Thursday' Catch: "Ryan Burge on ‘The Vanishing Church’ and how polarization is reshaping American faith" Andd Mre

Ryan Burge on ‘The Vanishing Church’ and how polarization is reshaping American faith
Social scientist Ryan Burge discusses what polarization means for congregations, community life and the American civic landscape.

Republican politics is killing the modern-day church: analysis
Over the years, traditional religious practice has declined in both the United States and globally, according to one political scientist.

Speaking to The New York Times' "Interesting Times" podcast, Ryan Burge, an ordained Christian minister who became a professor, analyzed data trends for his new book, "The Vanishing Church: How the Hollowing Out of Moderate Congregations Is Hurting Democracy, Faith, and Us."

Young adults driving renewed interest in Christianity, research finds
A new set of supplemental reports from the Evangelical Alliance suggests that young adults are emerging as a significant group among those coming to Christian faith in the UK, with authenticity, Scripture and community proving decisive factors in their journeys.

The findings form part of the wider Finding Jesus research project published last year, which surveyed 280 adults who became Christians within the past five years.

Middle East Christians warn rapid growth in faith is outpacing discipleship support
Christian leaders working across the Middle East say a surge in spiritual openness is leading thousands to explore faith in Jesus, but warn that a lack of local discipleship structures risks leaving many new believers unsupported.

Speaking to Church Mission Society (CMS), regional Christian leaders described unprecedented levels of spiritual searching, emerging from years of war, displacement, political instability and global upheaval.

It Takes Everyone
Recently Lifeway Research released the 2025 Rural Churches Today study that not only documents many helpful descriptions of rural ministry, but also raises good questions about ministry anywhere. This comprehensive survey of over 1,000 pastors serving rural areas and towns with populations under 10,000 was co-sponsored by the Rural Church Institute at the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center, the Rural Home Missionary Association, and the Center for Rural Ministry at Grove City College.

One of the important elements the survey uncovered is how these pastors feel about the work of ministry in the local church and who is doing it.

How to Deal with a Censorious Spirit
The title of this column is deliberately vague. By dealing with a censorious spirit, I mean both watching out for the temptation to adopt this posture toward others and knowing how to respond to people who adopt this posture toward us.

What psychologists have labeled the "negativity bias" or "negativity affect" may encourage us to adopt this posture toward others.

5 Ministry Game-Changers for Building a Team-Based Leadership Approach
Even the strongest pastor can’t do it alone. Moses had Aaron and Hur, Jesus sent disciples in pairs, and Paul never went solo. Yet too many churches still rely on a single leader. Kim Jenne gives us five practical ways to build a culture of shared, team-based ministry—and empower your congregation to step into their God-given calling.

What Kind of Sermon Did I Just Preach? The 5-Axis Audit
Why do we preach the kind of sermons we preach? Are we mere products of our environment, adopting whatever is trending?

Why Bible Reading Plans Fail (and What We Can Do About It)
How can we lead our churches to find success in following Bible reading plans that help them spend time in God’s Word in a meaningful way?

Preparing the Heart for Prayer
There is a wrong way to pray, and there is a right way to pray.

Give the Mic Away: The Team-Based Shift That Grows Faithful Youth
What is the key to a vibrant, growing youth ministry? Many churches assume it’s finding the right youth director and offering programming so entertaining it can compete with every other option in a teenager’s life. But Laura Heikes shares how youth ministry in her congregation has grown in a different way—not by doing more for young people, but by choosing to do ministry with them.

A Spiritual Warfare Reason that Evangelism is Hard
Evangelism is hard for most believers. Sometimes fear stops them from speaking the good news. Most believers have no strongly evangelistic role models. Many have never been trained in evangelism in the first place. Frankly, some Christians are also simply apathetic about the lost. In this post, though, I want to talk about another hindrance to evangelism we seldom consider: a supernatural enemy who fights against us.

Thursday Evening at All Hallows (January 22, 2026) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

In the United States truth is becoming a scarce commodity due to a variety of reasons. This makes what Jesus teaches on the matter more important than ever for Christians. The topic of this evening’s message is Jesus’ teaching about lying and deceitfulness.

Reading: Matthew 5: 33-37

Message: “Let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes and your ‘no’ be ‘no’.”

