Christian News Bulletin

BREAD AND FISH IN MOSAIC Christian Headlines reports that Israeli archaeologists have discovered a well­preserved mosaic apparently depicting the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000. The mosaic is on the floor of an early Christian Church overlooking the Sea of Galilee.  Michael Eisenberg, head of the excavation team says the mosaic matches the New Testament description of five loaves in a basket and two fish. The mosaic also has a depiction of 12 baskets, and the New Testament tells how the disciples, at the end of the miracle, were left with 12 baskets of bread and fish. NEW GRAPHIC NOVEL In his new graphic novel Paul, The Apostle, Mario DeMatteo has created a colourful adventure that journeys through the book of Acts. Set in a futuristic world with cartoon characters, DeMatteo uses biblical values to share “the transforming power of redemption, Christ’s example of compassion and love,” and how “persecution of faith brings blessings.” CHRIST AND MENTAL HEALTH According to Religion News Service, a study by the Christian research firm Barna Group suggests that faith can be an asset when dealing with mental health concerns. Christians who were surveyed reported that when facing mental issues, Christ gives life value, purpose, hope and eternal security.

MARCH FOR JESUS IN BRAZIL Faithwire reports that millions of people joined this year’s March For Jesus in Sao Paulo, Brazil. More than 4,000 caravans arrived for the event from across the nation. The march climaxed in more than 10 hours of praise and worship, with almost 30 Gospel singers and bands from around Brazil leading it. The President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, told the crowd Brazil was secular but its current leader is Christian, and he hopes to overcome the ‘ethical and moral’ problems in Brazil with the help of Christians. The annual March For Jesus has been celebrated in São Paulo for 27 years. USING A DIGITAL BIBLE? Women are more likely than men to retain information when using a digital Bible, according to a study in the Journal Of Religion, Media, And Digital Culture, which found that women retain as much with a Bible app as they do with a print Bible, while men retain less information with a Bible app.  Study author John Dyer told Christian Headlines “Bible reading today is a multimedia experience, with readers using a combination of print, screen, and audio depending on the form of Bible engagement.” POLL OF POPULAR HYMNS In a poll of popular hymns voted on by thousands across Britain, In Christ Alone, co-written by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend in 2000, was ranked just below How Great Thou Art, which came second, and Jerusalem, which came first. The singer Aled Jones commented, “In Christ Alone is a wonderful modern hymn. This hymn has lyrics that continue to resonate with Christians throughout our country and indeed, the world.”

NOBEL PRIZE WINNER Eternity News reports that John B. Goodenough, the father of the lithium-ion battery, the rechargeable power source inside your mobile phone or laptop, is a Christian. This Professor from the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas in Austin has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work at Oxford University which made possible the development of lithium-ion batteries. Goodenough joins a long list of Nobel laureates who are Christian; some lists suggest 65 per cent of prize winners are followers of Christ. A FLOATING CHURCH A church in Scotland is using a canal barge as a way of reaching out to the community. Polwarth Parish Church, which sits next to a canal near Edinburgh, has been given a £50,000 ($91,000) grant to get the All Aboard project off the ground, while the congregation has raised a further £32,000. Premier News reports that the vessel will be used for spiritual, educational and community activities including Sunday School, clubs and even weddings. THE BIBLE IN AUSLAN Bible Society Australia has launched new translations of the Bible in Auslan – Australian sign language. This is the first time that John’s Gospel, a revised version of Acts and selections from Paul’s Letters have been available in the language, which are accessible in digital form for free.

GROWTH OF CHRISTIANITY According to Christianheadlines.com, the 2019 Status of Global Christianity report shows there were 2.5 billion Christians in the world as of mid-2019—a major increase from the 1.98 billion Christians in 2000 and more than double the number of Christians (1.2 billion) in 1970. Christianity is growing worldwide at a rate of 1.27 percent each year and outpacing population growth (1.20 percent) — and is booming in Africa, Asia and Latin America. CHRISTIANITY AND SCIENCE In a recent debate on science and religion, Oxford professor Alister McGrath said that atheism was "hopelessly simplistic", while Christianity offered a more compelling framework within which to explore science. "I felt [atheism] was hopelessly simplistic, or at least the forms I knew. And I think what really drew me to Christianity was this deep sense that it offered me a bigger picture of things," he said. "A way of making sense of myself, of our world, and also providing conceptual space for science.” 'VEGGIE TALES' SERIES RETURNS Eternity News reports that the animated VeggieTales series that entertained millions of kids and parents during the 1990s is returning to screens this December. Over the next three years, 18 new episodes of the Christian-based cartoon will be rolled out. The new series will kick off with The Best Christmas Gift, soon to be released on DVD and digital, accompanied by an album featuring six new songs from the episode.

