The boat that brings hope!
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 5 Aug 2026
The Logos Hope ship, a floating bookfair and ministry hub, is visiting six UK ports.
Belonging to mission organisation Operation Mobilisation (OM), the Logos Hope was launched in 2009 and has had nearly 11 million visitors to date. OM’s largest ship is visiting some of the UK’s biggest ports – London, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Cardiff, Belfast, and Liverpool – and is due to conclude its “Waves of Hope” tour in November 2026.
Faith schools under threat
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 5 Aug 2026
The Church in Wales is planning legal action against Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) if it removes church status from Cilgerran Primary School and reopens it as a community school.
In a formal letter, the Church accused the council of public misinformation; and warned that it is threatening religious education in the area which could amount to religious discrimination against faith schooling.
Lib Dem anti-Christian discrimination 'must never happen again'
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 4 Aug 2026
The Liberal Democrat Christian Forum (LDCF) is calling for an independent investigation into the party following its treatment of a Christian parliamentary candidate.
David Campanale, an Anglican, was prevented from standing in the Sutton and Cheam constituency in 2024, after which the Lib Dems admitted in court to discriminating against him on the basis of his faith.
Evangelical conference season hits its stride
en staff
Date posted: 2 Aug 2026
● What made this year’s Bala Conference so valuable was its direct ministry to the hearts of pastors, writes Steffan Job of the Evangelical Movement of Wales.
Emyr James preached on the Fatherhood of God. John Stevens spoke on The Gospel and Nationalism. Alun Ebenezer explored the changing patterns emerging in youth culture, and Ken Brownell challenged us to consider both the positive and negative influences that America has had on evangelical culture. Philip Eveson demonstrated how indispensable the Psalms are in pastoral ministry.
Free spirits in Scotland
Free Church of Scotland
Date posted: 1 Aug 2026
Hundreds of young people from across Scotland have enjoyed a week of fun, games and learning about Jesus at the Free Church Youth Camps this summer.
Twelve camps, held at five locations, brought together youngsters aged 10 to 18 for an action-packed programme of activities, sports and Bible teaching. And even if you were too small to be officially part of the events, you could still join in with gusto (photo bottom right)!
Puberty-blockers age plan blasted
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 30 Jul 2026
The minimum age for children to participate in a trial of puberty blockers is now being set to 11, contradicting advice from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
The Pathways trial, which seeks to assess the use of puberty-blocking drugs on children, was paused in February after the MHRA raised concerns and warned that the age limit should be raised from 10 to 14.
Nationwide mission brings mixed results
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 30 Jul 2026
Forty-one per cent of surveyed participating churches said that between 20 and 50 non-Christians heard the gospel during nationwide mission Life ’26.
But 42% of churches also reported that no-one came to faith, with an equal number saying they didn’t know if anyone had been converted, and 17% of those surveyed saying between one and five people made a commitment to Christ (see chart). A Passion for Life (APFL) spearheaded the mission. APFL’s Communications and Operations Lead, Alex Hillman, told en: “It’s too early to quantify ‘success’ in terms of professions of faith and genuine repentance, but we’ve been really encouraged by the feedback from churches.”
‘Funding crisis’ puts Hope ‘at risk’
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 28 Jul 2026
A long-running Christian charity is facing a “funding crisis” which puts the future of its work “at risk”, it says.
Drug education charity Hope UK – established in Victorian times as the Band of Hope – says it is “urgently in need of support to help fund its work into next year.”
Churches have 'vital' role in tackling homelessness, LCM says
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 28 Jul 2026
London City Mission (LCM) has highlighted the church’s role in providing community and support as it warns homelessness remains a huge issue despite decriminalisation.
Dan Burrows, Ministry Lead at the Webber Street Centre – an LCM day centre for people who are homeless – told en: “The local church is uniquely positioned to provide something many people experiencing homelessness desperately need: genuine community, lasting relationships and a place where they are known and welcomed.”
Gospel preached at East Kent football tournament
Brian Glynn
Date posted: 28 Jul 2026
More than 150 people gathered for the East Kent Christians in Sport Network’s annual 6-a-side football tournament, bringing together players from 12 churches alongside friends invited to enjoy the day and hear the good news of Jesus.
Network leader Ben Wildman said: “This was the fourth year we've run the tournament and it just keeps getting bigger every year. It's really encouraging seeing so many churches coming together to reach sportspeople with the good news of Jesus.”
10,000 Reasons to praise in prison...
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 27 Jul 2026
At Chelmsford prison, the sounds of prisoners singing 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord, O My Soul) has been heard across the prison wings and showers, Daylight Christian Prison Trust (DCPT) reports.
It says that at a recent service, “in the absence of a musician, one prisoner led the singing, with the men enthusiastically joining in with their new favourite, 10,000 Reasons… which the governor has reported can be heard being sung on the wings and in the showers all over the prison!”
Questions raised about BBC Jesus
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 26 Jul 2026
Will the Jesus of a new TV programme coming to the BBC next year be portrayed as “woke”?
That’s the question being asked by a leader of Christians in Media after the corporation announced plans for the four-part series, which it describes as a “landmark religion series” development.
Barnabas Aid: ‘Multiple allegations’ made
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 25 Jul 2026
Barnabas Aid has revealed that whistleblowers made multiple safeguarding allegations in 2024 and that Christian Safeguarding Services (CSS) is to conduct an independent safeguarding review.
The charity, which supports persecuted believers globally, is also now being managed by a specialist law firm, instead of its trustees, after a further intervention by the charities regulator.
Nicholls gets top role at new Gospel Coalition UK
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 25 Jul 2026
Graham Nicholls has been appointed as Honorary Director of The Gospel Coalition UK (TGC-UK).
The decision was taken through a “unanimous vote in favour” at the TGC-UK Forum, the organisation’s inaugural consultation and decision-making group.
Bernard Randall: ‘You have to stand up to the world’
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 24 Jul 2026
An Anglican chaplain cleared to return to ministry after a seven-year battle says too many Church of England leaders belong to the “metropolitan elite” and have forsaken a Christian worldview.
In 2019, Bernard Randall was referred to Prevent (the UK’s counter-radicalisation programme, part of the Government’s wider counterterrorism strategy), treated as a safeguarding risk, and effectively shut out of ministry for preaching a sermon rooted in CofE doctrine.
en responds to Amnesty criticism
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 24 Jul 2026
Evangelicals Now (en) has responded to an Amnesty International UK report – now withdrawn for review – which branded it, among others, an “anti-rights organisation”.
Some of those also labelled a “growing threat” to human rights were the Evangelical Alliance, Affinity, the Christian Institute, Christian Values in Education (CViE); the Christian Medical Fellowship; Living Out; Christians in Parliament; Lovewise; Christian Action, Research and Education (CARE); Anglican Mainstream; True Freedom Trust; and Brephos.
Conversion therapy bill ‘deeply concerning’ says EA
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 23 Jul 2026
The Evangelical Alliance says the Government’s draft bill on banning so-called “conversion practices” in England and Wales is “deeply concerning”.
The proposed law states that a person found guilty of “abusive conversion practices” could face unlimited fines and/or up to five years in prison.
Archbishops call alternative ordinations 'unnecessary'
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 18 Jul 2026
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have called a set of alternative ordinations performed in May “unnecessary” and “ecumenically discourteous.”
Martin Morrison, a bishop in the Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church of South Africa (REACH-SA) ordained seven deacons at a service in east London.