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/01/thursday-evening-at-all-hallows-january_22.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: 'Rethinking Church Growth' And More

Rethinking Church Growth
Why are ministry leaders rethinking church growth? And how can gospel-centered principles cultivate faithful, lasting growth in churches?

Want to Reach The Next Generation? The New Rules of Cultural Influence with Ruslan KD
YouTuber Ruslan KD sits down to explain that ambiguity from preachers on cultural issues is costing them more than they think. The next generation is looking to the church for what to think and how to think. In this episode, we do a deep dive into how the next generation is leveraging YouTube and social media to preach the Gospel.

How Big is the God Gap on College Campuses?
New data from over 68,000 college students reveals how faith still shapes political identity.

From Online Attender to Disciple: The Next Step Churches Keep Missing
Many churches are grateful for online engagement, but quietly frustrated by what comes next. You stream services, post clips, host online prayer, and still wonder why viewers are not becoming disciples. Digital discipleship is often discussed as a strategy problem, when it is really a formation problem.

The gap is not technology. The gap is intentional next steps. Churches have gotten good at gathering online attenders and far less clear about how those attenders are invited into a shaped, accountable life of following Jesus.

Minnesota Church Responds to Immigrants’ Fears 

On January 19, for the first time in almost 20 years, no immigrants of color attended the worship service at Messiah Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. “Not one of Messiah’s African nor Southeast Asian members was willing to risk coming in person,” said the Rev. David Langille, the parish’s rector.

The congregation averages 157 people on Sundays, and usually around 40 of these—sometimes more—are people of color.

Immigration officers assert sweeping power to enter homes without a judge's warrant, memo says
Federal immigration officers are asserting sweeping power to forcibly enter people’s homes without a judge’s warrant, according to an internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo obtained by The Associated Press, marking a sharp reversal of longstanding guidance meant to respect constitutional limits on government searches.

Leaked Trump admin doc shows DHS considers Americans the nation's main threat
America faces significant threats to our nation's infrastructure from hostile actors like Russia, China, and others. But a leaked security threats assessment from President Donald Trump's administration says the greatest threat America faces is within its own borders, according to a new report.

Faith leaders call for end to ICE aggression in communities  

The tactics of masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents hunting down people of color evokes memories of the oppression Black Americans have faced throughout U.S. history, said Boise Kimber, president of the National Baptist Convention USA.

Cities Church in Minnesota is considering legal options after anti-ICE protest
Southern Baptist leaders say the protest was a violation of religious freedom and called on federal officials to protect churches.

Let’s talk about how Cities Church treats women
While those who lean toward the left have a variety of takes on the protest, conservatives are playing the persecution card by casting the pastors of Cities Church as poor, faithful victims.

Survey: Catholicism continues sharp decline in Latin America
The survey found the religiously unaffiliated nearly doubled or saw even larger gains in every country.

Deacons included in new Episcopal, ELCA clergy exchange guidelines
Marking a quarter-century of full-communion partnership, The Episcopal Church and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) now welcome the exchange of deacons in updated clergy exchange guidelines.

Local historic landmarks aid emotional stability and wellbeing
A new report has suggested that churches and other local historic buildings can improve general wellbeing and provide people with emotional stability.

How to be an extraordinary Christian during Ordinary Time
During Ordinary Time, the church invites us to immerse ourselves in the Scriptures from both the Old and New Testaments.

Tuesday's Catch: 'Dave Ferguson: Unity of the Spirit' And More

Dave Ferguson: Unity of the Spirit
Division is real. We see it every day in our politics, in our group texts and on our social media feeds. And here’s what I’ve come to believe after decades of leading and observing the American church: Disunity is the greatest threat to the mission of Jesus in our generation.

We are also living in a moment of surprising spiritual awakening among young adults across the Western world. But if, in their search for truth and transcendence, they discover a divided church, they may never find the Jesus their hearts are longing for.

How to Handle Church Conflict Before It Goes Nuclear
Church conflict resolution rarely begins when voices are raised or emails get forwarded to everyone with an inbox. It usually starts weeks or months earlier with small frustrations, unspoken assumptions, and quiet resentment. By the time conflict explodes publicly, the real work has already been neglected.

Healthy churches are not conflict-free churches. They are churches that address tension early, clearly, and pastorally before it metastasizes into something destructive.

