The Church Mission Society's new CEO
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 1 Oct 2025
Andy Roberts has been appointed as the new CEO of the Church Mission Society (CMS).
Roberts – a former mission partner and CMS director of mission – is originally from York and has lived much of his life in Brazil. There, he spent several years serving vulnerable children and young people, alongside his wife, Rose. The couple launched ReVive – a charity providing shelter and holistic support for girls affected by abuse, exploitation and neglect. In 2021, Roberts was awarded an MBE for his work with vulnerable children in Brazil.
Themelios welcomes new editorial board members
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 30 Sep 2025
Themelios – an international, evangelical, peer-reviewed, theological journal that “expounds and defends the historic Christian faith” – has welcomed two new members to its editorial board.
Greg Lanier is Professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) Orlando, and N. Gray Sutanto is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at RTS Washington, D.C. Themelios began in 1975 and ran initially as a print journal in the UK, before becoming a digital journal operated by the Gospel Coalition in 2008.
EEA has a new president
en staff
Date posted: 27 Sep 2025
Andreas Wenzel is the new president of the European Evangelical Alliance (EEA). He succeeds Frank Hinkelmann, who held the post for 12 years.
Wenzel was elected at a “hybrid Members Meeting Bar” in Montenegro, which gathered some EEA leaders in person and others online. The event also included a meeting with local pastors in Montenegro to discuss unity and mission, and support for the growing evangelical community in the country. The EEA seeks to represent 23 million evangelicals in Europe.
OM's new International Director
Operation Mobilisation
Date posted: 26 Sep 2025
Operation Mobilisation (OM) has appointed a new International Director to lead its work in more than 147 countries worldwide.
Dr Iain Pickett (UK) took over the role from Lawrence Tong (Singapore) on 1 September. Tong has completed three terms, having led the movement since 2013. Tong was the third to do so since it began in the late 1950s. His predecessors were Peter Maiden and OM’s founder, George Verwer. They died in 2020 and 2023 respectively.
Martin Smyth dies aged 94
en staff
Date posted: 25 Sep 2025
Martin Smyth, former Presbyterian minister, Orangeman and Unionist politician, has died aged 94.
The Evangelical Protestant Society reports: “Mr Smyth served as minister of Raffrey Presbyterian Church from 1957 to 1963 and Alexandra Presbyterian Church from 1963 to 1982. He was Grand Master of the Orange Order for 26 years and was Unionist MP for South Belfast from 1982 until 2005. Above all, however, Mr Smyth was a committed evangelical Christian who faithfully proclaimed the gospel.”
Evangelist Eric Delve dies
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 23 Sep 2025
Prominent evangelist Eric Delve has died.
In the 1960s and 70s, Delve became a widespread and popular itinerant [travelling] evangelist. Eventually, he decided to "settle down" and trained as a minister - at Trinity College, Bristol - being ordained in 1990.
TikTok vicar faces huge demand for free Bibles
en staff
Date posted: 22 Sep 2025
An evangelical vicar with a significant TikTok audience has reported that hundreds of people requested a Bible in just 24 hours earlier this month - and he is struggling to keep up with demand.
David Sims, vicar at St Thomas’ Church in Aldridge, Walsall, has more than 23,000 followers on TikTok (@TikTok_Vicar). He has used the platform since the Covid-19 lockdown to run virtual church services, read the Bible and discuss controversial topics.
Retiring EA leader reflects on two decades of work
James Patterson
Date posted: 21 Sep 2025
Leader of the Evangelical Alliance (EA) Scotland, Fred Drummond, is leaving his role after nearly two decades. In a piece about his leadership, he reflected on his time at EA.
Drummond said it was odd to leave his local church nearly 20 years ago to join Evangelical Alliance Scotland, but that he can now “see the Lord’s plan and faithfulness".
Australian doctor suspended over online posts
en staff
Date posted: 20 Sep 2025
An Australian doctor, who lost his medical licence after voicing anti-abortion views online, engaged in professional misconduct, the Victorian Civil and Administration Tribunal has ruled.
Jereth Kok, an Evangelical Christian, had 11 years’ unblemished experience as a GP before the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) suspended him in 2019 for professional misconduct. Between 20 May 2010 and 15 October 2021, he made numerous posts on Facebook and Christians websites, included describing abortion doctors as “butchers” and “contract killers”; being transgender was a mental health issue; and doctors treating gender dysphoria was “medical butchery”.
Faith and family are Scheffler's 'greatest priorities'
Luke Randall
Date posted: 11 Sep 2025
Christian golfer Scottie Scheffler, who won The Open championship at Royal Portrush, says even the biggest wins of his career do not give him true satisfaction or meaning.
The world number one, who is well-known to be a devoted Christian, shot 17-under-par to win a first Open title, collecting his second major triumph of the year and fourth overall.
Pop star Mike Posner is a 'new man'
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 30 Aug 2025
In a recent Facebook post, musician Mike Posner expressed his desire to serve God.
The 37-year-old pop star wrote: “I’m a professional recording artist and my mission is to serve God and my fellow man.”
Reality TV stars get baptised
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 29 Aug 2025
Reality TV stars Matilda Draper and Roman Hackett were recently baptised, the celebrity couple shared on social media.
Draper, who appeared on Love Island last year, and ex-Towie star Hackett were baptised in Beckenham.
Boxing champion's expression of faith
Luke Randall
Date posted: 28 Aug 2025
Oleksandr Usyk publicly thanked Jesus after beating Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium to become boxing’s undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
The Ukrainian boxer has spoken about his faith before.
Christian footballer nominated for award
Luke Randall
Date posted: 26 Aug 2025
Christian footballer Michelle Agyemang is one of those nominated for the Women’s Kopa trophy, for being the best under-21 player, at the Ballon d’Or awards.
The 19-year-old scored two goals en route to England’s final appearance against Spain.
Leading Scottish theologian dies
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 24 Aug 2025
The Free Church of Scotland says it is "profoundly saddened" at the death of Professor John R McIntosh, who died on Saturday 16 August.
Prof McIntosh served as minister of both the Lochgilphead and Aultbea Free Church congregations before being appointed as Professor of Church History at the Free Church College (now Edinburgh Theological Seminary) in 2005. He retired from there in 2017.
Crystal Palace player's Scripture-inscribed shoes
en staff
Date posted: 21 Aug 2025
Crystal Palace player Marc Guehi sported Scriptural boots when he turned out to play in the FA Community Shield against Liverpool.
Each boot was inscribed with a Bible verse, namely, Isaiah 54v17 and Exodus 14v14.
Kate Forbes to step down
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 21 Aug 2025
Deputy First Minister of Scotland Kate Forbes has announced her intention to step down from the Scottish Parliament at the next election, citing her reason as “not wanting to miss any more of the precious years of family life”.
Forbes has spoken about being a Christian and is a reportedly a member of the evangelical Free Church of Scotland.
Astronaut Jim Lovell dies at 97
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 21 Aug 2025
An American astronaut whose reading of Genesis 1 from space was broadcast to earth on Christmas Eve in 1968, has died at the age of 97.
Jim Lovell was one of the first three astronauts to orbit the moon in 1968 on the Apollo 8, along with Frank Borman and William Anders.
