Christian News Bulletin

BIBLES FOR CHINA Mission Network News reports that Bibles For China this year has distributed 55,000 Bibles in 15 Chinese provinces. Wendell Rovenstine, President of Bibles For China, says they are distributing everything from standard print Bibles and Gospels of John to Study Bibles and Bible commentaries. Most of the distribution is done by local Chinese Christians. PROJECT 2025 Through a campaign called Project 20.25, the World Evangelical Alliance has set out to get 20% of its members to convert fully to clean energy by 2025. Galen Carey, the National Association of Evangelicals’ vice president of government relations, told Christianity Today that “Christians should be at the forefront of efforts to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions because we know that this is our Father’s world.”  FAITH OF QUEEN ELIZABETH According to Eternity News, Dudley Delffs, author of the book "The Faith of Queen Elizabeth",  is convinced the Queen is thoroughly shaped by her Christian faith. As evidence, he refers to her very personal involvement and support for the Bible Society and Scripture Union. He also mentions “that wonderful booklet The Servant Queen and the King She Serves which is very explicit about her faith in Jesus Christ” adding that it “was used worldwide and became a catalyst for conversations about faith.”

AFRICAN OUTREACH A network of churches and ministry leaders is aiming to put on the “largest Christian outreach” crusade in history across dozens of African countries next May in a movement that will culminate on Pentecost Sunday. Simultaneous Christian festivals featuring African sports, entertainment, and political celebrities will be held from May 28 to May 31 as part of a movement called One God - One Day - One Africa. ROYAL MESSAGES In her annual Christmas message, Queen Elizabeth spoke on a theme of reconciliation, peace and unity. Eternity News reports that while the Queen referred to the example of Jesus to talk about “small steps taken in faith and hope” to “overcome long-held differences', her son Prince Charles issued a call to remember “all those who suffer persecution for their Christian faith”. PAPAL MESSAGE And christianheadlines.com reported on the Pope's Christmas Eve speech where he said: “Do not lose confidence, do not lose hope, do not think that to love is a waste of time. Tonight, love has conquered fear, new hope has arrived, God’s kindly light has overcome the darkness of human arrogance. Mankind, God loves you; for your sake he became man. You are no longer alone!”

CHURCHES AND FIRES IN AUSTRALIA Churches have been at the forefront among the responders in both their prayers and deeds as Australians throughout the nation reel under flames, with thousands fleeing in the first days and weeks of a new year. The general secretary of the World Council of Churches has said in a letter to Australian churches, "Together with you, WCC member churches around the world are praying for respite from the heat and the flames, for the protection and encouragement of all those fighting the advancing fires, for the preservation of peoples' lives and properties, and of the unique wildlife and environment threatened with destruction." REND COLLECTIVE The Northern Irish band Rend Collective has sold out in advance its six Australian concerts next month. The group's new album 'Good News' will be released on January 19th. JESUS FILM IN SIGN LANGUAGE According to christianheadlines.com the estimated 70 million deaf people around the world who communicate by signing could have a Jesus Film in their own heart language within several years thanks to a crowdfunded project by Deaf Missions and the Jesus Film Project. The ministries hope to raise $4.8 million to fund the project, which will involve actors and actresses signing with American Sign Language, which is used by 70 million people worldwide.

ATHEISM AND CHRISTIANITY In a recent debate on science and religion, 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. According to Christian Today, Professor McGrath argued that Christianity did not merely serve as a "useful function" in society but that it was the existence of God that gave sense to concepts of right and wrong. SALISBURY CATHEDRAL LIGHTS UP This year marks the 800th anniversary of Salisbury Cathedral’s move from Old Sarum and the development of the city itself. A year long celebration, Salisbury 2020 City on the move, will begin in February with a series of light and sound spectaculars created for Salisbury Cathedral by artistic collaboration Luxmuralis. Premier Christian News reports that the facade of Salisbury Cathedral and its interior will be transformed by large-scale projections exploring the story of the Cathedral since its foundation in 1220. POLICE FORCE NEEDS CATHOLICS Crux reports that a prominent Catholic priest in Northern Ireland has urged Catholics to join the province’s police force, saying it is an important way to push back against growing militant violence. Father Martin Magill told the Belfast Telegraph: “The key reason for me encouraging Catholics to join is that we have a police service that is as representative as possible of the local community.”

