Syria: Will Christians face ‘dhimmi’ status?
Luke Randall
Date posted: 18 Dec 2024
Believers in Syria may be gradually marginalised over time – and eventually face death, a leading expert is warning.
As the situation in Syria continues to unfold, Christians face ongoing uncertainty about how their new rulers will treat them.
What now for Syria – and the Middle East?
George Makeen
Date posted: 12 Dec 2024
This has been an extraordinarily heartbreaking year for the peoples of the Middle East. No one could have predicted the bloodshed across the Holy Land that has lasted for more than a year, or the current dramatic events in Syria.
The Syrian civil war that started over 13 years ago, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives and displacing millions, had become mostly dormant until an unexpected re-eruption at the end of November. Then, a regime that had remained in power for over five decades collapsed in less than two weeks. As millions of Syrians celebrate the fall of the dictator, the world is holding its breath to see what will happen next. Will this really be a new era of peace and freedom for Syria after years of oppression and conflict?
Fear and fervent prayer: lessons from South Korea's Christians
David (Sung Tae) Kim
Date posted: 12 Dec 2024
South Korea, long recognised as a symbol of democracy in Asia, now faces significant fear and uncertainty after President Yoon Suk-yeol's recent declaration of martial law.
This move included attempts to restrict civil liberties, suppress political activities, curb media freedoms, and grant the military authority to take control of the National Assembly. These measures have stirred widespread fear and protest across the country.
letter from Uganda
From Essex to Uganda: ‘Culture shock and feelings of panic’
Philip Knight
Date posted: 5 Dec 2024
In November 2023, my wife Heidi and I pulled up our roots, leaving our Essex home and the church I had pastored for 28 years, for Koboko, North West Uganda.
Our mission? To help the team of Keliko believers who are translating God’s word into their mother tongue. The work is supported by Wycliffe Bible Translators and Grace Baptist Mission.
700 hours of prayer for Middle East
Luke Randall
Date posted: 4 Dec 2024
UK Christians have prayed continuously for 700 hours about the crisis in the Middle East, as part of a prayer session organised by charities Tearfund and 24-7 Prayer, as conflicts continue in the region.
Tearfund asked people to pray for the situation as conflicts continue in Gaza and Lebanon, and tensions increase between Israel and Iran.
letter from Morocco
A land of physical drought and spiritual thirst
David Baker
Date posted: 3 Dec 2024
‘Are you ready to find out everything there is to know about Marrakech?’ our guide asked us, with well-practiced faux enthusiasm?
We assented with as much vigour as we could muster, given the early start to the tour of this historic Moroccan city.
Evangelicalism on rise and fall in Europe
Luke Randall
Date posted: 2 Dec 2024
Evangelicalism is on the rise in Spain, with the number of evangelical places of worship having increased by 96 over the last year, according to newly released statistics.
New data on worship places released by the Observatory of Religious Pluralism in Spain, reveals that evangelical Christianity has more places of worship than any other minority faith group, with 4,455, up from 4,359 in 2023.
letter from America
Christmas is more than an evangelistic opportunity
Josh Moody
Date posted: 1 Dec 2024
The origins of Christmas celebrations as we tend to experience them are fraught with controversy – and ignorance, too.
It may be that the purported pagan roots of Christmas trees are arguable, but the actual celebration of Christmas goes back much further than Albert’s love for the German Christmas tree. Some say that December 25th was chosen by the early church because it is roughly nine months after the virginal conception. That may well be, but it’s also the case that the date falls on a time when ancient Roman imperial customs celebrated in pagan ways.
letter from Australia
Progressive ideology leads to paganism
David Robertson
Date posted: 29 Nov 2024
They say that when America sneezes the rest of the world catches a cold. At least that remains true for the Western world. A great example of that was seen in the State of Queensland in Australia this October.
The ruling Labor party seemed on course for a crushing defeat in the State elections, when the Premier Stephen Miles decided to make abortion an issue. Taking a leaf out of the Kamala Harris playbook, he suddenly started arguing that ‘women’s reproductive health rights were at stake’. Although he did not win, it was intriguing that most of the mainstream media in Australia saw this as a sensible vote-winning tactic.
A million Christians gather in South Korea worship event
Sam Ko
Date posted: 28 Nov 2024
On Reformation Sunday, 27 October, about 1.1 million South Korean Christians gathered outside Seoul City Hall (another 1 million Christians joined online) to worship and advocate for Christian values.
