German believers help Ukraine
Iain Taylor
Date posted: 1 Aug 2022
Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine in February Evangelicals Now has been inundated with stories about how UK churches and Christian groups are helping refugees and reaching out to them with the gospel. But Christians in other parts of Europe have been busy too.
Here is how Message Germany (an international hub of Manchester-based The Message Trust) has responded to the crisis.
Evangelical crisis? I don’t think so
Andy Mason
Date posted: 1 Aug 2022
What is the state of conservative evangelicalism? Glen Scrivener has given us a challenging answer in his article in the July 2022 issue of en, ‘BWWs: the “Blokes Worth Watching” conveyor belt…’
His article is a strong critique, essentially arguing that we evangelicals are in something of a spiritual crisis. The strength of its criticisms invites a rejoinder. As a fellow pastor, I know Glen and have worked with him. He is a wonderful evangelist, a man of integrity and a very gifted preacher. Most importantly, he loves Jesus and cares for the abused. I think, though, there are some real problems with Glen’s take on our churches.
ten questions: dismantling our tribalism
Jonathan Lamb
1. How did you become a Christian?
news in brief
Egypt: Christians attacked
by Muslim
A Christian man and his son have been
attacked by a Muslim man in Giza, Egypt.
Joseph Israel and his son were attacked
by Ahmad Mouhammad outside Mr Israel’s
wine shop. Mr Mouhammad attacked both
with a knife before
some of Mr Israel’s
Muslim neighbours
intervened and beat
the assailant badly. Mr Mouhammad, Mr
Israel and his son are currently in hospital
receiving medical
treatment
for
their
injuries. Journalist Nader Shokry suggested
that
these attacks are
the
result of hate
speech and
sectarian
incitement by
local
Islamist preachers.
Christianity’s future: African, female – and untrained?
Iain Taylor
Date posted: 1 Sep 2022
Christianity’s future is likely to be shaped by African women, new research says – but there is a danger of false teaching being influential as well.
New research by American scholar of the history of mission, Gina Zurlo, shows that women are the majority in churches nearly everywhere in the world, and that Christianity’s future is poised to be shaped by African women in particular.
Grateful at
Keswick ’22
The Keswick Convention 2022 brought
thousands
of Christians
together
this
summer under the banner of ‘All One in
Christ Jesus’ (see also en, August).
The theme was ‘Grateful’ and there was
certainly much
for which to be grateful,
writes Emma Harrison.
Revelation boosts Reformed in Rome
Iain Taylor
Date posted: 1 Sep 2022
A preaching workshop being held in the Italian capital is expanding rapidly.
‘Workshop Predicazione’ looks set to double the numbers attending in 2022.
Moses masterclass
Richard Underwood
Date posted: 1 Sep 2022
Book Review
THE CRUCIBLE OF LEADERSHIP:
Learning from the story of Moses
Read review
Evangelical Futures: BWWs – the ‘Blokes Worth Watching’ conveyor belt...
Glen Scrivener
Date posted: 1 Jul 2022
In their 2009 book, The Trellis and the Vine, Colin Marshall and Tony Payne gave us the evocative image of supporting structures (the trellis) surrounding the organic growth of God’s people (the vine).
Their argument was: both are needed. Here my brief is to write about evangelical churches in Britain. And as I consider this movement of churches that I love, I can’t help thinking we have a wonderful vine and, at points, a wonky trellis. That trellis – our systems and the assumptions behind them – needs urgent scrutiny.
Europe 2021: new mission report out
Iain Taylor
Date posted: 1 Sep 2021
Covid-19 is an opportunity for European mission agencies to reflect deeply once again on the meaning of mission in today’s world.
One of the key questions it raises is whether it has made sense to have invested so heavily in huge buildings, since social distancing restrictions have forced many churches to think about how to make small gatherings work, not just big ones.
Zambia: a call to mission answered
Iain Taylor
Date posted: 1 Sep 2021
Four years ago, the Bullock family left the familiarity and security of the UK to serve God cross-culturally in Zambia with Operation Mobilisation. Dan is Field Leader, responsible for all OM’s missionaries in Zambia, as well as its local workers. Ruth is a physiotherapist working to train people with disabilities.
Writer Ivy Chiu spoke to Dan and Ruth about why they took such a bold step.
Jewish believers plan global outreach
Iain Taylor
Date posted: 1 Jul 2022
International Mission to Jewish People (IMJP), has announced its most ambitious evangelistic programme yet.
Its 2022 ‘In the Cities’ mission series will visit London, Paris, Amsterdam and Budapest, before heading further afield to Pittsburgh, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Sydney, with the potential to reach over 1million Jewish people living in ten major global cities.
Jewish believers reject evangelism ban call
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 1 Jul 2022
The gospel of Jesus Christ is not for Jews, a trustee of a Christian-Jewish council has claimed – suggesting that to think otherwise is anti-Semitic.
