Thursday's Catch: 'Ed Stetzer: Coming Back' And More

Ed Stetzer: Coming Back
The resurgence of church attendance by young people—particularly young men—is making headlines around the world. From the “Quiet Revival” reported on in the U.K. to a story in the New York Times on Easter Sunday, the news is spreading. For many of us, this has been something we have been working toward for a long time.

Tanita Maddox: Showing Up for Gen Z
In this interview with Outreach, Tanita Tualla Maddox, the national director for generational impact for Young Life, talks about best practices for reaching younger generations, the burning questions on their minds and how the Christian life is like baseball.

Five Key Intangibles to Consider When Hiring Church Staff (Plus the Right Questions to Ask)
Hiring a new staff member can be a daunting task. You want to get it right, or things can become difficult in your church. I’ve had to hire a few staff members as a church leader. Here are the intangibles that I look for when hiring a staff member....

One Size Does Not Fit All – Background Screening Policies are a MUST
When I talk or visit with a church, one of the first things I ask is whether or not they have a background screening “policy” in place. I often receive a look of bemusement and an, “Of course!” response. As we talk further, I find that they really have some type of Child Protection Policy but not necessarily a Background Screening Policy. There is a difference.

Amid trial crisis, ACNA pushes forward with clergy misconduct overhaul
For some, the turbulence of the ongoing church trial of Bishop Stewart Ruch highlights the weight of reforms seeking to push the church toward a clearer, more comprehensive process.

Fundamentalism and biblical inerrancy lite in the Global Methodist Church
When, on May 1, 2022, the Global Methodist Church announced itself to the world, more than 2,000 churches already had taken advantage of the disaffiliation process to break with the United Methodist Church.

ELCA elects first Black presiding bishop, calls Israel's actions in Gaza a genocide
The Rev. Yehiel Curry, bishop of the ELCA’s Metropolitan Chicago Synod since 2019, will serve a six-year term as presiding bishop of the 2.7 million-member denomination.

Also See: New ELCA Leader: ‘Thank You for Your Investment’

Pope Leo confirms John Henry Newman as doctor of the church
St. John Henry Newman’s teachings on the development of theology and the centrality of conscience have deeply influenced the Catholic Church.

New Jersey church threatened by eminent domain gets a reprieve – for now

Church leaders and Mayor Dan Rodrick have been at odds for months over the future of the property.

Also See: New Jersey church on solid ground against potential property seizure, legal experts suggest

Assemblies of God church faces new lawsuit claiming it failed to protect kids from abuse at summer camp
A Florida church and a regional body of the Assemblies of God are facing a new lawsuit claiming they failed to protect children from abuse at a congregation-sponsored summer camp.

Appointment of openly gay Archbishop of Wales branded 'tragic'
Cherry Vann's appointment as the 15th Archbishop of Wales has been called "tragic" by the head of Christian Concern, Andrea Williams.

Also See: Wales Elects First Female Archbishop

Evangelical legal group asks Supreme Court to overturn same-sex marriage ruling
‘We think that it’s not a matter of if, but just a matter of when, the Supreme Court will overrule Obergefell,’ said Mathew Staver, head of Liberty Counsel.

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, July 31, 2025) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

We live in what may be described as troubled times. Droughts and famine plague some parts of our world. Other parts are experiencing volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and flooding. The war between Ukraine and Russia rages on, and fighting has flared up between Cambodia and Thailand, each side blaming the other for starting it. There are reports of fresh and ongoing violence from other spots around the world. Parts of the United States and Europe are suffering under an oppressive heat wave. Are we living in the end times is the question on the minds of some Christians?

In this evening’s message we take a look what Jesus instructed his disciples to do as they awaited his return.

Reading: Luke 21: 5-38

Message: The Six Tasks of a True Disciple

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/07/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_31.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.

Image Credit: The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

Wednesday's Catch: 'The Easiest (and Most Incredible) Way to Get Information from Your Guests!' And More

The Easiest (and Most Incredible) Way to Get Information from Your Guests!
In this episode, Thom welcomes Sarah Nashif-Tan from VisitorReach to the podcast for an inside look at their latest innovation: VisitorTap. She is a strategic and passionate leader who blends business and ministry skills to empower local churches for cultural impact. Discover how this easy-to-use tap technology is revolutionizing the way churches engage guests and connect with their congregation.

Frances Kilvert’s Anglican Pastoral Care
How do we care for people? This is a big challenge for every Christian and for every congregation. It is a particular challenge for clergy. Central to faith and ministry is the call to care. But how does one do it? And how do you handle the challenges that people, place, and circumstance present? The Anglican tradition has great wealth from which to draw; in this space I’ll draw especially on Francis Kilvert, a 19th-century cleric. Utterly obscure in his time, he has much to teach us in ours.

Filthy Rags or Fragrant Offerings? How Does God View Our Good Works?
My contention is this: If you’re God’s child in Christ, then God doesn’t view your efforts to please him as filthy rags. Provided those works flow from love for God and neighbor and are guided by God’s Word, the Bible has a much more positive view of them.

ACNA bishops, leaders weigh in on turbulent Ruch trial
On Friday, a lawyer who worked alongside the prosecutor claimed the court’s integrity has been ‘fatally undermined.’ On Tuesday, church leaders voiced confidence in the court’s ability to carry out the trial.

Also See: Letter from Archbishop Steve Wood in Response to the Thebeau Statement; SC Bishop's Response to Joint Statement Released by ACNA Today

Parish Vestry Alleges Episcopal Misconduct 

Incarnation Anglican Church in Williamsburg, VA has requested a formal inquiry into Diocese of Mid-Atlantic Bishop Chris Warner’s conduct under ACNA's Title III, Canon 8 to determine whether his actions constitute canonical violations, abuse of authority, or neglect of episcopal duty.

