“They stole $77,000. And that was all of my savings.” Her voice was so soft I (Doug) had to lean in to hear her. “I’ve talked with the local police, the FBI and the Federal Trade Commission. The money is...
A coalition of anti-death penalty groups has united to end capital punishment state by state and just as U.S. executions are surging. The alliance of more than 50 organizations was launched earlier this month to coordinate nationwide abolition efforts led…
I had the good fortune to spend three hours in the car with my son Garrett Saturday. He’s our avant garde jazz saxophonist and composer/arranger. He told me about a Substack he’s reading that’s written by a well-known figure in…
A single day of cascading campaign announcements threw a prominent Baptist pastor into a race for the U.S. House of Representatives Dec. 8. Frederick Haynes III, pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, filed to run for Texas’ 30th Congressional…
A sprawling collection of discovery material now made public has unearthed explosive new details and previously unknown facts regarding the Southern Baptist Convention, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the sexual abuse allegations involving former professor David Sills and his former…
Christians in India are facing increased violence, social antagonism and legal scrutiny, according to advocacy groups. Attacks on Christians have been almost daily this year. These affect families, pastors and tiny congregations in multiple states. From January to July 2025,…
In a day when the president of the United States cancels the commemoration of Dec. 1 as World AIDS Day — while his DOGE canceling of USAID has led to many more AIDS deaths in Africa — and we see…
When asked why she joined the fight against gun violence, Paula Hawthorn’s answer was simple: “Because God told me to.” A staunch Episcopalian who doesn’t tend to speak or hear directly from God on a regular basis, the 82-year-old retired…
I don’t remember when I picked up this handy mental trick. Sixth grade, maybe seventh? My first recollection of using it came during a world geography class. The teacher asked us to memorize the names of European countries’ capitals, many…
“I believe: That the Lord God created the universe. I believe: That he sent his only son to die for my sins. And I believe: That ancient Jews built boats and sailed to America. I am a Mormon. And a…
“Freeing yourself was one thing, claiming ownership of that freed self was another.” — Toni Morrison Dear Mary, Mother, I grow weary this Advent season; this is a weary world longing to rejoice as the carol sings. I miss the…
Five Baptist-affiliated schools have received grants of $7 million to $10 apiece from the Lilly Endowment through its Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative. The Baptist-related schools are among 45 recipients in the latest round of large-scale collaboration grants from Lilly. Launched in…
James Dobson is dead but his ministry’s culture warring lives on in a falsehood-laden attack on America’s Catholic bishops for a “special message” they issued reaffirming “the fundamental dignity of all persons, including immigrants.” “As pastors, we the bishops of…
