Saturday Lagniappe: 'The Unchurched Next Door' And More

The Unchurched Next Door: New Tools and Insights to Really Reach Them
Join Thom and Sam Rainer on Thursday, July 16, at 1:00 PM Eastern for The Unchurched Next Door: New Tools and Insights to Really Reach Them. In this free webinar, you’ll discover why the mission field around your church may be larger and more receptive than you realize. Learn about the five levels of unchurched receptivity (U1–U5), uncover where your greatest outreach opportunities exist, and see how The Unchurched Report can help your church better understand and engage the people in your community. Save your spot today!

The Future of Church Hiring When Pastors Are in Short Supply
As more churches struggle to find qualified pastors, the future of church hiring is changing fast. In this episode, Thom and Sam explore what pastor shortages mean for congregations, why old search processes are becoming less effective, and how churches can adapt with greater clarity, flexibility, and realism. The conversation focuses on practical ways churches can rethink staffing, develop internal leaders, and build healthier expectations for the next generation of pastors. 

A growing number of Episcopal congregations must share a priest with one or more other congregations, have a priest who is about to retire, or must depend upon aging retired priests to supply them. To make matters, worse they cannot function well on their own without a priest because their worship, ministry, and life as a congregation  is priest-centered. Worship services are poorly planned and executed on priestless Sundays and worship committees planning these services too often suffer from the Dunning-Kruger effect and are resistant to guidance.

Do Some Congregations Have a Chrysler Dealership Mindset from Yesteryear?

The pandemic, with all its challenges for churches, showed that even the smallest churches can do things they previously would have thought impossible. But the pandemic also reminds us that those changes are not easy or without tension and a great deal of new learning. The challenge for churches today is to find ways to innovate without the presence of a pandemic or similar external disruption.

All mindsets from yesteryear are not "conservative," an all too common assumption, they can also be "progressive." For example, the antipathy in the Episcopal Church to evangelism and evangelistic outreach. 

Trump's CDC stopped monitoring explosive diarrhea parasite before outbreak

The Trump administration’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) scaled back a federal-state partnership that monitors foodborne illnesses, including cyclospora, a year before several states began reporting an outbreak of cyclospora infection, a foodborne illness that can cause “explosive” diarrhea.

Just in time for the church picnics, potlucks, and block parties of the summer.

Why the Apostles’ Creed Still Matters

Throughout the history of the church, at least since the fourth century AD, Christians have turned to the Apostles’ Creed as one of the clearest summaries of “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Though brief—only about a hundred words—it distills the heart of Christian belief in a way that both instructs and unites God’s people. In an age when truth feels fluid and identity shifts with every new cultural current, the Creed offers a firm place to stand, reminding believers who God is and what the gospel truly proclaims.

I Believe in God, the Father Almighty
The Apostles’ Creed begins with four simple yet seismic words: “I believe in God.” For centuries, Christians have confessed this as the foundation of all faith. But what does it actually mean to believe in God? And what kind of God are we talking about—the vague spiritual force of popular culture revealed in Star Wars, or the living, triune God revealed in Scripture?

The first line of the Creed, “I believe in God, the Father Almighty,” invites us to recover a vision of God that is both intimate and immense—personal yet infinite, near yet utterly holy—immanent yet totally transcendent.

5 of the Worst Leadership Traits I’ve Experienced
...what actually separates a flawed leader from one who never reaches their potential? After years of watching pastors and church leaders up close, I’ve narrowed it to five traits. Feel free to disagree, or add to the list.

The Brutal Reality of Pastoring with John Ortberg
John Ortberg has spent decades leading churches, writing books, and teaching leaders. But every leader has parts of the job they’re not naturally good at. In this conversation, John opens up about pain in leadership, what it’s like to be an introvert in ministry, and how to handle the work you’d rather avoid.

Friday's Catch: 'Cultural Enemies' And More

Cultural Enemies
In this article James Emery White writes, “Don’t worry about having enemies. Instead, concern yourself with having the right ones and for the right reasons. Don’t have enemies because you are intentionally offensive in spirit and in relational dynamics. Don’t have enemies because you are caustic and abrasive. Don’t have enemies because you are unfeeling and unloving. But… Do have enemies because you stand for truth. Do have enemies because you will not waver in the face of majority opinion when it clashes with biblical authority. Do have enemies when you will not personally compromise your convictions.”

Why Women Can’t Lead in Your Church
Every few years, another institution’s reckoning with how it treats women leaders becomes national news. A seminary president is removed. A denomination argues over whether the word “pastor” applies to a worship leader or a Sunday school director. A well-known Bible teacher steps publicly away from the tradition that raised her. Each story reads like an isolated scandal. Together, they describe something more ordinary and more troubling: a pattern of women whose gifts stall out at the same invisible ceiling, in churches nowhere near the headlines.

Why the Church Needs to See Women in Leadership
“Where are the women leaders? I wish there were more out there.”

“I just wish there were more coming through. There don’t seem to be any anywhere.”

“What’s happening?”

I have had this exact conversation more times than I can count. Over coffee. On a podcast recording. In a hallway after a conference session. With men and women across the U.S., across Europe, across generations. Sometimes the tone is wistful. Sometimes it carries real hurt. Sometimes it just sounds baffled, like something doesn’t add up.

How to Guard Your Women’s Ministry Against False Teaching
What struck me about this article is that the foundation for sound doctrine proposed in the article is applicable to all people involved in ministry irrespective of their gender. I would also add that men are susceptible to the influence of social media too. It is not something unique to women!

Faith-based AI company Gloo faces moment of truth after $438M in losses
Serial entrepreneur Scott Beck believes he has a mission to help churches and Christian ministries spread God's work and help others. After years of financial losses, he believes his investment in building a faith-based tech company will soon pay off.

Experts have a warning about this influential pastor's controversial views on women
A recent NPR interview with controversial pastor Doug Wilson is highlighting the growing influence of Christian nationalism in American political and cultural life ― as well as alarming the experts and survivors who know this movement well.

Wilson, who co-founded the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, or CREC, spoke to journalist Leila Fadel about his vision for a Christian theocracy and doubled down on his view that women should not have the right to vote. Calling the repeal of the 19th Amendment “a good idea,” he argued in favor of a “household voting” system in which this right is effectively limited to male heads of household.

ICE arrested a nun on her way to church. Does MAGA care?
On June 28, Sister Leticia “Letty” Ugboaja, a Catholic nun from Nigeria, stepped out of her home to take the short, one-block stroll to her church in McAllen, Texas. It should have been uneventful: dressed in her white habit and bearing a rosary, Sister Letty was walking to Sunday morning mass at Our Lady of Sorrows.

