Weekend Plug-in 🔌

Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” features analysis, fact checking and top headlines from the world of faith. Subscribe now to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com.

(ANALYSIS) Good morning, Weekend Plug-in readers!

All of us are watching news of the devastating wildfires in Hawaii.

That’s where we start our weekly roundup of the top headlines and best reads in the world of faith.

What To Know: The Big Story

Wildfires’ human toll: At least 55 people are dead in Hawaii’s worst natural disaster, and that number will likely rise as search and rescue operations continue, The Associated Press reports.

President Joe Biden, Pope Francis and other prominent leaders and ordinary people around the world are offering prayers.

Up in flames: The fires leveled the historic town of Lahaina on Maui, destroying cultural landmarks, according to ABC News.

Those landmarks include the Waiola Church, the first Christian church on Maui; and the Baldwin Home, its oldest house, which served as a missionary compound around 1834.

A Buddhist temple also is among the sites feared lost or damaged, as are Episcopal and Methodist churches.

USA Today’s Terry Collins shares these heartbreaking reflections from a leader of the Waiola church:

It took just two words for Judy Kinser to describe her beloved historic church on the island of Maui, which just celebrated its 200th anniversary three months ago.

"Destroyed. Devastating," Kinser, treasurer and office administrator at Waiola Church in Lahaina, Hawaii, said Wednesday. "Not sure if the church building and preschool buildings (are) also gone."

As word and images of the wildfires began spreading across the town of Lahaina, longtime member Anela Rosa, the church's lay minister of 13 years, tearfully confirmed the worst.

"It's gone, the social hall, the sanctuary, the annex, all of it," Rosa told USA TODAY Wednesday. "It is totally unimaginable."

Relief efforts: As always after disasters, faith-based organizations are mobilizing help.

Southern Baptists are among faith groups preparing to respond, as Baptist Press’ Timothy Cockes explains.

Mike Thom with CVHN Radio details some of the efforts:

Kahului Baptist Church is among a group of churches left scrambling to care for people. The church has opened a shelter and is doing its best to provide food and goods to people. The church has also set up a mobile hygiene trailer, allowing evacuees to have showers and do laundry.

Meetinghouses of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are being used as evacuation centers. according to Mary Richards with thechurchnews.com.

Karen Schwartz with Chabad.org reports:

With wildfires claiming at least 53 lives and leaving thousands homeless on the island of Maui, emergency workers continued their search for survivors in the charred ruins of burned-out buildings. Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries and volunteers joined relief workers in helping Maui residents and thousands of tourists who had to evacuate the island and cope with the disaster.

Rabbi Mendel Krasnjasnky of Chabad of Maui reported multiple homes belonging to Jewish residents succumbing to the blaze. Echoing their unwavering support during past calamities—as in previous natural disasters like Hurricane Lane in 2018—Chabad centers across Hawaii are offering vital services—including housing, kosher meals, Shabbat services and emotional support.

This is a breaking news story. Follow ReligionUnplugged.com for updates.

Power Up: The Week’s Best Reads

1. Hindu presidential candidate: “Vivek Ramaswamy is as comfortable talking about Bible stories as he is sharing the message of the Bhagavad Gita, one of the most sacred Hindu texts.”

The Associated Press’ Deepa Bharath details how Ramaswamy “has leaned into his faith as he vies for the nomination of a party where evangelical Christian support is key.”

In other campaign news, Religion News Service’s Jack Jenkins delves into whether former President Donald Trump’s latest indictment will hurt him with evangelical voters. (Spoiler alert: Probably not.)

2. Ghosted again: How should pastors respond to disappearing congregants?

That’s the fascinating question explored in this piece by Maria Baer at Christianity Today.

3. Baseball players’ pilgrimage: “When in the capital for road games, many Mexican League players join the throngs paying their respects at the Basílica de Santa María de Guadalupe.”

The New York Times’ James Wagner — joined by photographer Alejandro Cegarra — goes behind the scenes. The tradition, Wagner notes, is tied to the large role religion plays in the sports culture throughout Latin America.

More Top Reads

Charles Strobel, a priest who founded a prominent homeless ministry in Nashville, died this week, but his legacy will live on, The Tennessean’s Liam Adams notes. … United Methodist pastors feel worse and worry more than they did a decade ago, and Religion News Service’s Bob Smietana explains why. … Keeping with that denominational theme, an interesting thing happened in Amarillo, Texas, after all the United Methodist churches disaffiliated, as BeLynn Hollers details for RNS. … A sound bath in one of L.A.’s oldest churches will take you to a higher plane, the Los Angeles Times’ Deborah Netburn writes. … An appeals court ruling in a fraud case has dealt a setback to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Salt Lake Tribune’s Tony Semerad reports. … A referendum to make it more difficult to change Ohio’s state constitution failed this week, and Religion News Service’s Kathryn Post and Christianity Today’s Jonny Williams offer notable takes. Hint: Those interviewed say the vote wasn’t all about abortion. … And finally, the Washington Times’ Mark A. Kellner updates readers on court cases involving a British man charged with a “thought crime” in a silent prayer and Finnish Christians accused of hate speech.

Inside The Godbeat

I was pleased to learn that the Dallas Morning News has a new religion reporter.

Joy Ashford is covering faith in North Texas through a Report for America grant.

In her first front-page story, she talks to experts about why churches are being targeted for violence.

Charging Station: ICYMI

Here is where you can catch up on recent news and opinions from ReligionUnplugged.com.

Uganda's Phaneroo Ministries recently set a Guinness World Record for longest applause.

Deborah Laker’s ReligionUnplugged.com story provides details:

Apostle Grace Lubega, the senior pastor at Phaneroo, led the congregants in a challenge dubbed “Clap for Jesus.”

Pastor Rohi Bright, one of the key organizers of the event said, “We shall be celebrating our ninth anniversary in a matter of days, so we felt it prudent to give thanks to God in a special way for the wonderful things He has accomplished in us, through us and for us in the nine years. This world record challenge gives us the perfect opportunity to make history for God.”

The church goers followed strict rules set by the Guiness World Record team by maintaining a continuous applause with a sound level of 80 decibels, which is about as loud as a diesel truck. Making voice noises, using musical instruments and taking bathroom breaks were prohibited.

Read the rest of the story.

The Final Plug

Ian Lovett was the Wall Street Journal’s Los Angeles-based religion reporter until he was assigned to cover the war in Ukraine.

This tweet from Lovett caught my attention Thursday:

Wow, that hits close to home. It’s a reminder, too, that that the war — 17 months old and easy to let blend into the periphery — still rages.

Thank you for reading Plug-in! Enjoy the weekend.

Bobby Ross Jr. writes the Weekend Plug-in column for ReligionUnplugged.com and serves as editor-in-chief of The Christian Chronicle. A former religion writer for The Associated Press and The Oklahoman, Ross has reported from all 50 states and 18 nations. He has covered religion since 1999.