'It's like a veil has lifted': former US VP candidate finds faith
en staff
Date posted: 26 Mar 2025
Former US vice presidential candidate Nicole Shanahan has converted from Judaism to Christianity.
Announcing her baptism on social media platform X, she wrote: “For over a decade, I identified as Jewish. But now, with the New Testament in my hands, I see the world’s spiritual pain in a way I never could before. It’s like a veil has been lifted, revealing a deeper understanding of the struggle between light and darkness. Today, I am a Jew for Jesus.” she wrote.
‘God can use you at any age,’ says musical matriarch
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 24 Mar 2025
Annie & The Caldwells, a family ensemble from Mississippi creating vibey disco soul music, are releasing their first album this Spring - and they have a message.
“Each song gives a testimony,” said matriarch Annie Caldwell, who heads up the band, which includes her daughters Deborah and Anjessica, goddaughter Toni Rivers, and sons and husband on drums, bass, and guitar. “I hope and pray to God that it bless somebody else like it been blessing me.”
Gordon Murray dies
en staff
Date posted: 22 Mar 2025
A leading figure in the Protestant Truth Society (PTS), Gordon Murray, has died.
After a ministry in the Church of England, he left it in 1966 in response to the preaching of Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones. He joined the PTS Council and became chairman in 1998, stepping down in 2010.
Cornhill Scots
Free Church of Scotland
Date posted: 17 Mar 2025
Three Cornhill Scotland training course students have enjoyed a placement week at Kilmallie and Ardnamurchan Free Church of Scotland.
The church reported: “The trio [Tim Groves, Glen Glover and Michelle Tlhabologang] showed real enthusiasm and servant-heartedness throughout the placement.” Their activities included broadcasting a “thought for the day” on local radio station Nevis FM, helping with local ministries, and speaking at midweek events.
Thanksgiving service for evangelical leader Philip Hacking
Chris Sugden
Date posted: 13 Mar 2025
On 20 February, at Christ Church Fulwood, the time for mourning, funeral and obituaries was past. This was time for a celebration of how God had blessed his people through Philip Hacking, especially at Christ Church Fulwood but also in the wider Keswick Convention and Reform organisations.
Such an occasion was remarkable for not only had Philip been the vicar for 29 years (1968-1997) but this service was taking place 27 years after he had retired.
Arthur Blessitt’s pilgrimage ends
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 27 Feb 2025
Arthur Blessitt, the American evangelist who set a Guinness World Record for longest ongoing pilgrimage, has died aged 84.
Blessitt, who made his final journey on January 14, took Jesus’ command to ‘take up his cross and follow me’ seriously – taking his 45lb wooden cross all over the world with the message of the gospel.
Jack Hemmings, pioneer pilot, dies aged 103
Gary Clayton
Date posted: 23 Feb 2025
Jack Hemmings, who has died at the age of 103, was co-founder of Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), the largest humanitarian airline in the world.
In 1945 Jack, an RAF Squadron Leader tasked with protecting the Bay of Bengal from Japanese invasion, read an article advocating the need to use planes to ‘carry messengers of peace and to unload cargoes of blessing’. As RAF Flight Lieutenant Murray Kendon wrote: ‘Instead of spreading destruction and death why should [aircraft] not now spread life and healing by that message wherein lie the seeds of peace and power?’
England rugby’s Christian captain
Luke Randall
Date posted: 21 Feb 2025
Saracens skipper Maro Itoje was named England’s new captain before this year’s Six Nations tournament got underway last month. The forward, who plays as a lock and has been capped over 90 times, is known to be a Christian.
The 30-year-old, who does not swear during matches, said that he was ‘incredibly humbled and honoured’ to have been asked to be England captain, and that it was ‘reassuring’ to know that he would have the support of other senior players as he transitioned into his new role.
Kenneth Kitchen: ‘A remarkable man’ with a great legacy
Paul Lawrence
Date posted: 20 Feb 2025
Kenneth Kitchen, Personal and Brunner Professor Emeritus of Egyptology at the University of Liverpool, died on 6 February aged 92. His formal title does little to sum up this remarkable man.
As well as being one of the world’s leading authorities on the Ramesside kings and Egyptian chronology, Ken, as he liked to be known, was one of very few people in the world who could read Ancient South Arabian and a whole host of other languages once spoken in the Ancient Middle East – Akkadian, Aramaic, Coptic, Elamite, Hebrew, Hittite, Hurrian, Luwian, Phoenician, Sumerian, and Ugaritic.
