Global Christianity faces major challenges in 2026 despite signs of growth, new report finds
A new global study has highlighted fresh developments affecting Christianity worldwide, with researchers pointing to demographic shifts, persecution and urbanisation as some of the key areas of focus for church leaders.
The findings come from the Status of Global Christianity 2026 report by the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary’s Center for the Study of Global Christianity.
What Does the Decline in Americans’ Religious Engagement Mean for Churches?
Religious engagement in America is lower than it has been in living memory. But that isn’t a reason to panic. It’s a reason to work.
Charles Spurgeon: 8 Clear Convictions about Evangelism in the Local Church (Part 1)
Charles Spurgeon died in 1892, but his influence on churches is still pervasive today. Thom looks at one major aspect of Spurgeon's ministry: his emphasis on evangelism in the local church. He takes two episodes to share Spurgeon's eight convictions.
Also See: Charles Spurgeon: 8 Clear Convictions about Evangelism in the Local Church (Part 2)
The Christian DNA of suspected White House Correspondents’ dinner shooter
President Donald Trump described the would-be assassin as anti-Christian. The evidence hints at a complex faith background.
Archbishop of Canterbury risks Donald Trump's wrath after praising Pope Leo's anti-war stance
The Archbishop of Canterbury risked the wrath of Donald Trump after praising Pope Leo for speaking out against injustice.
NAE urges church participation in Good Neighbor Day America
A nationally coordinated day of volunteerism next month is an opportunity for congregations to live into their callings to serve others at a time when issues of religion, government and society are hotly debated, said Walter Kim, president of the National Association of Evangelicals.
“Rather than engaging in these contentious debates about a national religion or Christian identity, let’s actually just be the church by getting engaged in transformational ways and in courageous ways that speak to the truth of who Jesus Christ is,” he said.
One way to do that is to join the coalition of faith communities and nonprofit organizations that have partnered with America250 to hold Good Neighbor Day America May 16. The NAE is an organizing partner of the project.
What Is Sin? Is Your Definition Missing the Mark?
Sin is a fundamental concept in Christianity. In English-language Bibles, words for sin appear over a thousand times. Salvation is frequently explained as the forgiveness of sins. Whether certain activities are sinful and how to avoid sin are common questions among Christians. Understanding sin is, therefore, a necessary part of understanding Christianity itself.
So what is sin?
The Back Forty and the Cure of Souls
Scripture is thick with agricultural connections, metaphors, and lessons. Around this time of year, something in my blood wakes with the sun, and I feel again the impulse to prepare the ground in addition to the soil of my heart for Christ’s resurrection. I am a son of the soil, a fifth-generation farmer. Farming formed my imagination long before the Church ordained me, and many of the lessons the land taught me have proven just as true in the cure of souls.
‘Proclaim Every Atom’: On Courage in the Pulpit
Last year, I had the privilege of participating in a preaching conference at Beeson Divinity School with the British theologian Alister McGrath, who gave three lectures on preaching. These were followed by responses from me and other scholars.
In building on one of McGrath’s lectures, I offered several takeaways, including this one: Know your people well enough to anticipate their objections.
I Don't Know
Ideally as the pastor you should be one of the better-educated people in your church. You have likely gone to college and then studied for three or four years to earn your MDiv. During that time you’ve probably read thousands upon thousands of pages of theological literature. For your sermon preparation you ideally read a great deal each week, and that’s not counting your leisure reading. For these and other reasons I suspect that people regularly come to you with their questions, and I suspect that you regularly dispense answers. This is a good thing. But never be afraid to use three words, “I don’t know.”
CDC delay of infant hepatitis B shot likely to raise infections, studies show
The Trump administration’s decision to drop the long-standing recommendation that newborns receive a hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth will likely lead to hundreds of additional infections among children, along with more cases of liver cancer, deaths and millions in added health care costs, according to studies published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics.
Image Credit: Holy Cross-St. Christopher Episcopal Church, Huntsville, Alabama
Why First-Time Guests Don’t Return—Even When They Say They Will
Thom Rainer draws attention to a critical factor in determing whether first-time guests return--"something deeper—something memorable, something personal, something that quietly says, 'You need to come back,'” must happen during their first visit.
The Essential First Steps to a Healthy Small Church
The biggest problem with small churches is not that they’re small. It’s that we think being small is a problem.
Ordering the Church for Ordinary Growth
Most pastors agree on what spiritual health looks like. Christians should grow in holiness, love God’s Word, participate in the life of the church, give generously, serve faithfully, share the gospel, and invest in one another. The difficulty is not defining the goal, but ordering the life of the church so that members actually pursue and achieve it.
How Church Structure Fuels Disciple-Making
Polity can play a significant role in disciple making in the local church. Church polity—or simply the way a church is structured—can either hinder or motivate disciple making.
Why It Might Be Good That Your Church Isn’t Growing
Caleb Davis encourages pastors to consider God’s good purposes in not growing their church rather than being discontent with their church’s size. God may be helping a church’s leaders to focus on the flock that is there and equip them to carry out his mission. A season that feels stagnant may be an opportunity for self-reflection, and it should lead to greater dependence on God.
3 Ways to Cultivate a Congregation That Exercises Faith
According to Lifeway Research, a mature believer exercises faith as opposed to living by their own strength.
Median US worship attendance rebounding after pandemic
Median in-person worship attendance in U.S. congregations has increased for the first time in a quarter century as post-pandemic church shows signs of rebounding, according to a new study by Hartford Institute for Religion Research.
Remaking the UMC brings ‘aura of hope’
When The United Methodist Church was formed in 1968, eminent theologian Albert C. Outler preached an opening sermon in which he extolled “an aura of hope” for the new denomination despite its challenges.
Facing new challenges today, United Methodist leaders recently announced several proposed innovations that many clergy and church members say rekindle an aura of hope after years of dissension and decline.
