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        <title>Christian Daily International | Migration</title>
        <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/migration</link>
        <description><![CDATA[Follow global news on migration and the church’s response, from refugee support to humanitarian aid. Explore how Christians engage with displaced communities, advocate for justice, and provide hope for those on the move.]]></description>
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            <title>Christian Daily International | Migration</title>
            <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/migration</link>
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        <copyright>Christian Daily International © 2026</copyright>
        <language>en</language>
        <lastBuildDate>Sun, 21 Jun 2026 22:31:42 -0400</lastBuildDate>
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                <title><![CDATA[The Send Philippines draws 13,000 to dual-venue gathering aimed at long-term youth mobilization]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/the-send-philippines-draws-13-000-to-dual-venue-gathering-aimed-at-long-term-youth-mobilization</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/the-send-philippines-draws-13-000-to-dual-venue-gathering-aimed-at-long-term-youth-mobilization</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Timothy Goropevsek]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Filipino ministry leaders call participants to readiness during The Send Philippines, June 12, 2026, challenging the next generation to respond when God calls them to mission.]]></media:title>
                                                            <media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">
                                    <![CDATA[ Christian Daily International ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Filipino ministry leaders call participants to readiness during The Send Philippines, June 12, 2026, challenging the next generation to respond when God calls them to mission. ]]>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Francis Chan addresses participants at The Send Philippines, June 12, 2026, urging young Christians to share their faith in everyday settings — at school, at work, and in their communities.]]></media:title>
                                                            <media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">
                                    <![CDATA[ Christian Daily International ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Francis Chan addresses participants at The Send Philippines, June 12, 2026, urging young Christians to share their faith in everyday settings — at school, at work, and in their communities. ]]>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[More than 8,000 young Christians fill the CCF Center in Pasig City during The Send Philippines on June 12, 2026. A further 5,000 gathered simultaneously at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay, bringing total attendance to over 13,000.]]></media:title>
                                                            <media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">
                                    <![CDATA[ Christian Daily International ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ More than 8,000 young Christians fill the CCF Center in Pasig City during The Send Philippines on June 12, 2026. A further 5,000 gathered simultaneously at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay, bringing total attendance to over 13,000. ]]>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[A representative of Philippines Without Orphans addresses participants at The Send Philippines, June 12, 2026, presenting the case for foster care and adoption as a response to the needs of vulnerable children across the country.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Christian Daily International ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ A representative of Philippines Without Orphans addresses participants at The Send Philippines, June 12, 2026, presenting the case for foster care and adoption as a response to the needs of vulnerable children across the country. ]]>
                                </media:description>
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                                                                                                <media:content  url="https://www.christiandaily.com/media/original/img/0/48/4814.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Participants bow in prayer for their schools and colleges during The Send Philippines, June 12, 2026 — one of three commitment tracks the event offered alongside campus discipleship and overseas mission.]]></media:title>
                                                            <media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">
                                    <![CDATA[ Christian Daily International ]]>
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                                                                                        <media:description type="plain">
                                    <![CDATA[ Participants bow in prayer for their schools and colleges during The Send Philippines, June 12, 2026 — one of three commitment tracks the event offered alongside campus discipleship and overseas mission. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sun, 21 Jun 2026 05:45:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[More than 13,000 young people gathered across two Manila-area venues on Philippine Independence Day on June 12 for The Send Philippines, a Christian youth mobilization event that organizers describe as the beginning of a sustained, multi-church initiative rather than a one-time gathering.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
More than 13,000 young people gathered across two Manila-area venues on Philippine Independence Day on June 12 for The Send Philippines, a Christian youth mobilization event that organizers describe as the beginning of a sustained, multi-church initiative rather than a one-time gathering.
The event ran simultaneously at the CCF Center in Pasig City and the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay, with speakers rotating between the two venues. Organizers estimated participation from at least 50 and 100 churches and organizations, though the actual number may be higher.
A Global Movement Comes to Southeast Asia
The Send is a Christian mobilization movement founded in the United States around 2017 by leaders from Youth With A Mission (YWAM), Circuit Riders, Christ For All Nations, and related organizations, including Andy Byrd, Francis Chan, and Lou Engle. Its stated model measures success not by attendance but by the number of participants who commit to specific missional activity.

Since its inaugural gathering at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, The Send has held events in Kansas City, Brazil, and Norway. According to the organization's website, those gatherings have generated more than 51,000 commitments to reach unreached nations, more than 22,000 commitments to engage university campuses, more than 20,500 commitments to reach high schools, and nearly 18,000 commitments related to foster care and adoption.
The Philippines event marks the movement's first major gathering in Southeast Asia.
A Pandemic-Era Conversation
The initiative in the Philippines traces to a video call during the COVID-19 pandemic. Marty Ocaya, chairman of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) Youth Movement and a lead organizer of The Send Philippines, told Christian Daily International in an interview onsite that contact with YWAM Philippines colleagues and eventually with Andy Byrd led to the idea of staging a similar event in the country.

"Maybe this is something that God wants us to do here to hopefully unite the body of Christ," Ocaya said. "My prayer is that we will not just get to know each other, but just once in a while — maybe once in three years, once in five years — we gather as many young people as possible just to show to the Filipino people that, hey, the Christian youth, they're united. They want to make a difference."
Three Commitment Tracks, Partner Follow-Up
The Send Philippines organized participant commitments around three areas: campus discipleship (reaching high school and university students), missions (including Filipinos relocating abroad), and engagement with vulnerable children, including orphans and those in the foster care system.
Partner organizations aligned with each track were present at the event and are expected to follow up with participants in the weeks ahead, connecting them with training programs and ongoing support within their respective churches.
"What I like about The Send is their heart for outcomes," Ocaya said. "If these young people say yes — even if they're from another church — we're willing to train them, and then they go back to their church and do campus ministry. We have partners also that are discipling orphans, reaching out to vulnerable children, helping them find a family in the future."
Ocaya noted that the model is deliberately cross-denominational: participants return to their home churches rather than affiliating with any single ministry.
Focus on Vulnerable Children
The engagement of vulnerable children — orphans, children in poverty, and those in the foster and adoption system — is a formal pillar of The Send's global framework and featured prominently in the Philippines gathering.

Globally, The Send has recorded nearly 18,000 commitments related to foster care and adoption across its previous events. In the Philippines, partner organizations working in child welfare and family-based care, such as Philippines Without Orphans, were on-site at both venues to receive commitments and connect participants with concrete next steps.
Youth Openness and the Relational Approach
Ocaya cited recent Barna Group research, which he said included the Philippines, as evidence that young Filipinos are broadly open to spiritual engagement. He emphasized, however, that the approach needs to be relational rather than programmatic.
"It's easy to talk to them about spiritual stuff, about God, about Jesus, but it should be more relational — not like preaching and 'Hey, do this, do that,'" he said. "Once you have the relationship, then… the openness is really huge."
The OFW Dimension
Organizers also framed The Send Philippines within the context of the country's large overseas worker population. With an estimated 10 million Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) dispersed across the globe, the event's leadership sees an opportunity to prepare Filipino Christians to function as missionaries in the countries where they settle.

"We believe the Philippines is becoming a sending nation," Ocaya said. "Maybe 20% or maybe 50% when they graduate are going to move outside of their country. We want to prepare them: if you're there and you're a Christian, you can plant a church, you can make disciples, you can reach the world."
Organizers say follow-up with participants who made commitments on June 12 will begin in the coming weeks.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Church leaders warn South Africa’s migrant crisis reflects deeper governance failures]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/church-leaders-warn-south-africas-migrant-crisis-reflects-deeper-governance-failures</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/church-leaders-warn-south-africas-migrant-crisis-reflects-deeper-governance-failures</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Vincent Matinde]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiandaily.com/media/original/img/0/47/4779.png">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[South Africa immigrants]]></media:title>
                                                            <media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">
                                    <![CDATA[ DW ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Countries such as Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana and Malawi have repatriated its citizens from South Africa after vigilante and anti-immigrant groups attacked immigrants. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 03:40:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Church leaders have warned that growing anti-migrant sentiment in South Africa reflects deeper failures in governance, service delivery and economic inequality, urging authorities and communities to address the root causes of public frustration rather than scapegoating foreign nationals.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Church leaders have warned that growing anti-migrant sentiment in South Africa reflects deeper failures in governance, service delivery and economic inequality, urging authorities and communities to address the root causes of public frustration rather than scapegoating foreign nationals.
