Displaying items by tag: Praise

The Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer, a monumental Christian structure near Birmingham, is progressing toward construction. Designed as the largest Christian monument worldwide, it will feature one million white bricks, each digitally linked to a personal story of answered prayer. The 169-foot structure, shaped like an infinity loop, symbolises the eternal nature of God’s love and faithfulness and will be visible from six miles away. It aims to chronicle the transformative power of prayer, blending testimonies from ordinary Christians with those of historical figures such as Winston Churchill and Queen Elizabeth II. Visitors can interact with the structure, accessing individual prayer stories through their phones. Founder Richard Gamble highlights the global impact of these testimonies, urging American Christians to contribute to the project’s goal of 200,000 US prayer stories. He calls this monument a 'testimony to Christ’s finished work’, emphasising its potential to inspire faith worldwide.

Reading the Bible devotionally in 2025 can deepen spiritual growth and intimacy with God. Many start the year with plans to read the entire Bible, but success requires organisation and the right tools. A structured plan, such as the M’Cheyne Bible reading plan, offers an effective approach. Created by 19th-century minister Robert Murray M’Cheyne, the plan enables readers to journey through the New Testament and Psalms twice in a year and the Old Testament once. Daily readings balance OT and NT passages, fostering personal devotion and a comprehensive understanding of Scripture. Reading devotionally involves engaging the mind and heart, seeking God in worship, and responding in adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and prayer. Scripture, as God’s living Word (Heb 4:12), guides believers and inspires joy and wonder. M’Cheyne emphasised that reading should lead to spiritual growth, not mere formality.

Aberdeenshire solicitor Gordon M Hay has been awarded an MBE for his pioneering translation of the entire Bible into Doric, a variant of the Scots language. Spanning 17 years, his work includes the New Testament, published in 2012, and the Old Testament, completed in 2022. This milestone marks the first time the entire Bible has been translated into any Scots dialect. Hay’s translation journey began in 2006 when he was asked to translate passages for the Buchan Heritage Society's annual Doric service. Encouraged by the positive reception, he embarked on the monumental task of translating both Testaments, producing over 800,000 words. His contributions have garnered recognition from the Scottish Parliament and royal circles, with invitations to read at Crathie Kirk by the now King Charles III. A dedicated Church of Scotland elder for 30 years, Hay also translates literary classics, writes Doric nursery rhymes, and plays the organ. He remains an active cultural ambassador for the Doric language.

Canadian singer-songwriter Grimes, known for her experimental music and as the former partner of Elon Musk, has recently shared about her experience of Christianity. In a candid post on X, she revealed that her exploration of faith is motivated by a desire to quit vaping, describing this turn as 'monumentally embarrassing.' Grimes admitted that she had never previously considered religion but now finds aspects of Christianity resonating with her, especially in confronting destructive habits. She shared a passage from CS Lewis' 'Mere Christianity’, highlighting the transformative power of choices in aligning oneself with God. This introspection has led her into a 'philosophical tailspin’, prompting deeper contemplation of spiritual matters. Grimes and Musk share three children: X Æ A-12, Exa Dark Sideræl, and Techno Mechanicus, known as Tau. Their names reflect the couple's affinity for technology and art.

Candace Cameron Bure, well-known for her holiday films, celebrates Christmas as a season of 'prophecy fulfilled’. This year, she stars in two new movies, ‘Christmas less travelled' and 'Home sweet Christmas', and her network is hosting an in-person Christmas festival until 22 December. Families can enjoy tree lightings, ice skating, and more. Apart from acting, Bure engages audiences through her podcast, sharing vulnerable theological insights. She highlights how reading the Bible chronologically transformed her faith; she discovered deeper context, understanding God’s love and His patience with humanity. Reading Scripture has shown her how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies, offering believers a tangible confidence in their faith. For her, Christmas exemplifies God's grace and the fulfilment of His promises. She encourages believers to share the Gospel, especially during this season, emphasising the incredible love of a God who eagerly waits for us with open arms.

Barry Black, a 76-year-old retired Navy rear admiral and the first black and Seventh-Day Adventist Senate chaplain, recently experienced a life-threatening brain bleed. Swiftly cared for by Capitol physician Brian Monahan, Black is now on a hopeful and steady path to recovery. Black deeply credits God’s extraordinary intervention for sparing him from a potentially dire outcome: Monahan’s urgent decision to call him and advise immediate medical care was seen as divinely inspired, averting more serious complications. As Christmas approaches, Black is expected to reunite with his family, further showcasing God’s compassionate and providential care. Let us pray for his continued healing, and for his family to feel God’s comforting presence.

Phil Cohn, a passionate evangelist and president of Saturate USA, leads an ambitious project to distribute the Jesus Film and salvation pamphlets to every home in America by 2027. This initiative equips local churches with free resources, enabling members to engage neighbourhoods through door-to-door outreach or door-handle delivery. With an aim to reach 120 million households, Saturate USA has already covered 38.4 million homes across all 50 states. Phil has felt compelled to share the gospel globally since the age of 19. His vision expanded to using the Jesus Film, which has sparked revival worldwide, including starting over a million churches. From Muslim families in America to residents under Taliban rule, countless lives have been transformed. Despite challenges, Phil continues to trust God for miracles, passionately focused on saturating America with the message of Christ. His vision reflects his unwavering belief in God’s power to save.

Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) has won a significant legal victory, securing a permanent statewide injunction allowing Good News clubs to operate in all public school districts across Hawaii. These weekly gatherings teach children aged 5-12 about the Bible, memory verses, and praise songs, while also fostering fellowship and fun. Represented by Liberty Counsel, CEF filed a lawsuit against Hawaii education officials after several school districts blocked the clubs from using public school facilities, while permitting secular groups access. The courts ruled that such actions violated the first and 14th amendments of the US constitution, ensuring religious organizations have equal access to public spaces. Fred Pry of CEF welcomed the ruling as a triumph for religious freedom and free speech. Liberty Counsel continues to defend Christian clubs in other states, with plans to challenge similar restrictions in California. This victory highlights the enduring importance of protecting constitutional rights for faith-based organizations in public settings.

Marziyeh Amirizadeh spent her first 33 years under a restrictive regime that curtailed freedoms following the 1979 revolution. Raised as a Muslim, she experienced a profound spiritual transformation after encountering God in a dream, leading her to embrace Christianity. Despite the severe risks, Marziyeh and her friend Maryam began evangelising in Tehran, distributing Bibles and sharing Jesus' love. Their activities attracted the attention of authorities, and in 2009 they were arrested and sentenced to death by hanging for apostasy and promoting Christianity. Initially confined in an underground dungeon, they endured inhumane conditions, but throughout their imprisonment Marziyeh held on to the promise of Matthew 10:19, which assures believers that the Spirit will provide words in times of persecution. Their unwavering faith and international advocacy eventually led to their release. Her story is a testament to steadfast faith amid persecution.

The VI Transatlantic Summit, hosted by the Political Network for Values (PNfV) in Spain, united 300 global leaders from 45 nations to launch the Madrid Commitment. This initiative presents a decade-long action plan defending freedom, family, and the culture of life, emphasising Christian principles and universal values as essential to national well-being. Key proposals include defending human dignity and life from conception to natural death, fostering family stability through policy, and promoting a culture that celebrates life. Leaders also encouraged governments to adopt the Geneva Consensus Declaration, supporting women's health and protecting life, while reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The summit, supported by groups like the Heritage Foundation, reinforced PNfV’s mission to advocate for life, family, and freedom worldwide.