Edith Vilamajó reflects on the models of education and formation seen in today’s evangelical churches and theological institutions.

600 adults and children gathered in Madrid for the Protestant Congress on the Ministry with Infancy and Family. An intergenerational programme addressed the challenges in society, the model of Jesus Christ, and the role of families and local churches.

The Seneca Falls Platform aims to raise awareness about women’s equality in rights and freedoms, both in the church and in society, from a biblical perspective.

The new government reiterated that Christian properties confiscated under the previous regime would be returned.

This year International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church is on November 10th. One out of every nine professing Christians face persecution, isolation and violence worldwide.

Around 200 evangelicals participated in a peaceful demonstration to denounce the closure of the Punto Luce church in Milan and demand “freedom of worship for all”.

Part 5 of 5.

The Luhansk People's Republic (Ukraine) has banned all Protestant worship, and believers try to meet in small gatherings. Uzbekistan raids worship services that have not been approved by the authorities.

Päivi Räsänen, the leader of the Christian Democrats, could be accused under Section 10 of the Criminal Code of Finland for “ethnic agitation”. A fine or prison are contemplated for this crime.

The closure of at least 12 Protestant church buildings gets international attention. Algerian Christians share their situation in videos posted online. 63,000 have already signed a petition defending religious freedom.

Members of local churches have died during the shootings after the arrest of ‘Chapo’ Guzman’s son. “Cartels have more power than the government”, Christians in Mexico denounce.

Video of the moment police officers enter a Protestant evangelical church near Tizi-Ouzou to close it. Church members do not stop singing, and peacefully resist later.

A Manifesto of church unity: Part 4 of 5.

Police use force to eject Christians resisting in protest. The closures this week bring to 15 the number of worship buildings sealed since the government launched a campaign againt churches.

Christians in Barcelona see a need to find “forums” in churches where the situation in Catalonia can be addressed with “wisdom” and a worldview “rooted in Scripture”.

Mikael Laursen leads the “FrikirkeNet”, a Danish project of free churches. He explains how they have had every third member of Parliament visiting a church.

Peaceful demonstrations call authorities to “stop closure of worship places”. Churches re-organise themselves in houses as the government threatens to close more buildings.

A Manifesto of Church Unity: Part Three of Five.

Algerian Christians think the governmental campaign against Protestant churches will continue. But “the churches of Algeria have a very firm and mature leadership with a clear vision of God”.

The regional High Court rules that it is not lawful for the Madrid City Council to ask an evangelical church to meet the requirements of recreational activities. The ruling could create a legal precedent.

The event, organised by the Spanish office of RZIM, addressed topics such as sexuality, identity, ecology and the Bible. “Reboot has renewed my strength to follow God”, a participant says.

For some Christians ‘structure’ is a dirty word, being seen in opposition to the spontaneity of the Holy Spirit. Yet there is structure all through the Bible.

A Manifesto of Church Unity: Part Two of Five.

China celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Republic as the violence escalates in Hong Kong. “The role of Christians is to be peacemakers”, a Hong Kong Christian leader says.

“The government has passed laws that blatantly violate religious freedom”, Swiss Christian NGO HMK says. Christian natives and foreigners have been arrested because of their faith.