US Catholic cardinals urge Trump administration to embrace a moral compass in foreign policy
'Our country’s moral role in confronting evil around the world, sustaining the right to life and human dignity, and supporting religious liberty are all under examination,' they warned.

‘Morally acceptable’ for US troops to disobey orders, archbishop says
The Catholic archbishop for the U.S. military services said it “would be morally acceptable to disobey” orders if troops considered them against their conscience as the Trump administration intervenes in Venezuela, readies troops for a possible deployment to Minnesota and threatens to seize Greenland.

ICE broke into Minnesota home, forced barely clothed man outside into snow
A Minnesota man told Reuters on Monday he felt fear, shame and desperation a day after ICE officers broke down his door with guns drawn, handcuffed him and forced him outside into the snow wearing shorts and Crocs.

ChongLy Thao, 56, a naturalized U.S. citizen who goes by the name Scott, was returned home later on Sunday without explanation or apology, he said.

Also See: Girl, 6, found wandering the streets alone in tears after dad seized by ICE; Second man dies at Texas ICE detention facility in two weeks

Black church leaders aid Minneapolis, seek laws curtailing federal agents' mask usage
Minneapolis-area AME Church officials stated Renee Good’s death 'never should have happened' and listed more than a dozen ways they have tried to meet community needs there.

Memphis churches demand justice for Afghan refugees
A coalition of churches in Memphis, Tenn., has joined the chorus of voices demanding justice for lawfully resettled Afghan refugees targeted for detention and deportation by federal immigration authorities.

Episcopalians ‘protest faithfully’ against authoritarian abuses, bearing Christian witness
This month, after ICE’s killing of a 37-year-old Minnesota woman led to escalating clashes between protesters and federal immigration authorities, The Episcopal Church encouraged Episcopalians to review its “Protesting Faithfully” toolkit.

Also See: New Hampshire bishop warns clergy to prepare for 'new era of martyrdom'

ACNA College of Bishops calls for Provincial Assembly
The College of Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) concluded its semiannual meeting yesterday, January 16, 2026 where it unanimously reaffirmed its confidence in the interim leadership of Bishop Dobbs, advanced discussions for improved vetting of bishops in episcopal and archepiscopal elections, and took steps to fast-track the enactment of proposed new disciplinary reforms in June 2026. The gathering convened more than 50 bishops from across North America for five days of prayer, discernment, and ecclesiastical action to advance mission and address key issues facing the College and the wider Church.

Alleged victim of CofE clergy abuse claims Sarah Mullaly ‘misled public’
The incoming Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, has been accused of misleading the public over the status of a clergy abuse case. A complainant, known as Survivor N, has said the denominational leader's claim that the case had been “fully dealt with” is contradicted by ongoing proceedings.

Church Rights in an Age of Protest: What Pastors Need To Know
What are church rights under the laws? Following the disruption of worship at a Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) church in St. Paul, Minnesota, yesterday (Jan. 18), experts are advising pastors and lay leaders about the legal rights of churches. With protesters claiming the right to free speech, churches should understand their own protections under federal and state law.

The group' disruption of the worship service of Cities Church was ill-advised as it plays into the hands of Trump administration which characterizes lawful protests of how ICE conduct its operations as the work of left wing agitators and the like.

Do Americans Trust the Bible? (And What This Means for the Church)
Although many don’t wholeheartedly trust the Bible, the average American may be more open to Scripture than you would assume.

When You Do Not Know How to Pray
The psalms of lament and the intercession of Jesus show that God's grace is working for you even when you do not know how to pray.

Great Youth Pastor: 6 Ways to Improve
Eager to become a great youth pastor or church leader? All youth pastors want to be good at their job. In fact, we all want to excel at what we do. This applies to all occupations, both inside and outside the church.

Now, I don’t claim to be a perfect youth pastor. Way more people out there are better at the role than I am. I make mistakes…lots of them. But I’m working on six things to become better at what I do.

The School Choice Debate
Just because you send your kids to a Christian school does not guarantee they will serve Jesus, and just because you send your kids to a public school does not guarantee they will rebel against him.

Autism Outreach: Becoming a Special Needs Missionary
Interested in autism outreach? Want to serve people with special needs? Then read this guest post by Kelly Sapp, director of the Champions Special Needs Ministry for Capital Christian Center in Sacramento, California. As one of the most progressive inclusion ministries in the United States, the Champions ministry succeeds by including children and students with autism.

