The UK branch of the Evangelical Sisters of Mary held an 'Israel Afternoon' event in London, drawing over 100 attendees, nearly half of whom were Jewish. The sisters, based at their home known as Jesus’ Return, aimed to demonstrate support for their Jewish neighbors. Guest speakers from Bridges for Peace also shared their work with Israel. The article contrasts this positive engagement with recent antisemitic incidents in the region, arguing that the Church should actively show love to Jewish communities. The author links this mission to the Hanukkah festival and biblical teachings on letting one's light shine.
Yasuko Fleming, a Japanese student studying in London, reports that demonic spirits manifested when she accepted Jesus in 1993. According to the article, she experienced physical sensations of choking and saw faces of deities she previously worshipped. Her landlady, a Christian, had prayed for three days before Fleming converted. After an hour of prayer, Fleming says she felt peace and freedom. She now leads a Christian art community in Tokyo, Japan, where she teaches dance and English. The outlet notes that Japan remains largely resistant to Christianity, with only one percent of the population identifying as Christian. Fleming encourages patient evangelism within families.
A Christian mother in Maine is appealing a lower court order that prohibits her from taking her 12-year-old daughter to church or sharing biblical teachings during custodial time. The Portland District Court granted exclusive religious decision-making power to the father, citing potential psychological harm from the family's Calvary Chapel attendance. Liberty Counsel represents the mother, arguing the ruling violates constitutional parental rights and First Amendment protections. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court heard oral arguments in November 2025, with justices expressing skepticism about the lower court's restrictions. The case highlights tensions between parental religious freedom and child welfare determinations in custody disputes.
IKON Church in Stocksbridge, England, is marking its 40th anniversary. The Pentecostal fellowship began in the 1980s after local families responded to the New Life evangelistic tabloid. It started as a home group before becoming an independent church in the Yorkshire town. The congregation has a history of sending missionaries to countries such as Mexico, Malta, Cambodia, and Alaska. Kevin Gould served as the first pastor. The church now operates from a modern facility with a worship band, maintaining its focus on evangelism and discipleship after moving from earlier village hall arrangements.
In 1992, missionary Stephen Barrett visited Ludmilla, a dying Russian gymnastics coach, in a Moscow hospital. She was suffering from terminal cancer and had been raised an atheist. Barrett showed her the JESUS Film on a portable TV. Ludmilla watched attentively and prayed to accept Jesus Christ as her Savior. She then requested to return to her home in Siberia. She died peacefully one week later. The story highlights her spiritual transformation during her final days.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Farid Ershad on UnsplashPersecuted church
A Christian convert who fled to a neighboring country reports that underground churches in Afghanistan are growing despite severe Taliban persecution. He describes facing death threats and escaping the capital after the 2021 political shift. While authorities claim no Christians remain, believers assert that secret gatherings continue and new converts are joining. Representatives from advocacy groups confirm the faith remains resilient, even as risks for believers increase significantly under the current Islamic regime. The community maintains its strength amid escalating dangers.
Russian forces have intensified attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, destroying 70% of thermal power capacity since October 2025, according to a November 5 report by the International Energy Agency. This strategy has left 12 million Ukrainians facing daily blackouts of up to 20 hours in cities like Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson. In response, local evangelical churches and aid organizations, including the Ukrainian Baptist Union and the Slavic Gospel Association, are converting spaces into warming centers. They are distributing generators, blankets, and meals to help families survive the sub-zero temperatures while continuing worship services in the dark.
Ron Nelson, a successful commercial real estate developer from Toronto, Canada, lived inside a prison to share the Christian gospel with inmates. According to the article, Nelson read Matthew 25:36 and felt called to minister to prisoners. He struck a deal with a prison warden to rent a cell, holding Bible studies at night while working on a shopping mall project by day. Investors initially threatened to fire him for this arrangement, but reinstated him after seeing his dedication. Nelson later became a missionary, working in Russia and other countries, and died in 2008. The story is recounted by Stephen W. Barrett, who met Nelson in Moscow in 1991.
Author Lance Lambert founded Halford House Christian Fellowship in Richmond, Surrey, in 1954 to restore the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the UK. Inspired by the Hebridean Revival, Lambert and his young associates faced ostracism but built an influential congregation through faith and unity. The group, which contributed to the worldwide Charismatic Renewal, emphasized prayer and unanimity in decision-making. Lambert, who became an Israeli citizen in 1980, wrote about these events in his book published in 2012. He died in Jerusalem in 2015. The outlet reports that his teachings on Israel and the Church remain relevant amid current Middle East conflicts.
According to God Reports, the Messianic Jewish community in Israel has experienced substantial growth, with estimates rising from approximately 5,000 believers in 1998 to around 30,000 in 2025. Rev Aaron Eime, formerly of CMJ, attributes this increase to heightened spiritual interest following the Gaza war. The article highlights instances of harmony between Jewish and Arab believers and notes the challenges faced by converts who risk social ostracization. Eime, now based in the UK, emphasizes the importance of Hebraic roots in understanding Christian faith while documenting the expansion of these congregations across the region.
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