Christian News Bulletin

POPE FRANCIS CHALLENGES THE FAITHFULReligion News Service reports that Pope Francis used the Easter Saturday service to invite the faithful to “begin anew”, to follow Jesus by letting go of the nostalgia for the past. In his homily, Francis said going to Galilee means “it is always possible to begin anew, because there is a new life that God can awaken in us in spite of all our failures. “From the rubble of our hearts, God can create a work of art; from the ruined remnants of our humanity, God can prepare a new history,” he said.“HEALING THE WOUNDED HEART”US prison inmates who participated in a Bible-based trauma healing ministry program showed enhanced emotional well-being and a significant decrease in the negative consequences of trauma, a recent study by the American Bible Society and Baylor University revealed. The Christian Post reports that through participating in “Healing the Wounded Heart,” ABS’ Bible-based Correctional Trauma Healing Program, participants experienced a decline in PTSD and vengefulness. Also, they experienced increases in forgiveness, resilience and meaning in life.“A WEEK AWAY”A new faith-based musical debuted recently in the Netflix Top 5 and even reached No. 3 on the worldwide most-popular list. According to christianheadlines.com A Week Away, a faith-based movie featuring popular Christian songs, reached No. 8 on Netflix’s list for most popular titles in the U.S. and No. 4 on Netflix’s list for most-popular movies. The film tells the story of a troubled teenager who finds Christ – and romance – at a summer church camp.  It includes music by Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant and For King and Country. The soundtrack reached No. 1 on the iTunes Christian album chart and No. 18 on the “all genres” chart. 

RESURRECTION—THE MOVIEEmmy-nominated actress and producer Roma Downey has released a new movie called Resurrection that she produced with her husband Mark Burnett. The film tells the story of what happened after Jesus' crucifixion. During an interview with CBN, Downey explained that the time frame for the film takes the audience through the Gospel and into the book of Acts, by focusing on the death and resurrection of Christ.NICK VUJICICNick Vujicic, who's known as the "limbless evangelist" because he was born without arms or legs, has shared his life story with people around the world to show that all life has value.  Vujicic was born in the early ‘80s without arms and legs. According to his biography, growing up proved to be difficult for him, and during his school-age years, he struggled with depression and loneliness. It was his faith in God that would eventually grant him victory over his struggles. Vujicic says that regardless of what appears to be a roadblock, God has a plan for every life.HARRY CONNICK JR.Well-known singer Harry Connick Jr. is about to release a new Gospel album, titled Alone with My Faith, which will consist of songs he has written, performed and recorded all by himself. The album aims to include the experiences of both Christians and non-Christians into a single album. Harry Connick Jr. told CBN: "I’m a Christian and I’m proud of my faith, but I also realize this is a big world and there’s a lot of people in it."

SOUTH SUDANMission Network News reports that 50,000 Bibles and Christian books are on the way to South Sudan. The organisation Mission Cry collects donated resources like these and ships them to believers around the world. Executive Director Jason Woolford says two former Marines partnered with them to make the latest shipment possible.DIGITAL OUTREACHAccording to The Christian Telegraph, the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association has begun a new partnership. They have joined with Groundwire an organisation with an extensive track record in successful digital strategies to reach people with the Gospel. Kevin Palau, president of the Palau Association, says that the partnership is committed to engaging millions of people through videos on social media. The goal is to open the door to online conversations about Jesus at the website JesusCares.com In the last six months, more than 38 million people have watched Groundwire’s videos online and 50,000 have made a decision to follow Jesus.THY KINGDOM COMEThis year's global Thy Kingdom Come prayer initiative will focus on church newcomers and people drifting from church. The prayer movement, across denominations, has a presence in 90% of the world’s countries. It will take place online from 13-23 May.  

LUIS PALAUReligion News Service reports that Luis Palau, a Christian evangelist known for his smile and hearty laugh and described by some as “the Latino Billy Graham,” died on Thursday March 11th at his Portland, Oregon, home. He was 86. Over the past 50 years, the Luis Palau Association, based in Beaverton, Oregon, estimates that it has reached 30 million people in 75 countries.WORLD VISIONNot long after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020, World Vision, an interdenominational aid organization that operates in nearly 100 countries, launched the largest global response in its 70-year history. Erica Van Deren, a senior program manager on World Vision’s emergency response team, told The Christian Post that as the world was shutting down, World Vision kept working since that is the purpose God has bestowed on the organization and its staff. “COVID-19 has been our largest both domestic response and international response that we’ve ever organized” Van Deren said. “It’s been a remarkable amount of work and really just a wonderful opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this really, really challenging time.”KELLY ROWLANDIn an interview with Gospel singer Kirk Franklin, Kelly Rowland came out strongly about her faith in Christ. According to The Christian Post, Rowland declared, "I believe in God, I believe in Jesus, I believe in faith more than I do religion. It's such a personal walk." Rowland is best known as a member of the popular music group Destiny's Child. She told Kirk Franklin that her faith has "carried her," and made her the woman she is today. "It's made me the woman that I am. It's making me the mother that I am. It's continuing to make me the woman that I am. It's teaching me how to be a wife. It's continuously stretching me."

SCHOOL IN A CONTAINERMission Network News reports that Tent Schools International have had success reaching out to Syrian refugees with schools in shipping containers. The customised truck will be able to reach refugee children anywhere in Lebanon. When it is not being used for school it will be used to teach trade skills to young adults. If the project goes well, TSI also hope to replicate this format in other countries. CARING FOR CHILDRENThe $5 million CURE Children’s Hospital of Zimbabwe will bring life-changing surgery to children with disabilities. The Christian Telegraph reports that the hospital was recently completed by the Zimbabwe Orthopaedic Trust in partnership with the Zimbabwean government.. Professor Chris Lavy says that the work of this ministry will change the lives of children with disabilities. He says the ministry is already bringing new hope to hundreds of thousands of families, while also sharing the love of Christ. They provide medical care to children regardless of their economic means, ethnicity, gender, or religion. DOLLY’S “AMAZING GRACE”According to christianheadlines.com the version of "Amazing Grace" sung by Christian country singer Dolly Parton may become the official state hymn of Tennessee. Two lawmakers introduced a house bill in Tennessee's state legislature that would make the song the official song of the state. The purpose, according to the bill, is to " recognize songs of historic significance that have influenced" the state of Tennessee.

COVID-19 VACCINEPremier Christian News reports that Catholic Archbishop, the Most Reverend John Wilson, has called for Governments to develop special strategies to ensure that marginalised and stigmatised communities, including people with leprosy, receive the Covid-19 vaccine. Archbishop Wilson stated "We know from the experience of the Covid-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom that protecting the health and wellbeing of the most vulnerable is a priority. As soon as vaccines against Covid-19 are available to every country, it is vitally important that disadvantaged communities, such as those affected by leprosy, are enabled to receive the same benefits from vaccination as the rest of society."BOOKS ABOUT PRAYERAccording to Religion News Service, several new books about prayer from popular Christian authors have landed on bookshelves in the past month — and they seem to be resonating with readers. “A Rhythm of Prayer: A Collection of Meditations for Renewal,” edited by progressive Christian author Sarah Bessey, made bestseller lists recently in both the United States and Canada. And the Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and editor-at-large of America Magazine, appeared on “A Late Show with Stephen Colbert” to discuss his latest book “Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone.”CHURCHES CARE FOR COMMUNITIESLeaders from across the political spectrum in the UK have commended the efforts made by local British churches to support and care for their communities throughout the pandemic, as a new poll finds perceptions of the role of the Church are improving. Assist News Service reports that the study, which surveyed 2,170 respondents, found that 42% of UK adults agree that local Christian churches are making a positive difference in their community with only 24% disagreeing. 

