Russian authorities have arrested a pastor for preaching that Christians should not fight in the invasion against Ukraine “on the basis of Holy Scripture,” according to a recent report from a Norwegian human rights organization.
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A father is suing the prominent Texas megachurch First Baptist Church Dallas for allegedly mishandling his son’s sexual abuse in 2022. The father alleges in the lawsuit that his now 16-year-old son was sexually abused by an older student on a church youth mission trip in 2022. The family said church leaders bullied, shamed, and intimidated their son in response.
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Dallas-based Gateway Church announced to staff this week that donations have dropped 35%-40% and staff reductions are imminent. The announcement comes five months after the resignation of founding pastor Robert Morris due to an allegation of child sex abuse.
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The Roys Report has uncovered details about Morris’ wealth, calling into question whether the famous preacher’s emphasis on tithing — giving 10% to the church — was purely altruistic. Though it’s not publicly known how much Morris is worth today, Morris has bought and sold multiple multi-million-dollar properties in Texas.
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First Baptist Dallas revealed plans on Sunday to rebuild its 134-year-old historic sanctuary, which was largely destroyed by fire this summer. The church also launched a $95 million giving campaign to help pay for it.
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(OPINION) I had long self-righteously labeled non-churchgoers as unbelievers or undisciplined Christians. However, after being thrust into the outskirts of the churchgoing tribe, I can more accurately see the people on the outside, especially those who wandered away hurting and filled with distrust.
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A brushfire that consumed two acres of Saddleback Church’s main campus in Southern California, and prompted retired Pastor Rick Warren to issue a call for prayers, has been fully contained, according to the city of Lake Forest. Investigators determined the fire was intentional and have taken one person into custody.
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Responding to a lawsuit accusing Dallas-based Gateway Church of financial fraud, Gateway Elder Tra Willbanks assured congregants over the weekend that the church has “independently audited financial statements since 2005.” However, a “seasoned CPA,” told The Roys Report (TRR) that Gateway did not conduct any audits during his time on staff, from 2011-2014.
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Controversial pastor Mark Driscoll is citing First Amendment rights in his fight against the city of Scottsdale, Arizona, to display a sign to vote for Jesus in property adjacent to his church. The sign reading, “Jesus Christ ’24,” is posted on the right of way property bordering the street in front of Driscoll’s church, Trinity Church in Scottsdale.
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After spending almost nine months in a Nicaraguan prison, 13 pastors and attorneys associated with the Texas-based Mountain Gateway ministry were released on Thursday. They were part of 135 unjustly detained political prisoners released on humanitarian grounds, according to a White House statement.
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A church in Wisconsin has announced it will disaffiliate from the Network, a nondenominational network of churches accused of operating like a cult. Citing an inability to “address issues and resolve concerns,” the church is the first to leave the controversial group since recent allegations of misconduct.
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Five weeks after resigning their pastoral positions at Gateway Church, James and Bridgette Morris, the son and daughter-in-law of disgraced megachurch pastor Robert Morris, announced they’re starting a new church and seeking supporters.
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Disgraced Hillsong founder Brian Houston and his wife, Bobbie, are asking for money for an online church venture. The longtime pastor says they’ve “got desperate needs” for a TV studio, while glossing over recent scandals and a government probe into past church spending.
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The 24-acre Texas parsonage of televangelist I.V. Hilliard has been listed for a staggering $15 million. As reported in the Christian Post, the Spring, Texas, property owned by New Light Church in Houston is listed on realtor.com. The estate, with six houses and 22 garage spaces, was used “by Hilliard as a parsonage, meaning that he has not had to pay any property taxes on it,” the listing notes.
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Gordon College, a Christian school in Wenham, Massachusetts, could be required to pay back more than $7 million of COVID-19 relief funds. The school contested, arguing that its request for loan forgiveness was denied because of religious discrimination.
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Plans for a new church connected to the embattled International House of Prayer Kansas City (IHOPKC) have been canceled, according to an email sent to the IHOPKC community Wednesday morning. Also, former IHOPKC Executive Team member Isaac Bennett and his wife, Morgan, who were planning to pastor the new church, have left the 24/7 prayer ministry.
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A Colorado church will continue to house homeless people in RVs on its church property, thanks to a judge’s preliminary injunction. In an 18-page order, Justice Daniel D. Domenico temporarily blocked the community of Castle Rock, Colorado, from enforcing zoning regulations, prohibiting The Rock Church from housing people on its property.
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A Christian billionaire and philanthropist accused of inflating a business portfolio to $36 billion was convicted Wednesday on several counts of financial fraud. Sung Kook “Bill” Hwang, founder and co-CEO of Archegos Capital Management, was convicted by a federal jury on 10 criminal counts,
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