NewLife Faith News - April 18th
Compiled and Edited by Stan Hunt
Following the Sydney church stabbing on Monday, Australia’s eSafety commissioner has called for the removal of violent videos from X and Meta platforms. Julie Inman-Grant announced on Tuesday that X and Meta had 24 hours to remove material that depicted “gratuitous or offensive violence with a high degree of impact or detail” or face potential fines.
X and Meta are the parent company to Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp. Ms Inman-Grant says she is compelling the removal of extreme and violent material under the Online Safety Act to prevent violent extremism going viral online.
It comes after bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel of the Assyrian Christ the Good Shepherd Church and churchgoers were wounded in a knife attack during a live-streamed mass. Premier News reports that Meta is taking steps to remove copies of the harmful content. Police are treating the attack as an act of terrorism.
Source: Premier Christian News
50,000 people took to the streets in Warsaw on Sunday in one of the largest pro-life events in Poland's history. The March of Life in Poland's capital on April 14 took place two days after the left-wing Polish government voted on bills that seek to overturn the countries near-total ban of abortion.
March organisers told the crowd they want every Polish citizen to have the right to life from conception to natural death. It is a sacred right to allow a child to be born, they said. We will not raise the white flag regardless of what happens in the Parliament.
Many march participants waved white-and-red Polish flags and held up pro-life banners. One of the banners read “This is Poland - no one supports abortion". LifesiteNews reports that organisers plan to continue protest activities until “the rights of conceived children are guaranteed”.
Source: LifesiteNews
An online ministry is on the way to its goal of reaching 100 million people with the Gospel by 2028. Network211 has a variety of evangelism sites in multiple languages. Mark Flattery, president of Network211 says they have an unprecedented opportunity to reach every nation and territory that has Internet access with the Good News.
Mr Flattery told AG News they personally interact with individuals at their point of need and join them on their spiritual life journey. People respond from nations large and small, even those closed to traditional missionary efforts.
Mr Flattery says they receive messages of all kinds. People write after viewing a video saying they need to know Jesus, he says. Some write about how desperate their lives are and that they are considering suicide.
Thousands of people request prayer for healing or restoration of a marriage. And so many say they want to come back to God.
Source: AG News
More than 8 million Sudanese have been uprooted in the country since the civil war began one year ago. Unknown tens of thousands have died in the conflict. South Sudan is the poorest country in the world. Chad is one of the 10 poorest countries and that’s where refugees are going.
An unfoldingWord partner group (that can’t be named for security) is meeting refugees at several border camps. Their church planters introduce refugees to the hope of Christ through biblical trauma healing. UnfoldingWord told Mission Network News many refugees are turning to Christ.
A spokesman says they not able to put a whole country in therapy, but the team has just completed taking 100 people through trauma healing. Many of these people indicate they want to follow Christ, he says. Within two days, another 200 people were requesting therapy. Prayer is requested, asking God to provide food and faith for refugees.
Source: Mission Network News
The Archbishop of Canterbury with other popular figures like Bear Grylls, have teamed up to read the Jesus Storybook Bible on screen. In its new format, six Bible stories are narrated, including stories like David and Goliath and the Feeding of the 5,000.
With additional resources like activity packs and Sign Language episodes, the initiative hopes to empower parents to have faith-based conversations with their children. Justin Welby, Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, told Premier News Jesus loved telling stories that tell us who God is, how much he loves us and what his plans are for us.
TV Presenter Gemma Hunt, who tells the story of Jesus calming the storm says reading the Scripture in the Jesus Storybook Bible has really brought the stories to life in a new way. The stories were written by Sally Lloyd-Jones and illustrated by Jago. The book has sold over six million copies worldwide.
Source: Premier Christian News
Christian pilgrims and tourists continued to visit Holy sites despite the Iranian regime's aerial assault against Israel last weekend. Since then, the lines of tourists in some places have been a little shorter but still long at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed to be the place of Jesus' crucifixion and tomb.
Christian pilgrims also visited the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, under the control of the Palestinian Authority. Christians have been subjected to social and political pressure in Bethlehem as they have become a minority, relative to Muslims.
But the Christian Post reports that neither that history nor the ongoing threat of terror have kept pilgrims and tourists from visiting. Over last weekend, Iran launched around 300 missiles and drones, including ballistic and cruise missiles at Israel.
Israel's defence system successfully intercepted the threats. On Sunday, Iran threatened to carry out a larger attack if Israel retaliated.
Source: The Christian Post
Christians in Vietnam are facing new hurdles in planting churches. The government has issued a law which requires religious groups to submit financial records and allows officials to close religious activities for unspecified “serious violations”.
Christianity Today reports that Vietnam’s religious affairs committee says the new law will assist the government to implement uniform measures on Belief and Religion. Observers believe that ironically the decree is Vietnam’s attempt to demonstrate to the international community that it is trying to increase religious liberty.
But in 2022 the Vietnam Baptist Convention filed around 40 registration requests for churches, but few were successful. There has also been an increase in violent attacks on church buildings, and in the number of church leaders arrested.
While historical Christian churches enjoy some freedom, both non-traditional Protestants and those who convert from indigenous religions face intense pressure and violence for their faith.
Source: Christianity Today
In the bustling ports of Australia, a ministry is reaching seafarers from around the globe. Rob Flinders, with the Seaman’s Christian Friend Society, visits ships arriving in Port Botany and Port Kembla.
His mission is to offer Bibles, Bible courses and Gospel tracts to seafarers. Mr Flinders, an ex-seafarer himself, says it’s good to be able to give Bibles and encourage the men to study.
He told Bible Society Australia (BSA) seafarers have little or no opportunity to hear the Gospel, as they are at sea most of the time.
BSA grants enable port chaplains to distribute English and foreign language Bibles. Many seafarers have been impacted by the partnership between these chaplains and BSA’s Grants Program.
Men like Warren, the Filipino Chief Engineer of a container ship. He says he has been reading his Bible and found the path to become a Christian and a servant of King Jesus.
Source: Sower: Bible Society Australia
The military government in Myanmar has escalated its brutal crackdown on ethnic minorities. They are unleashing air strikes and artillery on Christian civilians. Deep in the remote mountains of eastern Burma, the sound of gunfire echoes through villages inhabited by Christian ethnic minorities.
Despite the danger, an aid group Free Burma Rangers is risking lives to help the victims get out of harm's way. They are using their resources to evacuate civilians and deliver lifesaving relief. Free Burma Rangers Founder Dave Eubank told CBN News most of the tribes in the mountains of Burma are Christians.
He says that's one of the reasons why there has been this ongoing conflict between these Christian hill tribes and the Burmese Buddhist military junta. As the conflict rages on, civilians continue paying the highest price. But these resilient ethnic groups remain determined to resist military rule with the help of rebel armies.
Source: CBN Christian World News
A village in North Wales, is set to welcome its first chaplain dedicated to the outdoors community. Jill Ireland will be the chaplain for Llanberis, an area that appeals particularly to climbers and hikers.
Chaplain Ireland brings a wealth of experience from her decade-long tenure in Thailand with Sports Friends Asia and her work with Christians in Sport. Her new role is aimed at helping people make connections with faith through their interests and hobbies.
Ms Ireland told Premier News she wants to be attentive to where and how God is already at work within the outdoor community. Archdeacon David Parry says the appointment is a sign of the Church’s commitment to everyone who finds joy and meaning in this beautiful landscape.
She will be working with the local ministry team to share the good news of Jesus Christ by meeting people where they are.
Source: Premier Christian News