The average Southern Baptist church calls the South home, but the only region of the country where those congregations are growing is the Northeast. Churches are baptizing more people, but most churches remain small and fewer attendees are involved in small groups. Lifeway Research analysis of the 2023 Annual Church Profile reveals a more detailed look at the Convention and where evangelism and discipleship efforts have been most effective.
Read MoreTorturing and killing pastors and priests, prosecuting residents for exercising religious freedom, banning worship and entire religious communities, closing churches, prosecuting missionaries and banning Scripture as extremist literature are among the most egregious atrocities Forum 18 cited in its March religious freedom survey of Ukraine.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Pilgrims would journey across continents to light candles beneath their frescoed domes, whisper prayers into the cool stone walls, and gaze upon centuries-old icons bathed in flickering candlelight. These sites are much more than buildings. They are testaments to Greece’s spiritual, cultural and historical identity. Yet today, that serenity is under attack. In 2023, Greece recorded almost 600 incidents of theft, vandalism and desecration targeting Orthodox churches — the highest on record.
Read MoreWhen a pope is ill, resigns or passes away, who steps in? And who else helps lead the Holy See?
Read MoreThe Supreme Court announced Monday that it will hear the case of a Colorado counselor challenging the state’s ban on “conversion therapy.”
Read MoreMana Nutrition, a ministry supported by Churches of Christ and used in global relief efforts, is among a host of nonprofits worldwide that receive grants from USAID and had their contracts terminated through DOGE spending cuts. For Mana, contracts were later restored, but disruptions were felt.
Read More(REVIEW) Researcher and author Diana Darke argues that the connections between Islamic and Christian cultures during the medieval period were much stronger than commonly believed. This cross-fertilization of cultures had a significant impact on society, religion and culture. Her extensive research, covering hundreds of buildings across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East led her to propose replacing the term "Romanesque" with "Islamesque."
Read MoreThe Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported that several regions in Syria have witnessed an escalating wave of targeted killings and individual acts of retribution. The organization noted that direct executions are being carried out through various methods, from field executions to surprise assassinations by unidentified gunmen.
Read MoreAs he recovers from bilateral pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, Pope Francis released the text prepared for the Sunday Angelus prayer, which was published by the Holy See Press Office.
Read MoreThe majority of U.S.-based Christian ministry executives are optimistic about the impact the new administration of President Donald Trump will have on the ministries they lead, according to a MinistryWatch survey.
Read MoreWriting a news feature about the life and work of historian Martin E. Marty requires two things — lots of numbers about what he accomplished and stories about how he managed to get so much done, as a scholar, teacher, colleague, mentor and friend.
Read MoreAt the start of the war, nearly 17 million Ukrainians fled the country, but fewer than 7 million remain abroad, Bloomberg reported. Among those who returned is Tatyana Pavlenko. She and her husband, Oleg, once worshiped with a Church of Christ in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, just a few miles from the Russian border.
Read MoreFormer Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary interim provost Matt Queen received today a judgement of time served with one year of supervised release, six months of home confinement and a $2,000 fine related to a federal investigation of the Southern Baptist Convention regarding sexual abuse.
Read More(OPINION) Marty died on Feb. 25 at the age of 97, a quarter of a century after retiring from teaching at the University of Chicago Divinity School. The research center he launched in 1979 was then rebranded as the Martin Marty Center for the Public Understanding of Religion. He received numerous other awards, including more than 80 honorary degrees.
Read MoreApologist Michael Brown, who’s under investigation for alleged sexual misconduct, was honored with a standing ovation at a conference last weekend at Mercy Culture Church, where Brown serves as an apostolic elder.
Read MoreHelping the homeless through music has inspired the dean of Sheffield Cathedral to undertake a 620-mile walk along the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail. Joining her on this journey, which started on March 1, are Tom Daggett, the cathedral's director of music, and Emily Cooper, the music and liturgy administrator and a member of the cathedral’s choir.
Read MorePastors have reported that they have been forced to shelter rebels inside their churches as well as within their surrounding communities. The rebels are well aware that hiding in these sanctuaries guarantees them protection, given the government’s longstanding commitment to ensuring that attacks do not target civilians, churches or hospitals.
Read MoreWith 26,000 federal jobs axed and widespread layoffs in the name of government efficiency, pastors in the Washington, D.C., area and Christians working in civil service have seen morale plummet. Those who felt called to live out their faith and serve their country in federal jobs worry that the moves threaten their mission and livelihood.
Read More(OPINION) The unprecedented success of the radical-right AfD has left many questioning whether we are witnessing Germany take a dangerous turn once again. In the Feb. 23 Bundestag election, the AfD achieved its best result to date, becoming the second strongest party in the Bundestag. The election campaign was largely dominated by key AfD topics such as migration policy and the deportation debate.
Read MoreA former professor and investigator at Liberty University has filed a federal lawsuit against the school and its leaders for discrimination and retaliation under Title IX, the Uniformed Services Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), and the Virginia Whistleblower Protection Law.
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