Displaying items by tag: Praise

A long-running legal battle has concluded after the UK Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal concerning Kristie Higgs, a Christian teacher dismissed in 2018 for expressing her views on gender and sexuality in private Facebook posts. Higgs had shared a petition challenging government RSE policies and commented on two children’s books promoting gender fluidity. Though her comments were not related to her teaching, she was dismissed by the school, which claimed the issue was her language, not her beliefs. However, in February 2025, the Court of Appeal ruled that her dismissal amounted to unlawful religious discrimination, affirming that belief-based expression outside work is protected under the Equality Act. The Supreme Court’s refusal to revisit the case makes this ruling final. Higgs expressed relief, calling it a victory for Christian free speech. The Christian Legal Centre, which backed her case, hailed the decision as a landmark precedent safeguarding freedom of belief and speech for Christians in the UK workplace and beyond.

Captain Brian Walpole, once commander of British Airways’ Concorde fleet and recipient of an OBE, has enjoyed an extraordinary aviation career. From RAF training to piloting over 800 supersonic transatlantic flights at 1,350mph, he experienced the awe of seeing the earth’s curvature at 60,000 feet. Yet it wasn’t until his late forties that he truly began to see not just the world, but the Creator behind it. A dinner conversation led him to Guildford Baptist Church, where a long journey of scientific and spiritual enquiry began. Influenced by Josh McDowell’s Evidence That Demands a Verdict, Brian was convinced of Jesus’ resurrection and the truth of the gospel. While his own conversion was gradual, his wife Rosemary had a dramatic encounter with the Holy Spirit, and their daughter Shelley went on to serve in ministry in Canada. Now in his nineties, Brian continues to testify that no human accomplishment compares to knowing Christ. His story is a powerful reminder that eternal truth outshines earthly success.

A new partnership between CURE International and Biblica is set to distribute over 87,000 Bibles in 22 languages to families receiving free surgical care at children’s hospitals across Africa and the Philippines. These hospitals, run by CURE, offer operations for conditions like spina bifida and hydrocephalus. The initiative brings physical healing and spiritual hope, rooted in CURE’s founding mission inspired by Luke 9:2 - to preach the Kingdom of God and heal the sick. CURE has performed over 330,000 surgeries and shared the Gospel with over 2.1 million people since 1996. Biblica’s role is to ensure Scripture is available in the heart languages of the patients. The collaboration addresses deep spiritual and cultural challenges, including widespread beliefs in curses and witchcraft surrounding disability. Through intentional ministry, Bible distribution, and community connections with local pastors, CURE is seeing lives transformed as parents witness healing and turn to faith. This $500,000 effort is a striking example of Kingdom collaboration bringing the light of Christ to the most vulnerable.

Evangelist David Karcha has said that even in the midst of war, Ukraine is seeing a profound spiritual awakening.  He has described how churches have become sanctuaries of hope, drawing countless people to Christ. When Russia invaded in 2022, Ukrainian evangelicals chose not to flee but to remain, share in the suffering, and witness through faith. Karcha declared that while the Gospel is powerful in peace, it becomes ‘unstoppable’ in war. Across the country, churches are seeing thousands profess faith and be baptised, driven by deep spiritual hunger. Their acts of faith have created a unified movement no war can halt. Evangelicals minister on the frontlines, in hospitals, to widows, orphans, and the broken. The church serves not only physical needs but also hearts seeking hope. Thanking European churches for their love and support, Karcha says, ‘We listen. We pray. We help. Then, when we see how we can help and what can be gone, we speak Jesus.’

Pop and hip-hop artist Bodie has shared a powerful testimony of divine healing, describing how God restored his wife Royale Kuljian’s hearing after doctors had deemed it irreparable. Her eardrum had been completely destroyed, with doctors preparing for reconstructive surgery. But after attending church and receiving prayer, she experienced immediate healing. ‘This girl at church was praying over me by my bad ear, and suddenly I could hear her’, Royale recalled. Doctors had previously found no eardrum at all, but post-healing examinations now show her hearing is ‘perfectly normal.’ Medical professionals remain baffled, but Bodie and Royale are calling it what they believe it is - a miracle. Bodie described the event as a ‘tangible’ and ‘pretty cool’ sign of God’s faithfulness, saying it has been deeply meaningful to watch Him continually give him fresh vision in both life and career.