RECOVERING FROM COVIDAn alliance of Christian community organisations has committed to playing its part in Australia’s recovery from COVID. Eternity News reports that organisations including World Vision, Wesley Mission, Bible Society, Mission Australia and the Presbyterian Church issued the following statement: “We vow to provide service and love to all in need without prejudice or judgment—to share our common table with the hungry, to bring warmth and care to the frail, and to proportion our common wealth among the poor and destitute.”UK HELP FOR HONG KONGERSChristian Today reports that A UK-wide Church initiative has been launched to welcome Hong Kong residents migrating to the UK as a result of China's increasing suppression in the city. The website, www.UKHK.org, was launched in London recently by Home for Good founder Krish Kandiah with the help of the Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally.  Over 500 churches have already signed up to be 'Hong Kong ready' via the website, which has been launched after the UK Government opened the door to Hong Kong holders of the British National Overseas (BNO) passport.THE MOST RELUCTANT CONVERTA new C.S. Lewis movie set before the 1950 publication of Lewis's The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, seeks to tell the history of how Lewis turned from atheism to Christianity. According to Christianheadlines.com ‘The Most Reluctant Convert’ is a screen adaptation of a one-man stage play starring Max McLean. According to the production company's website, the film seeks to show Lewis's journey from becoming a "hard-boiled" atheist into the convert and apologist he became.

CHRISTIANS RELEASED FROM PRISONSChristian Solidarity Worldwide reports that seventy Christians from evangelical and orthodox backgrounds, including women, have been released from three prisons in Eritrea, some after being held without charge for more than a decade. HILLSONG GLOBAL LEADERSHIPThe Christian Post reports that Hillsong Church Global Senior Pastor Brian Houston announced last week that he and his wife, Bobbie, have decided to transition away from their leadership role. Gary and Cathy Clarke, lead pastors of Hillsong Church London, who are also responsible for much of the denomination’s growth in Europe, were announced as the leaders who will take over the global management of the church over the next two years.NEW FILM ON JOHN WYCLIFFEUK-based film ministry Trinity Digital have announced the development of a new film with the title Morningstar, exploring the life and legacy of John Wycliffe. Their aim is to shoot the film at some point this year. NOAH AND THE ARK ON TIKTOKA minister from Aberdeen in Scotland has got on board with the latest TikTok sensation of sea shanties. According to Premier Christian News, Rev Peter Johnston, from Ferryhill Parish Church in Aberdeen, was inspired by his daughter who had been watching sea shanties online and decided to re-tell the story of Noah and the Ark in the form of a shanty, sung to the traditional melody of "Wellerman," with the help of a virtual choir. The Noah and the Ark shanty has been made available to other congregations who may want to use it and has been well received.

BIBLE TRANSLATIONS CONTINUEAccording to The Christian Post, Wycliffe Associates, an international organization that translates Bibles into multiple languages worldwide, set a new record after producing more Bible translations in 2020 than in any given year. The organization, which has been working since 1967 to translate Bibles into every language, managed to complete translations of the Old Testament in 8 languages. Additionally, the New Testament was translated into 141 languages.WOMEN IN THE VATICANPope Francis has appointed two women to Vatican posts previously held only by men, in back-to-back moves giving women more empowerment in the male-dominated Holy See. Premier Christian News reports that he appointed Nathalie Becquart, a French member of the Xaviere Missionary Sisters, as co-undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops, a department that prepares major meetings of world bishops held every few years on a different topic. Pope Francis also named Italian magistrate Catia Summaria as the first woman Promoter of Justice in the Vatican's Court of Appeals.US PRESIDENT POINTS TO FAITHCBN News reports that, at a recent Prayer Breakfast, US President Biden shared a message of uniting around faith to tackle issues such as the pandemic, racial injustice, evictions, and hunger. “For so many in our nation, this is a dark, dark time,” he said “So where do we turn? Faith.” “For me, in the darkest moments, faith provides hope and solace, faith provides clarity and purpose as well,” Biden continued. “It shows the way forward as one nation and a common purpose to respect one another.”  

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR In honour of their contribution to tackling global hunger in 2020 in the midst of continued conflict, famine and the Covid-19 pandemic the World Food Programme has been honoured with the Nobel Peace Prize. Assist News reports that, in his acceptance speech last December at their headquarters in Rome, World Food Programme Executive Director and a committed Christian David Beasley shared his inspiration from the teachings of Jesus to love your neighbour. He stated: “Dr King, Nobel Laureate in 1964 said, ‘Love is the most durable power in the world.’ “Like Dr. King, from a very young age, I learned this teaching from Jesus of Nazareth, as he taught from the Torah: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” I have come to understand that a better translation of what Jesus actually said is: ‘Love your neighbour as your equal.’”VACCINATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINESThe Philippines' health ministry has welcomed the offer of the country's group of Catholic bishops to help in the coronavirus vaccination drive of the government, which is struggling to persuade many Filipinos to get the shots. According to Premier Christian News, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines has offered to transform church facilities in the country into COVID-19 vaccination sites, and said its members were also willing to get vaccinated in public to help build confidence in the campaign.ROYAL PURPLE CLOTHThe Christian Post reports that rare purple cloth scraps from the era dating back to the time of King David and King Solomon, approximately 3,000 years ago, have been discovered in Israel. Researchers in southern Israel found the remnants of woven wool fabric that had been dyed the colour of royal purple while examining textiles from the Timna valley.

SUNRISE FROM SPACEA NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station said earlier this month that sunrises from space remind him of a Bible verse from Psalms. Christianheadlines.com  reports that Victor Glover, one of seven men and women on the space station’s Expedition 64 crew, posted two pictures on Instagram of the sun beaming just above the earth’s horizon.“Took these photos today, I love sunrises and sunsets,” Glover wrote on Instagram and Twitter. “Can you see the bands of colour? They remind me of the scripture in Psalm 30, ‘weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.’ It seems darkest just before sunrise. I wish you all love and light. Goodnight from the Space Station”BIBLE STUDY PODCASTA bible study podcast run by the Catholic group Ascension Presents called The Bible in a Year is the most popular podcast for Apple users, beating out news shows and other mainstream sources according to Christianheadlines.com The podcast is hosted by Friar Mike Schmitz, a Catholic priest who is in charge of young adult ministry at his local parish. The podcast consists of Friar Schmitz reading Scripture and then providing his own supplementary theological and historical context teachings. The podcast is 25 minutes long.HOPE IN LOCKDOWNAssist News reports that Christians across the UK whose prayers have been answered are being encouraged to tell their stories online to make hope visible during lockdown. The Answered Prayer Challenge aims to flood social media with stories of hope and faith in Christ during lockdown.

CHRISTIAN PUBLIC LIBRARY IN VIETNAMEternity News reports that the first Christian public library has opened in Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s biggest city, after a six-month approval process last year by several agencies of Vietnam’s Communist Government. “We hope it will be a symbol of Christian unity and Christian learning in Vietnam,” said Vu Le, executive director of Bible Society Vietnam, which established the library with local Protestant businesspeople.COVID VACCINESSome high-profile Christian leaders in the USA have begun to speak out about the coronavirus and are encouraging the faithful to get vaccinated. Dallas megachurch pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress told CBN News he got his first Moderna shot recently. He said the vaccines are a gift from God.  "We shouldn't be surprised that God uses science many times to accomplish his purpose," he said, adding that many of our most renowned scientists from the past were also devout Christians. TWEET FROM MR. TActor and wrestler Mr. T took to Twitter to remind his fans that there's two viruses right now, Coronavirus and hate. And he told his fans there's an antidote for both. According to Christianheadlines.com in his tweet Mr. T stated, "We are fighting two contagious deadly virus[es]! One is COVID-19 and the other is Hate! We got vaccinations for COVID and the Love of God for all the haters! The vaccine works when it’s injected into our arm! The Love of God works when you invite Him into your Heart!”

