One month ago, the five Bodnariu children were finally returned to their parents. But what have been other consequences of the case? Norwegian Christian journalist Tarjei Gilje shares his views.

“The European Evangelical Alliance is extremely concerned about Russia’s new anti-terrorism law, which greatly restricts religious freedom”. Evangelism is no longer allowed outside religious buildings.

Myth: The Bible has little to say about refugees. Reality: The Bible is filled with stories of forcible displacement. God clearly expects his people to love the alien.

“It’s not going to stop us from worshipping and sharing our faith. The Great Commission isn’t just for a time of freedom”, Russian evangelicals say.

The basic place of meeting between Christian and Muslim is our shared regard for Jesus the Messiah; and the most fundamental point of difference is not the place of women or of violence, but who we believe the Messiah to be.

“Islam is by far the most publicised religion by the largest French daily newspaper, Le Monde", specialist in Evangelical Protestantism Sebastien Fath says.

“Many atheists are beginning to see that their loud, aggressive attitude is not working”, says Mathematics Prof. John Lennox in an interview with Evangelical Focus. “We need to spend time to get to know Scripture at beyond a kind of Sunday school class level”.

A report launched by the EU Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief analyses the restrictions in 53 countries. “Human rights should not be a hobby, they should be a core task for a diplomat.”

Christian woman killed for refusing to allow a mosque on her property. In the same district, Muslim relatives of a young Christian mother poisoned her baby.

Any missionary or national believer must secure a government permit to share the gospel. Letter by Christian leaders: "Vladimir [Putin], on behalf of thousands of evangelical Protestants, we ask you not to allow this repressive and unconstitutional law to be adopted."

There is “a real appetite for the Bible and for training to communicate it more effectively”, believes Peter Mead.

If you knew nothing about Colombia, you might well think, “That’s great! There’s peace now”. But life in Colombia is never quite as straightforward as it might seem.

“In no way are we trying to minimize the large doctrinal differences of times past”, organiser Nick Hall tells Evangelical Focus. 1 million Christians from diverse Christian backgrounds are expected to participate.

Is gender reassignment surgery clinically effective? What makes people regret the sex change they once decided? Walt Heyer is the author of a website that tackles these issues from a Christian perspective.

After the referendum, the tensions run high. The Evangelical Alliance United Kingdom calls to follow the example of Jesus and practise “generosity and love.”

Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar have also enacted similar laws, with Nepal going so far as to include them in the recently adopted constitution.

Meletis Meletiadis, President of the Synod of the Greek Evangelical Churches, analyses the Orthodox Council in Crete (Greece).

In 1961, the preparation for a historical “Holy and Great” council was started. It was to be the Eighth Church Council. However, issues of faith lost out to issues of politics.

The European Evangelical Alliance calls to pray for the referendum.

At least 10,000 Christians celebrated faith in Jesus. Believers marched thourgh central streets of Vienna.

“If you want to get rid of your neighbor, you find a way to accuse them of blasphemy, using an ordinary insult as evidence”, a lawyer says. 

In France, some football players not only fight to lift the tournament trophy for their national teams but also bear testimony of their faith in Jesus.

The danger of deciding on the basis of narrow personal or national self-interest is to overlook a whole range of possible consequences to the other parties in this set of relationships – which could then rebound on us. 

On Thursday 23 June, the citizens of the UK will decide if they remain in the European Union. 7 Christians organisations share a joint prayer. Several authors have published biblical perspectives at Evangelical Focus.

As I have listened in person to the prayer requests from persecuted Christians, two themes have caught my ear. The first is the fear that they will be forgotten or abandoned by other Christians.