The new chairman of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, Dominic Yeo from Singapore, spoke to Evangelical Focus. “We have to expect discipleship happening in our churches, and the next generation becoming church planters”.

In the days of the Assemblies of God World Congress, all kinds of conversations took place on the fringes of the programme. Like the stories of Oleksandr from Israel and Emmanuel from Nigeria.

4,300 participants from all over the world attended the World Congress of the largest Pentecostal denomination. Reaching new generations and church planting, major goals. A report from the Madrid Arena.

The Italian Evangelical Alliance says the “Together 2023” event with Pope Francis and other heads of Christian confessions was “crossing a line”. They demand “a public discussion of the whole of World Evangelical Alliance’s constituency” on ecumenism.

Oxford LGBT students publish a blacklist of “homophobic” churches in the city, most of them evangelical. It is a clear example of how Christian congregations are coming under pressure for teaching the Bible to their members.

‘Torrents de vie’ organises camps to help people struggling with their sexual orientation. The Equality Minister condemns what she describes as “homophobia and transphobia on display”.

Christians are against desecrating holy books, says Olof Edsinger, leader of the Swedish Evangelical Alliance. But “something is terribly wrong when totalitarian regimes are trying to force us to abandon our hard-won human rights”, he adds.

Researcher Margunn Serigstad Dahle analyses the cultural debates around the global entertainment company. “The Disney universe’s commitment to individualism is increasingly becoming marked by expressive individualism”.

The leader of the Evangelical Alliance in Greece asks to “pray for our government to take the needed steps and pass the right laws in order to protect both the beautiful environment of our country, and the people and their property”.

The outcome of the Spanish general election reflects a huge divide in the country. The “collective mentality of Spaniards” must change, says X. Manuel Suárez of the Evangelical Alliance.   

An interview with Argentinian climate scientist Fernando Primo Forgioni, a committed Christian. “My generation was the last to be brought up with conceptions of an infinite world in which environmental problems were a secondary issue”.

In June, thousands of young Christians in France were challenged to courageously let their faith shine for others to see. One month later, riots erupted in many cities.

Matthieu Sanders, a pastor in Paris, analyses the background of the riots in France. “Pray that the French church would be equipped for effective witness and peacemaking in an often tense national climate”.

Meanwhile, the parliament opts to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. A journalist in Prague analyses the positions of evangelical Christians.

Janet Sewell has written a MA dissertation on how this new technology intersects with the mission of the church. “Let’s not forget that God's message has practically always been mediated”, she says.

Wissam al-Saliby of the World Evangelical Alliance met Victor Madrigal-Borloz and calls for dialogue after a controversial report on religious freedom and LGBT rights.

Chat GPT-4, the risks of mass surveillance, singularity, the future of workplaces… Charlie Catlett, computer scientist researching the internet since the 1980s, analyses the exponential growth of Artificial Intelligence.

What are the challenges posed by the exponential evolution of AI in recent months, and should we be optimistic about the future? Computer scientist Charlie Catlett, a researcher of the internet since the early days in the 1990s, answers key questions.

His ability to “connect with the average Italian” contributed to the “demeaning of women and the spectaculisation of politics”. Three evangelical leaders shared their views with Evangelical Focus.

“Our reputation among the non-Roma people is very recognisable in a good way”, says Pastor Selim Alijevic. Before having a building, the church helped start two dozens of other congregations.

An interview with Jonas Engström, a Swedish choir director and composer with a passion for Gospel music.

Jonas Engström, director of the Stockholm Gospel Choir Festival: “This is both my way of living and sharing my faith”.

The European Leadership Forum conference in Wisla (Poland) underlined the importance of public evangelism. Over 750 prayed together and networked for mission.

Matthias Schöni, director of the Swiss Licht Im Osten, says a new truck with help is already on its way to Ternopil. After the attack, “we have received many food and financial donations”, he says.

Female emancipation and the need to strengthen the economy are the arguments for the Dutch government to scale back the traditional workplace flexibility. Two Christian women explain why it might not be a good idea.