Is the UK church ready for Trump 2.0?
Ben Chang
Date posted: 20 Jan 2025
Today sees the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States.
Over on this side of the pond, polling consistently confirms that most of the British public have a pretty dim view of Trump. At best, he is seen as a ridiculous clown who cannot string a sentence together. At worst, he is viewed as a wannabe autocrat who idolises Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. However, he won a resounding victory in the Presidential election and his party gained control of both the House and Senate.
Maximise 2025: Nurturing future church leaders
9:38
Date posted: 19 Jan 2025
‘Fan the flame’ was the theme of the Maximise 2025 conference held in January, an annual event aimed at encouraging ministry trainees, interns and apprentices who are dipping their toes into local church ministry.
This year's conference saw close to 100 people gather for all or part of the time and included trainees from all over the country and a broad leadership team representing numerous training institutions, ministries, networks and churches. It was once again a chance to come together for encouragement, equipping and exploring a future in vocational ministry. For many attending, the event proves the high point of their year.
Debate on AI in church 'urgently needed'
Graham Nicholls
Date posted: 17 Jan 2025
Towards the end of last year, Affinity organised a webinar to discuss important questions around artificial intelligence use in the church.
Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to feature prominently in the news, whether in discussions about replacing humans for practical or social tasks, medical diagnostic tools, or deepfake videos. There is no doubt about the benefits of some AI tools; only this week, I came across an AI service that offered to handle charitable grant applications. This immediately appealed to me, having found the process tedious and frustrating in the past.
Barnabas Aid exclusive: Police investigate two people for money laundering
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 15 Jan 2025
A man and a woman are under police investigation for suspected fraud, alongside the regulatory investigation into Barnabas Aid (formerly Barnabas Fund) and four linked charities.
Wiltshire Police has confirmed that it arrested two people on 7 November 2024 ‘in connection with an ongoing fraud investigation’.
Chapel reopens in Yorkshire Dales
en staff
Date posted: 15 Jan 2025
Last month, two organisations joined together to re-open a chapel in the Yorkshire Dales, which had been closed for six years.
Salem Chapel in Martin Top, Lancashire and the Gospel in the Dales Trust re-opened the old chapel at the Yorkshire Dales village of Hetton, which is about five miles north of Skipton. It had been closed by the Methodists some years ago.
12 churches started in Birmingham
Dave Williams
Date posted: 6 Jan 2025
More than 12 churches have either started since 2020 or are set to start in Britain’s second largest city, the ‘Birmingham Collective’ reports.
The group was set up in 2010 (then called 2020 Birmingham) and comprises leaders from the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC), Newfrontiers and Acts 29. With many churches closing over the next few years, the group says it is only scratching the surface, while Birmingham’s population is growing rapidly.
Training day aids plans for church plants in the South East
Milla Ling-Davies
Date posted: 3 Jan 2025
The London Seminary have hosted their annual Plant Conference – encouraging and equipping around 15 leaders from different networks in church planting.
The aim of the day – which took place as part of London Seminary’s wider ‘Plant’ course – was to help those wanting to begin vibrant new congregations to meet, think and discuss their plans. Three morning sessions were led by Dan Steel, principal of Yarnton Manor (pictured) and former pastor of Magdalen Road Church in Oxford, and Barry King, who runs the ‘Plant’ course. The afternoon finished with a Q&A session, giving attendees the chance to learn from more experienced church planters.
Churches begun in Bracknell and Harrogate
AMiE
Date posted: 1 Jan 2025
Planting new churches to reach people with the good news of Jesus has always been part of the culture of the Anglican Mission in England (AMiE) and one that AMiE recognises will need to take different forms to suit a changing landscape across England.
One such church that AMiE is hoping to plant is in Bracknell with Nick Algeo, an ordained minister with a licence from the Diocesan Bishop of AMiE to start a church. Nick is moving with his family to Bracknell in the summer of 2025, and is looking to start Sunday services soon after. Over the next few months, he hopes to raise financial support and gather the beginnings of a group to start the church. A daunting prospect, but one that he trusts and prays that God will provide the resources for.
Manchester: Vision for 30 new churches by 2030
Ralph Cunnington
Date posted: 30 Dec 2024
The Northern Gospel Project is seeking to see 30 gospel churches planted in Greater Manchester by 2030, through training, funding, and providing care for church planters and their teams.
So far, we have trained 15 church planters through the Incubator training course, cared for seven church planters through Planters Collectives, and raised £63,000 to seed fund church plants across the city.