In a webinar convened by the Association of Evangelicals in Africa (AEA) on June 10, church leaders, refugee representatives and human rights advocates discussed the growing tensions and their impact on communities across South Africa.
Participants argued that while unemployment, crime and deteriorating public services remain legitimate concerns for many South Africans, migrants are increasingly being blamed for problems rooted in deeper structural challenges.
“We are here first and foremost to learn what exactly is happening in order that we may be able to define what the problem is,” Dr. Master Matlhaope, the General Secretary of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa (AEA), said.
Matlhaope explained that the goal was not to assign blame but to understand the crisis and identify solutions that could contribute to what he described as a peaceful and prosperous Africa.
The church intervention represents one of the most coordinated faith-based responses to the migrant crisis since tensions escalated in several South African communities in recent months.
Refugee representatives participating in the discussion described what they said were worsening conditions in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and other provinces.
Mnindje Kabakiiwa, from the South Africa Refugee Led Network (SARLN) said refugee-led organizations had spent days visiting affected communities, including Durban and other towns where migrants reported intimidation and restrictions on their businesses.
“People are terribly intimidated daily. Children of refugees, the majority of our kids in some particular areas, can no longer even go to school,” Kabakiiwa said.
He said refugee-owned businesses had been forced to close in some communities, leaving families struggling to survive.
“This situation has put a lot of refugees and asylum seekers in a position where they can no longer even afford to pay the rent where they stay,” he said.
According to Kabakiiwa, many refugees now find themselves trapped between community hostility and administrative delays in obtaining documentation through government systems.
“There are a whole bunch of situations which refugees find themselves in and are confused because we don’t know at this particular moment what can be done,” he said.
Impact on children
An anti-immigrant protest in the city of East London in March triggered protests and violence against African immigrants in other cities South Africa, prompting several countries to assist citizens seeking to leave the country. Nigeria has organized voluntary repatriation flights for affected nationals, while Ghana has also facilitated the return of hundreds of its citizens amid growing concerns about the safety of migrants.
It is estimated that the number of foreigners living in South Africa is between 2.4 million and 3.1 million, according to official sources. 
President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned xenophobic violence and warned against vigilante actions targeting migrants, saying immigration enforcement remains the responsibility of the state. While acknowledging public concerns about undocumented migration, Ramaphosa said criminal acts against foreign nationals could not be justified and pledged action against groups inciting violence.
Human rights activist Sharon Ekambaram argued that migrants are increasingly being blamed for problems that originate elsewhere.
“There are genuine social and economic grievances that we have as a country, as people,” Ekambaram said during the AEA call. “But what is happening is that migrants are scapegoated for these social and economic problems and challenges that people are facing.”
Ekambaram described what she characterized as a humanitarian crisis affecting migrant communities.
She said organizations working with migrants had documented reports of intimidation, business closures, forced evictions, barriers to health care and disruptions to children’s education.
“What we are seeing is that people are living in constant fear and insecurity, and this has resulted in high levels of trauma,” she said.
She said the effects were particularly severe for children.
“Migrant children have difficulties enrolling in schools, they’re experiencing bullying and discrimination, they’re interrupting education because families are being displaced,” Ekambaram said.
While acknowledging the challenges facing many South Africans, Ekambaram rejected the notion that xenophobia is unavoidable.
Ekambaram linked the tensions to broader governance concerns, including corruption, poor service delivery and widening inequality.
Broader governance issues
She pointed to longstanding problems in local government administration and said public frustration is increasingly being redirected toward vulnerable communities rather than those responsible for policy failures.
“Johannesburg is currently in the spotlight, and there’s many years of reports of qualified audits, of mismanagement, of unaccounted for funds,” she said.
“The real enemy that we need to be dealing with is the ever-growing gap between the rich and the poor,” Ekambaram said.
Church leaders participating in the webinar said congregations have already begun responding to the humanitarian needs created by the unrest.
Mxolisi Nyuswa, the Programs Director at KwaZulu-Natal Christian Council, said churches in KwaZulu-Natal had established emergency support mechanisms to assist displaced migrants.
“The church is not quiet,” Nyuswa said. “When actually the social movements started to stage protests in different towns, we already started to look at the ways in which we can come in (support immigrants).”
He said churches were collecting food, blankets, clothing and other essentials while also organizing trauma-healing and counseling sessions.
“There are people who are sleeping in the streets,” he said.
Nyuswa described migrants camping outside government offices and police stations while seeking assistance and protection.
He said church leaders were also working with humanitarian organizations and community groups to organize dialogue sessions between local residents and foreign nationals.
One such initiative planned in Durban would bring together South Africans and migrants to discuss grievances and reduce tensions.
“We are looking forward to having that dialogue,” Nyuswa said.
For the church leaders gathered, the crisis facing migrants is not simply an immigration issue. They agreed that is a reflection of deeper challenges confronting South Africa’s democracy, economy and social fabric.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Swiss voters reject 10 million population cap in close referendum]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/swiss-voters-reject-10-million-population-cap-in-close-referendum</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/swiss-voters-reject-10-million-population-cap-in-close-referendum</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[A voter and child are seen casting a ballot together in a proposal over whether to cap the countrys population at 10 million on June 14, 2026 in Lausanne, Switzerland.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Robert Hradil/Getty Images ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND - JUNE 14: A voter and child are seen casting a ballot together in a proposal over whether to cap the country's population at 10 million on June 14, 2026 in Lausanne, Switzerland. The proposal, pushed forward by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP), says Switzerland's population may not exceed 10 million before 2050. Since the Swiss population is projected to reach 10 million sooner, restrictions, including on immigration, would need to be enacted far earlier. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 01:14:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Swiss voters have turned down a proposal to cap the country's population at 10 million, delivering a narrow but clear rebuke to the right-wing Swiss People's Party in one of the most closely watched referendums in recent years, according to the Swiss evangelical news portal Livenet.ch.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Swiss voters have turned down a proposal to cap the country's population at 10 million, delivering a narrow but clear rebuke to the right-wing Swiss People's Party in one of the most closely watched referendums in recent years, according to the Swiss evangelical news portal Livenet.ch.
The initiative was rejected by 54.8 percent of voters, with 45.2 percent in favor. Turnout reached 58 to 59 percent — among the highest in the past decade, according to political scientist Lukas Golder, as cited by Swiss public broadcaster SRF.
Had the measure passed, Switzerland would have been required to terminate its free movement agreement with the European Union, jeopardizing access to the EU single market on which Swiss exporters heavily depend. Switzerland's population has grown from 7.3 million in 2002 to 9.1 million today, with 27 percent of residents holding non-Swiss citizenship.
Justice Minister Beat Jans welcomed the outcome, calling it "a sign of stability, openness, and reliability," and signaled the government's intention to continue developing bilateral ties with the EU.
Party responses split on next steps
The Evangelical People's Party, known by its German initials EVP, welcomed the result but cautioned against dismissing the concerns of those who voted yes. "Switzerland's growth must be actively shaped," said EVP National Councillor Nik Gugger. "To that end, we must take seriously the concerns expressed by around 45 percent of voters and present long-term solutions."
The Swiss People's Party signaled it would continue to resist further EU integration, particularly the so-called Bilaterals III treaty package expected to come before voters in 2027 or 2028. The Federal Democratic Union said it would submit a petition to the Federal Chancellery this summer calling for any such treaty to require approval from a majority of cantons, not just a national popular majority. The petition has gathered 23,000 signatures online.
