letter from Japan
Japan: Gospel opportunities and political threats
John Newton Webb
Date posted: 2 Sep 2025
In the city where we minister, every area has a Community Business Association. Despite not being a business, our church was invited to join our local association; we’re the only church in the city to be a member of one.
This has given us many opportunities to meet people, to publicise the church in local shops, and also to participate in local community events.
Evangelicalism grows in Catalonia
Luke Randall
Date posted: 1 Sep 2025
The number of evangelical worship places in Catalonia has increased by 100 in four years, making it the religious tradition which has experienced the “most significant growth” during the last 20 years.
There were 889 evangelical worship places as of 2024, 100 more than in 2020, which continues a steady pattern of growth which began in the late 19th century, mostly due to Pentecostal churches, according to the Religious Map of Catalonia.
letter from Liberia
Building the church in West Africa
James Stileman
Date posted: 29 Aug 2025
In an episode of Come Fly with Me, the BBC’s 2010 satirical fly-on-the-wall documentary set in a fictional UK airport, Ian Foot, the Chief Immigration Officer, challenges a passenger from Liberia for travelling under a forged passport. “The slight giveaway,” says Foot smugly, “is there is no such country as Liberia.”
The affronted passenger, appalled by the officer’s racism, points to Liberia on a map of West Africa and the humiliated Foot lets the visitor through.
Ukraine: Five reflections on the war
Jonathan Frais
Date posted: 28 Aug 2025
What do you make of the conflict in Ukraine? Its presence feels like the "new normal". Should we be bored, interested, concerned or even frightened? Let me offer five reflections.
- What the Bible says
Jesus said there will be “wars and rumours of wars” (Mark 13v7), and spring is the time “when kings go off to war” (1 Samuel 11v1). Battles are so well known that we urge one another, “Fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6v12). The relative peace of the last 70 years has been unusual in historical terms but Jesus told us, “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Mark 12v31) and that can apply to a country in need.
We know that Jesus, “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9v6), says “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5v9) and “he himself is our peace”, reconciling enemies “through the cross” (Ephesians 2v14, 16) – whether Jew, Gentile or “Scythian” (Ukrainian; Colossians 3v11). As a gospel people, “God is our refuge and strength” even when familiar borders and landmarks move (“mountains fall into the heart of the sea”; Psalm 46).
- What the news reports
On 24 February 2022, as martial law was imposed to keep men for fighting, many women and children fled. One million went through the Polish border in the first week. (The numbers soon surpassed the estimated two million Hebrews under Moses leaving Egypt.)
Since then, standing with Ukraine is regarded as one of the few agreed causes in Western political life. But people differ on the detail.
Some perspectives are too narrow, claiming that the war is just nations scrapping over land (ignoring daily Russian war crimes of targeting civilians, torturing prisoners, and gassing soldiers). Other angles are too wide, claiming that millions have died (although Ukraine has seen 70,000 soldiers die with 400,000 injured; while Russian forces have four times the death toll and double the injuries). And some approaches are simply wrong, such as Russia saying that Ukraine started the war, or that Russia cannot be beaten (when it lost to Japan in 1905, was defeated by Germany in 1914-18, and was pushed out of Afghanistan in 1989), or that tyrants are secure (tell that to Syria’s Assad).
- What war teaches us
Soldiers are our protectors. They are the extension of the authority of parents, teachers and police officers. In their encounters with fighters, neither John the Baptist nor Jesus nor Peter told them to resign (Luke 3v14; 7v1-10; Acts 10). But alliances for self-interest are inevitable. In time of war, the enemy of my enemy is my friend and so we helped Stalin fight Nazi Germany. On one side, Russia has soldiers from North Korea, technology from China, and has bought weapons from Iran and raised money by cheap oil sales to India. On the other side, there is safety. Countries have welcomed Ukraine’s refugees (a million each in Poland and Germany; 370,000 in Czechia [or Czech Republic]; 190,000 in the UK). But NATO is divided and timid, offering support short of the ability to defeat the aggressor (or, as the Ukrainians say, Make Russia Small Again).