COVID-19 VACCINEIn an interview broadcast last week on the Italian television station Canale 5, Pope Francis stated that “everyone” must take the COVID-19 vaccine.  According to LifeSiteNews, he said “I believe that, ethically, everyone should take the vaccine.” The Pope added that he would be taking the vaccine himself and that the Vatican will administer it to its citizens soon, remarking that “it must be done.” VACCINATIONS IN A CATHEDRALPeople in the Lichfield area in the UK may now go to their local cathedral to get a Covid-19 jab. On the 15th January, Lichfield Cathedral began hosting a vaccine clinic. When the Phizer vaccine was approved, the Dean of Lichfield, Very Rev Adrian Dorber, wrote to local medical practices to offer the cathedral as space for vaccinations. He said: " We want to offer this cathedral nave as a big space that can safely and securely house local vaccination programmes and enable speedy delivery to those most at risk."GOSPEL ACTION IN IRANMission Network News reports that Gospel workers in Iran started noticing a trend after COVID-19 hit the country: people reported coming to Christ in 10 times the numbers they had before the pandemic. A television show, called Flourish, reaches out to Iranian women who live in an increasingly post-Islamic context. JoAnn Doyle of Uncharted Ministries says, “Most of the women are post-Islamic. They’re in this country that just is so oppressive, especially to women. But the general population is just rejecting Islam.” The rejection of Islam has led many Iranians to Christ, though atheism and other religions have grown as well. Doyle says, “These women are very open. They’re looking. Those that are coming to faith in Christ, the majority of them are women. Women are leading the way, not only in salvation but also in discipleship and leadership.”

SCOTTISH CHURCHES TO CLOSEPremier Christian News reports that last week First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that all places of worship in Scotland will be banned from hosting physical gatherings for the whole of January as part of a national lockdown. The only in-person services allowed are weddings, limited to five people, and funerals where just 20 will be allowed. Ms Sturgeon announced the changes in a statement at the Scottish Parliament.RECOVERY FROM COVID-19According to The Christian Post, the testimony of a pastor from Northern Ireland who miraculously recovered from COVID-19 will be adapted into a feature film for Netflix. A video of Pastor Lee McClelland from Ark Church in Belfast, Northern Ireland, went viral after he fell ill from COVID-19 in March last year. In the video, the pastor describes being in the hospital with the virus where he began to lose hope as his condition deteriorated. However, a hospital cleaner who was also a missionary began to minister to him from afar and he recovered. CHURCH PLANTINGThe Melbourne Anglican reports that church planting will continue to be a major focus in 2021 for the Diocese of Melbourne despite the COVID pandemic, with a focus on both developing new churches and revitalising existing ones. Bishop Kate Prowd, who manages the church planting portfolio, says that the diocese considered the portfolio to be “the number one ticket item”.

MEDICINE AND THE GOSPELBaptist Press reports that mobile medical clinics are seeing people in Thailand come to faith in Christ. Dr Doug Derbyshire and his wife Cheryl moved to Thailand as missionaries in 1992. He says that taking care of physical needs and then moving on to address spiritual needs is almost an automatic transition. Medicine is a remarkable bridge for the bringing of the Gospel. The medicos share the Gospel with every patient they treat. Dr Derbyshire says they are seeing people ‘one after another’ come to faith, and churches are being established.“COURAGE  FOR LIFE BIBLE”The first audio Bible voiced entirely by women has been released. According to Premier News, the project was developed by the organisation Courage For Life, led by Bible teacher Ann White. The Courage For Life Bible was recorded by a group of 12 women, reading from the New Living Translation. Ms White says she had the idea for the project while working in prisons and teaching inmates about the Bible.LIGHT THAT BRINGS HOPEEternity News highlighted the fact that Queen Elisabeth II focused attention on “light that brings hope” in her 2020 Christmas address, saying the teachings of Christ are her personal “inner light”. “Every year we herald the coming of Christmas by turning on the lights. And light does more than create a festive mood — light brings hope,” Her Majesty said. “For Christians, Jesus is ‘the light of the world’.

1000 HEALTHY CHURCHES BY 2050According to Eternity News, one of Australia’s most ambitious church-planting goals is the Gen1K target of 1,000 new churches, adopted by the Baptist Association of NSW/ ACT. ‘1000 healthy churches by 2050’ means tripling the size of the Baptist footprint. Essentially, this means linking every church into a church planting project. SUPPORT FOR THE PERSECUTEDHungary's leading soccer club Ferencváros (FTC) and the conservative government have agreed to support persecuted Christians worldwide. Under the accord, FTC will provide soccer training in Hungary to the Scholarship Program participants for Christian Young People. The 121-year-old FTC also delivers sports equipment to youth in areas where Christians face persecution. Worthy News reports the Budapest-based club has linked with the prime minister's State Secretariat for the Aid of Persecuted Christians.BIBLES IN NORTH KOREAThe Christian Post reports that the percentage of North Koreans who are exposed to the Bible is increasing steadily despite extreme persecution, according to a new report that investigates the conditions of religious freedom in the Hermit Kingdom. The annual report found that the number of North Koreans who responded that ‘they have an experience of seeing the Bible’ has increased by 4% each year since 2000.

STAR IN THE SKYOn 21 December, Jupiter and Saturn will come so close together that to the human eye they’ll appear as though they’re overlapping. It is the first time in 800 years that we’ll be able to see this “double planet” effect. It’s known as “the great conjunction” and, according to NASA, happens every 20 years. According to Eternity News, Johannes Kepler, a 17th century German astronomer who created the laws of planetary motion, put forward the theory that a triple conjunction, where planets align three times in close succession, was the cause of the Star of Bethlehem. This year’s conjunction won’t appear multiple times. But its single appearance will look similar to what Kepler imagined the Magi followed in the Christmas night sky.TINY HOUSE VILLAGEA US church is to build a tiny house village to provide shelter for homeless women. The project involves the construction of 20 tiny houses and a common building. Christian Headlines reports the tiny house village will be located on property owned by the Baptist church in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Church minister Steve Wise says the tiny houses are not designed for cooking and eating. ‘We want mealtimes to be a community time’, he says. ‘God cares about our homeless friends. We think God will do something amazing here’. CHRIST IS STILL IN CHRISTMASAfter it was announced that several concerts in Perth’s Forrest Place would replace the Nativity Event, 1,200 letters and emails sent to the City officials had an impact. The Australian Christian Lobby reports it was eventually decided the program will respectfully acknowledge the Christian aspect of Christmas. Churches, community groups and schools have been invited to lodge expressions of interest to contribute items for the five Sunday evening concerts leading up to Christmas. Thanks to the activism of Christians, Christ is being kept in Christmas in Perth.

WHAT REALLY MATTERSMy Christian Daily reports that in times of crisis and social and economic disruption people tend to reflect more deeply on what really matters. That’s the finding of McCrindle Research after conducting several Australian studies throughout this COVID-19 year. Half of Australians say they have thought more about the meaning of life and their own mortality this year. This has seen an increase in spiritual and faith activities. One in four Australians say they have engaged in more spiritual conversations. 28% report they have prayed more. The insights of church leaders and an accompanying national survey of 1,000 Australian churchgoers have been compiled into the Future of the Church in Australia Report.RESPITE FROM PERSECUTIONChristian Headlines reports that Christians in India have received a respite from Hindu persecution after the high court ruled in their favour. The court ruled that Christians whose houses were bulldozed for refusing to convert to Hinduism would be allowed to rebuild without further persecution for their beliefs. “CLEAN ENTERTAINMENT”According to Christianity Today, Sony Pictures plans to acquire streaming service Pure Flix. Pure Flix is one of a half-dozen streaming platforms targeting Christian viewers, and the hundreds of thousands of subscribers committed to ‘clean entertainment’ and ‘feelgood movies.’ Pure Flix will be fully owned by Sony subsidiary Affirm Entertainment pending regulatory approval.

