Podcast
World Christian News
Hosted by Songs of Hope · EN
Weekly audio posts of world Christian news. From Songs of Hope radio program in Melbourne, Australia. News Bulletin prepared by Vic Campbell.
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31Jan21 Christian News Bulletin
Jan 31, 2021Tap to summarizeSUNRISE FROM SPACEA NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station said earlier this month that sunrises from space remind him of a Bible verse from Psalms. Christianheadlines.com reports that Victor Glover, one of seven men and women on the space station’s Expedition 64 crew, posted two pictures on Instagram of the sun beaming just above the earth’s horizon.“Took these photos today, I love sunrises and sunsets,” Glover wrote on Instagram and Twitter. “Can you see the bands of colour? They remind me of the scripture in Psalm 30, ‘weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.’ It seems darkest just before sunrise. I wish you all love and light. Goodnight from the Space Station”BIBLE STUDY PODCASTA bible study podcast run by the Catholic group Ascension Presents called The Bible in a Year is the most popular podcast for Apple users, beating out news shows and other mainstream sources according to Christianheadlines.com The podcast is hosted by Friar Mike Schmitz, a Catholic priest who is in charge of young adult ministry at his local parish. The podcast consists of Friar Schmitz reading Scripture and then providing his own supplementary theological and historical context teachings. The podcast is 25 minutes long.HOPE IN LOCKDOWNAssist News reports that Christians across the UK whose prayers have been answered are being encouraged to tell their stories online to make hope visible during lockdown. The Answered Prayer Challenge aims to flood social media with stories of hope and faith in Christ during lockdown.
Transcribe →17Jan21 Christian News Bulletin
Jan 18, 2021Tap to summarizeCOVID-19 VACCINEIn an interview broadcast last week on the Italian television station Canale 5, Pope Francis stated that “everyone” must take the COVID-19 vaccine. According to LifeSiteNews, he said “I believe that, ethically, everyone should take the vaccine.” The Pope added that he would be taking the vaccine himself and that the Vatican will administer it to its citizens soon, remarking that “it must be done.” VACCINATIONS IN A CATHEDRALPeople in the Lichfield area in the UK may now go to their local cathedral to get a Covid-19 jab. On the 15th January, Lichfield Cathedral began hosting a vaccine clinic. When the Phizer vaccine was approved, the Dean of Lichfield, Very Rev Adrian Dorber, wrote to local medical practices to offer the cathedral as space for vaccinations. He said: " We want to offer this cathedral nave as a big space that can safely and securely house local vaccination programmes and enable speedy delivery to those most at risk."GOSPEL ACTION IN IRANMission Network News reports that Gospel workers in Iran started noticing a trend after COVID-19 hit the country: people reported coming to Christ in 10 times the numbers they had before the pandemic. A television show, called Flourish, reaches out to Iranian women who live in an increasingly post-Islamic context. JoAnn Doyle of Uncharted Ministries says, “Most of the women are post-Islamic. They’re in this country that just is so oppressive, especially to women. But the general population is just rejecting Islam.” The rejection of Islam has led many Iranians to Christ, though atheism and other religions have grown as well. Doyle says, “These women are very open. They’re looking. Those that are coming to faith in Christ, the majority of them are women. Women are leading the way, not only in salvation but also in discipleship and leadership.”
Transcribe →1Nov20 Christian News Bulletin
Nov 1, 2020Tap to summarizeCENSORSHIP IN CHINAThe Christian Post reports that internet censorship targeting Christians in China has become so severe that even official government-sanctioned Christian groups are now using the Chinese pinyin initials “JD” to replace Chinese characters for “Christ,” according to U.S.-based China Aid. In one official WeChat store, not only ‘Christ’ becomes ‘JD,’ ‘Jesus’ also becomes ‘YS,’ and ‘Bible’ becomes SJ’.TITHE-THE-TITHEAlfred Street Baptist Church, a predominantly Black church in Alexandria, Virginia, has donated more than $1,000,000 to various organizations to help those affected by the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic. According to Christian Headlines, the money came from excess tithes that the church didn't need to run. It was part of an initiative called "Tithe-The-Tithe."FESTIVAL HALL SOLDMelbourne’s iconic Festival Hall has been purchased by Hillsong Church. Reports in various media suggest that the property was sold for more than $23 million.