Providence & Provocation: On the Jehovah’s Witnesses
My old friend Jeff Boldt recently wrote an article here on Covenant about a surprising encounter with a Jehovah’s Witness in Egypt. I agree entirely with his critique of Witnesses’ heretical doctrine, and yet I’d like to complicate the story a little. To be clear, my allegiance is with Jeff and the orthodox Christian tradition that both he and I endeavor to uphold. I aim not to offer a rebuttal of my theologically astute friend, but a companion reflection that proposes what I will call a teleodicy of Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs) and their persistence.

Also See: A Jehovah’s Witness in Egypt

Monday's Catch: 'More Protestant churches closed than opened in the US in 2024, new analysis finds' And More

More Protestant churches closed than opened in the US in 2024, new analysis finds
The Lifeway research findings are an unpleasant reminder that church closures in the United States are outpacing new church launchings.

Also See: More Protestant churches closing than opening in America as older congregations struggle: study

Church in Germany plants seeds of hope
Germany Regional Conference Bishop Werner Philipp has launched an initiative titled “Hope on the Way,” which is rooted in the everyday life of local congregations across Germany. Philipp will visit congregations in all three conference regions of The United Methodist Church in Germany each month for the next several years. At every stop, an apple tree will be planted — a sign of faithfulness, patience and God’s hidden work. On the second Sunday of Advent, the first stop of the tour took place in the Kiel/Flensburg district.

The FAQs: What Should Churches Do When Protest Enters the Sanctuary?
...when protesters block entrances, enter the building without permission, use amplified sound to drown out worship, threaten or intimidate congregants, or refuse to leave when asked, they’ve crossed the line from protected speech into unlawful conduct.

Court prophets and the crisis of the prophetic
We are living in a moment of widespread moral confusion, and yet we have no shortage of people claiming to speak with moral and even prophetic authority.

Everyone seems certain. Everyone seems outraged. Everyone seems convinced God is on their side — the right and the left. The word “prophetic” is everywhere in our public discourse, but genuine prophetic vision is increasingly rare.

A Translation Guide for What Church Committees and Boards Really Mean
With a smile (and a little truth), here is a short translation guide for phrases many of us have heard more times than we can count.

Americans’ Trust in Pastors Hits Historic Low
Trust in pastors continues to decline, with only 27% of Americans rating clergy’s honesty and ethics highly, according to Gallup.

Isolation is a reality for pastors despite strong marriages, new research finds
Pastors may be surrounded by people every week, but many are navigating their calling with limited personal support, according to new research highlighting a growing gap between ministry life and supportive friendship.

A recent study by Barna Group titled, ‘The Relationships of Today’s Pastors,’ suggests that while most pastors report healthy marriages and a strong sense of vocation, many struggle with loneliness and a lack of trusted relationships outside their churches.

Listening When You’re New in Town
Luke Edwards highlights a community-driven approach to leadership that centers spiritual discernment—listening to God, the congregation, and the surrounding community—to discover how the Spirit is already at work and inviting shared direction for ministry.

Should Pastors Use AI to Write Sermons?
AI is advancing faster than anyone expected—and pastors are facing a huge question: Is Artificial Intelligence a threat to biblical preaching, or a tool that can actually make you a better communicator? Should pastors use AI to write sermons?

In this video, I explore the real implications of AI for preachers: the ethics, the opportunities, the spiritual dangers, and the surprising ways AI is already shaping how people learn and engage with Scripture.

What does faithful, thoughtful preaching look like in an AI-driven world?

Sermon Prep in the Age of AI and How to Stay Faithful and Honest
The question is no longer whether AI will be used, but how pastors can use it faithfully and honestly.

How to Preach When You Don’t Want To
The pastor’s life and work are public, so how do you preach when you don’t want to? Here are four things to do when you’re in this situation.

Choosing Songs with Theological Confidence (Without Starting a War)
Picking worship songs isn’t just about what feels good in the moment or what’s trending on CCLI with the biggest streaming numbers. It’s about worship setlist theology — the way song lyrics and themes shape how your people understand God, Scripture, and Christian life. Songs become theological teachers with rhythm and melody, whether we like it or not. That means choosing them with confidence matters, and doing so without turning your planning meetings into battlegrounds is an art worth cultivating.

