Overflowing Cups Of Joy: Discovering Pathways Leading To The Fullness Of Salvation

(OPINION) Everyone’s cup of joy is full in heaven. So why concern ourselves whether the paths we are taking will bring us into the fullness of salvation? Our cups will be full. Yes, but not everyone’s cup of joy will be the same size, “for the measure you give will be the measure you get.”

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After Yet Another Mass Shooting, Church Prays, Reflects: Is There A Solution?

On the heels of a May 14 supermarket barrage in which 10 people died in Buffalo, New York, and a May 24 school massacre that claimed 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas, a gunman opened fire last week in a medical office in Oklahoma’s second-largest city. How do Christians respond?

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Korean Covenant Fellowship Church Halts Investigation Into Sexual Misconduct Allegations

A Korean church located near the Champaign-Urbana campus of the University of Illinois that came under fire last year for allegations of ongoing sexual misconduct has terminated an independent investigation before its completion.

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‘We Must Pray With Actions’: Latino Church Leaders Offer More Than Prayers After Uvalde Shooting

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.”

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Catholic Churches Suffer Rash Of Thefts And Vandalism, But Cause Remains A Mystery

The 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.

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The Body Of Christ Is Betrayed: Reflections On Sexual Abuse In The SBC

(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.

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Faith Emerges As A Vital Part Of Uvalde's Story, Even As Attention Focuses On Police And Guns

For 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.

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The Oldest Church In Philadelphia Is Swedish, Anti-Racist And Holds Together Brick By Historical Brick

Swedish 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.

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Relief Ministry Cross International Sets Goal To Serve 100,000 Familes By 2024

Florida-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.

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As Uvalde Mourns 21 School Shooting Victims, Church Members Offer Support

In 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.

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Pro-Life Speaker Jennifer Christie’s Career Unravels Over Unverified Sexual Assault Claim

Jennifer 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.

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Romanian Congregation Becomes Family For Traumatized Souls

The 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.

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News Coverage Of Pelosi Communion Ban Mangled Catholic Doctrine

(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.

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What The Early Church Said About Abortion

(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.

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Lessons from the ‘World's Most Dedicated Teacher’

Annamma 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%.

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