IRAN’S UNDERGROUND CHURCHChristian Newswire reports that the underground Church in Iran is growing rapidly. Iran's ‘underground’ house church movement is being fuelled by explosive social media use and satellite television, according to new findings. Middle East satellite broadcaster SAT-7 reveals thousands of Iranians regularly tune into Christian programs that air 24/7 in Farsi, the language spoken by most Iranians. SAT-7’s social media channels report an increase in online traffic by Iranians during the COVID-19 pandemic. IMMANUELS CHILDAccording to One News Now, the Slavic Gospel Association, which partners with churches that celebrate Christmas on 25 December and 7 January, has plans to distribute 50,000 Children’s Bibles to Russian children this Christmas. The Immanuel’s Child Christmas program provides churches with an evangelistic opportunity. In previous years, whole families have come to faith in Christ during the events.BIBLES FOR BRAZILBacked by a sizable matching grant, World Missionary Press is ramping up a new program to send Gospel materials to Brazil. Helen Williams from World Missionary Press says that recently a donor approached them and offered a matching grant of up to $110,000. After careful thought they decided to use the funds for one project and send materials to Brazil.

CENSORSHIP IN CHINAThe Christian Post reports that internet censorship targeting Christians in China has become so severe that even official government-sanctioned Christian groups are now using the Chinese pinyin initials “JD” to replace Chinese characters for “Christ,” according to U.S.-based China Aid. In one official WeChat store, not only ‘Christ’ becomes ‘JD,’ ‘Jesus’ also becomes ‘YS,’ and ‘Bible’ becomes SJ’.TITHE-THE-TITHEAlfred Street Baptist Church, a predominantly Black church in Alexandria, Virginia, has donated more than $1,000,000 to various organizations to help those affected by the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic. According to Christian Headlines, the money came from excess tithes that the church didn't need to run. It was part of an initiative called "Tithe-The-Tithe."FESTIVAL HALL SOLDMelbourne’s iconic Festival Hall has been purchased by Hillsong Church. Reports in various media suggest that the property was sold for more than $23 million.

TIKTOK AND THE GOSPELEternity News reports that TikTok, the short video app that boasts about 800 million active users worldwide, has something even more powerful than humorous dance videos on it: the gospel. Operation 513, a collection of young street evangelists, have produced material on the TikTok platform and their gospel videos have racked up hundreds of thousands of views. One of the videos has over 700 thousand views. Their channel may be seen at needgod.netAUDIO BIBLE IN ‘3D SOUND’According to Christian Headlines, a Polish filmmaker is working on an Audio Bible to provide listeners with a cinematic audio experience of the Scriptures. Casting for the project will feature hundreds of voice actors, ranging from A-list Hollywood actors to everyday people. The production is through a binaural recording, an audio technique that is meant to provide a ‘3D sound’, especially when using headphones. PRAYERS FOR THE MEDIAChristians and churches of all denominations are being urged to pray for the media on Sunday 1st November. The appeal comes from Christians in Media, a network working across all forms of global media.

THE BIBLE IN SIGN LANGUAGEChristianity Today reports that after 39 years’ work, a sign language (American) translation of The Bible Is Now Complete. Work on translating the Bible into American Sign Language started in 1981 with Duane King, a minister in the Independent Christian Church. Pastor King had learned to sign after meeting a deaf Christian couple who told him they avoided going to church because they did not understand what was going on. Pastor King and his wife, Peggy, then started a church for the deaf and started work on the sign language Bible.CHRISTIANS IN EGYPTAccording to The Christian Post, the situation for Christians in Egypt is ‘better now than it has been for a long time.’ Darrell Bock, a Christian professor recently visited the nation where he met with a group of 70 Protestant Egyptian leaders who told him that improvement in conditions for the Christian minority was ‘huge’. However, he says there are still areas in the country, where there is violence against the Christian Church About 10% of Egypt is Christian. Barely 1% are evangelical Protestant. Since 2017 more than 1,600 churches have been given legal recognition. A HILLSONG BOOKGrammy Award-winning group Hillsong Worship has released a children’s book named after their popular song What A Beautiful Name. The book, written by Hillsong's Brooke Ligertwood and Ben Fielding and their spouses, presents the themes mentioned in the worship song to young readers in a fun enjoyable way.

WALL OF ANSWERED PRAYERThe UK’s Eternal Wall Of Answered Prayer has been granted permission for construction. It will take the form of a giant arch constructed out of a million bricks, each representing a prayer that has been answered by God. It is the brainchild of Richard Gamble, former chaplain of Leicester City Football Club. He says the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer, standing more than 51 metres tall would ‘make hope visible to the UK’. Mr Gamble told Christian Today that it's been 16 years since the idea was floated. It is expected to attract 300,000 visitors a year and contribute £9.3 million to the local economy. Due to open in 2022, the site will include a visitor centre, café, bookstore and 24-hour onsite chaplaincy support service.SOLAR-POWERED BIBLESNew Life reports that people who can’t read can hear God’s Word with MegaVoice as solar-powered audio Bibles are reaching Kimberley Aboriginal people with the Gospel. Thanks to donations and grants, Rev Chris Webb at Broome People’s Church is able to sell MegaVoice Bibles at a subsidised price that is affordable for locals. He’s had so many requests that he’s run out of supplies. BIBLE APP FOR KIDSAccording to Premier News, The Bible App for Kids has been downloaded to more than 14 million devices this year, a 193% increase compared to the same time last year. The recent surge in growth has helped the app reach a new milestone of 50 million installs since its launch in 2013.

INNOVATIVE CHURCH SERVICESReligion News Service reports that American churches that have continued to meet in person in their buildings have done so with smaller gatherings, social distancing, mask wearing and other measures meant to protect worshippers from COVID-19. Others have hosted drive-in services. At least one held a kayak service. And, with many sports cancelled for the season, some churches — like South Bend City Church — have filled the stands at the empty stadiums and ballparks in their neighbourhoods. First Baptist Church in McKinney, Texas, encouraged members to wear their favourite jerseys to its “Stadium Service” at the local school district’s football stadium.MR ETERNITY ON STAGEIn 1932 when Arthur Stace heard evangelist John G. Ridley preach about Eternity, he was inspired to write the word ‘Eternity’ in chalk on the streets of Sydney and Melbourne over 500,000 times. According to Eternity News, the theatre company Clock and Spiel Productions are planning to develop Mr Eternity—The Story of Arthur Stace for the stage.SEQUEL TO “THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST”Eternity News reports that Jim Caviezel, the actor who played the part of Jesus in the film The Passion of the Christ, has confirmed that a sequel is underway. Caviezel told Breitbart News Daily that director Mel Gibson had recently sent him the third draft of the sequel’s script. The actor stated: “It’s coming. It’s called The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection. It’s going to be the biggest film in world history.”