Cities outweigh rural communities
The vote exposed a significant gap between urban and rural Switzerland. The Neue Zürcher Zeitung ran the headline: "The No to the 10 million threshold is a victory of the cities over rural Switzerland."
Parliamentary correspondent Andreas Stüdli, speaking on the SRF program "Echo der Zeit," said the initiative's supporters had failed to mobilize rural voters sufficiently. "The Yes vote in rural areas was not strong enough to outweigh the No votes in the cities," he said.
What complicated that picture, Livenet.ch reported, was that some traditionally conservative cantons — including Lucerne and Zug — also voted against the measure, alongside predominantly rural cantons such as Bern, Basel-Landschaft, Schaffhausen, and Graubünden.
Hate speech and a coarsening of public debate
Beyond the policy outcome, Livenet.ch reported that the campaign exposed a deepening fracture in Swiss public life. Comment sections filled with anger and personal attacks. Federal Councillor Beat Jans was, according to Livenet.ch, wished a serious illness by some opponents during the campaign — a sign, the portal said, that social peace in Switzerland is under strain.
For Wüthrich, the referendum's toxic atmosphere was a direct challenge to the Christian community. Writing in Livenet.ch ahead of the vote, he drew on Proverbs 11:25 — "Whoever is a blessing to others will themselves be blessed. Whoever offers drinks will also receive a drink" — to argue that generosity, not self-interest, is the currency that makes genuine transformation possible.
"I ask myself whether our democracy, as a community of shared values built on trust, will survive this critical phase," Wüthrich wrote. "Will we be able to pull together, to tolerate differing opinions without unleashing witch hunts?"
He was careful to say his appeal was not a political statement on immigration policy. What concerned him, he wrote, was the manner in which people treat one another when pressure increases — regardless of how any vote turns out. Citing Colossians 3:13 and Proverbs 15:1–2, he called on Christians to model gentleness and forgiveness in contrast to the surrounding culture of political combat, and to ask honestly whether they remain open to being corrected — even by God.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Church leaders launch Mapping Migration report on Europe]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/church-leaders-launch-mapping-migration-report-on-europe</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/church-leaders-launch-mapping-migration-report-on-europe</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Eyte]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Romania-Ukraine border]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Photo by Michel E / Unsplash ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Volunteer offering help at the Romania-Ukraine border ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 16:01:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[As European nations finalize preparations for a major shift in migration policy this June, church leaders gathered in Bucharest in April warned that faith communities must prepare for a “new phase” of humanitarian need.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
As European nations finalize preparations for a major shift in migration policy this June, church leaders gathered in Bucharest in April warned that faith communities must prepare for a “new phase” of humanitarian need.
The executive committee of the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME) launched the fourth edition of its “Mapping Migration” report during a two-day meeting hosted by AIDRom, an ecumenical organization representing Orthodox and Protestant churches in Romania. The report serves as a comprehensive record of how churches across the continent are navigating displacement crises that have defined the past decade.
The gathering comes as the European Union’s Asylum and Migration Pact is set for full implementation on June 12. The new legal framework introduces mandatory border screenings and accelerated processing—measures experts say will turn border nations like Romania into long-term holding hubs.
“Through screening and border procedures, Romania will see many people stuck at the external border,” said Dr. Torsten Moritz, general secretary of the CCME. “It is very important that churches are responding to that.”
Moritz noted that the choice of Bucharest for the meeting reflects the “frontline” reality many member organizations now face. He pointed to AIDRom’s recent efforts as a model for the wider church.
“AIDRom’s work, in many ways, stands for a lot of our member organizations,” Moritz said. “It has been deeply shaped by the response to displacement from Ukraine, by ongoing care for refugees from other countries, and by Romania’s position at the external borders of the European Union.”
The “Mapping Migration” report details a shifting landscape in which migration is not only a social issue but also a transformative force within the church itself. The data shows that diverse congregations and migrant-led ministries are reshaping traditional European church structures.
“Migration work brings churches together in witness,” Moritz said, adding that shared humanitarian challenges often bridge long-standing theological differences. “We are documenting and mapping migration and what churches are doing in their witness and their commitment to migrants and refugees in Europe.”
Moritz described the report as a “mirror” intended to help churches recognize the scope of their own impact while also showing secular society the role of faith-based humanitarian work.
“We are now symbolically handing back the results of that study to the churches in Europe,” he said. “So they can understand what they are doing, and also show it to people outside the churches—how important this witness is, and that other churches should be coming on board.”
With only weeks remaining before the new EU regulations take effect, the CCME is calling for strengthened capacity to respond to anticipated bottlenecks at Europe’s borders.
“We will need to see how we can best strengthen the churches in their witness for migrants and refugees throughout the EU, but also beyond,” Moritz said.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Anglican Alliance global tool highlights churches’ frontline role as refugee crisis deepens]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/anglican-alliance-global-tool-highlights-churches-frontline-role-as-refugee-crisis-deepens</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/anglican-alliance-global-tool-highlights-churches-frontline-role-as-refugee-crisis-deepens</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Vincent Matinde]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiandaily.com/media/original/img/0/45/4516.png">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Immigrants and refugee resource]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Anglican Alliance ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ The Anglican Alliance says there are now more people on the move than at any point in recorded history. The organization estimates about 300 million people are migrants globally, including roughly 42.5 million refugees. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 10:15:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The Anglican Alliance has launched a global resource to help churches respond to rising displacement, as refugee numbers climb across Africa and humanitarian systems face growing strain.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Anglican Alliance has launched a global resource to help churches respond to rising displacement, as refugee numbers climb across Africa and humanitarian systems face growing strain.
The guide, titled “People on the Move,” was released March 31 and is designed to equip churches with practical tools to support migrants, refugees and internally displaced people.
The launch comes at a time when displacement is increasing worldwide. The Anglican Alliance says there are now more people on the move than at any point in recorded history. The organization estimates about 300 million people are migrants globally, including roughly 42.5 million refugees.
Much of that displacement is concentrated in Africa, where conflict, economic instability and climate shocks continue to force people from their homes.
In Chad, more than 1.3 million Sudanese refugees are facing severe shortages of food and water, according to the United Nations World Food Programme and the UNHCR. Aid groups report that only a fraction of those in need are receiving full assistance as funding shortfalls force humanitarian agencies to scale back operations.
Across eastern and southern Africa, the United Nations refugee agency estimates that more than 25 million people are forcibly displaced.
Against this backdrop, churches are taking on an increasingly visible role in supporting displaced communities, often stepping in where formal systems are overstretched or slow to respond.
In many areas, local churches are among the first points of contact for people arriving in need of assistance. They provide food, temporary shelter and pastoral care, while also helping migrants navigate unfamiliar communities.
Amy Bishop, Programme Officer at the Anglican Alliance, said churches are uniquely positioned to respond because of their presence within local communities.
“Churches are often well placed to offer pastoral and spiritual care, practical assistance, and access to local community networks,” she told Christian Daily International in an interview.
She said this role complements the work of governments and humanitarian agencies rather than replacing it.
Support resources
The new resource reflects that approach. It includes guidance on mental health support, legal considerations, safeguarding and child protection, as well as tools to help churches prepare for arrivals and build partnerships with other organizations.
Rob Dawes, executive director of the Anglican Alliance, said migration is being driven by a combination of factors.
“In today’s global context, migration is increasing at an unprecedented rate, driven by a complex mix of factors including climate change, conflict, rising poverty and reductions in international aid,” he said.
He added that churches are already responding “with compassion and courage,” offering practical help and spiritual support to people forced to flee their homes.
Examples highlighted by the Anglican Alliance include churches in Tanzania, Hong Kong and parts of Europe that are providing shelter, distributing food and supporting integration efforts, while also advocating for policy responses at national and international levels.
But even as churches expand their role, the organization says there are clear limits to what they can provide.
