All posts tagged: evangelism

Head: school evangelism project has “no educational objectives”

Head: school evangelism project has “no educational objectives”

Published by Sam Flores

The National Secular Society has expressed concern that a nonreligious school has joined a Christian evangelism project despite its headteacher admitting it has “no educational objectives”. Jubilee High School in Addlestone, Guildford hosts a “Hub Leader” for the Church of England’s “Youth Catalyst Project”, according to the diocese of Guildford website. The Hub Leader’s responsibilities include leading classes and “worship events” where children can “encounter God”, despite the school having no religious character. The Youth Catalyst Project is a £3.2 million project by the diocese of Guildford to put youth ministers in local schools. A promotional video (pictured) for the Youth Catalyst Project says it seeks to “live out the Church of England’s bold vision to see the number of young people at our churches doubled by 2030”. This goal was also set out by a Church document in 2023, which outlined its plans to use schools, including non-faith schools, to achieve this vision. The NSS, which campaigns to protect state-funded schools from religious interference, has said it is “disappointing and worrying that the leaders …

Evangelist Anne Graham Lotz on writing, working with her daughter

Evangelist Anne Graham Lotz on writing, working with her daughter

Published by Sam Flores

(RNS) — It’s long been said that the late evangelist Billy Graham called his daughter Anne Graham Lotz the “best preacher in the family.” Now, Lotz has begun passing along her family’s legacy of preaching and teaching to one of her two daughters, Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright. “I present the gospel and will give an invitation, but I feel like Rachel-Ruth has more of a gift of evangelism than I do,” Lotz told RNS in an interview last week. “She’s incredible the way she can present the gospel and bring people to that point of repentance and where they want to claim Jesus as their savior and Lord.” Lotz, 77, is the president of AnGel Ministries in Raleigh, North Carolina, while Wright, 51, is vice president. Through the ministry, Wright leads an online weekly Bible study that reaches thousands via the internet in more than 125 countries. And in November, Wright will be the main seminar speaker at the Christian conference center named for her grandfather, the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove, across the …

School raises safeguarding concerns over covert evangelism

School raises safeguarding concerns over covert evangelism

Published by Sam Flores

A non-religious primary school has raised safeguarding concerns after the National Secular Society alerted it to covert evangelism of its pupils. In a now removed episode of Chester diocese’s podcast ‘Everyday Faith’, a school playworker described leading students in prayer, singing religious songs, and reading bible stories “everyday” at a breakfast club. The activities took place without parental knowledge or consent, and involved children as young as seven years old. After learning of the podcast, the National Secular Society wrote to the school raising concerns. The headteacher replied that school leaders “were not previously aware of the activities described in the podcast”, and he was “personally surprised and concerned to learn of them”. The school has now taken “appropriate steps”, including raising “concerns with the [diocesan] safeguarding lead”, who is “taking this matter seriously”. ‘Building faith when children don’t even realise it’s happening. I love that’ The playworker described how some children took bibles home from the breakfast club. When parents asked why their children had brought home a bible, she said: “I just keep …