‘Fire is rising’ in Britain as evangelical churches grow
Rebecca Chapman
Date posted: 28 Dec 2024
The ‘fire is rising’ as people in Britain increasingly encounter God in unexpected ways – with evangelical congregations growing, but churches of the ‘mushy middle’ declining.
That was the message from a panel of experts discussing the future of faith in the UK. The annual Theos think-tank event was held at BMA House in central London, and featured a panel of authors, broadcasters and the General Secretary of Churches Together in England, evangelical Mike Royal. It was entitled Does the Future Have A Church?
A year of 321 course leads to 30,000 enquirers
Milla Ling-Davies
Date posted: 26 Dec 2024
Just under 30,000 people have accessed the evangelistic 321 course since it was launched last year – with many committing their life to Christ as a result.
The 321 course was launched by evangelistic organisation Speak Life in October 2023. Uniquely, their series of video-based sessions considering the core beliefs of Christianity can be experienced online as well as in person. In the last year 16,000 participants signed up digitally, while a further 5,000 attended at their local church (over 350 churches ran the course).
All Souls at 200: All for Jesus
Milla Ling-Davies
Date posted: 24 Dec 2024
Well-known evangelical church All Souls Langham Place in central London has marked 200 years since its church building was finished.
The significant anniversary was commemorated on 25 November with an afternoon tea and a historic exhibit on the Saturday, followed by a day of celebratory Sunday services. All three congregations were treated to performances by the All Souls Choir and Orchestra.
Durham CU doubles carol services due to demand
Thomas McBride
Date posted: 24 Dec 2024
Durham University’s Christian Union doubled their carol service capacity this year. For several years the CU needed to close the doors to Durham Cathedral early as their carol services were full. This year, the Cathedral gave them double the time to use the building, so the CU doubled the capacity with two back-to-back carol services.
The Cathedral venue adds a draw for students, particularly at Christmas time, with an almost magical atmosphere. Across the two services, 2,500 students crammed in to sing carols and hear from God’s word. Director of Christians in Sport, Graham Daniels, captured the audience as he spoke from the beginning of Luke’s Gospel, unpacking the passage verse-by-verse with great dynamic enthusiasm.
FIEC partnerships help boost growth
Joel Murray
Date posted: 23 Dec 2024
Cross-country partnerships between very different churches are helping grow the gospel in the UK, a conference has heard.
The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) and Medhurst Ministries organised the event, Connecting Diverse Churches, so that churches from very different communities could consider what partnership might look like for them.
Faith in the ring: Wrestling fans hear the gospel
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 23 Dec 2024
Certain things just make sense together. Batman and Robin. Tea and biscuits. But, church and wrestling?
‘Wrestling and faith evolved alongside each other for me,’ explains Gareth ‘Angel’ Thompson, founder of Kingdom Wrestling, a ministry that combines throwing down in the ring with sharing the gospel – all for the glory of God.
Marking 100 years of CPAS holidays
Bethany Ferguson
Date posted: 22 Dec 2024
On 15 November, Coventry Cathedral was transformed into a warm, cosy campfire scene, complete with trees, crackling firepits and a large bell tent – all to celebrate a century of the Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS) holidays.
Over 200 guests comprised of past and present volunteers, participants and supporters, gathered to give thanks for a century of life-changing ministry. In the dimmed lights, old friends embraced, children played with giant Jenga blocks and worship songs echoed out on acoustic guitar.
New resources to guide churches on LLF challenges
CEEC
Date posted: 21 Dec 2024
The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) has released a set of resources designed to help churches and their Parochial Church Councils (PCCs) navigate the current Living in Love and Faith (LLF) challenges.
In December 2023, the House of Bishops commended the Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF) for use within regular services. In July 2024, the General Synod voted for further work (albeit by a small majority) on so-called ‘standalone services’, and the introduction of clergy same-sex marriages. This work is being carried out by several working groups and led by the Bishop of Leicester.
Gospel shared in Manchester Christmas market
The sounds and smells of the Manchester Christmas market wafted their way through the city centre. As people rushed to and fro on their way to keep appointments or get in some Christmas shopping, a sound was heard – the message of the season – good news on the streets: the Saviour has been born!
Amongst the hustle and bustle, a team from The Open-Air Mission had set up and was busy sharing the message of God’s love. A few people paused to listen, others took tracts and spoke with team members. Also set up was a ‘Free Bible and Literature’ table, which proved to be a magnet for people. As people walked by, they stopped at the table to browse the literature, then they would take a booklet or Bible.