She didn’t make it — US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents stopped, arrested, and handcuffed the 56-year-old. They took her to a detention facility an hour away, reportedly confiscated her rosary, and declined to bring her the medication she takes. She called her diocese for help — and as news spread, both Republican and Democratic members of Congress appealed directly to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin for details. Hours later, she was released — without explanation.

Opinion: What Willy Rice once knew
Newly elected Southern Baptist Convention President Willy Rice has characterized the SBC’s clergy sex abuse crisis as a “hoax” and a “snipe hunt.”

Talk like that helped get Rice elected. Apparently, it was the message many Southern Baptists wanted to hear.

But just eight years ago, Rice was expounding a very different message.

In 2018, on his “Pastor’s Blog,” Rice published “Another SBC ‘Me-Too’ Story” in which he spoke out about church leaders who “fail in their responsibilities due to our unwillingness to reckon with difficult things.”

Small business bankruptcies soar 

Small business bankruptcies are surging across the U.S. in 2026, as the nation’s entrepreneurs battle persistent economic headwinds and attempt to serve increasingly cash-strapped consumers.

According to data from the bankruptcy information and technology platform Epiq AACER, cited in an analysis from the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI), small business filings rose to 1,663 in the first half of the year, up 50 percent compared to the same six months in 2025.

What affects the local economy affects the local church. A small business goes bankrupt and the community loses an employer. A church member loses a job and the church food pantry has another family to feed. A church member may be forced to relocate in search of work. Or take a job that pays less and work on Sundays.

Monster heat dome to suffocate 20 US states as 115F feels like temperatures return in just days
The extreme heat and humidity are returning for millions of Americans.

At least 17 US states across the northern Plains and parts of the Upper Midwest are set to be trapped under a blazing heat dome starting on Sunday.

AccuWeather meteorologists are expecting widespread highs of 95 to 105°F, with 'feels like' temperatures reaching 115°F into next week.

Migration and The Life of the Church
In recent years there has been a flood of writing and discussion around the theology of migration. It has occupied ecumenical discussions and academic circles, as well as practical diocesan and parish considerations, as Christians in the West especially attempt to understand this pressing reality for our common life. As many have said, we live in an Age of Migration, and though it is sometimes hard to tell how unprecedented it truly is, there can be little doubt that it is a massive global force that is reshaping the contemporary Church and the world around it.

We Need a Thicker View of God’s Love
The mark of a good theologian (whether armchair or academic) isn’t simply affirming the “right things” but the ability to uphold multiple aspects of scriptural truth and not just pick the one that seems most useful at the time.

Study finds humans will talk to AI ghosts of the dead as reincarnations, and it’s pretty grim
A new study from the University of Colorado Boulder confirms something that sounds both impressive and concerning. People find interacting with AI simulations of their dead loved ones deeply meaningful, and most will come away wanting to do it again.

The researchers call it a “generative ghost,” which is a clear reference to generative AI, but I’d still prefer to call it unsettling.

As well as its addictiveness, what should concern us is how this development affects the way people view death and what happens to the deceased after they die. It may lull people into complacency about their own and loved ones' eternal destiny. The Scriptures also warn us against communicating with the dead and the practices associated with it. This development raises the question of whether the prohibition against communicating with the dead also applies to communicating with a simulacrum of a departed loved one.

Generation lonely: How the young forgot how to make friends
Recently, an academic told me a story so bleakly indicative of the times we’re living in that I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind since. It concerned her 18-year-old students, and the way they behaved in the first lecture of the year. In times gone by, these freshly minted adults would have instinctively introduced themselves to each other – said hello to the person sitting either side, exchanged names and pleasantries for a few minutes. But she had observed something very different occurring over the past decade. These young people would now sit down and wait in silence, avoiding eye contact and usually scrolling on their phones, until she began her lecture.

I have observed similar behavior in the hallways as well as in the classroom at my university.

Parents’ attachment to phone screens can lead to anxiety in children – study
The term “phubbing” was conceived several years ago to describe the modern-day phenomenon of a person ignoring the social setting in front of them in favor of their phone. That act has long-term negative effects when parents do it around their children, according to new research.

Thursday's Catch: 'Why Guests Aren’t Coming Back to Your Church (and How to Fix It)' And More

Why Guests Aren’t Coming Back to Your Church (and How to Fix It)
Stop expecting guests to figure out what you haven’t clearly communicated or culturally reinforced in the church.

24 Signs of a Truly Healthy Church
Every year, more Protestant churches close their doors than open them. Lifeway Research‘s most recent count found roughly 4,000 closures against only 3,800 new church starts, and the smaller, older congregations are the ones bearing the brunt of it.

Behind every one of those closures is a room full of people who lost their church family.

So whether you’re church shopping, wondering if your own congregation is built to last, or trying to help your church get healthier, here are 24 signs to look for. These aren’t a to-do list. They’re diagnostic markers, the kind of things you can actually observe in a church without ever sitting in a staff meeting. They’re listed in no particular order, though signs 1 and 24 carry the most weight.

The Impending Is Upon Us
Surely every historical moment seems like an inflection point, but some inflections are more inflected than others. In a quiet way, such a case could be made for American Christian denominations and local congregations at present. The old shibboleths fade, but not entirely; of the culture wars many tire, though the issues remain. Meanwhile, the political atmosphere in general is toxic. We age. The struggle with the nationwide pattern of small rural churches can no longer be ignored, not least in the search for pastors, many of whom would be less than full-time. Their buildings often feel like albatrosses. Nationally, the future is threated by high levels of debt, which the tech revolution seems as likely to exacerbate as to solve. This litany of woe is not new, but the proximity of various days of reckoning is.

What Ryan Burge sees in America’s megachurches
Americans are fascinated with megachurches, and that is leading some of the nation’s largest churches to keep getting larger, according to religion researcher Ryan Burge.

Burge, a professor of practice at the Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University, has become one of the most prolific interpreters of religion data with almost daily posts to his Substack, “Graphs About Religion.”

Analysis - Trump cut to food security survey could make measuring US hunger harder 

President Donald Trump's cancellation last year of a government food security survey could make it difficult to assess whether his cuts to the food stamp program lead to a rise in U.S. hunger, especially among children.

Trump's tax and spending law signed last July shifted significant Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program spending to states and expanded work requirements, among other changes.

During the early days of the COVID 19 epidemic, Trump took the view that if cases and hospitalizations went unreported the outbreak would not be as serious as it was as if not reporting the seriousness of the outbreak would magically make it disappear! This kind of thinking on his part helps to explain his nomination of a climate change denier to head a department studying climate change as well as his cancellation of the food insecurity survey.

John Stott, Annihilationism, and the Evangelical controversy
Some controversies arise because someone deliberately sets out to challenge the church. Others because someone whom almost everyone trusts quietly admits that they are no longer certain about a doctrine that everyone assumed was settled.

The controversy surrounding John Stott’s views on hell belongs emphatically to category 2.

