It’s the European wide ‘Pray Day’ for schools with Christians across the continent being encouraged to join in.

Celia Bowering is the chair of the Pray for Schools steering group.

Speaking on Premier’s News Hour she said prayer is vitally important.

“We’ve got the vision that if we have a canopy of prayer over all the schools in the UK, it would make such a difference.

“As Christians, we know God hears and answers our prayers so we’re really excited about this.”

Ofsted inspections, welfare of teachers and the atmosphere within schools are just some of the areas Christians are being encouraged to pray into.

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Tory former minister Baroness Warsi assured ministers that the British Muslim community was “fully supportive” of any claim Ms Bibi might have.

But at question time Home Office minister Baroness Williams of Trafford repeatedly refused to comment on the case.

Lady Williams warned that departing from this policy of not commenting on individual cases due to a “duty of confidentiality” may put individuals and their family members “in danger”.

Lord Alton of Liverpool said it was “passing strange” that while other governments, parliamentarians and newspaper leader writers had spoken powerfully for asylum to be granted “we should take Trappist vows of silence”.

Lord Alton, an independent crossbench peer, praised those behind the acquittal of Ms Bibi and their “refusal to be dictated to by lynch mobs”.

He said the UK’s failure to offer asylum due to what some said was a fear of reprisals, undermined “our belief in justice, human rights, the rule of law and religious freedom” while also endangering “us of falling foul, succumbing to blackmail”.

Lady Williams said she could not comment on most of the points he had made, adding: “Our primary concern is for the safety and security of Asia Bibi and we want to see a swift resolution of the situation.

“A number of countries are in discussion about providing a safe destination once the legal process is complete and therefore it…

The town’s Christmas tree has been put up with the lights set to be lit on 1st December.

December is a big month for Bethlehem with thousands of extra tourists set to visit the town where Jesus was born.

Fady Ghattas from the Bethlehem Municipality said: “We are preparing for a long season as usual.

“As it is Bethlehem, we have many events from November all the way through till January.”

As well as visiting the holy sites, those visiting Bethlehem will be treated to a Christmas market, Santa’s village and a whole host of choirs giving performances.

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Sussex Police released a CCTV image of Jeremy Brabrooke at St Faith’s Church in Havant, Hampshire, taken on the same day that he had left Ford Prison in West Sussex.

A police spokeswoman confirmed that Brabrooke was arrested on Monday.

She said: “Wanted man Jeremy Brabrooke has been arrested.

“The 56-year-old absconded from Ford Prison last Wednesday (November 14) and was arrested in Hampshire on Monday (November 19).

“Members of the public and media are thanked for their assistance.”

Brabrooke was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1988 for murder in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

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The Biblical scholar, who also writes as Tom Wright, is the author of over 40 books. He has also been awarded 15 honorary degrees to date in recognition of his work.

He was the Bishop of Durham from 2003-2010 and is now a Research Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.

The editors of the new volume, John Anthony Dunne and Eric Lewellen had this message for their fellow Biblical scholar:
 
“It is with great joy and affection that we present this collection of essays to N. T. Wright on the occasion of his seventieth birthday (1 December 2018) in celebration of his illustrious career. After four years of private meetings, collecting and editing essays, and multiple emails.

“We are thrilled that we can finally present this volume to our esteemed honorand. The present volume is offered to Tom as a token of appreciation from students, colleagues and friends who have been inspired and challenged by his stimulating scholarship and pastoral insights.

“We wish to extend our deep gratitude to him as someone who, through service and scholarship, has pointed us all to the One God for the building up of his One People with hope for his One Future.”
 
Wright is one of the most influential current theologians in the world.
 
The book highlights his contribution to New Testament theology and interpretation over the last four…

Christians in the country are opposing the proposal, called the ‘Islamic boarding schools (Pensantren) and religious education’ or RUU bill.

It was proposed by the United Development Party (PPP) – an umbrella party of Muslim groups – in 2013.

If it passes, every Sunday school will be required to have at least 15 people and the organiser must have the approval of the Religious Affairs Ministry.

More than 200,000 Christians have signed an online petition to Indonesian President Jokowi and the House of Representative in protest of the bill.

Their concern follows the ‘Joint Ministers Decree’ that regulates church membership which has been used by Islamic extremist groups and the government to stop Christians from building churches.

The general Secretary of the Indonesian Communion Church (PGI), Gomar Gultom, argued that Sunday schools are informal and part of the church’s worship activity, not the same as other religious education.

They also pointed out that Sunday school should not require permission as religious freedom is already guaranteed in the Indonesian Constitution (Article 29).

The House of Representatives has promised to hold hearings to ensure that religious freedom is upheld.

The main component Christians are opposing is article 69 of the bill, which reads:

“(1) Non-formal Christian Religious Education as stated in Article 56 is held in the form of Sunday…