Soldier saved by ‘divine intervention’ aims for pulpit
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 2 Feb 2026
A former soldier who gave his life to the Lord after narrowly escaping death is now training for ministry.
Kevin Stewart (pictured) and his squad were in a Land Rover on the streets of Bagram, Afghanistan, when a lorry filled with explosives smashed into the vehicle. “It was filled to the brim with enough explosives to flatten the whole area, my whole squad, and all the civilians nearby,” Stewart told The Telegraph.
politics & policy
‘Why do the nations rage?’
Krish Kandiah
Date posted: 31 Jan 2026
On 3 January, as part of what was described as his New Year’s resolution to pursue world peace, President Donald Trump, from his luxury Mar-a-Lago resort, oversaw the invasion of Venezuela and the extradition of its president, Nicolás Maduro, to the United States on charges of drug trafficking.
This alarming event does not stand alone. It comes amid a steady accumulation of brazen assertions of power by leaders from multiple continents, each one adding to the sense of global instability. While many nations express ongoing concern about the number of migrants crossing their borders, a far more pressing anxiety is emerging – the prospect of aggressors doing the same. As the world watches on in growing unease, I am reminded of the psalmist’s question: “Why do the nations rage?”
Abortion at 'staggering levels' after 11% rise
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 29 Jan 2026
The number of abortions in England and Wales has reached "staggering" levels, a Christian pro-life and pro-women leader says.
Dawn McAvoy of Both Lives UK was commenting on the Government's 2023 "Abortion statistics commentary" for England and Wales, released earlier this month. A total of 277,970 abortions are reported to have taken place.
FIEC and Wycliffe partner for vital African initiative
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 28 Jan 2026
The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) is partnering with Wycliffe Bible Translators to support an Africa Bible translation project.
The country in question can’t be named, to protect the Bible translators and church leaders involved, but it’s a war-torn country in Africa where new church leaders don’t have a Bible in their language. FIEC got involved at its November leaders’ conference, where £7,000 was raised for the project; Wycliffe speakers got invited to 120 churches to share about the need for Bible translation. The goal is to raise £70,000 – with matched funding – to help unlock the Scriptures in 11 languages spoken by 850,000 people.
Legal challenge over Pride marches
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 27 Jan 2026
The Christian Institute (CI) has begun legal action against prime minister Keir Starmer over official, taxpayer-funded participation in Pride marches. The Civil Service has also been named in High Court proceedings.
The CI is seeking a judicial review of the Civil Service’s official endorsement and funding of Pride, during work time, on grounds that it is “clearly political and clearly in breach of laws on Civil Service impartiality”.
One in three feel their lives 'lack purpose'
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 26 Jan 2026
One in three UK adults feel that their lives lack purpose.
This finding comes from a survey commissioned by evangelism organisation A Passion for Life (APFL) in which more than 2,000 adults (a representative group) were asked to reflect on what they felt was missing from their lives, from a “long” list of options.
Hundreds of young sportspeople gather
Brian Glynn
Date posted: 26 Jan 2026
Almost 300 young adults have gathered in three venues for Christians in Sport’s (CiS) annual “New Year Training” conferences.
The events aim to equip 18–23-year-old sportspeople to connect their sport and faith and encourage them in their evangelism to their sports clubs and teams.
Minister rebuked by Presbyterian body
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 25 Jan 2026
A church minister has been reprimanded by the ruling body of a Presbyterian denomination.
Minister Kevin Bidwell, minister at Sheffield Presbyterian Church (SPC), has been “formally rebuked” by the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of England and Wales (EPCEW) Presbytery for threatening legal action against its members. However, a spokesman for Bidwell says that as he has renounced EPCEW’s jurisdiction, a judicial rebuke by its governing body is unlawful and ultra vires.
Anonymous giver helps five buy first Bible
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 25 Jan 2026
An anonymous donor with a generous spirit has helped five people buy their first Bible.
An envelope was left on Swansea Christian Bookshop’s counter, with a note asking for the money to be used to help those who were buying a Bible for the first time. Bookshop Manager, Rosemary Cole, told en: “My first thought when I opened the envelope and read the note was what a lovely, generous idea it was, and I was also really moved by the fact that the donor clearly wanted all of the praise and thanks to go to the Lord.”