LIFE GOALS FOR YOUNG ADULTS Getting married and settling down are still life goals for many young adults, a global study of 18- to 35-year-olds has found. However, they also feel "pressure to be successful”. According to Christian Today, the study found that practising Christians are "leading young adults in focusing on family".The study was conducted jointly by Barna and World Vision, who interviewed over 15,000 people across 25 countries from the Gen Z and Millennial age bands to better understand what is driving young adults today. FAITH-BASED FILMS The Christian Post reports that the film “Breakthrough” has been nominated for an Academy Award. The movie, which is based on a true story, was nominated for Best Original Song for the emotional tune, “I’m Standing With You,” performed by lead actress in the film Chrissy Metz and written by award-winning songwriter Diane Warren. Two other faith-based  films, “Harriet” and “A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood” also received Oscar nominations. SOCCER PLAYER COMMITS TO CHRIST Christianity Today reports that Brazilian soccer star Roberto Firmino, who plays for Liverpool in the UK,  has committed his life to Christ. Less than a month after scoring the winning goal at the FIFA World Cup, Firmino professed his faith and was baptised in a swimming pool by his Liverpool Football Club teammate Alisson Becker and Brazilian Christian musician Isaias Saad.

THE YEAR OF THE BIBLE The Christian Post reports that The Year of the Bible is underway as mission organisations, churches and other ministries are seeking to usher in a grassroots “Bible revival.” The Year of the Bible movement was established by a coalition of international ministry networks called The Table Coalition, formerly known as the Mission America Coalition. It hopes to be the largest digital next-generation biblical marketing campaign in history. The aim of the movement is to inspire people to make 2020 the year they make the Bible a "foundational part of their lives." BAPTISMS IN THE RIVER JORDAN Two weeks ago, over 20,000 Christians from around the world gathered at the Jordan River to be baptized. According to CBN, the pilgrims commemorated the Feast of the Epiphany, which is a day that Orthodox Christians and Catholics remember when the three Magi visited baby Jesus.The annual pilgrimage started in January when five Christian denominations held baptismal ceremonies at the River. FAITH-BASED FILM Christianheadlines.com reports that a faith-based film has been named the top romantic movie of the year by a mainstream publication, Seventeen Magazine. The publication recently listed its “7 Most Romantic Movies Premiering in 2020” and placed "I Still Believe" — a faith-based movie directed by Christian filmmakers Jon and Andrew Erwin — at No. 1.

In Sydney, churches are urged to pray about the Corona virus. Parents often choose their church based on the children's programming available in potential churches. And UK Wolverhampton MP Stuart Anderson has revealed how going to church and finding faith after battling mental health issues helped him "see light out of the darkness." CHURCHES URGED TO PRAY The Sydney Anglicans newsletter reports that churches have been urged to pray about the Coronavirus outbreak and to take sensible precautions as the World Health Organisation declares a public health emergency. Archbishop Glenn Davies has written to clergy, asking churches to pray for victims, health care workers and authorities. "We acknowledge community concern about the incidences of infection in Australia and we express our sadness at the extent of the sickness, and especially the death, of many people affected by the disease in China," the Archbishop wrote. "We encourage prayer for those affected families and for governments and health care workers seeking to address and constrain the outbreak, both in China as well as in Australia. CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING IS IMPORTANT Nearly six in 10 churchgoing Christian parents say their congregation’s children’s programming was the primary reason they chose their current church, according to a new Barna study. “[Children] carry big weight when it comes to family decisions about where to worship,” a Barna analysis of the study said. “This suggests that, for churches to attract and retain strong Christian households, children’s programming must be a key part of holistic family ministry.” UK MP FINDS FAITH The UK's Premier Christian News reports that newly elected Wolverhampton MP Stuart Anderson has revealed how going to church and finding faith after battling mental health issues helped him "see light out of the darkness." Anderson made his first speech in the House of Commons a few weeks ago. The 43-year-old told MPs that in a moment of desperation he took his children to church, which led to him finding faith and learning to "face reality".

