Remembering William Tyndale, 500 years after key date
Jonny Raine
We can be quite sure there won’t be any fuss made in wider society, but July 2025 marks a special anniversary. According to Encyclopædia Brittanica, 500 years before, in July 1525, the New Testament was first published in modern English having been translated by William Tyndale.
I’m not one for celebrating historical anniversaries just for the sake of it, but it made me wonder if this could be an opportunity. Could the anniversary be a means of sharing the Bible with our community? Could we make the most of this by connecting with people and making the gospel known via this historical marker? It’s worth making the most of every opportunity, right?
Evangelical Futures: Should we ditch the term ‘evangelical’ in the Trump era?
Jonny Raine
‘What kind of church is yours?’ Ever been asked that by someone who isn’t a Christian? I’m never quite sure what to say. ‘Evangelical’ – I suppose!
I’ve often wondered about whether the term, evangelical, is one that will continue to be worthwhile using. It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. You can’t say it has an immediate connection with those who aren’t in the know. Its potential for being misconstrued is quite significant as well. With that in mind, is it worth ditching the term altogether and perhaps use a different label?
200 years in Wales
Jonny Raine
200 years ago, a man saw the gospel need in
a little village of 600 people where he had
founded a tin works, and so Pontrhydyrun
Baptist Church began.
Now part of the ‘new town,’ Cwmbran, with
a population of almost 60,000, the church –
having had two buildings and 13 pastors –
celebrated sharing the good news for two
centuries by reaching out to the town.