The division over women in ordained ministry has been simmering beneath the surface of the ACNA since its founding in 2009. It periodically breaks the surface as appears to be the case in this matter. The ACNA constitution has a provision which prohibits the province from preventing its dioceses from ordaining women to the diaconate and the presbyterate. According to the ACNA canons, the appointment and dismissal of a rector requires the consent of the bishop. The bishop must be consulted in the appointment and dismissal of other clergy. The canons contain no provision permitting a congregation to refuse the ministry of woman deacon or priest on the grounds that it does not accept the validity of their ordination. A congregation does have the option of transferring to a diocese that does not ordain women or disaffiliating from the ACNA.

Matthew Barrett and the Baptist-to-Anglican Pipeline
Southern Baptist social media was abuzz late last week when a prominent Baptist theologian announced his departure from the Southern Baptist Convention for the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA).

An ever-so brief word about my not becoming Anglican
Within five months of my being baptized by immersion in April of 1974 as a Christian at Stanley Avenue Baptist Church in Hamilton, Ontario, by Revd. Bruce Woods (a true father in the Faith to me), I was attending an evangelical Anglican seminary, Wycliffe College on the campus of the University of Toronto. I lived in residence at Wycliffe and loved my life there and for a time thought about becoming Anglican....

It's Not Really Helping
Brendan Szendro explains why government support for religion doesn’t necessarily make people more religious. History offers plenty of lessons about what happens when governments support faith groups – and it doesn’t always help them.

Prayer in schools
In 1962, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down government-mandated prayer in public schools. This ruling led many to believe it was forbidden to pray in school. Not so. As one bumper sticker stated, “As long as there are students and tests, there will be prayer in schools.”

About 24 years ago, I read about a church in the Midwest that prayed over every classroom in their neighborhood schools. I thought, “We could do that!” Thus an annual event in our church began, to pray over every classroom in our county.

How to Adapt to Lead a Growing Church
Pastor, before your church can grow to the next level, you need to understand the stage you're in now. Different stages of church growth require different leadership skills. You won’t lead a church of 400 the same way you lead a church of 40.

Church attendance decline is NOT a given. Churches can and do grow.

Aretha Franklin and the Apostle Paul agree: Sing!
Franklin’s music blurred the boundaries between the sacred and profane, as the apostle instructed.

KidMin Volunteers Who Don’t Quit: How To Retain Team Members
Finding and keeping kidmin volunteers is a big job. Thankfully, children’s ministry leaders have expert tips for accomplishing this important task. Keep reading for 20 tips on retaining top-notch Sunday school helpers.

31 Summer Children’s Ministry Ideas for Churches of Any Size
These 31 summer children’s ministry ideas will delight children, welcome families, and reach the community. Try these fun, faith-filled activities at your church this season!

10 Signs Your Christianity Has Become Too Comfortable
Much of what I am about to say is going to be a public confession of some personal sins. How do you know you have become a Comfortable Christian?

Tuesday's Catch: 'The Undeniable, Irresistible Resilience Of The Small Church' And More

The Undeniable, Irresistible Resilience Of The Small Church
To some people, small churches may look frail, weak, and out of touch, but no matter what happens we keep coming back.

How the Neighborhood Church Could Make a Comeback
It’s time for the neighborhood church to make a comeback. The stigma of small churches is fading. Incredible potential is right around the corner. Imagine what could happen if neighborhood churches got healthy on a large scale. The neighborhood church movement is primed for a launch. If this comeback occurred, what might it look like?

What do you think? I have three church a short walking distance from where I live. Not one of these churches is Anglican. The nearest Episcopal church is a three quarters of an hour walk from my home. The nearest Continuing Anglican church is located in a rural area, off the beaten track, a half an hour or longer drive if you know the way and don't get lost looking for it. Its sign faces the road at the entrance to its driveway and is easy to miss. A hedgerow of trees and bushes hide the building from the road. 

Creating welcoming church spaces for families
Through our research and experience with churches and families, we have come to learn how busy families are. When families attend church, they make an intentional choice of how to spend their time together. Churches must keep this in mind as they prepare to engage and support families with children.

Fourth group of religious organizations sues US over ICE raids at churches
“As people of faith, we cannot abide losing the basic right to provide care and compassion,” Bishop Brenda Bos of the ELCA’s Southwest California Synod, a plaintiff in the case, said in a statement.

Also See: New lawsuit again seeks to block ICE raids at churches.

As one born among us
“When an immigrant resides with you, you shall not oppress the immigrant. The immigrant shall be to you as one who was born among you; you shall love the immigrant as yourself.” Those words from Leviticus 19:33-34 belong to a wide stream of welcome that flows throughout the Bible; verses and voices that carry the beautiful news of God’s relentless concern for refugees, asylum seekers and all migrating people and families.

Why American Christians are divided
Our divisions go by names other than Paul or Apollos or Cephas, but Christians remain as (or more) divided than ever.

Facing lawsuit, Trump admin will fund schools
The Trump administration will disburse billions in education funding it has withheld from public school districts for weeks.

From Pews to Pulpit: Developing Ministry Leaders
Developing leaders is essential for the church’s ministry and multiplication. No obstacle should hinder you from starting in your church.

Five Ways to Plagiarize-Proof Your Sermons
Thom and Sam look at the challenging issue of plagiarism in sermons. They suggest five things you can do to avoid this mistake.

Navigating the Opportunities and Pitfalls of Online Bible Study
This digital format offers many compelling benefits. At the same time, it presents a few dangers that churches and believers must navigate with discernment. As more congregations and Christians turn to online Bible study for growth, it’s essential to understand both sides of the equation.

How to Encourage Engagement in Your Small Group
Encouraging involvement takes more than a good curriculum or regular meeting time. It requires intentional leadership, relational investment, and a clear vision for what the group is meant to be. Here are several key ways to boost small group engagement and create a thriving environment where people want to stay connected.

