Christian media
06 Apr 2018
It is fair to say that movies with Christian themes are getting better, and seeing box-office profits. The successful ‘I Can Only Imagine’ has so far made $38 million. The play ‘The Case for Christ’ made $15 million profit. On Easter Sunday, the Broadway musical ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ returned on NBC as a live television event. In the UK, Timeless International Christian Media LLC produce and distribute Christian videos; and True Films are producing British feature films with core Christian values. Christian home entertainment is edifying and challenging the viewer. We are living in a culture where we spend more time than ever looking at a screen for our information and relaxation. Pray for more Christians to enter film production. See
Iraqi nun denied UK visa
06 Apr 2018
When IS took over a Dominican convent in the Nineveh plains, Sister Ban Madleen fled to Erbil and set up kindergartens for the refugees’ children there. She has a sister living in the UK who has now become sick. To visit her, she needs a Home Office entry visa. However, immigration officials refused the visa because she had not provided confirmation that the Dominican sisters would fund her visit, and they were not satisfied that she is ‘genuinely seeking entry for a permissible purpose’. Rather than allowing her to provide the necessary evidence, they said, ‘There is no right of appeal or right to administrative review’. They acknowledged the importance of family visits, and agreed that when she last visited the UK (in 2011) she complied with visa terms. However, they also noted that she had not visited since then, failing to recognise that there might be valid reasons for this.
Freedom of speech in universities
06 Apr 2018
A report by the Joint Committee on Human Rights details how freedom of speech at universities is being restricted. It mentions ‘safe spaces’ as a limit on speech, as well as confusion around the Prevent programme and unnecessary red tape in organising external speakers. Many groups had cancelled events, had guests banned, or were put off organising events because of the hurdles they had to overcome. CARE, in a submission to the committee, said it was particularly concerned about how current definitions of extremism were being wrongly applied to nonviolent individuals and groups, instead of to those who could draw people into terrorism. This has led to many speakers and groups being ‘no platformed’ and to their views being excluded from public debate because they were considered offensive by some, particularly people of faith.
Child poverty in the UK
06 Apr 2018
The UK is the sixth richest country in the world, yet poverty affects one in four children. Growing up poor means children miss out on warm clothes, school trips, or even having friends over for tea. Poverty impacts children’s health and educational outcomes. Leaving school with few qualifications translates into lower earnings over the course of a working life. Poorer childhood health results in more complicated health histories later in life, again influencing earnings and overall life quality. On 3 April the BBC reported that malnourished pupils with grey skin are filling their pockets with school canteen food due to poverty, and hunger is particularly apparent after the weekend. A Nottinghamshire headteacher said, ‘When you take poorer children to an event, you see the difference between them and children of the same age from affluent areas. It's the grey skin, the poor teeth, poor hair, they are thinner.’ Children are neglected because their families can’t afford food, heating or even bedding. See also
Local elections on 3 May
06 Apr 2018
The deadline for registering to vote in this year’s local elections is 17 April, and many young people who could not vote in the last election are now eligible to do so. There are young adults in our churches, families and towns who do not yet understand the times we are living in. They do not realise the potential for change that can be achieved through understanding local issues, or how their votes can influence the lives of many.
Ireland’s constitution protects the right to a religious education and for parents to ‘provide, according to their means, for the religious and moral, intellectual, physical and social education of their children’. A new proposal preventing Catholic schools from prioritising Catholic students is being called discriminatory, as it does not apply to schools of other faiths. The Church runs 90% of state schools. When a school is full, it prioritises Catholic students when deciding how high they are on the waiting list. The education minister wants to end giving preference to Catholic children who live some distance away over non-Catholic children living close to the school. The changes would not apply to non-Catholic faith schools. Faith in Our Schools is fighting the proposal, saying the policy ‘openly discriminates against the conscience and educational rights of Catholic parents and the autonomy, and associational rights of Catholic faith schools.’
France: Macron versus unions
06 Apr 2018
France’s unions have started three months of industrial action. On two days in five trains will not run, and workers will down tools for a total of 36 days. 77% of train drivers are striking over government proposals to reduce the ‘jobs for life and early retirement’ status. Macron insists reforms are essential to stem rising debt and prepare the way for competition starting next year. He is facing his toughest test to date. It is unclear how this ‘war of attrition’ will pan out, as Air France, dustmen, and energy workers intend to join the battle.. If rail reform passes, it paves the way for subsequent overhauls of the education system and pensions. University students have already joined the protests against Macron's proposals. Attempted reforms have been the undoing of past French presidents.
Australia: Christians in Commonwealth Games
06 Apr 2018
There will be ten international chaplains at the Commonwealth Games. Their first role is to make themselves available on a pastoral level to anyone who wants it. Christian athletes will want to have Bible studies and corporate worship, and the chaplains will provide that for them. Pray for them to be excellent servants to all the athletes, coaches and games officials. Pray for the special relationships they will develop with athletes - both those who are committed Christians and those who wish to explore Christian faith. May those friendships grow deeper over the course of the Games. Pray for boldness at such a large event, where they will be outside their comfort zones.