Persecuted children remembered in action week

 AP

Christians are being asked to remember Christian children living in contexts of persecution.

The call has gone out from Barnabas Fund ahead of Suffering Church Action Week from 27 October to 3 November.

This year the action week remembers 'children of courage' and they will be the focus of a worldwide day of prayer falling on 1 November.

Barnabas Fund said children often suffer "most acutely" in contexts of persecution and are "easy targets for violence or injustice".

This is particularly the case where Christians are caught up in conflict, Barnabas Fund said, noting the situation in Syria, where many Christian children are malnourished, sick and experiencing bereavement.

Persecution can also play out in the school, where Christian children can experience aggression, discrimination in exams and be pressured to change their faith, the charity said.

"As conditions worsen for persecuted Christian minorities, especially in the wake of the growing strength of Islamism since the Arab Spring, Christian children will need to be courageous in the years ahead," said Barnabas Fund.

"In many ways, this is also true of Christian young people in the West, who need to stand firm in their faith at a time when it is being publicly undermined and marginalised. They too need our prayer and support."

A free resource pack put together by Barnabas Fund includes a Suffering Church Sunday service outline, ideas for a fundraising and coffee morning event, a children's session and Bible study.

Order resources at www.childrenofcourage.org

News
English Heritage deletes debunked claims about pagan origins of Christmas Day
English Heritage deletes debunked claims about pagan origins of Christmas Day

English Heritage has admitted it got it wrong when it shared false claims that the date of Christmas is derived from a pagan Roman festival in honour of a sun god.

Guinness Book of Records recognises 'the world’s longest serving Sunday School teacher'
Guinness Book of Records recognises 'the world’s longest serving Sunday School teacher'

Pam Knowles started helping out her church Sunday school in 1951 at the age of 13.

The origins of ‘traditional’ Christmas celebrations 
The origins of ‘traditional’ Christmas celebrations 

Today in the UK we celebrate Christmas and the period around it with many familiar traditions and activities. There is an understandable assumption that we have always done things this way. However, celebrating Christmas has a long and complex history and things change over time. 

Venezuela stops cardinal from leaving country
Venezuela stops cardinal from leaving country

The cardinal has spoken out against the excesses of the Maduro government.