Bishop said one of the most significant challenges is access to qualified legal support.
“Immigration and asylum systems are complex and continually changing,” she said. “Churches frequently lack the specialist legal expertise required and are not well positioned to provide this support directly.”
Access to mental health care is another major gap. Many migrants and refugees have experienced trauma, but churches often do not have the resources to provide specialized support.
“While churches can offer pastoral care and accompaniment, they often lack access to professional, culturally appropriate mental health services for people who have experienced significant trauma,” Bishop said.
Funding also remains a persistent challenge. “While emergency needs may be met in the short term, longer-term support, such as housing stability, integration, and wellbeing often exceeds available resources,” she said.
The Anglican Alliance said it is working with partners to address some of these gaps. Bishop pointed to collaboration with the UNHCR, which has offered some legal support for churches receiving refugees, as well as work with the Mothers’ Union and the Bible Society on trauma support in some regions.
The resource encourages churches to recognize the assets they already have, including skills within congregations, church buildings and existing community relationships, while also building partnerships to address areas where they lack expertise.
The guidance also highlights legal and ethical risks that can arise when churches support migrants.
Bishop said churches most often encounter problems when the boundaries between pastoral care and legal advice are not clearly defined.
“Churches most commonly encounter legal risk when boundaries between pastoral support and legal advice become unclear,” she said.
To reduce those risks, the Anglican Alliance recommends that churches operate within local legal frameworks and only provide legal advice where they are authorized to do so. It also calls for clear referral pathways to qualified professionals, strong safeguarding policies and regular training for staff and volunteers.
Prioritizing needs of migrants and refugees
The guidance also emphasizes that churches must not use humanitarian work as a means of seeking converts, and must meet accountability standards expected by international donors.
“These safeguards are essential not only to protect churches and volunteers, but also to prevent unintended harm to migrants and refugees themselves,” Bishop said.
The resource also addresses the tensions churches may face when their work brings them into conflict with local communities or government policies.
In some countries, tightening immigration rules and pressure on public services have made it more difficult to support new arrivals.
Bishop said churches need to carefully consider the legal and social context in which they operate, particularly the safety of migrants, staff and volunteers.
“It is vital that support offered does not expose those being helped to additional risk,” she said.
At the same time, she said many churches see supporting vulnerable people as central to their mission, even when that work is unpopular.
“Many churches understand their calling as walking alongside the vulnerable, even when this is unpopular, by offering pastoral presence and advocating for humane treatment within legal frameworks,” she said.
She added that decisions about how far to go require careful judgment. “Discernment is essential, balancing faith convictions with responsibility and care,” Bishop added.
As displacement continues to rise and humanitarian funding remains constrained, the Anglican Alliance says local institutions such as churches will continue to play a critical role.
But the organization stresses that they cannot meet the growing need alone. Instead, the resource calls for coordinated efforts between churches, governments and humanitarian agencies to ensure that migrants and refugees receive the support they need while minimizing risks.
Bishop said that balance is key to ensuring that those already facing vulnerability are not placed under further strain.
“Churches should consistently seek to ensure that migrants and refugees, who already face significant vulnerability, do not bear the greatest burden,” she said.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Christian refugee advocate criticizes recent BBC report on false asylum claims in UK]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/christian-refugee-advocate-criticizes-recent-bbc-report-on-false-asylum-claims-in-uk</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/christian-refugee-advocate-criticizes-recent-bbc-report-on-false-asylum-claims-in-uk</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Eyte]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[A screenshot from a BBC investigation video examining allegations that some migrants in the United Kingdom used fabricated asylum claims, including false claims related to sexuality, to remain in the country.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ BBC ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ A screenshot from a BBC investigation video examining allegations that some migrants in the United Kingdom used fabricated asylum claims, including false claims related to sexuality, to remain in the country. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:25:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A Christian refugee resettlement expert has criticized a recent BBC investigation into fraudulent asylum claims in the United Kingdom, arguing that the report failed to provide sufficient context about people with legitimate protection needs.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A Christian refugee resettlement expert has criticized a recent BBC investigation into fraudulent asylum claims in the United Kingdom, arguing that the report failed to provide sufficient context about people with legitimate protection needs.
The BBC investigation examined claims that some migrants had fabricated stories — including claims related to homosexuality or domestic abuse — to secure asylum in the U.K. Undercover reporters posing as students from Pakistan and Bangladesh said they uncovered what the broadcaster described as a “shadow industry of law firms and advisors” charging migrants thousands of pounds to help construct false asylum cases.
The report comes amid heightened political scrutiny of migration and asylum policy in the U.K., with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government pledging tougher enforcement measures while continuing to present Britain as a refuge for people fleeing persecution.
According to the BBC, advisors allegedly coached migrants on student, work and tourist visas to create evidence supporting false claims, including letters, photographs and medical reports. The broadcaster said this category of applicants accounted for 35% of asylum claims filed through legal routes in 2025, when about 100,000 people sought asylum.
“They then apply for asylum claiming to be gay and in fear for their lives if they return to Pakistan or Bangladesh,” the BBC reported, noting that homosexuality remains illegal in those countries.
A spokesman for the prime minister said the government would hold accountable anyone found to be abusing the immigration system.
Krish Kandiah, founder and CEO of the Sanctuary Foundation and a Christian media commentator focused on refugee issues, challenged several aspects of the BBC’s reporting in a social media post.
“Abusing the asylum system causes real harm — to public trust and to the genuinely vulnerable people it exists to protect,” Kandiah wrote. “That abuse deserves robust reporting. But good journalism requires context, and this report lacked almost all of it.”
Kandiah questioned the BBC’s use of the figure stating that 35% of asylum claimants had entered the country legally.
“A number without a denominator tells you almost nothing,” he wrote.
“How many people are we actually talking about? What proportion of all claims? Without that, 35% is either a crisis or a footnote, and we have no way of knowing which.”
He also criticized the report for not referencing people with legitimate asylum claims.
“The report focused entirely on those allegedly fabricating claims,” Kandiah wrote. “It said nothing about the people who are exactly who they say they are — LGBT people facing persecution in Pakistan and Bangladesh, converts from Islam facing genuine threats, and atheists in countries where apostasy is a criminal offense. The system exists for these people, yet the BBC edited them out entirely.”
Kandiah argued that reporting focused exclusively on fraudulent cases risked distorting public understanding of asylum seekers more broadly.
“If the BBC ran a report solely about fraudulent transgender claims without mentioning genuine trans hardship, the public would rightly call it dangerous framing,” he wrote.
“The same principle applies here. I’m not asking the BBC to suppress difficult stories. I’m asking it to be the BBC — to inform, not just inflame. A formal review of whether its own journalism standards were met seems entirely warranted.”
Migration policy has become an increasingly prominent issue for the British government in recent months.
On April 17, the U.K. government said Starmer met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris to discuss migration and border enforcement.
“The Prime Minister and President agreed on the need to continue momentum to drive down illegal crossings between France and the UK,” the government said in a statement.
In a separate March 5 update, the Home Office said asylum seekers who break the law, work illegally or become financially self-sufficient could lose government accommodation and support.
“Britain will always provide refuge to people fleeing war and persecution,” Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said. “But taxpayers cannot fund the lives of those who exploit the system or break our rules. Asylum support and accommodation now become conditional — reserved only for those who play by our rules.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Swiss government report highlights positive impact of church-backed refugee hosting on integration]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/swiss-report-highlights-positive-impact-of-church-backed-refugee-hosting-on-integration</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/swiss-report-highlights-positive-impact-of-church-backed-refugee-hosting-on-integration</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Private households and community networks across Switzerland have played a key role in hosting refugees from Ukraine, with new government findings highlighting the positive impact of such arrangements on integration and social cohesion.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ SEA ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Private households and community networks across Switzerland have played a key role in hosting refugees from Ukraine, with new government findings highlighting the positive impact of such arrangements on integration and social cohesion. ]]>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Churches across Switzerland were among the first to mobilize support for Ukrainians displaced by the war, providing shelter, community and practical assistance in the early months following the full-scale invasion.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ SEA ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Churches across Switzerland were among the first to mobilize support for Ukrainians displaced by the war, providing shelter, community and practical assistance in the early months following the full-scale invasion. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:10:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A new report by the Swiss Federal Council has found that privately hosting Ukrainian refugees has had a generally positive effect on their integration, affirming the role played by churches and faith-based networks in supporting displaced people since the start of the war in Ukraine.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A new report by the Swiss Federal Council has found that privately hosting Ukrainian refugees has had a generally positive effect on their integration, affirming the role played by churches and faith-based networks in supporting displaced people since the start of the war in Ukraine.
