Will the UK's Bible colleges survive into the future?
With the International Christian College in Glasgow and St Michael's College in Cardiff both recently announcing their closures, are UK Bible colleges in a state of peril? The principal of the ICC says the nation's Bible colleges face a lean future. Of the ten largest UK Bible colleges, only one is growing. In the ICC between 2000 and 2013 the annual intake of new undergraduate students dropped from 57 to 16. He points out the Bible colleges used to be the first port of call for Christians entering church ministry. However many are now studying the Bible in theology departments at universities and entering ministry via ‘learning on the job’ as an understudy to a pastor. Meanwhile, online education is rapidly growing - offering either free service or significantly reduced costs. Buildings, equipment and textbook overheads become non-issues or cost effective and there are over 1 million people enrolled in online courses globally.
Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams urges calm after release
Northern Ireland police released Gerry Adams from custody on Sunday amid fears that his four-day detention could destabilise the British province. He was arrested over the 1972 murder of Jean McConville, a killing he repeatedly denies. His detention raised tensions among Northern Ireland's power-sharing government and its fragile peace after Sinn Fein pointed the finger at ‘dark forces’ in the police service and their Protestant partners in government. A calm Adams toned down the rhetoric and said he supported the police. Tapes being held at Boston College, USA, are a key part of the investigation. The tapes contain a testimony of a former IRA commander stating Gerry Adams was overall commander of the IRA's Belfast brigade, controlling his own squad - ‘the unknowns’ who were responsible for the 'Disappeared'. See also: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-27238797
Nigeria: 'Boko Haram' attacks leave scores dead
50+ Boko Haram Militants attacked Kawuri village in Borno state setting off explosives around the village and setting houses ablaze (no house was left standing) this happened as a busy market was packing up last Sunday. Witnesses said 52 people were killed in that attack, while 22 died in an attack on a church service in Waga Chakawa village in Adamawa state the same day. Borno and Adamawa are two of three north-eastern states that were put under emergency rule last May in an attempt to combat insurgency. Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan sacked his military high command earlier this month. No reason was given, but the move came amid concern that Boko Haram have been able to continue their bloody campaign despite the wide-ranging powers given to the military to tackle the insurgency last year. Since the state of emergency was imposed UN figures suggest over 1,200 people have been killed in Islamist-related violence.
This is a test
This is a test
Subsequently, one prayer initiative participant wrote about the election on April 5 : "There were no problems at all. I think only on the Pakistan and Afghanistan border. So to sum this up, the election went very well. I understand there are a few reports of ballot stuffing, but very few. The Afghans I know are excited about the election. In the 2009 election, I was here and there were 2000 explosions in Kandahar City, this election there were no explosions...
