The head of Trinidad and Tobago’s national intelligence agency, Roger Best, has been implicated in a purported scheme to stage a “Christian coup” within the country. Best, who was suspended in March and subsequently dismissed in May, is accused of bypassing standard security protocols by appointing multiple members of his own church to key positions within the agency. Among these appointments was Ian Ezekiel Brown, Best’s pastor, who was given the role of a special reserve officer. Brown, known for his authoritarian leadership style, has been described as exerting significant influence over his congregation, advocating that Christians should be armed and take control of governmental structures. The church, Jerusalem Church, consists of approximately 100 members, with 25 of them holding significant administrative roles within the intelligence agency.
United States: Bible Society Shuts Down Costly Museum The American Bible Society has closed the doors of its $60 million museum in Philadelphia, a mere two years after it opened. The museum, which debuted in 2021, attracted only a fraction of the visitors originally anticipated—about 2 percent. This closure adds to ongoing turmoil within the Bible society, which has undergone a leadership crisis with five different CEOs since 2022 and over 50 percent turnover on its board of directors. A former director who resigned last year cited deep-seated systemic issues within the organization, suggesting that “wishful thinking” hinders any real progress.
United States: Conservative Remnants in UMC Amidst Division A recent study examining the United Methodist Church (UMC) in North Carolina post-denominational split reveals that a significant number of conservative clergy members have remained within the church. Nearly 25 percent of the clergy who chose to stay are opposed to same-sex marriage, despite the fact that the majority of UMC clergy lean towards liberal views, with about 60 percent identifying as more politically liberal than their congregations.
Kenya: Pastors Collaborate on Security Plans for Haiti In Kenya, pastors have taken a pivotal role in formulating plans for a security mission that President William Ruto intends to send to Haiti, a nation ravaged by gang violence. Last October, Kenya committed to deploying 2,500 police officers to Haiti, but legal hurdles have delayed the mission. The pastors, working under the guidance of First Lady Rachel Ruto, are fervently praying for divine intervention to break the “generational curses” of witchcraft and to drive out the gangs from their strongholds, delivering them into the hands of law enforcement. Additionally, these pastors are leading a government-backed fact-finding mission to establish the necessary groundwork for restoring order in Haiti.
United Kingdom: Victory for Free Speech as Street Preacher Prevails Police in Bristol have admitted they overstepped when they attempted to restrict a street preacher from discussing topics such as atheism, Islam, or other religions. Dia Moodley, an immigrant from South Africa who preaches from atop a ladder, has been known for his lively question-and-answer sessions in a bustling shopping district. Authorities initially ordered him to refrain from making any statements that could “negatively impact public health and morals.” However, after the Alliance Defending Freedom organization took up his case, the police retreated from their position.
Germany: WEA Leader Steps Down Due to Long COVID Thomas Schirrmacher, the leader of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), has resigned due to ongoing health issues stemming from long COVID. Schirrmacher, who assumed leadership in 2020, has been battling symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and headaches, which have made it difficult for him to fulfill the travel-intensive duties of his position. The WEA, representing 600 million evangelicals globally, plans to appoint a new leader by September.
Israel: Tourists Volunteer to Show Support Amid Conflict In March, about 1,500 tourists arrived daily in Israel to volunteer in efforts aimed at supporting the ongoing conflict in Gaza, according to the country’s tourism ministry. These “voluntourists,” many organized by evangelical groups like the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, have been visiting sites where Hamas carried out attacks on October 7, 2023. Their activities include helping with agricultural tasks, cooking meals, and sorting donations for displaced Israelis. Prior to the conflict, Israel welcomed about 15,000 tourists each day.