Christian Today staff writer

• Offerings doubled by contactless collections: Church of England digital giving scheme to go nationwide

  The successful trial of contactless offerings in the Church of England has led to an extension of the scheme across England and Wales, according to the company behind it.

• Blue Monday: What does the Bible say?

  Today is Blue Monday, the day of the year when we're all supposed to be at our most miserable.

• Church leaders urge Christians to pray for unity

  Christian leaders across the UK have encouraged believers of all denominations to join in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

• Archbishop of Canterbury: 'I pray in tongues every day'

  'In my own prayer life and as part of my daily discipline I pray in tongues every day – not as an occasional thing, but as part of daily prayer.'

• Open Doors 2019 report: Persecution is on the rise globally

  'People need to wake up to the fact that the persecution of religious minorities is increasing.'

• Congo polling data backs up Catholic Church claims of fraud

  The data backed up allegations by the country's powerful Catholic Church, which deployed thousands of monitors at polling stations and said Martin Fayulu was the clear winner.

• Methodists go for growth with new outreach appointments

  According to the Church, the new team is part of its 'response to God and to the cultural and demographic shifts within society'.

• Bible class targeted in China clampdown, Christians interrogated

  Chinese authorities have once again targeted the Early Rain Covenant Church with a police raid on a Bible class.

• Arab Christians furious at 'McJesus' artwork depicting crucified Ronald McDonald

  Hundreds of Arab Christians have clashed with police in the Israeli town of Haifa over a 'blasphemous' piece in the town's Museum of Art.

• Hell on Earth? Failed musical venture loses village church millions

  A failed venture into the world of musicals has led to a church in Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire being forced into liquidation and dozens of members losing hundreds of thousands of pounds.

• New Bishop of Truro calls for denominations to work together

  The new Bishop of Truro has called for all denominations to work together in an attempt to tackle the challenges facing Cornwall.

• Methodist, Anglican leaders urge halt to 'anger and vitriol' over Brexit

  Britain's Anglican and Methodist leaders have called for an end to the 'anger and vitriol' that has characterised public discourse in an implicit reference to the ongoing turmoil over Brexit.