While research shows that many Black Christians prefer to attend racially diverse congregations, predominantly Black churches will continue to hold strong as racism surges across the nation, according to historian and author Jemar Tisby. “More than half of people in…
In Ukraine, a 40-member church helps 7,000 people flee war
The European Baptist Federation reports that churches across Ukraine continue to provide spiritual and material support to war victims even in areas under heavy attack or already overrun by Russian forces. “Churches continue to be active in the Kherson region,…
Threats to religious freedom and to women go hand in hand
Whenever and wherever religious freedom is threatened, so too are the fundamental rights of women and girls, a panel of experts said during a recent virtual hearing before the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. “Gender-based and religiously based discrimination…
Here’s another form of Long-COVID: Progress against global poverty and hunger sent backward by decades
The COVID-19 pandemic has undone decades of progress in addressing global poverty and hunger and made the world an altogether harder place to live for millions of people, according to a new report by World Relief. “From 1990 until 2015,…
The Great Sex Rescue throws a lifeline to evangelical women
The word is spreading through evangelical circles that, yes, it is OK for Christian women to enjoy sex as much as their husbands and that men, not their wives, are responsible for addressing their own struggles with lust and pornography,…
American support strong for immigrants’ path to citizenship
Now is the time for the Biden administration and Congress to provide citizenship for immigrants who previously entered the U.S. illegally, new survey data suggests. A February poll by NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ found that a significant majority of registered voters…
Good news and bad news on prevalence of hate groups
There’s good news and bad news about hate groups in America today, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. The good news is that the SPLC tracked 105 fewer hate groups and 78 fewer anti-government groups last year than in…
In Ohio, Republicans are leading the effort to abolish the death penalty
The anti-death penalty movement in Ohio is gaining traction with conservative support and leadership amidst a national rise in Republican opposition to capital punishment. Eight states currently have death penalty repeal bills sponsored by Republicans, according to Conservatives Concerned About…
Mercer scholars explain the immense danger of Putin’s power play in Ukraine
Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine has surprised some Western observers who previously considered the Russian president to be a pragmatic realist, even if an authoritarian one, said a Mercer University professor of Russian and Soviet history. “I never considered…
600 Ukrainian Baptist churches actively responding to humanitarian need
Baptist churches in Ukraine are providing around-the-clock humanitarian relief in increasingly difficult circumstances as Russia’s offensive widens, the European Baptist Federation said in a March 8 situation report. “Ukrainian Baptists continue to respond to the war in their country. Churches…
30 years later, North Carolina Baptist church recalls its journey to affirm same-sex unions
The months preceding Pullen Memorial Baptist Church’s historic vote to perform same-sex blessings and to officially become a welcoming and affirming congregation were, at times, dark and turbulent ones, former Pullen pastor Mahan Siler recalled during the congregation’s 30-year celebration…
CBF field personnel serving in Kyiv happened to be on leave in the U.S., which is extending their ability to help
Offering prayer and encouragement via smartphone to terrified Ukrainians under Russian attack has become the reality for Cooperative Baptist Fellowship field personnel Mina and Gennady Podgaisky. “Last night I was giving counseling at 3 in the morning to people in…