Faith
Australian Churches Unite for Vital Faith Survey
Faith Facts
- The 2026 National Church Life Survey will gather voices from churches across Australia to offer a unique view of church vitality.
- Since 1991, the survey has measured how faith communities respond to social change, involving more than 20 denominations every five years.
- Anglicans remain Australia’s largest network of local churches, despite recent declines in attendance.
Churches nationwide are preparing for the 2026 National Church Life Survey, a powerful initiative designed to capture the spiritual pulse of Australia’s faithful and strengthen local congregations. This survey will shine a light on the growth, challenges, and mission of Christian communities by listening to believers from all walks of life.
“Hundreds of thousands of voices will contribute to the most comprehensive view of church life in the world.”
Leaders from various denominations emphasize the survey’s value for mission planning and sustaining vibrant church life, aiming to discern how to flourish and serve their communities with renewed purpose. The 2026 survey is expected to provide churches with essential tools to nurture hope, advance the Gospel, and remain steadfast in changing times.
“We will continue our mission to provide credible research, to identify signs of hope and nurture life. We are also keen to partner with others to try innovative approaches to this national project.”
Rev. Mark Wilson explains, “The insights it offers are essential for shaping a healthy and mission-focused future for the church.”
Fr. Brian Lucas notes its importance in understanding faith experiences across Australia, while Susan King calls the survey “an invaluable tool for future mission planning.” The Church Pulse Check data confirms Anglicans have the highest number of local congregations, a testament to enduring faith despite recent cultural shifts.
This effort highlights the pivotal role of the church in Australian society, anchoring communities in faith, family, and the message of Christ as the nation looks toward a future grounded in Biblical hope. Support your local church in this national mission and pray for wisdom as leaders seek God’s guidance for tomorrow.
Faith Facts
- A Christian missionary and seven others, including a toddler, were released after being kidnapped from a Haitian orphanage for nearly a month.
- Gena Heraty, an Irish humanitarian and director at the Kenscoff orphanage, had lived out her ministry in Haiti for 32 years at the time of the abduction.
- Heraty’s family expressed deep gratitude and relief for her safe return, prioritizing her health and the children’s well-being.
The hostage ordeal began when armed men broke into the orphanage compound, taking nine people captive, including Heraty and several local staff.
It is believed that a criminal alliance active in the region may have orchestrated the attack, seizing on Haiti’s ongoing turmoil and unrest.
The Kenscoff orphanage cares for about 270 children, demonstrating a powerful witness of Christian compassion in a nation facing severe hardship and violence.
“Gena is a respected humanitarian and deeply courageous person who has dedicated her life to supporting the most vulnerable people in Haiti.”
Irish government officials and Heraty’s family thanked supporters and requested privacy as they focus on recovery and healing.
The dangerous climate, caused by criminal gangs and violent crime, has prompted warnings from Ireland’s foreign ministry to avoid travel to Haiti.
Recent United Nations reports show thousands killed and kidnapped in Haiti this year, with gangs displacing over a million families and contributing to a worsening humanitarian crisis.
Faith compels believers to continue praying and working for those affected by chaos in Haiti and to advocate for peace, protection, and Gospel hope for all vulnerable communities.
Let us join together in prayer for the safety and restoration of all those still suffering in Haiti, remembering our calling to care for the afflicted and stand for freedom and faith.
Faith Facts
- The Africa Sings Festival in Benin brought together 20 diverse ethnic groups, promoting peace and unity through Christian values and local art.
- Ethnodoxology, central to the festival, supports integrating indigenous music and dance into Christian worship, making the Gospel resonate more deeply with local communities.
- Through intercultural dialogue and faith-inspired arts, the festival inspired reconciliation and spiritual renewal among Christians and non-Christians alike.
In the village of Bethlehem, Northwestern Benin, the 10th Africa Sings Festival fostered harmony by blending cultural traditions with the message of Christ. Bringing together various ethnicities, the event highlights how faith can offer peaceful solutions to deep-seated social tensions.
“The general objective of the festival is to promote social cohesion, peace, and non-violence in the coexistence of communities through intercultural exchanges and the celebration of ethnoarts,” said Dr. Daniel Dama, founder of Africa Sings.
Rooted in biblical values, ethnodoxology empowers believers to proclaim Christ through their heart language and traditional expressions, demonstrating that the Gospel transcends all boundaries. Dr. Dama emphasized the importance of incorporating songs, dances, and instruments native to each community, encouraging authentic worship.
For example, Dama explained, African Christians are no longer hesitant to use traditional instruments and dances in church, allowing more souls to encounter and accept Christ in a way that honors their heritage.
This ministry approach moves beyond Western models, aiming for worship that honors local identity, draws people closer to God, and builds unity in Christ.
Each festival day encouraged unique audiences to explore faith, culture, and community. Intellectual and spiritual exchanges among church leaders, missionaries, and artists set the tone on day one, while day two’s vibrant exhibitions brought people of all backgrounds together in joyful celebration.
Day three’s worship and music competition revived Christian faith among attendees and introduced the Gospel to non-believers, opening church doors to all who sought hope and reconciliation.
Testimonies revealed the festival’s God-honoring impact. One local king, visiting a church for the first time, felt truly welcomed as traditional music led him to a place of spiritual curiosity. A Muslim attendee, initially hesitant, was moved by Christian hospitality and the universal language of song and dance.
Together, this Christ-centered festival reflected the power of faith, family, and freedom to build bridges, heal divisions, and strengthen communities in God’s light.
Faith Facts
- Police in North Khartoum arrested Pastor Peter Perpeny and four other South Sudanese Christians during a funeral prayer.
- The arrested Christians are detained without charges and face threats of heavy fines or imprisonment, while fears of persecution run high among the Christian community.
- Sudan’s conflict has escalated violence and oppression against believers, with recent years seeing a rollback of religious freedoms.
Faithful Christians in North Khartoum were targeted as they gathered to honor a loved one, highlighting the cost of Christian witness in hostile environments. Police detained them as foreigners allegedly in the country illegally, pressing on with tactics that stoke fear among Christians in Sudan.
The crackdown extends to door-to-door searches, leading many believers to remain in hiding for safety, while women face demands for exorbitant payments to secure release. Extremists now use social media to encourage further arrests, amplifying the sense of vulnerability within the Body of Christ.
“In fact, there is a growing fear among the South Sudanese Christians, so they remain indoors in order to avoid being arrested,” said the area church leader whose name is withheld for security reasons.
The region’s ongoing violence, including attacks on churches by both government and paramilitary forces, has devastated Christian communities who suffer as the conflict rages on. The 2025 World Watch List cites Sudan as one of the deadliest countries for Christians, reporting targeted attacks, displacement, and the destruction of homes and places of worship.
The struggle for control between rival Islamist military factions has kept the nation in turmoil, reversing prior gains in religious liberty. Christians now face renewed oppression reminiscent of previous eras of harsh Islamic law and are once again targeted by both politicians and radicals.
“Christians of all backgrounds are trapped in the chaos, unable to flee. Churches are shelled, looted and occupied by the warring parties,” the Open Doors report stated.
Government changes, from fleeting reforms after Bashir’s fall to restrengthened persecution after the 2021 coup, serve as stark reminders of the fragility of freedom when it is not rooted in respect for God-given rights.
Despite comprising only 4.5% of the population in a nation of over 43 million, Sudan’s Christians continue to stand firm in faith while calling for prayer and international support. As scripture calls us to remember those in chains for the Gospel, let us not be silent.
Stand with our brothers and sisters in Sudan by sharing the truth, praying for their deliverance, and advocating for religious liberty rooted in Biblical principles.
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