‘Prophecy fulfilled’
Candace Cameron Bure, well-known for her holiday films, celebrates Christmas as a season of 'prophecy fulfilled’. This year, she stars in two new movies, ‘Christmas less travelled' and 'Home sweet Christmas', and her network is hosting an in-person Christmas festival until 22 December. Families can enjoy tree lightings, ice skating, and more. Apart from acting, Bure engages audiences through her podcast, sharing vulnerable theological insights. She highlights how reading the Bible chronologically transformed her faith; she discovered deeper context, understanding God’s love and His patience with humanity. Reading Scripture has shown her how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies, offering believers a tangible confidence in their faith. For her, Christmas exemplifies God's grace and the fulfilment of His promises. She encourages believers to share the Gospel, especially during this season, emphasising the incredible love of a God who eagerly waits for us with open arms.
USA: Senate chaplain says God ‘miraculously intervened’
Barry Black, a 76-year-old retired Navy rear admiral and the first black and Seventh-Day Adventist Senate chaplain, recently experienced a life-threatening brain bleed. Swiftly cared for by Capitol physician Brian Monahan, Black is now on a hopeful and steady path to recovery. Black deeply credits God’s extraordinary intervention for sparing him from a potentially dire outcome: Monahan’s urgent decision to call him and advise immediate medical care was seen as divinely inspired, averting more serious complications. As Christmas approaches, Black is expected to reunite with his family, further showcasing God’s compassionate and providential care. Let us pray for his continued healing, and for his family to feel God’s comforting presence.
Some parents to lose automatic right to home education
A new bill will aim to bolster child protection by empowering local councils to intervene when home environments are deemed unsafe. This proposed legislation, unveiled by education secretary Bridget Phillipson, will end the automatic right to home-school children. It will introduce mandatory registers for children not in school and unique identifier numbers to ensure no child 'falls through the cracks’. It aims to promote collaboration between schools, police, and children’s social care to enhance safeguarding measures. This comes in the wake of Sara Sharif’s tragic murder, a high-profile case which exposed systemic failures. Her removal from school and the closure of her case after six days despite clear warnings underscore the need for reform. The bill is seen as a foundation for change, emphasising the importance of improved data-sharing to prevent children from becoming invisible in the system.
Government criticises Russia’s ‘gangster threat’ against journalists
The Government has condemned former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev's threats against The Times journalists, labeling his rhetoric as desperate and unacceptable. Medvedev, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, described the journalists as 'legitimate military targets' following their coverage of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov's assassination (see Europe article below, ‘Russia: senior general assassinated’), for which Ukraine claimed responsibility. The Times had described the act as 'a legitimate act of defence’, prompting Medvedev's hostile comments. Keir Starmer’s spokesperson reiterated the UK's commitment to press freedom, a cornerstone of democracy, and emphasised the Government’s resolve to protect its citizens and media against threats. David Lammy called Medvedev’s statements a 'gangster threat' that underscores Moscow's desperation. Medvedev also extended his threats to NATO figures aiding Ukraine, further highlighting the volatile rhetoric from Russian leadership amid the ongoing conflict.