Monday's Catch: 'Does Counting Worship Attendance Still Make Sense for Churches?' And More

Does Counting Worship Attendance Still Make Sense for Churches?
For decades, worship attendance has been the default metric for measuring church success. While some may argue it’s outdated or superficial, the truth is more complex. Let’s start with the sobering reality: Between 70% and 80% of churches in North America are either plateaued or declining. One of the key reasons? Less than 1% of churches maintain an ongoing emphasis on evangelism. Without a clear commitment to reaching new people, growth naturally slows or stalls. So, while attendance isn’t the only measure of health, it remains one of the most revealing.

How to Recruit & Retain Church Volunteers: Proven Strategies
A friend asked me, “How did you do it? How did you get everyone to volunteer and then continue volunteering?” It was a great question. 

I had yet to stop and think about it. Well, now I have stopped, and as my mother would say, “I have had a ponder.” Here are my reflections.

Selfish, Lifeless, Loveless Christianity
It’s holiday season, which means it’s also hospitality season. It’s in the summer that so many people travel and in the summer that so many of us find friends or relatives dropping by for a day or for a week. As this summer began, I realized I would be both host and hosted in the weeks ahead and found myself pondering one half of one of the Bible’s commands.

Soul Food: 10 Months Post-Helene. 25,000 Meals. And No Plans to Stop
n Helene’s immediate aftermath, floodwaters lapped at Clyde Central United Methodist Church. But that just made it easy for first responders — they paddled rafts up to the church doors to deposit waterlogged and weary evacuees. 

Sometime shortly after that, as the Pigeon River slowly receded, Denise Teague wandered through the doors looking to help out wherever she could. With some other dazed volunteers, she cobbled together an ad-hoc dinner for aid workers and anyone else who needed the food, and served it out of Clyde Central’s Fellowship Hall. Nine months and over 25,000 meals later, Teague has essentially never left.

Dangerously high temperatures continue for much of US this week
More than 185 million people across from South Dakota to Florida and up the East Coast to Boston are on alert for widespread, dangerous heat on Monday and into the new work week, and parts of the Southeast could experience the brunt of the sweltering conditions. 

The highest temperatures on Monday will be focused in the southeast from the Carolinas to Florida where extreme where heat indices -- that is, what the temperatures feel like when humidity is factored in -- are forecast to be between 105 and 113 degrees.

Also See: Deadly wildfires in Turkey, Greece force thousands to evacuate in searing heat

8 Things to Know About New Research on Earth’s Rapid Drying and the Loss of Its Groundwater 

The continents are rapidly drying out and the earth’s vast freshwater resources are under threat, according to a recently released study based on more than 20 years of NASA satellite data. Here are the report’s key findings and what they portend for humankind....

Also See: New global study shows freshwater is disappearing at alarming rates

A couple I know, a local farmer and his wife, just returned from a trip to Ontario, Canada, where they have a second home. They report that the corn (maize) is only half the normal size it should be and has already begun to tassel, two bad signs, due to the serious drought conditions in the province.

Top medical body concerned over RFK Jr’s reported plans to cut preventive health panel
A top US medical body has expressed “deep concern” to Robert F Kennedy Jr over news reports that the health secretary plans to overhaul a panel that determines which preventive health measures including cancer screenings should be covered by insurance companies.

Fearing Medicaid coverage loss, some parents rush to vaccinate their kids
Throughout the country, pediatricians say anxious parents are concerned about access to routine childhood immunizations, especially those with children on Medicaid, the government insurance program for low-income families and people with disabilities. Medicaid covers 4 in 10 children in the U.S.

Also See: States, cities face loss of vaccination programs and staff after ‘baffling’ cuts to federal funding

Why Every Pastor Needs to Carve Out Solitary Time
The demands of pastoral ministry are relentless. Between counseling sessions, sermon preparation, leadership meetings, hospital visits, and the emotional load of caring for a congregation, it can be easy for a pastor to operate in constant motion. Yet amidst all this activity, Scripture and experience alike point to a vital practice that often goes neglected: solitary time. It’s not simply about taking a break—it’s about cultivating space for spiritual clarity, personal renewal, and a deeper connection with God.

Teach Your Congregation to Worship Every Day
Sunday morning worship is central to the life of the church, but it was never meant to be the only time believers connect with God. For many, worship is confined to a weekly service—songs, Scripture readings, and sermons that last an hour or two. Yet, Scripture paints a much broader vision. Worship as a lifestyle, not a once-a-week appointment. As church leaders, we have the opportunity—and responsibility—to teach our congregations how to worship every day.

Five Reasons Your Worship Music May Not Be Clicking
Church Answers does two major types of evaluation of music in church worship services. The first approach uses a secret guest to get their first impressions. In the second approach, Church Answers uses a trained and highly competent church musician to evaluate the music from both a philosophical and technical aspect. Sam and Thom look at five common issues in these technical evaluations.

Singing Anyway
... we all have reasons to refrain from showing up and singing. But we should do it anyway.

Has Your Church Tried Servant Evangelism? 3 Ways to Start
For many churches, evangelism brings to mind programs filled with door-to-door visits, gospel tracts, or street preaching. While these approaches have their place, they don’t always resonate with today’s culture. Increasingly, people respond not to arguments but to acts of kindness and authenticity. This is where servant evangelism offers a compelling alternative—a way to show the love of Christ through simple, tangible service.

When a church engages in servant evangelism, its leaders, members, and attendees need to keep two things in mind. They are not going to see immediate results and positive reports about a church take longer to come to people's attention than do negative ones. It is a unfortunate truth that people are more likely to talk about the bad things happening at your church, real or imagined, than they are the good thing. Consequently it is important to give a servant evangelism project long enough time to work.

7 practical tips for sharing your faith as a Christian
The challenge for many, though, is not so much the message itself, but how to share it. So how can we better communicate our faith and extend genuine invitations to church? Here are seven practical tips to help....

Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, July 27, 2025) Is Now Online

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

Did you know that what some homeowners consider a pesky weed, the humble dandelion, was originally brought to the New World by European colonists and grown in their gardens for its culinary and medicinal uses? Did you also know that we can learn a lot from this common wildflower?

In this Sunday’s message we take a look at what it means to be rooted in Christ.