Joint Statement from Bishop Owensby and Bishop Duckworth on Gun Violence in Louisiana
"We, the Episcopal Bishops of the state of Louisiana, grieve with you in the wake of the recent shootings in Shreveport and Baton Rouge, and give thanks for our law enforcement who successfully averted a potential attack in the city of New Orleans. Our hearts are broken for those who have died, for those who are wounded in body and spirit, and for the families and communities whose lives have been forever altered...."
7 Ways to Transform Your Church’s Children’s Moment
What if the most overlooked four minutes in your worship service hold some of the greatest potential for formation? Erin Reed Cooper provides us with seven intentional shifts that can transform the children’s moment into a theologically rich experience for the entire congregation.
AI Is Coming For Your Systematic Theology
I want you to know about these books because I want you to be aware that this is happening. I want you to know it’s happening because it’s likely that things will get far worse before they get any better. I’ll first introduce you to this slop theology, then discuss the threat these books represent, and then tell you how you can identify them.
Artificial intelligence flatters users into bad behavior
Artificial intelligence systems tend to excessively agree with and validate users, even when those users describe engaging in harmful or unethical behavior. People who interact with these highly agreeable chatbots become more convinced they are right and less willing to apologize during interpersonal conflicts. The research, published in Science, points to an emerging societal risk as millions turn to technology for everyday advice.
'The end of an era': St. Paul's Church gets deconsecrated
On Sundays, when the pews should have been packed, the Rev. Dennis Morgan would walk into St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Vienna and, at most, see two parishioners prepared for sermon.
That is until Sept. 21, when the parish had its final service and St. Paul’s closed its doors for good. The church’s closure was not the town’s first this year.
Church Multiplication: 5 Paradigm Shifts to Move Beyond Addition
Why are we seeing so few churches that are actually reproducing and multiplying and not simply adding?
The Burge Report: Gen Z and the Church: Lonely, Cautious, Skeptical, But... Open
Institutional trust has collapsed nationwide across all age groups, but Gen Z is entering adulthood at historically low levels of trust toward institutions and toward other people. Yet there is a surprising glimmer of hope when it comes to religious institutions. Compared to Millennials, Gen Z shows slightly more openness to trusting the church, suggesting the story is not over. On this edition of The Burge Report, we discuss what pastors and churches can do to build bridges with Gen Z.
Also See: The Hunger for the Real
Methodist-Episcopal dialogue heads to full-communion vote in 2027 at General Convention
What was not mentioned in this article is that the United Methodist Church also authorizes licensed local pastors to administer the sacraments. UMC licensed local pastors are lay persons.
Worship attendance at churches up for the first time in decades, according to new report
Researchers from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research said the median congregation grew from 65 in 2020 to about 70 today. That is not enough to erase earlier declines, but it is noteworthy.
Do I choose an old or new church?
How do I discern what church to join?
The Case Against Complementarianism That's Harder to Dismiss
Preston Sprinkle studied the full biblical narrative on women in ministry inductively, without an agenda. From Genesis to Paul, we discuss what he found and where it led him.
We also tackle what faithfulness to scripture looks like, and how opening your mind and changing your view can make you more biblically faithful rather than less.
Southern Baptists have become what they once feared Catholics would be
Baptists have become imposers of their morality, bulldozing through the separation of church and state.
Filipino, Mexican Food Unifies San Diego Parish
On the first Sunday of every month at 10 a.m., St. Matthew’s Church in National City, California, holds a bilingual service that brings together parishioners from its two weekly services. On a regular Sunday, the 9:30 a.m. English service is attended mainly by Filipinos, while the 11:30 a.m. Spanish service comprises Latinos and Spanish-speaking members.
Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.
This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Good Shepherd Sunday for those Christian denominations that have adopted a version of the three-year Revised Common Lectionary.
The structure for this Sunday’s service is an adaptation of the Church of Ireland’s structure for A Service of the Word. This form of service has its roots in the synaxis of the early Church and the Ante-Communion service of the sixteenth century reformed Church of England and Ireland. Both are non-Eucharistic services of Scripture readings, a sermon, and prayers. A number of Christian denominations have similar forms of service.
In this Sunday’s message we will unpack John 10:1-10 and consider its implications for believers and those who do not yet believe.
Readings: Nehemiah 9:6-15, 1 Peter 2:19-25, and John 10: 1-10
Message: The Gateway to Life
Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/04/sundays-at-all-hallows-april-26-2026.html
Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.
If you are new to Sundays at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:
-It is recommended that after reading or hearing each lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows each lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.
-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.
-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.
-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.
-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.
May Sundays at All Hallows be a blessing to you.
2 Forces That Shape Every Church
Church shopping often comes with an unspoken question: Why do churches have such different personalities?
Church trial date set for ACNA Archbishop Steve Wood
Wood has filed a motion to dismiss the case, and the church court will hear arguments on that motion in May.
Pope Leo speaks out against cardinal ordering blessings for gay couples
Pope Leo XIV spoke out against Cardinal Reinhard Marx, who had instructed priests to give blessings for same-sex couples.
What’s the real story with Gen Z and religion today?
Are young men becoming more religious, while young women continue to move away from organized religion?
Discomfort with modern technology shapes Gen Z's desire to live in the past
Some members of Gen Z are feeling so pessimistic about the future of the country and modern technology that they want to hop in a time machine.
Israeli attacks on Christians and Christianity demand answers
Without serious accountability, follow-up and a credible investigation into alleged incitement in some religious schools, the attacks against Christians and other people of faith will not stop.
All In: Immersive Worship for Everybody
This essay is part of a series (April 20-24) on Disabilities, Ministry, and Inclusion. A Series Round Up will appear later in the spring.
The Six Major Views of Baptism
There are several ways we could divide the different positions various churches and denominations hold for baptism. To keep things brief and simple, we’ll break this exercise up into the six major views of baptism that exist in the church today to discover the recipients, mode, and meaning of baptism for each one.
Grace Doesn’t Grab: Why Consent Belongs In Worship
A church that asks first is not less affectionate. It is more trustworthy. And in a time when trust has been shattered in so many sanctuaries, that may be one of the most radical forms of evangelism left.
The media mandate: How wise use of communication can strengthen the Christian church
From the earliest days of the Church, the people of God have used the tools available to them to share truth, encourage believers, and reach those outside the faith.
