Last weekend in Manchester, England, a man was arrested after allegedly burning a copy of the Quran. According to one report, he claimed to be doing it in honor of Salwan Momika. 

Who was Salwan Momika? He was an Iraqi-born critic of Islam charged with burning copies of the Quran in 2023. The verdict to his criminal trial was scheduled for yesterday, February 6, 2025. But last week, January 29, someone took justice into their own hands and killed Momika in his home in Sweden. (Read this insightful article to consider the message Momika’s killing sends.)

Salwan Momika in 2023 (Photo courtesy of Frankie Fouganthin via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Both of these men were taken to court over burning the Quran. But here’s the question: should those actions be considered crimes or as expressions of free speech? It’s a question England appears to be wavering on. 

Greg Kelley with Unknown Nations says it’s natural for followers of Islam to take that question seriously. 

“When they’re coming in [to other nations] and they’re bringing their religious practices, they bring what they know. Half of the world’s Muslim countries have variations of blasphemy laws,” he says. 

Pakistan, Afghanistan and Mauritania are among those Muslim countries with blasphemy laws. Kelley says that in Pakistan, for example, these laws have devastating effects on Christians and religious minorities. It often devolves into vigilante justice, not unlike what Salwan Momika tragically experienced last week. 

England itself had blasphemy laws on the books until 2008, protecting certain Christian beliefs. Those laws were abolished in 2008 with the Criminal Justice Act. Yet what will England, Sweden and other nations say today about what should happen when someone insults Islam?

“What we’re seeing is with this blasphemy [issue], it’s a push from the [Muslim] leadership to really establish an Islamic culture in these communities, and it’s only going to grow,” Kelley says. “The only thing that the UK can do is their government can step in and not allow that. But they’re caving to it because it’s a loud voice. [The Muslim community is] a minority now that’s growing, but it’s a loud, aggressive voice.” 

Yet other voices recognize these two cases in Europe as endangering free speech. Read the perspectives on these events from Free Speech Union and an editor at spiked.

Find your place in this story

Watch and pray over these religious freedom/freedom of speech conversations in Europe. This is a critical topic facing many nations today.

As you pray, don’t forget that bringing Muslims to Europe is part of God’s divine plan. He’s working these complex situations together for good. Pray for justice and freedom that will allow more people to know Christ and be saved. 

Finally, if you live in a country where you can speak about Christ more freely than most, thank God and “[make] the most of every opportunity, for the days are evil” (see Ephesians 5:15-16).

Header photo of a copy of the Quran is a representative stock photo courtesy of GR Stocks via Unsplash. 

Alfie Evans was a 23-month-old boy born healthy to parents Tom Evans and Kate James in the United Kingdom. But Alfie was eventually hospitalized with seizures and spent over a year in Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

Doctors were unable to definitively diagnose the toddler as his condition worsened to a semi-vegetative state. They guessed he had a degenerative neurological condition.

(Photo courtesy of Alfies Army Official via Facebook)

In December 2017, the hospital and Alfie’s parents disagreed over his further treatment. The hospital applied to the UK High Court to remove parental rights and withdraw Alfie’s life support.

Alfie’s parents appealed to take him to Rome for a second opinion and further treatment. The doctors at the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital were ready to receive and treat Alfie’s condition. Italy even granted Alfie emergency citizenship and the hospital had an air ambulance on standby.

But the UK High Court refused to release the Alfie to his parents and upheld the hospital’s decision to end life support.

The UK High Court acknowledged there was no evidence Alfie was suffering or in pain. However, the court’s decision included a statement from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, asserting that when “the severity of the child’s condition is such that it is difficult or impossible for them to derive benefit from continued life”, it is better to let them die.

Michele Shoun with Life Matters Worldwide says, “Most people, when they are faced with something like this, they want a second opinion and the family [was] denied that.

“It seems fairly common with some other cases that have come to our attention — Charlie Gard a year or so ago, and there [have] been a few others that I have read about recently. [These cases] seem to show how the National Health Service, their single-payer health service, is overtaking the rights of parents to make decisions.”

