Every year, between late May and early June, something happens on the 43-mile road to the Catholic sanctuary of Popenguine, outside Dakar, that is unremarkable in Senegal and extraordinary almost anywhere else in Africa or the world: Muslim youth walk the route alongside their Christian peers.
Read More(ANALYSIS) This is why I love the Substack community — a couple of weeks ago, one of my subscribers (Ben Hein) asked me if I had any good data on Jehovah’s Witnesses. And you know what? I actually do.
Read More(ANALYSIS) In a world in which the Vatican has only soft power, the pope’s decrees carry only as much power as they are given. But however soft the pope’s power may be, that surreal Vatican visit to the Pentagon suggests that even the best-armed military in the world is afraid of it.
Read MoreBaptists in Lebanon are suffering the escalation of Israel’s war with Hezbollah, as the war zone has expanded to include areas surrounding Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS) and the Beirut Baptist School, both founded by Southern Baptists.
Read More(ANALYSIS) In the midst of a civil war, married couple Ernesto and Linda Fuentes fled their home country of El Salvador and headed for Philadelphia, via Mexico, in November 1983. Ernesto was an activist who dispensed food and medicine in Salvadoran refugee camps. Linda was a union organizer for banks and clothing factories.
Read MoreTruth is, the Finland powers that be are not attacking all “biblical views.” Instead, as in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case, the government is saying that some “biblical views” are unacceptable in public life, while other doctrines are acceptable — such as those affirmed by progressive leaders of the nation’s official denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Pope Leo XIV will begin his journey to four African countries — Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea — on April 13. Africa represents the fastest-growing part of the Catholic Church worldwide, seeing an increase from 281 million members in 2023 to over 288 million in 2024.
Read More(ANALYSIS) What should have been a routine game for Spain’s national soccer team at home against Egypt on March 31 instead became a revealing and deeply uncomfortable moment — one that placed superstar striker Lamine Yamal at the center of a broader conversation about identity, faith and belonging.
Read MoreWedged between a pizzeria and a clothing shop in Houmt Souk, the capital of Tunisia’s island of Djerba, lies an ancient treasure. The El Barounia Library is one of the oldest centers preserving Ibadi heritage in North Africa. Ibadism presents itself as a third path — between the two major branches — within Islam.
Read MoreNine police officers were sentenced to death in India over the 2020 deaths in custody of a father and son.
Read MoreDad’s Place, the temporary housing shelter in Bryan, Ohio, that has been fighting for its right to operate, has finally reached a conclusion to its ongoing legal matters.
Read MoreWhen you picture an American church, what comes to mind? Is it a palatial, gothic cathedral that dwarfs its neighboring buildings and carries with it an air of ancient mystery? Is it a small, white chapel with a sharp steeple and a quiet humility about its presence?
Read MoreAt least 54 Christians were killed early Easter in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, many during worship, with dozens more abducted from Evangelical Church Winning All Souls and other sites, International Christian Concern reported.
Read MoreWhen facing difficult circumstances, most churchgoers trust in God’s love and provision. Some, however, begin to question God’s character and involvement in their lives — and their number has grown in recent years.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Christianity is growing globally, especially in the Global South and parts of Europe, with record adult conversions in Monaco, France, Austria, Belgium and rising U.S. Catholic baptisms. But earlier claims of a British revival were debunked, and U.S. secularism, though temporarily declining, remains high among younger generations, suggesting long-term Western decline.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Before there was Dave Ramsey, there was Suze Orman. The OGs will know exactly what I’m talking about right now. She had a show on CNBC that ran on Saturday nights. We would watch it almost every week.
Read MoreTwo friends and brothers in Christ — Brent Hankins and Tracy Lamm — flew to Florida this week to witness the launch of humanity’s first lunar voyage in 53 years. Both had special reasons for doing so. Hankins serves as an elder of the Southeast Church of Christ in Texas, the congregation about six miles from NASA’s Space Center Houston that Artemis II pilot Victor Glover and his wife, Dionna, call home.
Read MorePastor Yuna Sabet of Walnut Creek shares the emotional toll of the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran on Iranian Christians. His congregation grieves for family in danger while hoping for regime change and religious freedom. Despite fear, they remain prayerful, seeking strength, connection, and future opportunities for ministry and rebuilding in Iran.
Read MoreEd Modicue, a former Golden Gloves champion in Louisiana, now mentors boys through boxing, emphasizing discipline, self-control and healthy living. Grounded in his Christian faith, he teaches youth to value themselves and others. Through his gym and church involvement, Modicue inspires young people to grow physically, mentally and spiritually.
Read More(ANALYSIS) On Easter, U.S. churches fill with worshippers, yet few are led by women despite rising numbers in clergy training. This disparity contrasts with Gospel accounts that name women, especially Mary Magdalene, as the first to witness and proclaim Jesus’ resurrection, underscoring their foundational role.
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