Southern Baptists are seizing a remarkable evangelistic opportunity as the 2026 Winter Olympics unfold in Milan / Cortina. International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries serving across Italy have partnered with hundreds of American volunteers to proclaim the hope of Christ to the nations gathered for the Games. Outreach strategies include distributing Bibles and copies of John’s gospel, hosting welcoming hospitality points, and engaging in Olympic pin trading – each pin carrying a QR code linking to a multilingual gospel presentation. Kim Cruse of Tennessee is leading a team and encouraging bold, faith-filled conversations, reminding volunteers that many people are more spiritually open than we assume. Teams have prepared using AI chat tools to practise engaging with varied worldviews. Missionaries Dylan and Isaura Jeronimo-Lancaster are welcoming faithful church partners, reflecting the power of long-term collaboration. Volunteers testify that such global events offer a rare, God-given opportunity to impact lives from every continent with the timeless message of Christ.

Actor Tim Allen has publicly celebrated completing a 13-month, word-by-word journey through the entire Bible – a 'no skimming' commitment from Genesis to Revelation. The 72-year-old, known for the films Toy Story and The Santa Clause, shared that he felt 'humbled, enlightened and amazed' by what he read, and plans to begin again after time for reflection and meditation. His announcement drew encouragement from fans and Christian leaders, including Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, who invited him to join a two-year Bible study. Allen has become increasingly open about his faith, and in a recent podcast he reflected on the relationship between God’s law and human sin. Last year he revealed he had never previously read the Bible fully; he began with the Old Testament and found it 'amazing and not at all what I was expecting’. He has also called for clearer Christian themes in The Santa Clauses series, insisting Christmas be recognised as rooted in Christ.

At a recent meeting in Washington, Grace Jin Drexel shared the moving story of her father, Pastor Ezra Jin, imprisoned in China for his Christian faith. He was arrested in October alongside 27 other leaders from Zion Church, in what has been described as one of the largest crackdowns on independent churches since the Cultural Revolution. Grace explained that the arrests are part of China’s aggressive campaign to bring all religious life under Communist Party control. Churches have been forced to remove crosses, replace worship songs with revolutionary anthems, rewrite sermons to align with socialist ideology, and install surveillance cameras inside sanctuaries. Zion Church was targeted after refusing to install facial recognition cameras. Despite closures and intimidation, the church adapted, developing hybrid online and offline gatherings. During the pandemic, this model led to remarkable growth, expanding to over a hundred meeting spaces in forty cities and reaching thousands daily. Grace also spoke of the severe prison conditions facing detained leaders, her family’s separation, and harassment abroad. Yet she testified confidently that God remains faithful, prayers are not in vain, and repression cannot extinguish the Church.

An unexpected move of God took place at RoofCon, a major roofing convention held in Oklahoma City. Though the event was designed to equip professionals with business skills, founder Hunter Ballew sensed the Holy Spirit calling him to use the platform for eternal purposes. Evangelist Clayton King was invited to share a clear and simple Gospel message, emphasising how individuals can truly know they are born again. Attendance at the final session was voluntary, yet many remained. In a spontaneous step of faith, organisers purchased horse troughs and set up baptisms on the convention floor. Over two hundred men and women responded to the Gospel, with dozens immediately baptised. King described the moment as a powerful work of the Holy Spirit, noting a growing hunger for faith beyond church walls. He believes this reflects a wider awakening, as secular promises fail and hearts respond afresh to the transforming power of the Gospel.

Actress and Christian speaker Jen Lilley is calling believers to move beyond a passive faith and rediscover a vibrant, intimate relationship with Jesus. She observes that many people believe in God yet feel spiritually stagnant, settling for routine church attendance rather than a life fully alive in Christ. Lilley believes true renewal comes through deeper commitment, obedience, and freedom found in knowing Jesus personally. Through her podcast and her new devotional book, Wake Up Your Faith: 365 Daily Encounters with Jesus, she invites readers into daily, Spirit-filled encounters that awaken faith and confidence in God’s healing, grace, and faithfulness. Drawing on her own journey from a successful acting career to wholehearted discipleship, Lilley challenges Christians to be bold in prayer and witness. She urges believers to step out in everyday moments, pray for others, and respond to the urgency of the Great Commission. Her message is clear: now is the time to awaken faith, live fully surrendered to Jesus, and actively make disciples.

