A Bradenton County, Florida, jury has thrown the book at a former Southern Baptist pastor for sexually abusing a 2-year-old and recording the abuse on his cellphone. Jonathan Edward Elwing received three consecutive life sentences on April 21, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office announced.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Texas’ proposed K-12 reading list includes numerous Bible passages, sparking debate over religion in public schools. Supporters cite educational value, while critics argue it violates the First Amendment. Court precedents allow teaching about religion, but not promoting it—raising questions about whether the curriculum crosses constitutional boundaries.
Read MoreYazidis in northeast Syria are fleeing yet again as renewed fighting in Aleppo triggers mass displacement, reviving trauma from ISIS’s 2014 genocide. Survivors face deep psychological scars, economic hardship, and persistent insecurity, with many fearing further violence, family separation, and the gradual erosion of their community and identity through repeated upheaval.
Read MoreMarilyn Hickey, a Pentecostal televangelist whose ministry reached millions — but who also drew fire for her fundraising methods — died Saturday in Denver. She was 94.
Read MoreA shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., injured one officer and prompted the evacuation of President Trump and guests. The incident renewed calls to reduce political rhetoric. Officials, including Christian leaders, condemned the violence and urged prayer, unity and a peaceful approach to political differences.
Read MoreIn writings, Cole Tomas Allen thanked his church and argued that his attempt to assassinate Trump administration officials was compatible with his faith.
Read More(ANALYSIS) More questions remain. Will the Vatican seek to impose doctrine, potentially provoking further resistance from the West? Or will it allow a degree of local experimentation, accepting the risk of inconsistency in the name of pastoral responsiveness? Leo’s statements on the issue suggest a preference for the former.
Read MoreThe rise of charismatic Pentecostal churches in Zimbabwe in the last two decades has resulted in the faith groups using open spaces and acquiring stands within residential suburbs to conduct church services. The services include prayer meetings, all-night fellowship and praise and worship concerts.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Knowing what the declaration actually says, and how its first listeners reacted, might not sway Americans at the extremes. It provides evidence for less polarizing, more nuanced views about the founding generation’s convictions and compromises as Americans commemorate their nation’s 250th anniversary.
Read MorePraying for rain is ever on the minds of Twin Rivers Baptist Church members in the rural farming community of Hortense. But April 22, the church held an actual “pray for rain” service as the Highway 82 wildfire spread.
Read MoreFive years after the pandemic upended life across the United States, a new national study shows that many churches are stabilizing — and in some cases rebounding — even as many challenges persist. In a report by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, which surveyed more than 80 denominations, found that most have either maintained or increased their level of engagement.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Justice announced that it has secured an indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center for wire fraud, false statements to a federally insured bank, and conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Muslim Americans can often feel helpless in combating the hate they experience – more awareness and advocacy could reduce Islamophobia and address the mental health needs of an already vulnerable community. As the war with Iran continues, these issues will continue to persist among America’s Muslim community.
Read MoreLifeway Christian Resources trustees elected Ryan Blackwell as the organization’s 11th president and CEO during a special-called meeting on Wednesday in Nashville.
Read MoreThe Pew Research Center analysis, released on Thursday, based on surveys conducted in 24 countries, examined “religious switching” — when people adopt a different religion than the one in which they were raised. The findings reveal a complex picture within Christianity, particularly between its two largest branches: Catholicism and Protestantism.
Read MoreTucked within the settlement’s remains stands the Jamestown Church Tower, its weathered bricks rising above the landscape like a sentinel. It’s the last visible remnant of a series of churches that once anchored the colony’s spiritual life. As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, Jamestown is a reminder of what helped to create a new nation.
Read MoreAfter the first wave of Bible chatbots, independent developers are now building AI tools to solve problems that arise during live worship, and that can operate despite Nigeria’s spotty internet. However, some groups question just how involved an AI tool should be during Sunday services. Critics have said AI will only help spread misinformation in Nigeria and across Africa.
Read MoreThe Dallas Cup, America’s oldest and best-known international youth soccer tournament, has been held each Easter week since 1980. And for 33 of those years, the DBA has hosted an outreach to minister to players and their families.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Stephen Miller’s “might makes right” worldview reflects a broader shift toward prioritizing power over understanding in global affairs. Through the tales of Nasreddin Hoja, the piece argues that curiosity, humility, and engagement with other cultures are essential — and that relying solely on strength risks blinding societies to complexity, difference and their own limitations.
Read MoreA Nigerian federal court convicted nearly 400 individuals on terrorism charges this month in what persecution watchdog International Christian Concern said is one of the largest criminal crackdowns in the nation’s history, but none appeared to face murder charges.
Read More