The report, adopted April 1, concludes that refugees who stayed with host families were better able to navigate daily life in Switzerland and showed positive trends in social, linguistic, cultural and professional integration. While these outcomes are not considered conclusively proven, the findings point to the value of close personal contact between refugees and local communities.
The Swiss Evangelical Alliance (SEA) welcomed the report, noting that many of the early efforts to house and support Ukrainian refugees were led or supported by churches within its network.
In a statement released April 7, the SEA highlighted that private accommodation initiatives—such as the kirchen-helfen.ch platform—enabled more than 1,000 Ukrainian refugees to find housing with individuals and families across Switzerland. The network, which collaborates with around 100 local churches, also reported additional capacity for further placements during the early phase of the crisis.
“When many people opened their doors and offered private accommodation, this has now proven to be valuable,” the SEA said, referencing the Federal Council’s findings. It added that such efforts helped refugees manage everyday life and contributed to integration across multiple areas.
The government report also suggests that private hosting arrangements may strengthen public acceptance of refugees and contribute to social cohesion. However, it notes that the financial impact remains unclear, as potential savings from faster workforce integration may be offset by the costs of recruiting and supporting host families.
The Federal Council has invited Switzerland’s cantonal authorities to consider expanding private accommodation as a complementary approach in future crises and encouraged further measures to strengthen civil society engagement in refugee integration.
The findings build on extensive grassroots efforts that began shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. At the time, the SEA’s humanitarian task force coordinated support for refugees both within Switzerland and in neighboring countries.

According to earlier reporting by the alliance, around 30,000 Ukrainian refugees were registered in Switzerland in the early months of the war. In addition to private hosting initiatives, Christian organizations—including partners working through SEA-RES—delivered approximately 100 truckloads of humanitarian aid, totaling an estimated 700 tons, into Ukraine.
Church networks also mobilized training and support for volunteers and host families, including guidance on assisting individuals affected by trauma. Resources were developed in cooperation with partners such as the European Evangelical Alliance, which provided expertise on refugee care and protection, particularly for women and children vulnerable to exploitation.
Humanitarian groups such as World Vision also contributed by establishing child-friendly spaces in refugee reception centers, offering safe environments for children affected by displacement.
The SEA said the Federal Council’s report represents recognition of the “selfless” efforts of church members and volunteers who responded rapidly to the crisis and continue to accompany refugees in Switzerland.
The State Secretariat for Migration is expected to work with civil society partners to explore how such engagement can be further strengthened, as Switzerland considers longer-term approaches to refugee integration.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA['They Stole Our Home': First episode of Faith Without Frontiers podcast explores faith, loss and resilience amid Ukraine war]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/they-stole-our-home-first-episode-of-faith-without-frontiers-podcast-explores-faith-loss-and-resilience-amid-ukraine-war</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/they-stole-our-home-first-episode-of-faith-without-frontiers-podcast-explores-faith-loss-and-resilience-amid-ukraine-war</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Faith Without Frontiers Episode 1]]></media:title>
                                                                                </media:content>
                                                                            <pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 04:24:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The first episode of Faith Without Frontiers, a newly launched global podcast by Christian Daily International, brings listeners into a deeply personal account of war, displacement and faith through the voices of Ukrainian theologian Valentyn Syniy and his wife, Luba.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The first episode of Faith Without Frontiers, a newly launched global podcast by Christian Daily International, brings listeners into a deeply personal account of war, displacement and faith through the voices of Ukrainian theologian Valentyn Syniy and his wife, Luba.
Hosted by Gordon Showell-Rogers, the weekly podcast series aims to highlight how Christian faith intersects with real-world challenges across cultures and regions. The opening episode, titled “They Stole Our Home: Transformed by War,” sets the tone with a conversation shaped by lived experience rather than abstract analysis.
Syniy, president of the Tavriysky Christian Institute in Ukraine, recounts the upheaval of leaving his hometown of Kherson following Russia’s occupation, describing not only the loss of physical structures but the deeper rupture of identity and belonging. The couple reflects on the meaning of “home” as more than a place—encompassing family, church, city and nation—and how that understanding is reshaped under the pressures of war.
Without detailing every moment of their story, the episode touches on the forced relocation of an entire seminary community, the destruction and repurposing of its campus, and the personal cost of conflict, including the loss of colleagues and students. At the same time, it hints at unexpected developments, such as new churches emerging among Ukrainian refugees across Europe and ongoing efforts to train chaplains and peacebuilders amid the crisis.
Throughout the conversation, the Syniys also grapple with difficult theological and moral questions, including the nature of reconciliation and the challenges of maintaining faith when suffering is inflicted not only by enemies but, at times, by fellow Christians.
As Christian Daily International expands its multimedia storytelling, Faith Without Frontiers seeks to offer listeners a window into global Christian experiences that are often underreported or misunderstood. The debut episode provides only a glimpse into the Syniys’ story, inviting audiences to hear the full conversation and engage more deeply with the human realities behind headlines.
Listen to the podcast.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Baptist seminary provides refuge to people displaced in Lebanon]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/baptist-seminary-provides-refuge-to-people-displaced-in-lebanon</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/baptist-seminary-provides-refuge-to-people-displaced-in-lebanon</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[The Christian Post]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Beirut, Lebanon]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Photo by Adri Salido/Getty Images ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Two neighbors check the destruction on the building hit by the IDF in Bachoura on March 14, 2026 in Beirut, Lebanon. Israel has continued its aerial and ground assault in Lebanon after Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon, launched missiles at Israel in what it said was retaliation for the joint U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 07:49:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The Arab Baptist Theological Seminary near Beirut is sheltering displaced people who fled their homes as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah forces hundreds of thousands of civilians across Lebanon to seek refuge.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Arab Baptist Theological Seminary near Beirut is sheltering displaced people who fled their homes as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah forces hundreds of thousands of civilians across Lebanon to seek refuge.
About 170 internally displaced people are staying on the seminary’s campus while the institution continues its educational work online for roughly 250 students, the Southern Baptist Convention's news service, Baptist Press reports, quoting the seminary's president, Wissam Nasrallah.
Israel’s military campaign against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia has forced large-scale civilian movement across the country.
The seminary, located on the eastern outskirts of Beirut in an area considered relatively safe, is providing food, housing and other basic necessities while staff attempts to balance emergency relief with the school’s long-term mission of training Christian leaders from across the Middle East.
The displaced people staying at the campus come from southern Lebanon, the Bekaa region and suburbs of Beirut, and about a quarter of them are children, according to Evangelical Focus.
Residents gathered at the campus help kitchen workers prepare meals and attend daily community chapel services organized during the crisis, while the sounds of drones and bombing can still be heard across the region.
The Arab Baptist Theological Seminary trains Christian leaders from across the Arab world. The institution was founded in the late 1950s by Southern Baptist missionaries and now operates under THIMAR, the Lebanese Society for Educational and Social Development. Baptist partners in the United States continue to support its work.
The conflict escalated after Hezbollah began firing rockets at Israel on March 2, saying it was responding to the killing of Iran’s supreme leader at the start of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, triggering an extensive Israeli bombing campaign against the Lebanese armed group and a new wave of displacement across the country, according to Reuters.
