Mongolia: Jesus and the final frontiers
Amid the rugged beauty and fascinating culture of Mongolia, there is a spiritual awakening taking place. People there are coming to Christ because people have prayed, worked and given to make Him known in a place where Communism once forbade the practice of religion. ‘Today,’ writes Wayne Pederson, President of Reach Beyond ‘there are about 40,000 believers worshipping in some 600 churches across the country. That’s the good news. The challenge is that the 40,000 believers represent only about 1.2 percent of the nation’s population.’ The project’s future goal is to work with local believers to put a Christian radio station in each of Mongolia’s 21 provinces, blanketing the nation with gospel broadcasts
Insurance row over vicar's Jesus Christ car stickers
Rev Wena Parry, 75, was told that stickers saying ‘Christ Must Be Saviour’ and ‘Christ For Me’ could be regarded as ‘modifications’ and could invalidate her insurance policy. Rev Parry, from Cymmer in Neath Port Talbot, told BBC Wales' X-Ray she believes she has been treated unfairly because of her religious beliefs by Age UK insurance. ‘There might be somebody within that company that hates Christianity.’ she said. Age UK denied there was a religious motive behind the move. Rev Parry says the large signs on the bonnet and sides of the car help spread the gospel message. ‘Every opportunity I have I want to tell people about Jesus. I reckon there must at least a million people who have read the texts on my car,’ she said. She was warned: ‘The policy may be declared void’.
BBC accused of sidelining religion by axing top post
The BBC has been accused of treating religion as the ‘fag end’ of its priorities at a time of massive global upheaval after announcing it is to scrap its high-profile position of head of religion to cut costs. Aaqil Ahmed, the first Muslim to hold the post, and one of the most outspoken BBC executives, has been told his role in commissioning programmes is to be axed as part of a shake-up. Religion is to make an unlikely alliance with science, business issues and history under the oversight of a new head of ‘factual’ programming. The Church of England has voiced alarm at the move, arguing that the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris illustrates starkly how it is impossible to understand world events without a grasp of religious motivation. The Rt Rev Nick Baines, the Bishop of Leeds, said it was ‘staggering’ that the corporation was considering cutting the role, something he said appeared to be motivated by ‘ignorance’.
Adults with learning disabilities let down
People with learning disabilities, admitted to hospitals for assessment and treatment, have been badly let down by the government. More than two years after since its response to the abuse of patients at the Winterbourne View hospital, the government has failed to meet its core commitment to move people out of mental health hospitals and into the community by June 2014. In a joint statement, the charities Mencap and the Challenging Behaviour Foundation, said a report by the National Audit Office that there are still 2,600 inpatients in mental health hospitals in England showed ‘abject failure’ to tackle the issue. Ministers agreed in 2012 that any inpatients with a learning disability or challenging behaviour would be better off cared for in the community, not locked in an institution as if they were prisoners. Pray for legislative options to give people with learning disabilities and their families a stronger voice and more rights.
Children taken from born-again couple accused of being in a cult
Born-again Christians whose adopted children have been taken into care say they are being persecuted for their religious beliefs by social workers. In one case, parents say social workers accused them of causing emotional abuse with their strict parenting methods, which included smacking a child’s hand and punishing children for swearing by putting soap on their lips. They claim they were described as ‘cult’ members by social workers despite their church following the Alpha Course, the dominant strand of evangelism in Britain, followed by 20m people worldwide, including the adventurer Bear Grylls. Andrea Williams, chief executive of the campaign group Christian Concern, said: ‘We are seeing a worrying trend whereby Christian parents are being treated with suspicion because of their faith’.
Children taken from born-again couple accused of being in a cult
Born-again Christians whose adopted children have been taken into care say they are being persecuted for their religious beliefs by social workers. In one case, parents say social workers accused them of causing emotional abuse with their strict parenting methods, which included smacking a child’s hand and punishing children for swearing by putting soap on their lips. They claim they were described as ‘cult’ members by social workers despite their church following the Alpha Course, the dominant strand of evangelism in Britain, followed by 20m people worldwide, including the adventurer Bear Grylls. Andrea Williams, chief executive of the campaign group Christian Concern, said: ‘We are seeing a worrying trend whereby Christian parents are being treated with suspicion because of their faith’.
Fear prevents churchgoers from inviting friends
A ‘culture of fear’ is preventing many churchgoers from inviting friends or relatives to services, a co-founder of the Back to Church Sunday campaign, Michael Harvey, says. Worshippers are frightened that an approach could lead to rejection, a lost friendship, or a damaged relationship, Mr Harvey says. He is the business consultant who, in 2004, helped launch the campaign, which has since expanded into the Season of Invitation. The survey group Christian Research found that 52 per cent of 1153 members of its Resonate panel showed ‘a deep-seated reluctance or resistance’ to inviting people to church. Disclosing early findings last week at Durham University, in a presentation, ‘Developing a Culture of Invitation’, Mr Harvey said: ‘Tellingly, although the question invited people to suggest what their church could do to help them invite people, most comments cited critical reasons why they would not invite anyone to their church’.
2015 election: How Christians can get involved
Most evangelical Christians are committed to voting in the election, according to results of a new study by the Evangelical Alliance. Of the 2,000 evangelical Christians surveyed, 94 per cent said they were likely to vote, and of these, 80 per cent they would definitely vote. Lyndon Bowring, executive chairman of CARE, is encouraging Christians to do more than put a cross by a name. Bucking the trend of disillusionment with the state of politics in the UK, Bowring argues that Christians should exercise grace and support their MP. ‘How many churches invite their local MP to come, whatever his beliefs are?’ asks Bowring. ‘Offer to pray for him.’ Prayer is one way to respond, but if you're looking for something more concrete, holding a hustings at your church may be another answer. It provides an opportunity to hear from all the candidates standing in the constituency and learn more about their policies and principles'.
2015 election: How Christians can get involved
Most evangelical Christians are committed to voting in the election, according to results of a new study by the Evangelical Alliance. Of the 2,000 evangelical Christians surveyed, 94 per cent said they were likely to vote, and of these, 80 per cent they would definitely vote. Lyndon Bowring, executive chairman of CARE, is encouraging Christians to do more than put a cross by a name. Bucking the trend of disillusionment with the state of politics in the UK, Bowring argues that Christians should exercise grace and support their MP. ‘How many churches invite their local MP to come, whatever his beliefs are?’ asks Bowring. ‘Offer to pray for him.’ Prayer is one way to respond, but if you're looking for something more concrete, holding a hustings at your church may be another answer. It provides an opportunity to hear from all the candidates standing in the constituency and learn more about their policies and principles'.
INSIGHT Nigeria: Pre election prayer needed
Boko Haram and other militants have stepped up attacks in the run-up to Nigeria’s election on 14 Feb. On Monday a suicide bomber killed one bystander and injured 18, just minutes after the President left a campaign rally in the north. He addressed the rally after two blasts killed five people the previous day at the same location. Last week the African Union backed plans for a 7,500-strong regional fighting force to be deployed against Boko Haram. However Boko Haram is not the only challenge to Nigeria’s future. Explosions also ripped through court buildings in three towns in oil-rich southern Nigeria in coordinated attacks. Boko Haram is not known to be active in the oil-producing region, but there are militants there who are living in poverty and demanding a greater share of Nigeria's oil wealth who have carried out attacks in the past For INSIGHTS into key influences on Nigeria’s most momentous election since 1999 click the 'More' button