Readings: Genesis 18: 20-32, Colossians 2: 6-15, and Luke 11: 1-13

Message: Deep Roots

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/07/sundays-at-all-hallows-sunday-july-27.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: 'The Burge Report: Is Gen Z More Religiously Engaged than Their Parents?' And More

The Burge Report: Is Gen Z More Religiously Engaged than Their Parents?
New religious data in the United States was released recently, and Ryan Burge joins the show with Sam to discuss the details. In 2024, Gen Z showed relatively strong religious attendance compared to other generations. Twenty-four percent of Gen Z reported attending religious services weekly—two percentage points higher than both Millennials and Gen X. While 53% of Gen Z attend less than once a year, that’s actually the lowest percentage of infrequent attenders among all the generations analyzed.

Americans’ Trust in the Church Rebounds Slightly
After hovering near record lows for several years, the percentage of U.S. adults who trust the church grew slightly in 2025.

RIP: Jeffery Rowthorn, bishop who served in Connecticut and Europe, dies at 91
The Rt. Rev. Jeffery Rowthorn, who served as bishop suffragan in Connecticut from 1987 to 1993 and then as bishop of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe through 2001, died on July 23. He was 91.

Also See: Mourning the loss of Jeffery Rowthorn, one of ISM’s founding faculty members; From the Dean: Requiescat in Pace, Jeffery Rowthorn

Hope Publishing Company publishes a number of Bishop Rowthorn's hymns and hymn collections.

To Raise Funds for Parish Roof, Rector Bikes 1,000 Miles
Scripture says faith without works is dead. For the Rev. Lee Gandiya, a veteran who most recently served as chaplain to Her Majesty’s Armed Forces in the United Kingdom, the work involved biking 1,000 miles for two weeks.

‘We are in a constant state of anxiety’
Often viewed by their fellow citizens with suspicion, Iraq’s Anglicans lead a precarious existence.

US heat dome causes dangerous conditions for more than 100 million people
More than a 100 million people in the US will face dangerous conditions over the weekend as a heat dome that has scorched much of the center of the country nudges eastward.

Also See: Hundreds of weather records could be broken next week

Warning about "unusual fatigue" extended for millions
Widespread air quality alerts and advisories were issued across the Upper Midwest on Thursday due to dense wildfire smoke drifting south from Canada. The fine particle pollution—PM2.5—reached levels classified as "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" (USG) or worse in numerous counties, prompting warnings from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

How I Changed My Mind on the Death Penalty
Dale Chamberlain explains why he has grown increasingly uncomfortable with the death penalty.

Also See: Tennessee governor urged to commute death sentence of intellectually disabled man

VOICES: Calvinism debate: An alternative to both Calvinist and Free Will formulations
The question of God's divine sovereignty and man's free will, or "free agency" as The Baptist Faith and Message describes it, has vexed, teased, tantalized, and bedeviled serious Christians for centuries. How do Christians reconcile these two great biblical truths?

The Bible and food: why it's so much more than eating
From the opening chapters of Genesis to the closing vision of Revelation, food and fellowship run through the story of Scripture. God places humanity in a garden of abundance. At the end, a banquet is prepared for the redeemed. Eating - and eating together - is never a side note in the biblical story. It is one of the ways God forms community, renews covenant, and reveals Himself.

Don’t overlook Sunday
The principal means of growth for God’s people is the corporate gathering of God’s people. It is in the word preached, the songs sung, the prayers prayed, the communion shared and the service enacted as the church comes together. This is God’s discipleship programme and we gloss over it, looking for better courses and whatnot, far too quickly.

No Excuses: Moving from Unbelief to Faith in Christ
Perhaps you have heard the gospel before. But you have not yet decided to trust in and follow Christ. What can you do?

Friday' Catch: 'Bishop Jeffery Rowthorn (1934-2025)' And More

Bishop Jeffery Rowthorn (1934-2025)
The Rt. Rev. Jeffery Rowthorn, a liturgical scholar and prolific hymnwriter who served as Bishop Suffragan of Connecticut and Bishop of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, died July 23 at 91. He is probably best known for his hymn “Lord, You Give the Great Commission,” but also wrote about ecological spirituality and published several volumes of liturgical texts for pastoral ministry.

New prosecutor in ACNA trial of Bishop Ruch is named, and accused of conflict
The seven-member court also issued a public response contradicting the claims made by former prosecutor C. Alan Runyan earlier this week.

A Call to Orthodoxy: Reflections on Matthew Barrett’s Departure from the SBC
After more than twenty years of deep investment in Baptist life, Barrett has just announced his departure from the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and MBTS.This isn’t the story of a man leaving in protest over politics or platform wars. It’s the story of a theologian — shaped in Baptist institutions, trusted by Baptist churches — walking away not because he lost faith, but because he feared the denomination is heading in the wrong direction.

Also See: I am leaving the SBC and becoming Anglican

Church of England Newspaper Suspends Publication
Andrew Carey, editor of The Church of England Newspaper since 2022, made an announcement July 22 that any editor dreads: his publication may have seen its last edition.

Also See: Church of England Newspaper Ceases Publication

South Dakota priest, family assess losses and blessings after tornado destroys home
The Diocese of South Dakota is calling for prayers after one of its priests, the Rev. Kim Fonder, and his wife, Tammy Fonder, lost their ranch home in a tornado that touched down early morning July 23 on the Lower Brule Indian Reservation. Their three grandchildren and a family friend were with them in the house when the tornado hit, but all escaped uninjured.

Lynn Green elected Vice Chair of Baptist World Alliance
The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) has elected its first Vice Chair in the form of Lynn Green, the current General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB). She was elected at the BWA Global Council in Brisbane, Australia, where the former General Secretary of the Jamaica Baptist Union, Karl Johnson, was selected to be the first Chair of the BWA.

Heatwaves Are Getting Worse—Here’s How Faith Communities Can Help
If you live in the United States, chances are you have experienced the extreme heat waves sweeping the nation. According to PBS, 220 Million Americans– roughly two-thirds of the country– are feeling the exhausting and dangerous effects of this extreme heat. “Extreme heat” refers to high temperatures over 90 degrees Fahrenheit which last for at least two days.