Alder Hey took Alfie off life support against his parents’ wishes on April 23rd. He survived an incredible five days. Doctors believed the toddler wouldn’t last even a few minutes without life support machines and didn’t give the toddler oxygen, water, or food for the first six hours. Eventually, they gave Alfie oxygen and hydration, although he was still off life support. Alfie finally passed away on April 28th.

Steven Woolfe, a member of the European Parliament and a political advocate for Alfie’s case, wrote on his Facebook page, “Any patient is entitled to a second opinion and there should be no obstruction to it. If a court seriously doubts Alfie´s parents lack his best interests on the grounds they are not medical specialists that is a tyranny of experts that every parent must now dread. To doubt so without any proof of ill intent is monstrous and sets out a government policy to nationalise our children.

“To decide specifically that a child is not allowed to be treated by another qualified and willing provider is to subject that child to non voluntary euthansia with withdrawal of treatment.”

The quality of life argument essentially made by the UK High Court in Alfie’s case is one the pro-life camp commonly hears. The argument is that “limited or poor” quality of life is enough justification to terminate that life. In Alfie’s case, the government deemed that not only was this justification to terminate his life, but that it would be illegal to further treat and sustain the toddler’s life.

(Photo courtesy of Alfies Army Official via Facebook)

“That’s the problem is when death is seen as a solution to quality of life…. We shouldn’t seek death as the solution for quality of life,” says Shoun.

“In the case of Alfie, they don’t have a real diagnosis and they’re guessing…. It’s not their role to ensure that someone dies. It’s one thing to say, ‘We can’t do anything more for this person. He is probably going to die.’ But to do things that ensure death is crossing a line and becomes euthanasia.”

Shoun says Christians need to remember and promote this truth that all human life is valuable because all life is created in the image of God according to His purpose.

“Every breath we take is from Him, and it’s that acknowledgement along with the sanctity of human life — that we don’t take life and we don’t take our own lives into our own hands and we don’t take the lives of other people into our hands, that we submit to God and give our life to Him — that’s, I think, the message that Life Matters would have for that.”

Please pray for Alfie’s parents as they mourn their son’s passing. Pray for our society to better promote the value of all human life and that more people would know the God who created them.

If you’d like to learn more about Life Matters Worldwide and their pro-life ministry, click here.

(Header photo courtesy of Alfies Army Official via Facebook)

The explosion rocked the foyer at one of the concert arena’s exits around 10:30 pm. The concert’s singer, Ariana Grande, had just exited the stage and many of the young audience members were exiting or purchasing concert memorabilia.

The Hulme Arch Bridge in Manchester, England, UK.

Todd Nettleton with Voice of the Martyrs says, “[Our] first thought is obviously for the families of those who have lost loved ones — especially thinking of losing young people, teenagers, just what a horrible thing this is for them. Certainly, we want to pray for comfort for them.”

The bomber has been identified as 22-year-old Salman Abedi, who was killed in the explosion. ISIS has claimed the attack, saying the bomber was a soldier of the caliphate, but the connection has not been verified.

This is the deadliest terror attack Britain has seen since the London bombings in 2005.

“ISIS has sort of made the call to arms for Muslims around the world to strike wherever and however they can. This may be a situation where somebody was inspired by ISIS. Even if they didn’t necessarily have a direct connection or receive training or arms or whatever from ISIS, they were clearly inspired by the ISIS ideology.”

Here are some specific things Nettleton suggests we can pray for:

The families dealing with loss — “I think there are several ways to pray. One is obviously for the families of those who have lost loved ones, just praying that God will comfort them. If they don’t know God, [pray] that somehow through this experience, this would be something that brings them into a relationship with Christ.”

The injured victims and their doctors — “For those who are injured, we want to pray for healing, and pray for the doctors who are treating them and working on them, that they will have supernatural wisdom and understanding and the ability to bring healing.”

Government officials — “I think also we want to pray for government officials who are involved in investigating and making decisions about how to respond to this attack, that they will be guided by God’s wisdom and make wise choices and wise decisions.”

The Westminster Bridge in London.

