Christian Today staff writer

• Pope Francis is taking 2,000 poor people to the circus – and animal rights activists object

  Pope Francis is to treat some of Rome's poorest people to a day at the circus today – and animal rights activists aren't happy.

• Devil mask men attack Manchester Catholic priest, steal charity money

  Masked assailants invaded and robbed the home of a Catholic priest in Stockport, Greater Manchester this week. The priest says he feels 'nothing but sadness' for the two thieves who threatened him, locked him in a cupboard and stole £600 set aside for charity.

• Honouring God: 9 Bible verses about glory

  The 'glory of God' or the 'glory of the Lord' are common expressions in the Bible.

• 7 Ethiopian Christians arrested after praying against Satan's kingdom

  Seven Ethiopian Christians have been arrested and detained in the north-western town of Chagni on suspicion of praying against the government when they prayed against the devil's kingdom, according to World Watch Monitor (WWM).

• Moody Bible Institute under pressure as it fires radio presenter who alleged dodgy dealings

  The Moody Bible Institute (MBI) of Chicago, founded in 1886 and named after the renowned American evangelist Dwight L Moody, appeared to be in crisis today after firing one of its popular radio presenters who criticised the institute for irregular dealings.

• 'A wound in the Church': Pope Francis blasts hypocritical pastors with 'double lives'

  Pastors who preach one thing and do another are harmful and, like the scribes and Pharisees of old, they end up leading a double life when they detach themselves from God and his people, the Pope said in his sermon yesterday during Mass at the Domus Sanctae Marthae in the Vatican.

• 'It's disgusting' says victim of Andy Savage's sexual assault after church applauds him

  The woman who was sexually assaulted 20 years ago aged 17 by the megachurch pastor Andy Savage has responded to his apology and to his church rallying around him with a standing ovation, saying: 'It's disgusting'.

• After 12 years without a church, Coptic villagers start to rebuild again

  A Coptic Christian community in an Egyptian village is building a new church 12 years after the previous one was closed.

• New Discipleship Explored resource filmed by award-winning director across 7 continents

  A new version of Discipleship Explored, a resource from Christianity Explored Ministries, is to be launched in March on the tenth anniversary of the first edition.

• Church in Kyrgyzstan set on fire 'by those who don't want Christianity in Muslim country'

  A Baptist community in eastern Kyrgyzstan fears for its safety, with its 40 Kyrgyz and Russian members searching for a new place of worship, after unknown attackers set its church building on fire, World Watch Monitor (WWM) reported.

• Church of England lays claim to minerals under vast areas of privately owned land

  The Church of England has laid claim to minerals under privately owned land covering an area the size of the Lake District, including in regions that have been earmarked for fracking, according to The Times.

• Andy Savage scandal: Now a Texas church leader is investigated for seeking to silence victim

  A church leader in Texas has been put on leave of absence and is under investigation after it was alleged that he told a 17-year-old girl 'not to mention' being sexually assaulted 20 years ago by the senior pastor Andy Savage.