Christian Today staff writer

• Alarm as number of child gamblers quadruples

  A Gambling Commission study has found that 450,000 aged 11-16 bet regularly, with scratchcards, slot machines and bets among friends most popular.

• Two years after missionary Jeff Woodke's abduction, locals plead for his release

  Woodke, 57, was kidnapped by unknown assailants believed to be from an Islamist group who killed two security guards.

• Diocese of London gears up for church-planting drive

  The churches that have been selected will receive a 'planting curate', a three-year posting that will see them trained in the resource church before planting another.

• 'Lost' teddy bears highlight lost childhoods in World Vision campaign

  The campaign aims to raise awareness of the dangers children face in the world's poorest communities and encourage people to sponsor a child.

• Ecclesiastical entrepreneur's latest venture: Cathedral branded gin

  A North of England cathedral is harking back to medieval times today with the launch of its own brand of gin.

• Christians are being 'driven from north Nigeria' by Islamist militants

  The UK church has been urged to pray for persecuted Christians in Nigeria on Sunday's International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.

• UK government urged to offer asylum to Asia Bibi

  Pressure is mounting on the UK government to declare it will offer asylum to Asia Bibi, the Pakistani Christian woman believed to be in danger after being aquitted of blasphemy charges.

• Mixed picture for CofE in latest attendance figures

  The report says most key measures of attendance fell by between 10 and 20 per cent from 2007 to 2017.

• Pence condemns violence against Rohingya in open remarks to Aung San Suu Kyi

  'The violence and persecution by military and vigilantes that resulted in driving 700,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh is without excuse.'

• Opium addict and derelict: The extraordinary life of Francis Thompson, Christian poet

  Francis Thompson is remembered for some of the greatest spiritual verse in the English language.

• Tearfund Big Quiz Night aims to put fun into fundraising

  The nationwide event is aimed at supporting some of the poorest communities in the world.

• Jailed Vietnamese pastor is denied vital medical treatment

  Nguyen Trung Ton was arrested in July last year with other members of his pro-democracy group, Brotherhood for Democracy.