Over 700 people have been killed and 1,774 others injured in Israeli strikes in Lebanon since the fighting began, and at least 26 medics and first responders are among the dead, according to Lebanon’s health ministry, while Hezbollah has launched hundreds of rockets across the border into Israel.
Israel has warned that it may target ambulances and medical facilities if they are used for military purposes by Hezbollah, a claim the group denies, in a development that has raised concerns because hospitals and medical infrastructure are protected under international law unless they lose protected status through military use.
The fighting has forced about 800,000 people to flee southern Lebanon in roughly 10 days, and about one-fifth of the country’s population of around 4 million is now displaced by the violence.
Israel has also expanded its military posture along the northern frontier and signaled it is preparing for a prolonged campaign against Hezbollah, while Israeli aircraft dropped warning leaflets over Beirut, threatening damage similar to the devastation seen in Gaza during Israel’s war with Hamas.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has called for a ceasefire agreement and Israeli support for the Lebanese army to disarm Hezbollah, accusing the armed group of risking the destruction of villages and threatening the stability of the Lebanese state.
Christians make up about 30% of Lebanon’s population, roughly 1.2 million people. Evangelical believers account for about 1% of the population, around 40,000 people.
Among those displaced are members of the Baptist Church in Deir Mimas, a congregation located near the Lebanon Israel border whose members fled north as bombardment intensified in the south.Originally published by The Christian Post]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Spanish evangelical leader welcomes expanded migrant health care but warns of ‘call effect’]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/spanish-evangelical-leader-welcomes-expanded-migrant-health-care-but-warns-of-call-effect</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/spanish-evangelical-leader-welcomes-expanded-migrant-health-care-but-warns-of-call-effect</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Eyte]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[hospital, care]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Unsplash / Stephen Andrews ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Spain has expanded access to public health care for migrants without legal residency under a new government decree, a move welcomed by some church leaders for its humanitarian intent while raising debate about the sustainability of universal health coverage. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 11:41:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A senior evangelical leader in Spain has cautiously welcomed a government decision to expand access to public health care for migrants without legal residency, while warning that poorly controlled policies could unintentionally encourage “health tourism.”]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A senior evangelical leader in Spain has cautiously welcomed a government decision to expand access to public health care for migrants without legal residency, while warning that poorly controlled policies could unintentionally encourage health tourism.
Spain’s Ministry of Health announced March 10 that administrative barriers preventing undocumented migrants from accessing the country’s public health system will be removed under a new Royal Decree approved by the Council of Ministers at the Moncloa Palace. The measure takes immediate effect.
The decree updates a 2018 regulation that restored access to health protection and medical care for people without legal residency but left significant administrative hurdles in place.
One such obstacle was the requirement to provide proof of municipal registration — known as a padrón — a document that many undocumented migrants struggle to obtain because landlords often refuse to register tenants without legal status.
According to the government’s official summary of the decision, the reform seeks to create “a uniform and effective procedure throughout the country for recognizing the right to health of unregistered and unauthorized foreign nationals.”
“This regulation aims to guarantee equity and prevent inequalities within this group, enabling better disease control through primary care and a more efficient use of public resources,” the summary said.
Under the updated rules, migrants can now demonstrate residency through alternative documentation such as utility bills or reports from social services. Health care applications will also be automatically approved if authorities do not issue a rejection within three months. Provisional access to care will be granted while paperwork is being processed.
The reform applies across Spain’s 17 autonomous regions.
Dr. Xesús-Manuel Suárez-García, secretary general of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance and a member of the executive committee of GBU España (IFES), told Christian Daily International that the policy raises complex ethical and practical questions.
He said Christian teaching clearly supports equal treatment of foreigners who legally reside in a country, citing Leviticus 24:22: “You are to have the same law for the foreigner and the native-born. I am the Lord your God.”
However, Suárez-García said debates around universal health access for undocumented migrants often fall into two opposing extremes — both of which he believes are problematic.
“I experienced the first one directly in a Latin American country,” he said. “My family helps support a shelter home there, and one day a girl became very ill.”
When caregivers took the child to a nearby hospital, staff told them the girl needed immediate treatment but would not be admitted unless they paid $500.
“Letting a child die, whether a national or a foreigner, because the family cannot pay is inhumane,” he said.
Yet the opposite extreme — offering completely free hospital treatment to anyone who arrives in Spain — can also create difficult consequences, he said, including what he described as “health tourism.”
Suárez-García recounted a case in which a Venezuelan mother traveled to Spain with her daughter, who needed treatment for a serious kidney condition, after neighbors advised her that medical care could be obtained upon arrival.
“I knew about the case myself and spoke to colleagues at one hospital so that the girl was admitted and cured,” he said.
The situation illustrated both the humanitarian impulse to provide care and the broader policy challenges governments face.
Suárez-García said he fully understood the mother’s decision — and even helped facilitate treatment — but acknowledged the political concerns about what he calls the “call effect,” a pull factor that could encourage people to travel to Spain specifically for medical care.
“Hospital treatment certainly has a cost; the only difference is who pays for it,” he said.
“In this case it should not be the Spanish state — the Spanish people through their taxes — but the Venezuelan state, which should ensure that there is a budget to provide proper care for its nationals.”
He suggested that governments could explore mechanisms allowing Spain to recover the costs of treatment from a patient’s home country.
“In a political debate where I presented this case, I said that the girl had to be treated, but the bill should be charged to the Venezuelan government — for example by deducting it from the bill for oil sold to Spain,” he said.
For poorer countries that lack such resources, he said medical costs could potentially be incorporated into development aid budgets.
“But we should never assume that these treatments are free,” he said. “They are not.”
To prevent the “call effect,” Suárez-García argued that policies should avoid relying solely on self-declared residency.
“I believe a mechanism should be put in place to offer hospital care to specific cases in a controlled way,” he said, suggesting bilateral agreements with sending countries and clear treatment protocols.
At the same time, he acknowledged concerns among Spanish citizens about the capacity of the public health system.
“It is true that budgetary resources for health care are not unlimited, and it is also true that public health care in Spain is saturated,” he said.
“That is why this type of collaboration cannot be unlimited, but must be controlled with as much rationality as sensitivity and humanity.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Korean churches lag in migrant ministry, yet interest in growth is high, survey finds]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/korean-churches-lag-in-migrant-ministry-yet-interest-in-growth-is-high-survey-finds</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/korean-churches-lag-in-migrant-ministry-yet-interest-in-growth-is-high-survey-finds</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiandaily.com/media/original/img/0/40/4083.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[People walk along a busy street in Seoul, Korea, where a growing migrant population now makes up about 5% of the country’s residents, even as a new survey finds only a small share of Korean churches are currently engaged in migrant ministry.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Unsplash / Markus Winkler ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ People walk along a busy street in Seoul, Korea, where a growing migrant population now makes up about 5% of the country’s residents, even as a new survey finds only a small share of Korean churches are currently engaged in migrant ministry. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 05:56:00 -0500</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Only about 12% of churches in South Korea are currently engaged in ministry to migrants, despite rapid growth in the country’s foreign-born population, according to a new nationwide survey reported by Christian Daily Korea.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Only about 12% of churches in South Korea are currently engaged in ministry to migrants, despite rapid growth in the country’s foreign-born population, according to a new nationwide survey reported by Christian Daily Korea.
The findings were released Feb. 10 by the Mokhoi Data Research Institute, which reported that while participation remains limited, interest in expanding migrant ministry is widespread. Among churches already involved, 86% said they plan to broaden their outreach.
South Korea is home to about 2.58 million foreign residents, roughly 5% of the total population, yet organized church engagement with migrants has not kept pace, the report said.
The survey, titled “Domestic Migrant Mission Survey,” was conducted jointly by the Mokhoi Data Research Institute and Hope Friend Korea Food for the Hungry, with research carried out by G&Com Research Co. It included responses from 1,655 participants, including leaders of migrant mission organizations, pastors involved in migrant ministry, senior pastors nationwide, and adult church members. Data were collected online between May 15 and June 10, 2025.
