“Your church probably is not growing, and that’s OK,” Ryan Burge, a leading analyst of politics and religion, told a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship gathering June 24 in St. Louis. But that doesn’t signal a cause for apathy or despair, he…
Supreme Court clears way for third-country deportations
The Trump administration may deport undocumented immigrants to countries other than their own, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 23. The unsigned order reverses a lower court ruling granting unauthorized noncitizens an opportunity to demonstrate the risk of persecution, torture…
Abbott signs Texas Ten Commandments bill, setting up court fight
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed legislation mandating Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms beginning Sept. 1 despite the threat of litigation from civil liberties groups. Abbott’s office said the governor signed the measure June 21 along with more…
Even Trump supporters are weary with his ‘disappearing’ immigrants
Americans who originally backed President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign are having a change of heart due to protests, military involvement and the targeting of immigrants without criminal histories, migrant advocates and new polling suggest. “It seems the deportation operations…
Appeals court stops Louisiana Ten Commandments law
A Louisiana law requiring Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms was ruled unconstitutional by a unanimous federal appeals court June 20. “Parents and students challenge a statute requiring public schools to permanently display the Ten Commandments in every classroom…
‘Trey’s law’ signed by governors in Missouri and Texas
“Trey’s Law” is now the law of the land in Missouri and Texas after governors Mike Kehoe and Greg Abbott signed their versions of the bill this month. On June 10, Missouri Gov. Keheo signed SB-81, a comprehensive public safety…
A Christian appreciation for The Grateful Dead
The words “Deadhead” and “Christian” aren’t often spoken in the same sentence, if only because the former doesn’t seem to have much to do with the latter. But upon deeper inspection, there may be more overlap than one might think….
Trump thanks God after bombing Iran
President Donald Trump thanked God for the surprise bombing campaign he carried out against Iran Saturday, June 21. In comments to the nation on live TV Saturday evening, Trump ended by saying: “And in particular, God, I want to just…
Robert Morris scandal engulfs a Colorado pastor
Leaders of New Life Church in Colorado Springs announced the resignation of Senior Pastor Brady Boyd Friday evening, 12 days after Boyd promised his flock he knew nothing about the sexual sins of his mentor, Robert Morris, founder of the…
The Upper Room turns 90
The Upper Room, a popular daily devotional guide, celebrates its 90th anniversary this year. Although the printed devotional dates to 1935, the idea goes back to 1929, when Francis Craig sought to encourage people in their daily walk after the…
One year after Robert Morris’ confession, things are only worse
It has been one year since megachurch pastor Robert Morris admitted he had sexually abused a child decades earlier and resigned from Gateway Church in Dallas, but the scandal has only grown and now engulfs other leaders in controversies about…
Litigation in Yandell v. Kanakuk proceeds in court of appeals
Following the dismissal of fraud and civil conspiracy claims made by Logan Yandell against Kanakuk Kamps, Yandell’s attorneys are proceeding with litigation against the Christian summer camp in the Missouri court of appeals. On Jan. 17, following arguments made by…