CHURCH IS CHANGINGAs the effects of COVID‐19 continue to change the landscape of church ministry, some churches are considering permanent changes. One Baptist Church has seen online participation now three times larger than prepandemic in-person church attendance. Church pastor, Robby Gallaty, says they have begun the process of creating a permanent online church ministry. Pastor Gallaty says that churches predominantly dependent upon a building are going to have a hard time transitioning into the future. ‘Change is constant’, he says, but as the Body of Christ, there must be a willingness to reach as many people as possible even if it’s uncomfortable and different. If the Church doesn’t have a robust online presence it is going to miss where the people are.MESSAGE OF HOPE FOR TASMANIAIn May 2021, Will Graham will be bringing a message of hope to Tasmania. New Life reports that the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has been preparing for the upcoming Celebration, which will be hosted in the cities of Hobart and Launceston and streamed online. FOCUS OF A MAN OF FAITHHeart Of The Nation, a feature in The Australian newspaper’s Weekend Magazine written by Ross Bilton, tells of an up-and-coming young medical researcher, Dr Caleb Dawson, who works at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne. Apparently, he is ‘probing the mysteries of cancer and the immune system using the esoteric techniques of “3D confocal fluorescence microscopy” in which special dyes and lasers are brought to bear on tissue samples, revealing ever-deeper layers of reality. Dawson’s curious gaze isn’t just detached and scientific. He sees beauty in there too; he sees art. And he sees something even deeper: the hand of God. For as well as being a scientist, Dawson, 28, is also a man of faith, a guitar-strumming Christian who declares his belief in the resurrection of Jesus.

CHURCHES OFFER ASSISTANCEIn southern Oregon, which has been adversely affected by devastating fires, some churches are coordinating relief efforts. Pastor Lee Gregory of Medford Neighborhood Church said in an interview with ABC News affiliate KDRV that his congregation is restarting a previous campaign called "I C.A.R.E" to assist displaced residents. Gregory said he's working with local churches and asked that they open their parking lots to people who've escaped the fires and are now living in RVs and trailers and need a place to stay.MURALS ILLUSTRATE RACIAL JUSTICEA church in Washington, D.C. that was vandalized by rioters has made a powerful statement on racial unity. St. John’s church, which, according to The Christian Post, was almost burned down and was graffitied by rioters, has painted a series of murals in the spirit of racial justice. One of the murals has Amos 5:24 written on it, which states, “Let justice roll down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.” Another mural prominently features South African Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who teaches that “our lives are inexplicably bound together.”“THERE WAS JESUS” AT NUMBER ONECountry Music star Dolly Parton has partnered with popular Christian music artist Zach Williams to make a new hit song titled “There Was Jesus,” a song about hope in troubled times and how Jesus is always there, especially when things seem darkest. According to The Christian Post, the song topped 10.5 million impressions on the Christian airwaves in the US, which put it in the number 1 spot on Billboard’s Christian Adult Contemporary chart for the week starting 6 September.

MORE PRAYER DURING PANDEMICLast month The Sydney Morning Herald reported that ‘Churches may have closed their doors, but more Australians are opening their minds to spirituality and prayer. Researchers have found Australians say they have been praying more during the COVID-19 crisis, suggesting the pandemic has led many to reassess their priorities in life.’BINDI ASKS FOR PRAYERChristian Headlines reports that Bindi Irwin has asked for prayer for her unborn baby, saying God has blessed her marriage to Chandler Powell with pregnancy. Since the death of her father, the ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin, in 2006, the world has watched his family carry on his legacy at Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland. Chandler and Bindi were married at the Australia Zoo in March. Bindi told Christian Headlines, ‘God soon had a big blessing on the way for us.’ The couple are rejoicing in what they describe as ‘an incredible blessing’ and have asked people to pray for them, their baby and the Irwin family. ‘THE CHOSEN’A TV show telling the Gospel story through the eyes of people changed by meeting Jesus is having an impact. The Chosen, with eight seasons planned is about to begin filming the second season. Producer Dallas Jenkins says they could hopefully film all planned seven seasons of The Chosen in the next three-and-a-half-years. He told Religion Unplugged that despite complications of filming during the pandemic, he believes The Chosen is needed now more than ever. ‘Telling those stories in a compelling way can have impact in a divided world today’. He says that this is the biggest crowd-funded media project of all time, raising more than $US11 million to fund the first season.

 AMERICAN CHURCHES POST COVID-19As many as one in five American churches could permanently close as a result of shutdowns stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, according to David Kinnaman, president of the prominent Christian research organization Barna Group. In a public radio interview regarding the status of American churches after months of shutdowns, Kinnaman said although churches were handling things “pretty swimmingly” at first, circumstances have changed for some.  He noted that although many churches have opened as US states' shutdown orders are loosened, their services have had “a lot less people coming.” “They’re recognizing that the relationships that they thought were much deeper with people were actually not as deep as they expected.” CHRISTIANS FIGHT COVID IN BANGLADESHChristians across Bangladesh are playing a huge part in the country's response to COVID-19. There are 280 Christian doctors and about 4,000 Christian nurses currently working in Bangladesh, according to Premier News. Churches in Bangladesh currently operate 20 hospitals and run about 70 community clinics in rural areas. “BLACK PANTHER” ACTORNews services around the world report that tributes have poured in for Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman, following his death at the age of 43. The actor’s family announced he had died surrounded by his loved ones following a four-year battle with colon cancer. Along with tributes, people have been remembering Boseman for his inspiring message to Howard University's graduating class of 2018. He began that 34-minute message by "first, giving honour to the Creator". In the middle of the speech he shared the story of his rocky road to success and how he had to have faith in God during the difficult time.

Christian News Bulletin reported last year that John B. Goodenough, the father of the lithium-ion battery, the rechargeable power source inside your mobile phone or laptop, is a Christian. This Professor from the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas in Austin has been awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work at Oxford University which made possible the development of lithium-ion batteries. Goodenough joins a long list of Nobel laureates who are Christian; some lists suggest 65 per cent of prize winners are followers of Christ.

 CHRISTIAN LEADERS AND CORONAVIRUSAccording to Premier Christian News, 2,700 Christian leaders have signed a document supporting the scientific conclusions about coronavirus and the subsequent need for a workable vaccine. The statement was published by the Biologos Foundation - a Christian organisation seeking to promote "the harmony between science and biblical faith" which was established by prominent Christian geneticist Francis Collins.AMERICAN CHRISTIANS AND COVID-19A new survey from Pew Research , reported in The Christian Post, reveals how most Americans have been coping with the pandemic and lockdowns, and it isn’t through faith in God or spiritual practice. In fact, more than any other religious or non-religious population surveyed, 90% of Christians report watching the most TV and movies at home to decompress from COVID-19-related stress. Only 55% of participants reported praying weekly and only 29% said Scripture reading was part of their weekly routine.CHRISTIANITY AND SPORTStephen Liggins is an Anglican minister in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, a former first grade cricketer and current ‘Masters’ athlete. Eternity News reports that his new book on Christianity and sport – The Good Sporting Life: Loving and playing sport as a follower of Jesus offers insights for all Christian athletes. Former Australian hockey international, Susie Harris, states that the book balances “athlete experience with practical advice and faithful biblical truth.”

 THE BIBLE IN SIGN LANGUAGEMission Network News reports that the world’s first complete Sign Language Bible is almost complete. DOOR International has finished filming the final portion of Scripture in their decades-long project. DOOR is planning for an October celebration of the first full Bible translation.THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITHThe personal importance of faith is increasing in much of the world, according to a survey of more than 38,000 people across 34 countries spanning six continents. In an analysis released recently by Christianity Today, the Pew Research Centre found that 61% of respondents to its Global Attitudes Survey agreed that ‘God plays an important role’ in their lives. SEARCH FOR THE BIBLEThe coronavirus pandemic has kept many Christians from attending church meetings and Bible study, but new Barna Group research shows some heartening statistics. Researcher John Plake, with Bible Society, says they have noticed an increase in curious exploration of Scripture. Google trends show there has been a five-year spike on Internet searches around the word 'Bible'.