ISIS wants credit for the attack as they struggle to stay relevant amidst the terror group’s major territorial losses in Syria and Iraq. But so far, the connection can’t be confirmed. Investigators say it’s possible the attacker was inspired by ISIS, but there is no evidence that ISIS helped coordinate the attack or that the perpetrator was in communication with ISIS leaders.

Whether or not ISIS had a direct hand in the attack, it can be easy to be overwhelmed by fear whenever acts of terror and violence strike. Biblica’s Carl Moeller says in dark moments like this, believers need to open God’s Word.

“One of the things that I think is most important for us to consider at this point is, what does the Bible really say about fear? And how do we look at fear in general, and how do we look at a specific situation like this — say, fear of terrorism or fear of harm for my family or something like that — through the lens of what the Bible calls us to?

“Fear is antithetical to faith. It doesn’t mean we don’t get afraid. Getting afraid is sort of a natural human reaction…. The most courageous soldiers we have will tell you right up front, ‘Yes, of course I was afraid, but…’ and it’s that critical ‘but’, ‘…I ran to danger rather than ran away from these situations.’”

Moeller says a good place to start in your Bible when searching for hope is 1 Peter 5:6-10 which reads:

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

He explains, “I think in that passage, we see some of the things Christians should think about when they are struck with fear. And I think it’s really important that we start with, first of all, humbly recognizing that God is in control. Then secondly, casting our anxiety, our fear, our worry, our trepidation about the future on Him. Why? Because He cares for us.”

However, some believers consider casting our anxiety on God as permission to then stick our heads in the sand and ignore concerning issues or pain. Moeller says that’s why reading the whole set of verses in context is so important.

“We don’t just go into this with some sort of pasted on smile on our face saying, ‘I’m not going to worry. I’m just going to give this to God.’ That certainly wouldn’t help our communities, it wouldn’t help our families, it wouldn’t help anyone. But the next [verse] is, ‘Be alert and of sober mind.’ I think we really need to soak ourselves in Scripture. When we see a command like that, ‘Be alert and of sober mind,’ [we ask] why? There’s a thread out there. The devil prowls around like a roaring lion. But the fact is we’ve already said God is in control and we’ve put our anxiety on Him, but we still use a sober and alert mind. We’re not ignorant of the things around us. We use good, common sense.”

So as you go into hard conversations and address fearful topics with neighbors, friends, and family, there’s a few things you can do first to embrace a godly mindset. Pray for His peace as you release your anxiety, and for His wisdom as you seek to encourage others. And probe deeply into God’s Word for His truths, promises, and commands.

After all, Moeller says, “The Bible is not a dead book. It lives, and every day I read the newspaper and I read my Bible right next to it, and I see the way in which God’s Word is applicable to every situation we encounter. I just pray that every Christian listening to this would open God’s Word right now and open their heart and pray for the situations they see around the world that other people are afraid of, other people are fearful of, and that we might be a lamp of light and hope for people around the world who are feeling discouraged and distressed by these things going on. Let’s be the light of Christ in these dark places.”

Click here to check out Biblica’s resources to help you delve into the Bible.

However, Tasos Ioannidis with AMG International says headlines like these can be misleading and create unnecessary fear.

“Most of the arrests that have taken place are because people don’t have proper documentation because they are refugees, or because they rode the bus without paying the fare, it is stuff like that for the vast majority of what is reported as 900 arrests.”

The temptation to resort to emotional
clickbait may exist in part because people are tending to grow weary with the flood of refugee stories and reports. Such compassion fatigue can also wear on support for refugee ministries as the crisis drags on.

Ioannidis reminds us of the reality for refugees: “The reason they are there is because they fear for their safety. They fled war zones. We have talked to a number of families and we have heard really tragic stories of kids that lost parents, mothers, fathers, relatives; families that fled because their children got shot by snipers and they were lucky to escape with their lives.”

AMG International works with refugees in Greece, the gateway country where 90 percent of asylum seekers enter into Europe. And especially now with the recent coup and unrest in Turkey, there has been a spike in the number of refugees entering through Greece. Ioannidis says most of the refugees are women and children.

