A Wigan church leader is hoping to combine preaching with politics after announcing he is trying to become a Conservative councillor.

Bishop Steven Evans, who heads the Living Faith Church now worshipping in the former Orrell URC building, is bidding to complete a clean sweep of the Orrell ward’s three seats in the chamber for the blue rosette next month.

Bishop Steven says for him standing for an election is another way of serving the community alongside his spiritual duties and stresses he is standing on local issues rather than national party policy.

He is well aware of the old saying politics and religion do not mix and to some extent will be keeping to that, saying there is no chance of him bringing politics into the pulpit on Sunday morning.

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Bishop Steven, the Presiding Bishop of The International Christian Church Network, assisted by Revd. Phillip Ingham, ordained Michael Fleming on 24th March 2019 at Living Hope Church in Pendle. Michael had been a violent man, an alcoholic night club owner and debt collector, he once used his fists to make his violent way through life. Michael came to faith in Jesus Christ many years ago now and his Christian walk has been a journey of radical transformation. Once he was dyslexic but following his conversion his ability to read and write grew, to such an extent that he now has a theological degree from Manchester University. The ordination took place in front of a packed church, including the MP for Pendle Andrew Stephenson, The Mayor and Mayoress or Pendle James and Janet Starkie, The Mayor and Mayoress of Burnley Charlie Briggs and Patricia Lunt and Councillor Pauline McCormick.

The service was a moving blend of ancient Christian liturgy, personal testimonies, and rousing hymns including, Jerusalem and A Mighty Fortress is our God. Bishop Steven spoke of the need to recognize that it is God’s work through Jesus Christ not ours, that leads to salvation. His emphasis was based around Ephesians 2:8,9 which says: ‘For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Revd. Michael will continue his Pastoral ministry to over 65 Small Groups and various evangelistic outreaches. We look forward to this highly impacting ministry developing further and seeing many more people rescued by the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Launch of Independent review on Christian persecution by foreign secretary Rt. Hon. Jeremy Hunt MP at Foreign and Commonwealth Office London.

With God’s grace I (Bishop Nadeem) went to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office along with my Son (Roekh Bhinder) by kind invitation from the Foreign Secretary the Rt. Hon. Jeremy Hunt and Rt. Revd. Philip Mountstephen, the Bishop of Truro. We found the Rt. Hon. Gentleman Jeremy Hunt and Rt. Rev. Bishop Philip very kind and concerned for persecuted Christians Worldwide. The meeting was awesome and all participants (including the Lords, Rt. Rev. Bishops and the most Rt. Rev. Archbishop) have deep love and empathy for suffering Christians as well as other religious minorities throughout the World.

We had the opportunity to discuss with the Rt. Hon Foreign Secretary and Rt. Rev. Bishop Philip the issues and situation of Christians in Pakistan.