Pastors are still struggling but relief remains out of reach for many
More than half of Protestant pastors in the United States say they need help with their physical and mental health, while the burnout-relief measures they believe would work best remain largely out of reach, according to new research from Barna Group.

Pastoral transition is holy work
It is all kinds of work, really. Pastoral transition is spiritual, emotional, organizational, and theological work. On the best days, it is resurrection work. Pastors practice trust in a structure bigger than themselves, alongside congregations that grieve and hope at the same time. It is the kind of work that asks church systems to reveal what they actually value, not only what they say they value. In the United Methodist Church, where appointments are part of our ecclesial life, transition is one of the places where our connectional theology becomes concrete.

5 Ways to Engage Youth This Summer
Many churches assume meaningful youth ministry requires extensive programming and resources. Laura Heikes shows how simple, relational experiences often have the greatest impact. She offers five practical ideas that will help churches of any size engage young people this summer.

Under the Surface: The Mission Trip
Mission trips are often viewed as service projects, but effective ministry leaders understand that mission trips can become powerful opportunities for spiritual formation and theological reflection. Andrew Mochrie explores how youth leaders can help students move beyond simply doing good works to recognizing and participating in the deeper work God is already doing in the world—both during the trip and long after they return home.

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (July 9, 2026) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

Indian Blanket Flowers (Gaillardia pulchella) are a native North American wildflower. I first came across them, growing on the roadside, while I was driving to a Community of Celebration’s Come Celebrate Weekend in Texas. Their bright colors caught my eye, and I pulled off the road for a closer look. They became one of my favorite wildflowers that day.

In this evening’s message we take a look at what Paul tells us about the new way of life to which all who become Christians are called.

Readings: Micah 6:1-8; Ephesians 4:17-32

Message: Called to a New Way of Life

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/07/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows-july-9.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.

Wednesday's Catch: 'Reaching Every Nation Next Door' And More

Reaching Every Nation Next Door
Reaching every nation next door calls for patience, consistent prayer, and courage to move beyond what feels familiar.

Free eBook: Three Habits for Everyday Evangelism
We often think of evangelism as something we go and do instead of a lifestyle we live. But what if sharing your faith became a natural, daily rhythm instead of a rare event? Paul Worcester’s Three Habits for Everyday Evangelism is your practical guide to living on mission right where you are. Rooted in Scripture and real-life ministry experience, this eBook equips you to move from hesitation to boldness as you share Christ in everyday moments. If you want to see lasting gospel impact, it starts with simple, intentional habits. Discover how your everyday relationships, meals, and conversations can become meaningful opportunities to point people to Jesus.

In or Out? Roman Catholic attitudes towards the Christians “on the threshold”
“I’m Catholic, but I don’t go to church.” “I’m Catholic, but in my own way.” “I’m Catholic, but …” How many times have we heard friends or neighbors say these things? These are people who, while they continue to identify with a vaguely defined religious identity – in this case Roman Catholicism – do not fit into the traditional features associated with the practice of that faith.

Around the world, there are many different kinds of Catholics. They used to be called “nominal” Christians, “non-practicing” Christians, “cultural” Catholics, etc. The book by Livio Tonello, Roman Catholic professor of Pastoral Theology at the Theology Faculty in Padua (Italy), Il respiro di Dio. Tra i cristiani “della soglia” (Padua: Messaggero, 2026: The breath of God: Among the Christians on the threshold), calls them “Christians on the threshold.”

What the numbers actually tell us about The UMC right now
No one needs to explain to United Methodist clergy and lay leadership what happened in the disaffiliation process between 2019 and 2023. Most of us experienced it much too personally. There are places where the official disaffiliation window ended before resolutions were settled. Goodness knows when the hard feelings will end in cases such as those. We were not fully prepared for the ways disaffiliation would disrupt lives and congregations. But now we have an opportunity to face the future with positive energy, even if with fewer resources than previously. People are hopeful, not because there are not real challenges to address, but because there is a fresh spirit of unity without uniformity being expected of everyone.

From what I have observed, so-called “compatibilism” is built on the shaky foundation of the promise that the UMC will be a "big tent" church. People are willing to tolerate divergent opinions as long as they are personally unaffected. However, the more progressive element does not appear to be satisfied with a "big tent" church as the status quo and is pushing for greater inclusivity. United Methodists tend to be loyal to the denomination and the local church in which they grew to adulthood. The push for greater inclusivity, however, may prove too much for the more conservative element who did not disaffiliate to reconsider their decision and migrate to another church or drop out of church altogether.

Archbishop Mullally: The First 100 Days
In the gardens of Lambeth Palace on a warm June evening, Archbishop Sarah Mullally addressed a crowd of journalists. Some had been at the Royal Ascot races earlier the same day and wore formal coats and pinstriped trousers, with a top hat or two in evidence. Floaty chiffon dresses mixed with clerical collars and creased linen jackets. A jazz band welcomed everyone in; the atmosphere was relaxed and open.

The archbishop gave a short and gracious speech, making humorous references to the England soccer team’s first match in the World Cup tournament that night, and offered appreciative words to the press corps for their work. It was natural, human, and felt like a reset.

Archbishops allow ex-gay event to go ahead during Synod despite protests
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have given the green light for a fringe event featuring ex-gay Christians during the Church of England General Synod after coming under pressure from revisionists to cancel it.

Episcopal Church’s ACC members see hope in connections made with Anglican leaders
The Episcopal Church’s three representatives to the 19th meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council say they are returning to their dioceses with a message of hope from the ACC’s recent meeting after hearing stories of faith and perseverance from other members of the global Anglican “family.”

From Augustine to Jefferson, the idea of separating church and state has deep religious and secular roots
The Trump administration’s Religious Liberty Commission argues that religious freedom is under attack and blames the ‘wall of separation’ between church and state.

Americans value freedom but there are differences on what it means
America’s 250th birthday prompted researchers at Navigator to ask Americans how they define America, patriotism and what our country should aspire to.

The result was 82% of Americans across all generations saying they believe freedom is an extremely important value, with 74% claiming rights are also extremely valuable.

However, as the survey found nuances in the answers given by different demographics and generational groups.

How Christian nationalism shows up in patriotic worship services
One of the ways Christian nationalism seeps into Sunday morning is through holiday-themed worship services. The independent Baptist churches I grew up in celebrated Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Independence Day with military-themed worship services similar to the service put on by Houston’s First Baptist Church on Sunday.

When I was a student at Northern Seminary, one of the other students said she was leading worship one Sunday when suddenly videos of U.S. fighter jets zooming through the sky began playing on the screens behind her. And many of us have seen the spectacle of First Baptist Dallas worship services featuring American flags, pyrotechnics and hymns about the United States, including an original hymn written by their church with the lyrics, “Step into the future, joining hand in hand. Make America Great Again!”

