Christian News Bulletin

ONGOING CRACKDOWN IN CHINA According to The Christian Post, Christians in China have revealed new details about the Communist Party's ongoing crackdown on religion. The Associated Press reported recently on what believers have described as increasing persecution under President Xi Jinping's government, which has ordered several churches to be demolished while others have been forced to remove crosses and paintings of Jesus. A 62-year-old shopkeeper from Henan province opened up about what he and other Christians have suffered, such as local officials showing up at their church and demanding that the cross, Bible verse calligraphy, and a painting of the "Last Supper" be taken down. CHURCH CLOSURES IN RWANDA A report from ChristianHeadlines.com suggests that more than 8,000 churches in Rwanda have been closed by the government as part of an alleged crackdown on unsafe structures, although religious liberty advocates say the government is closing congregations that should be considered acceptable. Christians in the country fear the movement is a cover for the government’s drive toward secularism. CHURCH PLANTING IN ENGLAND Eternity News reports that, in its homeland, the Church of England is doing something that most denominations in Western countries have not been able to ignite or sustain. It is taking Church planting seriously, and will spend 47 million dollars to create 100 new churches by 2020.

PRAISE AND THANKS IN UKRAINEAccording to Mission Network News, the streets of Kiev in Ukraine filled with songs of praise and thanks as approximately 200,000 people gathered to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Many travelled from all four provinces just to be a part of the celebration and to thank God for the freedom to worship and for the freedom to preach the Gospel in their country. A CHRISTIAN CHARITY SHORTLISTED FOR AWARDInspire Magazine reports that a Christian maritime charity has been shortlisted for charity of the year. Sailors’ Society, in its 200thyear, will compete against six other organisations at the Charity Times Awards in London on 3rdOctober. The charity works internationally to provide practical, emotional and spiritual welfare support to the world’s 1.6m seafarers, regardless of background or faith. Their chaplains and ship visitors have a presence in 91 ports, with wider projects and services covering 30 countries. NEW BIBLE TRANSLATION FOR INDONESIA Indonesia, home of the world’s largest Muslim population, is getting a fresh translation of the Bible. It’s been about 30 years since the last full Bible translation was launched in the country. New Life reports that Biblica is translating the dated version and will present it as a contemporary version using modern idiomatic Indonesian.

CRACKDOWN IN CHINA An increase in police raids on churches in China has caused Christian leaders to be more cautious about whom they let in their buildings. A reporter for Premier.org states that authorities have closed churches in commercial venues and an increasing amount of landlords have refused to continue rental contracts. FRANKLIN GRAHAM TO TOUR OZ Eternity News reports that evangelist Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham, will tour Australia in February next year. The tour marks the 60th anniversary of Billy Graham’s 1959 tour that had a major impact on Australia. Next year Franklin Graham will cross the country, preaching in Perth, Darwin and Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney. BISHOP DELETES TWITTER ACCOUNT According to Christian Today, a US Catholic bishop has said farewell to Twitter on the grounds that it’s damaging his spiritual health. Bishop Thomas Tobin of Rhode Island deleted his account recently with a last tweet saying: ‘Sadly, Twitter has become a major distraction for me, on good days and bad, an obstacle to my spiritual life, an occasion of sin for me and others. So, goodbye. If I’ve offended anyone, I’m truly sorry. If I’ve helped anyone along the way, thank God.’

NICARAGUAN BISHOPS ATTACKED The president of Nicaragua's Bishops’ Conference has spoken out against the violent crackdown on anti-government protests – including assaults on clergy. A report on premier.org.au states that Cardinal Leopoldo José Brenes Solorzano, the Archbishop of Managua, told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need that there have been two attacks on bishops recently– including one on himself. ANTI-CHRISTIAN ACTS IN INDIA International Christian Concern (ICC) has documented at least 15 separate anti-Christian incidents across India in the past 14 days. These incidents include physical assaults, a church demolition, forced conversions, false accusations of forced conversions, and social boycotts. BABY BOOMERS AND THE CHURCH The Christian Post reports that, according to one of the most significant longitudinal studies ever conducted, Baby Boomers, those born between the years 1946 to 1964, are becoming more involved in church. Among the boomer generation, 20 per cent are becoming more receptive to faith and church. That's approximately 19 million boomers when the percentage is applied to the entire generation.

PRAYER NEEDED FOR CONTINUED PEACE Church leaders say there's still work to be done to ensure peace remains in Northern Ireland. More than twenty years have passed since the Good Friday Agreement was signed bringing an end to a thirty-year conflict that claimed 3,000 lives. In a joint statement marking the anniversary, the leaders of the Anglican and Catholic churches in Ireland said, in part, “It is our sincere shared prayer that this anniversary will help to rekindle a spirit of opportunity, healing and hope for lasting peace which is now needed more than ever.” PERSECUTION IN CHINA According to Faithwire.com, a group of intimidating "thugs" has been hired by China's communist government to intimidate local Christians. The group appeared outside Zion Church, the largest house church in Beijing, and proceeded to accuse believers of being part of a "cult." 330 MILLION DOWNLOADS FOR BIBLE APP Eternity News reports that, ten years ago, YouVersion’s Bible app was among the first 200 apps on the newly launched iTunes app store. The app had 83,000 installs in its first three days. After 330 million downloads – 2 million of which are in Australia – even the app’s founder says he underestimated the impact of an accessible digital Bible you can carry in your pocket.

