Pastors in the United States continue to feel increasingly exhausted, isolated and uncertain of their place in ministry in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Barna reports in a new study on clergy resilience. Barna said its research “shows that…
He was wrongly put on Death Row and believes you could be too
When the state of Florida could muster no evidence to convict Ron Wright in a double homicide case, it succeeded by spinning an elaborate narrative about him in court, the 2017 death row exoneree said. “Mine was a ‘wholly circumstantial’…
First American woman appointed a missionary beat the system by funding herself
In 2013, Reid Trulson was researching the history of missions in the American Baptist Churches USA when he stumbled across the name of a Charlotte H. White, a previously unremembered 19th century missionary. Then serving as executive director of ABCUSA’s…
Amid rampant antisemitism, most Americans think highly of Jews
Despite ongoing spikes in antisemitism corresponding to the rise of white supremacy and Christian nationalism, most Americans think more highly of Jews than they do of evangelical Christians, Mormons, Muslims and atheists, according to a new survey by Pew Research…
Polling is shifting on conservatives’ attitudes on immigration
The results of a new survey reveal strong Republican and evangelical support for meaningful immigration reforms and may suggest that harsh anti-immigrant rhetoric does not resonate with most conservative voters, a leading U.S. immigration advocate said. “We found really high…
80,000 Jews have fled Russia since Putin invaded Ukraine
Jews are urged to flee Russia as the persecution of religious minorities in that country increasingly matches the oppression of Ukrainian faith groups, an exiled rabbi said during a webinar hosted by the U.S. Commission on Religious Liberty. “This new…
Alliance of Baptists and others urge Congress to divert military funds to social services
The Alliance of Baptists joined more than 60 U.S. faith-based organizations March 14 to plead with Congress to redirect defense spending to bolster funds available for education, housing, health care and other community reinvestment initiatives. The groups sent a letter…
Inflammatory language of Christian nationalism is a real threat, Hollman and Tyler say
The use of dehumanizing language against people of faith who reject Christian nationalism is an attack on the religious freedoms guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution, leaders of Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Freedom said in a recent podcast. BJC General…
Three hate groups drove spike in antisemitism and racist propaganda last year
Incidents of racist, antisemitic and anti-LGBTQ propaganda increased substantially in 2022 as major white supremacist groups boosted disinformation campaigns in numerous U.S. states, according to new research by the Anti-Defamation League. The March 8 report documented spikes in the distribution…
Griffen and Ravitch warn Floridians of dangers of DeSantis’ attack on public education
Baptist minister and retired Arkansas judge Wendell Griffen stood before an audience of faith leaders and education advocates in Tallahassee, Fla., March 9, pointed to his lapel and dared Gov. Ron DeSantis to have him apprehended for being politically and…
Foundation grant will expand prenatal vitamin ministry from Texas to Georgia
A Texas-based nonprofit that provides vitamins to expectant mothers is expanding into Georgia thanks to a grant from a Baptist health care ministry. The Vitamin Bridge recently announced it plans to serve 10,000 low-income pregnant women in 2023 through a…
Faith-based immigration advocates finding little difference between Biden administration and Trump administration
President Joe Biden just keeps digging himself into a deeper hole with the nation’s immigration advocates. Groups that serve migrants and refugees have been outraged in the weeks since the White House announced its intention to implement an asylum ban…