2+ week, 4+ day ago (544+ words) Alexander Wurm, 53, and his daughter Serena Wurm, 22, were taking humanitarian aid to hurricane-hit Jamaica when the crash occurred in the Coral Springs residential area of Fort Lauderdale." Their deaths were confirmed by Ignite the Fire, a Florida-based Christian mission organisation with a particular focus on the Caribbean. Wurm was the founder of the organisation. "Together, their final journey embodied selflessness and courage, reminding us of the power of service and love," read a statement on social media. Serena Wurm was described as "a beacon of empathy and hope, inspiring all with her commitment to humanitarian work". The statement added, "Rest in peace, Alexander and Serena " your light endures in all whose lives you changed." The Beechcraft King Air plane they were flying in crashed into a pond close to houses at around 10am local time. The aircraft had been recently acquired,…...

2+ week, 5+ day ago (710+ words) Under its new research division, LIGHT, the movement is examining both the opportunities, challenges and responsibilities presented by the rapid rise of AI in the Church and everyday life " from communication and learning, to ministry, theology and pastoral care. "AI is neither savior nor threat in itself," said the latest LIGHT briefing on AI. "Rather, its value depends on how it is discerned, governed, and deployed by God's people." As AI becomes increasingly embedded in global society, the Lausanne initiative aims to guide church leaders in understanding how technology can support, rather than distort, the Church's mission to fulfil the Great Commission. For pastors, missionaries, and theologians, the conversation goes far beyond ethics. Artificial intelligence is now translating Scripture, automating communication, and assisting in evangelism and outreach " a tool that can accelerate mission work, yet risk diminishing human connection if…...

1+ week, 6+ day ago (730+ words) There's a saying that a lone coal grows dim, but coals heaped together glow red-hot. The same could be said of the Church. We are not designed for isolation but for interdependence. From the earliest days of creation, God declared that it is not good for a person to be alone, and that truth reverberates through the entire story of redemption." The Christian life, in all its fullness, is not a solo pursuit - it is a shared journey - a divine collaboration of grace, gift, and love. When Paul writes that we are "one body in Christ, and individually members one of another" (Romans 12:5), he is unveiling a profound mystery. The Holy Spirit does not simply gather a crowd of like-minded individuals; He forms a living organism. Each believer is joined to Christ, and therefore to every other believer, in a…...

3+ week, 2+ day ago (611+ words) One of Cornwall's best-known Christian festivals, Creation Fest, has issued an urgent appeal for financial support as it faces potential closure within the next year. The long-running summer event, which combines music, Bible teaching and family activities, says it is battling the "change and challenge" of the past 12 months, leaving it with a deficit of "60,000. In a statement, organisers said: "We've had to navigate a lot. Change of leadership and core team, changes in financial support, lower income generally and rising running costs to name a few. The festival, held annually at the Royal Cornwall Showground near Wadebridge, has been a highlight of the Christian calendar in the South West for more than two decades. However, organisers have warned that imminent closure is now a "stark reality" unless urgent funds are raised. They say "60,000 is needed to clear current debts,…...

3+ week, 3+ day ago (565+ words) The Church of England has provided an update on its safeguarding practices and culture to mark the one-year anniversary of the publication of the Makin Report. The report was an independent review into the Church of England's handling of abuse allegations against the late John Smyth. It was led by Keith Makin. It found that Smyth had been guilty of "prolific and abhorrent" abuse over a period of decades and that the inadequate response by the Church "amounted to a cover-up". The then Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, faced criticism for not doing enough to ensure the allegations were properly investigated. Welby apologised for his poor handling of the case and stood down as head of the Church of England. A year on, lead safeguarding bishops Joanne Grenfell and Robert Springett have reiterated the Church's contrition over its failures and…...

3+ week, 1+ day ago (748+ words) New findings from Barna's State of the Church 2025 report, produced in partnership with Gloo, reveal a national rebound in weekly Bible reading. The report finds that 42% of US adults now say they read Scripture weekly " up 12 points from a record low of 30% in 2024. That figure rises to 50% among self-identified Christians, marking the highest level in more than 10 years. Millennials and Gen Z adults are at the heart of this turnaround.Barna's data shows that Millennials have seen a 16-point rise since 2024, with 50% reporting that they read the Bible weekly. Gen Z follows closely, leaping from 30 to 49% within a single year. By contrast, Boomers " once the most consistent Bible readers " now report the lowest rates, with only 3% reading weekly. Generation X remains largely unchanged, with a modest rise to 41%. This shift toward younger engagement suggests a reversal of decades-long trends, where…...

3+ week, 4+ day ago (691+ words) Arriving in the village of Kemnay to the sound of the Kintore Pipe Band, the Princess Royal was warmly received by Deputy Lord-Lieutenant for Aberdeenshire Lorna Smith and Rev Neil Meyer, parish minister. She also met local and presbytery leaders, including Rev Shuna Dicks, moderator of the Presbytery of the North East and the Northern Isles, and Rev Stella McBurnie, the presbytery clerk. Formed in 2023, Bennachie Parish unites six congregations " Monymusk, Cluny, Kintore, Echt and Midmar, Kemnay, and Blairdaff and Chapel of Garioch " covering large rural areas of Aberdeenshire. With a pair of ministers overseeing ministry across five congregations, the parish has embraced digital tools such as livestreaming, pre-recorded sermons, and shared services to sustain worship across its communities. During the visit, Princess Anne observed a live digital link connecting all five churches, allowing her to see how congregations in…...

2+ week, 4+ day ago (601+ words) The Bible teaches that it's possible to meet God in all sorts of unlikely places. Moses met God in a burning bush, Jacob met God in a desert while fleeing from his brother, and Jonah met God in the belly of a great fish, and now someone has met God on the Great British Bake Off. This year's winner of the show, Jasmine Mitchell, 23, told Premier Christian News about how her faith had grown as a result of the stresses of the competition. Mitchell combined her appearance on the show with studying for a degree in medicine. She said that she only applied to be on the show on a "whim" following her friend's encouragement. She said her "faith has become stronger and stronger over the last year" due to her need to rely on God to face the challenges…...

5+ day, 3+ hour ago (492+ words) A study by St Mary's University London has shown that since 1992 significant numbers of Anglican clergy have shifted their allegiance to Rome and have joined the Catholic Church. 1992 was the year that the Church of England controversially voted in favour of the ordination of women. The Catholic Church maintains that the priesthood is reserved for men only. According to the research, around 700 Anglicans or members of the Scottish Episcopal Church joined the Catholic Church between 1992 and 2024. Around a third of all ordained Catholic priests ordained in the period were actually former Anglicans. One such convert is Michael Nazir-Ali, the former Anglican Bishop of Rochester. He converted to Catholicism and was ordained in 2021, arguing that the Church of England was "losing its way. Nazir-Ali holds traditional views on questions of marriage, gender and sexuality, all things the Catholic Church has clear…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago (601+ words) The National Day of Prayer and Worship (NDOPW) is inviting Christians to join in a month-long prayer vigil to seek cohesion, revitalisation, and spiritual direction for 2026. The vigil is scheduled for 5 January to 5 February, expanding on the growing momentum of NDOPW events " from the 72-hour prayer vigil over Halloween that drew widespread participation in person and online, to the upcoming Shine Your Light (SYL) three-day Christmas vigil running from December 12 to 14. Over the course of the month, Christians will have opportunities to join virtual prayer sessions each day, attend community-based gatherings, and connect with organised intercessory groups. "This month-long vigil is an invitation to seek God together for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in 2026 and, to continue to break down denominational barriers as Christians from different churches gather together locally to pray for their communities, the nation and…...