Church marks double century by changing name
en staff
Date posted: 25 Jan 2026
A London church is marking its double century by changing its name to mark both its spiritual status and location.
St John’s Wood Road Baptist Church was founded 200 years ago as Mount Zion Baptist Chapel. But now it will be known as Lord’s Baptist Church – signifying not only that it belongs to Christ but also that it is near Lord’s Cricket Ground.
Evangelicals look to Synod elections
en staff
Date posted: 24 Jan 2026
Evangelicals in the Church of England are gearing up for crucial elections to General Synod later this year.
CofE bishops recently confirmed they will not be proposing “stand-alone” blessing services for same-sex couples at the upcoming February gathering of the Synod, the denomination’s ruling body. They will also not be suggesting lifting the ban on clergy in same-sex civil marriages at that time.
More assisted suicide concerns
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 24 Jan 2026
Peers have been considering an amendment that would move assisted dying from a panel-based system to a court-based system, as originally proposed.
And during the fifth day of debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, Lord McCrea, an Evangelical Christian, highlighted the fundamental issue: “No one can state categorically that a person has only six months to live.”
Bible sales are up & ESV is best-selling
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 24 Jan 2026
Crossway’s ESV was the best-selling translation of the Bible in the UK last year, according to Christian publisher SPCK Group.
And Bible sales are up overall, reaching the highest level recorded, research shows.
Makin: 'Case closed' on two evangelicals
en staff
Date posted: 23 Jan 2026
Two evangelicals have been told their cases are closed in relation to the Makin Report.
Makin's review looked into horrific abuse carried out by the late QC John Smyth, and examined questions of who knew about it at different times, and what action they did or did not take.
Banned church wins battle to be at new students’ fair
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 23 Jan 2026
A Greenwich church, with help from The Christian Institute, has successfully defended its right to book a stall at a university freshers’ fair in response to a ban on religious groups.
While attempting to reserve a spot at Goldsmiths University freshers’ fair, Grace Church Greenwich was told by Native.fm – the organisation to which the university had outsourced the booking process – that “due to a recent update in our company policy, we are no longer able to facilitate bookings for religious groups at these events.”
Children being ‘used as guinea pigs’ in puberty blockers experiment
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 23 Jan 2026
Health Secretary Wes Streeting is allowing a trial of puberty blockers for children to go ahead despite confessing to being “uncomfortable” about the risks involved and receiving strong and widespread opposition.
The Pathways trial, recommended by the Cass Review (which examined NHS gender identity services for children and young people) was set to start in January. Concerns regarding the impact of the drugs include issues related to brain development, fertility, and bone density, as well as the subject of whether young children are capable of giving consent.
Nurse who refused to call biological male 'she' gets job back
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 21 Jan 2026
An NHS trust has reinstated nurse Jennifer Melle and abandoned disciplinary action against her for an alleged data breach.
Melle, a Christian nurse, had earlier been disciplined by Epsom and St Helier Hospitals NHS Trust for "misgendering" a biological male and convicted paedophile.
TikToker documents atheist friend's faith exploration
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 19 Jan 2026
Can you go from atheist to Christian in 12 weeks? This is the question that Christian influencer Jay Painter and his atheist friend Lewis are exploring together and sharing with the world via Painter’s social media platform.
Painter, who creates Christian content for his following of more than 30,000 across TikTok and Instagram, came up with the idea for the video series after his church encouraged the congregation to invite someone to the Alpha course it was running.
Circumcision could be child abuse, says new guidance
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 18 Jan 2026
The practice of circumcision could be considered a form of child abuse in some cases according to revised guidance for prosecutors.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has drafted a document on “honour-based abuse, forced marriages, and harmful practices” that includes circumcision in a list of practices with potentially criminal implications like breast flattening or virginity testing, The Guardian reports.
Irish church faces calls to scrap NDAs
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 17 Jan 2026
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI), which is under police investigation for safeguarding failings over several years, has denied using non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in the case of whistle-blowers or safeguarding matters.
However, it has set up a task group to look at its use of such agreements. It has also established a new Safeguarding Department with external oversight; and committed to a full, independent external review of safeguarding within the denomination “at an appropriate time.”