So it should come as no surprise that many churches across the nation chose to host these Christian nationalist worship services over Independence Day weekend.

Opinion: Inside the battle to save Christianity from MAGA fundamentalists
For centuries, Christianity has been having ideological battles, with fundamentalists expressing very different views from the more moderate Protestants and Catholics. In 2026, these heated debates among Christians continue, and an article for the conservative website The Bulwark examines the intense conflict between far-right Christian nationalists and those with a more inclusive view of Christianity.

Opinion: Trumpy church torn apart over 'dumbest' political war
A Tennessee church thinks that it's fighting Satan when it's fighting the political culture war, and the modern crusade has turned a "charismatic" movement into politics.

Extreme churches and beliefs that trend toward the more bizarre are those that often get ignored by politicians who don't want to be associated with something far outside of the mainstream. But the Tennessee church is using its charisma to turn culture wars into a very real battlefield where Satan is active in public life and Christians are called to fight back through prayer, prophecy and political engagement.

Specialty farmers adapt harvests, protect crops in face of extreme heat
Even as the sun started to set, the day's heat was still hanging in the air as Annie Woods walked back out to harvest squash and zucchini on her 50-acre farm.

Prolonged and intense heat is part of a climate change-driven pattern of weather extremes that has also led to intense flooding and prolonged drought. For farmers, this means shorter planting windows and potential loss of crops because of periods of early-season heat followed by a freeze.

A lack of rain at the right time of the year has been a cause of concern for farmers in my part of Kentucky. The region is largely agricultural and what affects the farmers affects the local economy and, in turn, the local churches.

America’s tornado threat is shifting—and more families are in danger
While fictional portrayals like 9-1-1: Nashville depict a city constantly under siege from tornadoes, the reality is that severe storms are a regular part of life in Tennessee's capital. When dangerous weather strikes, many residents turn not to television, but to Nashville Severe Weather.

Does your church have a contingency plan for natural disasters and other emergencies?

These 3 Elements Should Be in Every Funeral Sermon
A pastor messaged me last week asking the question I probably get more than any other: what actually has to be in a funeral sermon. Every funeral is different. The person in the casket, the family in the front row, the mix of faith and doubt sitting in the pews all change from service to service. But the sermon itself doesn’t have to start from zero every time. Three elements hold it together no matter who you’re burying or who shows up to listen.

The best advice I ever received about preaching a funeral for someone I didn’t know was this: don’t preach them into heaven, don’t preach them into hell, just preach the gospel to the people who are there. That line has guided me through every service since, including the hard ones.

Pope Leo calls for government action to protect children and workers from AI
Like many of us, Leo fears the tools of the digital age — which hold such promise — have been made poisonous.

How AI Makes Us Sovereign Slaves
Artificial intelligence may or may not be coming for our jobs, but it’s certainly coming for our anthropology.

Romantic relationships with AI evolve in a similar way to human ones
A new study shows that relationships with artificial intelligence (AI) systems can evolve from casual conversations to bonds characterized by emotional intimacy, emotional dependence or experiences similar to a romantic breakup. The study is based on in-depth interviews with 17 people who were in romantic relationships with AI assistants, such as ChatGPT, and virtual dating platforms, such as Character.AI or Replika.

First teraphim (תְּרָפִים), household gods, then saints, and now AI.

3 Cultural Stories Shared by Gen Z and Gen Alpha Youth
Youth ministry leaders are entering the beautiful and uniquely liminal space between generations that only comes every 15 to 20 years.

Safe Summers Foundation launches parent pledge campaign
As the anniversary of the July 4, 2025, Camp Mystic flood approached, the Safe Summers Foundation launched its Safe Summers Parent Pledge, a nationwide platform inviting parents, families and community members to take an active role in helping keep children safe at summer camp.

The foundation was formerly known as the Campaign for Camp Safety, a coalition of “Heaven’s 27” parents who represent the 25 girls and two counselors who died in the Camp Mystic floods. The Safe Summers Foundation aims to keep kids safe through prevention, preparation and protection while preserving the joy and tradition of summer camp.

Tuesday's Catch: 'The Nones Are Everywhere Now' And More

The Nones Are Everywhere Now
Secularization is absolutely happening in densely populated places, but it’s also common in smaller towns, too. Even in rural America, the nones make up a quarter of the population.

How to Reach People Who Work on Sundays
Thom discusses the often-overlooked mission field of Sunday workers—and how churches can rethink schedules and structures to engage them.

Why Some Churches Plateau at 70 (and Stay There)
Thom examines the common attendance ceiling of around 70 and the leadership, structure, and mindset issues that keep churches from breaking through.

Surprising Misunderstandings About Church Turnarounds
A church won’t go where you want it to go. It will go where the dynamic relationship between God and the people takes it.

Gen Z Sees Something About AI That Pastors Are Missing!
Most pastors are asking how to use AI. Gen Z is asking what AI is going to do to them.

And that gap is a pastoral problem.

Matt Chandler on the Death of Secularism
Matt Chandler doesn't pull punches. The lead pastor of The Village Church joins me to talk about why wearing a cape doesn't help anyone, the death of secularism, and why the church is all wood and no fire. Matt also opens up about the moment he almost quit, what Spurgeon taught him about suffering, and why he stopped neglecting the Holy Spirit.

US megachurches report strong rebound from pandemic
Most American megachurches have rebounded well from the COVID-19 pandemic as more than 80% reported they are flourishing, according to a new report by Hartford Institute for Religion Research.

The study examined responses from 331 mostly Protestant congregations with 2,000 or more people attending in-person worship services on a typical weekend, which meets the traditional definition of a megachurch.

Americans value freedom but there are differences on what it means
America’s 250th birthday prompted researchers at Navigator to ask Americans how they define America, patriotism and what our country should aspire to.

The result was 82% of Americans across all generations saying they believe freedom is an extremely important value, with 74% claiming rights are also extremely valuable.

However, as the survey found nuances in the answers given by different demographics and generational groups.

Opinion: 3 views on Donald Trump held by American Christians
There is a divide among Christians in the United States about how to respond to the urgency of our present crisis.

Leaving aside for a moment those who claim the name of Christ but gleefully support an immoral president doing immoral things that result in death and destruction, the remainder of U.S. Christianity generally falls into two camps: Those loudly screaming that the house is on fire and those trying to keep the peace and pray for this cup to pass from us.

Catholic legal aid group for immigrants nears collapse as US withholds funds
The El Paso Diocese-run nonprofit is one of the largest providers of legal services for unaccompanied children. It says the US is defying a court order.

The conservative Christian women turning moral urgency into political power
Katie Gaddini, a visiting scholar at Stanford University, spoke to RNS about the women she profiles in her new book, "Esther's Army."

Anti-Christian incidents double in Israel
Anti-Christian incidents in Israel have nearly doubled in the last three months, according to the Religious Freedom Data Centre (RFDC).

