CDI Staff

Articles by CDI Staff

15 Jul, 2025 07:25 EDT

US & Canada Church & Missions

John MacArthur, influential pastor and author, dies at 86: 'His faith became sight'

By CDI Staff

John MacArthur, the influential California pastor, Bible teacher, and author, has died at age 86, just weeks after being hospitalized with pneumonia. His ministry, Grace to You, confirmed his death Monday evening, sharing on social media, “Our hearts are heavy, yet rejoicing, as we share the news that our beloved pastor and teacher John MacArthur has entered into the presence of the Savior. This evening, his faith became sight.”
14 Jul, 2025 08:52 EDT

US & Canada Church & Missions

John MacArthur hospitalized with pneumonia; church asks for prayers

By CDI Staff

John MacArthur, the influential 86-year-old American pastor, broadcaster, and author, has been hospitalized with pneumonia, with his church asking for prayers as he faces what could be his final days. The announcement was made Sunday at Grace Community Church, where MacArthur has served as pastor-teacher for over five decades. Tom Patton, a staff pastor, told the congregation that MacArthur “may be in the presence of the Lord soon,” urging prayer for the pastor and his family.
8 Jul, 2025 05:40 EDT

Asia Family & Children Society & Culture

12-year-old Pakistani Christian girl wins gold at South Asian Karate Championship in Sri Lanka

By CDI Staff

Pakistani Christian female athletes are gaining recognition for their achievements in various sports, including a recent victory by 12-year-old Aiyana Noel Arthur at the South Asian Karate Championship held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. She won gold in the under-12, 40+ kg Kumite category.
3 Jul, 2025 13:15 EDT

Latin America Religious Freedom

Bodies of eight Christians found in mass grave in Colombia

By CDI Staff

Authorities in Colombia on Tuesday (July 1) discovered a mass grave containing the bodies of eight Christian leaders in Calamar, Guaviare Department, according to the attorney general’s office.
2 Jul, 2025 07:15 EDT

US & Canada Society & Culture Education

Evangelical Press Association expands global reach, strengthens online training with acquisition of Magazine Training International

By CDI Staff

The Evangelical Press Association (EPA) has officially acquired Magazine Training International (MTI), bringing the global Christian publishing training ministry under its organizational umbrella in a move aimed at expanding digital resources and online instruction for Christian magazine publishers worldwide.
24 Jun, 2025 08:10 EDT

Europe Church & Missions

Franklin Graham preaches in London as thousands reportedly turned away from packed evangelism event

By CDI Staff

Thousands filled ExCeL London to capacity on Saturday evening for the return of the God Loves You Tour, led by Rev. Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) and Samaritan’s Purse. With attendance exceeding 17,000, the venue reached its increased maximum capacity of 15,000, prompting security to turn away several thousand people, according to organizers.
22 Jun, 2025 20:35 EDT

Asia Church & Missions Religious Freedom Migration

‘Like Joseph, North Korean defectors were sent ahead for God’s mission’: Gospel-centered reunification festival held in South Korea

By CDI Staff

North Korean defectors and members of the South Korean church gathered on June 21 at Saejoongang Church in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, for the 2025 Pan-Korean Reunification Festival, a time of worship and prayer centered on the dream of reunification through the gospel. The event was jointly hosted by the North Korea Christian Association (led by President Rev. Seo Kyung-hwa) and the Global Mission United Training Center TMTC (chaired by Rev. Hyeon Soo Lim).
13 Jun, 2025 20:47 EDT

Asia Church & Missions

‘Disciple or die’: Asia Evangelical Leadership Forum closes with call to action for churches across Asia

By CDI Staff

The Asia Evangelical Leadership Forum concluded Friday evening in Seoul with a solemn and hopeful call to rededicate the Church in Asia to Jesus Christ and his commission to make disciples. The three-day gathering, held June 11–13 under the theme “Disciple or Die 2,” brought together evangelical leaders from across the continent for strategic collaboration on advancing disciple-making as the central focus of Christian mission.
13 Jun, 2025 20:19 EDT

Asia Family & Children Church & Missions

‘We must not lose the generations’: Gwen De Rozario outlines family discipleship strategy at Asia evangelical forum

By CDI Staff

Gwen De Rozario, Executive Director of the Family & Children Commission of the Asia Evangelical Alliance (AEA), presented a detailed strategy report at the Asia Evangelical Leadership Forum in Seoul on Friday (June 13), calling on church leaders across the continent to prioritize family discipleship as a central method for long-term church growth and generational continuity.
13 Jun, 2025 03:29 EDT

Asia Church & Missions

‘Give us the 20, we will give you the 500,000’: Youth leaders propose bold discipleship strategy at Asia Evangelical Leadership Forum

By CDI Staff

At the Asia Evangelical Leadership Forum (AELF) in Seoul this week, younger leaders outlined an ambitious strategy to mobilize and mentor a new generation of disciple-makers. As part of one of the four key thrusts of the forum—Youth Empowerment—two co-leaders presented their findings and vision to fellow delegates, arguing that young people are not only receptive to the gospel but are uniquely positioned to catalyze spiritual renewal in their communities.
12 Jun, 2025 02:38 EDT

Asia Church & Missions Society & Culture Family & Children

‘Now is the time’: Evangelical media expert urges Church in Asia to harness AI for the Great Commission

By CDI Staff

In a sweeping keynote address on the morning of the second day of the Asia Evangelical Leadership Forum (AELF), Mark McClendon, Regional Director for CBN Southeast Asia & South Korea, called on Christian leaders to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) not as a threat but as a God-given opportunity for the global Church to complete the Great Commission.
12 Jun, 2025 02:28 EDT

Africa Asia Church & Missions

‘Disciple-making cannot be optional’: Asia Evangelical Leadership Forum urges churches to embrace Jesus’ final command

By CDI Staff

As church growth stagnates in many parts of the world, evangelical leaders at the Asia Evangelical Leadership Forum (AELF) in Seoul issued a clear call to return to the core mandate of the Christian faith: making disciples.

CDI Staff

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