Among pastors surveyed, 12% said their churches are currently involved in migrant ministry, while 21% said they had participated in the past but are no longer active. In total, about one-third of churches reported having some experience with migrant-focused ministry.
Pastors cited proximity as the leading reason for starting such work, with 38% saying ministry began naturally because migrants lived nearby. Others pointed to encouragement or requests from others (14%) or experience gained after returning from overseas missionary service (10%).
For churches already serving migrants, the most common factors drawing migrants to attend were worship services in their native languages or the availability of interpretation (45%), followed by active evangelism efforts (39%) and practical assistance such as relief and daily living support (32%). Regular personal contact and relationship-building were identified as the most effective ministry approach.
Foreign workers made up the largest group served, at 78%, followed by international students (52%) and marriage migrants (46%). Most migrants served came from China, including ethnic Koreans, and Southeast Asia, accounting for about 90% of those reached. A majority were in their 20s and 30s.
Among churches already engaged in migrant ministry, 68% said the share of migrant members in their congregations is increasing. More broadly, 92% of church members surveyed said migrant ministry is necessary, and 68% of members in churches not currently involved said they would be willing to participate if such ministry were launched.
Migrant mission organizations identified shortages of personnel and volunteers (30%) and financial constraints (28%) as their biggest challenges. Still, 87% said cooperation with local churches has been helpful to their work.
Despite current participation levels, the research institute said the combination of strong expansion plans among churches and high willingness among church members suggests migrant ministry could become a significant area of focus for South Korean churches in the years ahead.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[‘God has not given up on Europe,’ says EEA leader, calling Church to repentance and renewal]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/god-has-not-given-up-on-europe-says-eea-leader-calling-church-to-repentance-and-renewal</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/god-has-not-given-up-on-europe-says-eea-leader-calling-church-to-repentance-and-renewal</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Eyte]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[God has a plan for Europe, exclusive insights by evangelical alliance leader]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ KMU Press Office ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Jan Wessels, General Secretary of the European Evangelical Allliance, pictured (centre right) with then-Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, and other Ukrainian politicians during a visit to Kyiv on June 24 2024. Wessels believes that God has "not withdrawn from Europe," despite the various societal challenges ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 24 Jan 2026 23:01:00 -0500</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[God has not given up on Europe despite real and serious challenges - but is the church willing to repent, listen and follow him in 2026? That is the rhetorical question posed by Rev. Jan C. Wessels, Co-General Secretary of the European Evangelical Alliance (EEA), in an exclusive commentary sent to Christian Daily International titled, “A Prophetic Call to Faithfulness.” Wessels spoke of the challenges for European Christians in 2026 in areas such as spiritual and physical war, re]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
God has not given up on Europe despite real and serious challenges - but is the church willing to repent, listen and follow him in 2026?
That is the rhetorical question posed by Rev. Jan C. Wessels, Co-General Secretary of the European Evangelical Alliance (EEA), in an exclusive commentary sent to Christian Daily International titled, “A Prophetic Call to Faithfulness.”
Wessels spoke of the challenges for European Christians in 2026 in areas such as spiritual and physical war, religious freedom, the rise of nationalism, materialism, the secularization within some churches, and climate change. However, he balanced that against the opportunities and positives, noting a renewed focus on discipleship, fellowship and cohesion among evangelicals, with tremendous outreach opportunities towards migrants and Generation Z, which longs for authenticity, he said. 
“Europe stands at a decisive moment in its history,” said Wessels. “The continent that once sent missionaries across the world now finds itself a mission field again — contested, fragmented, restless, yet deeply loved by God. The year 2026 confronts European Christians with urgent challenges that demand spiritual discernment and prophetic courage. But it also presents God-given opportunities that call for repentance, renewal, and faithful obedience.”
A War Over the Soul of Europe 
There is a war raging in Europe—not only with weapons, but with ideas, narratives, and power, according to the EEA general secretary. 
“It is a war against foundational Western values such as freedom of religion or belief, values that did not emerge accidentally but were forged in societies shaped by the biblical vision of human dignity and responsibility before God. Today these freedoms are increasingly eroded by autocratic impulses, cultural hostility toward faith, and the stigmatization of Christian convictions.”
Wessels referred to Scripture warning that when truth is suppressed, injustice follows. He said the church must not be naïve, adding that defending religious freedom is not about privilege, but about protecting space for the gospel, for conscience, and for the vulnerable. In particular, he referenced Romans 1: 18: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness.”
A Divided House Cannot Stand
Equally alarming for Wessels is what he called the “deep disunity” that he observes within the wider church itself. He lamented that Christians who confess the same Lord, proclaim the same salvation in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12), believe in the power of the Holy Spirit, and pray to the same Father increasingly condemn one another over baptism, roles of men and women, and human sexuality.
“Jesus’ words cut sharply through our ecclesial debates,” said Wessels. He referenced Luke 11:17: “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined.” 
“Truth matters — but so does love. Orthodoxy without humility becomes a clanging cymbal (‘If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal,’” added Wessels, referring to 1 Corinthians 13:1. “A divided church cannot credibly proclaim reconciliation to a fractured world.”
He supported this latter perspective with a quote from 2 Corinthians 5:18–20: “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”
Nationhood Without the Kingdom
The rise of nationalism and tribalism poses another spiritual challenge, according to Wessels. He conceded that love for one’s country is not sinful — “but absolutizing national identity is.”
“Scripture reminds us that ‘our citizenship is in heaven’ (Philippians 3:20) and that God’s redemptive love extends not only to Europe or the West, but to the whole world—and indeed to the whole cosmos (John 3:16; Colossians 1:20),” said Wessels. 
“When the church accepts and adopts fear of the ‘other,’ it betrays the gospel. When borders matter more than people, we have lost sight of the Kingdom of God.”
Comfort, Consumption, and Christlikeness
A quieter but equally corrosive threat is the spread of materialism and individualism, even among evangelical Christians, said the general secretary. He added that this stands in direct contradiction to the self-emptying way of Christ described in Philippians 2:1–11. 
“Secularization is not merely something happening to the Church; it is often something happening within it — when comfort replaces costly discipleship,” said Wessels, referencing Matthew 6:24. “Jesus’ warning remains prophetic: ‘You cannot serve both God and Mammon.’” 
Wessels also expressed concern about the effect of actions by Europeans upon those living in the Global South in regards to looking after the planet responsibly.
“Europe must also reckon with its role in the depletion of the earth. Creation is groaning, Scripture tells us (Romans 8:22), and the consequences are felt most acutely in the Global South — by those who contributed least to the damage. Ignoring this reality is not theological neutrality; it is moral failure. Humanity was entrusted with stewardship, not exploitation (Genesis 2:15).
“At the same time, the gap between rich and poor continues to widen under an unmerciful economic system that prizes profit over people. The prophets would not be silent about this — and neither should the church (Amos 5:11–15; James 5:1–5).”
Signs of Hope: God Is Still at Work
Despite these concerns, Wessels emphasised that his message was not a “message of despair.” He believed that God is still at work across the continent of Europe.  
“God has not withdrawn His Spirit from Europe. Across the continent, there is a renewed focus on holistic discipleship — forming believers not only for church attendance, but for faithful presence in everyday life. The rediscovery of the ‘scattered church’ echoes Jesus’ sending words: ‘As the Father has sent me, I am sending you’ (John 20:21).’”
Wessels also noted a growing sense of fellowship and cooperation among evangelical believers. 
“National alliances, networks, and parachurch organizations are increasingly working together across denominational lines — imperfectly, but intentionally — answering Jesus’ prayer ‘that they may all be one’ (John 17:21).”
A Generation Searching for Good News
The general secretary lauded a “striking sign of hope” he observed among Generation Z, which is the generation of young people born between 1997 and 2012. He noted that across Europe, young people are longing for authenticity, community, and meaning. 
