In Depth:  Luke Randall

Luke Randall

The Christian Institute (CI) has released its Annual Report, which revealed that in 2023 it engaged with over 62,000 supporters, including more than 5,000 churches.

The legal organisation, which seeks to defend the rights of Christians, also recorded more than 5.4 million website visits, 106 print and broadcast media requests, and led more than 450 presentations which were attended by over 21,000 people during that year.

Luke Randall

Crow Road Free Church recently celebrated its 200th anniversary with a celebratory weekend featuring special services with guest speakers.

The congregation enjoyed preaching from Derek Thomas, the former Senior Minister of First Presbyterian Church in South Carolina, and Neil MacMillan, Minister of Cornerstone Free Church, Edinburgh, as well as testimony from five former members who worshipped with the church over the last 50 years.

Luke Randall

Churches from across London are planning to unite next year for a London Mission Week, aiming to share the gospel with people in the city. The outreach initiative is supported by a variety of representatives from organisations including London City Mission, the Evangelical Alliance, the Church of England and London Mission Collective.

The event’s website revealed that cultural gatherings undertaken by the London Project – which exists to share the gospel with people in the city – have revealed a clear desire among the global church to collaboratively evangelise to the people of London.

Luke Randall

The Church of Scotland (Cof S) has announced it is selling around 100 buildings following a period of drastic decline in worshippers and ministers. Buildings on sale range from churches to houses, some dating back to the 1800s – and it has described the decision as a ‘difficult’ and ‘painful’ move.

The news comes after the denomination recently announced at its General Assembly that it is set to close hundreds of churches in the coming years due to a large fall in membership, and that it was ‘unsustainable’ to keep over 1,000 churches open for the number of people attending services.

Luke Randall

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) agreed at its General Assembly for 2024 that it needs a radical shake up of mission and ministry, while new Moderator Richard Murray called on the PCI to find better ways of connecting the gospel’s message to an uninterested and at times ‘hostile’ world.

About 1,000 ministers and elders from the denomination’s more than 500 congregations attended the three-day Assembly in Belfast which agreed to what it described as a ‘radical process that will see a comprehensive reconfiguration of ministry’ across the denomination.

Luke Randall

The Free Church of Scotland (FCoS) is on track to plant 30 new churches by 2030 – but needs 70 new ministers.

That’s according to the retiring Moderator of the FCoS, Bob Akroyd, who is a lecturer at Edinburgh Theological Seminary.

Luke Randall

TV presenter Dan Walker was the star of the show at Prom Praise 2024, when he not only hosted the online livestream for the event, but also danced with professional Strictly Come Dancing dancer Nadiya Bychkova, to the theme from Chariots of Fire.

The 2024 edition of Prom Praise took place at the Royal Albert Hall and, in celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the Paris Olympic Games in 1924, took its theme from the 1981 film, which charts the story of Scottish Olympic runner Eric Liddell, who famously refused to run the 100-metre race on a Sunday because of his Christian beliefs, even despite being put under pressure by the Prince of Wales. Instead, he ran the 400 metres, set a record time and won the gold medal.

Luke Randall

Messaging from the Scottish Government and Police Scotland concerning the recently implemented Hate Crime and Public Order Act has been ‘disastrously bad,’ but Christian views are protected, according to Christian Institute Deputy Director Simon Calvert.

He stressed that while there are problems with the law, such as the inclusion of ‘stirring up hatred’ offences covering contested areas such as religion and sexuality, Christian views are protected.

Luke Randall

Mark Pugh has been appointed the new General Superintendent of the Elim Pentecostal Church. He will replace Chris Cartwright. 

Pugh has worked in church leadership for 25 years, which includes ten years as leader of Elim’s national youth ministry, before serving on their National Leadership Team from 2010 to 2018.
 

Luke Randall

Dave Newton has become the new leader of Scripture Union (SU) England and Wales, replacing Myles MacBean, who had served at SU for five years.

His appointment had been confirmed in December, and he has now officially started working in the role, with SU’s main focus being working with local churches to ‘reveal Jesus to the 95% of children who are not connected to churches’. Dave moves into the role having previously been the Principal at Regents Theological College and Director of Training for Elim UK.

Luke Randall

An ex-Mormon says she believes plans for a Mormon temple to be built in Sutton Coldfield spring from a financial controversy that the sect is facing.

