Christian Today staff writer

• Christian charity is Centre of Excellence for Sports Ministry

  A charity impacting thousands of young people throughout Gloucestershire has been recognised as the first Centre of Excellence in the UK for its exciting new concept of Sports Ministry.

• Philip Mounstephen consecrated Bishop of Truro at St Paul's

  The new Bishop of Truro, Philip Mounstephen, was consecrated today at St Paul's Cathedral by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

• Church of Scotland signs up for Thy Kingdom Come

  The Church of Scotland has joined the global prayer initiative Thy Kingdom Come, set up by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York in 2016.

• John Chau was right to go to North Sentinel, says his mission organisation

  The missionary organisation behind the visit of John Allen Chau to North Sentinel Island, where he was killed by the inhabitants, has responded to questions from Christian Today with a defence of his actions.

• Evangelical Alliance guide aims to help churches understand transgender

  The Evangelical Alliance has produced a guide to help churches grappling with the transgender issue.

• 'Unruly' young boy charms crowd – and pope – at papal audience

  A young deaf boy took centre stage at a solemn papal audience yesterday – to his mother's horror and the pope's amusement.

• Stop going to church, Philippines president tells his people

  Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has urged people to stop going to church and said they could build their own chapels instead.

• Bishop calls for joined-up government thinking on Britain's rural areas

  A Church of England bishop has called for the government to introduce a joined-up rural strategy, saying current measures to protect schools were 'insufficient'.

• Nigerian archbishop urges protection for Christians as Islamist violence soars

  An Anglican archbishop is warning Nigeria's Christians face escalating attacks by Islamist militants in the lead-up to next year's general election.

• Abandon John Chau's body, Indian police urged

  Chau landed illegally on the island and attempted to preach to the tribespeople, but was shot with arrows. His killers are believed to have buried his body in the sand.

• 'No room for Christianity': American evangelist is refused entry into Turkey

  David Byle was given 15 days to leave the country but was told that a re-entry ban would not be issued.

• Pray for us, say Ukraine's Christians as country weighs martial law

  Russia has been accused of trying to limit Ukraine's access to strategically important ports.