- How we should pray
Pray for strength. War is exhausting. In Kyiv, some residents no longer go to the shelters when the sirens blare nightly.
Pray for protection. Across Ukraine, schools devote class time to explaining the dangers of playing with bomb debris but tragedies still happen.
Pray for courage. Zelensky has defied all predictions of his and Ukraine’s demise as his drones take bombs vast distances and keep sea lanes clear for grain exports. He travels widely to rally support (you leave Kyiv by 12-hour train for Poland). Meanwhile, Western leaders meet often but tread carefully, preferring not to rile Putin by spending the frozen assets of his oligarchs, or by intercepting his shadow fleet of sanctions-busting ships, or by placing troops in Ukraine itself.
Pray for resistance fighters behind enemy lines. Russification of the occupied territories has backfired with Kyiv loyalists able to use their new Russian passports to move freely across the Russian Federation.
Pray for truth. Putin does not want peace. His war economy is aimed at restoring the Soviet Union, as his writings make clear (hence the USSR flag at the prisoner exchange in May and the USSR ["CCCP"] slogan worn by Foreign Minister Lavrov as he arrived for the meeting with President Trump in Alaska).
Pray for Russia. May the regime’s leaders repent of their brutality, the media recover its voice, mourning families be told the truth, and prisoners of conscience be freed.
Pray for churches, particularly in Ukraine. May each one be renewed by Scripture as a community of hope and love for the traumatised and grieving.
Pray for Christian organisations helping Ukraine, such as the Bible Society, Samaritan’s Purse, and the Slavic Gospel Association.
- How we should act
Thank your MP for taking the issue seriously. (Remind them that we had common enemies in the Vikings and first had diplomatic contact when Oliver Cromwell corresponded with the Cossack hetman, Bohdan Khmelnytskyi.
Ask hosts of Ukrainian guests where they get advice on negotiating British culture (benefits, NHS, school, housing) and make sure local pastors have contact details.
Offer your church hall to Ukrainians for their parties.
Seek to include a Ukrainian flag at Remembrance Sunday.
Ask teachers you know not to push Ukrainian children to take GCSE Russian as an easy exam; they see it as the language of murderers. (But do ask headteachers to request that exam boards offer Ukrainian as a GCSE.)
Ask a youth group to research what the United Nations means by "abducted children".
Preach on what the Orthodox Church – strong in both Russia and Ukraine - gains and loses by its focus on “participating in the divine nature” (2 Peter 1v4).
Count among your “good deeds” (1 Peter 2v12) support of Ambulances for Ukraine and personally encourage anyone who visits the country.
Think about donating a car. (On the frontline, Ukrainian soldiers prefer civilian vehicles and British ones are prized because Russian snipers assume the driver is on the other side.) Or consider the Ukraine Investment Framework.
Be concerned. But don’t be frightened.
Early baby shows abortion rule nonsense
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 27 Aug 2025
Nash Keen, born at 21 weeks in Iowa last July, is the new Guinness World Record holder for most premature baby.
Arriving 133 days before his expected due date, Nash was born weighing only ten ounces and spent the next six months in neonatal intensive care before being allowed to go home with his parents.
New crackdown on Iranian Christians
Luke Randall
Date posted: 26 Aug 2025
More than 20 Christians have been arrested in Iran as part of a crackdown on religious freedom following the agreement of a ceasefire between Iran, Israel and the United States.
Charges brought against believers by the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence have not been made public, but several are believed to centre around the possession of Bibles as well as a newly proposed law that threatens brutal repercussions for working with what the regime brands “hostile states”, including the US and Israel.
Nations unite in prayer
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 25 Aug 2025
A “global week of prayer” is scheduled for the 1st to 7th of September, with the aim of offering nonstop prayer for every nation on Earth over the seven days.
An international, interdenominational prayer movement, 24-7 Prayer started in 1999 and has been using 24-7 Prayer Rooms to encounter God and drive mission and outreach for 25 years.
Iraqi Muslim finds faith after dream of Jesus
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 23 Aug 2025
The story of an Iraqi former Muslim who came to faith after seeing Jesus in a dream is remarkable.