The structure will be built on a site currently occupied by the church’s Birmingham mission offices and will be their first new temple to open in the UK since 1998, and the third of its kind in the country.

Luke Randall

Many church leaders in Scotland are reporting growth in their churches, according to Edinburgh church leader Peter Anderson on X/Twitter.

Anderson reported online that 120 pastors recently attended a Zoom meeting which revealed several eye-catching encouragements. Notable among them were growth of around 50% at Life Church Edinburgh, and a ‘remarkable’ rate of church planting by the Free Church, while others reported encouraging stories of increased attendances, baptisms and new Scripture Union groups in their local areas.

Luke Randall

The church in Scotland should ‘be at the forefront’ of opposition to assisted dying proposals being brought before the Scottish Parliament, according to Stuart Weir, Head of CARE (Christian Action, Research and Education) Scotland.

The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, proposed by Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, would see terminally-ill people over 16 allowed to request medical assistance to end their life, so long as two doctors had deemed them mentally fit to make the decision, so long as they had been judged not to have experienced coercion when making the decision, and take the life-ending medication themselves.

Luke Randall

Ashley Gardner has been ordained as a Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) pastor. He has spent six years at Charlotte Chapel, Edinburgh, and spent two of those working as an Assistant Pastor.

The Edinburgh Theological Seminary (ETS) graduate will now begin working as an Associate Pastor at City Gates Church in Norwich with Andy Rees, the brother of Paul Rees, the lead pastor at Charlotte Chapel. 

Luke Randall

Ben Midgely has been appointed as the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) Director for North Wales (Gogledd Cymru).

He has worked as a pastor since 2005, and specifically at Ebenezer Baptist Church since 2019, and will work to support the 12 FIEC churches across the area. 

Luke Randall

Dr Cory Brock has been inducted as the minister of St Columba’s Free Church, Edinburgh.

It comes 24 days after departing minister Derek Lamont was commissioned to begin planting Hope Church in Leith after 23 years of ministry in the city centre, in what the Free Church of Scotland has described as ‘probably the shortest vacancy in recent church history.’

Luke Randall

The funeral of evangelical bishop Colin Buchanan, who died aged 89, took place in late January.

Born on 8 August 1934, the former Church of England bishop and academic was brought up in London, before studying Literae Humaniores (classics) at Lincoln College, Oxford (later promoted to a Masters degree).

Luke Randall

Roger Forster, the founder of Ichthus Christian Fellowship, has died aged 90.

A husband to Faith and father to three children, he was a well-respected theologian, best known for founding the neo-charismatic Ichthus Christian Fellowship in 1974.

Luke Randall

Dr Graham Shearer has been appointed as a Lecturer in Theology at Union Theological College (UTC).

He takes up the role with a range of academic experience; he holds an MA in History achieved at the University of Cambridge, as well as a BA in Theological and Pastoral Studies from Oak Hill Theological College. He has also served with the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF) and as a pastor.

Luke Randall

Dave Newton has been appointed as the new Scripture Union (SU) National Director for England and Wales. He is currently the Principal of Regents Theological College and the Director of Training for Elim UK.

He told the SU website: ‘I’m hugely excited to be joining Scripture Union, with its long heritage of helping children and young people discover the good news of the Bible. I can’t wait to help this vibrant movement grow and develop the vital work it’s doing to help the church reveal Jesus to the 95.’ Dave will replace Myles MacBean, who has served in the role for five years and will officially step down in March.

Luke Randall

Stuart Burgess has helped to design bikes for the British Olympic Cycling Team for the last ten years. He was brought up in a non-Christian home, but came to faith over 30 years ago during his first year at university.

In an interview with en, Stuart spoke about his experiences of working with the Olympic Cycling Team, and Christians in sport in general. Stuart has worked with Team GB for ten years. When asked what it is like to work in that environment, he said: ‘My involvement has been to lead the design of the chain transmission drive for three Olympics: Rio, Tokyo, and Paris.

Luke Randall

He was shot twice through the helmet while ‘leap-frogging from tree to tree’ in a battle with the Japanese, won a Military Cross, and subsequently became a church minister – finally dying recently at the grand age of 103.