Nigel Harris steps down as Tearfund CEO
Luke Randall
Date posted: 8 Feb 2025
Nigel Harris will leave Tearfund at the end of June after serving as its CEO for over nine years.
He joined the international development charity from Farm Africa in 2015 and has led their focus on the role local churches can play in ‘humanitarian response and development’, and having established their vision to ‘equip 250,000 churches around the world to support communities to lift themselves out of poverty’, Tearfund said in a statement.
David Curry leaves Global Christian Relief
Luke Randall
Date posted: 6 Feb 2025
After nearly two years of service, David Curry has left his role as President and Chief Executive of Global Christian Relief (GCR), with Brian Orme taking over as Acting Chief Executive.
Curry’s tenure was described in a press release as ‘marked by passionate advocacy for persecuted believers worldwide during a pivotal chapter in our organisation’s history.’ He oversaw the sending of 50,000 Bibles to believers in the Middle East and North Africa and support for over 2million Christians around the world in 2024.
Robin Griffiths: missionary called to glory
Michael Griffiths
Date posted: 4 Feb 2025
Robin Griffiths, who served as a missionary in Thailand for nearly three decades, was called to glory on 28 December 2024 after a short illness.
Robin served Jesus in remote jungle regions in west Thailand, churches in his native Isle of Wight, in Send (Surrey), on the beaches and high streets of the UK with United Beach Mission and Christian Answer, and most recently, in Truro, Cornwall. He loved to help people practically, sharing his love of God’s word, and his testimony of the goodness of God.
Gillian Joynson-Hicks dies
Milla Ling-Davies
Date posted: 1 Feb 2025
Gillian Joynson-Hicks, Vicountess Brentford, has died age 81. Lady Brentford had deep evangelical Christian beliefs, a ‘steely determination’ to advance them, and held several influential positions to this end.
Born in Kenya in 1942, Gillian was educated at West Heath Girls’ School in Kent. During her childhood, she suffered from rickets, which, according to The Telegraph, gave her ‘a lifelong fellow-feeling for those who were struggling.’ After training as a chartered accountant, she married the then Hon. Crispin Joynson-Hicks in 1964, bringing up three daughters and a son in Sussex.
Who is the new president of The Gospel Coalition?
Milla Ling-Davies
Date posted: 31 Jan 2025
Mark Vroegop has been appointed as the new President of evangelical network The Gospel Coalition (TGC).
Vroegop, who has pastored College Park Church in Indiana for nearly two decades, is a current TGC council member and board member. He was unanimously elected, and will be the third President of TGC, taking over from interim President Sandy Wilson.
Christian businessman Eddie Stobart obituary
Milla Ling-Davies
Date posted: 30 Jan 2025
Eddie Stobart, founder of the famous haulage firm and committed evangelical Christian, has died aged 95.
Growing up with Methodist parents in the 1930s, Eddie came to faith himself at a young age. According to The Guardian, at 17, he preached at his local chapel for the first time – finding, as he did, that a stammer he’d had since childhood had miraculously disappeared. ‘God took me by the hand. God helped me to cure it,’ he said.
Giving thanks for the life of Peter Rowan
Milla Ling-Davies
Date posted: 29 Jan 2025
On 10 January, over 120 gathered in St Nicholas’ church in Sevenoaks to give thanks for the life of OMF (UK) Co-National Director Peter Rowan, with 900 tuning in online from across the world.
The service included songs chosen by Peter, moving tributes from his children, and an address delivered by Dr Krish Kandiah on 2 Timothy 4:1-8. ‘Peter lived a life of service; just like Paul he can say his life was poured out like a drink offering,’ Kandiah said. ‘He can say that he fought the good fight… but his life offers us a challenge – what will we do?’
Lee Strobel fights cancer for second time
Milla Ling-Davies
Date posted: 28 Jan 2025
Lee Strobel, American author of The Case for Christ and former investigative journalist, recently underwent surgery to fight skin cancer for the second time.
The surgery took place early in the morning on 11 December. The day before, he took to X to ask his followers for prayer – the post received over 1,600 comments from people committing to lift him to the Lord. Reacting to this, he said: ‘Thanks so much to everyone who offered to pray for me, I was overwhelmed and encouraged by the response.’
Bear Grylls: Brand's conversion is 'heartfelt'
en staff
Date posted: 27 Jan 2025
Adventurer, ex-soldier and Christian, Bear Grylls says he believes celebrity Russell Brand’s conversion to Christianity is genuine.
Asked by The Telegraph if he regards Brand turning to faith as authentic, Grylls replied succinctly: ‘Yes.’
