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A report warns that ocean plastic will triple in a decade. “We invest a lot of money for missions to space, but there’s nothing living out there. The sea bed is teeming with life”, experts say.
Virtual reality, 5G and artificial intelligence are among some of the services highlighted in the latest edition of the Mobile World Congress. “What do we contribute apart from the trace of our fingerprints?”, asks IT engineer Jesús Muñoz.
When the forest burns, soils are exposed to the rain, and erosion becomes a serious problem.
Germán López-Cortacans, has presented a thesis on the image of God in people with intellectual disabilities. “Christians have to be self-critical”.
Around 70% of deaths from cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries. “Cancer no longer needs to be a death sentence”, WHO says.
Christians in Europe are “finally taking the challenge of climate change seriously”, says Dave Bookless of A Rocha.
About 90 delegates attended the European Creation Care and the Gospel conference in Nice (France). Chris Wright: “Whatever we do to God’s creation either points to, or diminishes, God’s glory”.
According to researchers, the solar eclipse took place on 30 October 1207 BC. If the words in Joshua “are describing a real observation, then a major astronomical event was taking place”.
The German-born Protestant scientist was the precursor of modern entomology. This year is the 300th anniversary of her death.
The Swiss Evangelical Alliance launches a document “to empower Christians to plan an eco-friendly event that glorifies God and benefits all of creation”.
In creation care, “we need more people who lead by example”, says well-known Brazilian politician and activist Marina Silva.
About 90 people will attend the European creation care conference near Nice (France). “Churches have been lacking a vision that puts creation care at the heart of daily discipleship, worship and mission”, says Dave Bookless.
One of the largest icebergs ever recorded has changed the outline of the Antarctic Peninsula forever. Experts say this will not result in sea level rises.
One third of the world now faces seasons of extreme heat. “For heat waves, our options are now between bad or terrible”, study says.
Miguel Wickham comments on the United States decision to leave the Paris Agreement and encourages Christians to commit themselves to the biblical mandate of stewardship.
The US may have left the Paris climate agreement, but Christians cannot avoid their responsibility in preserving God’s creation, says Antonio Cruz.
Political and religious leaders heavily criticise the decision. France, Germany and Italy reject Trump’s assertion that the climate deal can be redrafted.
The President of the Evangelical Philosophical Society, Angus Menuge, explains what AI is, its limits and the enduring differences between artificial and human intelligence.
The Renew Our World campaign is “calling on Christians worldwide to join in prayer and action to respond to the negative consequences of climate change.”
The ancient town is mentioned in the books of Joshua and 1 Samuel. Excavations start in August.
At about 40 light-years from Earth, it is possible that some of them could have water on their surface.
France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK will face court action if they don't set out plans to cut NO2 emissions.NO2 caused almost 70,000 premature deaths in Europe in 2013.
The response of the European Churches to climate change, as with all environmental issues, has been patchy, but there are signs that this is beginning to change.
Astronomers found the Milky Way is speeding away from a large, previously unseen void.
Research shows that around 70% of US Evangelicals believe evolution is probably or definitely false, while 28% of them said that the climate is not changing.
There is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke, a study says.
According to a Rice University study, both religious and non-religious scientists criticize the way Dawkins deals with religion.
The Southern Ocean will be sheltered from fishing in the next 35 years. The agreement comes after five years of negotiations. Russia was the last one to accept it.
I have always found striking, the discrepancy between the public support for euthanasia (among those who are healthy) and my patients’ desire for continued life.
A team of Russian archaeologists announces “a discovery of international significance” in the ancient Greek site of Phanagoria (Crimea). Darius I is mentioned in the book of Ezra.
“Many atheists are beginning to see that their loud, aggressive attitude is not working”, says Mathematics Prof. John Lennox in an interview with Evangelical Focus. “We need to spend time to get to know Scripture at beyond a kind of Sunday school class level”.
