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Lockdown latest: Scottish Government September update
This last month has seen some significant opening up of activities that many churches undertake with guidance published for a variety of sectors including youth and children’s work, community learning and development (that incorporates education), outdoor events and running meetings for the…
Kieran Turner
Report proposes a new deal with faith communities
The report recognises the invaluable role of churches noting that, “before the welfare state, social support was provided by parishes, and by a patchwork of independent charities, foundations, friendly societies, mutuals, trades unions, cooperatives – and churches… Many of our public services – our…
Peter Lynas
COVID and the future of work
Over the summer, the Evangelical Alliance hosted a roundtable of member organisations discussing the impact of the pandemic on the economy, and what the church can do in response. One issue that stood out for several participants was employment and the future of work. While the furlough scheme has…
John Coleby
Changing Church: autumn survey
The coronavirus pandemic has proven to be a marathon not a sprint. The church is continuing to undergo the biggest change in a generation. Between the 1 and the 12 October we surveyed more than 1,000 individuals and in excess of 450 church leaders with our Changing Church: autumn survey, giving us…
Hope has a name, and its name is Jesus
The change in government guidelines and regulations that we’re seeing on a seemingly weekly basis exposes how vital hope is, and yet how easily we place our hope in the wrong things. We hope for a reduction in coronavirus cases to enable our lives to return to some semblance of normality. Better…
Danny Webster
In this together – a call for generational unity
In the last few weeks young people and young adults have been specifically addressed by government and media and warned to behave responsibly. The warnings may be valid and appropriate but all to easily slide into blame and accusation. Jesus’ prayer for His church was that we would be one (John…
Phil Knox
People of prayer in places of pain
Since the shaking started in March, there have been many times due to personal family situations, listening to friends’ experiences, or trying to process the local, national, and global news, when I have only been able to pray as Paul describes in Romans 8:22-27: "We know that the whole creation…
Donna Jennings
How to run for Jesus in lockdown
It was a cold, dark, November evening, and I was charging downhill with my running club, when I drew alongside an older member who exclaimed, “Let there be light!” We quickly struck up a conversation about how his dad used to be in the church choir and would often take him to church as a boy, but…
Natalie Andrews
Understanding the politics of lockdown
The system of individual local lockdowns in England has now been replaced with a three-tier set of restrictions, with every local authority placed in one of the three categories. At present only the wider Liverpool City Region is in the highest tier of restrictions, which sees the closure of many…
Danny Webster
Good news from small voices
Have you ever noticed how the news on the TV always starts with the UK-wide announcements before they read the headlines from the devolved nations such as Wales? There are also occasions when things are reversed and the smaller local voice is shared and the whole UK is encouraged to take note of…
Stephen Harmes
Wales ‘fire-break’ will see places of worship close
First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced that a two-week, three-weekend ‘fire-break’ will begin in Wales at 6pm on Friday, 23 October and end on Monday, 9 November. This is designed to break the rapidly increasing spread of the coronavirus in the nation. The R number in Wales is currently 1.5…
Speaking with and for the most vulnerable
On Wednesday, the Evangelical Alliance in Northern Ireland appeared at the Northern Ireland Education Committee alongside the National Autistic Society to advocate for some of the most vulnerable people in society. You can watch Donna, head of church and mission, giving evidence here and the BBC…
The UK church amid the pandemic: a journey of snakes and ladders
We wait to roll a 6. We plod forward, feeling like we’re ahead. We climb another ladder. 100, our desired destination, is in sight… restrictions lifted, new measures in place, the R number dropping, social connections rebuilding. Circumstances looked and felt better, hopeful even. In church,…
Donna Jennings
Removal of abortion law has led to over 650 abortions in the past six months
Today, 22 October 2020, marks one year since the law on abortion in Northern Ireland was radically changed by the Westminster Government. Regulations came into effect on 31 March, and since then more than 650 abortions have been carried out in the first six months up to the beginning of…
David Smyth
IDOP Online 2021
Our online prayer event marked International Day of Prayer (IDOP) for the persecuted church on Sunday, 7 November 2021. We joined our friends at Open Doors, CSW and Release International. This jointly-hosted webinar featured the latest news, testimonies and prayer requests from Nigeria, Eritrea and…
