Acts 2. The Fellowship of the Believers.

 The Fellowship of the Believers.

42) They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43) Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44) All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45) They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46) Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47) praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Goldfinch.

 

Never Forget These Vital Words.

 

Hardly Going To Buy Much, Is It?

 

Historic UK churches face growing maintenance crisis despite £2.6m in grants

The National Churches Trust has warned that historic church buildings across the UK are facing mounting financial and maintenance pressures, despite awarding more than £2.6 million in grants during 2025. CT.

Who Would Have Thought It?

 MPs vote against assisted suicide in 'victory for hope, compassion and life'.

 (Photo: Getty/iStock)

The House of Commons has narrowly voted against the legalisation of medically assisted suicide, with 286 votes against and 270 in favour.

The bill was put forward by Labour’s Lauren Edwards MP, however as an issue of conscience MPs were not expected to vote along party lines. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has indicated that while he favours the principle of assisted suicide, improving the country’s patchy palliative care system must come first.

Earlier this year another attempt to legalise assisted suicide failed. That bill, put forward by another Labour MP, Kim Leadbeater narrowly passed the House of Commons but ran out of time in the House of Lords as peers raised concerns about inadequate safeguards on the bill.

Some MPs who voted for the Leadbeater bill openly declared their opposition to the Edwards bill, which is functionally the same.

Speaking during the pre-vote debate in the House of Commons, Labour MP Janet Daby said that she had “nightmares about dying and death” after voting for the Leadbeater bill.

“I had to wrestle with myself, knowing that I was not entirely comfortable with the decision I had made, and my conscience was not at peace, and I cannot again, in good conscience, vote for the Bill," she said.

The decision to vote against the controversial measure shows that a significant change has taken place among parliamentarians, who just a year ago voted 314 to 291 in favour of a virtually identical bill.

Ross Hendry, CEO of CARE, said God had heard people’s prayers.

He said another attempt to legalise assisted suicide within this Parliament was “highly unlikely”. 

“Parliament has expressed a clear desire to tackle long-running problems in the provision of palliative and social care services. CARE has historically advocated for greater access to palliative care, and we will continue to do so,” he said. 

“And we will be vigilant against any future attempts to pass assisted suicide legislation in each region of the United Kingdom. 

“But today is a day to give thanks that England and Wales have been spared, for now, the horror of assisted suicide being legalised. We give God all the glory!”

The news of the vote was welcomed by Right To Life UK, who described the result as a “victory for hope, compassion and life”.

Writing on X, the group said, “After a two-year-long national debate, despite unprecedentedly favourable conditions for assisted suicide advocates, the country has decided to reject the danger, despair, dystopia & defeatism of assisted suicide, settling the issue for a generation.”

The group called on MPs to “unite” and ensure that palliative care receives the investment it needs.

Care Not Killing agreed, saying, “Our hope is that MPs now focus on repairing palliative care in the UK and securing the necessary funding to make sure that no matter what part of the country you live in, you can access the best possible care available and are treated with dignity and respect. As one of many doctors have said, we need much more care, not killing.” CT.

Oh Dear, Labour. Inevitable Consequence of Attacks on Private Schools? - Promises Not Looking Good.

                 The size of the school workforce.

The government, in its opportunity mission (opens in new tab), has set a pledge to recruit 6,500 additional teachers. Further information on this ambition can be found in the 6,500 additional teachers delivery plan (opens in new tab).

The total number of state school teachers in England has slightly decreased between July 2024 and today.

Official Department for Education data published in mid-2026 shows that the Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) teaching workforce shrank by 1,900 teachers (0.4%) year-on-year.

ACQUITTAL!

Street preacher acquitted in Soho ‘safe space’ case.

Richard Johnson outside City of London Magistrates' Court. (Photo: Christian Legal Centre)

The Christian Legal Centre has welcomed the acquittal of a Christian preacher who was accused of violating an LGBT “safe space” by distributing tracts about Sodom and Gomorrah.

Richard Johnson, 72, recounted how he handed out biblical tracts covering various subjects in Soho, most of which were irrelevant to homosexuality. In the incident last year, Johnson was eventually accosted by two men who told him to “get out of Soho”. He left the area, fearing for his safety.

Johnson was later prosecuted under the Public Order Act 1986 after two men complained about a tract referring to Sodom and Gomorrah. It is unclear if the two complainants were the same men who accosted him.

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Book of Genesis, tells of how God destroyed the two towns for their sin. As a demonstration of the sinful character of the town, the narrative tells of how all the men in Sodom gathered to try and commit homosexual rape against God’s angels.

One of the complainants argued that Soho was a “safe space” for LGBT people and that as such Johnson was not entitled to share such views as could be elsewhere.

A trial on 4 September saw Johnson acquitted. The court concluded that while the tract was offensive and upsetting, no criminal offence could be proved, and in particular no threats of violence were made against anyone. Soho was determined not to be a separate jurisdiction in which different laws apply. The court also granted a defence costs order.