“They are open to spiritual conversations, hungry for truth, and weary of shallow answers. Is this revival? Perhaps it is too early to say — but it is undeniably a moment of visitation. The question is whether the church will recognize it.”
Technology and Migration
Wessels saw an evangelistic opportunity for Christians with the burgeoning development of artificial intelligence. He said it is often framed as a threat but can become a tool for mission — ”helping translate Scripture, analyze data responsibly, and support discipleship—if it remains a servant rather than a master.”
“At the same time, many Christians are rediscovering that we are not called to dominate culture, but to influence it as salt and light (Matthew 5:13–16) — to embody the gospel in politics, education, media, business, and civil society with integrity and grace,” said Wessels. 
Another prophetic opportunity for evangelism in Europe is migration and the presence of refugees on the continent. 
“Refugees are often portrayed as a threat. Scripture tells a different story,” said Wessels. “From Abraham to Israel in exile, from the Holy Family fleeing to Egypt to the early church scattered by persecution (Acts 8:1–4), God repeatedly advances His purposes through migration.
“Today, people from least-reached nations are living among us—often spiritually open, deeply searching, and receptive. In welcoming the stranger, the Church encounters Christ Himself (Matthew 25:35). Refugees do not threaten God’s mission; they reveal it. They remind Europe that the gospel was never meant to be contained within one culture or civilization.”
Migration is therefore not a problem to be solved, but a “kairos moment to be discerned,” added the general secretary. 
“Through refugees and migrant believers, European churches are being renewed, humbled, and reconnected to the global body of Christ (Hebrews 13:2; Ephesians 2:19).”
God Has Not Given Up on Europe
Lastly, Wessels strongly stressed that God was at work in Europe and for Christians to be encouraged from that fact. 
“The challenges facing European Christians in 2026 are real—and serious. But Scripture assures us that God is faithful to His purposes. The question is not whether God is still at work in Europe, but whether the Church is willing to repent, to listen, and to follow: ‘See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?’” (Isaiah 43:19)
“God has not given up on Europe. May European Christians rediscover the courage to live as faithful witnesses — rooted in Christ, united in love, and sent into the world for the sake of the gospel,” he added.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Burundi churches appeal for aid as Congolese refugee influx tops 88,000]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/burundi-churches-appeal-for-aid-as-congolese-refugee-influx-tops-88-000</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/burundi-churches-appeal-for-aid-as-congolese-refugee-influx-tops-88-000</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Olang]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[A Wazalendo militant surrenders a weapon to members of the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group in Uvira, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, days after the rebels captured the South Kivu city.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Daniel Buuma/Getty Images ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ UVIRA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO — DEC. 15: A Wazalendo militant surrenders a weapon to members of the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group in Uvira, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, days after the rebels captured the South Kivu city. The offensive has triggered the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians, with more than 88,000 people fleeing across the border into neighboring Burundi, where churches and aid agencies are struggling to respond to the growing humanitarian crisis. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 29 Dec 2025 09:03:00 -0500</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Tens of thousands of Congolese civilians have crossed into Burundi in recent weeks, fleeing a violent offensive by M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo that has overwhelmed border communities and prompted churches to appeal for urgent international support.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Tens of thousands of Congolese civilians have crossed into Burundi in recent weeks, fleeing a violent offensive by M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo that has overwhelmed border communities and prompted churches to appeal for urgent international support.
According to UNHCR, more than 88,000 people have crossed from eastern DRC into Burundi since Dec. 5 amid the ongoing M23 offensive in South Kivu province. Overcrowded camps, long lines for food and water, and outbreaks of disease are among the most urgent challenges facing both refugees and host communities, the agency reported.
The crisis intensified after M23 seized the strategic port city of Uvira on Dec. 10, an action the United States described as a violation of the Washington Accords signed just days earlier by President Trump and regional leaders, according to the U.S. Department of State.
The leadership of the Alliance of Evangelicals in Burundi described the unfolding situation as more than a humanitarian emergency. Edmund Gakiza, general secretary of the Alliance, told Christian Daily International the influx represents a “moral and spiritual” crisis requiring a response grounded in the theology of the “one body” of Christ. “This is no longer a situation the state or humanitarian agencies can manage alone,” he said. “Churches have become the first point of contact for many families arriving with nothing but fear and exhaustion.”
The fighting has continued despite intensive diplomatic efforts. In early December, regional leaders met in the United States to sign the Washington Accords, a U.S.-brokered peace agreement aimed at de-escalating tensions between Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Implementation faltered almost immediately following the M23 takeover of Uvira.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly criticized actions he said undercut the agreement, signaling rising frustration in Washington. In a post on social media platform X, Rubio wrote: “Rwanda’s actions in eastern DRC are a clear violation of the Washington Accords signed by President Trump, and the United States will take action to ensure promises made to the President are kept.”
Gakiza said churches are struggling to meet growing needs as violence and displacement persist. “We understand this crisis as the visible consequence of prolonged violence, insecurity, and broken governance,” he said. “We are doing everything we can to help families who arrive with nothing. Local congregations are providing meals, blankets, and basic medical care, but the needs are far greater than what we can meet.”
He highlighted worsening conditions at transit and reception sites such as Ndava and Musenyi, pointing to rising cases of malaria, cholera and measles. “Children are especially vulnerable, and families are arriving in shock and trauma,” Gakiza added. Citing field assessments, he said approximately 83% of the refugees — the vast majority women and children — are suffering from severe emotional distress.
The response reached a critical stage on Dec. 18, 2025, when Burundian Interior Minister Leonidas Ndaruzaniye launched a comprehensive emergency response plan. An interagency flash appeal was issued to raise $33.2 million to support 90,000 new arrivals over a four-month period. At the same time, the ministry ordered refugees living in private housing to return to government-monitored transit sites to address security concerns and a worsening cholera outbreak at the Gatumba transit camp.
Medical organizations report deteriorating conditions in reception areas. Doctors Without Borders said on Dec. 23 that the Ndava site is housing families in mud-soaked tents, with 42% of malaria tests returning positive.
“We call the global church for prayer, solidarity, and practical support to these victims,” Gakiza appealed.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[UK Evangelical Alliance updates Christian course for South Asian seekers]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/uk-evangelical-alliance-updates-christian-course-for-south-asian-seekers</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/uk-evangelical-alliance-updates-christian-course-for-south-asian-seekers</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Christian Today]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[South Asian resource]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ EAUK ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2025 09:18:00 -0500</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The Evangelical Alliance (EA) has announced the launch of a new set of resources aimed at introducing the gospel to people of South Asian heritage.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Evangelical Alliance (EA) has announced the launch of a new set of resources aimed at introducing the gospel to people of South Asian heritage.
“Discovering Jesus” was first launched in 2014, and has now been updated for the current cultural climate. The course, the EA says, is suitable for anyone from a Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist or Muslim background and addresses common questions and perspectives.
Rani Joshi, the South Asian Forum coordinator and project lead, said, “As a young South Asian girl, I wasn’t sure the Christian faith included someone who looked like me.
"That’s why Discovering Jesus feels so timely, as we explore faith, identity and culture. As I prayed about this project, I sensed God whisper, ‘invite them to the wedding banquet’ (Revelation 19:9).
"This isn’t just another resource, it’s an invitation for those of Asian heritage to answer the question Jesus asks, 'Who do you say I am?'”
The programme involves engaging with the life and message of Jesus over an eight-week period.
Discovering Jesus is discussion-oriented and aimed at creating a welcoming and informal environment for non-Christians to learn about core Christian beliefs and, hopefully, embrace the Christian faith.
The approach taken is apologetic and deals with questions like whether Christianity is a “Western Religion”.
Gavin Calver, CEO of the EA said, “I am so excited about the launch of Discovering Jesus and am praying for this course to have a huge impact in the days ahead. It is so timely and shares the gospel message in a really accessible, helpful and powerful way.”
Originally published by Christian Today, republished with permission.]]></content:encoded>
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