The office in Grand Rapids has been the denomination’s hub for over six and a half decades.

Grand Rapids, Michigan — Last week, the North American Christian Reformed Church made a decision to put its Grand Rapids office up for sale.

Having its U.S. main office at the intersection of 28th and Kalamazoo for over six decades, the church has supported over 1,000 congregations throughout the continent, with many located in West Michigan.

The deteriorating state of the building, coupled with the aspiration for a “smaller, more decentralized and flexible ministry structure”, led to the selling decision, as shared in an announcement.

“Its ongoing maintenance is becoming financially unsustainable,” Dan DeKam, director of U.S. Ministry Operations, said in a statement. “It is time for a new shape.”

The challenges of the 2020 COVID-19 crisis “pushed the staff to adopt varied work methods,” said Zachary King, the CRCNA’s general secretary.

This operational change underscored that the vast space of the current office was no longer a necessity.

Currently, in their pursuit of “flexibility for the future”, the church is on the lookout for a more compact and versatile office environment.

The flight of ITA Airways, bearing Pope Francis to Mongolia, touched down a little before 10 am local time. Onboard, the Pope described Mongolia as a vast “land of silence,” emphasizing the deep sensory experience it offers, during a conversation with journalists post-departure on Thursday evening.

Upon landing at the Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar, he was greeted by Monsignor Fernando Duarte Barros Reis, the acting head of Mongolia’s Apostolic Nunciature. Additionally, the Ambassador of Mongolia to the Holy See, Ms. Davaasuren Gerelmaa, alongside representatives from both the Church and the state, met him on the airstrip.

The State Honour Guard of Mongolia, dressed in their traditional red, blue, and yellow uniforms with metal helmets reminiscent of historic Mongolian warriors, stood in formation to honor his arrival.

In a recent northern Nigerian court ruling, an 18-year-old woman who converted to Christianity received legal protection against life-threatening family reactions, underscoring the inherent right to switch religions, from Islam in this case.

Facing lethal threats from her father and siblings after her conversion, Mary Adebayo, a pseudonym for her protection, was assisted by her mother to find sanctuary in a Christian enclave. Eventually, they sought a legal restraining order for her safety.

ADF International, a human rights advocacy group, reported that the court issued a permanent injunction against the woman’s father and brothers.

The court document decreed: “[T]he accused are legally barred from endangering the woman’s life because of her switch from Islam to Christianity, or violating her fundamental right to religious choice.”

No parties contested the court’s decision.

ADF International’s Legal Advisor, Sean Nelson, remarked, “It’s heartening to see Mary’s safety ensured and her basic right to convert from Islam to Christianity upheld by the court. We hope this verdict offers solace to others undergoing similar threats for their newfound faith in Christ.”

“Every individual deserves the freedom to practice or convert to any religion without the fear of persecution,” Nelson further commented. “Regrettably, in Nigeria, many who convert from Islam to Christianity are subjected to threats and violence, frequently from their own families.”

Highlighting the intensifying danger, a 25-year-old Christian student in the northwestern region of Nigeria was brutally killed by her Muslim peers over an alleged blasphemous message.

Additionally, a Christian individual, Rhoda Ya’u Jatau, was detained for several months in 2022 due to allegations of blasphemy related to a social media post denouncing the student’s death.

Open Doors, a global watchdog, reveals that Nigeria has a concerning record with 90% of the Christian fatalities globally recorded there. Especially converts like Mary face considerable societal opposition.

Nigeria’s restrictive religious laws, inclusive of blasphemy regulations, disproportionately affect minority religious groups, as pointed out by ADF International.

The U.S. State Department’s latest Religious Freedom Report highlighted a surge in fatal confrontations impacting both Christian and Muslim communities in Nigeria.

These violent incidents, especially in Nigeria’s northern regions, have increased concerns. In a tragic event last year, gunmen attacked St. Francis Catholic Church in Ondo state, causing numerous fatalities.

While Nigerian Christians and human rights advocates argue that violence against predominantly Christian communities has reached alarming levels, the Nigerian government attributes these to age-old farmer-herder disputes. Furthermore, the U.S. State Department’s data indicates that a minimal percentage of these attacks are specifically aimed at Christians.