Gunmen kidnap Benue pastor, church members

 

"It is with a heavy heart, yet with unwavering confidence in the sovereignty of Almighty God, that we announce the unfortunate abduction of our cleric," the Church said.

A pastor and two members of his congregation have been kidnapped in Benue State, amid growing concerns over insecurity in the state.

Samuel Gbinde is a pastor of the Universal Reform Christian Church (URCC), also known as Nongu u Kristu u i Ser u sha Tar (NKST).

The General Secretary of URCC, Titus Targba, said in a statement that the incident occurred on Tuesday.

“The victims were abducted from the pastor’s residence at NKST Church, Andyar, in Ishan Classis, Benue State,” he said.

Mr Targba called on church members and the public to pray for the safe and unconditional release of the abducted pastor and the two church members.

 

He also urged security agencies and both the Benue State and federal governments to act swiftly to rescue the victims and arrest those responsible.

“We further call on the relevant security agencies, as well as the Governments of Benue State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to act swiftly and decisively to secure the safe rescue of the abducted persons and ensure that those responsible for this criminal act are apprehended and brought to justice,” he said.

The church further urged the authorities to adopt more proactive measures against kidnapping and other violent crimes.

“It is imperative to take the fight to the perpetrators rather than merely responding after these heinous crimes have been committed,” Mr Targba said.

The latest abduction comes amid heightened security concerns in Benue State 

POPE LEO APPOINTS TWO NIGERIANS TO KEY VATICAN ROLES

 

Pope Leo has appointed two Nigerians to key positions in the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization.

According to Fides News Agency, the appointments were announced alongside those of three other African Catholic leaders.

Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins of Lagos was named a member of the Dicastery for Evangelization (Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches), one of the Vatican’s principal departments responsible for missionary activities and the establishment of new local Churches.

Also appointed as a consultor of the same Dicastery is Father Wenceslaus C. Madu, C.M.F., Vice-Chancellor of the Claretian University of Nigeria, Nekede.

Other African appointees as members of the Dicastery are Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, OFM Cap, Archbishop of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya of Bamenda, Cameroon.

Archbishop François Sylla of Conakry, Guinea, was also appointed as a consultor.

The appointments are expected to strengthen African representation in the Vatican’s evangelization mission and governance of new particular Churches.

Pastor Seeks $2M to Rebuild Church in Brooklyn

 

A devastating fire ravaged a historic 173-year-old Brooklyn church, leaving it in ruins and its pastor launching a desperate $2 million GoFundMe to rebuild. 

All around us, Church buildings are empty and forgotten. While some have moved on or created new spaces, many are left in the ruins of destruction, financial failure, or conflict. For a 173-year-old church in Brooklyn, NY, however, fire was the culprit.

James E. Steward II, pastor of South Bushwick Reformed Church in Brooklyn, New York, witnessed the church's demolition and vowed to help rebuild it. When the church went up in flames this past Friday, Steward took it upon himself to seek public help and restoration through a $2 million GoFundMe appeal. Currently, the fundraiser has raised 1% of his target, and proceeds will go towards restoring the property as well as providing a temporary place of worship.

When asked why restoring this specific church was so important to him, Steward noted that, “For generations, South Bushwick Church has been a place of faith, hope, healing, and community in Brooklyn.” Thankfully, while no lives were lost, a place of great worship, ministry, and connection was.

In a statement from the FDNY, the large fire was escalated to a third alarm after just 20 minutes, bringing in 63 units and 192 EMS and fire personnel. While no evidence of suspicious activity was found to have started the fire, the investigation and cause are still ongoing.

Because the fire took place on Juneteenth, Steward posted on Facebook his additional concerns:

“This tragedy occurred on Juneteenth, a day that commemorates freedom, resilience, and the enduring strength of a people who refused to let oppression have the final word. As an African American pastor leading a historic congregation in Brooklyn, I cannot overlook the significance of that reality,” he noted.

“Juneteenth reminds us that even after profound loss, there can be liberation. Even after seasons of hardship, pain, and struggle, there can be restoration. Even after devastating setbacks, there can be new beginnings.” 

Evangelical Alliance Urges Christians to Share Faith Boldly with Muslims

 

UK Christians are urged to actively share their faith with Muslims, even in the face of opposition and indifference, as Islam's public presence grows.

In the United Kingdom, Christians are being encouraged to boldly share their faith not only with their neighbors but also with those who oppose it. Specifically, Muslims. According to a warning from the Evangelical Alliance, fear and indifference are present, but that shouldn’t stop followers of Jesus from sharing the Gospel with Muslim neighbors, co-workers, and surrounding communities.

During a webinar titled "Islam: challenges, questions and gospel opportunities," the second installment of a series focused on the rise of Christian nationalism and Islam in the U.K. discourse and politics, speakers noted the urgency of sharing the Good News.

As Islam is becoming prominent in British public life, over 4 million Muslims currently live in the U.K. Andy Bannister, a speaker at the webinar and director of Solas Centre for Public Christianity, noted Christians can’t afford to stay silent on or ignore the subject.

“Islam is certainly more vocal … it’s more confident,” he said. “We’re going to see a lot more about Islam in the public square, in the media.”

According to Bannister, high-profile Muslims are making the religion more popular. At the same time, Britain could be moving towards “peak secularism.” Because younger generations are asking questions and are open to faith, they could explore Islam alongside other faiths.

