The German ‘land’ of Hessen re-opened church buildings on 1 May. The worship service followed hygienic and social distancing measures, but singing without face masks was allowed.

Italy, Spain and Greece have received increasing numbers of migrants and refugees. But 6 in 10 trafficking victims in Europe are EU citizens.

An interview with psychiatrist Pablo Martinez. “Farewell is the natural gateway to mourning”, he says. “Being deprived of this option is an obstacle that complicates the subsequent process”.

“Collins has demonstrated how religious faith can motivate rigorous scientific research”, the John Templeton Foundation has said. Francis Collins: “The person of Jesus emerged as the most profound truth-teller I had ever encountered”.

The “potentially harmful statements” were aired by LoveWorld, a broadcaster owned by a Nigerian megachurch.

“Banks and governments do not have to keep money back, but to be proactive and stimulate the market”, says the director of the World Evangelical Alliance Business Coalition.

French evangelicals welcome the “affirmation of freedom of worship as a fundamental freedom” and issue a guide with practical information about the re-operning of church buildings.

The document by Spanish Christian psychologists was first translated into English, and now into Russian, Slovak, and other languages. “We want it to continue spreading for good, either for this crisis or for any future crisis”.

“This is an attempt to offer an holistic view of how Christian practice and the coronavirus are connected”, says Jason Mandryk, the author of Operation World.

Meanwhile in California, thousands of churches plan to restart public services on Pentecost Sunday, regardless of what the governor of the state says.

The Catholic head backs an initiative for “believers of all religions to unite spiritually (…) to implore God to help humanity overcome the pandemic”. A new inter-religious platform with an ambitious project in Abu Dhabi is behind the initiative.

The atmosphere is like a swimming pool we’ve been pouring CO2 into for the past 200 years.

The mission of the field hospital set up two months ago by Samaritan’s Purse has ended. Italian Christians underline the “human dedication” of the over 100 specialists that helped fight the Covid-19.

“Bringing people together, focusing on relationships. That could change the economy very much”, says the head of the Business Coalition of the WEA, Timo Plutschinski.

Homeless people “are much more deprived and vulnerable than before because of the epidemic”, a worker of Christian organisation Ágape +, says.

Seventy-five years ago this week, the forces of Nazi Germany formally surrendered to Allied Forces in what came to be called Victory in Europe Day. But the 9th May is also the seventieth anniversary of a three-minute speech by Robert Schuman.

A Pew Research survey shows that 24% of adults say their faith has grown stronger, only 2% say it has become weaker.

This year’s edition of the ELF will be online from May 22-28. Over 100 speakers will teach in workshops, seminars, networks and plenary sessions.

“God has created an interdependent world within which humans have a responsibility to use the gifts and resources contained in the natural world wisely, cautiously and sustainably”.

The October 2020 Gathering has been moved to November 2021. The “Impact Groups” of the LE2020 Conversation are still running.

There are differences in the expected dates but evangelical organisations are already offering specific recommendations to churches.

The COVID-19 pandemic is spreading suffering around the world – but it can also teach precious lessons to individuals, churches, and nations.

“Religious communities have been very responsible and very problem-conscious”, the spokesman of the German government said. The Austrian Chancellor gave “a special thank you to the churches”. 

Fear of the coronavirus has also come to the Moria refugee camp in Lesbos (Greece), prompting several Christian organizations to take steps to protect the nearly 20,000 people crowded into the camp.

How and when churches expect to go back to face-to-face gatherings.