Why Does the Lord’s Supper Matter?
Baptism marks the Christian life’s beginning, but walking with Christ is about more than just one moment. It is about knowing Christ’s ongoing presence with us in grace to help us in all that we encounter in life. The Lord’s Supper is the meal that Christ has given His people to show us that we have His care throughout our journey with Him. We have this meal because Jesus nourishes us. What sort of nourishment does this special meal provide?

Why We Can Confidently Persevere in Prayer
Only in eternity will you see how the petitions you lift to him today were answered a hundred years after you lived and died.

Social Media Outreach for Churches: A Simple Weekly Content Plan
Church social media outreach can feel overwhelming. Between sermons, meetings, pastoral care, and staff life, carving out time for consistent posts feels like another job. But a simple weekly content plan can transform your social presence from sporadic to steady. When done with intention, your church’s social media can become a regular way of speaking hope and grace into your community’s week.

Sundays at All Hallows (January 18, 2026) Is Now Online

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

This Sunday is the Second Sunday after the Epiphany. The topic of this Sunday’s message is the practicing Christian’s partnership with Christ.

Readings: Isaiah 49: 1-7; 1 Corinthians 1: 1-9; and John 1: 29-42

Message: Partners with Christ

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/01/sundays-at-all-hallows-january-18-2026.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: 'Creating Digital Communities' And More

Creating Digital Communities
Growing a large online audience doesn’t always create a healthy community. Brandon Robbins outlines a framework for discipleship that helps people see where they are on their journey, take the next steps, and support one another in following Jesus.

'Quiet revival' continues as Winchester sees Christmas surge
Evidence continues to mount that the “quiet revival” is both a real phenomenon and is continuing.

At Easter last year churches up and down the land reported a rise in interest and attendance, beyond the purely seasonal. This continued at Christmas, with the Church of England also saying that they were registering a record number of services.

Youth café growth reflects increasing church engagement across Suffolk
A Thursday evening youth café in Ipswich is offering a snapshot of a wider story unfolding across Suffolk, as churches report encouraging growth in attendance, community engagement and outreach - particularly among children and young people.

At St Augustine’s Church in Ipswich, a simple weekly café has become a lively hub for teenagers from across the area.

For many unhoused people, New Jersey church’s warming center is both shelter and community
When temperatures drop below freezing in Monmouth County, New Jersey, the local sheriff’s office issues a “Code Blue” alert to activate warming centers and other emergency resources for unhoused people.

Trinity Church in Asbury Park, a seaside city on the Jersey Shore, is always prepared for “Code Blue” nights. The Episcopal church runs the county’s largest drop-in overnight warming center for adults, which over the years has become a community of its own.

Judge restricts federal response to Minnesota protests amid outrage over immigration agents’ tactics
Immigration agents carrying out a sweeping operation in Minnesota can’t deploy certain crowd-control measures against peaceful protesters or arrest them, a federal judge ruled Friday. The order follows widespread outrage over a fatal shooting, reports of US citizens getting detained and Minnesotans getting asked for documents for no clear reason.

Justice Dept. enters new territory with probe of Minnesota officials
President Donald Trump’s Justice Department crossed a new threshold with its criminal investigation of top Democratic elected officials in Minnesota, targeting vocal critics during a moment of crisis in which protesters and federal agents are clashing on icy city streets.

Countering federal violence with neighborly love
United Methodists across the U.S. joined in prayer vigils and protests in the days since federal immigration enforcement agents killed a woman in Minneapolis and shot two people in Portland, Oregon. Minneapolis joins cities across the U.S. that have seen an onslaught of masked, federal agents wearing military-style gear. Some pastors used Sunday worship to comfort the grieving and counsel love in response to violence and hostility.

JD Vance’s “Christian Concept” Immigration Defense: One Year of Escalating Controversy
When Vice President JD Vance called prioritizing Americans over immigrants “a very Christian concept,” he sparked a theological firestorm. One year later, after the Pope rebuked him, a woman was killed by ICE, and 19,000+ Christians signed a petition against him—the debate has never been more intense.

The US — and its churches — can’t look away from MLK’s warnings about power any longer
The celebration of King often comes at the cost of his most radical critiques.