Helping Students Transition From Children’s Ministry to Youth Group
Last week I looked into the eyes of some very apprehensive 11-year-olds. It was their last Sunday in “KidzTown.” Even though we made a big deal about “graduating them” up to youth group, still some pulled me aside and asked if they could have just “one more week” before they aged out of children’s ministry. I genuinely thought most would be ecstatic to be growing up and into youth group; I was wrong. The faces looking up at me were babies, and all they have every known is children’s ministry.
Children’s Ministry: Here’s Why What You Do Matters
Dear children’s ministry leader: Know that the kids and families you serve are thankful for you! You make an eternal difference in kids’ lives. So thank you!
Image Credit: St. Francis Episcopal Church, Piney Point Village, Texas
9 Discouraging Trends for Global Christianity in 2026
These nine discouraging trends in global Christianity in 2026 should collectively challenge church leaders to renewed prayer and action.
The Great Divide: American Morality Perception and Why We Judge Our Neighbors
According to a 25-country survey, Americans are more likely than people in other countries to question the morality of their fellow countrymen. This American morality perception makes us an unfortunate outlier.
In nearly every other country surveyed, the opposite was found. More people said that their neighbors have somewhat or very good morals than those who said they displayed somewhat or very bad levels of morality.
But again, not in America.
Extreme heat threatens global food systems, UN agencies warn
Extreme heat is pushing global agrifood systems to the brink, threatening the livelihoods and health of more than a billion people, according to a new report by the U.N.'s food and weather agencies.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said heatwaves are becoming more frequent, intense and prolonged, damaging crops, livestock, fisheries and forests.
Making ‘All Are Welcome’ Tangible
This essay is part of a series (April 20-24) on Disabilities, Ministry, and Inclusion. A Series Round Up will appear later in the Spring.
The backstory to St George and his flag
23 April marks St George’s Day, which often passes unnoticed. But who was St George and why is he England's patron saint? This is the story....
Pastors, Churchgoers See AI as Concerning and Confusing
Pastors and churchgoers aren’t completely opposed to AI, but they have concerns about its implementation and potential influence on Christianity.
Certain chatbots vastly worse for AI psychosis, study finds
Think something weird is up with your reflection in the mirror? Allow Grok to interest you in some 15th century anti-witchcraft reading.
A new study argues that certain frontier chatbots are much more likely to inappropriately validate users’ delusional ideas — a result that the study’s authors say represents a “preventable” technological failure that could be curbed by design choices.
Also See: Disclosing autism to AI chatbots prompts overly cautious, stereotypical advice
Nearly half of US children are breathing dangerous levels of air pollution, report warns
Nearly half of children in the United States are breathing dangerous levels of air pollution, according to a new report, as experts warned Donald Trump’s expansive rollback of protections will make the situation worse.
Diocese of Chicago church welcomes children to take part in the liturgy
As the congregation sang “God has filled us with laughter and music” on a recent Sunday, two joyful 5‑year‑olds broke into a spontaneous liturgical dance — much to the delight of all who witnessed it. Moments like these reflect a simple truth at St. Lawrence Episcopal Church: Children are not just present in worship; they are integral to it.
We pioneered child inclusive worship at St. Michael's, Mandeville in the Diocese of Louisiana in the late 1980s-early 1990s and I wrote an occasional paper (unpublished) on the topic for the Diocesan Commission on Liturgy and Music. I don't recommend giving small children percussion instrument to accompany the gospel procession! I do, however, recommend using simple gospel acclamations such as "Halle, Halle, Halle" and the "Happy Land Alleluia" in which small children can join. These acclamations should be sung unaccompanied so as not to drown out little voices.
Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.
During the Easter Season and beyond we will continue our examination of Jesus’ teaching. In Great Commission Jesus commands us not only to make disciples of all people groups but also pass on to them what he taught.
The topic of this evening’s message is the necessity of God’s grace.
Readings: Acts 8: 26-40; John 6: 44-51
Message: The Necessity of God’s Grace
Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/04/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows-april_23.html
Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.
If you are new to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:
-It is recommended that after reading or hearing a lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows the lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.
-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.
-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.
-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.
-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.
May Thursday Evenings at All Hallows be a blessing to you.
It's Earth Day! Why it's celebrated and activities you can do
Earth Day is a celebration that comes at a time when climate change is affecting communities across the globe.
Earth Day, which falls on April 22 every year, began in 1970, after millions of protesters in the United States marched for change, following a series of disasters caused by climate change and pollution that impacted the country. It then grew to a global movement.
In 2026, the day continues to acknowledge our planet, how it provides for us and ways we can protect and preserve its beauty.
Also See: 'Nations need to prepare now': Key Atlantic Ocean current is much closer to collapse than thought
Rio Grande church more than doubles its congregation after expanding its mission
In Las Cruces, New Mexico, a city that’s more than 60% Latino, only a few Protestant churches offer Spanish-language worship services.
When in December St. James Episcopal Church began engaging in Latino outreach, its attendance went from 70 to over 150 members, including pledging families with small children. Several of St. James’ new members who were recently baptized are in the process of becoming confirmed in The Episcopal Church. Attendance and membership continue to grow.
Australian Bishop Ordered to Resign
An Australian bishop has been ordered to resign his holy orders or be deposed, by May 1, after he secretly wed a woman he had ordained as priest.
Former archbishop of Canterbury blasts Hegseth's 'diabolical' rhetoric, calls US political culture 'demonic'
Former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said during a recent interview that he believes a demonic element is manifesting in the political culture of the United States, pinpointing the rhetoric of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth as a prime example.
Trump's assigned verse in Bible marathon is red meat for Christian nationalists
The choice of ‘Two Chronicles’ is not a coincidence.
The loneliest age group in America revealed
Middle-aged Americans are now the loneliest age group in the country, according to newly released research from AARP, which shows that adults in their 40s and 50s are more likely to experience feelings of loneliness than any other demographic— including older adults.