What mysterious properties do the Oikopleura dioica have to challenge God and cause such religious tremors?
University professor in Physics, Antoine Bret, comments on Hawking’s idea that “science makes God unnecessary”.
“He once said: ‘It would not be much of a universe if it wasn’t home to the people you love’”, the scientist’s children say in a statement.
Companies in several countries work to eradicate plastic packaging.
The European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning “the practice of surrogacy, which undermines the human dignity of the woman since her body and its reproductive functions are used as a commodity”.
It happened for the third time in 40 years. The image has been captured by the European Space Agency Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.
Child euthanasia, a reality in Belgium.
Helicopters airlifted tourists in Switzerland and Italy as more than 20,000 tourists trapped.
Czech researcher David Vokoun shares about what it means to live out his faith in the workplace. “What makes a difference is my motivation for doing my work”.
Former Google and Uber engineer Anthony Levandowski, founds Way of the Future, which aims “to create a deity based on artificial intelligence for the betterment of society”.
The conference drew about 90 delegates from across Europe. Scientists, theologians, activists reflected together on the theme “God’s Word and God’s World”.
Scientific research warns that some of the dyes used in tattoos contain contaminants that could harm the lymph nodes.
The US withdrawal will make climate change solutions more difficult, and climate catastrophe more likely. The decision is unjust, immoral and unworthy of a great nation.
The cache of nine bronze coins may have been stashed fleeing Christians en route to Jerusalem as Persians invaded the land in 614 CE.
Personal journeys, radical agendas and perplexing dilemmas.
Transgenderism is the next major issue that Christians are going to have to come to grips with – theologically, morally, medically, legally and pastorally. Many in our churches have been taken by surprise.
Scientists say human emissions of CO2, the warming of the Arctic, and El Nino were the main factors of the new high. “God has called us to be responsible stewards of creation”, Christian activists say.
Any society that wants to survive must care for the weak and vulnerable in their midst.
According to archaeologist Douglas Petrovich, inscriptions in stone slabs from Egypt contain an early form of Hebrew, with references to figures from the Bible.
It is the earliest extra-biblical source to mention Jerusalem in Hebrew writing. Radiocarbon dating has determined it is from the 7th century BCE.
A look at European statistics on five key biomedical issues: surrogate parenthood, gender transformation, the new eugenics, euthanasia and abortion.
Developers claim this is the first ever 3D digital hologram of the human brain fibre connections. The tecnique is called “Fibre Tractography”.
They have also found Philistine pottery, lending credence to the biblical account of them living in the city until being vanquished by King David.
The cemetery has been found outside the walls of the Israelite port city of Ashkelon. The discovery of more than 200 bodies will reveal many details about how the Philistines lived.
Ahead of the referendum, the Swiss Evangelical Alliance and two Evangelical Parties oppose the proposition of allowing more research in medically assisted reproduction.
Air pollution is responsible for 9% of mortality in France, according to a study made public this week. The only things that are more deadly to the French are tobacco and alcohol.
Karen L. King’s announcement got much media attention in 2012. After and in-depth research of The Atlantic magazine, she admits she probably was deluded by “fabrications.”
Some of the ways that evangelical organisations are taking up the global challenge of implementing creation care as a mission task.
A Christian Maths student is interviewed about her faith on the back cover of a secular Spanish national newspaper.
The media’s interpretation of the significance of the discovery a few months before it was made reflects the need most humans feel to find ultimate spiritual reality.
It reveals the high status of its owner and confirms the important role of some women during the First Temple period, as described in the book of Proverbs.
Social media users share great ‘Aurora Borealis’ pictures.
Authorities in Israel called it the oldest discovery of its kind in the area. The historic site was found while authorities were doing roadwork.
Why Einstein’s theory of relativity is actually a powerful argument for absolute truth.
“We’ve confused our politics with our faith”, the respected evangelical atmospheric scientist Katharine Hayhoe thinks. “If we really believed what the Bible says, we would be on the forefront of this issue.”
