The annual meeting of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance addressed the challenges of freedom of conscience, the mission of the church, and its role in a society marked by the pandemic.

An interview with the pastor of New Life Church in Minsk, Vyacheslav Goncharenko: “We are praying for this nation, that we have a great revival”. Other churches and secular groups have expressed solidarity with the evangelical community.

Shortwave remains a viable and important platform that can be used to broadcast the full message of the gospel in its uncensored and unrestricted form.

“Most Somali Christians are underground believers. We are a persecuted community”, explain the leaders of an online community of believers in the country.

Police officers entered New Life Church in Minsk to evict the building. The evangelical community had supported pro-democracy protests. “If one member suffers, all suffer”, evangelical denominations say in a joint statement.

Representatives of three political parties joined the conversation with the Spanish Evangelical Alliance for the public event that opens the annual Idea conference.

Vijayesh Lal, leader of the Evangelical Fellowship of India, says Christians are making a difference in times of Covid-19: “Local churches are providing relief to their neighbouring communities”.

The so-called “anti-separatism law” is a response to radical Islamism, but evangelicals denounce it restricts freedom of worship and increases surveillance on all faith groups.

A website aims to help the 130,000 Hong Kongers expected to arrive in the UK this year to get settled. They see it as an “opportunity for the church to show Jesus' hospitality”.

An interview with Salah Chalah, President of the Eglise Protestante d’Algérie. “2020 was a very difficult year for us Protestants, who have been deprived of our places of worship - until today”.

In a written statement to the UN Human Rights Council, the WEA also addresses the deteriorating environment for religious minorities in India and the incitement to violence of anti-conversion laws.

In a letter sent in December, three UN Human Rights Council special rapporteurs asked the government to stop the “intimidation and discriminatory treatment” of Protestants.

Vitaly Vlasenko, a pastor in Moscow, analyses the situation of evangelicals in Russia. “I am not aware of pastors, bishops, or other Christian leaders who have participated in the protests”.

“Parents should ensure that the education of their children is in compliance with their religious and philosophical convictions”, says the EU Commission spokesperson for education, Sonya Gospodinova.

The small country between France and Spain has no specific law about religions. Churches are not allowed to gather due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

 A post-Christmas reflection on Arab Christianity and the challenge of presence.

The father of four young children had been sentenced to five years in prison and fined 100,000 dinars. “That this story goes back three years and only now it’s resurfacing – it’s hard to digest”, says the church that supports his family.

General Sigit Prabowo, a Pentecostal Christian, was unanimously approved by the parliament, despite opposition of Islamic groups. He promises to create “a trustworthy police and fight extremism”.

The parliament of Victoria makes any individual practice that aims to “change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity” illegal. Faith groups believe the law restricts religious freedom.

Evangelical churches increasingly worried about unfair attacks of the government. “They should not throw suspicion on faith groups and believers”.

Italy negotiates a new government as the third wave of the pandemic hits the country. The Evangelical Alliance calls on Christians to avoid “conspiracy narratives”.

Some say a ban would restrict religious freedom, others believe the equality of women and certain security issues are at stake.

The apostle Paul would probably have included the disputes about the right Christian way of dealing with the current pandemic in his list of differing opinions in Romans 14.

The library has been established by the Bible Society Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City. “We hope it will be a symbol of Christian unity and learning”, they say.

After 55 years of work, the pandemic has aggravated the crisis of the ministry in Spain. The impact of the internet and the secularisation of Europe are a challenge for the entire sector.