Pastor Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, the world’s largest Hispanic Christian organization with more than 42,000 churches in the U.S., responded to recent mass shootings in America by preaching a message of hope and insisting that Christians “pray with actions.”
Read MoreThe recent desecration of Catholic churches has triggered fears of future vandalism given the supercharged political climate around abortion, LGBTQ rights and bishops denying politicians Communion. The vandalism may not be tied to one or more of these factors — rising crime rates is also a possibility — but church officials remain vigilant as the summer approaches.
Read More(PROSE-POEM) Karen Swallow Prior, a professor of English and Christianity and Culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, reflects on recent findings from an independent investigation that Southern Baptist leaders have systematically ignored, belittled and intimidated survivors of sexual abuse for the past two decades while protecting the legal interests of churches accused of harboring abusers.
Read MoreFor the second week in a row, this week’s Weekend Plug-in leads with the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Read MoreSwedish Lutherans built the Gloria Dei church between 1698 and 1700 and worshipped along the Delaware River for several generations before it became part of the Episcopal Church in 1845. The church’s story and presence symbolize a unique chapter in American religious history and valuable contributions that Swedes made to religious freedom and tolerance in America.
Read MoreFlorida-based ministry Cross International has said it’s already pacing ahead of its “Reach25” plan, projecting it will reach more than 65,000 people in its 2022 fiscal year (ending next month). That’s up from 56,000 last year and 47,000 in 2020. It now hopes to reach 80,000 children and families in 2023, then 100,000 in 2024.
Read MoreIn the Uvalde, Texas, community of 16,000, everybody knows someone who was directly affected by the Robb Elementary School shooting. The Potters’ postman delivers mail to four families who lost children. A church custodian lost two cousins. An elder’s assistant manager lost his son and niece. But as the town collectively grieves, residents’ ties to each other only strengthen.
Read MoreJennifer Christie’s story of giving birth to a child conceived through rape was set to be published in a book from Focus on the Family and Tyndale House, and she signed a contract with Ambassador Speakers Bureau. Now, the book and speaking contract have been canceled amid concerns of the veracity of her story.
Read More(OPINION) Debates about San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy’s elevation to the Sacred College of Cardinals have focused on divisive issues in Catholic life, although decades of sexual abuse crimes loom in the background.
Read MoreThe Church of Christ Cluj, which meets in the northwestern Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca, has become a center of refuge as war rages in Ukraine, about four and a half hours away. The church offers them housing in a rented facility next door, and its free grocery store has served more than 9,400 customers since the war began in late February.
Read More(OPINION) National news coverage regarding House Speaker Nancy Pelosi being banned by San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone from taking Holy Communion because of her continued support — in words and deeds — for abortion rights spanned from very good to baffling and very poor.
Read More(OPINION) Early church writings mention abortion more often than many realize. Their condemnation is even more direct and forceful than that of the Scriptures. And this was without the visual evidence of ultrasounds and without today’s massive improvements in fetal viability. Still, they recognized abortion for the evil that it is.
Read MoreAnnamma Lucy, 49, started her teaching career in India, now teaches in the United Arab Emirates and won the 2021 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Award, a global competition of more than 13,000 nominations in 112 countries. While such a title is hard to quantify, Lucy’s dedication to her students is palpable and her gift to the poor each month is a simple calculation: 10%.
Read MoreA series of articles published by the Springfield News-Leader May 26 tells the stories of previously silent sex abuse victims and others who say Missouri-based Kanakuk Kamps did not do enough to protect them when they were campers there.
Read MoreThis week’s Weekend Plug-in opens with the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers, along with the gunman. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Read More(OPINION) The whole country is chattering about Politico's revelation of a draft Supreme Court majority ruling that in coming weeks will presumably return abortion for decisions by each of the 50 states. That’s a huge scoop. But few recall that Time scored an equally big scoop when the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling abolished all abortion laws nationwide.
Read MoreAmerican journalists have been fascinated by Kalenjin runners for decades, and their explanations for Kenyan dominance in running have included training, culture, biology and diet. However, one factor remains little explored or understood in media coverage: The spiritual lives of the Kalenjin runners have received scant attention.
Read More(OPINION) The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released a muted document last fall that did little to please activists on either side of the church’s wars about abortion and politicians in pews. But one passage set the stage for the current clash between Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone and a member of his flock — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Read More(OPINION) Both the Hebrew Scriptures — Christians’ “Old Testament” — and the New Testament are full of admonitions that believers in God insofar as able must help the poor and needy. However, that does not necessarily tie Jesus to socialism, since believers can practice charity in a capitalist context just as readily, if not more so.
Read MoreUkrainian-American family members detailed their difficult journey from the Eastern European nation of Ukraine to the U.S. during a recent missions class at the Memorial Road Church of Christ in Oklahoma City.
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