WORLD VISION IN BEIRUTWorld Vision is busy assisting people affected by the recent blast in Beirut, Lebanon with primary needs of food, water and shelter. World Vision worker Rami Shamma reports that emotional care is also provided, which is crucial for Lebanese children. He says the trauma is ‘stacked up’ and they are providing psychological first aid. MEGHAN MARKLE’S FAITHMeghan Markle's faith in God has got her through ‘the darkest moments’ in her life, according to a new biography about her marriage to Prince Harry, Finding Freedom. The authors, Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, claim that belief in God plays ‘a central role’ in Meghan’s life. Christian Today reports the book as stating: ‘It's prayer and conversations with God that have gotten her through the darkest moments.’STATUE OF BILLY GRAHAMA life-sized statue of the late Billy Graham will be installed in the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall collection. The late evangelist’s statue will replace a statue of a white supremacist, Charles Aycock, that the government wants removed. Franklin Graham told Religion News Service the statue is not something his father would have pushed for. 

ANCIENT CHURCH DISCOVEREDArchaeologists in Israel have unearthed a 1,300-year-old Christian church that is a short distance from the traditional site of Jesus’ transfiguration. The church, about 118 feet by 39 feet, includes “ornate mosaic floors” and was recently found in an excavation in the Israeli village of Kfar Kama, which is about a two-hour drive north of Jerusalem. Kfar Kama is a few miles from Mount Tabor, which Origen – a third-century theologian – said was the site of Jesus’ Transfiguration. The archaeological find was announced in a press release by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.POPE VISITS SUMMER CAMPEternity News reports that Pope Francis decided to take a little stroll from his place to visit the children attending the Vatican’s summer camps – much to the surprise of its organisers and attendees. After chatting to the kids about the day’s activities and checking they were happy, Pope Francis greeted each of the 22 camp counsellors, posed for a group photo with everyone, then set off on his walk home.CHRISTIAN PRODUCTION COMPANYAntonio Sabato Jr., a conservative Christian actor best known for his role in “General Hospital” in the ‘90s, is launching his own production company aimed to help creative professionals who have been blacklisted by Hollywood for their religious or political beliefs, according to the Christian Post.

CHURCH OFFLINEAccording to Eternity News, the Barna research group reports that 32 per cent of “practising Christians” in the United states have stopped attending church online during the COVID-induced lockdown. They note that a small number of these people may be attending church physically but add “we can, for the most part, confidently interpret this group as those who have dropped out of church for the time being.”HAGIA SOPHIATurkish President Erdoğan has invited Pope Francis to the former Byzantine-era church, Hagia Sophia, after the government was given the go-ahead to convert it into a functioning mosque. News of Erdoğan's decision to invite a number of special guests to the Hagia reopening comes as officials warn that the historic Christian mosaics and iconography that adorn the walls will be covered up by curtains during times of Islamic prayer. Premier Christian News reports that the move to convert the building to a mosque was condemned by the heads of the Greek Orthodox Church along with many senior clergy across the globe. FOOD OR FAITHOpen Doors UK and Ireland told Premier Christian News that it has been "inundated" with reports of Christians worldwide who are being asked to renounce their faith in exchange for emergency Covid-19 aid. Christians from countries including Bangladesh, India, Sudan and Malaysia, say they are facing an ultimatum. A pastor in Western Sudan is quoted as saying, “When Christian converts do ask for help from their Muslim community, they are told they have to give up Christianity if they want to be helped. It is a tragedy."

FROM CHURCH TO MOSQUE‘For the Orthodox Church, Hagia Sofia is as important as St Peter's Basilica in Rome is for Catholics. The church was built in the 6th Century and was devoted to Christ the Saviour. For us, it has been and will always remain the Church devoted to Christ’, says Metropolitan Hilarion, spokesman of the Moscow Patriarchate according to Breaking Christian News. Moments after Turkish President Erdogan's controversial decision to convert Istanbul's Hagia Sophia into a mosque, the Muslim call to prayer sounded from the UNESCO World Heritage site. Once the largest church in Christendom, the Hagia Sophia was first converted into a mosque more than 500 years ago during the Islamic Ottoman Empire, then turned into a museum by Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern-day Turkey.“HOPE” IN PRISONAnglican News reports that the Church of England broadcast its first online prison church service on Sunday 12 July on prison television and radio as well as on the church's website, Facebook page and YouTube channel. The service, with the theme of Hope, included contributions from prison staff and chaplains as well as prayers, reflections and artwork written and created by prisoners. COLIN BUCHANAN ONLINEA night of song with Colin Buchanan will be held via Facebook Live on Colin’s Facebook page on Thursday 23 July, from 7.30pm. Anyone may tune in online and listen to the songs. The concert is free, and no registration is required. Just turn up on Colin’s Facebook page by the commencement time.

DIGITAL SOLUTIONSOnline church meetings have replaced traditional in-person services across the world, forcing churches to find new digital solutions to reach their communities. The charity Christian Vision (CV) provides free online resources through their website and social media platforms. They have seen a quadrupling of their reach to 182 million people over a 30-day period and more than 17 million individuals have viewed one of CV’s online gospel presentations, introducing them to the person of Jesus Christ. Commenting on this development, Bob Edmiston, Founder and Chairman of Christian Vision, said: “It’s as though God just switched the lights on, and everyone is online during lockdown. People’s lives have been placed on hold and they are looking for answers to life’s biggest questions.”SURF CHURCHA growing church planting ministry is having an impact on the surfing community in Northern Portugal. Operation Mobilisation’s Surf Church Porto began in the home of Troy and Michelle Pitney in 2015 with just 6 people. Three years ago, numbers grew to around 80 attendees, forcing the couple to move the church out of their home and into a new location near the beach. Mr Pitney told ASSIST News their vision is to continue planting churches across the country in order to make disciples who go on to disciple others.CHARLIE DANIELSChristianheadlines reports that Charlie Daniels, the country/gospel singer and southern rocker who was best known for the 1979 hit The Devil Went Down to Georgia and who also was an outspoken Christian, died last Monday from a stroke. He was 83.

GLOBAL WORSHIP EVENTAssist News Service reports that world‐renowned Christian hymn writers, Keith and Kristyn Getty, have announced details of a six continent virtual worship event. The four-day Sing! Global event is set to feature more than 100 speakers and artists. The event will take place from 30 August to 2 September. The content will be available for 90 days. HONG KONG CLERGYAccording to The Christian Post, a controversial new national security law for Hong Kong, as proposed by China, has caused concerns that the semi-autonomous city’s vocal clergy who have supported the democracy movement could be extradited to and tried in mainland China. Hundreds of Protestant leaders or Christian organizations who have actively spoken out against the Hong Kong government might face the same fate.JESUS THE GAME CHANGERAustralian Christian media ministry, Olive Tree Media, has started production on a new season of Jesus The Game Changer. This new series will be released in October by Trinity Broadcast Network in the US and will be available in Australia, NZ and the UK for churches soon after.

CHURCH AND COMMUNITYAn Anglican church in the UK is taking the 'revolutionary' step of employing a full-time journalist. The church in Kent is advertising for a 'multi-skilled qualified journalist' to report community and church-based news. Christian Today reports the move comes as the outlook for local newspapers looks increasingly bleak. Half of the stories will focus on the local community, its people and groups, schools and new housing. The other half will focus on telling the story of the church, its people, purpose and history. REOPENING FOR WORSHIPA group of clergy, scientists and other experts has released a guide to help congregations consider best practices for reopening for worship. According to Religion News Service the document recommends each congregation create a COVID‐19 Task Force to oversee preparations. Among the suggestions are: Have no physical contact. Nod instead of shaking hands. Refrain from singing. Preach shorter sermons. Mouth congregational prayers instead of speaking and maintain social distancing.THE AUSTRALIAN BLESSINGEternity News reports that the Australian Blessing video released on YouTube is already in the top ten trending videos. Blessing videos have become a global internet sensation during the COVID lockdown as worship leaders in different countries have united across denominational lines to sing a blessing over their nation.

