Seamus Milligan, former director and secretary of the Evangelical Protestant Society, has died aged 93. The EPS paid tribute to him as ‘a lover of the gospel, a lover of souls, and a defender of the faith’. Seamus was raised a Roman Catholic in East Belfast but converted to Protestantism aged 16. He started…
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About thirty people gathered in February for the latest in the series of Northeast Reformed Baptist Studies which took the form of a day conference. Aycliffe Evangelical Church kindly loaned their building and facilities. The church was also generous enough to provide the welcome refreshments between sessions. A small bookstall was also available. Oliver…
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Steve Chalke’s latest book is well-written and engaging, full of quotes from Scripture, theologians, creeds, and church history. And that’s what makes it so dangerous for evangelicals. He argues that mainstream Protestant Christianity has seriously misread the Apostle Paul. What Paul was actually saying (Chalke says) is that there is no original sin, God…
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This volume is the first part of a planned trilogy by Vishal Mangalwadi, who has been described as India’s foremost Christian intellectual. Volume 2 will cover how the Bible changed our ideas of human person, rationality, and education, and Volume 3 will examine man’s case against divine revelation as articulated by Western philosophers, scientists,…
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Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria in Egypt, was a key figure in early church history. During the fourth century he defended the deity of Christ boldly in the face of widespread Arianism. Peter Barnes, an Australian pastor and church history lecturer, outlines Athanasius’ life, times, and views in this bitesize biography, part of the publisher’s…
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‘There are three men, who are the most powerful preachers that England has ever produced, and yet only two of them [Whitefield and Spurgeon] are well known.’ As its opening words imply (p.7), this book’s aim is to present the third — Rowland Hill — to a generation that knows little or nothing about…
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Written from a thoroughly Reformed perspective, A Certain Sound is designed to introduce the reader to open air preaching. Ryan Denton and Scott Smith chart the biblical mandate for this vital work and God’s use of this method of gospel communication in every generation. There is a great emphasis on the preacher’s calibre and…
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Although the name of Matthew Henry has become synonymous with the whole-Bible commentary which he authored in the early 18th century, there is also much to learn from his remarkable life and the tumultuous times through which he lived. This two-hour documentary film traces the main events of Henry’s biography and the effects of…
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Theologian, author, and forefather of the modern creation movement, Dr John C. Whitcomb has died aged 95. Whitcomb co-authored The Genesis Flood in 1961, a landmark defence of flood geology which revived widespread interest and research into creationism. Born in Washington, D.C., Whitcomb studied geology, palaeontology, and ancient history at Princeton University in the…
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The oldest inhabitant of Guernsey and probably the oldest supporter of the Trinitarian Bible Society, was recently called home at the age of 109. Mrs Ruth Symons Berry was involved in TBS’s work for years, annually distributing hundreds of ‘Golden Thoughts’ calendars to many parts of the world as well as responding to letters…
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Longstanding family campaigner and past contributor to Evangelical Times Norman Wells has died after contracting COVID-19. He is survived by his wife Nicola and their nine children. Norman had been Director of the Family Education Trust since 2004. Before that, he had worked with Civitas: The Institute for the Study of Civil Society. Over…
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Derek James Prime, pastor, author, and conference speaker, has died aged 89. Raised in London, Derek was invited to a Bible class at Lansdowne Evangelical Free Church in West Norwood when aged 13. This led to his conversion and baptism. Derek completed national service before pursuing higher education. He gained an MA in History…
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Last month, our esteemed friend and brother, Revd John J. Murray, passed away aged 85. He had been in weak health in recent years, and sadly contracted the coronavirus. John J (as he was known) was born near Dornoch in the Highlands. His family were crofters and lived in a humble home without electricity…
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David Hails was appointed to the pastorate of Ebenezer Evangelical Church, Neath, in February. The service was well-attended, including several members of Mr Hails’ sending church (Three Bridges Free Church, Crawley). The service was chaired by Dr Phil Davis, an elder of Ebenezer Evangelical Church. Readings from Ephesians 4 and 1 Timothy 4 were…
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Emmanuel Church, Salisbury, held anniversary services in early February. It was the 67th year for the church and the 49th for Pastor Malcolm Watts. The guest preacher was Revd Graeme Craig, minister of the Ayr congregation of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing). During the Saturday afternoon meeting, Revd Watts preached. He affirmed the…
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In January the Wessex auxiliary of the Trinitarian Bible Society held its AGM in Calne, Wiltshire. A good number had gathered from both Wiltshire and the surrounding counties. Encouraging reports were given of the Lord’s work among schools, prisons, care homes, and the military through the distribution of Bibles, New Testaments, and other items…
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Religious and human rights campaigners have warned against draconian measures being considered by Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. According to reports, he has hinted of his preparedness to introduce an anti-conversion bill to appease traditional Buddhist voters. He said the new law would be necessary to ‘save the country’ from falling…
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Unborn babies in New Zealand may be killed for any reason up to birth, after the country passed a new liberal law. Abortions will be allowed to take place after 20 weeks if two health professionals think it is appropriate considering the mother’s ‘overall well-being’. Before the law was changed, abortion was only permitted…
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A businessman hijacked one of President Trump’s press briefings to call Americans to read their Bibles. During Donald Trump’s White House coronavirus briefing, the president called his business friends to talk about what their companies are doing to halt the spread of Covid-19. With the world’s press watching the briefings, Mike Lindell, the chief…
