There are positive and encouraging developments in the Church as evangelicals grow in strength, confidence and a sense of identity in most countries. This is demonstrated by the increase in an evangelical presence in mainline churches, which are otherwise declining; the stability of conservative denominations; and the arrival of dynamic new evangelical and charismatic fellowships and networks onto the Church scene. All of this is modest compared to great gains in Asia and Africa, but is a light in an otherwise bleak European religious landscape. There has been an impact of evangelical and charismatic movements within the mainline confessions. The Church of England is significantly touched by renewal, by evangelical activism, and especially by discipleship courses. We have also seen the proliferation of new prayer movements, the emergence of pan-European ministries such as the European Evangelical Alliance, and large European conferences. There is a growing ecumenism of the faithful that accepts differences and recognises the need for spiritual unity and cooperation in the face of increasing marginalisation.

Four Democratic senators are asking for more gun control legislation after an American born man with an assault rifle entered a gay nightclub in Orlando, killing 49 and wounding 53. They want an immediate passage of a bill to prevent people on terror watch lists and other ‘suspected terrorists’ from being able to buy firearms and explosives. Last December Democrats tried to pass the same legislation, but it failed. This push comes after President Barack Obama said weak laws have allowed disturbed and dangerous persons to be able to get guns. Meanwhile the US has appealed for the UN to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. ‘If we are united in our outrage by the killing of so many, let us be equally united around the basic premise of upholding the universal dignity of all persons regardless of who they love.’ See:

Last Tuesday night the sky around the city of Durban was burnished with a bright orange blaze, seen from kilometres away. Vehicles stopped on a freeway to gaze at the consuming tongues of fire. As firemen frantically fought the blaze, hundreds of people huddled together to watch the Durban Christian Centre, Jesus Dome, dramatically being destroyed. Members of the church prayed, wept, or bravely sang, with voices thin and choked with emotion. The Jesus Dome was in ashes. But five days later 7,500 voices were raised to Heaven in praise, adoration and thanksgiving in Growthpoint Kings Park rugby stadium – an incredible reaction by the saints of the Jesus Dome, giving a triumphant response to Tuesday’s disaster. ‘We are coming back bigger and stronger,’ was the unequivocal cry from senior pastors, and an ‘amen’ response was enough for passers-by to think there was a rugby match in progress. From Sunday worshippers will meet in a borrowed 2,500-seater tent pitched opposite the burnt-out Jesus Dome.

A man was shot dead on Tuesday during looting and food riots proliferating round crisis-hit Venezuela, bringing to at least four the number of fatalities from this month's wave of unrest. As well as the fatality, another 27 people had been injured during a day of chaos and violence in the eastern Caribbean coastal town of Cumana. There was simultaneous looting in more than 100 establishments. Videos and photos on social media from the town showed National Guard troops confronting crowds swarming round damaged shops, with crowds baying ‘We want food!’ Security forces struggled to keep order. Protests and melees at shops have been spreading around the recession-hit South American oil-producing nation in recent weeks, fuelled by shortages of basic foods. Over ten incidents of looting are occurring every day across the nation of 30 million people.