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One in six young people are Christian as visits to church buildings inspire them to convert One in six young people are practising Christians , new figures show , as research suggests thousands convert after visiting church buildings . The figures show that more than one in five ( 21 %) people between the ages of 11 and 18 describe themselves as active followers of Jesus , and 13 % say they are practising Christians who attend church .

The study , commissioned by Christian youth organisation Hope Revolution Partnership and carried out by ComRes , suggested that levels of Christianity were much higher among young people than previously thought . Research carried out by church statistician Dr Peter Brierley in 2006 suggested church attendance among teenagers was less than half of this , with 6 % of 11-14 year-olds and 5 % of 15-18 year-olds attending church .

Around 13 % of teenagers said that they decided to become a Christian after a visit to a church or cathedral , according to the figures . The influence of a church building was more significant than attending a youth group , going to a wedding , or speaking to other Christians about their faith . Source : telegraph . co . uk

Majority of UK Catholics and Anglicans see ‘ nothing wrong ’ with same-sex relationships and premarital sex A recent survey has shown sharply shifting attitudes to sexual morality among British Christians : 73 % of Anglicans don ’ t think premarital sex is wrong , and 55 % don ’ t think gay sex is wrong . The study of 3,000 people by the British Social Attitudes survey suggests a shrinking minority who favour a conservative view on sexual morality .

The British public is more supportive now of same-sex relationships and premarital sex than it has ever been , with 64 % and 75 % respectively saying they were “ not wrong at all ”. The trend bears out amongst religious groups too , now 55 % of Anglicans would say same-sex relationships are “ not wrong at all ” - a dramatic

24-point increase since 2012 . Around 73 % would say the same of premarital sex , and 76 % of Catholics agreed .

Roman Catholics showed even more support for same-sex relationships , at 62 %, alongside “ other Christians ”, 53 % of which saw no problem with them . For Anglicans , Catholics , and “ other Christians ”, same-sex relationship support was at only 9 % in 1985 . Source : christiantoday . com

Germany gay marriage approved by MPs in snap vote A clear majority of German MPs have voted to legalise same-sex marriage , days after Chancellor Angela Merkel dropped her opposition . The reform grants couples now limited to civil unions full marital rights , and allows them to adopt children . Mrs Merkel ’ s political opponents were strongly in favour . But the chancellor voted against . The bill was backed by 393 lawmakers , 226 voted against and four abstained .

Following Friday ’ s vote , Mrs Merkel said that for her marriage was between a man and a woman . But she said she hoped the passing of the bill would lead to more “ social cohesion and peace ”. Source : bbc . co . uk

Christian preachers win appeals over shopping centre sermon Two street preachers who were fined for preaching to shoppers have won appeals against their convictions . Michael Overd , 53 , and Michael Stockwell , 51 , were convicted of a religiouslyaggravated public order offence in February . Judges at Bristol Crown Court ruled the offence was religiously aggravated .

After the hearing , Mr Overd said he was a “ Christian soldier ” and would return to preach . The men were filmed in July 2016 preaching at Broadmead Shopping Centre in Bristol . Mr Overd , of Creech St Michael , Somerset , and Mr Stockwell , of Selden , New York , were fined £ 300 each and also ordered to jointly pay court costs of £ 3,372 . But His Honour Judge Picton overruled the conviction , saying he was “ conscious of the right of freedom of speech and freedom of expression ”. Source : bbc . co . uk

Christianity on the wane in Australia , but Pentecostal church bucks trend As the number of Australians who identify as Christian has declined since 2011 , one church has notably bucked the trend . Members of the Pentecostal church increased from nearly 220,000 in 2006 and 238,000 in 2011 to 260,500 last year , according to the 2016 census results released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics . It has grown particularly among young people , with increases in the 0-14 ( the largest share of affiliates ), 15-24 and 25-34 age profiles recorded in each census from 2006 .

Associate professor Ann Evans of the Australian National University ’ s school of demography , said the rise , while not huge , was notable . “ Modern Pentecostal churches are actually very appealing to a wide demographic of young people – they have a very strong social element , and very dynamic and engaging services ,” she said . “ They ’ re like going to a concert for young people .” Among the 0-14 age group would be the children of Pentecostal church members , she said .

Across all denominations , the total number of self-identified Christians has fallen from 13.1m ( 61 %) to 12.2m ( 52 %) in the past five years , with nearly 600,000 fewer Anglicans and nearly 147,500 fewer Catholics reported in 2016 compared with 2011 . In the 1911 census , 96 % of Australians recorded themselves as Christian . Source : theguardian . co . uk

Tesco removes ‘ have an affair ’ birthday card after complaints A card which makes light of adultery has been pulled from Tesco ’ s shelves after complaints from shoppers , The Christian Institute can reveal . The birthday card has the words : “ Time for a sports car and an affair ” on its front cover . Tesco has confirmed that it is no longer being sold in stores . A Tesco spokesman told The Christian Institute : “ We ’ ve listened to customer feedback and will have removed this card from our range .”

Source : christian . org . uk

28 Revival Times August 2017