2,000-Year-Old Aqueduct Section Unearthed Near Jerusalem October 11: Archaeologists discovered a 300-meter section of Jerusalem’s Lower Aqueduct south of Kibbutz Ramat Rachel. Probably built under the Hasmonean kings, the 21-kilometer system carried spring water from Solomon’s Pools to the Temple Mount using a gentle gravity-fed gradient and remained intermittently operational until about a century ago. Authorities plan to preserve the section within the entrance to a new neighborhood. (Jerusalem Post)

UK Christians Begin Nine Days of Nationwide Prayer October 10: The third annual National Week of Prayer in the UK is bringing evangelical, Catholic, charismatic, and other Christians together October 10–18 under the theme “Gather. Remember. Return.” More than 100 gatherings will pray for spiritual renewal, unity, communities, workplaces, and national leaders. A central October 15 service at London’s Royal Military Chapel will represent 10 areas of society. Participants can also follow a reading plan and podcast series. (Christian Today)

NBA Players Join 12-Day Preseason Bible Study on Instagram October 9: Toronto Raptors center Trey Jemison is hosting an Instagram series pairing NBA guests with Scripture. Participants include CJ McCollum on Proverbs 3:5–6, Luka Garza on Galatians 6:9, Josh Hart on Isaiah 40:29–31, Dwight Howard on Ephesians 6, and Malachi Smith on Psalm 119:71. The themes emphasize endurance and learning through hardship. By Day 7, Hart’s installment had surpassed 110,000 views. (RELEVANT)

Christian Faith Seen as More Relevant to Youth Than Church October 9: A recent survey rated Christianity’s relevance to young people at 1.28 on a two-point scale, compared with 1.13 for the Bible and 0.84 for the church. Respondents emphasized relationships and belonging over structured programs, with friends, parents, and social media perceived as greater spiritual influences than churches or Scripture. Critically, the findings reflect adults’ perceptions rather than young people’s own views. (Christian Today)

First Faroese New Testament Since 1937 Released October 8: The Faroese Bible Society has published a modern translation intended to unite Christians and reach younger generations among the roughly 70,000 Faroese speakers worldwide. Led by a former Lutheran bishop, the ecumenical project involved the state Lutheran church and Free churches. Translated from the original Greek, the new version adds footnotes, glossaries, maps, and an accessible design. Psalms are forthcoming. (Evangelical Focus)

Scientists Revisit Turkish Formation Linked to Noah’s Ark October 7: Researchers are analyzing samples from Durupınar, a boat-shaped geological formation near Mount Ararat associated with Noah’s Ark since 1959. Preliminary findings have refueled claims that it contains a man-made structure, but results remain inconclusive and evaluation continues into 2027. Other scholars are skeptical, however, noting that earlier studies identified its supposed petrified wood and iron fittings as ordinary rock and volcanic material. (RNS)

Sweden Marks 500 Years Since Its First New Testament October 7: Printed in Stockholm on August 15, 1526, Thet Nyia Testamentit på Swensko helped spread the Reformation, unify Sweden, and standardize its written language. About 1,000 copies supplied priests in Sweden and Finland, and its wording still shapes the spoken Lord’s Prayer. Churches, universities, and Christian organizations are commemorating the anniversary through events, publications, and an ecumenical service at Stockholm Cathedral. (Christian Today)

Blackburn Cathedral Celebrates Tyndale and the English Bible October 6: Blackburn Cathedral is marking 500 years since William Tyndale’s English New Testament with an exhibition running through November. Displays trace his translation from biblical languages, execution in 1536, and influence on later English Bibles. The cathedral also hosted a continuous reading of the entire Bible by hundreds of participants from October 4–7, and will hold an October 15 conference helping educators engage children with Scripture. (Christian Today)

Evangelicals Engage With the Bible More Regularly Than Catholics October 5: Survey analysis found about half of evangelicals and Black Protestants read Scripture weekly, compared with 15–20% of Catholics and mainline Protestants. Among weekly worshipers, Catholics were still 40 points less likely than evangelicals and Black Protestants to read independently. These findings underscore distinct approaches to Scripture, church attendance, and spiritual practices across Christian traditions. (Religion Unplugged)

Tyndale’s Legacy Inspires Million-Bible Distribution Campaign October 3: Marking 500 years since William Tyndale’s English New Testament, EEM is launching its largest campaign yet, seeking to distribute more than 1 million Bibles across dozens of countries. The ministry delivered 2.2 million books in 33 languages across 37 countries last year but received 4 million requests. President Dirk Smith says recipients prefer print editions, which are easier to share and less vulnerable to surveillance and digital alteration. (Christian Today)

U.S. Senate Honors Prison Fellowship’s 50 Years of Ministry October 2: The U.S. Senate unanimously recognized Prison Fellowship, the nation’s largest Christian nonprofit serving incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people and their families, on the organization’s 50th anniversary. The bipartisan resolution honors its prison programs, family support, and advocacy for reforms. President Heather Rice-Minus said the ministry demonstrates that no one is beyond God’s reach. (Christian Daily)

Bible Access Restricted for More Than 500 Million Christians October 1: A collaborative study of 106 countries found over 125 million Christians cannot obtain Scripture in any format. Afghanistan topped its restrictions list, followed by Yemen, Somalia, North Korea, and Eritrea. A separate ranking placed Congo first, where fewer than one-third of 107 million Christians own a Bible despite no legal prohibition. Researchers identified persecution, poverty, illiteracy, and weak electrical and Internet infrastructure as major barriers. (Baptist Press)

Catch Up on September’s Bible News Stories  October 1: Don’t forget to catch up on all the biggest, strangest, and most inspiring Bible news stories of September 2026!