Is Marriage a Prerequisite for Ministry?
In a day when half the population isn’t married, how does the church do ministry from a biblical leadership model rooted in marriage?

7 Surprising Traits of Highly Effective Church Leaders
These traits are so simple you might be tempted to dismiss them. Don’t. They’re part of what makes each of these leaders effective in their own world, and there’s nothing stopping you from putting them to work in yours.

7 Impractical Leadership Principles That Work
The most practical route and the wisest route are not the same thing. Here are seven leadership habits that slow you down, cost you comfort, and pay off anyway.

5 Powerful Ways to Pray for Your Pastor Every Day
Prayer is the most powerful force in the world; it is truly life changing.

It’s the only thing that is not weakened, threatened, or hindered by other powers, challenging circumstances, cultural norms, or financial persuasion.

What songs do you sing?
There’s a series of important questions around what songs you sing on a Sunday: their theology and how well it coheres with the church’s, their singability by this particular congregation, song choices that best encourage and inspire expressions of praise, and what songs fit the moment or ‘stage’ of the morning you’ve reached.

The church that I attend, at its early service, largely uses worship songs from Bethel, Hillsong, and Elevation. They are popular with the pastor, the worship leader, and the band. The early service boasts a larger attendance than the more traditional later service with its organ and piano music, choir anthems, and hymns. However, the lyrics of a number of these songs contain verses that are not biblical or theologically sound. These verses could be rewritten to correct these defects but whoever selects the songs does not appear to notice the defects or is not troubled by them.

'Bare beating' is 'unequivocally rude' but extremely common
Have you ever been trapped on a train car with someone watching TikToks from their phone without headphones? Or seated on a plane by a passenger blasting music? Or even stuck in a doctor’s office waiting room as a fellow patient broadcasts radio commentary on a sports stream?

If so, you’ve experienced what some call “bare beating.” This term refers to the act of playing music, videos, podcasts or other audio out loud in public without headphones ― essentially treating shared space like a personal living room.

A number of churches have had noise complaints filed against them with the police and the local authorities for treating their surrounding neighborhood like it was a part of their worship space with their loud music. Bare beating is not, however, an effective form of evangelism.

10 Things Every New Christian Should Know in Year One
The first year of faith goes best when a new Christian anchors on ten things: God’s love comes first, relationship matters more than religion, grace does the growing, love comes before conversion attempts, unity with other believers is non negotiable, Jesus stays the center of everything, God wants the whole life not just Sunday morning, prayer and scripture become daily rhythms, and every new believer needs a mentor walking ahead of them.

Here is what that looks like in practice.

10 Marks of a Mature Christian 

...If physical and emotional maturity have recognizable markers, so does spiritual maturity. So what are they?

Let’s start with what spiritual maturity is not.

Image Credit: Trinity Episcopal Church, Fulton KY

Monday's Catch: 'July is Disability Awareness Month' And More

July is Disability Awareness Month - Let us celebrate the diversity of God’s image in all people

Disability is not a marginal subject in Christian theology, nor an optional area of pastoral care. It sits close to the centre of the Gospel narrative, shaping how the Church understands bodies, belonging, and the presence of God in human life.

The Body of Christ is Disabled
While everyone would recognize that missing any part of the body, either at birth or due to the circumstances of life, is a tragedy, it is not uncommon. The church is described in the Bible as the body of Christ, both locally and globally. Paul, in 1 Corinthians, argues that the church needs the entire body with all of its gifts and all that it adds. If the entire body was a mouth, the church would be deaf. If the entire church was a foot, we would be blind.

Paul’s argument, however, goes even further. He writes that “the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable” (1 Corinthians 12:22, ESV). In God’s design, the members who are often overlooked are not optional. They are necessary. The church is not simply called to tolerate every member of the body but to recognize that every member contributes something essential to the health of the whole.

One of the most active volunteers at my church is confined to a wheelchair. She also works five days a week at a thrift store for low income families. The volunteer who changes the slides on the wall screens during church services appears to have suffered a stroke that affected his speech, one arm, and his gait. At one of my previous churches, one of the acolytes had been born with Downs Syndrome. A former teacher with whom I worked at a school board media center and book depository and who had suffered a stroke which had paralyzed him on one side, a member of the church that I attended in my teen years and where I was confirmed, visited prisoners in the county jail on weeknights , talked with them, gave them Bibles, and otherwise ministered to them.

What Is Our Gospel Proclamation?
It is unfair to claim that Episcopalians do not care or have not cared about evangelism. Admittedly, many cradle Episcopalians dread the “e” word. Likewise, if asked to share the gospel in a few brief points, those same Episcopalians probably would be incapable. And the caricature that Episcopalians care more about justice than about evangelism isn’t entirely unfounded.

But these claims do not tell the full story. They have not taken the Episcopal Church’s history into consideration, or have projected other denominations’ evangelistic methodology onto Episcopalians and then criticized the Episcopal Church for failing to be successful at that methodology, or have rationalized that the Episcopal Church’s commitment to justice is disconnected from the Episcopal Church’s understanding of evangelism.

I do not want to explain here why the above claims are faulty. Rather, I want to suggest that to continue faithfully making disciples, the Episcopal Church, like all churches, must pivot away from its current practice. Proclamation of the gospel is not antithetical to what the Episcopal Church believes, and more importantly, is not antithetical to Holy Scripture or the apostolic witness. Rather, it is something completely coherent with our tradition.

Based upon my own personal experience, I would argue that such a claim is not unfair. During the so-called Decade of Evangelism in the 1990s the attitude toward evangelism of any kind was not indifference but open animosity. When I visited a local Episcopal church in recent times, the officiating priest, a retired priest supplying the church on that particular Sunday, preached against all forms of evangelism in her sermon, to the observable approbation of the congregation. From what I have seen, the former Episcopalians who fled the Episcopal Church on account of its positions on human sexuality and same sex marriage and migrated to the various Anglican tradition churches have taken this negative attitude toward evangelism with them. I do, however, agree that if the Episcopal Church is not only to survive but also to flourish, it needs to make a number of changes.

Bible-Belt Christianity Is a Harder Mission Field than Secularism
Resistance knows it has a quarrel with God. Comfort does not even feel bothered enough to ask. Comfort, not persecution, is the more sophisticated threat to deep discipleship. Persecution drives a church to its knees. Comfort lulls it to sleep.

Cathedrals are for Everyone and they Need our Support
If England lets its cathedrals crumble, it will be everyone's loss.

People walk into cathedrals for all sorts of reasons: to light a candle, hear a choir, escape the rain, attend a service, admire the architecture or simply to sit quietly for a few minutes to escape the busyness of life. Many enter with no clear purpose at all. They simply step inside and the building does the rest.

