Spiritual lethargy has always been a problem that faces the church, argues Stuart Blount. We all know that sleep is important, and usually get reminded of that fact when we miss out on a good night’s sleep and feel the effects throughout the day until we can slide under the duvet once more. The Harvard Women’s Health Watch recently produced an excellent article outlining the benefits of sleeping well. It said that sleep was essential for us as humans in several ways: for learning and memory, metabolism, weight, safety, mood and cardiovascular health, as well as helping the body fight off a ran ..read more

It was a simple offer of prayer, but as Barry Woodward (pictured above) went to the front of the church meeting, his life was about to be transformed. Years of heroin addiction, drug dealing, prison and amphetamine psychosis had taken their toll, but various events seemed to be leading him there. There had been the friendly man on the bus he’d bumped into again who’d just come from the church, then the stranger he’d asked for directions who was a member and took him there. When he arrived, even the “Hallelujah” from behind was from his new psychiatrist, who was a church elder. At the end of th ..read more

Rob Parsons (inset, above) explains how a girl’s question about forgiveness rocked his world about how Christians should deal with it. I have just returned from Asia, where I had the opportunity to witness the incredible work that Tearfund is doing to help care for children rescued from the sex trade. I was so moved as I met with the children, some as young as ten, who had been sold into sexual slavery. I also visited a ministry that works with young people who have been sexually abused within their own families or by close social contacts. It offers counsel, support and, perhaps most importan ..read more

A new, animated version of the world-famous Jesus film is being planned for 2025. The Jesus Film Project, formed after the 1979 launch of the movie described as the most watched of all time, has announced its plans to reach “a new generation through cutting-edge technology”. They’re describing it as “a spectacular remake” (a concept image from the new film is pictured above) of the 1979 version – based on the Gospel of Luke – which has a Guinness world record as the most translated film ever. A production team with credits including Pixar, Disney and Star Wars will oversee “unparalleled visual ..read more

Dave Newton, pictured above, reflects on what he has learned after almost a decade as Principal of Regents Theological College. It was on 5 January 2015 that I jumped into my car to embark on a 140-mile drive to Malvern. No, it was not to fulfil a desire to walk the hills on a crisp winter morning, rather I was starting a new role in Elim as Director of Training and Principal of Regents Theological College. As with most new jobs, feelings of uncertainty – what the demands of the role would require and how the new team might perceive me – all raced around my mind. Fast-forward, as I complete ni ..read more

The love of the Christians had changed everything for Islamist extremist Kamal Saleem (pictured above) – so he reached for one of his guns, to kill himself. He was stopped by a voice: “Kamal, why don’t you call on the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?” An already confusing situation was suddenly even more complex. Kamal thought the sword of Allah might fall on him for his “blasphemous” thoughts. He fell to his knees. “God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, if you are real, will you speak to me?” he prayed. “If you are real, I want to know you.” A power filled the room. There was another voice. “I am ..read more

Geoff and Erica Saunders are retiring and returning to the UK after serving as Elim missionaries in Zimbabwe for more than 40 years. Elim Prospect Church in Harare interviewed them and kindly provided us with a selection of highlights. Geoff, where did you receive your call to be a missionary? I suppose that comes in stages because you can’t be called until you’re a believer, and I became a Christian in my first year at university studying mathematics. Then, a few years later, on a Christian camp Loren Cunningham was the speaker and he challenged us to take up missionary work. At the end of hi ..read more

For acclaimed TV host, singer, actress and author Kathie Lee Gifford, it’s all about who she is, not where she is. The former NBC host of the Today show in the US rails against the notion of Hollywood being a “godless place”, becoming more determined to be “a light in the darkness”. Gifford, 70, (pictured above, inset) told the Whoa That’s Good Podcast: “People try to say Hollywood is secular … there is such a godless world there. But God is everywhere. “There might be people that don’t know God and don’t know that he loves. But there is no godless place on this planet. There’s no godless plac ..read more

How do you grow in fruitfulness as a widespread church whose congregation is drawn from three communities? Letchworth Garden City Church’s Carl Johnston explains. What does fruitfulness look like? That’s the question Letchworth Garden City Church is asking itself as it seeks to grow in discipleship and expand its ministries this year. For pastor Carl Johnston (pictured above, inset, on photo of a Letchworth church baptism), the answer lies in strengthening the church, building on recent initiatives and nurturing future leaders. Since the pandemic, LGCC has grown in numbers, so one practical qu ..read more

There are enormous benefits in ‘unplugging’ for a day, argues MPower Director Mark Lyndon-Jones (inset on picture above). The first day of this month was recently inaugurated ‘Global Unplugging Day’! This was aimed at helping people take a 24-hour respite from technology, to inspire us to have a healthier life/tech balance by taking an hour, or even a full day, away from technology! Can you imagine that? In today’s fast-paced and tech-driven world, it can be challenging to find moments of solace and tranquillity. However, deliberately ‘unplugging’ from technology for a time can offer numerous ..read more