Why Mid-Size Churches Have a Growing Advantage in Reaching People
A time existed when both Thom and Sam wondered if the mid-size church would dwindle as people transferred into megachurches and planted new churches. Today, mid-size churches have distinct advantages. The co-hosts cover several reasons why mid-size churches have new opportunities to thrive.

Why We Must Rethink the Smaller Church, Part 1: The New Norm
While most people would consider a church with an average worship attendance of 50 to be small, those churches are larger than 50% of churches in America. In this three-part series, Thom and Jess discuss the implications of these developments. In this first of three podcasts, they discuss the reality of this new landscape.

Also See: Why We Must Rethink the Smaller Church, Part 2: The New Structure; Why We Must Rethink the Smaller Church, Part 3: The New Opportunity

When Your Church Facility Is Too Large for the Actual Attendance: Four Solutions
It is becoming a common problem. Many church facilities were built for a different church era, specifically when more people attended. Now, your space is too large for the number of people who show up each week. Thom looks at this issue and offers four possible solutions.

5 Practices to Lift Up Young Church Leaders
Here are the top five things congregations can do to help young people discern a call to Christian ministry....

‘How Vulnerable Should You Be as a Pastor?’—Carey Nieuwhof Offers Helpful Framework
“How vulnerable should you be as a pastor?” asked ministry leader Carey Nieuwhof in a recent video on his YouTube channel. Nieuwhof is founding pastor of Connexus Church in Barrie, Ontario, as well as an author and speaker who focuses on helping church leaders thrive.

The Limits of Pastoral Care: When Counseling Isn’t Appropriate

Pastors provide spiritual guidance, but there are times when counseling crosses into territory best handled by trained professionals. In this episode, Josh and Sam explore the limits of pastoral care—when ethical, legal, and practical concerns make it necessary to refer someone elsewhere. From mental health crises to marital conflicts beyond a pastor’s expertise, knowing when to step back is crucial for both the pastor and the person seeking help. We’ll discuss red flags, healthy boundaries, and how pastors can support without overstepping.

The Preacher's Trust
Every preacher faces a defining question when stepping into the pulpit: Where will I place my trust? This question reveals not only our understanding of ministry but also our view of God and ourselves.

The history behind the first Welsh Bible and its connection to Queen Elizabeth I
The Welsh language has had the whole Bible since 1588. This is the story....

Experiencing Life in Community
There’s something about community—the relationships, the sense of belonging, the support and encouragement, the sympathy and understanding—that deepens our lives and anchors our souls. But the community pictured in shows like Cheers or Friends, or more recently in This Is Us or Stranger Things, pales in comparison to the truest, best, clearest picture of community that has ever been presented—the new community, called together by Christ for Christ, better known as the Church. And no better snapshot of its life can be found than in the second chapter of Acts....

Image Credit: Episcopal Church in Connecticut

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, July 24, 2025) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

Among God’s gifts to us is the gift of beautiful church music. The music of this evening’s service is drawn from several different periods in church history. It includes an orchestral prelude based upon a Welsh hymn tune and one of the oldest Christian hymns, set to a tune from the sixteenth century.

This evening’s message is a reflection upon a passage from Paul’s Letter to the Romans.

Reading: Romans 15:1-13

Message: A Reflection

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/07/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_24.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.

Thursday's Catch: 'What Message Are You Sending Visitors?' And More

What Message Are You Sending Visitors?
A church’s outreach strategy should involve multiple efforts. But one of those efforts should include hospitality toward guests to your worship services. Some churches make visitors their primary focus for outreach, and others see it as a later step after much prior investment. Either way, looking at a recent Lifeway Research question on how churches welcome guests prompts some helpful thinking about how we can invest in guests.

Church Online Giving Platforms – 5 Great Choices
We’ve rounded up our five favorite church online giving platforms to help you provide your congregation with the option to give online and mobile.

New Jersey mayor says town won’t seize Episcopal church if public doesn’t support plan
Mayor Dan Rodrick of Toms River, New Jersey, has delayed a council vote on his plan to seize an Episcopal church’s property, and he told Episcopal News Service he would end his effort to turn the church’s 11 acres into parkland if town officials confirm the public doesn’t support it.

115 Years Later, South Dakota Church Gets Running Water
Very soon, parishioners and visitors of the Church of the Mediator will be able to fulfill a routine the World Health Organization calls “one of the most effective ways of keeping diseases at bay” without leaving its four walls. Thanks to a United Thank Offering (UTO) grant approved by the Executive Council in June, the church now has the funds to install running water in the centuries-old structure.

Evangelical to Lead Australian Church
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Mark Short, Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn since 2019, was elected on July 19 as Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia. He is the first non-metropolitan to be elected as primate since the church began electing its chief bishop in 1910, and the first evangelical to lead the church since the early 1980s.

Trump supporters report higher levels of psychopathy, manipulativeness, callousness, and narcissism A new psychological study has found that people who report favorable views of Donald Trump also tend to score higher on measures of callousness, manipulation, and other malevolent traits—and lower on empathy and compassion. The findings, based on two large surveys of U.S. adults, shed light on how personality traits relate to political beliefs, including support for Trump and conservative ideology. The research was recently published in the Journal of Research in Personality.

Also See: The Scandal of Evangelical Empathy: How Did We Even Get Here?

As This Church Has Received It: To What Are We Vowing?
Since the last General Convention, it has become commonplace to say that the Episcopal Church has two doctrines on marriage. Matthew Olver has written helpfully on the situation in several essays (see here and here). Both the traditional view that marriage can only be between a man and a woman, and the more recent view that marriage is between two persons (regardless of sex), are effectively enshrined in both our canons and liturgies—or will be, pending the second reading of the prayer book revision in 2027.

Baptists in Australia, New Zealand and Canada wrestle with LGBTQ inclusion
Like it long has in the U.S., disagreement over same-sex marriage and congregational autonomy are also driving a wedge between Baptists in Australia.

