An interview with the author of “Assimilate or Go Home: Notes from a Failed Missionary on Rediscovering Faith”
CHR Comment: An interesting dialogue about Roman Catholic and Protestant views of mission work today.
UNESCO Adopts Controversial Jerusalem Resolution
Israel last week suspended its ties with UNESCO over the draft resolution.
CHR Comment: Toward the end of the article is a statement from an Arab representative who states that the UNESCO resolution acknowledges sites as Jewish, Islamic, and Christian though only Arabic names are used, which could be interpreted as excluding the Jews. (Arabic is a language used by both Christians and Muslims but apparently not so much by Jews.)
American Aid Worker Kidnapped in Niger
Officials in nearby Mali report that two people were killed at the scene during the abduction.
CHR Comment: Youth with a Mission is a Christian aid society.
45,000 People Baptized at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church
Warren called the moment “historic”, before Alberto Flores became the 45,000th person to be baptised by the church.
CHR Comment: Saddleback Church is a member of the Southern Baptist Convention, which has reported the issue of repeated Baptisms in their denomination. In other words, some Baptists who have fallen away from the church get baptized a second or third time when they recommit as Christians. Although Christians in the U. S. should celebrate the many Baptisms at Saddleback Church, we should also view this large number in perspective with popular practice among Baptists.
Source: 45,000 People Baptised At Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church | Christian News on Christian Today
Nigeria’s Boko Haram Frees 21 Kidnapped Chibok Girls
CHR Comment: Earlier reports made clear that many of these girls are from Christian families. See the New York Times article below.
Source: Nigeria’s Boko Haram frees 21 kidnapped Chibok girls after 2-1/2 years | Reuters
Catching Up on Church History
Greetings in Christ. I’m grateful to the many visitors on my site. This month I am catching up on news since I recently served as a guest lecturer in South Africa and I am beginning new service at a parish in Ohio. Please continue to share your thoughts and use the resources compiled here. Great to know that others share my interest in emerging church history and new discoveries about the past. I’m looking forward to writing a summary of church history from 2016.
Site Administrator Rev. Edward A. Engelbrecht, STM
William Simon’s Mission to Make Parishes Great Again
“The local church is the greatest engine for good in human history,” businessman and philanthropist Bill Simon says of his hope for Catholic parishes.
CHR Comment: American conservative, Bill Simon, is a devout Roman Catholic who recently published “Great Catholic Parishes,” for which he studied 244 parishes. He advocates Bible Study, church music, and preaching as key to vital parish life.
Source: William Simon’s Mission to Make Parishes Great Again
Nobel Laureate Tutu Celebrates 85th Birthday
Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu shed tears of gratitude on his 85th birthday Friday as he presided over a cathedral Mass despite his poor health. And in a newspaper column, the former archbishop said he would like to have the option of a “dignified assisted death” when the time comes.
CHR Comment: Tutu has been an advocate for many liberal theological views, the latest being homosexuality and assisted suicide.
Source: Nobel laureate Tutu celebrates 85th birthday, giving thanks – The Washington Post
Viking Rune Stone Unearthed in Sweden
CHR Comment: The stone was part of the threshold for Hagby Church, illustrating how stones were reused from earlier cultures and purposes.
Source: Viking Rune Stone Unearthed in Sweden – Archaeology Magazine
William Tyndale, Martyr
One of the pioneers who brought us the Bible in English was William Tyndale, who is remembered today, October 6.
church history review 