“Our coworkers in Greece are meeting with hundreds of refugees each week, and as they help them with basic stuff, they are able to engage with them in conversation. We are also able to provide basic medical care, to start language classes, to provide education for the children, [and] to help the families with the services that we take for granted. They don’t usually have access to those, so helping them with those is allowing us to build the relationships, and that’s where we are seeing wonderful results.”

The most at-risk group of refugees, by far, is unaccompanied minors. Last year 90,000 unescorted children entered the European Union with refugee status. According to EU law enforcement, 10,000 of those kids have now disappeared, speculated to have fallen into the hands of human traffickers.

(Photo courtesy of AMG International)

Ioannidis says, therefore, it is especially critical to reach refugee children with aid and education.

“Without help, [refugee children] face an uncertain future, especially for the ones who lost parents. They have the opportunity to become well-adjusted functioning adults, or they basically live in poverty.”

Ioannidis says these kids could also turn to extremism “because nobody has reached to them and they don’t know what to do and they just get angry with the whole system and the whole situation.”

Christians are in a unique position. Anyone can give aid and physical assistance, or support agencies that are doing so. But in addition to humanitarian efforts, Christians can bring spiritual encouragement and faith conversations to the table.

Refugees are looking for hope and answers. And Christians have a chance to start conversations about Jesus Christ and the unconditional love and grace He offers to those who call on their Heavenly Father.

“From a biblical perspective, we have to help the strangers among us. We have to show the love of Christ. It is an opportunity to share the love of Christ, because these are the nations that the Lord is bringing to us. And as we do that, we do see incredible things happen.”

(Photo: UNICEF/NYHQ2012-0218/Alessio Romenzi)

You don’t have to go to Greece to impact refugees there. Ioannidis asks for prayer and support from the Body of Christ.

“I would like for people to pray for our coworkers as they deal with people who are now coming into Greece, that God would give wisdom to our coworkers as they seek to share Christ’s love and to do so in a way that opens the door for further conversation, to help people not only with the physical needs, but their spiritual needs as well. [Pray] that through this outreach, many will come to a saving knowledge of Him and that lives would be transformed,” says Ioannidis.

“Also, I would like to ask for prayer for the resources that are needed. The financial need is great for this ministry; it’s ongoing, and it’s going to be ongoing for many months to come at least. So we need the financial support of God’s people to continue to minister to the refugees, to show Christ’s love.”

Check out AMG International on Facebook and keep up to date on their ministry efforts with refugees and others.

(Image courtesy Chelsea Gomez (Oakes) via Flickr)

Does that mean it’s too early to talk about Christmas?

Far Corners Missions doesn’t think so. The yuletide season is when most people want to get involved in their work.

“Christmas inspires us to show the love of Jesus,” says Far Corners’ President Gary Bishop. “With that inspiration for so many of our donors, we decided we better put something out that makes it easy.”

Enter the Far Corners Christmas catalog, or, as they’re calling it this year, a Giving Book.

“The whole reason we have this publication is the opportunity to give to someone else who has a desperate human need,” says Bishop.

A Giving Book is opposite what most in the West think of when Christmas rolls around. The focus usually turns to what’s going on the “getting” list — a new gadget or gizmo, a new outfit or toy.

It’s the opposite of what most people in Kenya, India, Nepal, Thailand — some of the places Far Corners works — long or hope for.

“They’re hungry, they need medical care; they need rescuing out of human trafficking,” Bishop states.

Through national partners, Far Corners shares the Gospel in word and deed. They have five areas of focus in nine different countries: China, England, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, Peru, Philippines and Thailand.

Click here to learn more about their work.

In India, Bishop says Far Corners encounters a large amount of people who are literally starving to death.

“They actually have to depend on Far Corners, one day at a time, to provide them something to eat,” he explains.

In the Amazon jungles, medical river boats reach areas too remote for cars or even planes. Young girls trapped in the brothels of Thailand and India are rescued literally and spiritually.

Feeding programs, medical outreaches, rescue operations and educational programs meet the physical needs of the lost, creating opportunities for national Far Corners workers to share the Gospel. Evangelical activities like church plants and one-on-one conversations lead people to salvation in Christ.

