The imprisonment of the Apostle Paul was a big blow to the early church. Many may have thought it was game over. The great evangelist, the beloved Apostle to the Gentiles, the lynch pin of the early Gentile Church is now in a Roman dungeon awaiting trial. All is lost!

Is it bad, when a home is no longer a home?
When the place you called Safe your whole Life
becomes a chamber for your near and necessary death-
your Lonely and Small, execution.

War is a terrible thing. Those who are most in favour of war are generally those who are safe in the knowledge that they will never be called upon to fight. War brings suffering beyond description – to combatants and non-combatants: lives destroyed, bodies and minds devastated.

If you listen to Imagine Dragons lyrics, especially “Night Visions,” they are very honest about the nature of human existence. As we listen, it rings true with our own experience. But as we’ll see, the hope clung to is more sentimental and not so grounded in reality. The Bible shows us our problematic reality as well but also reveals God’s way of salvation from it.

We’re making some changes. Want to know what they are?

The founders of the Messenger Volleyball Tournament did not intend the competition to be a one-off, a flash in the pan or a mere blip in the history of RP sport. On the contrary, the inaugural competition ended with the promise of the chance to do it all again in a year's time.

It was a time of fellowship and connection with all generations of people who had been involved in camps, we were able to reminisce on our own memories. The whole evening was a great reminder of how important camps are, and the need for us to continue supporting them prayerfully each year.

Travel by car, bus or train (one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world -it is said!) Walk the Peace Bridge (if it’s not blowing a gale). Make your way past the Guildhall and up Shipquay Street to the Diamond. You are now entering the historic Cathedral Quarter of the City of Derry. Where are you going? You are heading to Gateway Shop on Pump Street in the heart of the city!

On 26th July millions of people watched the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris. The event marks 100 years since the Games were last held there, in 1924. The 1981 Oscar-winning movie, Chariots of Fire, portrays two men aiming for Olympic glory at the 1924 Games, Harold Abrahams – running for glory and acceptance – and Eric Liddell, running in obedience to God. The film ends with these few brief words, “Eric Liddell, missionary, died in occupied-China at the end of World War II. All of Scotland mourned.” He was a man who ran his race in obedience to Jesus Christ.

Since you’re reading this article, presumably you agree with me that written words matter. In fact, they matter a great deal. As the digital revolution continues to change the way men and women communicate around the world, there have been some who bemoan the lack of interest in written words: many traditional libraries have either disappeared or morphed into internet cafes; older people complain that young people are too “glued to their phones” to do any serious reading; a sharp drop in the use of Christmas cards, postcards and private letters all suggest that the written word doesn’t hold the same importance as once it did.

King Josiah began his thirty-one year reign over Judah at the early age of eight and he is known to be the last good king to rule over Judah. At the age of sixteen whilst he was “yet a boy” he began to seek God (2 Chronicles 34:3). Others around him were caught up in the idolatry that was rife throughout the nation but Josiah sought God alone and sought him wholeheartedly. He didn't delay pursuing God until he was older so he could enjoy himself in the present and as a king he certainly would have had the means to do as he pleased.

Just over a year ago over 20 million people in the United Kingdom, and many more from around the world watched on the televisions as the first monarch was crowned in Westminster Abbey nearly 70 years
prior.

King Charles III, along with Queen Camilla, was crowned in a lavish ceremony in Westminster Abbey.
The Abbey was filled with 2200 guests from 203 countries. These included members of the British royal family, church leaders, prominent politicians from the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, along with many other foreign heads of state.

Have you ever been praying for God to convert someone? Maybe a friend or a family member? Have you given up praying for them and witnessing to them because you think they will never repent? John 13 reminds us of the love that Jesus had for his disciples.

You will have heard the saying, “Never judge a book by its cover”, but maybe we could add to that, “Never judge a book by its title”, at least not this book, for unless you are a number nerd you might be tempted to skip or at least fast forward through a piece of literature with the ironic title of “Numbers”.

Daniel grew up in Israel and was no more than a teenager when he was swept off with the Israelites to Babylon as a slave. He was suddenly surrounded by a completely foreign culture, foreign lifestyle and most importantly a foreign god.

In several places in the OT, the phrase 'the Rock' is used as a grand title for God Himself. This title 'the Rock' speaks to us of God's faithfulness. 'The Rock' conveys how God is unchanging, utterly faithful and constant in His care.

I’m not naturally a very sociable person. I once famously told all the girls at GAC that I hated meeting new people (not a very encouraging thing to say as a leader). However, it is true that I find any form of socialising tiring and draining particularly if I do not know the people well. Nevertheless, having grown up as a minister’s daughter the idea of having many people in and out of your house is a normal one. Growing up our dinner table frequently hosted our congregation, visiting missionaries and many of our childhood friends. Perhaps because of this I see that hospitality is a way of life despite my introverted tendencies. Butterfield seeks in her book to show that hospitality is indeed inevitably part of the Christian life.

Solas is the Irish word for ’light’ and is in the name to provide a simple evangelistic opportunity to point people to Jesus who is the Light of the World who came into the world in order to rescue those who are in darkness. SOLAS is also the term used to highlight five important Bible truths of the Reformation known as the Five Solas: Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone), Solus Christus (Christ Alone), Sola Gratia (Grace Alone), Sola Fide (Faith Alone) and Soli Deo Gloria (to God’s Glory Alone).

The Logos School of English Education in Cyprus is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. It has had many faithful Christian workers throughout its time. The school has around 350 pupils in Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary School. There are 39 nationalities represented in the school from a variety of different religions. We interviewed one of the teachers to find out more about Cyprus and how God is working there.

The book of Nahum is a message about the certainty of God's judgment against those who persist in sin and in a spirit of rebellion against God and also a message of comfort to God's people reminding them that despite how things seem at present, ultimately God's justice against and punishment of His and his people's enemies will take place.