Search results for .riv
Why hospitality is so much more than just hosting a good meal
I hope we can all remember a time when we experienced a particularly warm welcome. I imagine we’ve also experienced that sense of “you’re not from round here” when walking into some pubs or sadly, churches. As an Englishman married to a Scotswoman, we’ve spoken about the different habits of…
Richard Powney
Music of heaven
I am part of a group that works to equip churches in intercultural worship, and when we visited churches, I was tired of the members there stating that my English is very good or telling me how they have links to a certain country which neither of my parents are from. But I smiled politely and…
Jessie Tang
7 crucial "levelling up missions" the church needs to know about
At the beginning of February, the UK government published their 332-page white paper on levelling up, detailing the regional inequalities that exist throughout the UK and the policies that they are putting in place in attempt to eradicate these. The main feature of the paper is 12 missions,…
Nicola Martin
VAWG series: Christians have a role to play
And yet, the church is made up of sinners. Broken people living in a broken world. In 2018, member organisation Restored conducted research which revealed that one in four church goers had experienced abuse in their current relationship and 42.2 per cent experienced at least one abusive act in a…
Jo Evans
China: Where saying “God loves you” is now a crime
The current crackdown on Christians in China is hitting believers online and in person. Among the latest to be detained is Zhou Jinxia, a Christian woman who is a regular visitor at Beijing's Zhongnanhai Xinhua Gate with her cheerful smile and her banner bearing a bright red cross. The message of…
Release International
Take heart
The problem was I was just about to preach. I needed a moment to compose myself. For years now, my newsfeed is full of some of the worst news of my lifetime. I’ve begun to stop checking it to guard my emotional health. We must lament and pray. But today I want to bring some balance to your…
Phil Knox
Praying for Wales at the 2022 parliamentary prayer breakfast
On the eve of the prayer breakfast was an evening reception at the Senedd, where the host of the events, chair of the Cross-Party Group on Faith, Darren Millar MS, announced that this year’s theme would be revival. Several other members of the cross-party group contributed, along with speeches from…
VAWG series: Radical relationships
Lived out, mutually, as God intended, these principles create relationships where two people can thrive. But when the onus of sacrifice, love and forgiveness starts falling on one half of a partnership while the other merely benefits from receiving those things, it leads to inequality, disrespect…
Esther Sweetman
#WorldWaterDay22: What could your church do?
But that’s the reality for a staggering 785 million people worldwide who lack access to clean water. More than 800 children under five die every single day from diarrhoea caused by contaminated water, poor sanitation, and unsafe hygiene. And in developing countries, families have to walk an average…
Matt Hyam
Navigating the complexities of Mother's Day
At Care for the Family we are all too aware of the pain and difficulty that Mother’s Day can bring. For some this will be a day of grief, mourning or loss; of dashed hopes, strained relationships and anxiety. Rather than a day of laughter, it will be a day of tears. Many will be carrying their…
Gill Lyth
Perfection and perseverance
My lockdown story involved the accelerated decline of my Dad’s health from dementia, his isolation and death. A painful experience that was similar to those of many. During difficult times we can stumble into beliefs hidden below the surface. Like a food allergy, our flawed beliefs react to a…
Alan Taylor
What does it mean to be human and black?
This question becomes more poignant in the light of the recent incident that saw child Q (a 15-year-old black girl)[1] stripped and searched by the police while she was on her monthly period because she was accused of smelling of cannabis. This is shocking as it is degrading, disrespectful and…
Rev Dr Israel Oluwole Olofinjana
Be listeners in a gawking world
He demonstrated this technique for the interviewer, and it was magic. Even without anyone saying a word or any visible action on this impromptu set, there was electricity. Nothing could be heard except for the slightest room hum or perhaps a chair creak. But you could see the slightest darting of…
Ryan Shelton
Response to confusion over conversion therapy plans
Responding to news reports on the government’s next steps relating to conversion therapy, Peter Lynas, UK director of the Evangelical Alliance, commented: “The government has totally dropped the ball on conversion therapy. Everyone wants to see an end to coercive and abusive practices, but by…
Courage to be kingdom-bringers
How did you meet Jesus? I was debating and arguing against Christianity but became aware that I didn’t know what the Bible said so promised I’d read a gospel in 2006. Its realness and relevance blew me away. On a visit to church, the Holy Spirit convicted me, but I didn’t want to be a stereotypical…
Helen Locke