That’s what makes England’s cathedrals so unusual. They are among the last institutions left in national life that still draw together people of all ages, classes, politics and beliefs, under one roof. Yes, they are Christian places of worship, but they are “houses of prayer for all peoples”, as Isaiah puts it (Liii, 7). They are civic spaces, cultural landmarks and public sanctuaries, open to anyone who wanders in and finds themselves lingering under their vaults. No wonder, then, that the question of how to keep these places alive is not just a church issue. Earlier this week, deans from England’s Anglican cathedrals were in Westminster with MPs to form a new parliamentary network of cathedral cities, pressing the urgent question: who is going to cough up the money to keep these remarkable buildings going?

Presbyterian Church of Wales considers 'do or die' reforms
The General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church of Wales (PCW) has said the denomination faces a “do or die” situation ahead of its General Assembly, due to be held next week in Porthmadog.

22 more churches to be sold in North Queensland
Court documents lodged by the Anglican Diocese of North Queensland’s recievers, SV partners, in the Queensland Supreme Court, seek authority to sell twenty-two churches, plus one instance of vacant land. The church sales have been triggered by a large redress debt owed to survivors of sexual abuse, which largely occurred in children’s homes, and which is estimated to grow to $22m.

Anglicans: A comprehensive message from Brisbane
The strange patchwork that makes up the Anglican Church of Australia was analysed by Jeremy Greaves, the Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane, in his Presidential Address this week. (In Anglican synods (church parliaments), the Presidential Address is a chance for the bishop to have his or her say.)

He asked, “How does a national church maintain genuine communion when one theological tradition increasingly dominates its representative structures? How are the voices of smaller dioceses, First Nations Anglicans, regional communities, differing theological traditions, and minority perspectives heard and valued? How can influence be exercised in ways that strengthen rather than diminish mutual trust?”

This is a case of “let the reader understand”. But in case, dear reader, you don’t get it, the dominant theological tradition Greaves is talking about is the Evangelicals. Not just the hard-edged Sydney Anglicans, but the growing evangelical chorus from Bathurst, Tasmania, Central Queensland, and the Northern Territory, joined by an increasingly evangelical Melbourne and Canberra-Goulburn.

ACC Debates Nairobi-Cairo Proposals, Elects Leaders
Anglican Consultative Council members debated aspects of the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals for ninety minutes in their final business session on July 4, mostly responding to a series of amendments proposed by ACC members from conservative Global South provinces to a resolution crafted by the Anglican Communion’s Standing Committee to reflect table group feedback gathered over several days.

The final version of the resolution, which passed by wide margins, affirmed the proposals’ statement that not all provinces are in full communion with Canterbury and that the Anglican Communion’s divisions “are partly caused by disagreements about the ‘one faith.’” They also committed to further work on the proposals, which will be considered again by the next ACC meeting in 2029.

Statement of the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches on the Nineteenth Meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council: ACC-19, Belfast 28 June to 4 July 2026
Representatives from nine GSFA Provinces participated in ACC-19 in Belfast, and GSFA Primates Archbishop Titus Chung (South East Asia) and Archbishop Samy Shehata (Alexandria) attended as members of the Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity Faith and Order (IASCUFO). We express our sincere gratitude to the Church of Ireland for its warm hospitality and for the opportunity to visit inspiring places of historic significance in the life of the Irish Church.

The GSFA Provinces were present in accordance with the decision of the GSFA Primates at their meeting in Seychelles, recognising that the main topic of discussion, the IASCUFO Nairobi-Cairo Proposals, represent a new realism in addressing the fragmentation of the Communion. Delegates supported the continuation and development of their important work.

On July 4th, Pope Leo asks United States, Europe: Who is your neighbor?
Standing among the graves of migrants, Pope Leo turned America’s birthday into a pointed appeal for welcoming the stranger.

After defying Pope Leo and causing schism, SSPX defends its actions
The ultraconservative Catholics who defied Pope Leo XIV and caused a schism defended their actions July 3, insisting they were merely saving souls and were victims of an unjust sanction by the Holy See.

The head of the Society of St. Pius X wrote to Leo a day after the Vatican excommunicated the group's bishops and priests and warned its faithful they too could be excommunicated for participating in the schism, or rupture in church unity.

As Christians are attacked in Israel, government shows little concern
Across the Holy Land, Christians are being targeted by a tide of hostility and violence — attacks that risk drawing the ire of Christians in the United States, including evangelicals who are traditionally among Israel’s most ardent American supporters.

In Jerusalem, Christians say they are routinely harassed by ultra-Orthodox Jews and huddle in fear when Religious Zionists rampage through the Old City, destroying property during their processions.

Twenty miles away, in the West Bank’s only predominantly Christian town, Taybeh, the population is dwindling after years of unrelenting attacks and economic pressure from armed Jewish settlers.

Opinion: The twisted history Trump’s White House is using to redefine religious freedom
When the Founding Fathers began their work to unify the colonies, America’s religious landscape looked nothing like today’s marketplace of ideas. Mainline Protestants — Anglicans, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Puritans, Quakers, and Lutherans — dominated the budding nation, and Protestant Christianity was fused with public life.

To talk of religious liberty back then was a question of how to handle these various Protestant denominations and, essentially, keep them from killing or oppressing each other. There were hardly any Catholics; there were very few Jewish people; there were essentially no Muslims, Hindus, or Buddhists. What the Founding Fathers eventually arrived at was a plan for tolerance — an early version of freedom from official religions and a freedom to exercise faith without being punished.

Opinion: What patriotism is not
The president has spread abroad a kind of patriotism that is foreign to this great nation. His actions have mimicked King George III of England, for whom patriotism was obedience.

How Does a Church Know It’s Caring Well for Its Pastor?
A church often honors its pastor with words of appreciation, but genuine care shows up in the culture it creates and the burdens it shares.

Why Pastors Should Encourage Members to Carry Their Bibles to Worship
When church members bring their own Bible, something subtle but deeply important takes place. They move from being passive observers to active participants in the worship experience. The screen presents a passage for the moment. A personal Bible invites an ongoing relationship.

There is a difference between seeing Scripture and owning it. When members carry their Bible, they begin to think in terms of “my Bible,” not just “the verses on the screen.” That sense of ownership leads to greater familiarity, deeper trust, and a stronger connection to God’s Word. Over time, this habit forms disciples who know where to find passages, return to them during the week, and build growing confidence in Scripture. Ownership is not automatic but cultivated over time. This simple practice plays a significant role.

14 everyday phrases that come straight from the Bible
Whether people realise it or not, the Bible has had an enormous influence on the English language.

Psychologists reveal why 'grandma culture' is trending now
What's driving nostalgia: Experts link the trend to emotional regulation, with people seeking comfort and safety in familiar, traditional aesthetics and activities.

