News

A brief history of Christmas bans
These days, Christmas is hard to miss and nearly impossible to avoid. But at various times it has been banned in different countries, including Britain. This is the story …

Organisers of Christmas evangelistic campaign thrilled with impact
Organisers of this year's Shine Your Light Christmas evangelistic outreach have been "overwhelmed" by the response from local churches.

Reach out to others, says Salvation Army, as 1.8 million Brits set to spend Christmas Day alone
People are being urged to reach out after polling suggested 1.8 million UK adults will spend Christmas Day alone, even though they do not want to.

Another Christmas in hardship for Gaza church
For Christians sheltering in the Holy Family parish in Gaza, there will be few comforts this Christmas.

Abducted students and teachers in Nigeria released before Christmas
A rare piece of good news from Nigeria, just days before Christmas, is that all remaining students and teachers abducted by militants from St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger state last month have been released.

Ukrainian Christians seek God in their fourth war-torn Christmas
One Catholic priest ministering to the small town of Bila Tserkva has spoken of the realities of living in a state of war.

Jerusalem church leaders seek prayers for Holy Land this Christmas as Bethlehem festivities return
Jerusalem Church leaders have issued a Christmas message speaking of their continued hope for peace amid ongoing conflict and hardship across the Holy Land.

Pope calls for Christmas truce in Ukraine and Gaza
Pope Leo XIV has called for a Christmas Day truce in ongoing conflicts around the world, and spoken out against the passage of an assisted suicide law in his home state of Illinois.

William Tyndale and the 500th anniversary of the Christmas story in English
This Christmas is the 500th anniversary of when ordinary men and women could first hear the Christmas story being read from print in plain English. This is the story …

7 symbolic details we often miss about Jesus’ birth
Layered beneath the familiar narrative are cultural, historical, and theological details that reveal just how intentional God was in sending His Son into the world.

The first Christmas song to be sung in churches
Every Christmas, people sing the song “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night”. Unlike many other songs and carols that include elements of non-biblical tradition and myth, this song is pure Scripture. It was the first Christmas song authorised to be sung in the Church of England. This is the story …

The story of the Christmas Truce of 1914
On Christmas Eve in 1914, many men were in the trenches fighting the war, but the spirit of Christmas halted the conflict for a brief period. This is the story …

Report highlights injustices experienced by Christians in the Holy Land
Jerusalem Church leaders have released a report detailing the struggles and challenges currently faced be Christians living in the Holy Land.

Have you lost the wonder of Christmas?
For you who have been followers of Jesus Christ for a long time, maybe the pain and suffering of this world and the darkness you have had to live through this past year has gotten you down to the point of complete and utter discouragement. But all is not lost.

New Islamophobia definition still a threat to freedom, says Christian Concern
Concerns have been raised that a proposed new definition of “Islamophobia” could encompass even simple statements of fact about Islamic practice.

Five cherished Christmas carols and the stories behind them
Each carol has its own interesting story that adds to the joy of singing them.