The event, marking the 107th anniversary of the Reformation, served as both an outdoor worship service and a demonstration against proposed anti-discrimination legislation, which includes protections for same-sex relationships. The Christian community in South Korea has expressed strong support for traditional family values and voiced concerns over the potential impact of the legislation.
letter from Spain
Fiestas and faith: a clash of cultures
Trevor Ramsey
Date posted: 27 Nov 2024
In the middle of November each year, the streets of Benidorm on Spain’s Costa Blanca are transformed by two very different fiestas. Benidorm loves a good fiesta.
Firstly, the Spanish enjoy a five day fiesta which is a strange mixture of the weird, wacky and wonderful. Each morning at 8am fireworks are set off in order ‘to awaken the sleeping spirits’. There are various cultural events but also rather sombre parades of statues of the Virgin Mary, accompanied by throngs of elegantly dressed young people and myriads of flowers. It is hard not to be moved by the solemnity of it all yet to feel, as Paul did in Athens, that this is nothing short of religious ignorance – certainly far removed from the liberating gospel of Christ.
Swiss Christian political party oppose Eurovision in Basel
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 27 Nov 2024
The Federal Democratic Union (EDU), a Swiss Christian-conservative political party, is opposing the use of taxpayer money to fund the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Basel next May.
Dubbed 'a propaganda show' by the EDU, the international singing competition has been criticised by the group as promoting blasphemy, Satanism, and antisemitism in recent years.
letter from Japan
The sudden death and funeral of Mrs S.
John Newton Webb
Date posted: 26 Nov 2024
Last month, I spent an hour watching a body being prepared for its coffin. It was our oldest church member, Mrs S., who had died suddenly the previous week.
Her body was discreetly washed, her face made up, her hair styled and her favourite clothes put on. Her daughter told me she was glad to have someone who had known her mother there with her to watch and help.
New radio ministry in Suriname jungle
Luke Randall
Date posted: 25 Nov 2024
A missionary is partnering with Trans World Radio (TWR) to enable the Wayana people in the jungles of Suriname to hear the gospel – 60 years after his parents first witnessed to the region.
Tom Schoen is following in the footsteps of his parents Ivan and Doris, who initially travelled to Suriname with their three children in the early 1960s. The nation is one of the smallest in South America but is very ethnically diverse.
Evangelicals help after deadly Spanish flood
Luke Randall
Date posted: 23 Nov 2024
Members of Iglesia de Jesuscristo (which essentially means Christchurch) have been contributing to the relief effort in Valencia, following the disastrous flooding recently seen in the city.
Over 200 people have died after the Eastern Spanish city and its surrounding area was hammered with a year’s worth of rain fall in just eight hours. Julian Milson (pictured with his wife Nicky), who works with Crosslinks, revealed that church members from the Spanish Reformed episcopal congregation have gone with thousands of others into affected areas by bus to assist with the humanitarian effort and cleanup. Milson said that volunteers have been ‘put to good use’, but that the organisation of assistance on the ground has been ‘patchy’.
After COP 29: evangelical scientist claims ‘history on our side’
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 22 Nov 2024
‘Gravity, history, and progress’ make the drive to clean and green energy unstoppable, says leading evangelical climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe as the COP 29 gathering concluded.
The 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference began on 11 November in Baku, Azerbaijan and ended on 22 November.
Trump win: gospel triumph or tragedy?
Luke Randall & Emily Pollok
Date posted: 21 Nov 2024
Evangelicals across the United States and beyond are reacting to Donald Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris in the US presidential election, with some believing he will protect religious freedoms. Others fear he will promote radical nationalism.
Trump has always portrayed himself as the candidate who would best protect Christians, and according to an NBC News exit poll, evangelicals in America played a crucial role in Trump’s victory; about 80% of white evangelicals voted for him, along with 67% of Latino evangelicals and 14% of black evangelicals.
Over 40 Christian groups oppose 'queer theory' in Norway
Luke Randall
Date posted: 21 Nov 2024
More than 40 Christian denominations in Norway have co-signed a declaration which outlines a Christian stance towards 'queer theory', relating to issues of gender, marriage, sex and children’s rights. It comes amid a period of increasing liberalisation on such issues in the country.
Catholics, Pentecostals and Evangelical Lutherans were among the signatories of the one-page document which accused public and government bodies of ‘exceeding their mandate and power by attempting to pressure citizens and organisations to adapt to "queer theory" on gender, sexuality and marriage.’
