At least 16 killed in Nigeria after New Year’s Eve church service
World Watch Monitor At least 16 people were killed as gunmen opened fire at churchgoers returning from a midnight service on New Year’s Eve in Omuku, a town in Nigeria’s southern Rivers state. According to the BBC, the New Year’s Eve fireworks initially made it difficult for people to realise that shots were being fired and […]
SIGHT-SEEING: LOOKING BACK WITH LAMENT – AND FORWARD WITH HOPE
RICHARD MOUW, in a column first published by Religion News Service, reflects on the idea of creating lists of “most notable” events…
Largest group of Mennonite churches in US leaves denomination
RNS Buggies head toward home after a Mennonite service. PICTURE: Creative Commons The Lancaster Mennonite Conference, the largest group of Mennonite congregations in the US, has officially separated from the broader Mennonite community after a long-term disagreement over sexuality and the church. The LMC, with 179 churches in Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York, voted to […]
England’s Anglican cathedrals play a “key role” in bringing communities together, report finds
England’s Anglican cathedrals are playing a “key part” in bringing local communities together, according to a report published in the UK late last week. The report – Cathedrals and their communities: A report on the diverse roles of cathedrals in modern England – was compiled by the UK Government’s Minister for Faith, Lord Bourne, after […]
BOOKS: ABDUCTED – ONE CLERIC’S ACCOUNT OF HIS KIDNAPPING IN IRAQ
A World Watch Monitor correspondent looks at an Iraqi bishop’s gripping account of his abduction at the hands of violent Islamic extremists…
TAKE DIRECTION
As someone who has stepped up and sacrificed to lead, from soccer coach to pastor, one thing I wish those on a team would do more readily is take direction! Part of a team. PICTURE: Kuan Fang/Unsplash Contrary to what most believe, leading, in most instances, is not putting yourself forward, but giving yourself – […]
UNICEF calls for more action to ensure newborns survive first days
With almost 386,000 babies expected to be born on the first day of 2018, UNICEF has urged the world to do more to ensure they survive their first days of life. While many of the babies will survive, the UN Children’s Fund noted that during 2016 an estimated 2,600 children died within 24 hours of […]
SLAVERY: FROM DATA TO LAWS, FIVE GAINS IN THE GLOBAL ANTI-SLAVERY FIGHT IN 2017
Against the backdrop of 40.3 million people estimated to be living in slavery, KIERAN GUILBERT, of Thomson Reuters Foundation, reports on five “gains” in the fight to eradicate slavery around the world last year…