Persecution rising toward levels under Chairman Mao. “The days are coming when whole Christian families will find themselves unable to access not merely transport, but schools, hospitals, bank loans and jobs”, a source says.

Strengthening the church in the face of a troublesome trend.

The inequality between East and West is still visible in issues such as migration and employment. “Christians need to get involved at all levels”, says Evi Rodemann of the Lausanne Movement Europe.

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 peoples in the east have resisted militant atheism. We, the west, are under another form of atheism which is a sort of political agenda.

This popular culture icon is nowadays described to us as a sad and vulnerable figure, timid and unsure – a far cry from the frivolous, joyful and radiant star that she was for her contemporaries.

In a major speech in 2016, President Xi Jinping called for the ‘sinicization of religion’. For the Chinese Communist Party, the rise of religion, especially Christianity and Islam, represents an existential threat to its political health.

The temptation facing us is either to push the panic button, adding further confusion to the chaos, or to take flight and escape into denial about what’s going on in society. For Christians both of these options are simply unacceptable.

The Italian politician’s worldview precludes the teachings of the good Samaritan, despising it as naïve do-goodism.

The dynamics of global collaboration among Christians are changing. Not only Skype, Whatsapp and Zoom are used frequently, but also smaller, more specific tools are of great use in specific mission contexts.

Politicians often emphasise the sense that they will be ‘judged by history’. Jesus though, said that our ultimate accountability is to God.

Former President Omar al-Bashir has been jailed and the military and opposition parties have reached an agreement for a transition period which should culminate in democratic elections.

Systemic persecution and its implications.

Christians in these rural areas often find themselves in the middle of two armed groups fighting each other for territory and for corridors through which to traffic their illicit goods.

The Iranian government “prefers to be destroyed dragging the people with them before giving in”, says a Christian source in the country. “Pray for an integral transformation of the nation”.

Evangelical theology needs to pursue a realistic reading of the Fathers under the supreme authority of Scripture and at the service of the cause of the gospel.

VIctor Hugo’s perspective helps us realise we cannot take the privilege of voting in the European elections for granted. This weekend saw the highest turnout in the EP elections.

Let’s vote for those who value a Europe of partnership, respect, compassion, peace, equality and freedom.

The environmental crisis of the current age is symptomatic of a deeper relational crisis. An article by Hannah Eves.

It is heartening to see Christians take a robust, positive and directive stance on artificial intelligence.

After three decades of loosening Communist Party control and expanding freedoms, Xi Jinping is systematically trying to reassert Party control over all sectors of society.

For Taylor, the loss of transcendence in a secular age is disastrous for human beings.

Many women regret having postponed childbearing. Our society still hasn’t given a viable solution to the challenge of balancing professional life and motherhood.

The recent book by Thomas G. Guarino, The Disputed Teachings of Vatican II. Continuity and Reversal in Catholic Doctrine, is particularly helpful for evangelicals for at least two reasons.

“Actually, Finland took a few steps to the left”, says Christian journalist Matti Korhonen. “Immigration politics, gender issues/sexuality and climate change are hot topics in society”.