The moon, seen from the Earth and from space. Images captured by the NASA in 2015.
Today, the earth has approximately 3 trillion trees left, but each year more than 15 billion are lost.
Autonomous weapons will “appear on the black market and in the hands of terrorists”, warn prominent researchers like Stuart Russell, Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking.
No one in the world has shown more willingness to forgive every human being than God.
The caper is native to Southeast Asia, but it is common throughout the Mediterranean basin and in many other parts of the world.
In Western Europe today the majority of the church is made up of the relatively wealthy middle classes.
The horses of the ‘Franches’ are amongst the hardiest that exist.
Christians in politics?
What is the role of Christians serving in politics? An interview with Auke Minnema, the new General Director of the European Christian Political Movement (ECPM).
Michael Ramsden: Communicating the Gospel in today’s societies
RZIM International Director Michael Ramsden responds to questions about the secularisation of Europe, the role of Christians in public leadership and the new ‘culture of victimism’.
Michael Schluter: Relationships are the key to build Europe
The economist summarises the manifesto “Confederal Europe: Strong Nations, Strong Union” and explains why personal relationships should be at the centre of our economy, education and democracy.
Efraim Tendero: Relationship with Roman Catholicism and other current issues
The World Evangelical Alliance Secretary General participated in the Italian Evangelical Alliance assembly (Rome, 8-9 April). In this interview with Evangelical Focus, Bp Tendero talks about the need to listen to local churches and to face challenges like the refugee crisis and climate change.
Greg Pritchard: European Leadership Forum
Pritchard explains the vision of ELF, comments on the 2015 event in Poland and reflects on what it means to have an "evangelical identity".
Evi Rodemann: Youth and mission
“We want to see the youth not just being equipped, but also being multipliers”, Evi Rodemann director of Mission-Net. The European Congress took place in Germany from December 28 to January 2.
Coexistence in the church - a model for society
“Gospel, identity and coexistence” were the themes of the General Assembly of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance. Two days in Palma de Mallorca to reflect about the role of evangelical churches in society.
'Ungi kulimi changana'
Educator and journalist Jordi Torrents shares images of the Sekeleka social centre in Mozambique. About 50 children live there, many with some kind of disability. All photos were taken with permission.
The President in an evangelical church on Christmas Eve
For the first time, the President of Portugal attended a worship service in an evangelical church. It was in Sintra, on Christmas Eve.
I am not on sale
Young Christians gathered at Madrid’s central square Sol to denounce human trafficking. A flashmob highlighted the work of three evangelical NGOs which support women who escape sexual slavery in Spain.
Stamps to commemorate the Reformation
Poland, Lithuania, Namibia and Brazil are some of the countries that have issued special stamps on the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s 95 theses.
Why are Christian leaders particularly vulnerable to sexual temptation?
“The reasons why somebody might have sex with a prostitute are very different from the reasons why somebody might want to have an affair with a member of their congregation”. An analysis by John Stevens, National Director of FIEC (UK).
Be safe on social media
A video about the way traffickers target teenage girls online, produced by anti-slavery gorup Abolishion.
In Mission
A 360º lyric video about how all followers of Jesus Christ are called to serve God. Duo in Spanish (Alex Sampedro) and Portuguese (Marcos Martins).
Heart
A short animation film by Swiss cartoonist Alain Auderset tells the message of the Bible in four minutes.
Philip Yancey interview
An 8-minute interview with Philip Yancey on the role of Christians in a secularised society. Recorded in Madrid, September 2016.
An interview with Prof. John Lennox
New atheism, the definition of "faith", Christianity in Europe, the role of the Bible in mission, and the need to listen more. An exclusive interview recorded at "Forum Apologética" (Tarragona, Spain) in May 2016.
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Opinions expressed are those of their respective contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of Evangelical Focus.
