After a turbulent year, Church leaders to see in 2021 with week of prayer

After a turbulent 2020, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Karen Gibson, of Kingdom Choir, will be teaming up to lead a special week of prayer to see in the New Year.

'Declaration' is the initiative of Tearfund and will air on Christian TV channel TBN from 3 to 9 January 2021. 

Other special guests at Declaration include Bishop John Francis, founder of Ruach City Church, 24/7 Prayer co-founder Pete Greig, and Pastor Agu Irukwu, Chair of RCCG UK, who will join Gibson and Archbishop Justin Welby in a televised discussion about race. 

Pastor Irukwu said: "I'm looking forward to being part of a round table debate with the Archbishop and others to explore justice, race and healing.

"I hope all our communities join us for this week of prayer and begin the year renewed and reawakened."

Archbishop Welby said the events of 2020 had brought race issues to the fore. 

"This year longstanding racial injustice has been brought again to our attention as a sin demanding our repentance and urgent action," he said. 

"I'm honoured to be supporting Declaration's week of prayer and I'm looking forward to a courageous discussion exploring how we as the Church can become more deeply transformed into a truly Jesus-shaped community."

'Declaration' coincides with what is traditionally significant time in the black majority Church, when churches would normally come together to ring in the New Year with prayer, worship and celebration followed by a week of corporate prayer and fasting.

Seth Pinnock, head of African and Caribbean engagement at Tearfund said: "I can see no better way to start 2021 than by taking part in Declaration week to give your new year a head start.

"My hope is as people gather in their living rooms over the seven days they'll have something of an upper room encounter, transformed by what they've experienced. Prayer is powerful, prayer changes things."

Declaration will air on TBN at 8-9pm from 3 to 9 January. Each day will have a different theme, from 'Justice and Restoration', to 'Women' and 'Youth'. 

For more information visit https://www.tearfund.org/campaigns/declaration

News
Bishop of Lincoln resigns after suspension over safeguarding complaint
Bishop of Lincoln resigns after suspension over safeguarding complaint

The Rt Rev Stephen Conway will step down as Bishop of Lincoln on 1 October, seven months after being suspended from ministry.

What links Tommy Robinson, Andrew Tate and the CofE’s newest bishop?
What links Tommy Robinson, Andrew Tate and the CofE’s newest bishop?

It’s not every Church of England bishop that can claim connections to both Tommy Robinson and Andrew Tate. But Andrew Rumsey is an exception.

From Genesis to Revelation: The ambitious AI project turning the Bible into music
From Genesis to Revelation: The ambitious AI project turning the Bible into music

Micah Fiechter is the founder of the Music Bible, a project that has used AI to convert the entire Bible into music form across a range of genres. Christian Today spoke to Micah to find out more about what inspired him to start the project and the impact he hopes it will have.

Concerns for Pakistani teenage boy allegedly forced into Islam
Concerns for Pakistani teenage boy allegedly forced into Islam

Forced conversion is a problem in Pakistan.