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A total of 21 villagers were killed and about two dozen injured when military jets opened fire on four majority Christian villages in Chin State, Myanmar (Burma) in March. According to eyewitness accounts reported by Barnabas Fund, 12 people were killed in the first attack on two villages in Paletwa Township by Myanmar Army…
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The European Court of Human Rights has refused to hear the case of two midwives who were denied employment in Sweden because they refused to perform abortions. The two midwives, Ellinor Grimmark and Linda Steen, were told their application was ‘inadmissible’. Their lawyers have called the decision a ‘dangerous departure from protecting fundamental freedom’.…
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Churches in China are continuing to suffer as the state-sanctioned action against Christianity has ploughed ahead. In an effort to make Christianity conform to Chinese communism, and not like ‘Western’ Christianity, the government has been putting increasing pressure on churches in the mainland. According to reports from advocacy group Release International and China Aid,…
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Covid-19 emergency planning and the subsequent lockdown saw the Scottish government stop work on plans to make changing legal sex much easier. The Scottish government has proposed making sweeping changes to allow anyone to change legal sex by self-declaration within just six months, remove the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria, and…
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Politicians in Northern Ireland (NI) have accused Westminster of ‘riding roughshod’ over the will of the Province, following the imposition of highly permissive abortion laws. The new abortion regime came into force in March, despite massive resistance from the public and campaign groups and no mandate from the Northern Ireland Assembly. The changes to…
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The Christian Institute has put its legal support behind a church minister punished by a Belfast hotel for his biblical beliefs about marriage. In October 2019, Revd Harry Coulter was forced to stop an event in support of traditional marriage at the Balmoral Hotel in Belfast. The ‘Marriage Matters’ event, which was addressing the…
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Campaigners have welcomed a statement from the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) which confirmed it does not support changing the law to allow assisted dying. In March 2019, the RCP adopted a position of ‘neutrality’ on the issue of whether UK law should change to allow assisted dying. This came after a survey of…
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A policy to allow home abortions during the coronavirus outbreak has been slammed by pro-life groups, with the decision now set to face a judicial review. The policy came about after series of u-turns by the Conservative government. As the country went into lockdown due to Covid-19, women and girls wanting to terminate an…
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Warwickshire County Council has ditched a highly inappropriate scheme of sex education lessons after lawyers warned of legal action. The lessons were aimed at young children in primary school. They encouraged masturbation and included ‘gratuitously graphic’ sexual images but there was no reference to marriage. Lawyers acting for The Christian Institute notified the council…
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An evangelical believer who is a senior doctor at St Thomas’ Hospital was part of the medical team that treated Prime Minister Boris Johnson when he was in intensive care with Covid-19. Soon after the Prime Minister was admitted to the intensive care unit at the hospital – which is just over the river…
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As I write this, we’re a few days into the coronavirus ‘lockdown’. A couple of weeks ago, people were just realising the seriousness of the crisis that was soon to engulf the country. The phone rang. It was an old friend who wanted some advice. She spoke first to my wife and then my…
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‘It is not good for man to be alone’ declared the Lord when considering the plight of Adam in the garden of Eden. So he created Eve to be his companion and to relieve his loneliness. Adam, like all his descendants, was God’s image bearer and since God himself is not alone but exists…
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As the Prime Minister’s press conference ended, it was clear that life was going to be very different for the next few weeks, possibly months, possibly longer. Severe social distancing measures were announced in the next attempt to combat COVID-19. It was not long before my phone began to ring, text messages, emails looking…
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In these days of a pandemic, ET believes it would be helpful provide a place in future editions of this paper for people to record those believers who have gone to be with the Lord. Those who are well-known may have a tribute in ET, but most will not be noticed outside of their…
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As reports of the coronavirus spread around the world, pastors and church leaders are discussing how they should respond to the outbreak. Throughout church history, many pastors have worked through similar challenges. As a young village preacher, Charles Spurgeon admired the Puritan ministers who stayed behind to care for the sick and dying during…
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As reports of the coronavirus spread around the world, pastors and church leaders are discussing how they should respond to the outbreak. Throughout church history, many pastors have worked through similar challenges. As a young village preacher, Charles Spurgeon admired the Puritan ministers who stayed behind to care for the sick and dying during…
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The COVID-19 global pandemic presents the world with innumerable challenges and questions many of us have never faced nor answered. Religious groups in particular grapple with the commitments of their faith and the demands thrust upon the world in the wake of the coronavirus. In the Muslim world, one of the major impediments to…
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John MacArthur is American evangelicalism’s elder statesman. Still pastoring Grace Community Church in liberal California after over half a century, he is also chancellor of The Master’s Seminary on the church’s campus and The Master’s University on a campus nearby. Millions listen monthly around the world to his sermons through radio broadcasts or the…
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Nothing prepares you for the dying moments of a loved one. On Wednesday 1st April 2020 I received a phone call at 12:35pm from a concerned Doctor from Leverndale Hospital in Glasgow. My father, Revd John J. Murray, had been in isolation since 17th March when he tested positive for COVID-19 but his condition…
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Across the globe, places of worship have been asked to close. Governments have no authority to forbid churches to gather. In the UK, the Conventicle Act of 1664 forbade such gatherings. Preachers like Bunyan preferred to stay in prison rather than not preach to gatherings lawful in God’s eyes but unlawful in the eyes…
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