How Long Should a Pastor Preach?
That lament echoes through the Psalms, appears in Habakkuk, recurs in Revelation—and pervades the meandering minds of restless parishioners obliged to suffer the pastor’s preaching past the point of effectiveness and endurance. An expression of extreme suffering and bewilderment is hardly the response a pastor hopes for when he delivers himself of a week’s worth of preparation, no matter what the sermon length. So; how long should a pastor preach?

VOICES: Will God answer a prayer that’s not good for you?
What if you prayed for something that would actually hurt you — would God still give it to you? A story from King David’s life answers that question.

Effective Cell Group Topics You Can Use
The goal of my men’s life group is to make everyone a disciple who makes other disciples. This should be the goal of every cell group. Although I lead the group, I’m more of the coach than the leader. That is, my role is to make sure everyone in the group is participating and becoming a disciple in the process. Cell group topics must support this goal.

Margin in Youth Ministry: 6 Steps To Slowing Down
Need more margin in youth ministry? You’re not alone! Youth ministry is a marathon filled with a thousand sprints. Whether it’s jumping from camp to camp over the summer or getting ready for fall kickoff, it’s easy to get wiped out. If only you had some margin....

“I Enjoyed the Sermon,” and Other Things You Shouldn’t Say
What’s wrong with “I enjoyed the sermon”? The people who say this mean well. They aren’t the haters who find fault with minutiae in every sermon. These aren’t the theological thought-police, who are constantly scouring sermons for hints of heresy. They are people who love the preacher and care for their pastor. They’re seeking to be an encouragement. But they don’t realise how discouraging it is to hear that someone merely enjoyed your sermon.

The Importance of Daily Time in God’s Word and Prayer
Greg Stier explains how a simple habit can reset your soul, anchor your heart, and transform your life.

Wednesday's Catch: 'Reimagining Church as a Ministry Center' And More

“Reimagining Church as a Ministry Center” featuring Beth and Nelson Neil
How can a struggling congregation be transformed into a thriving multicultural ministry center? In this episode co-pastors Beth and Nelson Neil share how Culmore Church was transformed through shared space, mutual respect, creative collaboration, and intentional relationships. Their story demonstrates how transparency, flexibility, and mission alignment can revitalize ministry and serve as a model for holistic community engagement.

Does a New Mover Ministry Really Work? An Early Analysis
How effective are new mover ministries, particularly those where a card is mailed to every new mover in a specified area? Thom and Sam look at some early results they gleaned.

Ruch Trial Halted by Prosecutor’s Resignation
The ecclesiastical trial of the Rt. Rev. Stewart Ruch III, an Anglican Church in North America bishop who is accused of mishandling reports of abusive ministers in his diocese, has been halted less than a week into its proceedings by the sudden resignation of its prosecutor. The trial is scheduled to resume August 11, according to a court order.

New Jersey residents petition to rescind land ordinance threatening Episcopal church
Voters here could ultimately decide the fate of Mayor Daniel Rodrick’s plan to seize Christ Episcopal Church’s property by eminent domain if a petition drive that began July 21 is successful.

Trump administration won’t consider violence against women in immigration
The Justice Department has determined women no longer may cite gender-based violence as grounds for seeking asylum in the U.S.

Love Each Other Like Members of Your Family
In her book, Who Do We Choose to Be? Margaret Wheatley says a decent human being must be willing to serve an inhumane and indecent time. More than being decent, what might a Christian be willing to do in an inhumane, indecent time?

Despite tax exemption tempest, Trump's IRS keeps Johnson Amendment intact
Notwithstanding the consent decree, it's an open question whether the US Supreme Court would go along with voiding the Johnson Amendment.

New estimate shows 10 million to lose coverage under GOP law
Almost 2 million fewer people will lose their health coverage under Republicans' big domestic policy law than originally projected after a provision cracking down on undocumented immigrants was dropped, congressional scorekeepers said Monday.

Also See: A void of Medicaid infrastructure in Trump’s ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ may result in a customer service nightmare, warn Washington insiders

Clergy: It's time to lead the fight for families at state and local levels
Clergy and community members believe the No. 1 policy priority for the church is securing high-quality, affordable child care.

The Avenue Fights Hunger Through Partnerships
Four years ago, The Avenue, located in Talbott, Tennessee, wanted to collect and distribute fresh food to those in need at its Dream Center, which also offers resources and information about housing, jobs and more. But according to Matt Burton, The Avenue’s director of outreach and community engagement, sourcing and obtaining enough food to meet the demand proved difficult. And often, the church found itself with an abundance of donated expired food.

What If God Isn’t Like the God We’ve Believed In?
Perhaps the thought has crossed your mind, maybe when you came across new claims bringing God’s goodness into question—the fear that God is different from what you thought he was like.

Bridging the generational gap: what we can learn from Paul's relationship with Timothy
The “Gen Z stare” is causing quite the stir. Have you heard of it? It’s the detached and, according to The New York Times, "unreadable" gaze that some people are apparently experiencing from Gen Z in shops, at work and other settings.

Extended Adolescence: What Youth Leaders Need To Know
Extended adolescence is now a major trend in America. Read insights from a veteran youth leader about the faith impacts of drawing out this developmental stage.

4 Practical Ideas for VBS Follow-Up
Strategic follow-up plays a huge role in making the most of your VBS. In fact, intentional follow-up should be an important part of your regular VBS planning, right from the beginning. That means as you’re rounding up supplies, handing off VBS manuals, and putting up decorations, you’re also preparing to make a strong post-event impression.

Tuesday's Catch: 'Why is the Physical Gathering of the Church Important in a Digital Age?' And More

Why is the Physical Gathering of the Church Important in a Digital Age?
Why does it matter so much, especially now, that the church continues gathering, offering one another the gift of our presence?