Former US officials raise red flag over looming widespread collapse of American agriculture. Why our farmers can't compete (and what it means)
According to a recent letter signed by a bipartisan group of 27 former agricultural leaders, President Donald Trump’s economic policies risk triggering "a widespread collapse of American agriculture” (1).
The letter, addressed to the leadership of both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, paints a grim picture: "The policies of this Administration have caused tremendous harm to the U.S. Agriculture. Farmer bankruptcies have doubled, barely half of all farms will be profitable this year, and the U.S. is running a historic agriculture trade deficit."
Also See: Tariffs, war, and now a historic drought have converged into a 'perfect storm' for US farmers and food prices
What negatively impacts US farms also negatively impacts rural communities and their churches and the nation as a whole and will lead to growing food shortages, higher food prices, and spreading food insecurity.
Christian Doctrines and Accessibility for the Disabled
This essay is part of a series on Ministry, Disabilities, and Inclusion running April 20-25. A Round Up with links will be available later this spring.
The Non-Negotiables for Building a Disability Ministry in Your Church
So much of this conversation starts with our theology of disability. How do we understand disabilities and how they fit into our world? We start by understanding that every person is made in the image of God. And what that means is that every person has the potential to have a relationship with God. And so there’s this shift now that we’re seeing, in the disability ministry world, away from the idea of babysitting and toward a ministry of discipleship.
Every person with a disability that comes into our church is an image bearer. They have the ability to have a relationship with God, whatever that looks like and whatever we may understand that to be. So, the first non-negotiable is to see this as an evangelism and discipleship issue. We’re not just going to put people with disabilities in a room so that the rest of their family can be discipled. We’re going to disciple them too.
Wesley Huff Debunks Claim That the Bible Was ‘Voted On’ at the Council of Nicaea
Did the Council of Nicaea invent the divinity of Jesus? Did a group of bishops in the fourth century determine which books belonged in the Bible? These are questions that apologists Wesley Huff and Andy Steiger addressed in the latest episode of their series “Can I Trust the Bible?”
Random Thoughts about Preaching and Being Preached To
In this article, I’ve simply collected some random thoughts on the subject and have alternated them so that half are for the ones preaching the sermons and the other half are for the ones listening to them.
Also See: How to Listen to a Sermon: Becoming a Better Hearer
Concern grows that AI is damaging users’ cognitive abilities
Last year, a team of researchers led by MIT research scientist Nataliya Kosmyna used electroencephalograms to monitor the brains of students while they were writing short, deliberately open-ended essays.
They split the 54 participants into three groups: one was told to use ChatGPT, one could search for information on Google (minus AI-generated summaries), and another had to rely on their own knowledge. As detailed in a resulting yet-to-be-peer-reviewed paper, each group was tasked with writing one essay per month for three months, while a subset of each group was asked to switch to or away from using ChatGPT for a fourth month.
The researchers’ EEG findings were ominous: the students using ChatGPT “consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels,” they found, and even got lazier with each consecutive essay.
It’s Never Too Early to Teach Theology to Kids
When we don’t purposefully teach theology to our kids, it reveals more about our own lack of faith than theirs.
Aim High. Repent. Often
We need to distinguish between the kind of hypocrisy Jesus excoriates and the stumbling attempts of sincere believers to live according to his commands. The world often conflates the two; the church should not.
Awakening Faith in Houston
Reagan Cocke was a child during the charismatic renewal movement’s peak in the 1970s, and he recalls his parents leaving for a few weekends a year to travel across the country for ministry’s sake. Cocke’s mother and father served with Faith Alive, a ministry that dispatched lay ministers to local Episcopal churches for weekend-long spiritual renewal events.
These events, which thrived in the latter half of the 20th century, encouraged Christians in their faith through personal testimonies, keynote sessions, musical worship, shared meals, and healing prayer.
Touched by the Wind: The Charismatic Movement in the Episcopal Church
My mother met me at the door, her face bursting with excitement. “You will never guess what has happened,” she exclaimed. Before I could respond, she continued, “Pentecost has come to the Episcopalians!” The year was 1961. I was a senior in high school. Mother had just returned from a “prayer luncheon” at the local Episcopal Church where David duPlessis had brought word of Dennis Bennett’s “Pentecostal” experience at St. Mark’s in Van Nuys, California, the previous year. Later as I looked through the several issues of Trinity magazine, edited by Jean Stone a member of St. Mark’s, which mother had brought home with her, I, too, experienced the sense of excitement that God was about to do something new in His Church.
Almost forty years have passed since that incident. I have followed the developments of the Charismatic renewal within the Episcopal Church with great interest since then: for ten years from the perspective of a member of a Pentecostal denomination, and for the past thirty years as an Anglican. It is out of this dual background that I have been asked me to write a critical evaluation of the Charismatic Movement within the Episcopal Church.
The Church of the Redeemer, Charismatic Renewal, and Music in Anglican Worship
One reader’s comment in response to the article was that the Church of the Redeemer was responsible for the introduction of Pentecostal worship, guitars and drums, and praise choruses in the Episcopal Church. This comment was a rather inaccurate oversimplification of the role that Redeemer played in the changes in worship in the Anglican Church in and outside of North America and the changes that have occurred in Anglican worship.
The type of worship seen at Redeemer in the early 1970s exhibited a number of significant differences from the type of worship seen in Pentecostal churches in the same period. The ubiquitous electric guitar and drum kit of today’s bands comes not from the charismatic renewal movement of the 1960s - 1970s but the Praise and Worship movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The Real Reasons Women are Done With Church
Christine Caine returns to the podcast to discuss the real reasons she thinks women are done with the church, how to get them back, why playing the Holy Spirit’s role in other people’s lives has to stop, and the necessity of being pruned if you want to flourish.
A Church Facilities Wish List
Our community at Church Answers Central recently discussed their wish list for their churches' facilities. Jess and Sam supplemented the list from our consultations. Here are the wishes in order of frequency.
The Five Reasons Church Building Projects Fail – How to Lead Yours to the Finish Line
Jess and Sam talk with Mike Stadelmayer at Church Growth Services. Church building projects carry tremendous ministry potential—but many stall, scale back, or never happen. The difference between success and frustration often comes down to the following critical factors....
