(ABP)—The look and feel of the Wednesday night church service is beginning to change as congregations seek to become more intentional and relevant to the communities they serve, ministers and scholars say. Those experts say they’re noticing the shift as…
CELEBRATE RETIREMENT: 10,000 Baby Boomers reaching age 65 every day
It happens to everyone. You can’t do anything about it and you want to think you’ll be calm when it happens, but most times it will catch you off guard. It’s your first “senior” mailing. It could be an invitation…
Ramadan fast poses challenge for Muslim Olympians
(RNS)—Winning an Olympic medal is hard. Surprisingly, winning one when you’re fasting for Ramadan is not that much harder. At least, not for Suleiman Nyambui of Tanzania, who took silver in the 5000 meters at the 1980 Summer Olympics while…
Anglicans celebrate Book of Common Prayer’s 350th
CANTERBURY, England (RNS/ENInews) “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” “All the deceits of the world, the flesh and the devil.” “Read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest.” Shakespeare? The King James Bible? Close—the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, the liturgical and…
Mormons and Baptists compete for converts
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS)—Jake Pulsipher’s first day as a working missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began at 6:30 a.m. with prayer and exercise, followed by breakfast and study. Then he put on a black suit, white…
More churches turning to high-tech worship
(RNS) No matter where you live, you can go to church, so to speak, with Christ Fellowship in McKinney, Texas, which is on board with almost every high-tech gambit under heaven. Find the church by going online—the 21st-century version of…
Survey finds record 19 percent of religiously unaffiliated Americans
(RNS)—Unbelief is on the uptick. People who check “None” for their religious affiliation are now nearly one in five Americans (19 percent), the highest ever documented, according to the Pew Center for the People and the Press. The rapid rise…
Is a contemporary worship service the quick-fix to energize a church?
It’s a recurring scenario in America’s Christian congregations. As members grapple with their church’s future—eager to increase attendance or renew spiritual energy—one suggestion inevitably emerges. It’s time to start a contemporary worship service. The assumption that guitar- and drum-driven worship…
EDITORIAL: Freeh indeed! Penn State’s sex scandal and implications for the church
The release of the Freeh report the morning of July 12, has focused attention once again to the Penn State/Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal. According to the 267-page report authored by former FBI director Louis Freeh, who was hired by…
LEADERSHIP LINK: Blessed are those who make peace in their own congregations, part 2
In the previous issue of the Religious Herald we began a leadership link series on preventing conflict. In that first installment, we considered Christ’s character traits of humility and sacrifice that made peace. In subsequent issues we will look at…
Project Ruth celebrates two decades
BUCHAREST, Romania (ABP)—Project Ruth’s Mihai Ciopasiu is all too glad to talk about the success the organization has enjoyed the past two decades serving the poorest and most shunned children in Romania. The nonprofit began as a day center with…
Project Ruth celebrates 2 decades
By Jeff Brumley Project Ruth’s Mihai Ciopasiu is all too glad to talk about the success the organization has enjoyed the past two decades serving the poorest and most shunned children in Romania. The nonprofit began as a day center…