Transcribe →25Oct20 Christian News Bulletin
Oct 25, 2020Tap to summarizeTIKTOK AND THE GOSPELEternity News reports that TikTok, the short video app that boasts about 800 million active users worldwide, has something even more powerful than humorous dance videos on it: the gospel. Operation 513, a collection of young street evangelists, have produced material on the TikTok platform and their gospel videos have racked up hundreds of thousands of views. One of the videos has over 700 thousand views. Their channel may be seen at needgod.netAUDIO BIBLE IN ‘3D SOUND’According to Christian Headlines, a Polish filmmaker is working on an Audio Bible to provide listeners with a cinematic audio experience of the Scriptures. Casting for the project will feature hundreds of voice actors, ranging from A-list Hollywood actors to everyday people. The production is through a binaural recording, an audio technique that is meant to provide a ‘3D sound’, especially when using headphones. PRAYERS FOR THE MEDIAChristians and churches of all denominations are being urged to pray for the media on Sunday 1st November. The appeal comes from Christians in Media, a network working across all forms of global media.
Transcribe →18Oct20 Christian News Bulletin
Oct 18, 2020Tap to summarizeTHE BIBLE IN SIGN LANGUAGEChristianity Today reports that after 39 years’ work, a sign language (American) translation of The Bible Is Now Complete. Work on translating the Bible into American Sign Language started in 1981 with Duane King, a minister in the Independent Christian Church. Pastor King had learned to sign after meeting a deaf Christian couple who told him they avoided going to church because they did not understand what was going on. Pastor King and his wife, Peggy, then started a church for the deaf and started work on the sign language Bible.CHRISTIANS IN EGYPTAccording to The Christian Post, the situation for Christians in Egypt is ‘better now than it has been for a long time.’ Darrell Bock, a Christian professor recently visited the nation where he met with a group of 70 Protestant Egyptian leaders who told him that improvement in conditions for the Christian minority was ‘huge’. However, he says there are still areas in the country, where there is violence against the Christian Church About 10% of Egypt is Christian. Barely 1% are evangelical Protestant. Since 2017 more than 1,600 churches have been given legal recognition. A HILLSONG BOOKGrammy Award-winning group Hillsong Worship has released a children’s book named after their popular song What A Beautiful Name. The book, written by Hillsong's Brooke Ligertwood and Ben Fielding and their spouses, presents the themes mentioned in the worship song to young readers in a fun enjoyable way.
Transcribe →4Oct20 Christian News Bulletin
Oct 4, 2020Tap to summarizeINNOVATIVE CHURCH SERVICESReligion News Service reports that American churches that have continued to meet in person in their buildings have done so with smaller gatherings, social distancing, mask wearing and other measures meant to protect worshippers from COVID-19. Others have hosted drive-in services. At least one held a kayak service. And, with many sports cancelled for the season, some churches — like South Bend City Church — have filled the stands at the empty stadiums and ballparks in their neighbourhoods. First Baptist Church in McKinney, Texas, encouraged members to wear their favourite jerseys to its “Stadium Service” at the local school district’s football stadium.MR ETERNITY ON STAGEIn 1932 when Arthur Stace heard evangelist John G. Ridley preach about Eternity, he was inspired to write the word ‘Eternity’ in chalk on the streets of Sydney and Melbourne over 500,000 times. According to Eternity News, the theatre company Clock and Spiel Productions are planning to develop Mr Eternity—The Story of Arthur Stace for the stage.SEQUEL TO “THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST”Eternity News reports that Jim Caviezel, the actor who played the part of Jesus in the film The Passion of the Christ, has confirmed that a sequel is underway. Caviezel told Breitbart News Daily that director Mel Gibson had recently sent him the third draft of the sequel’s script. The actor stated: “It’s coming. It’s called The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection. It’s going to be the biggest film in world history.”
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