In an opinion piece in The Times newspaper calling for the end of Christian missions to convert Jews, Zaki Cooper (photo right), a trustee of the Council of Christians and Jews, cited historical Jewish massacres and anti-Semitism in England going back to the 1100s.
letter from Japan
Aslan is on the move… here in Japan
Charley Ballinger
Date posted: 1 Jul 2022
If you have ever read the Chronicles of Narnia you may remember reading the words ‘Aslan is on the move’.
As you did so, perhaps a chill went down your spine as the prospect of the coming victory over evil becomes a palpable reality. Well, as I write, a chill goes down my spine as it would seem that the Lord is on the move here in Japan.
New venture spurs Ukraine support
Iain Taylor
Date posted: 1 Jul 2022
During the first 90 days of the war
in
Ukraine, over 6million refugees fled
to
other nations, A
further 7million were
displaced internally, making this the largest
movement of people in Europe since World
War II.
In response, 72 Christian
leaders
from
22 European countries
recently gathered
in Krakow, Poland, to
focus on the war
and refugee crisis. The five countries that
have received
the most refugees
(Poland,
Romania, Moldova, Hungary and Slovakia)
admitted they are overwhelmed and can no
longer handle the ongoing flow of highly-traumatised women and children.
everyday evangelism
Reasons not to plan mission events (and reasons to do so)
Glen Scrivener
Date posted: 1 Oct 2021
In the last decade I’ve been involved with scores of week-long or weekend missions put on by churches and Christian Unions.
Such outreaches – like those planned for the Passion for Life initiative next year – are big investments. We need some solid reasons to give of our time, money, talents and energy. Often though our reasons are poor.
Keswick’s James Robson: ‘What we try and stand for is respect for everybody’
Rebecca Chapman
Date posted: 1 Aug 2022
As final preparations for this summer’s Keswick Convention were being made, en spoke to its Ministry Director, the Revd Dr James Robson.
With the much-awaited Keswick Convention of 2022 almost upon us, James joined us on Zoom, from a light-filled room full of books. With all that is happening at Keswick, including the Derwent Project, there was certainly no shortage of things to be grateful to God for…
Hunger emergency: Christians respond
Iain Taylor
Date posted: 1 Aug 2022
Even before the invasion of Ukraine, many of the poorest nations of the world were suffering the catastrophic impact of climate change.
Earlier this year the island of Madagascar, for example, experienced its ‘worst drought’ in 40 years. UNICEF says half a million under-fives will be ‘acutely malnourished’ this year; in the south, where 80% of the people depend on agriculture to survive, the UN World Food Programme estimates that half of the population now faces hunger. The drought has decimated crops and dried up water sources, resulting in little sustenance for communities and cattle. The pandemic, deforestation and Madagascar’s cyclone season have further exacerbated their woes. According to UNWFP, this could become ‘the first famine to be caused by climate change’.
Egyptian evangelicals launch unique new film festival
Iain Taylor
Date posted: 1 Aug 2022
Seeking to encourage and equip emerging Christian film-makers from Egypt and the Middle East – and allowing them to focus on the issues that most concern them – were the goals of the first-ever Salam (‘Peace’) Film Festival, which has taken place in Alexandria.
The brainchild of Christian TV station SAT-7 and the Evangelical Church of Egypt, the Festival comprised 26 films which were shown and competed for a series of awards.
Embody ‘Jesus the traumatised one,’ says Langberg
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 1 Aug 2022
Around 120 people met
on
a damp
Saturday in Cardiff to listen to renowned
psychologist Dr Diane Langberg share her
deep knowledge of different forms of abuse,
grief and on ‘care for the caregiver’.
Dr Langberg has nearly 50 years’ experience
working with trauma victims and survivors
of different forms of abuse, ranging from
sexual and physical abuse; experiences of war;
and increasingly, abuse of power in churches.
Naked Truth tackles porn
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 1 Aug 2022
A new programme to help churches tackle issues of porn use and addiction within their congregations has been unveiled, against the background of rising consumption.
According to research carried out by the charity launching the programme, the Naked Truth Project, 13% of UK adults admitted to being addicted to watching pornography. The ‘Church Membership’ programme was launched at a House of Commons event, hosted by Tim Farron MP (photo) and attended by six other MPs and peers.
Smiles from new bishops
AMiE
Date posted: 1 Aug 2022
The Anglican Mission in England (AMiE) has two new bishops.
The AMiE Synod endorsed Tim Davies and Lee McMunn as Assistant Bishops under the leadership of Convocation Bishop Andy Lines.
Balls & Bibles
Christians in Sport
Date posted: 1 Aug 2022
This summer young people and adult volunteers are coming together to run Sports Plus – seven, week-long, residential camps across five locations in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Sports Plus Director Ian Lancaster describes it as ‘serious sports action for the serious sporty young person.’ He added: ‘Competitive young people make friends with like-minded others from across the UK and come under the sound of the good news of Jesus. It is a vital work for these youngsters to start connecting their sport and faith – working out how the gospel enables them to play with freedom, and how it can define their identity in a performance driven world.’