Following his acquittal, Mr Johnson said: "After nearly two years of having this hanging over me, I am glad to be free. I do this because I really love LGBT people and I want them to go to heaven and not hell. Love is telling people the truth, even if people are offended by the message."

I Can Endure ...

 

Birdie.

Nigeria.

 Extremist abductions in Nigeria surge by 153% as violence rises again, report finds.

 (Photo: Getty/iStock)

Abductions linked to extremist violence in Nigeria more than doubled in the final three months of 2025, according to a new report warning that insecurity in the country is worsening again after several years of comparatively lower violence.

The report, titled ‘Nigeria at the Crossroads,’ published by Christian persecution charity Open Doors, found that 3,415 people were abducted between October and December 2025.

That compares with 1,352 people during the same period in 2024, representing an increase of 153%.

Civilian deaths also rose sharply. Open Doors recorded 1,735 killings in the final quarter of 2025 – up 51% from the 1,148 killings documented during the same three-month period the previous year. 

The report says violence attributed to militant Fulani groups now accounts for substantially more killings and abductions than attacks by Boko Haram, despite the latter having a far higher international profile

The findings come amid renewed concern over security in northern Nigeria, where communities continue to face extremist attacks, mass kidnappings and displacement.

According to Open Doors, killings and abductions by extremist groups had previously reached a high point in 2021 before declining or stabilising for several years. 

The charity says the sharp rise recorded towards the end of 2025 suggests that this period of relative stabilisation may be coming to an end.

Jane Boswell, Senior Advocacy Officer at Open Doors International, said: “Our research shows that violence in Nigeria appears to be on the increase again. However, with decisive intervention from the Nigerian government, it is possible to alter the trajectory.”

She called on the authorities to strengthen security measures, prosecute those responsible for attacks and create conditions in which displaced communities can safely return home.

“Sustained international attention and pressure on Nigeria is also vital to ensure that justice is upheld and impunity is brought to an end,” she said.

“The future of so many citizens - particularly in the north of Nigeria - hangs in the balance. It is imperative that the Nigerian government seizes this moment and sets a clear path towards protection, justice and restoration.”

The report also examines how the impact of extremist violence is being felt across religious communities.

Between October 2023 and December 2025, Christians remained among those who suffered substantial loss of life, while Open Doors also recorded an increase in Muslim victims.

The pattern of abductions has also shifted. While Christians had previously accounted for more recorded kidnapping victims, the report says that from the 2024 reporting period onwards, the number of Muslims abducted exceeded the number of Christians.

The report also raises concern about the growing humanitarian consequences of prolonged insecurity.

Almost 4 million Nigerians are currently displaced within the country and the report cautions that continued violence and impunity could make it increasingly difficult for displaced communities to return to their homes.

Open Doors acknowledges that the Nigerian government has made some efforts to confront the violence but warns that these measures will have limited effect without sustained political commitment and accountability.

“If current trends of violence and impunity continue, displacement will deepen and the prospects for return will recede further,” the report states.

However, it argues: “If Nigerian government efforts to address insecurity are strengthened, supported by consistent international pressure and partnership, there remains a pathway towards greater security, justice, and a genuine ‘road home’ for displaced communities.”

Nigeria’s security crisis drew increased political attention towards the end of last year when Donald Trump, president of the US, re-categorised Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over infringements on religious freedom in October 2025.

The following month, a national security emergency was announced by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu after a series of mass abductions involving students and teachers. 

Nigeria currently ranks 7th on Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List of the countries where Christians face the most severe persecution. CT.

God at work .

 Seeing God at work in everyday life.

 (Photo: Getty/iStock)

In her new book, 605 Everyday Miracles, Alpha UK director Chloe Swart challenges the perception that miraculous healing is reserved for extraordinary people or church events.

Drawing on her doctoral research, which collected 605 accounts of healing from ordinary Christians across a wide range of everyday situations, Swart explores how faith, prayer and unexpected encounters continue to shape people's lives today.

Christian Today spoke with Chloe to hear common misconceptions about healing, the stories that stayed with her, and the conversations she hopes the book will generate in churches. 

How do you define an “everyday miracle”? 

During my theology PhD research, I collected 605 healing stories, and four major themes emerged throughout them: everyday locations, everyday people, everyday ailments, and everyday language.

An “everyday miracle” is essentially ordinary Christians, people like you and me, praying for healing in ordinary, everyday settings. A lot of the time, these moments happened outside church buildings, in normal daily life, and in very natural ways.

Have you ever wrestled with doubt while praying for healing?

I think every time I offer to pray for healing, even though I’ve seen God heal many times, there’s always a faith moment of asking, “Lord, please heal this person”, before then administering healing to that person in Jesus’ name.

I do not doubt that God can heal, though. I believe He wants to heal and that He is able to heal. But obviously, we don’t always see everyone we pray for healed immediately, so there can still be moments of uncertainty about what will happen.

What misconceptions about miracles would you most like to challenge?

