As we take a look back on 2024, it's clear that faith and joy have been shining through in unexpected and heartwarming ways.
From powerful moments of worship at the Olympics, to inspiring acts of kindness, this year has been filled with stories that remind us of the strength of community, the power of faith, and the joy of celebrating life’s victories.
Here are ten uplifting stories we covered that brought smiles to our faces here at Premier Christian News.
1. 'Dozens of students baptised on campus by football players'
A revival event at Ohio State University in August drew thousands of attendees and around 60 baptisms.
Organised by Christian student groups and led by several football players, including Emeka Egbuka, Gee Scott, J.T. Tuimoloau, and Kamryn Babb, the gathering saw players share their faith with heartfelt vulnerability.
An estimated 2,000 people attended, and after powerful testimonies, an altar call led to spontaneous baptisms in ice bath tubs.
Organisers then connected the new believers with on-campus Christian groups for further discipleship and Gospel teachings.
2. 'Gold medallist breaks into gospel song after Olympic win'
A German shot putter celebrated her gold medal win at the Paris 2024 Olympics by praising Jesus in her post-event interview.
Yemisi Ogunleye's final throw of 20 meters secured the victory, a goal she had set for herself.
Despite never having won a national, European, or world championship medal before February 2024, Ogunleye had prayed for guidance, and God had promised her gold.
Overcome with faith, she reflected on her journey and, after her victory, sang the gospel song "I Almost Let Go", expressing gratitude for God's grace and mercy.
3. 'Premier Gospel Awards 2024 celebrates with star-studded finale'
The Premier Gospel Awards 2024, held at the Royal Festival Hall in London, celebrated the UK's dynamic gospel music scene with a star-studded event.
Hosted by actor David Gyasi, the evening featured high-energy performances, emotional speeches, and heartfelt tributes.
Awards were presented to standout artists like Reblah, who won Best Male Artist and Best Album, and Annatoria, who took home Best Female Artist.
Tim Godfrey's Big God won Best Song, while gospel legend CeCe Winans was crowned Best International Artist.
The event also recognised influential figures like Femi Oguns and The Compozers with the Outstanding Contribution to Culture award.
The night, in partnership with Compassion UK, emphasised unity, hope, and the transformative power of music.
4. 'Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay share Bible verses to celebrate engagement'
Olympian Adam Peaty and Gordon Ramsay’s daughter, Holly Ramsay, announced their engagement, with both sharing Bible verses to mark the occasion.
Adam, expressed his joy on Instagram, calling himself the "luckiest man on earth" and sharing how Holly has supported him through both highs and lows.
He quoted Matthew 19:6, emphasising their unity as a couple.
Holly, 24, described Adam as her best friend and expressed excitement about their future together, quoting 1 Corinthians 13:13.
Adam also revealed that he spent ten months working with a jewelry company to create the perfect yellow diamond ring. Gordon Ramsay congratulated the couple, welcoming Adam to the family.
5. 'Big Brother contestant unaware that Christianity is a religion'
A Big Brother, contestant shocked her fellow housemates when she revealed that she “didn’t know Christianity was a religion.”
The comment made by Emma came during a discussion about sex and virginity, when she asked: “When did we all lose our virginity?”
The conversation unfolded with housemate Segun sharing his belief in abstinence until marriage based on his Christian values.
Emma, known as the group’s “mother” for her witty remarks and extravagant outfits, responded that she thought Christianity was merely a way of life, not a religion.
Fellow contestant Hanah also shared her commitment to abstain from sex until marriage.
6. 'Churches relieve NHS costs by £8.4 billion every year'
Research from the National Churches Trust revealed that UK churches save the NHS £8.4 billion annually by providing vital health-related services, such as addiction recovery, mental health support, food banks, and youth groups.
These contributions, equivalent to the cost of 230,000 nurses or 4 per cent of public health spending, ease pressure on the NHS.
The report, The House of Good: Health, highlighted how churches offer essential community support, with many facing closure due to underfunding.
7. 'Historic' march for Jesus in Ireland'
Thousands gathered for the March for Jesus in Dublin, with organisers estimating up to 12,000 attendees.
Starting at the Garden of Remembrance and ending at Dáil Éireann, the event united participants for a day of worship and unity.
Pastor John Ahern described the turnout as unprecedented, reflecting a desire for spiritual truth amid a superficial culture.
Participants, holding signs like "Jesus is our King," were supported by various Christian groups and Catholic Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan.
The march, part of the global March for Jesus movement, aimed to shine the light of Christ and promote unity and healing.
8. 'Dyslexia-friendly Bible brings Jesus to children with learning difficulties'
Christian publisher Lifeway launched the Grace Bible, designed to help children and adults with dyslexia access the word of God.
The Bible featured a special font called ‘Grace,’ developed in collaboration with the University of Cambridge and typographic company 2K/DENMARK.
This font highlights differences between similar letters like ‘m’ and ‘n,’ and ‘p’ and ‘q,’ to aid readability.
9. ''Shine Jesus shine': Glastonbury crowd goes wild for Christian sing-along'
At this year's Glastonbury Festival, over 200,000 attendees enjoyed performances from stars like Dua Lipa and Coldplay, but Christian music also took center stage when singer and teacher James Partridge led thousands in nostalgic worship songs.
He had the crowd singing classics like 'Shine Jesus Shine' and 'This Little Light of Mine,' with festivalgoers of all ages joining in enthusiastically.
Social media users shared clips of the joyful moments, calling it a highlight of the festival.
10. 'Most popular bible verse of the year revealed'
YouVersion announced that Philippians 4:6 became the most engaged Bible verse of the year, replacing Isaiah 41:10 after three years at the top.
The verse, which encourages believers to present their worries to God through prayer, reflects a growing trend of seeking peace and trust in God amidst anxiety.
YouVersion reported a 46 per cent increase in engagement with its prayer feature, with "prayer" and "peace" among the top search terms.
What was your stand-out Premier moment this year?
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