Reflecting on the 'Hand in Hand' conference
Matt Wan
Date posted: 16 Apr 2026
With over 700 children’s workers gathering at the recent Hand in Hand conference 2026, there was a clear buzz and excitement about what God is doing in the lives of young people across the UK, as conference delegates came together to explore the theme of “Kingdom Builders”.
Hand in Hand describes itself as "the national children and family ministry conference," and is sponsored by Scripture Union. Its website says: "For over 25 years the Hand in Hand conference has been strengthening children’s and family ministry in this nation working in the areas of children’s and family ministry in church, whether a professional or volunteer. It aims to provide Biblical insight, basic training, deeper insight into new thinking and practical ideas for the ministry as well as times for prayer, worship and personal refreshment. Over 50 organisations, ministries and denominations come together with some of the leading practitioners in our nation to offer sessions and exhibit their resources at each conference."
EN to host 'Any Questions?' at Rising Lights
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 8 Apr 2026
Evangelicals Now (en) is hosting "Any Questions?" with a "panel of experts" at the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches' (FIEC's) Rising Lights event this week.
Glen Scrivener (Speak Life), Sharon James (The Christian Institute), John Stevens (the FIEC) and Rick Raja (All Nations Church Barkingside) will form the "Any Questions?" panel hosted by en's Vice-Chair of Trustees Tim Thornborough (The Good Book Company).
Christian Institute sends politicians Easter gift
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 31 Mar 2026
The Christian Institute is sending a Christian book to every member of parliament across the UK for Easter.
How Christianity Transformed The World by Sharon James discusses how believers around the world have impacted society by following Christ in the public square. The book has been posted to parliamentarians in Cardiff Bay, Holyrood, Stormont, and Westminster.
Rising Lights lift-off
en staff
Date posted: 28 Mar 2026
A new venture being pioneered by the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) is taking place in Devon.
Rising Lights is underway from 6–10 April 2026 in Torquay, and is described as a chance to “hear God’s Word, to praise our risen Saviour, and to rest.”
Scotland’s MSPs told how nation can thrive
Luke Randall
Date posted: 27 Mar 2026
The Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland has told parliamentarians that a renewed focus on “the words of Jesus” can once again make Scotland “thrive” in an address to the Scottish Parliament.
Speaking during the parliament’s “Time for Reflection”, Alasdair Macleod reminded MSPs that many of the nation’s key institutions have been “shaped by those who had a living relationship with Jesus”, whose impact is unlike any other historical figure.
10,000 mile journey to proclaim gospel in Glasgow
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 27 Mar 2026
Scottish band The Proclaimers famously sang that they would “walk 500 miles” and indeed “walk 500 more”.
But Tim Scoular and his family have moved their lives more than 10,000 miles from Sydney to Scotland – all for the sake of sharing the gospel in Glasgow.
Free speech upheld in ‘Muslim area’
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 27 Mar 2026
A police officer defended a Christian preacher’s right to free speech in Whitechapel, East London, amid verbal protests and being told that the area is “Muslim”.
In video footage, the female officer can be heard saying, surrounded by a group: “In this country, we have freedom of speech, the same way you guys have your freedom of speech.” A male member of the group responds, and uses the phrase: “This is a Muslim area.”
Christian care home chain expands
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 26 Mar 2026
Two new care homes are being taken on by Christian care provider Pilgrims’ Friend Society, bringing its total number of homes for the elderly to 14. It hopes to open at least two further care homes within the next three years.
The homes – in North Walsham, Norfolk and Hassocks, West Sussex – are currently managed by the Salvation Army. Completion of the transfers is due to take place on 1 May 2026.
New bookstore bucks trend
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 26 Mar 2026
A new Christian bookshop is bucking the trend of people buying books online – and it is hoping to expand further.
The number of UK Christian bookshops has declined significantly in the 21st century, with some online estimates suggesting that only around 200 remain, down from roughly 700 in the late 1990s.
Liverpool: Love and food draw crowds
Thomas McBride
Date posted: 25 Mar 2026
They may not have sung it, but CU members certainly displayed the love of Jesus at Liverpool CUs’ events week, titled “Here is love”.
In that absolutely jam-packed, gospel-filled week, there were 13 talks across two campuses, plenty of free food and opportunities for students to chat to CU members and ask questions. There was something for everyone who stepped through the doors of the Stanley Theatre (University of Liverpool) or Chaplaincy (lunchtimes; Liverpool Hope University).
Caffeine and Kingdom?
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 25 Mar 2026
Can coffee fuel evangelism? If it’s Tommy’s Coffee, then “yes!” say directors Luke Porter and Joel Barwick, who founded the kingdom-building coffee ministry last year.
The coffee cart, based in St Thomas’ Church, Newcastle, first started serving customers in May with a mission to simultaneously caffeinate and connect with the city’s residents.
Top scientist axed over gender views
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 24 Mar 2026
A top scientific officer whose concerns about puberty blockers led to the pausing of a national trial has now been removed from involvement with it due to concerns about his “gender-critical” views.
Professor Jacob George was appointed as the first Chief Medical and Scientific Officer for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) late last year.
A Passion for Life ignites church outreach
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 23 Mar 2026
More than 340 churches are taking part in a nationwide evangelistic mission around the Easter period.
Churches as far north as Thurso, Scotland and as far south as Jersey (plus a church in France, en has been told!) are participating in Life’26 – facilitated by outreach organisation A Passion for Life (APFL) and covered in detail in both the January and February print editions of en.
MP: ‘I pray for Leah every day’
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 23 Mar 2026
A Westminster politician says he prays for abducted Christian schoolgirl Leah Sharibu every day.
On 19 February 2018, 110 Dapchi schoolgirls were kidnapped in north eastern Nigeria by terrorist group Boko Haram, making headlines around the world.
Porn crack-down
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 22 Mar 2026
“Harmful” online pornography is to be made illegal, bringing its regulation into line with offline harmful pornography, according to The Times.
Offline pornography depicting illegal acts and content that humiliate and exploit women is already prohibited, but there are no such safeguards for the online equivalent. The Government has reportedly said it will bring forward proposals to bring consistency across offline and online pornography.
Assisted suicide bill faces termination
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 21 Mar 2026
The proposed assisted dying legislation is doomed to fail, as no further additional time has been granted to enable full scrutiny of the draft bill and numerous amendments.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is still at committee stage in the House of Lords, but will most likely fail in May when the current parliamentary session ends.
Hit singer keeps close to Christ
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 20 Mar 2026
Globally, streaming of Christian music on popular app and website Spotify has risen 60% in the last five years. And new UK-based artists are finding their place in the gospel and Christian music landscape, too.
One of those emerging young talents is Portugal-born but UK-based artist Sondae, who released his fourth album “BOY” last year.
Landmark end-of-life case taken forward by family
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 20 Mar 2026
The family of a man unlawfully allowed to die by doctors without the court’s involvement have won their appeal and asked a coroner to investigate his death.
Robert Barnor suffered a severe stroke in April 2025, followed by further strokes leading to extensive and irreversible brain damage. He never recovered consciousness. Epsom and St Helier Hospitals NHS Trust disagreed that treatment should continue and argued it was in his best interests to die.