CHOIRS SILENT IN UKThe Christian Post reports that along with the Royal School of Church Music, the Church of England is encouraging the UK government to be proactive to ensure making music can resume in churches once it is safe. The Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, said “We are encouraging the Government to be alert to the consequences of our choirs’ continued silence – and to take a proactive approach to allowing singing to return to our churches and cathedrals as soon as it is possible to do so safely. “This way we can safeguard our choral tradition which many believe to be the finest in the world.”ONLINE EVANGELISMA leading online evangelism ministry reached a major milestone in May by delivering its 2 billionth gospel presentation, some 15 years after it was founded by one of the original employees of Apple. Global Ministry Outreach reaches the world’s lost population through search engines and social media by targeting keywords and directing people to a website catering to their needs. Christian Headlines reports that it was founded in 2005 by Walt Wilson, who worked under Steve Jobs in the early days of Apple. Since its founding, more than 230 million people have indicated they became a Christian through the ministry.HOPE IN MINNEAPOLISThe street in Minneapolis where George Floyd died in police custody has become a place of baptism and prayer. According to CBN News, people have posted images and videos of Christians gathering near the site, worshipping and praying.

“ETERNITY” IN THE SKYThe word “Eternity” was written in the sky above the Sydney Harbour Bridge earlier this month. The cursive script used by Arthur Stace, who wrote it in chalk on pavements and building as a one-word sermon half a million times, was once again seen by thousands. The sky writing was to promote a movie about Arthur Stace, which is produced and directed by Richard Attieh of the Australian Television & Media Group.A GOOD SAMARITANAccording to Christian Headlines the actor Denzel Washington recently helped a homeless man in danger. This Christian celebrity did his best to be a good Samaritan to a man in need. It happened around West Hollywood when the 65-year-old actor was driving around town. He saw a homeless man that was dangerously close to oncoming traffic, so Denzel pulled his car over to help the man get out of the street. When the police were called to the situation, Denzel remained by his side for the whole time. Later, Denzel gave the man a sandwich and a face mask to help protect him from the coronavirus.ONLINE SERMONSThe Christian Post reports that there’s been an increase in sermons published on Faithlife’s online platform that discuss injustice, eschatology, suffering, sickness and other topics related to the coronavirus pandemic as well as the recent protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death.

CLOSING THE GAPA gap between churches and other forms of gatherings in NSW has been closed. From 1 June up to 50 people will be able to gather in churches, just like in a club and other places. The government initially eased the regulations for hospitality venues – clubs, pubs and restaurants, but left the limit on places of worship at ten. But this gap has now been closed, even before it came into effect by another announcement. Eternity News reports that Vic, WA, SA, ACT can have up to 20 seated patrons in any enclosed space, increasing to 50 on 21 June. BALCONY TO BALCONYChristian World News reports that a church in Kenya has taken its services on the road. A team from the church travels to apartment blocks delivering sermons and music from the street below. The Sunday services, nicknamed B2B for Balcony To Balcony, is led by Rev Paul Macharia from All Saints' Cathedral in Kiambu County.FEEDING THE MULTITUDESAccording to New Life, the Barnabas Fund is feeding more than 500,000 Christians in desperate situations due to Covid-19 lockdowns in 29 countries. In some countries people were already facing food insecurity due to swarms of locusts destroying their crops. The fund has also provided hygiene products for more than 21,000 Christians as well as support to almost 7,000 struggling pastors.

CHURCH ONLINEAccording to The Christian Post, nearly half of churchgoers haven't watched an online service in the last four weeks, and among those who have, only 40% say they've been watching services from their regular home church, according to recent polling data from the Barna Group. The survey noted that 48% of churchgoers reported that they had not watched any church online in the last four weeks. Less than half of the remaining 52% who did watch church online said they watched the service of their own church, with a “surprising 23%” reporting that they streamed a different church online.PERSECUTION IN CHINAChristian Headlines reports that the coronavirus that devastated China’s population hasn’t stopped the communist government from shutting down and even razing churches across the country. The persecution has impacted state-run churches and underground house churches alike, according to the watchdog Bitter Winter, which monitors religious freedom in China. “The Communist Party’s persecution of house churches is increasingly severe,” a member of a house church told Bitter Winter. “This is mainly because more and more people believe in Christianity.”FAVOURITE HYMNSA new poll carried out by a Catholic international aid charity has found that the hymn "How Great Thou Art" is the favourite hymn to inspire hope at this time of crisis. Premier Christian News reports that the Catholic Agency For Overseas Development used a Twitter poll to ask just over 500 people about their favourite piece of Christian music. 'How Great Thou Art' garnered 37.7% of the vote, closely followed by 'Christ, Be Our Light' with 30.2%. The song 'Be Not Afraid' took 20% of the vote, while Matt Redman's ‘10,000 Reasons' came in with just 12.6%.

ONLINE CHURCH SERVICESAs Covid-19 restrictions are eventually lifted for churches, pastors should not return to an inhouse-only church format says Rev Brad Kirk, who believes churches must keep their services online. He told OneNewsNow the internet is a powerful outreach tool, that is not only reaching a congregation, but many more people outside the church.WORLD VISION’S EMERGENCY RESPONSEASSIST News Service reports that World Vision has dramatically scaled up its emergency response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The international aid agency reports they are now aiming to reach 72 million people across the globe, investing more than four times the original planned budget. Andrew Morley, World Vision International President and CEO says they will mobilise 37,000 staff, 400,000 faith leaders and 220,000 community health workers to combat the virus.QUIZZES AND THE GOSPELSporting quizzes are becoming a mission field reaching thousands of people. A Christian sporting charity is reaching tens of thousands of people with the message of Jesus through the launch of its weekly online quiz. Premier News reports that Christians In Sport has utilised the trend to engage with sporting fans across the world.

CHURCH REPAIRS MASKSA Californian church has organized an army of volunteers to repair 263,000 protective masks and deliver them to local healthcare workers. Masks have become an essential piece of personal protective equipment for frontline workers in the fight against coronavirus. According to a Press Release sent to Christian Headlines, the enormous project, which involved over 4,200 volunteers, was coordinated by the Rock Church in San Diego.FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE HONOUREDBorn to an upper-class family in 1820, Florence Nightingale was expected to live a typical, domesticated life of a 19th century woman. However, after what she described as a call from God, Nightingale rejected these expectations and decided to pursue a career in nursing. Eternity News reports that in honour of Nightingale’s life, the World Health Organisation has named 2020 the first International Year of the Nurse and Midwife.“I STILL BELIEVE” FILMFilmmaker Jon Erwin didn’t anticipate his new film would be released during a global pandemic that would lead to the rapid closure of movie theatres nationwide, but it was. Despite the setback, however, he says the movie is still leading many people to Jesus.“Life is full of things that you can't control and things that don’t go according to plan,” Erwin, the film’s co-director, told Christian Headlines in a recent interview. “The whole theme of the movie is ‘I Still Believe even when I can't see.’ It's sort of fitting.”“The film is designed to give people hope and give people a glimpse of the power of the Gospel and the change that it can have in your life,” Erwin said.

