Anthony Idris Jata’u was taken on Thursday night in the northwestern state along with his wife, three children and two sisters-in-law.

Jata’u, from South Kaduna, had studied at the Crowther Graduate Theological Seminary in Abeokuta, in Ogun State, before his ordination. He was on his way to a new posting in Katsina State when he was attacked by armed men.

His body was discovered by the side of a road on Saturday.

An anonymous source told Nigeria’s Punch Newspaper: “The bandits shot at the car he was driving and dragged him and the occupants out as the vehicle skidded off the road.

“His body was recovered two days later, but his family members were taken away.

“Everybody is sad at the moment and afraid for the lives of his family members still in the custody of the bandits. The church doesn’t have such money but it’s hoping to raise a substantial sum to secure the release of the victims.”

The source added that the kidnappers have demanded a £21,500 (N10m Nigerian Naira) ransom.

No official confirmation of the reports has been made.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has expressed his sadness over news of the clergyman’s death.

Deeply distressed and saddened to hear this. We pray with great urgency that God draws near the family of Revd Anthony Idris Jata’u, who grieve even as they remain in captivity. May God bring freedom and justice, may Christ light the path towards…

Francis’s predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, beatified Cardinal Newman during a visit to Britain in 2010.

In the Catholic Church’s saint-making process, one miracle is necessary for beatification, and a second miracle, occurring after the beatification ceremony, must be certified byVatican experts for sainthood to be conferred.

The Vatican did not give details in announcing Francis’s approval of this second miracle.

But Catholic media last year reported that a pregnant woman’s recovery, with no scientific explanation, from a life-threatening illness had been confirmed by church officials and attributed to Cardinal Newman’s intercession.

London-born Cardinal Newman, who died in England in 1890, had been hailed by Benedict as a model for ecumenism.

Cardinal Newman renounced an illustrious academic career at Oxford University to convert to Catholicism in 1845, convinced that the truth he sought could no longer be found in the Church of England.

Anglicans split from Rome in 1534 when the English monarch Henry VIII was denied a marriage annulment.

No date was immediately announced for a sainthood ceremony.

The Vatican also said that Francis had approved the “heroic virtues of God’s servant” Hungarian Cardinal Jozsef Mindszenty, a staunch foe of Communism who spent more than seven years in prison in his homeland and several…

The annual Christian conference has been going since 1875, putting on Christian seminars and Bible teaching each summer for thousands of people.

The Lake District National Park Development committee unanimously voted to support the planning application for the renovation.

The entire convention will move to the site of the former Pencil factory, with old warehousing being cleared to provide space for the convention’s main marque.

They currently meet at a show ground but also in churches and meeting spaces across the town.

The Pencil Factory building will be modernised to provide toilet facilities, accommodation, meeting rooms and a conference centre.

The refurbishment will also host Keswick Ministries’ teaching courses and be open for visiting church groups, schools and local community groups.

The space may also be used by other organisations from around the country.

James Robson, ministry director, of Keswick Ministries said: “This is a wonderful milestone in our charity’s 140-year history and for the town of Keswick.

“The site, which has been derelict for ten years, will be transformed into a facility that the town and the people of the Lake District can be proud of.

“Our vision is to create an even better Convention experience for supporters on one site with improved facilities, plus a modern venue in this World Heritage Centre that will attract many other visiting…

William has become the figurehead of The Passage, an organisation which has helped more than 130,000 people in crisis over almost 40 years through its resource centre, homelessness prevention projects and innovative accommodation services.

Diana took William and younger brother Harry to the charity in December 1993, and as a young man William has made numerous public and private trips to the organisation.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and patron of The Passage, welcomed the announcement ahead of the duke’s visit to the charity’s St Vincent’s Centre in Westminster.

He said: “I know the duke is deeply committed to working with those most in need, such as the thousands of people The Passage has helped off the streets.

“It is crucial that everyone in our society, especially the poorest, are treated with respect, dignity and kindness, and are given the opportunities to fulfil their potential in life; this announcement is a tangible symbol of that commitment.”

William last visited the St Vincent’s Centre with wife Kate in the run-up to Christmas, when he spoke out against the drug spice after hearing about its devastating effect on the capital’s homeless.

The duke told Mick Clarke, chief executive of The Passage: “The fact it was a legal high and that young people were allowed to…

The Texas-born Pentecostal minister passed away on Wednesday.

A statement released by his colleagues at Paul Cain Ministries said: “Our precious friend, Brother Paul Cain went to be with the Lord Jesus Christ.

“He lived his life for, and to, the glory of God. He was the friend of friends to those in lowly positions and to world leaders and officials.

“He loved the Lord, and the Lord was truly the magnificent obsession of his heart.”

From the age of 17, Paul Cain held events where people were invited to become Christians or pray for healing. He toured nationally and internationally.

He treated from public ministry during the 1950s and 60s after becoming disillusioned by what he considered to be the excesses of some arena ministry preachers.

Hailed by some as a prophet, Mr Cain ministered to politicians – including US presidents.

He had been living in the Santa Maria area of California prior to his death.

Oh my.. I just received a message from Paul Cain’s assistant, Dan, that Paul slipped behind the veil at 10:51 PM. This morning I woke from a Dream where all of Heaven was dancing. I was… https://t.co/5zea7Mt4V6

— James Goll (@JamesGoll) February 13, 2019

In 2004, he was challenged by fellow preachers Rick Joyner, Mike Bickle, and Jack Deere about details of his personal life.

Cain issued a public apology the following year, in which he acknowledged struggling…

Focus on the Family President Jim Daly shared the details of the event planned for 4th May on CBN News’ Faith Nation programme.

“We’ll have great speakers. We’re going to have music, but we’re also going to do a live ultrasound of a third-trimester baby,” Daly said.

It comes as New York has rolled back restrictions on late-term abortions, allowing the procedure to take place after the 24-week mark to protect the mother’s health or in cases where the fetus won’t survive.

Previously, abortions after this point were permitted only to preserve a mother’s life.

Daly acknowledged that the event will “ruffle a few feathers” but said they plan to do everything in “good taste”.

“These politicians that have overreached in our opinion when it comes to reshaping the abortion debate and particularly in Virginia where they’re promoting infanticide,” he said.

In Virginia, there is a law being debated that would broaden the limits on late terminations and reduce the number of doctors required to sign-off a third-trimester abortion from three to one.

Democrat and Virginian Governor, Ralph Northam (above), created controversy when he spoke during a radio interview recently about what could happen in the circumstance of a mother wanting an abortion but already being in labor.

“The infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired, and then a…