“In each of those five areas, you’ll find ways to participate [through the Giving Book],” shares Bishop.

Get your copy by contacting Far Corners here. Or, you can call them at 817-237-3000.

“What a great chance to be involved in missions, even if you can’t go to those places that we mentioned today,” says Bishop.

“We love to send it to people. It gives them a chance to plan ahead; even show other people.”

Pray the Giving Book becomes a gateway for people to get involved in missions. Ask the Lord to bring those who need help and Far Corners workers together.

“Pray that we’ll have the wisdom and the resources to find just those right people that God wants us to help,” Bishop requests.

Does that mean it's too early to talk about Christmas?

Far Corners Missions doesn't think so. The yuletide season is when most people want to get involved in their work.

"Christmas inspires us to show the love of Jesus," says Far Corners President Gary Bishop. "With that inspiration for so many of our donors, we decided we better put something out that makes it easy."

Enter the Far Corners Christmas catalog, or as they're calling it this year: a Giving Book.

"The whole reason we have this publication is the opportunity to give to someone else who has a desperate human need," says Bishop.

A Giving Book is opposite of what most in the West think of when Christmas rolls around. The focus usually turns to what's going on the "getting" list:  a new gadget or gizmo, a new outfit or toy.

It's the opposite of what most people in Kenya, India, Nepal, Thailand–some of the places Far Corners works–long or hope for.

"They're hungry; they need medical care; they need rescuing out of human trafficking," Bishop states.

Through national partners, Far Corners shares the Gospel in word and deed. They have five areas of focus in nine different countries: China, England, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, Peru, Philippines, and Thailand.

Click here to learn more about their work.

In India, Bishop says Far Corners encounters a large amount of people who are literally starving to death.

"They actually have to depend on Far Corners, one day at a time, to provide them something to eat," he explains.

In the Amazon jungles, medical river boats reach areas too remote for cars or even planes. Young girls trapped in the brothels of Thailand and India are rescued literally and spiritually.

Feeding programs, medical outreaches, rescue operations, and educational programs meet the physical needs of the lost, creating opportunities for national Far Corners workers to share the Gospel. Evangelical activities like church plants and one-on-one conversations lead people to salvation in Christ.

"In each of those five areas, you'll find ways to participate [through the Giving Book]," shares Bishop.

Get your copy by contacting Far Corners here. Or, you can call them at 817-237-3000.

"What a great chance to be involved in missions, even if you can't go to those places that we mentioned today," says Bishop.

"We love to send it to people. It gives them a chance to plan ahead, even show other people."

Pray that the Giving Book becomes a gateway for people to get involved in missions. Ask the Lord to bring those who need help and Far Corners workers together.

"Pray that we'll have the wisdom and the resources to find just those right people that God wants us to help," Bishop requests.

According to a 2011 national survey, 25% of England's population claimed no religious affiliation. That's a 10% increase from 2001, and the numbers are significantly rising among British youth: four in ten people claiming no religious beliefs were under the age of 25.

An article from International Mission Board writer Charles Braddox highlights the rise of paganism, emphasizing the growth in English cities Norwich and Glastonbury. English believers supported by IMB are bringing the Truth of the Gospel to these towns.

"It is sad to see such a spiritual void in England that is regressing back to hedonistic practices," Norwich pastor Marvin Lucas told Braddox.

Lucas knows the hopelessness first-hand. While growing up in England, he was an "outspoken opponent" to anything associated with Christianity.

"It was at St. Andrews Hall where I would party," he recalls. "I remember collapsing in a drunken stupor during a party in this building. It is ironic how this place of radical religious fervor is now a place of sin and debauchery."

Lucas chose the "narrow path" mentioned in Matthew 7 when he was 25 years old. He committed his life to Christ and was baptized. Today, he's a minister of the Norwich Christian Church, pastors two house churches in the city, and runs a counseling center.

"The future of Christianity looks bleak in Britain, but sometimes in the deepest darkness, light shines the brightest," says Lucas.

Fellow English pastor Mark Tall leads the Norwich Central Baptist Church. In his eyes, the rise of "non-religion" holds a silver lining.