One major misconception is that only certain Christians can pray for healing. People often say, “I can’t pray for healing, I’m not good enough,” or, “I don’t have the gift of healing.”

But I believe all Christians are called to pray for the sick. When someone becomes a Christian and is filled with the Holy Spirit, the power of the Holy Spirit lives within them. It’s the power of Jesus that heals.

I do believe some people have a specific gift of healing, but I think that gift is meant not only to heal the sick but also to encourage the wider Church to step out and pray for healing too.

I often compare it to evangelism. Some people are especially gifted evangelists, but that doesn’t mean they are the only ones called to share the gospel. We are all called to witness and share our faith. In the same way, we are all called to pray for the sick.

In the book, you share many stories of miraculous healing. Are there any that stand out most to you?

There are two stories I especially love.

One is about a man in his early twenties who was serving in the army. He broke his femur, but the bone never properly realigned. In the gap where the bone should have healed, a tumour grew. He underwent numerous operations to remove it, but it kept returning, and he lived with constant pain.

One day at church, shortly before a pre-operation scan, someone felt prompted to pray generally for healing. He simply stood at the back of the church and prayed quietly with his wife. Nobody specifically prayed for him.

When he later went for his scan, not only had the tumour completely disappeared, but the bone had also fully realigned. I think it’s an incredible story because both the tumour vanished and the bone was restored.

The second story is about a man helping friends landscape a garden. The machinery fell and crushed his foot. He was in agony, his bones were broken and they called an ambulance.

Then the children of the family he was helping came over and prayed for him. Immediately, the pain and swelling disappeared, and his foot was completely healed. They cancelled the ambulance.

I love that story because it wasn’t in a church setting, and it wasn’t a pastor with a healing ministry praying for him. It was children simply praying in faith.

While conducting research on healing, you write in the book that modern-day Christian physical healing is a seriously understudied phenomenon. Why do you think that is?

I think healing is difficult to study scientifically. My research focused on collecting healing stories rather than conducting a medical study. I didn’t require people to provide medical evidence, although some did voluntarily send scans and documentation, which was wonderful.

The challenge is that many healings happen outside formal medical settings. For example, I recently read a story about a woman who had twenty verrucas on her foot. Someone prayed for her, and they all disappeared. She probably didn’t have medical documentation proving they had been there, but she knew they were causing discomfort and that they vanished after prayer.

Academic research often focuses heavily on measurable evidence and established literature, so studying something supernatural can be difficult within those frameworks.

What surprised me during my own research was the sheer volume of stories. I initially thought I might collect eight to 10 accounts, but I ended up gathering 605 stories from people describing remarkably similar experiences. In itself, that consistency became significant evidence from a sociological perspective.

What advice would you give individuals who feel nervous about praying for others?

First, remember that Jesus calls us to heal the sick. It’s something He explicitly instructed His followers to do.

Second, remember that He has equipped us through the Holy Spirit. The same Holy Spirit who empowered Jesus lives in us. Jesus even says in the New Testament that we will do the works He did, and even greater things.

Sometimes we feel nervous because we fear rejection or worry about what will happen if someone isn’t healed. But in my experience, very few people refuse prayer. Non-Christians are often surprisingly open to it.

I remember praying for someone at work who wasn’t healed in that moment, but later they came back and told me how deeply moved and emotional they felt afterwards. Even when physical healing doesn’t happen immediately, God can still touch people’s hearts.

It’s important to remember that it’s not our job to make something happen, that’s God’s responsibility. Our role is simply to offer prayer and trust Him with the outcome.

So take the pressure off yourself. Jesus has called you, equipped you, and empowered you. Our job is simply to step out in faith and see what God might do.

Has writing the book changed your own prayer life?

It has definitely encouraged me to keep praying for healing regularly.

When you write a book and begin speaking publicly about healing, it challenges you not just to tell stories from years ago, but to continue living it out yourself.

Even two weeks ago, I was at the gym when a man my dad knows mentioned he was struggling with arthritic pain in his wrist. I was in a rush and wanted to continue my workout, but I felt prompted to pray for him.

So I asked, “I’m a Christian, would you mind if I prayed for you?” He said yes, so I prayed briefly.

About 10 minutes later, he came back over, tapped me on the shoulder, and said, “Almost all the pain has gone apart from this one small spot, would you pray again?”

He isn’t a Christian, but he recognised that something had changed. Experiences like that continue to encourage me to keep stepping out in prayer.

What conversations do you hope this book sparks within the Church?

I hope it encourages ordinary Christians to have confidence to pray for friends, family, colleagues, and even strangers.

For me, healing is deeply missional. Of course it’s wonderful to pray for people within the Church, but healing can also powerfully demonstrate the reality of Jesus to people outside the Church.

You can pray for someone at a supermarket checkout or at a bus stop, and through that moment they may encounter the love and reality of God in a personal way.

My hope is that the book helps Christians realise they are empowered and equipped to pray for healing themselves, and that through these moments, more people come to know Jesus. CT