Cultural climate factor: Political tension, economic uncertainty, and digital burnout are prompting younger generations to embrace slower, ritual-rich lifestyles.

Blending old and new: Designers and homeowners mix vintage pieces with modern touches, keeping nostalgic styles fresh while honoring personal and cultural heritage.

Why this article? It points to a factor which may be contributing to why Gen Z is attending church services and the churches where they are attending these services. To my mind it is something that warrants further study.

What is phubbing? The modern trend that can harm your children
We’ve all been there: you’re doing a food shop on your phone or pinging an email to a colleague, and your child asks you something.

You’re so engrossed that you don’t really hear them. Then you look up and see your kid just standing there, looking at you and your phone. You have no idea what they’ve said.

If you haven’t phubbed – that’s a portmanteau of “phone” and “snubbed” – your kids, you’re probably in the minority.

Want to improve your communication skills? Put down your smart phone. Even better, turn it off and place it screen down, preferably out of sight. You may experience a period of momentary anxiety, even panic, but you will survive. Your smart phone is a trigger for behavior that is not conducive to good communication and what you are experiencing is withdrawal. Yes, smart phones are addictive!

Sundays at All Hallows (July 5, 2026) Is Now Online

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

This Sunday is the Fifth Sunday after Trinity. As was the case last Sunday the readings for this Sunday are those appointed in the one year Eucharistic Lectionary in An Anglican Prayer Book (2008).

In this Sunday’s message we consider what Jesus requires from those whom he calls to be his disciples.

Readings: 1 Kings 19: 19-21; 1 Peter 3:8-15; and Luke 5:1-11

Message: Called

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/07/sundays-at-all-hallows-july-5-2026.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.

Saturday Lagniappe: 'Your Church's Seating Chart Isn't All Bad' And More

Your Church's Seating Chart Isn't All Bad
Small things can help people feel like they belong in a congregation.

I always sit in the front pew or front row of chairs. The late James F. White, liturgical scholar, author of numerous books on worship, and proponent of the revitalization of liturgical worship, observed that those sitting at the front of a worship space were more likely to participate in a worship service than those sitting near the back. I sit in the front for that reason.

Young Pastor's Guide: 5 Shifts to Revitalize Your Traditional Church
So you’re a young pastor, and you lead a traditional church. What are your first moves to help revitalize your church or help it grow, maybe for the first time?

In this video, I share five critical shifts traditional churches need to make to see genuine rebirth and sustainable growth.

ACC leaves archbishop of Canterbury’s role unchanged in ongoing talks on Anglican identity
The 19th Anglican Consultative Council, on the final day of its June 28-July 4 meeting here, approved a resolution that affirmed the existing understanding of Anglican identity — leaving the archbishop of Canterbury’s central role unchanged — while calling for further discernment on proposed structural changes to the Anglican Communion.

Also See: Anglicans discuss collaborative approaches to the refugee crisis at ACC-19

July 4, 1776: The founding of a Christian nation?
This year is the 250th anniversary of a momentous event in the history of North America and the world. The celebration is of the American Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. Well, to be a bit picky there are three dates that could vie for this formal point of departure from British rule.

What Is 1 Enoch and Why Does Jude Quote It?
Jude citing 1 Enoch is not the only example of a biblical author using nonbiblical writings.

If God Meant Everybody, why did he say Neighbour?
...if you actually read the context of God’s command in Leviticus, you’ll see that it summarises a much larger sweep of laws giving many practical examples of how to love and care for all kinds of specific “neighbours”—including people who are poor, people who are foreigners, people with disabilities, people who are working for you, people who have wronged you (ie, your enemies), people you do business with, your parents, the elderly, anyone who might be endangered by your carelessness, and more—and these are just examples from Leviticus 19. The rest of the law includes many more. So when God said, “love your neighbour as yourself”, he didn’t leave us guessing about who he meant. He went out of his way to give us many specific examples of how this love ought to work, and who it should be expressed to.

Discerning a Call to Ministry: Am I a Planter, Revitalizer, or Maybe Something Else?
Discerning a call to ministry is rarely a simple or predictable journey. This eBook explores the biblical foundations and practical realities of pastoral calling through the lens of experienced church planters and multiplying pastors. Drawing from research with proven ministry leaders, this resource examines the inward calling and outward confirmation often present in those called to pastoral ministry and church planting. Using Scripture alongside insights from seasoned practitioners, this eBook provides a balanced framework for understanding and confirming God’s direction for your life and ministry....

Why Pastors Above the Age of 70 Will Become Increasingly Common
Thom and Sam share five reasons why pastors above the age of 70 will become increasingly common.

How to Lead More Vibrant Prayer Meetings
Too many churches have taken the prayer meeting back behind the barn and shot it. If those prayer meetings were like some I’ve been to, I’m sympathetic.1 I’m thinking of prayer meetings....

Is This Young Person Ready to Be Baptized? Clarifying Questions and Considerations for Churches
Scott Daniel offers three clarifying questions and some related reflections to help churches evaluate whether a young person is ready to be baptized. This decision ultimately falls to the church, which must consider whether a young person is prepared to follow Jesus, whether they can fulfill the responsibilities of church membership, and whether they would be willing to remove the young person from membership as an act of discipline. It is wise to move slowly when making such decisions.

In churches that practice pedobaptism, these questions and considerations may be helpful in discerning whether a youngster is ready to be confirmed.

The Single Best Way to Kickstart Evangelism at Your Church
How do you reach new people with the Gospel if only 1% of your congregation says they have the gift of evangelism and only 1% of pastors say their church is ‘very effective’ at evangelism?

Here is the single best way you can kickstart evangelism at your church.

In an Episcopal church (or an Anglican church whose congregation is largely made up of former Episcopalians), you'll be faced with decades of preaching and teaching, "Episcopalians don't do evangelism!"

Image Credit: St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Bexley, Ohio

Friday's Catch: 'The Normal Church Song' And More

The Normal Church Song: Thomas Austin Sings About Why You Shouldn’t Try to be a Megachurch (Ep 131)
“It was a normal church, trying its best to be a megachurch, but all that seemed to do was make it worse. What's wrong with being just a normal church?”

Jesus Never Told Us To Fill Church Buildings
Going to church was never the point. Jesus did not say work hard, gather a crowd, fill the building, and that is how I will know you love me. Yet look at how most pastors spend their week. The calendar, the budget, and the Monday morning gut check often tell a different story. We say we want disciples. We count attendance.

There is a steady drumbeat online longing for the good old days, back when sanctuaries were packed on Sunday morning, Sunday night, and midweek. Plenty of pastors feel that ache. Anyone who has preached to a thin crowd knows the sting of empty chairs. But the nostalgia hides three problems worth naming.

