Reviving the ‘art of church’
04 Nov 2016
Gently she writes with crooked handwriting in her notebook next to me. More lines than curves in her script, but it’s not a foreign language or anything. Lying open beside her scribbled prayers and notes is a Bible. The text printed there, though much cleaner, is completely unreadable to me. She likes reading God’s Word in her heart-language, Welsh. Sitting among Greater Europe Mission’s new candidates, I met Catrin and her American husband Corey. They both have a thoughtful mildness that gave way to urgent passion when asked about their plans on the field. As a team they have a burning desire to see the Church reborn in Wales and a vision that transcends nationality, placing people at the focus of this movement. Catrin shared how Wales, living in the shadow of revival 100 years ago, has lost its first love. ‘Church shows what God is like,’ Catrin says, ‘It’s the way God disciples: you learn to show grace to people who aren’t like you, learn from people fifty years older than you, serve people you don’t like, bear with one another. The church is a taste of what God’s Kingdom will be like.’
Justin Welby on religious freedom
04 Nov 2016
The Archbishop of Canterbury gave the opening keynote address on Wednesday at the Council of the Wise, a two-day dialogue in Abu Dhabi on integration, religious freedom and flourishing societies. It was organised by the Muslim Council of Elders and Christian leaders from the Anglican Communion. In his opening statement he said, ‘It is fitting that we meet in a country which has taken practical steps to enable religious minorities to meet, teach, worship and express themselves. It shows a confidence in granting freedom, and a self-confidence which is fitting and proper. This freedom cannot be taken for granted in a world currently beset by a crisis of confidence in the rights it pledged itself to uphold in the aftermath of the Second World War.’ See also article 3 in this week’s World section, about limits on people’s freedom.
Sainsbury's support campaign on food waste
04 Nov 2016
The Evening Standard’s campaign to tackle food waste and hunger has won the backing of Sainsbury’s and the London Mayor, Sadiq Khan. The supermarket chain made an undisclosed donation to the charity ‘The Felix Project.’ It also agreed to create more food donation partnerships between Felix and its stores and depots. Mr Khan became the project’s most famous volunteer after being picked up from City Hall in a Felix van and donning a hi-vis jacket to help deliver fresh surplus fruit and vegetables to residents of St Mungo’s charity in Southwark. He said, ‘With the best will in the world you are going to have surplus food, and this campaign ingeniously turns the problem of food waste into a social solution to help address food poverty.’ Sainsbury’s chief executive said arrangements are in hand for Felix to collect fruit and vegetables from fifteen Sainsbury’s stores as well as an online distribution centre, with the prospect of more partnerships to come.
Transgender ideology and the BBC
04 Nov 2016
The BBC’s programme ‘Just a Girl’, aimed at children aged 6 - 12, is available online on the children’s website CBBC. It’s a fictional video diary of Ben who calls himself Amy and wears girls’ clothes explaining to viewers that he was born as a boy and is in the process of halting puberty and becoming a girl. The programme has had the public, campaigners and MPs complaining about how utterly inappropriate this is for children. Family Education Trust said, ‘The more we promote the idea that a boy can be born into a girl’s body and a girl can be born into a boy’s body, and drugs and surgery can put things right, the more children will become utterly confused.’ But the BBC has defended this piece of propaganda, insisting that it ‘reflects true life’ and there is enough context for children to understand the theme.
Fantastic opportunity for Christian hosts
04 Nov 2016
Jewish backpackers will be finding a welcome in Christian homes in the UK. A unique travel programme aimed at providing cheap accommodation for young Israeli backpackers is becoming an international hit! Host Israeli Travellers (HIT) offers the hand of love and welcome to youngsters touring the world after their demanding stints in the Israeli Defence Forces. It is seen as an opportunity for Christians to express their indebtedness to Israel for the Bible, and especially to talk about their Saviour. The scheme began in New Zealand and expanded to Australia, Fiji and Hong Kong. Now measures are being put in place for UK hosts to join this scheme, providing a bed, bathroom and cooking facilities, with the young people usually preparing their own meals. The most significant development over the years has been the ever-increasing openness of these young people to spiritual matters.
Glasgow City Mission and legal heroin
04 Nov 2016
Plans to create a place for drug addicts to inject heroin under supervision have been welcomed by Glasgow City Mission. The scheme will tackle drug-related deaths, the spread of infections among users, and the amount of needles and injecting equipment left in public areas. GCM chief executive Grant Campbell said there was an urgent need for action. It will involve NHS staff, but the location and its cost are still to be established. Pray that this service will not mean cuts in funding for services helping drug addicts kick the habit and will prove cost-effective from a societal perspective. Such safe places have been described as ‘fix rooms’ or ‘shooting galleries’ by some; the controversial plan has been considered in other UK cities but not implemented.
Turkish Islamic Institute for Religion (DITIB)
04 Nov 2016
The Turkish Islamic Institute for Religion (DITIB) has 900 mosques in Germany that are supported directly by Turkey. The Turkish state pays the imams in Germany and dictates their sermon content, and Islam lessons are officially on Germany’s school curriculum. DITIB can participate in the development of lesson plans and supply teachers. President Erdogan exercises political influence on the Muslim population in Germany through DITIB. Worryingly, a recent DITIB publication glorified Islamic jihad. Also a Protestant minister speaking after this year’s Berlin March for Life said, ‘Never has a Christian event been so fiercely attacked from start to finish.’ Another commentator has said, ‘Massive disruption by left-wing extremists remains unchallenged by public officials. Politicians are ignoring the right of freedom of religion for Christians. Physical attacks on churches, cemeteries and open-air crosses and verbal attacks against the Christian faith by left-wing extremists and anti-Christian groups are on the increase.’ See also:
Amnesty highlights EU abuse of refugees
04 Nov 2016
Amnesty International alleges that ill-treatment and unlawful expulsions of migrants amount to torture. People have suffered beating, electric shocks and sexual humiliation at the hands of Italian police after resisting having their fingerprints taken. Amnesty’s report makes a clear link with pressure from EU leaders and institutions to set up so-called ‘hotspots’ to process migrants. In their determination to reduce the onward movement of people to other member states, EU leaders have driven Italian authorities beyond what is legal.