October the 223rd
Marking war, courting revival, and other news
February became March then March became April and April is now May. I have five drafts for Globe Trot installments that remain unfinished, features of juggling a life in transition. But here we are! For families of Israeli hostages, today is October 223rd, or 223 days since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. In Ukraine it’s Day 813 of war with Russia. In Myanmar resistance groups have been fighting the government’s junta since a 2021 military coup. In Sudan it’s easier to count the time residents have not been in conflict, with a deadly civil war restarting a year ago. Yet war and struggle are not the only news of the week.
UK: A Christian revival may be underway in Britain, says commentator Justin Brierley. The latest example is at East London’s Saint Church, where 1,000 mostly young people gathered for prayer all night and beyond this month. “After 15 months of gentle outpouring, something shifted in the past couple of weeks,” said rector Al Gordon. “I’ve never seen anything like it. There’s a remarkable sense of consecrating love setting apart the young, calling them to holiness.” Follow his Instagram account for more.
France also has seen a surge of requests for baptisms.
Sudan: Gruesome new testimony details one of the worst atrocities of the year-long Sudanese civil war—the large-scale massacre of civilians as they fled an ethnic rampage in Darfur last summer. Human Rights Watch gathered 221 witness statements describing mass attacks by the Arab-led Rapid Support Forces against non-Arab Masalit tribe members in West Darfur. They say children still alive were “piled up a shot” by the RSF. The full report was issued this week.
Sudan’s descent is setting the stage for al Qaeda’s return. The terror group launched its first camps in Sudan in the 1990s.
Ukraine: Delays in Western aid, restrictions on striking targets in Russia, and Ukraine command issues left troops unprepared to mount an effective defense in Kharkiv. Russian forces have taken 100 square kilometers of land, forcing 8,000 residents to evacuate, since its assault began May 10.
Israel: Defense Minister Yoav Gallant publicly broke Wednesday night with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the government’s strategy in Gaza. He joined senior IDF and Shin Bet security officials who say Israel cannot secure Gaza without relying on non-Hamas Palestinian factions to hold areas and reestablish civilian governance. Far-right members of Netanyahu’s Likud coalition want direct Israeli control of Gaza and in some cases to repopulate the strip with Jewish settlers. Netanyahu is under pressure to come up with a “day after” plan for Gaza, a densely populated zone of nearly 2 million under relentless Isaeli assault for seven months . Gallant said:
“The meaning of indecision is choosing one of the negative options. It would erode our military achievements, reduce the pressure on Hamas, and sabotage the chances of achieving a framework for the release of hostages.”
In northern Gaza, IDF tanks have made slow progress even as the military begins its assault on Rafah in the south. Civilians forced to flee months of fighting largely are camped now in the area. Rafah’s population of 275,000 before the war is now nearly 1.5 million people (see maps).
Journalist Seth Frantzman has a good breakdown about what may be at stake the day after. Follow his reporting generally.
Egypt has a pivotal role as fighting moves south, and plays a double game of holding Hamas close while allying itself with the United States and Israel.
Nigeria: From December 2023 to February 2024, 1,336 people were killed in Plateau State and at least 750 churches and other Christian targeted. Nigeria, a U.S. ally with a constitutional federal government and one of Africa’s largest economies, has become one of the deadliest places in the world for Christians—my report in today’s Wall Street Journal.
Hong Kong: The government called for an investigation into the local weightlifting and powerlifting association after its chairwoman referenced “13 countries” in a welcome ceremony taking part in its championship. They included Hong Kong and Taiwan, entities China doesn’t recognize as independent nations.
In another sign of speech rights under threat, a judge ruled that Hong Kong could ban “Glory to Hong Kong,” a song popular among protesters, noted Time magazine.
Panama: This sign along the Panamanian side of the Darién Gap reads, “They’re robbing further up, form big groups!!” as northbound migrants risk sexual violence and robbery, while criminal organizations make millions running transit routes from South to North America.
More than half a million refugees and other migrants from across Latin America as well as Asia and Africa crossed the Darién in 2023 – the highest number ever recorded, according to the Panamanian government’s official data. In the first three months of 2024 alone, more than 110,000 people crossed.
United States: Flamingos are returning to the Florida, a remarkable sign that Everglades’ restoration is working. Plus, who knew a flock of flamingos is called a “flamboyance”? Have a good weekend.
Thanks for lifting our gaze to the good and lovely while reminding us that we cannot ignore the hard and horrific.
Thank you for the encouraging report from England! That helps us "fix our eyes on Jesus" in the midst of all the uncertainties and unholy around us!