As Kenyan churches are struggling to help prevent the country from descending into genocide, they envision a long term healing effort that will require the sustained engagement of international ecumenical partners.

Churches working for peace amidst post-electoral violence in Kenya are receiving a pastoral and solidarity visit from an international delegation sent by the World Council of Churches from 30 January to 3 February 2008.

The All Africa Conference of Churches is pleading with Kenyans to see their current political crisis as not only a national one, but as one in which the whole African continent is looking on in sorrow at the formerly peaceful country.

In the Indian State of Orissa's Kandhamal district, residents say it is hard not to be afraid. The ash heaps and metal frames are all that remain of the contents of the two-storied office of World Vision, a Christian development organization.

A South African church-backed group that helps former combatants involved in violence during the apartheid era to play a peaceful role says its life skills programme is needed helping a country undermined by violent crime.

Two weeks after the country's disputed election and the violence that has followed in its wake, Mennonite relief work is continuing and the peace church reports that Kenyan Mennonite Church members are safe despite the troubles.

Paul Mukerji, a tour manager from Kent in England, is travelling to Colombia as part of a delegation sponsored by Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), which works to 'get in the way' of violence in zones of conflict around the world.

Lambeth Palace, HQ of the Archbishop of Canterbury, has issued a strongly worded statement in response to media reports that a number of Anglican church services in Harare have been disrupted by Zimbabwean state officials.

Supporters of Brian Haw, the Christian peace protestor whose long-running Westminster vigil against the Iraq war led to the government banning demonstrations in the vicinity, have expressed outrage at his arrest yesterday.

In the Orissa state capital some 10,000 people have protested against Christmas attacks on Christians. Speakers called on the state government to stop making allegations that Christians are linked to outlawed Maoist rebels.