I have observed a decided qualitative difference between services of public worship participated in person and those viewed on cable TV or the internet. The musicians and the vocalists sound different. Indeed, one's entire sensory experience is different. Those present at a service are more likely to participate in the prayers and the singing than those watching on cable TV or the internet. They also are able to socialize with the other participants before and after the service. This helps to create a sense of community. This past Sunday the visiting preacher forgot to turn on his head phone at the early service at the church I attend. Those present at the service could hear him; those watching the service on cable TV or online could not.

The Top 5 Legal Issues Churches Face Today 

Churches may be spiritual communities, but they operate in a legal world. And many aren’t prepared. In today’s episode, Sam interviews Ryan June of Castañeda + Heidelman LLP, and we unpack the five most common legal issues churches face: child protection, property disputes, employment law, governance and bylaws, and intellectual property. Ignorance of the law is not a spiritual gift. Whether your church is 50 years old or just starting, these legal risks can’t be ignored.

Why Do You Want To Measure Ministry Success?
Before we use metrics to determine ministry success, we need to know what the numbers measure and what they miss.

Prosecutor resigns, calls ACNA Bishop Stewart Ruch trial ‘irreparably tainted’
The case has not been dismissed, and the trial is scheduled to resume on Aug. 11.

Also See: ACNA delays trial of bishop accused of abuse due to prosecutor resigning

Americans advised not to drink alcohol in 18 states
Heat-related alerts had been issued for 18 states as of Monday, with the National Weather Service (NWS) urging residents to take steps to reduce the risk of heat illnesses.

80% of US counties contain 'health care deserts': Report
A growing number of Americans find themselves living in "health care deserts," areas lacking in the specific infrastructure and services needed to ensure timely access to medicine and care, new data suggests. According to new research from health care and prescription price-comparison website GoodRx, 81 percent of U.S. counties—home to more than 120 million Americans—fall under this definition in some way. This includes those which lack proper access to either pharmacies, primary care, hospital beds, trauma centers or community health centers.

10 Bible verses Christian nationalists take out of context to seize power
For authoritarian Christians, God ruling on earth means God putting Christians in charge of their neighbors.

Are AI sermons ethical? Clergy consider where to draw the line.
Much of the debate involves grappling with the question of whether AI is being used as a replacement for a sacred human project or whether it's a tool in the service of that project.

How Prayer Actually Works: To the Father, Through the Son, By the Spirit
You don’t have to get your Trinitarian theology all sorted out before you can pray to the Trinity. Our God hears prayers. He does not wait for us to pass the theology test before he listens to us praying.

Technology isn’t inherently bad but the way we use it can lead to harm, author warns
The growing complexity and pervasiveness of digital devices and social media is diminishing our capacity to relate authentically to others and to God, author and cultural sociologist Felicia Wu Song said.

How to Evaluate Church Apps for Your Ministry
More congregations are living part of their spiritual lives through a screen. Sermons stream on demand, prayer requests circulate digitally, and online giving is routine. In this landscape, third-party church apps promise to consolidate communication, giving, events, and discipleship into one mobile-friendly experience. But with subscription costs and time investments involved, churches must ask: Are church apps really worth it?

Exploring the Possibilities of Shared Small Group Leadership
When churches organize small groups, the emphasis is often on relationships, discipleship, and growth. These communities flourish best when there is strong, consistent leadership. But is it possible—or even preferable—for a group to have more than one leader? This question invites us to examine the structure, purpose, and dynamics of small group leadership in a church setting. While the traditional model typically includes one person taking the lead, there is growing evidence and experience to support the effectiveness of shared small group leadership.

Counter-Catechesis for a Secular Age
One way of meeting the challenges of our day is to take an ancient practice and employ it afresh, to help the church recover what we believe in both depth and breadth. “Catechesis” simply means “instruction.” A catechism is one way instruction takes place.

How much J. I. Packer contributed to the content of To Be a Christian: An Anglican Catechism beyond writing its introduction is debatable. It takes doctrinal positions with which Packer strongly disagreed, leaving those familiar with his works to question whether he actually read its contents. He was an invalid and near blind at the time. For what Packer called the "central Anglican theological tradition, I recommend his Church Society article, "The Revised Catechism" and his books, Growing in Christ (originally titled I Want to Be a Christian) and Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs.

The Brilliant Apologetic Strategy of the Ancient Church
One of the benefits of studying the history of early Christianity is that we quickly realize that what we are facing in the modern day is far from new. Each challenge to the faith might seem new—sometimes leading to an unnecessary panic among some—but the early church faced similar (and often much worse) things before.

Monday's Catch: 'The cost of turning around a church' And More

The cost of turning around a church
Revitalizing a church that is experiencing decline has always been hard. But in 2025, it is even harder. The present time is shaped by deep political polarization, theological division, post-pandemic fatigue, unrelenting cultural change, and widespread institutional distrust. I am ever mindful that the church does not exist outside of this context. It lives and breathes in it. And any attempt to bring renewal to a struggling congregation must account for the spiritual exhaustion, cultural fragmentation, and emotional guardedness that define so much of our collective life.

Eight Essentials for Guest-Friendly Church Bulletins
In many circles today, the church bulletin—or worship folder, as some prefer to call it—has been relegated to relic status. It’s often seen as a leftover from a bygone era, something traditional churches cling to while more “cutting-edge” congregations go completely digital. Some church leaders proudly announce that they’ve ditched the bulletin altogether. But I believe that’s a mistake.

US braces for severe weather across multiple states this week: What to know
Millions of Americans could this week be affected by a range of extreme weather conditions, from a heat dome to floods and severe storms, forecasters warn.

An Excessive Heat Warning has been issued for the region of westernmost Kentucky in which I live.

This is the summer of flooding across the US, and scientists know why
Once synonymous with leisure and reprieve, summer has increasingly become a season marked by anxiety and disruption. Fossil fuel pollution — alongside other compounding factors — has transformed these months into a time of mounting peril, punctuated by relentless heat waves, rampant wildfires and catastrophic flooding. This summer, in particular, has been defined by a tragic surge in deadly flash floods across the United States, underscoring the escalating volatility of our warming world.