“I was sleeping, and I saw someone coming towards me,” Yasin* told Open Doors UK & Ireland, “I cannot describe how beautiful He was. His hair was long, He wore a scarf on His head. He was so beautiful, I could not stop looking at Him. He put his hand on my head and said, ‘You are my beloved child; this is the way, follow me.’”
Family campaigner James Dobson dies
en staff
Date posted: 21 Aug 2025
Influential US evangelical author and psychologist James Dobson died today, Thursday, it has just been announced.
News agency Associated Press described him as "a child psychologist who founded the conservative ministry Focus on the Family and was a politically influential campaigner against abortion and LGBTQ+ rights". He was 89.
Syrian pastor brutally martyred
Luke Randall
Date posted: 21 Aug 2025
An evangelical church leader who had converted from the secretive Druze sect has been brutally martyred, alongside members of his family, amidst bloody violence in Suwayda, Syria.
Khalid Mezher had remained in the area, faithfully preaching the gospel, despite escalating conflict. He was mercilessly killed along with up to 20 members of his family, reportedly including his parents, siblings and children.
letter from Latvia
Latvia: Church leaders raised up
John Woods
Date posted: 16 Aug 2025
During August most normal church activities go quiet - but camps, song festivals and enjoying the sunshine begin to seriously kick in.
For the Latvian Biblical Centre (LBC) this is the time of the year when the social media campaign for new students begins in earnest.
Global Christian sport event thrives
Jonny Reid
Date posted: 16 Aug 2025
The fourth Global Congress on Sport and Christianity was held at Baylor University, Texas, from 31 July to 2 August, drawing over 250 chaplains, coaches, athletes, administrators, media members, ministry leaders, and scholars from ten countries.
Launched in 2016 at York St John University, the congress exists to bring together academic scholars and practitioners to share research and ideas on the intersection of sport and Christian faith.
Christian music ‘surging in popularity’
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 15 Aug 2025
A recent NPR headline reads: “Has the Billboard Top 100 caught the Holy Ghost?”
Earlier this year, “Hard Fought Hallelujah” by Christian artist Brandon Lake spent 11 weeks on the Billboard Top 100 while “Your Way’s Better” by another Christian singer-songwriter, Forrest Frank, hit its second week, making the singles the only Christian songs to reach the US record chart since 2020.
Bangladesh: Christians forced into hiding
Luke Randall
Date posted: 15 Aug 2025
Persecution against Christians continues in Bangladesh a year after the removal of the nation’s Prime Minister, and it is not likely to end unless constitutional guarantees of religious freedom are enforced, according to an Open Doors source.
Sheikh Hasina had been the nation’s longest serving leader but was removed from office and left the country just over a year ago following mass protests and escalating violence.
Young survivor sings tribute to Texas flood victims
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 14 Aug 2025
One of the young survivors of July’s catastrophic flash flooding in Texas has written a song in tribute to the 27 girls from Camp Mystic killed in the disaster.
Skyler Darrington, 12, shared her revised rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” on US TV show Fox & Friends. “That event really helped my faith grow,” she said during the broadcast. “All my friends were there. We sung during the tragic event, and it just helped us grow.”
DRC church massacre leaves dozens dead
Luke Randall
Date posted: 14 Aug 2025
More than 40 people have been killed in a church in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in a brutal Islamist attack.
The latest incident represents the chaos which engulfs the nation, with as many as 100 militant groups warring with the government.
Two killed in Nigeria church attack
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 13 Aug 2025
A pastor, and a reported convert from Islam, have been killed in an attack on a church in Nigeria.
It happened during a worship service at Bege Baptist Church in Yaribori community, Kafur LGA, Katsina State. Gunmen shot the church pastor, Emmanuel Na’allah, and church member Mallam Samaila Gidan Taro - who was reportedly a convert from Islam.
Arson allegations in Christian-majority West Bank village
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 13 Aug 2025
Israeli settlers have been accused of setting fire to a Christian-majority village in the West Bank.
It’s been reported that settlers started a fire near a cemetery and a fifth-century church in the village of Taybeh.
