Quarter of Anglican churches childless

The 2016 Mission Statistics also show the average-sized Church of England congregation typically attracts nine children to each service.

Approached about the issue, the Youth Officer for the Diocese of Chichester in Sussex told Premier that churches, too often, do not properly cater for older children.

Dan Jenkins said one issue was a shortage of volunteers leading to Sunday schools grouping teenagers together with younger children.

He told Premier: “If there do happen to be any teenagers [at church], then they’ll often just go out with the children and help with colouring.”

“That’s not enough to keep young people engaged and show young people that the church wants to invest in them.”

According to the figures, the typical medium-sized Church of England church can expect three youngsters at its service, compared to 35 children among the largest five per cent of congregations.

Calling for a more relationally-minded approach to Sunday schools and youth groups, Mr Jenkins said “young people commit to relationships, not programmes”.

He also cited potential for churches to work more closely with schools and parents, in order to encourage more families into church.

Mr Jenkins: “They [children] are committed to those that they’re in relationship with, those that they know; whether that is leaders, other adults in the church or to their own friends, that’s really what engages them with a particular activity.

Giving his reaction, former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord…

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Texas Teens Stand up to Atheists and Defend Christian Flag .

“It is unconstitutional for the school to display the Christian flag,” FFRF attorney Sam Grover wrote to Supt. James Young. “The display of this patently religious symbol by the District confers government endorsement of Christianity, in violation of the Establishment Clause.”

The perpetually offended atheists told the school district they must be inclusive to minority religions and non-religious people.

“The District must immediately remove the Christian flag from school grounds,” Grover wrote. “In…

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Joel and Victoria Osteen’s daily October 23, 2017 devotional – Really Alive

Joel and Victoria Osteen’s daily October 23, 2017 devotional – Really Alive

Today’s Scripture: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – (John 10:10, NIV)

Topic: Really Alive [Monday October 23, 2017]

A couple of years ago, I was watching the news when Captain Sullenberger successfully landed a jet airplane in the Hudson River. All 155 passengers survived. It’s known as “The Miracle on the Hudson.” A reporter asked one passenger what he thought about it all. He was soaking wet, freezing cold, a little bit frazzled, but he had this incredible glow about him, an excitement in his voice. I’ll never forget what he told the reporter, “I was alive before, but now I’m really alive.”

My question today is, “Are you really alive?” Are you passionate about the life God has given you? Do you get up every morning with enthusiasm, pursuing your dreams? God doesn’t want you to just “be alive” or just exist or endure. He wants you to be really alive! You have seeds of greatness on the inside. There is something more for you to accomplish. Get excited about what God is doing! Lift up your eyes of faith to Him. Keep hoping, keep believing, keep trusting and keep living because God has a wonderful plan in store for you!

A Prayer for Today: “Father, thank You for making me alive in Christ! I declare that Jesus is my Lord and Savior, and because He died for me, I can live the abundant life here on earth. Help me stay focused on You this day and live with the enthusiasm that comes from knowing You in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

From Joel Osteen Ministries.


Family Looks for Answers after Christian Boy Beaten to Death in Pakistan

Family Looks for Answers after Christian Boy Beaten to Death in Pakistan



On their son’s third day of high school, the parents of 17-year-old Sharoon Masih learned that he had been in a fight, had suffered a serious injury, and been taken to the hospital.


They rushed to the hospital and there found him dead.


“The boys from his class who had brought him there told us that he died in the classroom,” said his mother, Razia Bibi, a Christian woman in a predominantly Muslim country.


Police said that on Aug. 27 another student at the school — in Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province — kicked Sharoon in the stomach and that he died of internal injuries. The student charged in his death now awaits trial, but police are not calling the attack a hate crime.


However, many Christian Pakistanis, who make up less than two percent of the country’s population, suspect the teenager was targeted because of his religion. Christians, they say, are often forced to occupy the lowest rungs of the social ladder, and are regularly discriminated against in education, employment and housing.


Advocates for Christians in Pakistan note that another Christian boy was killed violently this year: On Oct. 9, police killed a 14-year-old Christian boy in an incident still under investigation.


Pakistan is fourth on the list of 50 countries that the U.S.-based nonprofit Open Doors — which advocates for persecuted Christians — lists as the most…

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T-charge too weak, Christian conservationists says

Leaders at Arocha UK have told Premier they are pushing for the payment, simply referred to as the T-charge, to be rolled out nationwide.

