In response to a call to prayer issued by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), churches worldwide prayed for the release of Leah Sharibu on Sunday.

The Christian girl from Dapchi, Nigeria is still being held by the Boko Haram terrorist group for refusing to renounce her faith in exchange for freedom.

On 21st March, the al-Barnawi faction of Boko Haram returned 104 of the 110 girls they had abducted on 19th February from the Government Girls Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Yobe State.

Religious freedom charity Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said the kidnapping came after an agreement that saw armed forces withdraw from the town, allowing the terrorists unhindered access.

As well as confirming that five of their fellow abductees were dead and had been buried in the bush, the girls that were released said Leah Sharibu had been “held back on religious grounds” due to her refusal to renounce her faith and wear a hijab.

Her mother, Rebecca Sharibu, was told that Leah had already boarded the vehicle bound for Dapchi along with others, but was told to get off after refusing to recite the Islamic profession of faith.

“They said my daughter would only be brought back home the day she knows how to recite Kalima shahada.”

The ordeal has triggered outcry from Christians in Nigeria.

Dr Khataza Gondwe from CSW told Premier Leah’s faith has inspired many…

Characters such as Judas Iscariot’s mother and Barabbas will help tell the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Susanne Lofthus, artistic director of Cutting Edge Theatre and director of The Edinburgh Easter Play told Premier why it’s so important to tell the “real” Easter story.

“Somebody once said to me that the reason for doing the passion plays and the mystery plays in the medieval times was because society was illiterate and that was the Church’s way of communicating the story to them.

“Whilst we’re not as illiterate a society nowadays, we are getting more spiritually illiterate as a society. So I think it’s really important to be able to tell the story in a relevant and accessible manner so that people then can make informed choices about the story.

“It’s up to them what they do with the story but it’s our responsibility to tell the story.”

The annual play has another twist – it’s still being written.

The play’s cast of community performers and professional actor, Duncan Rennie – who plays Jesus – are currently working on improvised scenes as well as writing parts for their own characters.

Lofthus – who has directed the Easter play for numerous years, said she felt duty-bound to share the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

“The general public are walking around and if they’ve got a perception of Jesus, it’s…

When asked how he felt about the world’s reaction to his Grandfather’s death, Will, who is also a preacher, said: “To be honest, I haven’t had much time to process it all.

“Being a grandson, as a family member, my focus has been directed on my family. We saw very little news; we saw very little publications, just because when you’re in the middle of it you don’t get to process it all.”

The world-famous evangelist died on 21st February but Will explained how it wasn’t until his grandfather’s body was transported from Ashville in North Carolina to Charlotte that he fully appreciated the effect of Rev Billy Graham’s passing.

He said: “Along that two and a half hour drive there were people lined up the whole way except for about 10 kilometres – otherwise it was people sitting on the side of the road, sometimes with large, vast numbers of people sitting there. It was very much overwhelming, emotionally for me, to see people pour out their love for my granddaddy.”

Graham’s body was then laid in honour in the Capitol’s rotunda, a rare honour for an apolitical figure.

Will added that seeing the president, vice president and hundreds of others from the legislative and executive branches, as well as Supreme Court members, pay respect in Washington DC “was a very special moment”.

“That was very humbling and a bit overwhelming too, to see all those people come,” he said.

As the…

It is understood an application to build the place of worship in El Toud near Luxor was abandoned after an angry mob targeted a site visit by local planning officials last week.

Crowds gathered in the village on Wednesday morning – chanting and throwing stones – as they voiced opposition to the plans.

Sami Farid, a Christian living in El Toud, told World Watch Monitor: “Many Muslim villagers gathered in front of the ‘house church’ and threw stones at it.

“They also pelted the Copt [Coptic Christian] homes next to the church.

“They shouted ‘Allahu akbar’ [Allah is the greatest], and chanted slogans against the church.

“Then they blocked access to the street leading to the church.”

The situation did not de-escalate until one Christian denied to the visiting officials that they wanted to construct a new church building.

During a village meeting the following day, some Muslims also demanded that anyone trying to build a church in El Toud should be forced out of the area and their homes set on fire.

Home to around 500 Coptic Christians, believers in El Toud have been meeting since 2007 in the home of a church member.

The premise, which is used by a growing Christian population, is not officially recognised. Congregations seeking a church licence have experienced major difficulties.

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