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Who Are the New Missionary Giants?

When what we know changes, the world changes and with it, everything. These words, from James Burke the scientific journalist, sum up the themes of his TV series and book, ‘The Day the Universe Changed’ (Little, Brown & Co, 1986), in which he examines pivotal moments in history when some aspect of science was ‘known’ until someone came along who challenged, and ultimately changed, that perception....

  • Pope John Paul II: "Do not be afraid"

    The Pope of one billion Roman Catholics stood for Jesus Christ. He stood for Jesus Christ against Communism. He stood for Jesus Christ against right wing dictatorships in Latin America. He stood for Jesus Christ against abortion ...

  • John Paul II - The Man and His Legacy

    The death of Pope John Paul II brings one of the Roman Catholic Church's longest papal reigns to an end and closes the last chapter on one of the most significant lives of our times. By any measure, John Paul II was one of the most influential figures on the world scene, leading over a billion Roman Catholics worldwide ...

  • It's as if the Reformation had never happened

    It is a compelling measure of the personal and political impact made by the long reign of John Paul II - to say nothing of the changed nature of British public life during his 27 years as Bishop of Rome - that the death of the pontiff this weekend ...

  • The Black and White Gap

    Black church leaders attend one conference, white church leaders a different one - not good. Jonathan Oloyede challenges the status quo and suggests practical ways bridges can be built between majority black and white congregations and leaders...

  • The Truth and Nothing But the Truth

    It is now apparent to even the most unenlightened or blind that there are two entirely different and opposing understandings of the Christian Faith now currently at work in the worldwide Anglican Communion...

  • Repositioning "Evangelical"

    When Archbishop Fisher went home on the night of the Queen's Coronation in 1952 he made a momentous entry in his diary. "Today," he declared, "Great Britain has come close to the Kingdom of Heaven." What was even more remarkable was that the newspapers agreed with him the following day...

  • Who influences whom?

    Billy Graham may not be as active or as publicly visible as he once was, but he remains the most trusted spokesman for the Christian faith in the U.S. His ministry peers also regard him as the person who has the greatest influence on American churches and church leaders...

  • The Church and the Charity Commission - Friend or Foe?

    Winston Churchill once described Russia as a 'riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma'. I have no doubt that many Church leaders would say the same thing about the charity commission! Too often, the Commission has been seen to be something of an administrative Goliath towering over a tiny David...

  • The Mature and Holy Hope of a Nation

    Over a Nigerian dinner a few moments ago, I asked a missionary deep into his second decade about the health of the Church in this nation ...

  • In praise of blasphemy

    Last Saturday, BBC2 showed a brilliant piece of musical theatre. Jerry Springer - The Opera was obscene, offensive, blasphemous; and the BBC was absolutely right to broadcast it. Right because the obscenity, offensiveness and blasphemy are used not just to entertain, but to convey a disturbing message...

  • Coping with Stress in the New Year

    It's clear that stress is a killer. The question, however, is what can be done to reduce the ravages of stress? The only answer that Epel and Blackburn's study could offer was...