The route pushes cyclists to their limits. They face unrelenting desert heat, rugged terrain, crowded highways, brutal headwinds and sheer exhaustion that comes from cycling for days in such extreme conditions. It is a route that was first conquered by the H&K Cycle Club Hijah riders in 2022 — and despite the knowledge of the extreme challenge involved they now go back every year.
Read MoreThe instant collapse of Assad’s rule will reshape the geopolitics of the Mideast for years to come. Within Syria itself, the challenge is how to replace the bloodthirsty past and current revolutionary turbulence with effective government capable of restoring and unifying a nation that currently copes with regional occupations by Turkey, Israel and others.
Read MoreIt may be the start of a new year, but many of the same issues and concerns will dominate the news cycle in 2025. From Pope Francis’ health from the erosion of religious freedom in many parts of the globe to the moral implications that come with the widespread use of AI, here’s what to watch for in the new year.
Read MoreJimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal, endured a humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. The Sunday School teacher — the first American president to call himself “born again” — was 100 years old.
Read MoreMovie star Denzel Washington has taken on a new role after he received his minister’s license at a church service in New York. The actor, most recently known for his part in “Gladiator II,” was also baptized. Washington, 69, celebrated the milestone in his faith at Kelly Temple Church of God in Christ. The church is affiliated with the Pentecostal Church of God in Christ denomination.
Read More(ANALYSIS) On Dec. 31, while many people are preparing for their New Years Eve parties, some Roman Catholic Christians will also mark the feast day for St. Silvester. Silvester’s era was one of both turmoil and transition for Christians living in the Roman Empire, as some Christian communities emerged from persecution into a powerful alliance with the Romans. His story is intertwined with this alliance, which would change the trajectory of the movement initiated by Jesus three centuries earlier.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Almost two decades ago, the reigning editor of The New York Times admitted, during a speech to the National College Media Association, that the world’s most influential journalism cathedral had changed one of its core doctrines.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Here we are, doing a top ten list of faith-based films for 2024. It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since “The Passion of The Christ” helped launch the modern era of faith-based films. Since then, such movies have gone from a mostly-mocked niche genre to one that has entered the mainstream. Here’s what made the top 10 list in 2024.
Read More(ANALYSIS) President Donald Trump is returning to the White House, convinced — after a close encounter with an assassin's bullet — that he had God on his side in the election. While opinions differed on that theological question, Trump drew support from voters that frequented pews. Members of Religion News Association selected the presidential election as the year's top national religion story.
Read MoreAs 2024 draws to a close, the Christian community in India reflects on a year marked by increasing challenges and persecution. Data from various organizations paint a sobering picture of the difficulties faced by this religious minority, which comprises approximately 2.3% of the country’s population of 1.45 billion people.
Read More(EXPLAINER) Hanukkah — known as “the festival of lights” — is a time of reflection and celebration for Jews across the world. Typically, the miracle of Hanukkah is celebrated in early to mid-December. Not this year. This holiday season, the start of Hanukkah coincides with Christmas Day. The eight-day celebration begins on Dec. 25 and continues into the new year.
Read MoreEating fruits and vegetables, exercise and going to church. What do all these things have in common? They are all good for your health. That’s according to a recent report by the U.K.-based National Churches Trust. In fact, the report said that church attendance — and the many services these houses of worship provide — saves the National Health Service approximately $1.1 billion each year.
Read MoreChurches across Zimbabwe of various denominations climb mountains to seek God and find spiritual uplifting. Most pilgrims frequently pray for the mountains all night long, or they climb early in the morning and remain until the evening. The Domboshava Mountains see a flurry of activity, mostly on weekends.
Read MoreJust two days before Christmas, President Joe Biden announced on Monday that he had commuted the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row — converting their punishments to life imprisonment.
Read MoreGrowing up, Catholic priest Jack Yali watched his parents consume plenty of alcohol. This experience later formed part of his interest in drinking, which he eventually started consuming at age 15. He soon became an alcoholic. He eventually made it his mission to get better — and to help others.
Read More(ANALYSIS) In the 2024 presidential election campaign there were hundreds of millions of dollars spent on advertising to convince voters to back either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris. But there was one spot that ran on television in a seeming loop.
Read MoreThe Infant Jesus of Prague is a tourist symbol that attracts parishioners and the curious. The Catholic icon, located in the Church of Our Lady of Victorious, seems to defy statistics that rank the Czech capital as the most atheistic city in the world. The clay statue attracts believers and non-believers from across the world at Christmastime and during other times of the year.
Read MoreYou know those weirdos who seem to stumble backward into success? Lucas Ross is one of them. Just ask his boss, Kermit the Frog. For the past four years, Ross, a member of the Memorial Road Church of Christ in Oklahoma City, has worked as a banjo consultant for the lean, green CEO of the Muppets. Recently, the two shared the stage at the University of Maryland during a celebration of Jim Henson.
Read MoreA dispute between members of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria (UMCN) and the Global Methodist Church (GMC) escalated to violence Sunday, resulting in three fatalities.
Read MoreThe United States Department of Justice filed a complaint against the city of Brunswick, Georgia, on Dec. 16 because of the city’s actions to close The Well ministry to homeless persons. The Well is a faith-based ministry operated by FaithWorks, an organization of the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church.
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