘Flawed Catholic’ takes Australia forward
Peter Riddell
Date posted: 5 Jun 2025
The federal election held on 3 May 2025 resulted in a landslide victory for the Australian Labor Party (ALP), led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Labor’s strong performance secured an increased majority in the House of Representatives, while the Liberal-National Coalition suffered heavy losses nationwide. In a historic outcome, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton even lost his own seat of Dickson.
letter from Australia
Prayer? Unlawful. Puberty blockers? Fine
David Robertson
Date posted: 4 Jun 2025
In April the New South Wales Conversion Practices Ban Act came into effect. Its stated aim is “to ban practices directed to changing or suppressing the sexual orientation or gender identity of individuals”. The reaction from the churches has been mixed.
Churches of a more “progressive” bent broadly welcome the ban. More-Biblical churches are concerned – although some leaders think that it will not make much difference. They argue that prayer is not banned. The legislation explicitly states that general religious teachings, sermons, private prayer or personal reflection are not considered conversion practices and are not illegal. For example, expressing religious beliefs or seeking spiritual guidance through prayer is permitted.
Canadian evangelicals reach out to new PM Mark Carney
Luke Randall
Date posted: 3 Jun 2025
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) has outlined topics it is looking to raise with Mark Carney following his election as Canada’s Prime Minister.
Among the organisation’s priorities for the new parliamentary term are issues surrounding euthanasia and the safety of children online.
Thousands attend 'biggest gathering of evangelicals in France'
Luke Randall
Date posted: 2 Jun 2025
Thousands in France gathered for the inaugural La Place conference, described by charity France Mission as the country’s biggest gathering of evangelicals.
The event, held at a conference centre in the Bois de Vincennes, to the south-east of Paris, provided an opportunity for French evangelical churches to connect and worship together. Around 3,000 people were reported to have attended.
letter from Japan
First they came for the Moonies...?
John Newton Webb
Date posted: 1 Jun 2025
The Japanese government have voted to strip the legal status of the Unification Church (also known as the Moonies) following investigations into members being pressured into giving large sums of money.
They can still operate, but lose all the privileges of religious registration (tax-free status, etc.). Some are welcoming this as a curb on coercive activities by the cults, but some Christian leaders are concerned about future implications for religious freedom.
Iran: Christians on hunger strike
Milla Ling-Davies
Date posted: 29 May 2025
Three Christians in the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran, Iran have staged hunger strikes in recent months to protest against their detention and cruel treatment.
In the last five months, two men, Naser Navard Gol-Tapeh and Amir-Ali Minaei, and one woman, Ghazal Marzban, have been among those arrested in Iran for their Christian faith and activity. Suffering broken bones and other medical complaints, they have each protested their situation by refusing food.
‘Anti-Christian bias’ in US to be challenged
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 28 May 2025
Following President Trump’s establishment of a task force to root out “anti-Christian bias” from government, the United States Veterans Affairs (VA) Department is now calling on staff to report any such incidents.
In an email first reported on by The Guardian, VA Secretary Doug Collins told staff the department would investigate “all instances of anti-Christian bias”, particularly informal policies and procedures hostile to Christian views.
Evangelical support for Trump holds steady
Luke Randall
Date posted: 26 May 2025
Evangelical support in the United States remains steady for President Trump following the conclusion of his first 100 days in office, according to new research.
White evangelicals and Catholics remain among Trump's strongest supporters, amidst a wider mood of disapproval amongst the general population.
Myanmar: Christians acting after quake
Luke Randall
Date posted: 25 May 2025
Churches and mission partners have sprung into action to support the relief effort in Myanmar following the catastrophic earthquake which shook the nation last month. However, military control and violence still persists amid stories of gospel opportunity.
The southeast Asian country was devastated by the 7.7 magnitude quake which has killed more than 3,600, and the nation’s church community has crossed denominational divides to support the relief effort.
1,000 pastors set for European Congress
Luke Randall
Date posted: 25 May 2025
The European Congress on Evangelism, hosted in Berlin, is set to see 1,000 pastors and ministry leaders from 56 countries come together from across the continent in late May (27-30) to promote the bold proclamation of the gospel.
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), which is hosting the event, described it as the biggest gathering of Christian leaders on evangelism in Europe for 25 years, since the organisation last hosted a conference in the continent in Amsterdam in 2000.
His Royal Flyness?
Gary Clayton
Date posted: 24 May 2025
The King has helped the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) mark its 80th anniversary by unveiling the organisation’s latest aircraft.
Pressing a button, His Majesty – who learned to fly with the RAF – raised the hangar doors at RAF Northolt, London, to reveal the latest addition to MAF’s fleet – a new Cessna 208 Caravan. The Christian organisation, which has a worldwide fleet of about 115 light aircraft, will now have 11 planes serving Papua New Guinea’s people.