Power Made Perfect in Weakness
This essay is part of a series on Ministry, Disabilities, and Inclusion running April 20-24. A Round Up with links will be available later this spring.
Why Christianity is public faith by design
Modern Christianity has embraced a contradiction. We insist that faith is deeply personal — yet fiercely resist allowing it to be public. We claim Jesus is Lord of all — yet confine Him to the private sphere. We preach transformation — yet recoil when that transformation disrupts public life. This version of Christianity feels polite. It feels safe. It is also foreign to Scripture. Christianity was never designed to be private.
Creating Margin in Ministry Through a Side Hustle and Travel Hacking, with Tim Walker (Ep 126)
“We also need to have an equal investment in rest and replenishment for the sake of longevity.”
When baptism becomes a carnival
In some evangelical circles, baptism is a spectator sport.
It’s always about which pastor or church can baptize the most people or put on the most extravagant baptismal super event.
The Four Causes of Spiritual Formation
Spiritual formation has become a hot topic in Christian theology. Over the past half-century, a cottage industry in evangelicalism has emerged around practices, habits, and intentional patterns of discipleship—often traced, symbolically, to the publication of Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline in 1978. This renewed interest is frequently driven by dissatisfaction with “thin” accounts of the Christian life that reduce discipleship either to doctrinal assent or to episodic moral effort. In response, many have emphasized holistic habits, intentional practices, and even personal “rules of life” as means of apprenticing to Jesus and inhabiting the kingdom in the present.
While this renewed attention is a welcome corrective to “thin” discipleship, it has also generated a certain conceptual fog. Many contemporary models of formation appear more like psychological self-help or therapeutic habit-stacking than distinctively Christian sanctification. And some worry, not without reason, that this new passion for “thick” discipleship defined by ascetical practices can cultivate spiritual pride rather than Christ-reliant Christlikeness. To clear this fog, we need a precise grammar that can name what is being formed, into what pattern, by what agency, and for what purpose. For this, we can turn to a classic analytical tool: Aristotle’s Four Causes. This will help us clarify just exactly what Christian spiritual formation is.
Why Some Established Churches Die Painfully Slow Deaths
About 80% of churches are either declining or plateaued. We should celebrate the 20% that are growing, but this post is about the larger group. Struggling established churches are notorious for hanging on—not for years, but for decades. How is it that some churches can remain on life support for so long? The reasons are varied and, to some degree, contextual, but one demographic factor stands out.
Why Your Church Is Getting Older (and Getting Younger with Simple Church) Webinar Replay
If you’d like to revisit the content or share it with your team, or if you missed the webinar, I have posted the link to the replay of the webinar. I have also posted a link to the the slides of the webinar.
Also See: Why Your Church Is Getting Older (and Getting Younger with Simple Church) Webinar Slides (Downloadable)
Grow It or Close It? Is There a Third Option for Struggling Small Churches?
We need to assemble and promote the best ideas we can find to help struggling small churches become healthy small churches.
Don’t Get Singled Out
One of the great tricks of the devil is to get someone alone. Have you ever seen those videos of wolves attacking a herd? Have you noticed how they attack? They don’t go for the big fella at the front of the pack, and they don’t go for the little one in the middle of the pack. They find the straggler. The one who is already on the outskirts of the herd. They get him further separated from the herd and then slowly wear him down until they can bring him down. This is what the devil does. He loves to get us alone and then slowly wear us down and discourage us. Let me warn you here: Don’t get singled out.
Trump’s AI Jesus Might Be the Messiah We’ve Been Looking For
Russell reads his latest article for Christianity Today.
Church leaders break silence: Trump represents threat to faith
These remarks were delivered during an emergency press conference in New Haven, Connecticut on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 in response to recent comments and actions by President Donald J. Trump.
The blame for Trump’s messiah complex lies with Franklin Graham
Last week, Donald Trump began to openly challenge and mock the pope and then posted an image of himself as Jesus Christ. Many conservative Catholics and even evangelicals who have wholeheartedly defended and supported Trump were taken aback, but not one man: his most visible “spiritual adviser,” Franklin Graham.
Trump’s antipathy for Pope may have roots in childhood Protestant church
Somewhat overlooked in the furore over Donald Trump’s attacks this week on Pope Leo, for his criticism of the US attack on Iran, and the US president’s decision to post an image portraying himself as Jesus Christ on social media, is the fact that Trump attended services as a young man at the Protestant Marble Collegiate church in Manhattan, which was led at the time by an anti-Catholic pastor.
The idolator-in-chief plays savior while the pope chooses prophecy
One man seemed to imagine himself as Jesus. The other one simply tried to act like him.
What’s the risk of Trump’s fight with Pope Leo?
I don’t believe President Donald Trump understands the political risk of picking a fight with Pope Leo XIV. My best guess is he believes the unquestioning submission demonstrated by his fawning white evangelical followers exists among all his Christian followers. But Catholics are not white evangelical Protestants.
People with dark personality traits are naturally inclined towards leadership roles, finds new study
Can you tell if you're working with a narcissist or a psychopath? A new study suggests that people's job choices may offer some clues, especially in fields built on leadership and persuasion such as business, politics, and law, where such darker traits are more common. Those in creative fields or nature-focused work may be more likely to encounter individuals with a Machiavellian way of thinking, according to findings published in Personality and Individual Differences.
Share of young men attending church is on the rise in a trend driven by Republicans, Gallup finds
In a shift that may be driven by political identity, the share of young adult men who report attending a religious service at least monthly is now the highest it has been in more than a decade, according to a new report from Gallup.
Disabilities & the Church: What Leaders Should Know
This essay kicks off a series on Ministry, Disabilities, and Inclusion running April 20 – 25. A series round up with links to all the essays will appear later in the spring.
Healing What’s Within: Why Trauma-Informed Care is Vital for the Modern Church
For Christians committed to embodying the compassion of Christ, understanding trauma is not optional; it is a necessary expression of love. Jesus consistently drew near to the wounded, responding with tenderness, protection and truth. To follow him faithfully requires that we become communities where those who suffer are seen, believed and gently accompanied toward healing.