"The census tells us that there may well be more people interested than we think, even in Norwich," says Tall. "The press may use statistics to paint a dreary picture for Christians, but there are those who are coming to life-changing faith in the God who lives among us. Clearly there is no room for complacency, but neither should we sink into despair.

"Rather, we should work together to make Jesus known, as well as live a life of faith among those who may have none."

Through "Embrace," IMB connects Southern Baptist churches in the U.S. with congregations in Europe like the Norwich Christian Church and Norwich Central Baptist Church. With your help, unreached communities can hear the Gospel.

Learn more about Embrace here.

People are searching for something, so pray that they will find truth in God through His Spirit and His children. Pray for the boldness of His church to share, in love and truth, the Gospel. Ask God how you can serve in England or even in your surrounding area.

But 300 million children around the world will go to school this year without shoes.

That’s why Deb and Nigel Hardy from Somerset, England ditched their shoes to do a four-mile barefoot walk last week.

They wanted to raise awareness and funds for kids who don’t have any shoes. The couple set out on Monday, June 3, at 6 a.m.

“Paying far more attention to the road surface than they usually do, Deb and Nigel completed their 'feet feat' in two hours, finishing in good spirits and ready for the bowl of warm water, soap, and dry towel,” writes Hope for Kids International, a partner of Kids Alive International.

Deb and Nigel sponsor a child from Haiti through Hope for Kids International. They were accompanied on their walk by Roger Allen, director of Hope for Kids International, who wore shoes but took pictures along the way. A friend of Deb’s also joined the walk.

The couple so far has raised over 840 British pounds (around $1,300 USD) for Hope for Kids International through their walk. Click here to donate.

Kids Alive started in China in 1916 as missionaries started taking in homeless kids. Today Kids Alive has offices in Taiwan, Canada, Hong Kong, and the United States. They work to give orphaned and abandoned kids clothing, education, food, medical attention, and share God’s love.

Pray for kids around the world in need of good shoes. Pray that they may know the perfect love and healing of Jesus Christ.

With all the excitement, local London churches are stepping up to meet the crowds with the help of More Than Gold.

More Than Gold is an organization hopping from Olympic event to Olympic event. They coordinate with local churches to put on creative arts performances, sports clinics, distribute Olympics information and water, and hold festivals with big screens that play live Olympic competitions.

Around 2,500 volunteers work directly with More Than Gold to carry out this ministry.

According to their Web site, More Than Gold “is like scaffolding – existing on a temporary basis so something permanent can exist. Our ‘permanent’ dream is the legacy we want to see left behind – a growing and more relevant Church that is continuing to engage with its community through sports and service.”

International Mission Board (IMB) missionary Doug Shaw, volunteer for More Than Gold, says, “People get excited about receiving things. They get excited that there are performing arts often going on along the street side. It draws attention. Many are tourists, but also local communities get excited about the activities that are going on in their neighborhoods.”

And sharing the message of Christ is at the crux of it all. Shaw says, “We believe it’s an effective way to present the Gospel. Most people come to the Gospel by steps, even though there’s usually a critical moment in which one trusts Christ. There are also steps which bring one to Christ along with that.”

Shaw explains, “There seems to be an unwritten law that you can’t talk to the person sitting next to you when you’re traveling…and that’s changed a bit during the Olympic season. People are just more willing to talk. There’s a good atmosphere, and I think it does help with receptiveness towards the Gospel message.”

Some have already made a decision to accept Christ.

More Than Gold also works with the Olympic committee to set up home stays for the families of Olympic athletes. “Through the Olympics, all of the athletes family home stay programs is done through Christian organizations, which we find very exciting,” says Shaw.

While it’s difficult to maintain follow-up with international travelers, churches continue follow-up in their community. According to Shaw, “Often it’s neighbors as much as it is tourists who are on, shall we say, the receiving end of the ministry.”

Shaw asks for prayer. “Pray for the neighborhoods where people are working. Pray for the churches. Many of them could use a boost in the arm. Pray for the effectiveness of [the Gospel], and pray for this openness to continue in future Olympics. [Pray] that it won’t be shut off because of growing secularism.”