Evangelical
A shooter opened fire in a Houston church. Gunfire has also scarred other Texas places of worship
By Jim Vertuno — February 13, 2024
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Police identified the shooter as Genesse Ivonne Moreno, 36. Authorities said Moreno's 7-year-old son, who the shooter brought into the church, was shot in the head and critically injured.
What to know about a shooting at Joel Osteen’s megachurch
By Juan A. Lozano — February 12, 2024
HOUSTON (AP) — Osteen said the violence could have been worse if the shooting had happened during the earlier and larger late Sunday morning service.
Aaron Ivey, pastor and husband of podcaster Jamie Ivey, accused of ‘indecent’ texts with men
By Roxanne Stone — February 11, 2024
(RNS) — Elders at his Austin, Texas, church said in a statement announcing his dismissal that they had discovered a ‘very clear pattern of predatory manipulation, sexual exploitation, and abuse of influence’ by Ivey.
Sheriff says suspect ‘is down’ after shooting at Joel Osteen’s Texas megachurch
By Juan A. Lozano — February 11, 2024
HOUSTON (AP) — Lakewood Church had earlier posted on social media there was an ‘active situation involving shots fired’ at one of the largest megachurches in the U.S. during its typically busy Sunday services.
Henry Blackaby, author of ‘Experiencing God,’ has died at age 88
By Bob Smietana — February 10, 2024
(RNS) — Blackaby turned his experiences reviving a dying church into a spiritual bestseller.
Super Bowl viewers can meet Jesus, boost their prayer life and confront antisemitism
By Bob Smietana — February 9, 2024
(RNS) — Ads for the He Gets Us campaign, the Hallow prayer app and the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism will be among the groups running faith-related ads at the Super Bowl.
An open letter to the Southern Baptist Convention
By Karen Swallow Prior — February 9, 2024
(RNS) — Dear SBC, you don’t have to be this way.
Meet ‘The Autism Pastor’ Lamar Hardwick: Preacher, author, cancer warrior
By Kathryn Post — February 8, 2024
(RNS) — Hardwick recently retired as lead pastor of Tri-Cities Church in East Point, Georgia, as he receives ongoing treatment for stage 4 cancer.
Faith-based organizations concerned about immigration policy landscape
By Aleja Hertzler-McCain — February 8, 2024
(RNS) — ‘You’re not going to solve anything at the border when you start from the premise that migration is a threat to our country or that migrants are people to be feared,’ said Dylan Corbett, executive director of Hope Border Institute.
Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee faces more abuse lawsuits
By Bob Smietana — February 7, 2024
(RNS) — A pair of new lawsuits, including one that includes civil RICO claims, come at a time when the SBC Executive Committee faces a fiscal and leadership crisis.
Evangelicals venture to Israel in show of solidarity
By Michele Chabin — February 7, 2024
JERUSALEM (RNS) — Visitors to Israel have been few since its war with Hamas began. But in December, groups of evangelical Christians began to arrive on solidarity missions, say groups that promote links between Israel and evangelicals abroad.
Pro-migrant pastors on a bus plan to meet ‘God’s Army’ convoy at Texas border town
By Fiona André — February 2, 2024
(RNS) — Doug Pagitt, a Minnesota pastor who runs the anti-Christian nationalism organization Vote Common Good, hopes to engage the anti-immigrant contingent and convince them it is migrants who are most in danger. 'We're just going to be around and try to humanize the situation,' he said.
Fuller seminary senior director fired for refusal to sign non-LGBTQ affirming statement
By Kathryn Post — February 2, 2024
(RNS) — Her termination comes as the evangelical, multidenominational seminary is re-visiting its approach to human sexuality.
With FlashPoint Live, roster of Pentecostal ‘prophets’ hits the road for Trump
By Steve Rabey — February 2, 2024
(RNS) — The tour’s personalities and themes are borrowed from 'FlashPoint,' a Christian current-events program that features Trump and his former officials, members of Congress, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Fox News host Jeanine Pirro.
Are the Five Love Languages helpful? Yes, say researchers, but not the way people think
By Bob Smietana — February 1, 2024
(RNS) — A new study looks at the real reason the bestselling book on love and relationships is a success.