How People of Faith Can Help Solve the Mental Health Crisis, with Shaunti Feldhahn & James N. Sells (Ep 125)
“People need friends. Not paid-professional friends, not just online friends. Real people who engage in real time over real concerns.”
Which type of tree did Zacchaeus actually climb?
20 April is the feast day of Zacchaeus of Jericho. We all know the account of Zacchaeus climbing a tree to see Jesus. However, it turns out not to have been a sycamore tree at all. This is the story....
Four Barriers for New Leaders
Here are four common barriers new leaders must overcome to lead effectively and faithfully....
2 Leadership Mistakes Every Rural Church Pastor Must Avoid How can a pastor draw on an understanding of the relational nature of a rural church to avoid unnecessary struggles?
The Critical Functions of a Pastor Rarely Found in a Church Job Description
On this episode, Josh and Sam discuss some critical functions of their work as pastors that are not included in the typical church job description.
Should Full-Time Pastors Have a Side Hustle?
Ministry today and in the future will necessitate more co-vocational pastors and church leaders. What about full-time pastors who need to supplement their income? A side job may relieve financial pressure, expand skills, and create meaningful community connections outside the church. However, it can also be a distraction and create divided attention.
Scientists tested the creativity of AI models, and the results were surprisingly homogeneous
A recent study published in PNAS Nexus suggests that while artificial intelligence chatbots can match or exceed human creativity on individual tasks, they produce highly similar responses when compared to one another. This provides evidence that widespread reliance on artificial intelligence for creative tasks could lead to a loss of unique ideas.
Letting AI do your work erodes your confidence, according to a new study
As AI becomes a daily work tool, the real risk may not be losing our intelligence—but losing confidence in our own thinking. New research suggests the difference comes down to how actively we engage with the technology.
Teen boys are choosing AI girlfriends over real ones for 'maximum control, zero rejection'—experts say it could make them unemployable
The appeal is, as one professor told Fortune, obvious: “maximum control, zero rejection.” And it’s a shift that could reshape not just their love lives, but their future careers.
The toll of opting out of real relationships, in all their mess and glory, experts warn, could be a generation that arrives in the workforce unable to read a room, build trust over a coffee, or handle the one thing AI can never prepare you for—being told no.
‘Not a Child-Safe Technology’: Proactive Parenting in the Age of AI
When I asked him what parents should be worried about for their kids, he mentioned three things—education, emotions, and employment. These are areas where AI is already affecting children or young people, and, importantly, areas where parents have the agency and ability to make wise decisions that can significantly affect the mental, emotional, and spiritual health of their kids.
Let’s take them one at a time, starting with education.
Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.
This Sunday is the Third Sunday of Easter, and we continue our celebration of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. This Sunday’s Gospel reading is an account of one of a number of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances to his disciples and to other witnesses, his appearance to Cleopas and an unnamed disciple on the road to Emmaus, a village outside Jerusalem.
Beginning this Sunday, we will be using an order of service, adapted from the Church of Ireland’s A Service of the Word. A number of Anglican Churches have made provision for such a service as an alternative to the Daily Offices and Holy Communion.
In this Sunday’s message we offer our reflections upon the appearance of the risen Jesus to Cleopas and his companion on the road to Emmaus.
Readings: Isaiah 43: 1-1,; 1 Peter 1: 17-23, and Luke 24: 13-35
Message: On the Road to Emmaus
Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/04/sundays-at-all-hallows-april-19-2026.html
Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.
If you are new to Sundays at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:
-It is recommended that after reading or hearing each lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows each lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.
-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.
-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.
-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.
-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.
May Sundays at All Hallows be a blessing to you.
New study casts doubt on talk of religious revival in US
Speculation about a possible religious revival in the US has been contradicted by new nationwide research suggesting that little has changed with Americans’ faith habits or identities over the past year.
The latest 2025 Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) Census of American Religion finds that religious affiliation has remained broadly stable, with no clear evidence of a widespread return to church life across the US.
Christians in UK feel free to worship but sense growing cultural pressure - report
Christians in the UK can largely practise their faith openly and without legal restriction, but many are increasingly concerned about a cultural shift affecting these freedoms, according to a new report by the Evangelical Alliance.
The study titled, Confident Faith, Contested Culture, is based on a survey of 884 evangelical Christians across the UK conducted in late 2025, alongside additional polling of nearly 1,500 respondents.
Archbishop of Canterbury to 'shine a light' during visit to four dioceses
The Archbishop of Canterbury will make pastoral visits to four dioceses before the end of the year "to shine a light on where God is at work in local churches and communities."
Most Rev Dame Sarah Mullally will meet clergy and congregations in parishes, chaplaincies, schools, healthcare settings and church-run projects across the Church of England.
No mystery: Long Island church is the place to be this week for Hamptons Whodunit festival
If you’re visiting East Hampton, New York, this week and want to find out “whodunit,” the plot twists and suspenseful storytelling likely will lead you to the parish hall of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
For the third year, the congregation is hosting a series of events as part of the Hamptons Whodunit, a four-day international celebration of mystery writing that bills itself as “the premier boutique mystery and true crime festival in New York State.”
Albert Mohler Says Trump’s AI Image Was ‘Blasphemous,’ Regardless of Intent
Dr. Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a prominent voice in the Southern Baptist Convention, called an AI-generated image posted by President Donald Trump “blasphemous.”
On Sunday, April 12, President Donald Trump posted an image of himself as Jesus Christ on Truth Social. The image sparked “blasphemy” claims from many Christians.
Why Trump’s delusions are so dangerous: Psychologist
President Donald Trump has crossed from grandiosity into full-blown psychosis, psychologist Dr. John Gartner has warned.
Gartner, a former professor at Johns Hopkins University, told The Daily Beast Podcast that the 79-year-old president is engaged in “magical thinking,” as evidenced by his belief—as reported by Dr. Mehmet Oz—that Diet Coke kills cancer cells.