Why Churches Are Struggling More and More to Find Staff
In this episode, Thom and Sam tackle a growing challenge for churches across the country: finding qualified staff. What once seemed routine—posting a position and waiting for candidates—has become far more difficult. This conversation explores why the staffing pipeline has narrowed, how outdated assumptions are exacerbating the problem, and why churches that rethink staffing models and develop leaders internally will be better positioned for the future.

What the “Giving USA 2026 Report” Means for Church Leaders
The latest Giving USA Report offers a compelling snapshot of generosity in America and important lessons for church leaders navigating stewardship, fundraising, and financial sustainability. Jonathan Page highlights four key findings from the report and explores what they reveal about the opportunities and challenges facing congregations as they seek to fund mission-driven ministry in an evolving philanthropic landscape.

A Christian nation? At 250, America is still fighting over what that means
Scholars say American history is more Christian than secular advocates claim — and less religious than Christian nationalists would assert. A look at the complicated, contested history of America as a Christian nation.

The man America forgot to invite to its 250th birthday party
This man didn’t set foot in North America. He never signed a founding document. But there is a compelling case that our country’s great story would look very different without him.

500 years ago, the first New Testament in English was published – and stirred up a hornet’s nest
William Tyndale’s translation, published in 1526, was based on a then-radical idea: Anyone should be able to read the Bible in their own language.

'Evangelical' is about faith, not right-wing politics, says European body
The European Evangelical Alliance (EEA) has issued a statement intended to dispel the belief that evangelicalism is shorthand for right wing and potentially nationalist politics.

The EEA said that the term “evangelical” is being "wrongly linked to political movements and narratives that do not reflect the reality of evangelical communities in Europe".

SSPX defies Pope Leo, Vatican issues excommunication
The latest consecrations could prompt Pope Leo to end the Vatican’s decades of dialogue with the breakaway society.

Why Mormonism and Christianity Are Not the Same
Mormonism is recruiting Christians in record numbers, especially evangelicals. In 2025, the Latter-day Saints (LdS) reported more convert baptisms in a single year than it has seen in any of the previous 195 years. In the United States, this growth has been mainly in the Bible Belt. Of the top 10 states with LdS growth in 2022, only one, New York, doesn’t play in the SEC. Arkansas (4.05 percent), Tennessee (3.55 percent), and Missouri (3.43 percent) have seen the greatest membership growth.

In 40 Questions About Mormonism, Kyle Beshears, campus pastor of Mars Hill Church in Mobile, Alabama, explains many significant errors of LdS theology in a concise, charitable style. One reason Mormonism is growing so much in the Bible Belt is that potential converts are distracted by some interesting but secondary aspects of the LdS faith, like temples, garments, and the Word of Wisdom’s ban on coffee. Mormon missionaries are well-equipped to defuse the sensational rumors about these topics. Those discussions mask bigger doctrinal differences about the gospel, the purpose of the cross, and the nature of God.

America’s wheat harvest set to fall to lowest level in 150 years
America is expected to harvest its lowest acreage of wheat since 1877, due to drought, scorched crops, high input costs and uncertainty in export markets...

The figures have renewed concern about the long-term decline of one of America’s most historically important crops and raised questions about what it could mean for farmers, food prices and U.S. agriculture more broadly.

Glory in the highest to the God of heaven
Until the 1980s there were few metrical versions of the Gloria in Excelsis in hymnals, let alone in common use. With the liturgical expansion running parallel to the hymn ‘explosion’, several authors have now put this ancient Christian hymn into a more regular English form than its Prayer Book version Glory be to God on high....

Also See: Cuddesdon "Glory in the Highest to the God of Heaven!"

Pope Leo applies Catholic social teaching to artificial intelligence
The key issue is not the use of technology as such, but the vision that underlies it

AI is already shaping who we are
The question is not whether AI will change us—it already has. The question is what it’s already doing to our sense of who we are.

AI could make people dull, one scientist fears. Here's why.
Artificial intelligence could one day supercharge human cognition, leading to significant advances in science, technology and other fields. It could also make us dull, new academic research suggests.

That's because the so-called large language models that power AI apps often yield information that is predictable and normative for the population as a whole, reducing life's complexity to a bland mulch of watered-down ideas.

Also See: The hidden cost of letting AI choose your lunch; Instant digital rewards may make hard thinking feel less worthwhile

Children are finding self-worth with AI. That's dangerous. 

We used to worry about what children were seeing online. Now we have to worry about what answers they get back, sometimes in ways that can distort a child’s sense of self.

Children everywhere are asking questions and seeking advice. It's dangerous.

Also See: Dad discovers daughter, 6, talking to Alexa—then sees what it said

Kids need soft skills in the age of AI, but what does this mean for schools?
Prior waves of automation replaced routine and manual jobs, boosting the earnings advantage of cognitively demanding work. But generative AI is different. It excels at pattern-matching in ways that allow it to simulate human coding, writing, drawing and data analysis, leaving the lower rungs of these occupations vulnerable to automation.

On the other hand, because its output mimics patterns in existing data, generative AI has a harder time handling complicated reasoning tasks, much less complex problems whose answers depend on many unknowns. Moreover, it has no understanding of how humans think and feel.

This means that the "soft skills"—attributes that allow people to interact well with others and to be attuned their own emotional states—are likely to be ascendant. That's because they are integral to solving complex problems and working with people. Though soft skills such as conscientiousness and agreeableness are considered to be personality traits, research suggests these are emotional tools that can be taught.

Giving children smartphones is like handing them grenades. I should know
Something deeply sinister has happened to childhood in the last decade and a half, and anyone who denies it is simply not paying attention. Or they have never tried to wrestle an iPad off a demonically possessed nine-year-old. I have and it’s awful. After three hours on a screen, the sweetest kid is wired, agitated and voracious for more, a Jekyll unleashing his internet Hyde.

Smartphones are literally soul-destroying. (Vicars in their pulpits should preach against them.) Bad enough for adults who should know better, they are a life-blighting, mental-health catastrophe for the younger generation. We may as well give them heroin and be done with it.

1 in 10 young American children play outdoors just once a week
Despite the well-known benefits for children’s physical and emotional health, one in 10 parents of toddlers and preschoolers say that their child plays outside just once a week—or less.

This is the finding of a nationally-representative poll of 710 parents of children aged 1–5, conducted in August by researchers from the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.

The team’s analysis revealed that outdoor and imaginative play remain common—but screen-based activities are quickly catching up as a daily fixture of children’s lives.

5 Reasons Evangelism is on Life Support in the US Church
1% of pastors say their church is “very effective” at evangelism.

Did you catch that? 99% of pastors admit that their church isn’t ‘very’ effective at reaching out to unchurched people.

That means evangelism is on life support. Have church leaders given up? Perhaps not entirely, but we can’t fix the problem if we don’t fully understand it.

So, in this video, I'll discuss five reasons that explain how the US church got here.

Image Credit: Saint Mary of the Snows (Anglican)