The organisation also said imposing the daily £10 fee on top of the existing £11.50 Congestion Charge was a justified burden for businesses.

 

Director of Conservation at the organisation, Andy Lester said: “The bottom line is it [pollution] is killing people.

“We have to think very hard about what is more important; whether a van can drive into central London or we start saving lives.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan introduced the T-charge, which largely applies to diesel and petrol vehicles registered before 2006, in a bid to improve the city’s “lethal air”.

Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

 

The fee mirrors the Congestion Charge by applying only to the central London zone and cars operating weekdays between 7am and 6pm.

Mr Lester stated: “We are the second worst air polluters in Europe; figures from 2015 suggest 50,000 Britons died from exposure to man-made chemicals, and that’s nearly ten per cent of the deaths in the year, nationwide.”

“It [the t-charge] is a step in the right direction and, if you’re suffering from a health-related condition then you will be, excuse the pun, breathing a sigh of relief.”

The RAC automotive services company said Mr Khan is right to tackle the oldest vehicles but warned that “drivers may also see themselves as an easy target”.

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Service will honour late religious freedoms campaigner

A memorial and thanksgiving ceremony will be held at Westminster Chapel in central London at 2pm on Wednesday 29th November.

Rev Windsor, who passed away at his home aged 74 on 17th September, had served as a Special Ambassador for Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW).

 

In a statement released online, the organisation said: “We’d love you to join us in remembering Stuart’s life and giving thanks for his legacy at a special memorial and thanksgiving service.

“Stuart was such a big part of CSW’s history, serving as our National Director for 19 years before stepping down and becoming Special Ambassador, a role he served in until the end.

“A dedicated defender and champion of freedom of religion, we’ll never forget Stuart’s courage, compassion, and deep, sincere love of Jesus.”

Shortly before his death, Rev Windsor underwent angioplasty – heart surgery – after suffering a serious heart attack in July this year.

Following news of Rev Windsor’s death, CSW’s Chief Executive, Mervyn Thomas said: “I have worked with Stuart for nearly a quarter of a century.

“I have known no-one with a more caring and compassionate heart for the suffering than Stuart.”

Investing years of his life in drawing attention to the plight of believers around the world who live under pressure for their faith, Rev Windsor addressed the US Congress, the United Nations and European and UK parliaments.

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New General Superintendent Says Evangelism Remains a Priority for Assemblies of God .

New Assemblies of God General Superintendent Doug Clay (Facebook )

We have an interesting story, well told, from .. . charismapodcastnetwork.com.


During his recent consecration as the new general superintendent of the Assemblies of God, Dr. Doug Clay had two things in mind: First, he wanted to reaffirm the identity of his denomination, and second, to look to the future by keeping four AG core values at the forefront.

Drawing an analogy between…

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President Trump will release JFK files

As a Dallas resident, I have visited the Sixth Floor Museum many times. It is located where, according to the Warren Commission, Lee Harvey Oswald shot and killed President Kennedy on November 22, 1963.

Conspiracy theories continue to generate debate more than fifty years after the tragedy. Were the Soviets involved? The Mafia? The Cubans? The CIA?

Now the controversy has erupted anew with President Trump’s weekend announcement that he does not plan to block the scheduled release of thousands of documents related to the assassination. These documents include 3,000 that have never been seen by the public and more than 30,000 that have been previously released but were redacted. Barring new information, the documents will be released this Thursday.

If you could prove conclusively that someone other than Oswald killed President Kennedy, your discovery would make global headlines. But how would it change our lives today?

On a more practical level, imagine that you could develop a vaccine that would prevent every form of cancer or heart disease. You would instantly become one of the most famous and celebrated figures in history.

But every human being will eventually die of something unless Jesus returns first (Hebrews 9:27).

The most important news ever announced is a message you know well. You have heard it all your Christian life. If Jesus is your Lord, this message led you to him and to eternal life. It is so simple that a child can understand it and so powerful that it transforms every person who believes and lives by its truth.

Paul was adamant: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

Here’s the catch: to reach lost people, we must love lost people.

Over the weekend, I was reading in the Book of Acts and came to an event I’d like to explore with you this morning. Acts 19 finds Paul and his ministry team in Ephesus, where he…

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