Displaying items by tag: Praise

Michael J Fox, known for his roles in 'Back to the Future' and 'Family Ties’, has lived with Parkinson's disease since the age of 29. Now 62, he has emphasised his wife Tracy Pollan’s unwavering support through the challenges of his condition. Fox acknowledges her enduring commitment to their marriage vows of  'in sickness and in health’. In interviews, the couple highlighted the importance of communication and mutual support in their relationship. They have four children, and credit the strength of their family to Pollan's influence.

Marion Ritchie's life was altered for ever when her husband Dave was diagnosed with dementia at 65. A former Navy pilot, his unrelenting decline over nine years turned their lives into a nightmare. Marion and her daughters were left to cope with the emotional toll of Dave's transformation and grieving for lost futures. In Scotland, about 90,000 people live with dementia, experiencing similar challenges. Despite the need for emotional support, healthcare services offered little assistance. Recognising this gap, Healthcare Improvement Scotland has introduced new guidelines for healthcare professionals, focusing on 'pre-death grief' in dementia patients and their families. These guidelines, the first in nearly two decades, aim to address such emotional impacts, including better training for healthcare staff. Marion welcomes these guidelines, hoping they provide accessible support and information for caregivers facing similar struggles.

The vision for Shine Your Light is that the whole church across the family of nations stands united to share the Gospel with the whole of society this Christmas. Every local church and believer who signs up becomes a light that shines to brighten up the whole land like a Christmas tree. The nationwide campaign will run on 16 and 17 December. Shine Your Light events of all kinds will occur at town halls, in high streets and shopping centres, and in other public places. Encourage everyone you know to register and share their plans. Whether you are an individual joining with a group of friends and neighbours, a small church, or larger gathering, we’d love to hear what you are doing. Register as an individual or as a church - see the ‘more’ link.

'Duck Dynasty' star Miss Kay Robertson is overwhelmed with emotion as she discusses the astounding success of 'The Blind’, a Christian feature film that tells the real-life story of her life with husband Phil Robertson. The film has become the most successful in Fathom Events history, earning over $16.8 million. Miss Kay tearfully expresses her joy in sharing the story of God changing her husband's heart. The film delves into the struggles the Robertsons faced before their fame, including Phil's past of addiction and disconnection. It portrays Phil's transformation as he embraces faith, and Kay's journey of forgiveness. Miss Kay shares stories of marriages being mended and individuals turning to Jesus after watching the film. She emphasises the importance of sharing one's truth and believes it can provide hope to others. The success of 'The Blind', which reflects God's transformative power, has led to numerous positive outcomes, including baptisms among recovering addicts. Miss Kay sees God's hand at work through the film, and she encourages fans to trust in God's timing. 'The Blind' was released digitally on 3 November and will be available on DVD/Blu-ray on 14 November, continuing to inspire and touch hearts.

The ‘18 Days of prayer for the Hindu world’ initiative has been launched, aiming to unite Jesus followers worldwide in prayer for Hindus from 29 October to 15 November. With an online daily prayer guide available in over thirty languages, the expectation is that millions of people will participate. It features real-life stories illustrating the Holy Spirit's work among Hindus, including healings and breakthroughs in unreached communities. Teams of Jesus followers will conduct prayer walks in cities leading up to the Diwali festival, and readers are invited to pray for these teams using the provided briefings and prayer points. A dedicated prayer guide for young people aged 6-12 is also available. On 12 November, a global day of 24-hour prayer for the Hindu world will bring together believers from various churches and Christian ministries worldwide for online prayer sessions covering key Hindu world cities and regions.

Florida resident Yamisbel Garcia has shared her remarkable journey from involvement in the occult to finding faith in Christ. Raised in a nominally Catholic home, she ended up in a relationship with a warlock and even unknowingly ‘baptised’ her son in a satanic temple. It wasn't until she moved to Puerto Rico and began working at a Colombian bakery owned by a devout Christian that she encountered Jesus. Concerned for her son's well-being, who was not developing as expected, she turned to prayer. Her son's improvement after consistent prayer amazed her. However, Yamisbel's life took a dark turn as she faced an abusive relationship. Her prayer life weakened, and she contemplated suicide. Desperate for change, she turned to God, ordered a Bible, and began reading it. Her life was transformed, and after moving to Florida, she found a welcoming church and a female pastor who provided the discipleship she needed. God began working not only in her life but also in the lives of those around her, including her children and friends, who were drawn to her faith. Yamisbel's journey exemplifies the transformative power of faith and the hope found in Christ's redemption.

Two indigenous families in rural Mexico, previously unaware of God's existence, were profoundly impacted by audio recordings of the Gospel of Mark in their tribal language. This led them to embrace Christianity and attend church services. They said that listening to the audios helped them understand Jesus' purpose on Earth, inspiring them to accept God into their hearts. Some members had been suffering from an incurable disease but attributed their complete healing to their newfound faith. Despite a history of tribal beliefs, one family member thanked God for His Word in their language and the worker who shared the recordings. This success reinforces the importance of continuing translation efforts to bring the message of redemption and salvation to people in their native languages. Pray that everyone can access and be transformed by God's Word in the language of their hearts. Various projects, including translating the Book of Jonah, have contributed to this mission, promoting literacy and understanding in indigenous communities.

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes organised a Fields of Faith event at a high school football stadium in Hot Springs, Arkansas, which drew over 3,000 attendees, mainly students. This gathering, part of a global movement, featured a pre-rally with free food, games, live music, and student testimonies of faith. Micah May, FCA South Central Arkansas's multi-area director, noted a special presence of the Holy Spirit at the event, with hundreds of students praying and lives being transformed. He mentioned a sense of revival stirring in the world and expressed gratitude for being a part of it. Similar revival gatherings for high school and college students have been occurring throughout 2023, reflecting a growing spiritual awakening. May concluded by giving glory to God, emphasising His role in these transformative experiences.

Loren Cunningham, the founder of Youth With A Mission (YWAM), passed away at 88 on 6 October. He holds the unique distinction of being the first person to journey to every sovereign nation, dependent territory, and over 100 other regions, fulfilling the Great Commission's call. He revolutionised missions by enabling young people to serve globally, short-term, interdenominationally, and without pay. YWAM, founded in 1960, has expanded to reach every nation through evangelism, training, and mercy missions. Despite its status as one of the world's largest mission movements, Loren always attributed its success to Jesus. Under his leadership, YWAM launched global initiatives like King’s Kids International, the University of the Nations, and YWAM Ships. He leaves behind a profound legacy, inspiring generations to continue his mission of spreading God's love worldwide.

On 11 October, a long-awaited day, St Ephrem Church in Istanbul was opened - the first Christian place of worship to be built in Türkiye in a hundred years. Around 20,000 Syriac Orthodox live in the metropolis, but until now they had only one church. Archbishop Yusuf Cetin said: ‘At some big ceremonies, more than half of the congregation stood outside. That is difficult when it is very cold or very hot. That's why in 2010 years ago we visited the president and the prime minister and started a dialogue.’ Following this, the congregation was allocated a plot of land and bureaucratic hurdles were overcome. These included a court case with the Catholic community in the area. However, if you ask the Catholics in Istanbul today, there is no longer any talk of a dispute. The building of the church is a historic event, says Fr Claudio Monge: ‘Not only all Christians, but also all those who have worked for an inclusive country that respects diversity and considers it an enrichment, can only rejoice!’