Now tributes have been paid to brave soldier and long-standing believer Joe Mullins, who won one of the last Military Crosses of World War Two for displaying heroic bravery in the retaking of a Burmese village from Japanese enemies.

Luke Randall

The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) has announced some of the speakers due to attend its Leaders’ Conference for church leaders next year. The conference is set to take place in Blackpool in November 2024.

The overarching theme of the conference will be ‘Looking to Jesus, Loving like Jesus’. Girma Bishaw, Brian Croft, Sharon Dickens, Marcus Honeysett, and Helen Thorne are due to speak at the event, along with others who are yet to be announced.

Luke Randall

Carl Knightly has been appointed as the new leader of the City Mission Movement (CMM) UK and Ireland.

CMM was founded in 1991 and exists to support the 18 City Missions across the UK and Ireland. City Missions work to serve their cities and take the gospel to the people of their cities across the country.

Luke Randall

Johnny Prime will become the new Director for London of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC). He will succeed Trevor Archer in the post in February 2024.

An FIEC statement said Johnny will look to strengthen relationships with other evangelical church networks in London and also aim to recruit a team of gospel workers to support FIEC’s work in the city.

Luke Randall

Chris Wigram has been announced by trustees as the Interim Chief Executive Officer of Global Connections (GC). He started in the post in late November, having previously served as GC’s Chair of Global Conventions between 2006 and 2008, and also as a board member. Chris has also served in leadership positions with OMF and ECM.

Global Connections is made up of several organisations and individuals including churches and charities, as well as others. It exists to support the UK church’s mission community at home and abroad.

Luke Randall

David Pytches, the evangelical former Anglican Bishop of Chile, Bolivia and Peru, and vicar at St Andrews, Chorleywood, has died aged 92. He leaves behind his wife Mary and their four daughters.

Ordained as a vicar in 1955, David and Mary became missionaries and moved to South America in 1959. Having started their work in Chile, David was ordained as the Bishop of Chile, Bolivia and Peru, and served in that role before returning to the UK in 1977.

Luke Randall

Former Scripture Union (SU) Scotland CEO Andy Bathgate died on 17 October, aged 68. He leaves his wife Alyson, with whom he shared over 40 years of marriage, and his three daughters, son-in-law, and grandchildren. He died peacefully at home.

Andy was the CEO of SU Scotland from 2001 to 2020, having volunteered with SU since his teens. He was also the Scottish team leader for UCCF (Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship) and was a founding member of CVE (Christian Values in Education) Scotland, serving as its Chair from its inception in 2014 until his retirement from the role in 2022.

Luke Randall

Pupils and teachers in UK schools are under pressure to conform to radical educational material on sex and relationships because there is not enough clear guidance from the Government, according to the Christian Institute’s (CI) Autumn newsletter.

While Christians were given some reassurance by Education Secretary Gillian Keegan’s recent letter to English schools, which said that parents have a ‘fundamental right’ to know what their children are taught in health, relationships and sex education, the publication says there are several challenges ahead.

Luke Randall

A new Christians in Care (CIC) network has been launched to ‘connect Christians working across the care sector in the UK’.

The network was launched by elderly-care charity, Pilgrims’ Friend Society, and their website details how the network enables Christians working in the care sector to join WhatsApp groups and meet virtually to chat, share, and pray together, seeking to ‘encourage and inspire one another to live and speak for Jesus’.

Luke Randall

Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is offering free budgeting help to struggling families, following the findings of a shocking study on UK poverty.

The charitable organisation, which works to help people in poverty, is training over 900 church volunteers to become ‘money coaches’ enabling them to provide budgeting advice to struggling families in their communities.

Luke Randall

Kate Forbes says she might not have won the SNP leadership election, but thinks it was worth being candid about her beliefs – because people are ‘crying out for honesty, truthfulness and integrity from their politicians’.

The former Scottish Finance Secretary narrowly lost out to Humza Yousaf in the race to become the Scottish First Minister, winning 48% of the vote in the second round of voting.

Luke Randall

More than 500 Christians attended a thanksgiving service at Westminster Chapel in London to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Christian Action Research and Education (CARE).

The service was led by several special guests including former pastor of Westminster Chapel, R.T. Kendall, songwriter Graham Kendrick, author Glen Scrivener, as well as other friends of CARE.