The new Bishop of Durham is harnessing the power of social networking to get Christians praying for the region. Prayer of the People was launched by the Rt Rev Justin Welby at St Nicholas’ Church in Durham on Friday. He is inviting locals to share their hopes, dreams and prayers for their communities and the people who live in them.

Deadly clashes between Muslims and Christians in the north of Nigeria following the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan has brought the death toll to over 500, according to a local civic group.

At least 516 people have died with the violence being the worst in Kaduna state, according to Shehu Sani, executive director of the Kaduna-based Civil Rights Congress.

Muslim opposition supporters of Muhammadu Buhari, a Muslim and former military ruler, began rioting after the April 16 victory of Goodluck, a Christian from the south. Outraged over the 57 to 31 percent defeat, armed protesters took to the streets, chanting Buhari's name and attacking Christian supporters of the president. The violence which took place at churches, homes, and police states, also triggered retaliatory attacks by Christians.

The leader of a large Baptist church in Texas has announced that his congregation will no longer be using the NIV due to “accuracy concerns.”

American televangelist Pat Robertson caused controversy when he said on TV that it may be acceptable to divorce a spouse suffering from Alzheimers because he or she is “not there” anymore. It reflects a growing attitude that marriage is in the same category as consumable items like computer accessories that can be abandoned and replaced.

For Nigerian Mark Lipdo, the last few weeks in his hometown of Jos have been like enduring "a horror film." Lipdo is director of Stefanos Foundation, a Jos-based organization that helps suffering Christians in Nigeria. Lately, the suffering has been immense.

Muslims gangs raided three predominantly Christian villages in central Nigeria's Plateau State in the pre-dawn hours of March 7, slaughtering more than 300 people—mostly women, children, and the elderly.