The Scripp’s National Spelling Bee in America was won by Karthick Nemmani, 14, from Texas after he was asked to spell ‘koinonia’. 

The Greek word is defined as ‘Christian fellowship or communion, with God or, more commonly, with fellow Christians’. 

Nemmani asked for the definition, the language of origin and if there were any alternative pronunciations before spelling it correctly and winning the competition. 

However, Christians were joking online that it was too easy for believers:

If you grew up evangelical in the 90s you can totally spell koinonia because you had a crush on the drummer for a youth group band by that name. https://t.co/ZBOT6xPUUZ

— Rachel Held Evans (@rachelheldevans) June 1, 2018

Certainly every person @ManorChurch would have been able to win the National Spelling Bee last night based on our current Sunday series in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. #Koinonia pic.twitter.com/dxLB1YMYG0

— John Elton Pletcher (@JohnEPletcher) 1 June 2018

All the Christians freaking out about koinonia being the winning word in the Scripps Spelling Bee: pic.twitter.com/H8DkCT5dlV

— megsistential crisis (@DextrousDebussy) June 3, 2018

Koinonia. I’ve taught Bible studies for years, and the word is an important concept: the fellowship of Believers (Acts 2:42-47). It also is the winning word in the 2018 National Spelling Bee.

— Ron Orozco (@ronorozco_bee) June…

The National Crime Agency thinks there are tens of thousands of people being exploited in the UK, forced to work long hours, for little or no pay, and under threat of violence. They suspect many of them are working in terrible conditions in car washes as police have unearthed this kind of exploitation in garages throughout the country. 

To combat the problem, drivers are being encouraged to join a national information-gathering campaign launched by the Church of England  and the Catholic Church in an app. 

The Safe Car Wash app will allow drivers to log where they are washing their car and answer a series of questions which could help identify if the staff have been trafficked. 

This could vary from saying whether the workers have suitable protective clothing to any personal indicators such as staff seeming withdrawn. 

The questions will be:

• Do the workers have access to suitable protective clothing? Look out for gloves and boots.  

• Is there evidence of workers living on site? Can you see a caravan or mattresses and bedding? 

• Does anyone appear controlling or intimidating?  

• Does the body language of the workers appear withdrawn or fearful?  

• Do there appear to be minors working at the car wash?  

• Did you pay less than £6.70 for the car wash?  

• Does the car wash only accept cash?  

• Did they offer a receipt?  

Users can open the app when they are at the car wash and pinpoint their exact location using GPS.  

If the answers…

The Churches Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS) are the independent Christian safeguarding charity who help train organisations and staff about protection. 

They are launching a new set of DBS checks for roles in churches and Christian organisations which don’t meet the requirements to have an enhanced DBS check but where the organisation feels it would still be right to have some sort of basic check. 

This was decided by the government earlier this year and allows those who appoint people to search the National Police Computer for convictions which could be relevant to the role. 

Justin Humphrys, CEO of CCPAS told Premier: “The idea behind basic checks is that they allow a lower level of criminal records check to be made for people involved who don’t meet eligibility for the higher level checks…where there is a role that has some contact with children or vulnerable adults, there is concern about wanting to make sure the right sorts of people are in those roles yet they don’t meet eligibility for a higher check – this is new the offer that’s in place.”

“It really allays some of the anxieties and concerns that a lot of organisations have when they come to us and say, ‘look we really want to check this person, we think it’s the right thing to do, it demonstrates safe practice however they don’t meet the threshold’.”

The basic disclosure check is the lowest…

Jonathan Aitken was an MP in the Thanet area for 20 and held a Cabinet position under John Major. 

In 1999 he was sent to prison for perjury and perverting the course of justice but whilst inside he read the Bible more, having attended an alpha course in the past, and became a Christian. 

He later studied theology at Oxford and became an honorary president of Christian Solidarity Worldwide. 

In an interview with The Sunday Times, he said he was looking forward to being ordained: “I am having a slight struggle tempering my enthusiasm with proper Christian humility.” 

Mr Aitken, 75, said that various clergymen asked him about his “past sins”, about which he said: “I don’t know if they went through the press cuttings”. 

He will be ordained by the Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally on 30th June and become a prison chaplain, helping inmates deal with loss, self-harm and suicide attempts. 

Speaking of going into ministry later in life he said: “I feel I’ve got the energy for it and, above all, I’ve got the calling for it”

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Candles will be lit by relatives of the victims during the private ceremony, before an olive tree – known as the Tree of Healing – is planted in the cathedral grounds using compost from floral tributes left on the bridge in the aftermath of the murders last year.

A procession from the cathedral to Southwark Needle, at the corner of London Bridge and Duke Street Hill, will take place following the ceremony, and a minute’s silence will be held at 4.30pm.

The Dean of Southwark, The Very Revd Andrew Nunn, who will host the service of commemoration, said the Tree of Healing will be “a constant reminder to us all of those who were harmed but also of the importance of our communities coming together to stand against violence in all its forms”.

A digital book of hope will be available at Southwark Cathedral throughout the weekend for the public to sign.

Ahead of the day’s commemorative events, the Prime Minister recalled the “stories of courage” which emerged from the attack.

She described it as a “cowardly attempt to strike at the heart of our freedoms by deliberately targeting people enjoying their Saturday night with friends and family”.

Mrs May said: “Today we remember those who died and the many more who were injured, and also pay tribute to the bravery of our emergency services and those who intervened or came to the aid of others.

“The many stories of courage…