Several decades ago, talented news-feature writers began using an interesting writing technique to offer readers doors into complex, often overwhelming stories. The theory went something like this: Don’t tell me a story about 100,000 people — tell me a story about one person who represents those 100,000 people.
Read MoreThe Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, no stranger to reducing tremendous suffering and damage in communities all over the world, has had to find a way to help others as well as themselves. In fact, once Hurricane Helene robbed millions of Americans of their electricity and running water, the focus had to become more local.
Read MoreA Fulton County judge struck down Georgia’s six-week abortion ban Sept. 30, declaring it an unconstitutional violation of a woman’s rights to “liberty of privacy” and the control of her body. “When a fetus growing inside a woman reaches viability, when society can assume care and responsibility for that separate life, then ... may society intervene,” Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert C.I. McBurney wrote.
Read MoreThe storm, which made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region as a Category 4 hurricane, left a wide swath of destruction from storm surge, wind, landslides and flooding through Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee. There have been at least 121 reported deaths. Churches are sending aid throughout the Southeast as damage and needs are assessed.
Read More(ANALYSIS) The International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (IRFBA) earlier this month released a significant statement on the current worldwide persecution of Christians. It’s essence: Religious freedom is still comparatively neglected as a human right, and the ongoing persecution of Christians is relatively unknown.
Read MoreA Forsyth County historical marker erected just last year recounts the 1912 lynching of Rob Edwards, a 24-year-old Black man accused of raping and murdering a young White woman. More than a century later, about 600 Christians — Black, White and Hispanic — filled the pews of the Grace Chapel Church of Christ for a special unity service.
Read MoreSupporting a full-time minister requires an average of 130 or more in worship, but 65% of American churches count an average of fewer than 100 in worship. So, from flight attendant to funeral director, secular jobs help pay the bills for bivocational ministers.
Read MoreAfter more than two decades struggling with a post-Soviet economic recession and destabilization brought on by war and anti-terrorist operations, Georgia’s Pankisi Valley is rebuilding its reputation and attracting tourists — enough to secure a coveted spot in the world’s most popular guidebook, “Lonely Planet,” in 2020.
Read MoreRebuked for linking COVID-19 measures to Jewish suffering at the Nazis’ hands, the controversial Georgia congresswoman was on the offensive the night of May 27. Other Republicans in the House, like minority leader Kevin McCarthy, publicly debunked her comparisons between mask mandates and proof of vaccination to the Holocaust.
Read MoreEbenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Ga. has a long history in the Black church. It was the spiritual home of the civil rights leader, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. It is now the home of the state’s first Black senator – the Rev. Raphael Warnock, the senior pastor at the church.
Read MoreThis week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights the key religion angles related to Wednesday’s violence by a pro-Trump insurrectionist mob at the U.S. Capitol. Plus, check out all the week’s top reads in the world of faith.
Read MoreReality Winner was arrested in 2017 for leaking a five-page NSA report about Russian involvement in the 2016 election. Today, Winner hopes for a judge to give her “compassionate release” before she completes her sentence. A vocal group of supporters are active on Twitter daily to promote her name and story, highlighting the times her religious personal items have been taken away in jail.
Read MoreHow well did you pay attention to the news concerning Jerry Falwell Jr.? This week’s Weekend Plug-in asks seven “pop quiz” questions concerning the stunning end of Falwell’s tenure with Liberty University, the world’s largest evangelical university.
Read MoreMatt Lieberman, who is in the middle of a campaign for a U.S. Senate seat from Georgia, is defending the racial content of his debut novel “Lucius.” Some have criticized the book by saying it presents a white savior narrative and uses racial slurs. Despite calls to drop out of the race, Lieberman is defending his campaign and his novel.
Read More(REVIEW) The documentary “Flannery” interviews a broad range of creatives about the life and work of Flannery O’Connor. O’Connor’s short stories and novels focus heavily on race and religion—inspired by her Catholic faith—and the documentary explores the lasting power of these works.
Read MoreThe new law will increase the sentence given for a misdemeanor if the defendant acted with bias because of the victim’s race, sexual orientation or religion, among other factors. The office of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said the governor “commends the General Assembly’s bipartisan work and will sign House Bill 426 [hate crimes bill] pending legal review.”
Read More(OPINION) When the Georgia legislature reconvenes in mid-June, there is a chance that a bill with enhanced penalties for bias or hate crimes will make its way to the governor. In the grand scope of things, putting a hate crimes law on the books in Georgia should be important on a level with, say, reopening massage and tattoo parlors, nail salons and bowling alleys.
Read More(OPINION) Gabriel Urgebadze changed the trajectory of his life when he lit a portrait of Vladimir Lenin on fire and told a crowd to follow Jesus instead. Today, more than a hundred pilgrims visit his grave everyday, praying for miracles.
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