At SBC seminary, Hawley says USA founded on covenant with God
U.S. government and society must be remade to conform with a 17th-century pact made by Protestant settlers to establish a Christian colony in America, Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley said.
“This country was founded on a covenant, and I don’t mean primarily our Constitution — I mean something older than that,” Hawley said during the 2026 Duke K. McCall Leadership Lecture delivered April 16 at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.
ln England the Puritans sought to replace the monarchy with a theocracy from the reign of Elizabeth I to that of Charles II. Early in Charles' reign non-conforming Puritan ministers were deprived of their livings, ejected from their churches, and were prohibited from holding conventicles, meetings of people with similar views as theirs. The Puritans were not champions of separation of church and state but objected to the Book of Common Prayer, episcopacy, and religious beliefs and practices other their own. Interestingly the early Baptists (not to be confused with the Anabaptists) were the ones who championed the separation of church and state
Why some U.S. conservatives want Catholicism to shape the country
The Hill's Bill Sammon and Chris Stirewalt discuss the tension between conservatives like Vice President JD Vance and the Vatican. What is Catholic integralism and how does it play into the divide?
Dallas City Council mulls plan to regulate churches feeding homeless
Councilman warns proposed ordinance 'raises serious concerns, especially when it comes to religious freedom'.
Sacred Music Composer Raquel Mora MartÃnez Dies at 86
This is the official obituary of Raquel Mora Martinez, musician, composer and sacred music scholar, most noted for the creation of The United Methodist Church’s first Spanish-language hymnal, “Mil Voces Para Celebrar.” It is republished from the website of Mission Parks Funeral Chapels and Cemeteries, San Antonio, Texas.
Also See: Raquel MartÃnez Embodied Legacy of Immigrant Women on Worship
Anxiety around AI is growing rapidly in the US, research shows
People are increasingly anxious about artificial intelligence and the impact it is having on their lives, according to a new report.
More than half of the people surveyed in Stanford University’s 2026 AI Index Report said that products using artificial intelligence made them fell nervous, while excitement surrounding the technology has fallen over the last few years.
OpenAI’s Sora allowed you to deepfake yourself. Users started to remember things that never happened.
Campus ministry helps students find connection and purpose
Offering connection for students is a vital part of campus ministry. As the Anglican Journal reached out to Anglican chaplains and students at universities across the country, those who responded highlighted the ability of this ministry to provide fellowship and meaning for students at a transitional time in their lives.
The 5 Love Languages of Volunteers (and How to Use Them!)
Become fluent in the five “love languages” so your volunteers feel just how much you appreciate them!
Image Credit: Church of the Holy Trinity, Georgetown, Kentucky
How Church Leaders Can Combat Cultural Attrition
My last article explored the reality of cultural attrition in the church. It is a genuine problem, and real problems call for intentional solutions. So, how do we prevent cultural attrition in our churches? Here are eleven ways to fight cultural attrition in your church.
Also See: The Challenge of Cultural Attrition in Your Church
More US young men than young women say religion is important to them
Young men are now more likely than young women in the US to say religion plays a major role in their lives, according to the newest findings from Gallup.
CoE launches worship initiative to engage more children with faith
The Church of England has announced a new programme aimed at creating new worship communities for primary school aged children.
The Church’s Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board (SMMIB) has invested half a million pounds into the programme, which will see churches partner with iSingPOP.
Canadian Anglicans prepare to weigh in on Nairobi-Cairo Proposals
The Anglican Church of Canada has convened a panel of clergy and bishops to study a pair of proposed reforms to the structure of the worldwide Anglican Communion, known as the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals.
Gafcon, the Abuja Affirmation, and a Future to Fret
his essay concludes a series running April 13-17. A Series Round Up with links to all the essays will appear later this spring.
Evangelicals 'need prayers' after Church in Wales votes to make same-sex blessings permanent
The Church in Wales Governing Body has voted to make same-sex blessings permanent following a five-year trial period in which they were allowed on a temporary basis.
The vote during a meeting in Llandudno on Thursday is likely to lead some Welsh Anglicans to leave the Church or seek alternative episcopal oversight.
Also See: GAC chairman responds to Welsh same-sex marriage vote
Are you suffering from "cognitive atrophy" due to AI overuse?
As an expert on how new technology reshapes society and the human experience, I have observed a growing phenomenon which I and other researchers refer to as “cognitive atrophy”.
Essentially, AI is replacing tasks many people have grown reluctant to do themselves – thinking, writing, creating, analysing. But when we don’t use these skills, they can decline.
We also risk getting things very, very wrong....
The Paradox of the Brightening Path
There’s a paradox you’ll encounter the longer you walk with Jesus. The more you experience the light of his love, the more clearly you see the remaining spots and stains in your life. Progress seems lacking. Stumbles continue to mark your journey. The more you know the Lord’s love for you, the more you feel your unworthiness and your dependence on his grace.
This doesn’t mean you’re going backward. I call it the paradox of the brightening path.
Against the Algorithm: In Praise of the Parish
Local church communities can appear as retrograde curiosities in the age of increasing technology and globalisation. We may say as we drive by: ‘What does this throwback to the 1950s have to do with modern life?’
However, the parish church offers a quiet but profound act of resistance against the great machines that want to seize our humanity from us. It operates at human scale. It is real, not virtual; organic, not mechanistic; familial, not individualistic. You are not curated by algorithms but shaped by neighbours. You are not known as a profile but as a person. The parish does not promise efficiency or growth. It promises presence, and that turns out to be the thing of which we are most starved.
Gen Z women are losing their religion, new study finds
Women have long been more religious than men. But a new study finds the gap closing as more young women under 30 identify as “none” — unaffiliated.
Archbishop of Canterbury issues statement supporting Pope Leo XIV’s calls for peace
Pope Leo XIV has opened about his faith-based opposition to war, particularly the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, and the American-born pontiff has said Christians are called to follow Jesus’ model in advocating for peace. U.S. President Donald Trump and others in his administration have criticized Leo for expressing those views.
On April 16, Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally, the spiritual leader of the global Anglican Communion, issued a statement saying she stands behind Leo in his calls for peace. The following is the text of Mullally’s statement.