“Islam is a very public faith and … they’re a faith that believes in communicating what they see to be the truth, but immediately then we [Christians] get a bit nervous,” he said.

“The Church has generally done, I think, with the greatest respect, a pretty bad job at equipping people to engage their Muslims friends and neighbors. By contrast … many mosques teach their people how to engage with Christians.”

Encouraging Christians to share their faith without disrespecting other cultures and religious systems, Bannister believes honest conversations can take place without hostility:

“We don’t disrespect Islam by describing honestly what’s there,” he said. “Much better to go: This is different, let’s understand our Muslim friends, understand what they believe, and then share the uniqueness of Christ.”

At its core, Bannister urges Christians to show Christ-like love in truth, even when difficult or controversial topics are present.

“So, help your Muslim neighbor and then when they thank you, don't just go all shy,” he said. “Just go, ‘You need to know, by the way, the reason I have done this is I’m a Christian and Jesus died for me and He died for you and I’m doing this to demonstrate the love of Christ.’”

 

Pope says church 'must move forward' if SSPX proceeds with illicit ordinations

 

Pope Leo XIV said that although he is considering a final appeal to the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, the choice to splinter from the Catholic Church falls on them.

Speaking to journalists outside his residence in Castel Gandolfo June 16, the pope was asked about his feelings regarding plans by the traditionalist society, commonly known as SSPX, to proceed with the consecration of new bishops without a papal mandate.

The pope said that while he is "considering making another appeal to say: 'Do not do this, let us try to live in communion within the church,' " the decision to proceed "is their choice."

"Certainly, division among Christians is always a painful point. But they refuse to accept certain fundamental elements of the church, starting with several points from the Second Vatican Council," Leo said.

"If they make that choice, I am sorry, but we must move forward," he added.

In February, Fr. Davide Pagliarani, superior general of the SSPX, announced the society would proceed with the consecration of new bishops July 1, following a breakdown in communication with the Vatican after requests for an audience with Leo went unanswered.

After announcing their intention to proceed with the consecrations, Pagliarani was invited to meet with Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, who offered to continue dialogue with the SSPX, but only if the society suspended its decision to consecrate new bishops.

After meeting with SSPX council members, Pagliarani sent a letter to the cardinal saying that while he welcomed continued dialogue, he could not accept the conditions, noting that the society and the Holy See remained divided over the Vatican II and post-conciliar reforms.

In a May 13 statement, Fernández said that without the "requisite pontifical mandate," the consecrations would be considered "a schismatic act" and that "formal adherence to the schism constitutes a grave offense against God and entails the excommunication established under Church law."

Leo speaks on US-Iran agreement

Leo also expressed his optimism about the recent deal to end the war in Iran that is expected to be signed June 19 in Switzerland.

"Thank God, there is at least this memorandum that it seems they will officially sign this Friday, so they are saying," the pope said about the tentative agreement between the United States and Iran.

According to a draft of the memorandum published June 17 by Bloomberg News, the agreement outlined a framework for an immediate end to the conflict, mandating an end to all hostilities, including in Lebanon, and the restoration of shipping traffic along the Strait of Hormuz.

It also dictates $300 billion from the United States and its partners to be used "for the rehabilitation and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran," and an end to sanctions on the country. For its part, Iran will commit to "never produce nuclear weapons."

The pope expressed his hope that the agreement "will truly be a solution to the war, that the war is truly finished and that we can move forward for the good of all."

"Eliminating nuclear weapons, yes, that as well; seeking the good of all peoples, and seeking how to resolve problems also at the economic and social level that have been created during this time," he said.

Vacation, future travels

Asked about his recent June 6-12 visit to Spain, Leo told journalists that "the enthusiastic response from so many people" was "something very beautiful."

"Every moment was very well prepared, it must be said, by the bishops with so many laypeople and so many volunteers in all the places who worked to prepare everything. It has been wonderful. From what I've seen, the people were very happy, and I am certainly happy to be able to celebrate the faith," the pope said.

Regarding his summer vacation, the pope said that while he expects "a bit of rest," there will also be "a lot of reading, reflection and preparation for what comes next."

"There is always work too, but peacefully," he said.

Among the most anticipated events after the summer is the pope's Sept. 25-28 visit to France. In a June 9 statement, the French bishops' conference released additional details on the upcoming papal trip, which includes stops in Paris, Metz and Lourdes.

When asked about other trips after France, Leo said he was "looking into others."

Although the Vatican has yet to announce any other trips, Peruvian President José María Balcázar told journalists outside a polling station in Chiclayo, the pope's former diocese, that Pope Leo is expected to arrive in Peru Nov. 10, the Peruvian news site RPP reported June 7.

Regarding a possible 2027 visit to Mexico, Pope Leo told journalists that he hoped it would be much sooner.

"We will see about that, but hopefully not too much time passes," he said.

Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes of Mexico City said in January that he had invited the pope to visit Mexico, "which he had originally extended a few days after the conclave."

"In response, the Holy Father expressed his gratitude and stated his desire and interest in being in our country soon to entrust his pontificate to the Virgin of Guadalupe," the statement read.

Mexico City is home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is on the site of Mary's apparitions to St. Juan Diego in 1531.