In Depth:  Emily Pollok

All topics
A life remembered: Tony Campolo

A life remembered: Tony Campolo

Emily Pollok
Emily Pollok

The outspoken American preacher and ‘Red Letter Christian,’ Tony Campolo died last month aged 89.

The evangelical speaker and author was a forceful influence in the American church and was best known for calling Christians to follow Jesus’ teaching by loving and serving the poor and vulnerable in society.

Afghanistan: Women ‘weary of Islam’

Afghanistan: Women ‘weary of Islam’

Emily Pollok
Emily Pollok

Adding to their long list of severe restrictions since coming into power in 2021, the Taliban are now banning women in Afghanistan from training as nurses and midwives.

This ban is the latest in a series of edicts by the Taliban that prevent women from entering the public sphere. Women have already been banned from working in government or private jobs, leaving their homes without a male escort, or reading, singing, or speaking in public, to name a few.

Georgia shuns  Iranian believers

Georgia shuns Iranian believers

Emily Pollok
Emily Pollok

Iranian Christians who seek a new life in the Caucasus nation of Georgia after fleeing persecution in their homeland face rejection there too, a report says.

A joint report published this month by Article 18, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Open Doors, and Middle East Concern says that Iranian Christians are being refused asylum in the country because they are not Orthodox.

Faith in the ring: Wrestling fans hear the gospel

Faith in the ring: Wrestling fans hear the gospel

Emily Pollok
Emily Pollok

Certain things just make sense together. Batman and Robin. Tea and biscuits. But, church and wrestling?

‘Wrestling and faith evolved alongside each other for me,’ explains Gareth ‘Angel’ Thompson, founder of Kingdom Wrestling, a ministry that combines throwing down in the ring with sharing the gospel – all for the glory of God.

Free Church Scots hold national day of prayer

Free Church Scots hold national day of prayer

Emily Pollok
Emily Pollok

The Free Church of Scotland observed a National Day of Prayer on 27 November to lift up the nation and the work of its denomination in sharing the gospel.

All Free Church of Scotland congregations were encouraged to join in collective prayer, with many churches holding praying meetings on the day or throughout the week. Around 100 people from churches around Scotland joined an online prayer meeting on 27 November, led by Free Church Moderator, Revd Callum Macleod.

Kemi Badenoch ‘understands  Christian values’

Kemi Badenoch ‘understands Christian values’

Emily Pollok
Emily Pollok

David Burrowes, former Tory MP and Co-Director of the Conservative Christian Fellowship, says new party leader Kemi Badenoch understands the importance of Christian values.

‘Kemi Badenoch has grown up in a Christian household and knows about the importance of Christian values as the foundation of family and community life,’ he said. ‘CCF looks forward to helping her renewal of Conservatism by listening to Britain’s faith communities about what the previous government got wrong and what we need to do to put it right.’

Swiss Christian political party oppose Eurovision in Basel

Swiss Christian political party oppose Eurovision in Basel

Emily Pollok
Emily Pollok

The Federal Democratic Union (EDU), a Swiss Christian-conservative political party, is opposing the use of taxpayer money to fund the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Basel next May.

Dubbed 'a propaganda show' by the EDU, the international singing competition has been criticised by the group as promoting blasphemy, Satanism, and antisemitism in recent years.

After COP 29: evangelical scientist claims ‘history on our side’

After COP 29: evangelical scientist claims ‘history on our side’

Emily Pollok
Emily Pollok

‘Gravity, history, and progress’ make the drive to clean and green energy unstoppable, says leading evangelical climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe as the COP 29 gathering concluded.

The 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference began on 11 November in Baku, Azerbaijan and ended on 22 November.

Only Christ truly transforms inmates, says prison governor as she steps down

Only Christ truly transforms inmates, says prison governor as she steps down

Emily Pollok
Emily Pollok

Coming to faith in Christ is the only thing that really transforms people in prison, says a Christian ex-jail governor.

Susie Richardson, Jersey’s prison governor for the past three years, stepped down from her post last month, closing the chapter on a 20-year career in the prison system.

Civil servants sued for saying sex is binary

Civil servants sued for saying sex is binary

Emily Pollok
Emily Pollok

Two civil servants for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) are facing legal action over allegations of discrimination against transgender people.

A colleague of Andreas Meuller and Elspeth Drummer-Wrigley, who currently remains anonymous, thinks the pair should be reprimanded for their view that transgender people can’t change their sex, The Telegraph reported. Mueller and Drummer-Wrigley are co-chairs of the Sex Equality and Equity Network (SEEN), a department of Defra the claimant is now calling to be shut down.

'Trust God to work, no matter who is in office'

'Trust God to work, no matter who is in office'

Emily Pollok
Emily Pollok

In what was expected to be a narrowly won election, former US President Donald Trump declared victory Wednesday morning after securing crucial ground in the states of Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin, and North Carolina.

Speaking from Florida, the 47th US president addressed supporters promising to deliver the golden age of America over his next term in office. 'Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason and that reason was to save our country and restore America to greatness, and now we are going to fulfil that mission together,' the President said.