A growing spiritual awakening among Gen Z and Millennials is reflected in the testimony of filmmaker Michael Ray Lewis, a former atheist who has now turned to Christ. He says his unbelief was shaped by unanswered objections about evolution, evil, and judgment, reinforced by atheist media portraying Christianity as intellectually bankrupt. Determined to disprove his wife’s renewed faith, he began attending church and revisiting Christian claims. What started as resistance slowly turned into curiosity as Lewis discovered thoughtful responses to his questions and positive evidence for God’s existence. Scientific insights, particularly from astrophysics, challenged his assumption that faith and reason were incompatible. After several years, he realised that his remaining objections were rooted not in evidence but in unwillingness to believe. In 2016, he surrendered his life to Christ. Leaving behind his horror film career, he felt called to serve God creatively and produced the documentary Universe Designed, presenting compelling scientific and philosophical evidence for an intelligent Creator.

Six pro-life activists associated with the Red Rose Rescue movement are celebrating after all charges against them were dropped following a court hearing in Pennsylvania. The group had been arrested in July 2025 after intervening at an abortion clinic in Chester, actions they described as a peaceful ‘rescue’ aimed at offering alternatives to abortion and practical support to women and staff. The activists, who were charged with misdemeanour, trespass, and disorderly conduct, spent several days in custody before being released on bail. After they entered no-contest pleas, the court dismissed all charges, with no penalties imposed and bail money returned. During the proceedings, the defendants stated that their actions were motivated by Christian convictions, a belief in the dignity of every human life, and a desire to act non-violently on behalf of the unborn. They also referenced historic civil rights principles and the legacy of peaceful protest. The group expressed gratitude for legal support and for prayers offered, describing the outcome as a significant encouragement for those seeking to defend life with compassion, courage, and faith.

Former research scientist Fazale 'Fuz' Rana shares how advanced scientific study led him from agnosticism to Christian faith. As an undergraduate, science pushed him toward doubt, but deeper research in biochemistry revealed to him the extraordinary complexity, elegance, and precision of even the simplest living cells. Through decades of laboratory experiments, he says, scientists have consistently failed to demonstrate how life’s essential complex molecules could arise spontaneously through unguided chemical processes. Instead, these experiments require careful planning, intervention, and controlled environments provided by intelligent researchers. Rana describes this contradiction as the 'problem of unwarranted researcher intervention’, highlighting the irony that attempts to prove chemical evolution instead point toward intelligent design. This scientific dilemma raised deeper questions about purpose and origin, ultimately leading him to Scripture. He describes a profound encounter with Jesus through the Sermon on the Mount, recognising his sin and need for salvation through Christ’s sacrifice. Now serving as president and CEO of Reasons to Believe, he seeks to engage sceptics by presenting a robust scientific case for God’s existence and the reliability of the Bible.

New research suggests Generation Z is emerging as the most religious generation alive, with belief in a higher power now surpassing even those aged over 65. A YouGov study shows church attendance among 18- to 25-year-olds has risen sharply, from 7% in 2018 to 23% in 2024, while belief in a higher power has grown from 28% to 49%. Social media is playing a key role in this shift, with many young people encountering Christian ideas for the first time through short videos on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Influencers and young evangelists are openly sharing testimonies, baptisms, and Gospel messages, creating curiosity and drawing peers into church communities. Researchers note that Gen Z has faced significant challenges, including the pandemic and cost-of-living pressures, leaving many searching for meaning, stability, and hope. While not all young people observe or embrace this trend, evidence points to a growing openness to faith, community, and spiritual truth. Gen Z appears to be reshaping how belief is expressed in a digital age.

Following what many have described as a 'quiet revival' in 2025, Christian leaders believe 2026 could mark an unprecedented season of spiritual openness in Britain. Writing for the Evangelical Alliance, Phil Knox identifies five missional trends shaping the year ahead. Research shows remarkable growth in church attendance among 18- to 24-year-olds, especially men, signalling a turning tide after decades of decline. Yet Knox cautions that increased openness will not automatically lead to Christian conversion, as seekers may also explore alternative spiritualities, including paganism and the occult. He anticipates a rise in unexplained spiritual encounters, which already play a significant role in many adult faith journeys. Churches are urged to connect social action such as foodbank ministry with clear invitations to faith. Knox also expects Bible sales to continue rising as younger generations seek truth in a confused cultural landscape. He says that discipleship will be essential, as new believers need spiritual formation, community, and nurturing relationships to remain rooted and fruitful.