Christian News Media Digest
“Keep the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other.” – Karl Barth
It was the renowned theologian Karl Barth who said that we should keep the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. He emphasized that we should be grounded in God’s Word but also aware of what is going on in the world around us and interpret it through the Bible. This news digest is a curated selection of Christian news articles, interviews and more that speak to current children-related issues and developments that are relevant to the Church. They provide insights, inform and equip those who are serving in children ministries whether at the global, national or local level.
*All articles are used with permission. Some of the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the WEA Children’s Network.

France: 6,500 Young Christians Expected at ‘Echo’
Teenagers and young people from churches across France are gathering this weekend (19-21 May) in Zénith d’Auvergne in a large triennial congress that seeks to encourage young members evangelical churches to discover God’s calling. “See, I am doing something new” (Isiah 43:9)

How a South African Orphan’s Faith in God Gave Him the Strength to Graduate from Medical School
When Covid-19 interfered with the graduation ceremonies of University of the Witwatersrand’s prestigious medical school in December 2021, Sithembiso Madlala took the change of plans in stride. Madlala had come too far in his journey from a neglected child in

UK’s First ‘Three-Parent Baby’ Crosses Ethical Line, Says CARE
A Christian charity has said it is concerned about safety and the ethics of new biotechnology after the birth of the UK’s first baby that has the DNA of three people. Mitochondrial donation treatment (MDT) uses healthy mitochondria from a female

‘God’s Children Are Not for Sale’: Jim Caviezel Calls on 2M People to Watch Film That Exposes Trafficking
Devout Christian actor Jim Caviezel, who stars in the upcoming film “Sound of Freedom,” is calling on 2 million people to stand with him and expose the evil of child exploitation and trafficking. Scheduled for release on July 4, “Sound

Florida College to Be First in State to Offer Exam Rooted in Classical, Christian Values
A public university in Florida will allow students to submit test scores from a college entrance exam that is said to be more rooted in Western classical and Christian traditions as an alternative to the ACT and SAT. New College

British Teens Have Positive View of Jesus, Study Finds
A new study by the Barna Group suggests that British teens have an openness towards Jesus while a sizable minority are interested in learning about Christianity. Barna’s Open Generation Global study surveyed 1,000 UK teens aged 13 to 17 and found

Is a ‘Surge of Faith’ Happening with Younger Americans?
According to The Wall Street Journal, recent polling data shows a “Surprising surge of faith among young people.” As columnist Clare Ansberry wrote, “About one-third of 18-to-25-year-olds say they believe — more than doubt — the existence of a higher power,

Family Advocates Offer Advice on How to Help Kids Struggling with Porn, Sexting and Exploitation
Youth struggling with a porn addiction can benefit from a loving, parental connection and a relationship with God, says Christian family expert Adam Holz. Holz, the director of PluggedIn, a publication operated by Focus on the Family designed to provide parents with detailed

Fatherlessness an ‘Epidemic’ Satan Uses to Undermine God’s Plan, Church Must Step Up: Filmmaker
Eric Swithin, founder of The Alliance for Ending the Fatherless Epidemic, believes that most of the issues permeating society can be traced back to fatherlessness, an epidemic he says the devil is using to undermine God’s plan for the world He

Norway: Highest Number of Minors Requesting Gender Change
According to the annual report of the Norwegian National Treatment Service for Gender Incongruence (NBTK), 268 minors were referred to hospital to start gender change treatment in 2022, which is an increase of 13% from the previous year. The NBTK also informed that the

Austria: 73% Say Women Are Put Under Pressure to Abort Babies with Disability
A survey conducted by polling institute IMAS for the #fairändern campaign (in English, #fairchanging) found that half of the surveyed think women who decide to terminate their pregnancy take this decision under a “strong or very strong pressure”. This is what a

A Temporary Home: The Experience of Christians Welcoming Ukrainian Refugees in France
We have all heard the figures of all those who had fled Ukraine after the Russian invasion. As of February 2023, over 8 million (nearly 20% of the population) were living as refugees in other parts of Europe. Many others were internally