The Wisdom of the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals: A Response to Paul Avis
This essay is part of a series (April 13-17) analyzing the Abuja Affirmation and the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals. A Round Up with links to all the essays will appear later in the spring.
Church in Wales Approves Blessings for Same-Sex Couples
A rite for blessing same-sex marriages and partnerships will be added to the Church in Wales’ Book of Common Prayer.
The church’s Governing Body debated a resolution on April 14 and 15, and it achieved two-thirds support in the House of Bishops, the House of Clergy, and the House of Laity. The church’s five bishops reported their vote as “nem. com.,” meaning no bishop voted against the resolution.
When Trump’s satire hits too close to home for American Christians, Antichrist claims emerge
‘Throughout both of Trump’s terms, he’s done so many things that I thought were going to be over the line, and it never happens,’ said Matthew Sutton, a scholar of religious history at Washington State University. ‘But this moment, it does feel like a turning point.’
Trump slammed the first US pope. The country's bishops now appear more united than ever.
Over nearly the last year, the bishops have gradually ramped up a forceful and united defense of the American pope’s critiques of Trump administration policies.
Teens alarmed at what AI is doing to their minds
There’s a strange dynamic emerging around artificial intelligence. Research has shown that young people — who are typically the first adopters of new technology like MP3 players and the internet — are actually the most skeptical of AI. In fact, many teens seem to have deep concerns over AI chatbots rotting their frontal lobes.
Also See: Usually, young people embrace new technology. Gen Z’s attitude toward AI should worry the entire tech industry
Faith in the Classroom: How One Teacher Made the Public School Her Mission Field
We are all called to be light in dark places, and that’s why we need Christian teachers. If Christians retreat from public schools, those schools will become increasingly and irrevocably dark. The next generation desperately needs teachers who not only educate minds but also reflect Christ’s character in the way they live and love.
Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.
The topic of this Thursday evening’s message are practices which, unlike almsgiving, prayer, fasting, and the treatment of other people, Jesus did not address in his teaching, and which the apostles only touched upon in their writings.
Reading: Matthew 26: 17-30
Message: An Oversight?
Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/04/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows-april_16.html
Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.
If you are new to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:
-It is recommended that after reading or hearing a lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows the lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.
-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.
-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.
-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.
-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.
May Thursday Evenings at All Hallows be a blessing to you.
Church Attendance Trends: What Pastors Need to Know About the Next Generation
In recent decades, America’s churches have felt emptier. Shifting worship numbers have forced ministries to adapt and get creative. For many faith communities, the pandemic created a “before and after” that shapes how people think about Sunday mornings.
The outlook isn’t without bright spots, though. Scripture is full of seasons of wandering and returning. And lately, some remarkable things are happening, especially among young people. If you lead a church, serve in one, or simply love one, keep reading for insights about church attendance.
What Gets Celebrated Gets Replicated: Why Joy Drives Leadership
What if the key to lasting momentum in your church isn’t more pressure, but more joy? Brad Aycock shares five practical ways leaders can make joy and celebration a consistent part of their leadership strategy, showing how celebration shapes culture and strengthens mission.
What future for the Anglican Communion?
The Nairobi-Cairo Proposals would bring about seismic changes — and not for the better, argues Paul Avis.
The Abuja Affirmation—An Anglican Communion?
This essay is part of a series on the Abuja Affirmation which will run April 13-17. A Series Round Up with links to all the essays will appear later in this spring.
Pope v. Trump is about the value of a moral tradition
The recent entirely predictable online attack by Donald Trump on Pope Leo XIV has made an argument over values into a personal dispute. But the issue between the two men is not a personal dispute. It is instead a powerful illustration of the value of a moral tradition when brought to bear on transgressions against it.
I keep thinking of three images that have been used in Christian ethics to describe what the Christian moral tradition at its best offers: Solid ground, plumbline and guardrails.
Christianity is not a politician’s prop
Mean it when you say it, or don’t say it.
Malcolm Guite on Re-Enchanting a Disenchanted World
Malcolm Guite and Russell meet in Andrew Peterson’s Chapter House–Guite’s pipe smoke billowing–on the occasion of Guite’s new book, Galahad and the Grail, the first volume in the Merlin's Isle trilogy from Rabbit Room Press.
Malcolm Guite: We need to awaken the mind's attention
Malcolm Guite is a beloved poet, storyteller, Anglican priest, and academic. He is author of numerous books including the Faith Hope and Poetry, Lifting thr Veil: Imagination and the Kingdom of God. As well as his latest offering - his first installment of a mighty four-volume work - Galahad and the Grail.
Fall (Back) in Love with the Bible
Join the Living Church in Oklahoma City for “Radiant Pages: Rediscovering the Bible.” This three-day conference will empower lay people and clergy alike to read the Bible with greater skill, care, and confidence. It will also provide tools for priests and teachers to re-invigorate their teaching and preaching.
AI use appears to have a “boiling frog” effect on human cognition, new study warns
In a new study, researchers claim to provide the first causal evidence that leaning on AI to assist with “reasoning-intensive” cognitive labor — mental tasks ranging from writing to studying to coding to simply brainstorming new ideas — can rapidly impair users’ intellectual ability and willingness to persist despite difficulty.
From 'BuddhaBot' to $1.99 chats with AI Jesus, the faith-based tech boom is here
The rush to create faith-based generative AI is unsurprising, given the popularity of chatbots for everything from therapy and medical advice to companionship and romance.
What If People Treat ‘Jesus AI’ Like the Real Jesus? Just Like Me Founder Responds to Concerns
An AI chatbot modeled after Jesus Christ—which users must pay to access—has stirred controversy online, with some saying the Jesus AI is “blasphemy” and others suggesting it reflects the kind of practice the real Jesus would have condemned. In a statement to ChurchLeaders, the founder of the company that created the Jesus AI said the tool is meant to complement, not replace “faith, scripture, or religious leaders” and that the chatbot was an “AI-powered reflection of Jesus’ teachings—not Jesus himself.”