The UK's Chelsea Flower Show will be home to a Christian garden for the first time this year. A New Testament created in a new language has been created for the deaf and deaf-blind communities. A Christian ministry in Sydney is reaching out to older people to help them age well. A CHRISTIAN GARDEN The UK's Chelsea Flower Show will be home to a Christian garden for the first time this year. Sponsored by the Bible Society, the theme of the garden will be based on Psalm 23. A Bible Society spokesperson told The Sunday Telegraph: "We decided that Psalm 23 should be the theme because it is beautiful and speaks to everybody. We want our garden to be restorative and for people to see it and feel they can draw away from the busyness of life." NEW TESTAMENT IN NEW LANGUAGE Premier Christian News reports that a New Testament created in a new language has been created for the deaf and deaf-blind communities. Wycliffe Associates will hold a dedication service for its newly published Symbolic Universal Notation (SUN) New Testament on 20th February at its worldwide headquarters in Orlando, Florida. SUN is a written, concept-based language created by Wycliffe Associates that the Deaf, regardless of where they live in the world, can begin learning in less than a week. SCHOOL FOR SENIORS A Christian ministry in Sydney is reaching out to older people to help them age well. Wesley Mission is offering exercise, learning, and socialising via its School for Seniors. The school helps people over 55 to develop life-long passions or find a completely new one as they get older. Organisers told Vision Christian Radio that it’s never too late to learn, and exercise and socialising are a part of the key to ageing well.

CHURCHES ASKED TO CLOSE IN SOUTH KOREA Christianheadlines.com reports that the coronavirus outbreak in South Korea is so severe that the government’s culture minister has asked churches and other religious bodies to stop gathering until it is contained. The Catholic church in the country has suspended mass. Seoul’s Yoido Full Gospel Church, considered the largest church in the world by membership (approximately 800,000), suspended public services and said it would launch online services for members. “HOLDING THE HAND OF CHRIST” Asia Bibi, who spent nearly a decade on death row in Pakistan, has said it was because of Jesus that she was able to get through the ordeal. The Christian mother of three, who is now living with her family in Canada after being granted asylum there, told Aid to the Church in Need that she had "held the hand of Christ" throughout her imprisonment, much of which was spent in solitary confinement. SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA GOES GOSPEL A top US gospel composer has led London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) and a mass community choir in their first ever concert of solely gospel music. André J Thomas, who's also a prominent conductor and Yale University professor, said the sold out concert at the Barbican Centre in London gave the audience a taste of what gospel music represents. According to Premier Christian News, the event called "Gospel Mass – A Celebration of Love and Joy" aimed to explore the gospel African American musical tradition.

CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL New Zealand's Christ Church Cathedral has been closed since it was partially destroyed in the earthquake in February 2011. The church had planned to demolish and rebuild a new cathedral on the site but a public campaign for re-instatement won the day. Anglican News reports that the restoration work is expected to last at least ten years, with around 100 personnel working on the site. CHURCH MAKES ROOM FOR DRUNKS A 17th century church in London replaces its pews with camp beds and invites drunkards from nearby streets to sleep in its premises with the hope that they will sober up. Volunteers of St. Anne’s, which is part of the Church of England and situated in London’s Soho area, go to the streets every Friday and Saturday between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. in search of those who are vulnerable and bring them back to the church, where they are offered water and beds, just as “Jesus reached out to all people,” The Sunday Times reported. ARCHBISHOP SPEAKS OUT Premier Christian News reports that the Archbishop of Canterbury has urged stockpiling shoppers to stop hoarding food, telling worshippers there is "no Christian justification" for doing so. After supermarkets in the UK  saw huge queues and rushes for staple goods such as toilet roll and tinned food, Most Reverend Justin Welby tweeted: "If you're still hoarding more food and supplies than you need, please, please stop.” "Please think of others - especially the most vulnerable, and those risking their health to look after us. Leave enough for everyone. We depend on each other."