Member Church News: Prayers, Idenity, Communications

Hundreds of young people from South America participate in Thursday in Black: On 11 January, some 430 young people from congregations from Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay of the Evangelical Church of the Río de la Plata gathered to participate in the “IERPino” youth meeting. They actively observed the Thursdays in Black campaign for a world free from rape and violence.

For almost 30 years the Uniting Church in Australia has been in covenant with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, which commits the church to work for a more just church and nation. A part of this is marking a Day of Mourning, this year on 21 January.

The Christian Reformed Church in North America has called for continued prayers for peace in the Middle East and provided a number of prayers for use.

United Church of Canada General Secretary Michael Blair has sent a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau and other members of the federal government supporting South Africa’s application to the International Court of Justice regarding Israel’s breach of its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention.

Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ is among 74 organizations signing in support of U.S. Senate Resolution S504 requiring a report on Israel’s human rights practices and U.S. military aid to Israel.

Bible App brings “love for God and love for neighbour” prayers to smart phones: Materials for the world’s largest prayer gathering—the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity—are newly available on smart phones via a Bible App that is reaching millions of people.

In Nagaland, India, Christian identity and Indigenous tribal identity are historically intertwined. But can you be indigenous AND Christian? And if so, how? In her blog post, Moasenla reports on the Naga tribes’ changeful path with Christianity throughout history and explains how they are now able to unite (seemingly) contradictory things.

The Council for World Mission held a communications workshop in Kuala Lumpur from 17-20 January, gathering more than 30 delegates from CWM member churches around the world.

First meeting of newly elected Christian Conference of Asia Executive Committee commences in Chiang Mai. Bishop Reuel Norman Marigza, who belongs to the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, delivered the CCA Moderator’s Opening Remarks.