Free Church of Scotland Moderator David Robertson: “If this is an attempt to state there is a church where one does not exist, then this is a foolish policy. The church is not a virtual organisation which one can join, opt out of, switch off and on as you please.”

Some of the ways that evangelical organisations are taking up the global challenge of implementing creation care as a mission task.

What should be the approach to refugees coming from an Arabic background? What is important to them? How can we talk to them about God? Usama Hanna (MEOS, Switzerland) gives some answers. 

84 houses were attacked after evangelical Christians refused to pay their contribution to the Catholic festivities. 350 believers have been displaced.

The campaign is “about breaking down barriers and challenging misconceptions” during Ramadan (6 June- 6 July), Islamic Relief said. In November, a Church of England video featuring the Lord’s prayer was banned from cinemas.

A closer look at Heinrich Bullinger, Theodore Beza, Thomas Cranmer, William Perkins and Conrad Grebel.

More than 500 people participated in the convention of the National Union of Protestant Reformed Evangelical Churches (UNEPREF). Church planting, environmental care were also discussed.

According to a survey in the UK, the majority of Christians wish sermons were shorter. Half of the surveyed feel that “young people are not given enough of a chance to preach in church.”

111 United Methodist Church leaders in the USA come out as “Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning and Intersex” and sign a letter asking for full recognition just before the General Conference in Portland (Oregon).

A closer look at Philip Melanchthon, Matthias Flacius, Martin Bucer, John Knox and William Farel.

Some of us, like Churchill and Isaac, may have a defining period in our lives, which leaves everything else in the shade.

Syria, Central African Republic, Egypt, Iraq, and Vietnam are also among the “countries of particular concern.” For the first time, Western Europe is in the list as a place that “deserve monitoring.”

The World Evangelical Alliance Secretary General participated in the Italian Evangelical Alliance assembly (Rome, 8-9 April). In this interview with Evangelical Focus, Bp Tendero talks about the need to listen to local churches and to face challenges like the refugee crisis and climate change. 

Imagine you are a former member of a guerrilla. Imagine you met Jesus and you became a pastor. 

The regime claims Billy Graham told a North Korean newspaper Kim Il Sung was “God” who “rules the human world.” Voice of the Martyrs says the controversy is an example of why religious figures should not travel to the isolated country.

President Xi Jinping threatens non-official churches with more controls and says Communist party members must remain “staunchly atheist.” State media spread the conclusions of governmental conference on religion.

Robert Strong (OM Netherlands) on the experience of opening the church building to offer tea and a safe place changes the perspective of Christians and creates opportunities to speak about God.

Free Church of Scotland Moderator David Robertson analyses low numbers of church attendants. “There are great opportunities for the gospel, many people think they have rejected Christianity but they haven't a clue what it is.”

The Italian Evangelical Alliance welcomes the move of Senator Lucio Malan. He asks to reduce the number of parishioners needed for a church to have state-recognised church ministers.

The videos, released on April 14, also feature Chilean miner Jose Henriquez and author Alister McGrath, among other well-known Christians.

Efraim Tendero (World Evangelical Alliance) and Jaume Llenas (Spanish Evangelical Alliance) agree in their disapproval of ecumenism and emphasise mission: “If we stop sharing the gospel, we stop being evangelical Christians”. A second report from the 2016 Italian Evangelical Alliance assembly.

“We support tackling extremism, but not in this sweeping, overly broad manner", EAUK, CARE, Christian Concern, Lawyer's Christian Fellowship and The Christian Institute say in a joint statement. Government's strategy against terrorism risks freedom of speech.

What can members of local churches do to welcome asylum seekers living in their region? Robert Strong (Netherlands) suggests some easy steps we can follow.  

Five evangelical families declined to pay the quota for the Roman Catholic patron saint celebration, and the local authorities cut off their water supply. Several organisations confirm rising trend of persecution in rural Mexico.

Jesus was able to command others to follow him, yet his approach to leading these followers was to build close relationships where he taught in small groups, challenged, mentored, and answered their questions.