FILM CREATES DEBATE ON THE CHURCH AND FAITH After a decade of presenting a measured, respectful picture of the Christian, the Centre for Public Christianity has released an assessment of the good, the bad and the unexpected impact of Christianity in a new documentary: For the Love of God: How the church is better and worse than you ever imagined. After successful screenings of the 90-minute documentary in cinemas across the country, a website has been launched, offering resources on the themes explored in the film. CHRISTIANS KILLED FOR THEIR FAITH Ninety thousand Christians were murdered for their faith in 2016, according to a report from the International Prayer Council. This makes Christians the most persecuted religious group in the world. Of the Christians who lost their lives in 2016, 70% were killed in Africa. The remaining 30% lost their lives in persecution worldwide. CHAPEL TO BE BUILT IN KOREAN DMZ The Christian Post reports that a new chapel is to be built in the Korean Demilitarized Zone. In what is known as ‘the truce village’, it is hoped that the structure will act as a ‘chapel of peace.’

Effect of religion on life expectancyNew research suggests that there is a surprising correlation between one’s life expectancy, and religious affiliation — or lack thereof. According to a study, reported by Faithwire, researchers at Ohio State University found that atheists’ lack of belief in the afterlife could be cutting their mortal lives short. Various samples showed that overall people of faith lived between 3 and 9 year longer than atheists. The findings of the study bolster the already prolific body of evidence, that shows the positive effect religion has on the quality and length of one’s life. Operation Mobilisation provides vocation trainingSewing and computer training projects continue to help Pakistani young people to become skilled workers, and earn income. Operation Mobilisation reports that many graduates from their training projects in India have secured jobs in the public and private sectors. Surriya, a trainer at one of Operation Mobilization’s sewing centres, says those who have learned to sew are earning good incomes, and their honour is safe. Graduates testify that the program gives them new direction, helps them to face life’s challenges, and brings change to their community. Gods plan for wellnessCrossLink Publishing has announced the release of a new book “God’s Plan for Wellness” by Kathleen LeSage. Christian Newswire reports that the book, in paperback and eBook formats, outlines simple steps for people to take to live a healthier life. Biblical and scientific reasons are behind how and why to approach wellness, from a godly perspective. The book includes more than 50 of the most popular recipes that have been used at LeSage's award-winning wellness retreat in the U.S.

MOST ANIMALS APPEAR AT SAME TIME A new genetic study shows that 90 percent of animals appeared on the Earth simultaneously with human beings, much like the Biblical account. David Thaler of the University of Basel in Switzerland says the findings are sure to jostle more than one settled idea about evolution. NEW TALKING JESUS TRAINING COURSE Following 18 months of filming across the UK, a national charity has launched the Talking Jesus training course. Churches are now using the course in small groups, inspiring Christians with ways  to share their faith. MORE CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION IN CHINA Faith News reports that the persecution of Christians in China is at its most intense since the Cultural Revolution. According to ChinaAid, an advocacy group that documents human rights abuses in the communist nation, churches are being shut and Christians arrested at rates not seen in decades.

ATTACKS ON INDONESIAN CHURCHES ABC News reports last week stated that Indonesian police claimed the suicide bombers who attacked three Christian churches in Surabaya were all members of one family. At least 13 people were killed and more than 40 injured when the group targeted Sunday church congregations in the country's second-largest city. PROTEST IN NIGERIA Nigeria's Catholic bishops will hit the streets to protest the killing of more than 100 Christians by Islamic Fulani herdsmen in northern Nigeria this year thus far. The protest will take place on May 22nd in Makurdi, the capital of Benue state, where two murdered priests will be buried on the same day, according to Crux Now. ROYAL WEDDING Prince Harry and former U.S. actress Meghan Markle invited Bishop Michael Curry, the first African American to preside over the Episcopal Church and who defends same-sex marriage, to deliver a sermon at their wedding. Presiding Bishop Curry, from Chicago Illinois, travelled to Windsor to take part in the Service. He joined The Dean of Windsor, The Rt. Revd. David Conner, who conducted the Service. The Most Revd. and Rt. Hon. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, officiated as the couple made their marriage vows.

GOOD NEWS AT ROYAL WEDDING The Archbishop of Canterbury has described the US bishop's wedding sermon for the royal wedding on 19th May as so powerful that it "blew the place open".Speaking to Sky News, as he stood next to Most Rev Michael Curry, Justin Welby said: "The use of language to communicate the good news of Jesus Christ just blew the place open." Bishop Michael, primate of the Episcopal Church in the USA said: "Well it really was, to be honest, the good news of Jesus Christ." MUSEUM OF THE BIBLE The Museum of the Bible, the newest tourist attraction near the National Mall in Washington DC, has drawn 565,000 visitors since it opened six months ago, according to museum figures released recently. GOLDFIELDS CELEBRATION Will Graham, Billy Graham’s grandson, was the featured speaker at the ‘Goldfields Celebration’ held over three days last weekend in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Aussie artists Steve Grace, Skypilot and The Brownley Gospel Singers performed alongside US band The Afters at the event.