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. 

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.

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. 

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.”

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.

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.  

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. 

“There is no dichotomy between doctrinal content and relationship”, pastor Mark Stirling says.

The Evangelical Council in the region of Asturias expresses clear condemnation and “solidarity with those who suffer any type of spiritual abuse.” Prosecutor asks for 22 years of jail for the man.

What basic ideas do members of churches in Europe need to know when relating to refugees who have gone through traumatic experiences? Marion Knell (Global Member Care Network) gives some insights.

A survey shows 7 in 10 free evangelical churchgoers believe “Jesus is the Son of God.” 1 in 3 citizens in the East of the country think Jesus never existed.

How are traumatic experiences affecting refugees years after arriving to their destination? What can churches do? Marion Knell (Global Member Care and Redcliffe College) answers these and other questions.  

The Evangelical Alliance estimates there are more than 40,000 churches in Guatemala, 96 evangelical churches for each Roman Catholic parish.

We have to choose between impress the people or serve the people. Let’s lead out of our weakness and not out of our strength.

Jim Memory (European Christian Mission) on the ‘Brexit’ campaign in the UK: “Peace and open borders of today’s Europe are a huge opportunity for the gospel.”

If we are to help someone who has fallen into a pattern of sin and they desire to repent, restoration must be a process where we come alongside, offering practical goals and objectives for the individual that will help them turn around. 

The situation inside the ‘jungle’ of Calais is “chaotic”, admits Paul Sydnor (IAFR). Churches should understand the need to “offer a platform” for reconciliation between Christian and Muslim asylum seekers.

After surviving her own journey, Zinash Witsel supports other people arriving to Europe. “I try and help them as best as I can, because I know how it feels to be a refugee.”

In spite of the care and good intention, there is a lack of a theological and educated perspective of child treatment in many churches. 

The Refugee Highway Partnership (RHP) round tables gathered experts, Christian NGOs and church leaders in Catania to analyse the crisis Europe is facing and find ways to “offer integral help.”

“In the camp I started a prayer meeting, and preached the gospel – a kind of refugee church with a lot of young people began.” Vimal Vimalasekaran now serves among asylum seekers in Germany. 

“This is the closest language to mean ‘genocide’ without using that terminology”, says EEA representative in Brussels Christel Lamère Ngnambi.