• Proof the Pfizer Covid vaccine works in the real world? As the row deepens between the European Union and AstraZeneca amidst an EU vaccine shambles, an Israeli report on vaccination data shows there has been a 'significant decrease' in coronavirus infections among vaccinated over-65s in that country. The report also found that hospitalisations in the same group had plunged by more than 60 per cent. Israel is currently leading the global vaccination drive, and 30% of Israeli citizens have had the first vaccine dose, with over-30s soon to receive the jab. Read more here.

Society and Politics

• Just 1 in 10 Brits think Covid pandemic has strengthened their faith. This is according to a poll of over 14,000 people conducted by Pew Research, across 14 developed countries. Just 14 per cent of Britons said that the Covid situation had strengthened their faith, compared to 28 per cent of Americans (49% of white evangelical Protestants). In some countries, notably Netherlands and Sweden, significantly more people say their country has experienced religious renewal than say they themselves have greater religious faith. Overall, people across the 14 countries did not think that the crisis has had a distinctly positive impact on their faith. Read more here.
• BBC sex education programme tells children there are 'over 100 genders'. A BBC programme aimed at nine- to twelve-year-olds includes the astonishing claim that there are 'over 100 gender identities'. The film, 'Identity', is being offered on the BBC's website, and comes despite Government guidance published last year which advised schools to exercise caution when teaching children about gender issues. The programme suggests the different identities include 'bi-gender', 'gender-queer' and 'pansexual'. It also tells children that becoming transgender is a way to be 'happy' while making no mention of the growing legal and medical concerns about the rising number of children saying they want to change gender. Read more here and here.
• Scottish teachers are reporting non-trans affirming parents to social services. The Sunday Times reports that north of the border, schools have been reporting parents to local authorities if they are unsupportive of their child’s desire to ‘swap gender’. Dozens of referrals have been made following guidance that the Scottish Government distanced itself from in 2019. The Christian Institute called the policy ‘outrageous’. Read more here.

World Events

• 60% rise in Christians killed worldwide in 2020. A report by Open Doors has revealed two important persecution trends in 2020. The number of Christians killed increased by a staggering 60% last year, much of it because of Islamic violence against Nigerian Christians. The majority of the Christians killed in 2020 were killed by extremist groups, rather than governments. Secondly, and every bit as worrying, anti-Christian governments around the world often use Covid-19 restrictions to persecute Christians. Just as viral as the coronavirus, has been “the discrimination, isolation and violence against Christians by using COVID-19 as a leverage and as justification,” Open Doors President and CEO stated. Read more here.
• International evangelist Steven Lungu dies from Covid-19. Leading African evangelist and former CEO of African Enterprise, Steven Lungu passed away from Covid-19 complications in Malawi earlier this week. The former angry freedom fighter touched multitudes of people around the world with his poignant gospel addresses, and is the latest high-profile person to die during a current resurgence of the pandemic in Malawi. Last week two senior cabinet ministers, two other senior political figures and a number of church leaders succumbed to the disease. Read more here.

Israel and the Middle East

• Israel says not its duty to vaccinate all Palestinians. While Israel's Arab citizens and Palestinians in East Jerusalem will get the vaccine, the pledge may not be extended to those living in the occupied territories. The Palestinian authorities in the West Bank and Gaza are planning to get vaccines from various sources, including Russia. The United Nations (UN) human rights body has released a statement saying it's Israel's responsibility to provide equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. But the Israeli health minister insisted it wasn’t the country’s job to give vaccine to Palestinians in occupied territories. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh recently accused Israel of 'racism' for its refusal to vaccinate the citizens of the West Bank and Gaza. However, it transpired he had not publicly requested vaccines from Israel.
• Church leaders doubtful of peace prospects in Holy Land. An international body known as The Holy Land Coordination Group has listed a number of concerns in their annual report, including the impact of Covid-19 on Israeli tourism, a key industry in the region that has been brought to its knees by the pandemic. They warned that the absence of international pilgrims since last March has "exacerbated" widespread economic hardship, increased unemployment, and pushed many more families into poverty. They also cited a "lack of political progress" and the "relentless expansion of illegal settlements", as well as the impact of Israel's nation-state law, which declares that only Jews have the right of self-determination in the country. Read more here.

C & M Heritage

• We'd like to hear your story. Do you have memories of how Prophecy Today/Issachar Ministries has helped shape the course of your life? If so, in connection with gathering information on IM's heritage, we would love to hear from you. It would be helpful to know which aspects of the ministry have had the most impact: was it PT Editorials or articles; a particular book produced by the ministry; involvement with Family Matters, Church Planting and Growth or the Wilberforce Connection; the State of the Nation audio CDs, or some other aspect of the ministry? Please share your own memories: either by email to Angela Isbister at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or in writing to: C & M Heritage, Beamer View, West Sands, North Queensferry, Fife, KY11 1LB.