GREATER FREEDOM IN UZBEKISTAN? According to the Barnabas Fund, church registrations are increasing in Uzbekistan, as the country moves toward religious freedom. The rise in registrations could signal freedom of worship for Christians in the Muslim-majority country. HELP FOR NORTHERN SYRIA New Life reports that Open Doors, a Christian charity, is responding to immediate and urgent needs in northern Syria after the Turkish invasion. Open Doors is assessing the situation on the ground and providing relief and rehabilitation to those afflicted. Immediate relief includes emergency food, shelter, clothing, medical care, and hygiene kits. NIGERIAN PRIEST RELEASED A Nigerian priest, who was kidnapped at gunpoint recently, has been released unharmed according to Nigerian newspaper The Punch. The priest’s safe return is a relief for Enugu state authorities, who have increased security measures in an attempt to stop the attacks on clergy in the region. FRED NILE AT 85 Eternity News reports that Reverend Fred Nile has turned 85. The Christian Democrat politician entered parliament in 1981 and shows no signs of stopping. Fred Nile told the press gallery “My retirement plans are in God's hands. When he says, 'Go Fred', then Fred will go.”

SPRINGBOKS' CAPTAIN FINDS STRENGTH IN CHRIST After the South African Springboks' recent win in the Rugby World Cup tournament in Japan, Eternity News reports on how the Springboks' captain, Siya Kolisi, has found strength in the Christian faith following a period of personal and family problems. Kolisi is quoted as saying: “Walking alongside a spiritual mentor, I’ve been able to discover the truth and saving power of Christ in a whole new way. This new life has given me a peace in my heart I’d never experienced before. Now that I have given everything to God, nothing else affects me. I now live and play with the freedom of knowing His plan will always happen, and at the end of the day, that’s all I care about!” PRESIDENT CARTER PREACHS Former President Jimmy Carter, 95, didn't allow a recent fall and fractured pelvis to keep him away from church for long, and  he returned recently to share his thoughts on life and death with the congregation. According to USA Today, Carter taught a 45-minute lesson on the trials of Job and told the attendees at Maranatha Baptist Church in the town of Plains, Georgia that they should not doubt the Bible's promise of life after death. INTERFAITH WEEK IN UK Last week, thousands of people took part in a series of events promoting tolerance and unity between faith groups in the UK. The Interfaith Week highlighted the positive effect of faith groups on local communities throughout the British Isles.

SURFING  FOR THE LORD ASSIST News Service reports that a church leader is walking the 800km trek along the Camino route in southern France and northern Spain with a surfboard attached to his back. Rev Richard Ellerington is raising awareness of the growing global Surf Church movement. He is hiking the famous pilgrimage over a 35-day period and will be the first to do so with a surfboard in tow. PROGRESS WITH BIBLE TRANSLATION According to Christian Today, the latest figures from Wycliffe Bible Translators show that almost 700 languages now have a complete Bible. Active translation work is underway on 2,617 languages across 161 countries. A Wycliffe statistician said that despite the progress, there is still a long way to go before there are complete Bibles in all languages. DOLLY PARTON SPEAKS OUT In a recent interview with The Christian Post, country singer Dolly Parton spoke openly about her Christian faith. She explained: “Every day I pray for God to lead me and to take out all the wrong things, wrong people in my life, and bring all the right things, right people, and to let me glorify Him and uplift mankind — to do something in this world to make it a little better than it was. And let me be a light and a vessel to be used.” And she added: “I just wanted to do what I can in this world to make things better if I can, and I'm in a position to do it. If you get in a position to help, you should help.”

CREATING EPIC ART Last weekend, in Washington DC, world renowned artist Timothy Schmalz carved a nativity sculpture while visitors to the Museum of the Bible watched him at work. According to Eternity News, Schmalz commented: “My purpose is to give Christianity as much visual dignity as possible. Christian sculptures are like visual sermons twenty-four hours a day. I am devoted to creating artwork that glorifies Christ. The reason for this devotion, apart from my Christian beliefs, is that an artist needs an epic subject to create epic art.” NATIVITY SCENE AT THE VATICAN Earlier this month, the Vatican hosted a Christmas tree lighting ceremony ahead of the holidays, but as reported by christianheadlines.com,  it was the Nativity scene that stole the show. Pope Francis said the scene “is a genuine way of communicating the gospel, in a world that sometimes seems to be afraid of remembering what Christmas really is and eliminates Christian symbols, only to retain those drawn from a banal, commercial imagination.” MOST POPULAR BIBLE VERSE The most popular Bible verse this year on the YouVersion app, a free Bible app, was a passage about trusting God instead of worrying. Philippians 4:6 was the most popular Bible verse of 2019 on YouVersion. The verse reads, “Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”

A CHRISTMAS CAROL The book A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens has never been out of print—and it illustrates why telling a good story is often the best way to communicate our beliefs. Gina Dalfonzo, editor of Dickensblog, states that A Christmas Carol is a book that “has everything: great sorrow and great joy, corruption and redemption, poverty and pain, hope and love.” And “it expresses the deep belief that even the worst person can change for the better.” CHARITY IN THE UK Premier.org.uk reports that people across the United Kingdom have been donating to local food banks after the recent election results. Christian charity The Trussell Trust said that it has seen a surge in drop offs in food donations since the Conservatives won a landslide victory.The charity is urging the government to take action to help those who are living in poverty. CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS American contemporary Christian singer Phil Wickham released his second holiday album this year titled Christmas, and, according to The Christian Post, he wants to keep the wonder of the season alive by sharing the light of Jesus amid life's trials. The 10-song project features an array of reimagined traditional holiday songs along with some original songs. The album’s tracks attempt to celebrate the wonder and hope of Christ, our Savior, whose birth is celebrated during Christmas.