CALL FOR PRAYER IN UKNew Life reports that more than 50,000 people in the UK have signed a petition asking Boris Johnson to call the nation to prayer in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The online petition takes inspiration from King George VI's call to the nation in 1940 to join in prayer, when hundreds of thousands of Allied troops risked annihilation at the hands of the Nazis. Susan Hawkes, who created the petition, says, ‘The country is in crisis. We need to call upon God for help’.BISHOP T.D JAKESIn a Facebook Live broadcast last Sunday, Bishop T.D. Jakes slammed Christians who flout social distancing guidelines as a demonstration of how their faith will protect them from the coronavirus as “foolishness” and “dumb.” “I believe in faith, I believe in God, I believe in the Bible, I believe in the Word of God, but I also believe in common sense,” said Jakes, senior pastor of The Potter's House in Dallas, Texas.POLICE IN GUATEMALAAccording to GODTV.com, police in Guatemala are taking to the streets for regular inspections to see whether citizens are following rules amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But the Guatemala police are also preaching the Gospel. A video posted to social media showed a line of National Civil Police cars in the streets of Guatemala. An officer used a microphone so that quarantined residents could hear his message. He encouraged them to believe in God who makes impossible things possible.

VIRTUAL EVANGELISTIC EVENTChristian Headlines reports that more than 130,000 individuals around the world made the decision to come to Christ during a Good Friday virtual evangelistic event that was hosted by Pulse and featured well-known Christian leaders and singers, according to new data. The service was viewed in nearly 100 countries, including China, Japan, Nepal, Thailand, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Russia and Ukraine. It was translated into 40 different languages.MISSIONARY AVIATION FELLOWSHIPThis year, 2020, marks 75 years of Missionary Aviation Fellowship using aircraft to deliver medical care, emergency food and Christian hope to remote communities. MAF’s mission to use aircraft to transform lives came right on the heels of the death and destruction of WWII. What began with a few Christian airforce pilots is now - 75 years later - the largest humanitarian airline in the world.BIBLE SALES SOARAccording to Premier Christian News, new sales figures indicate that the Bible has experienced a dramatic surge in sales as readers search for hope amid the current coronavirus pandemic. Book sales data provider Nielsen BookScan said that Biblical and liturgical texts had been rapidly climbing the charts in recent weeks, noting that the clear uptick in purchases was an "unusual pattern in comparison to the same period in recent years."

VISUAL AIDS FOR VIRTUAL CHURCHAs many churches are now presenting church services online, some people are turning to resources such as  The Visual Commentary On Scripture which has a comprehensive collection of art works that could help those involved in producing church services over the internet.ZOOMThe video-conferencing platform ZOOM is enabling churchgoers from different denominations to participate in prayer meetings, training sessions such as Alpha, praise and worship singalongs and even communion without leaving home, thus adhering to government mandated social distancing laws. Other cyber software apps such as Skype and GoToMeeting are also being used to maintain contact amongst believers.MICHAEL YOUSSEF SPEAKS OUTAccording to The Christian Post, prominent pastor and author Michael Youssef has cautioned against the idea that tragedies like the coronavirus pandemic currently sweeping the world will spark a “revival,” emphasising that revival will not happen unless “the people of God remove idols from their lives.” “I’m taking the blame as much as anyone else,” Youssef said. “But we’re attached to sports and entertainment. We spend hours on entertainment and very little time in the Word of God. Until we start removing these idols, I don't see how revival can happen.”

COVID-19—'A HUMAN TIME BOMB'The Leprosy Mission is warning of a ‘COVID-19 human time bomb’ across Africa and South Asia. Cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in all 10 countries where the charity works in these two regions. The Leprosy Mission is working with partners across Asia and Africa to provide clear messaging, medical and practical assistance to leprosy sufferers.'FOCUS @ HOME'According to Christian Headlines, Focus On The Family has launched a free streaming service for families stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic through their new platform, called Focus@Home, which includes well-known video content, such as Adventures In Odyssey and McGee And Me.CROSSES REMOVED IN CHINAThe Christian Post reports that China’s communist government removed numerous crosses from church rooftops during the country's coronavirus epidemic under the pretext that religious symbolism cannot be “higher” than the national flag.'AMAZING GRACE' IN LONDONPremier News reports that a church vicar in London plays an amplified Amazing Grace from his car to bring people some communal joy while in isolation. Rev Patrick Allerton drives the streets in his parish inviting people through a loudspeaker to join in singing the classic hymn.

GOD'S HOSTAGEAndrew Brunson, the US missionary held in a Turkish prison for more than two years, challenged media outlets at the recent National Religious Broadcasters Christian Convention in Nashville (USA), to be ready to play their role in ‘discipling a harvest of souls in Turkey and throughout the Middle East’. In his recently released book, God’s Hostage, Brunson recalls how he overcame the big challenges he faced during his captivity on false charges. He told Evangelical Focus that 'it’s not just a book about struggles, negativity. Actually it’s a story about how God took me in my weakness and rebuilt me and strengthened me to take me through a very difficult test and emerge on the other side.’INTERNATIONAL RELIEFNew Life reports that Samaritan's Purse was the first international organisation to provide emergency medical relief to families impacted by the deadly COVID19 outbreak in northern Italy. The international Christian relief organisation deployed its Emergency Field Hospital and more than 60 disaster response specialists outside Milan.SOLAR-POWERED SCRIPTURESWorld Mission works with nationals to engage with people in their own language and culture. The mission in Bangladesh provides practical and spiritual help as they they send in solar-powered audio Scripture. Printed Bibles are not helpful for the Shaikh people as most of them are oral learners, but audio is proving an effective way to teach families about Jesus.

SURFING  FOR THE LORDASSIST News Service reports that a church leader is walking the 800km trek along the Camino route in southern France and northern Spain with a surfboard attached to his back. Rev Richard Ellerington is raising awareness of the growing global Surf Church movement. He is hiking the famous pilgrimage over a 35-day period and will be the first to do so with a surfboard in tow.PROGRESS WITH BIBLE TRANSLATIONAccording to Christian Today, the latest figures from Wycliffe Bible Translators show that almost 700 languages now have a complete Bible. Active translation work is underway on 2,617 languages across 161 countries. A Wycliffe statistician said that despite the progress, there is still a long way to go before there are complete Bibles in all languages.DOLLY PARTON SPEAKS OUTIn a recent interview with The Christian Post, country singer Dolly Parton spoke openly about her Christian faith. She explained: “Every day I pray for God to lead me and to take out all the wrong things, wrong people in my life, and bring all the right things, right people, and to let me glorify Him and uplift mankind — to do something in this world to make it a little better than it was. And let me be a light and a vessel to be used.” And she added: “I just wanted to do what I can in this world to make things better if I can, and I'm in a position to do it. If you get in a position to help, you should help.”

CREATING EPIC ARTLast weekend, in Washington DC, world renowned artist Timothy Schmalz carved a nativity sculpture while visitors to the Museum of the Bible watched him at work. According to Eternity News, Schmalz commented: “My purpose is to give Christianity as much visual dignity as possible. Christian sculptures are like visual sermons twenty-four hours a day. I am devoted to creating artwork that glorifies Christ. The reason for this devotion, apart from my Christian beliefs, is that an artist needs an epic subject to create epic art.”NATIVITY SCENE AT THE VATICANEarlier this month, the Vatican hosted a Christmas tree lighting ceremony ahead of the holidays, but as reported by christianheadlines.com,  it was the Nativity scene that stole the show. Pope Francis said the scene “is a genuine way of communicating the gospel, in a world that sometimes seems to be afraid of remembering what Christmas really is and eliminates Christian symbols, only to retain those drawn from a banal, commercial imagination.”MOST POPULAR BIBLE VERSEThe most popular Bible verse this year on the YouVersion app, a free Bible app, was a passage about trusting God instead of worrying. Philippians 4:6 was the most popular Bible verse of 2019 on YouVersion. The verse reads, “Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”