‘A disaster for all of us’: US scientists describe impact of Trump cuts
Donald Trump’s assault on science – but particularly climate science – has led to unprecedented funding cuts and staff layoffs across federally funded agencies and programs, threatening to derail research tackling the most pressing issues facing Americans and humanity more broadly. A generation of scientific talent is also on the brink of being lost, with unprecedented political interference at what were previously evidence-driven agencies jeopardizing the future of US industries and economic growth.

Inside the federal government’s purge of climate data
Climate facts are inconvenient — so Trump is making them disappear.

Trump fossil-fuel push setting back green progress decades, critics warn 

Ever since Donald Trump began his second presidency, he has used an “invented” national energy emergency to help justify expanding oil, gas and coal while slashing green energy – despite years of scientific evidence that burning fossil fuels has contributed significantly to climate change, say scholars and watchdogs. It’s an agenda that in only its first six months, has put back environmental progress by decades, they say.

Republicans slashed food aid. Grocers in small towns and rural areas are taking the hit.
The deep cuts Republicans made to federal nutrition programs this summer are poised to devastate independent grocery stores that are central to many low-income communities, including those that voted for President Donald Trump. Food aid recipients often make up the majority of small grocers' customer base in remote areas and food deserts — places that have limited options for fresh, healthy food.

Whatever harms a community or district, higher energy costs, higher food prices, cuts in SNAP, closure of grocery stores, loss of jobs, harms the churches in that community or district.

What Your Church Needs to Train Leaders (You Probably Already Have It) ...what if the best tools for training leaders wasn’t “out there” in the minds and methods of best-selling authors and conference-circuit experts? What if every local church possessed everything it needed for this task?

Should Your Church Start a Young Adult Service?
Here are four considerations to help you determine if it’s time for your church to have a separate young adult service.

Worship Leader, Tell the Whole Story 

As worship leaders design services, we have the privilege of inviting people into the Story of stories. In an age of dopamine media and information overload, which flood the soul with torrents of anxiety and discontent, re-presenting the gospel through worship can calm the soul in a steady stream of mercy. However, if we don’t tell the full story, we risk shaping our people with a false gospel and producing burdened believers.

Gathered worship for the scattered church
This week a new set of worship songs is released, written by some of the UK’s most prominent song-writers, guided by theologians. The project is called 'Boundless', as the songs worship a God who cares and is intimately involved in every aspect of our lives, including our places of work.

How to Use Prayer as Worship for a Deeper Congregational Experience
Worship is more than music—it is the full expression of a community offering praise, confession, and surrender to God. While songs often receive the most attention in modern church services, prayer remains an essential and powerful element of worship liturgy. When churches integrate prayer as worship intentionally, it can transform the gathering from a program of songs and sermons into a sacred encounter with the presence of God.

Start Your Day in Power with Morning Prayers Inspired by Great Christians
The first minutes of the day are some of the most influential. How we begin the morning can shape our thoughts, intentions, and spiritual posture for the hours ahead. Throughout Christian history, spiritual leaders and saints have leaned into the practice of morning prayers to align their hearts with God’s presence. From the early church fathers to modern voices of faith, these prayers have helped believers walk with the Holy Spirit from the break of day.

Why a Prayer Before Meal Matters in Daily Life
In our grab-and-go culture, meals can easily become rushed moments, devoid of reflection. Yet throughout history, followers of Christ have paused before eating to offer a prayer before meal times—inviting gratitude, reverence, and remembrance of God’s daily provision. Whether you’re dining alone or gathered around the table with family and friends, a simple prayer can transform an ordinary moment into a sacred one.

Making Disciples Who Make Jesus Known
Discipleship and mentoring have been two ordinary means that God has used to refine my faith, smooth out character flaws, and grow in a genuine love for the Savior. And they are crucial for every believer in Christ.

Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, July 20, 2025) Is Now Online

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

More than three decades ago at a Cursillo Weekend I learned how easy it is to form the wrong impression of someone. What we may think that we know about someone may be a product of our own imagination. The human brain is a great storyteller and quite willing to embroider the few things we may think we know about a particular individual.

In this Sunday’s message we meet Martha of Bethany and take a look at what the Scriptures tell us about her.

Genesis 18:1-10, Colossians 1: 15-28; Luke 10: 38-42

Message: Meet Martha: Sister of Lazarus and Mary, Friend and Disciple of Jesus

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/07/sundays-at-all-hallows-sunday-july-20.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: 'Beyond the Quiet Revival' And More

Beyond the Quiet Revival
The facts and figures are all available on Bible Society's website, and there's a comprehensive FAQ section for those who want a deeper dive. But it's worth just stressing that this is good, robust data. Because it's counter-intuitive – after all, everyone knows the Church is in decline, don't they? – there's been some push-back from sceptics; some of them reasonably well-informed, some, shall we say, rather less so.

Also See: Young people increasingly open to faith and God, research finds

Angels, witches, crystals and black cats: How supernatural beliefs vary across different groups in the US 

Sociologists who measured supernatural beliefs in the US found that higher education and higher income are associated with lower levels.

What the United Methodist Church Says About Candidate Endorsements
Critics of the IRS’ court filing say it is not about religion or free speech, but about radically altering campaign finance laws. The IRS decree could open the floodgates for political operatives to funnel money to churches in exchange for support of their preferred candidates, while receiving generous tax breaks at the expense of taxpayers who may not share those views.

We’re Only Seeing the Beginning of the Texas Floods’ Deadly Toll
Even in places where the floods have let up, the storm isn’t over: Floods can lead to excess deaths long after the actual event.

Religious attacks on science
The current MAGA evangelical attacks on science threaten to make America less safe, less healthy and much dumber.

The Trump Admin Quietly Made Attending College Even More Expensive
There have been many suggestions on how to handle the student debt crisis — and it appears the Trump administration has settled on making it even harder to go at all.

One Mindset Shift to Fuel Your Generosity
Generosity is a choice, and it’s a choice God expects us to make as His children....