Tauren Wells, Grammy-nominated artist and pastor, is challenging Christians to rethink joy - not as fleeting emotion, but as intentional focus rooted in the unchanging character of God. In his debut book Joy Bomb, Wells explores biblical happiness, inspired by the Sermon on the Mount, where ‘blessed’ translates to ‘happy’. Wells maintains that holiness and joy are deeply connected, saying, ‘God is holy, and God is joy’. In 2024, Wells and his wife launched Church of Whitestone in Austin, aiming to build authentic community over crowd size. He sees ministry as a new assignment, not a career shift, maintaining his identity in Christ while continuing to make music. His upcoming album Let the Church Sing reflects his evolving theology shaped by Bible college and pastoral life. Joy Bomb aims to guide readers, especially those struggling with anxiety or despair, towards lasting joy through Christ - not through circumstance, but through God’s presence. ‘Joy,’ he says, ‘is spelled J-E-S-U-S.’

Colton Burpo, whose near-death experience when aged three inspired the best-selling book and film Heaven Is for Real, continues to share his testimony over two decades later. At nearly four, Burpo's appendix ruptured after being misdiagnosed for five days, leading to emergency surgery. During the operation, he believes he had a supernatural encounter - witnessing his parents praying from outside his body, then finding himself on Jesus’s lap, comforted by angels. His vivid recollections of heaven and meeting deceased relatives moved millions and sparked deeper conversations about the afterlife and faith. Now 25, a husband, father, worship pastor, and electrician, Burpo sees his experience not just as a vision of what is to come, but as a call to mission. He focuses on living a life that honours Christ and encourages others to seek salvation. He continues to share the hope of heaven with new generations.

In 2024, Alpha International experienced its most fruitful year since launching in 1977, with over two million people worldwide participating in Alpha courses. The globally recognised programme, known for its welcoming small-group format and open discussions about faith, was delivered through more than 81,000 courses across 146 countries, supported by 43,000 churches and organisations. A significant milestone was the launch of the Alpha Youth Series in November, which quickly drew over 250,000 young participants across 53 nations. Remarkably, one-third of all attendees were under 25, signalling a growing hunger for spiritual truth among younger generations. The strongest regional growth occurred in Africa, where participation surged by 47%. CEO Miles Toulmin attributes Alpha’s success to localised video content which allows people to hear the Gospel in their own language and context. With increasing numbers of young people seeking answers to issues like loneliness and mental health, Alpha continues to offer a space for spiritual encounter and gospel transformation in this season of Quiet Revival. See

Joe Rogan, the world’s most listened-to podcaster, is regularly attending church and exploring Christianity with increasing openness, according to Canadian apologist Wes Huff. Huff, who appeared on Rogan’s podcast in January for an in-depth discussion on Christianity and Scripture, confirmed ongoing communication and Rogan’s consistent church attendance. Known for probing life’s deepest questions, Rogan has recently expressed scepticism about atheistic explanations for the universe and said he finds the resurrection of Jesus more believable than the Big Bang theory. He has remarked, 'Jesus makes more sense’, expressing personal resonance with the idea of a Creator and Redeemer. His shift reflects a wider resurgence of spiritual hunger, particularly among young people. Huff noted that teenagers are increasingly requesting Bibles, saying, 'All my friends are reading this thing’. A Gallup report confirms that the long-term decline in US religiosity has now stabilised. Though Rogan has not made a public profession of faith, his journey signals a significant cultural moment as high-profile voices express openness to Jesus and the Gospel message.

Over two thousand Iranians are reportedly turning to Christ each day, according to the Bible Society. Despite the severe risks in a nation where leaving Islam can carry a death sentence, underground Christianity is flourishing. One 92-year-old woman evangelises on public transport by inviting strangers to help her read the gospels: many end up taking home a New Testament. This quiet revival is not only drawing Iranians to Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, but also transforming their attitudes toward Israel and the Jewish people, long depicted as enemies by Iran’s regime. Formerly steeped in antisemitism, many new believers now intercede for Israel, praying for peace between the two nations. Amid growing persecution, the gospel is advancing, fulfilling prophetic scripture and reshaping hearts even within regions historically opposed to God’s people. This movement coincides with increased Christian engagement among British youth and raises hope amid cultural hostility. The spiritual battle is intensifying - but so too is the light of Christ in dark places.