The Burge Report: The Democrats Have a Religion Problem (Does It Matter?)
In this episode, we look at Ryan Burge’s latest analysis showing how the modern Democratic coalition is being pulled apart by widening religious divides. While Republicans continue to draw support from a largely Christian voter base, Democrats now include two groups with opposite religious profiles: highly secular white voters and deeply religious voters of color. This creates major messaging and policy tensions within the party, tensions that didn’t exist at the same scale in earlier decades.

‘He Will Be Called a Nazarene’: Matthew’s Messianic Clue
Matthew’s infancy narrative ends with a passage that has baffled biblical scholars: “And [Joseph] went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene” (Matt. 2:22–23).

The problem is that the Old Testament never says the Messiah would be called a “Nazarene.” In fact, Nazareth isn’t mentioned in the Old Testament, and it’s believed that the town didn’t even exist when the Old Testament was written.

Youth Group Spiritual Habits for Teens Shape Faith for Life
Youth group spiritual habits for teens take effort. As you know, youth workers do far more than plan weekly gatherings. They help teenagers learn how to walk with God in everyday life. One of the most powerful ways to do this? Teach spiritual habits (or spiritual disciplines) that students can practice long after graduation.

Spiritual disciplines or habits aren’t about perfection or performance. The simple, repeatable practices help young people stay connected to God, grow in faith, and act wisely. When teens learn these habits early, the spiritual roots sustain them through stress, doubt, change, and temptation.

Help Students Build a Bible Habit They Won’t Abandon by February
By encouraging regular Scripture and devotion habits, you give teens tools they’ll carry through college, careers, relationships, and faith challenges.

Friday's Catch: 'Because I Could Not Stop for Death' And More

Because I Could Not Stop for Death
The writer of Ecclesiastes tells us there is “a time for every purpose under the heaven,” which includes “a time to be born, and a time to die… a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (Eccl. 3:1-2,4 ESV). While the inescapable reality of death loomed heavily over the imaginations of older civilizations throughout history, modern western man has sought to insulate and distract himself from this tragic truth through various forms of busyness and entertainment. The overall effect of this trend in modern society has been to minimize modern man’s exposure to, and contemplation of, the inevitable end of his life, which has in turn robbed the church of a powerful, natural apologetic for the faith. This trend has manifested even within the life of the modern church, which has in practice seemed to affirm there is no time to die as the streamlining of religious funerals becomes normalized.

Mourning in Minnesota
America is witnessing more than an immigration enforcement surge — we are witnessing an escalation of unchecked federal force that is deadly.

Civil rights leaders issue warning, call for Noem’s impeachment
Federal attacks against refugees and undocumented immigrants represent an imminent threat to the constitutional rights of all Americans, UnidosUS President Janet Murguia said.

“The government overreach and abuse of power we have seen from the Trump administration is unlawful, unacceptable and un-American, and we would note that the overreach and abuse of power are harming not only our communities but also our country as a whole,” Murguia said during a Jan. 15 virtual press briefing with leaders of numerous civil rights and advocacy organizations.

Also See: ‘This is a five-alarm fire’

Two Episcopal bishops say clergy may have to put 'bodies on the line' to resist ICE
‘I’ve asked (clergy) to get their affairs in order, to make sure they have their wills written,’ said the Rt. Rev. A. Robert Hirschfeld, the Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire.

Also See: N.H. Bishop: Prepare for Martyrdom; Thousands join Episcopal Church vigil to lament violent immigration enforcement actions, unite in pursuing justice; and Some Episcopal clergy invoke faith to counter ‘fascism’ after ICE killing of citizen in Minnesota

Trump Administration Restores Funding to Planned Parenthood, Troubling Pro-Life Advocates
Pro-life advocates are reacting to the news that the Trump administration has restored tens of millions of dollars in Title X grants to Planned Parenthood and other grantees. The administration had suspended the funds last spring but restored them in December, reported Politico.

Church of England ends Living in Love and Faith process
The Church of England's House of Bishops has announced it is bringing the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process to a close.

LLF was launched by the Church of England in 2017 to explore questions of human identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage through study, listening and discernment. Ultimately it wanted to consider whether the Church should bless same-sex relationships and marriages, and permit clergy to be in same-sex unions.

Also See: Bishops Bid Farewell to Living in Love and Faith

9 Things Church Law & Tax is Watching in 2026
Church Law & Tax will track these issues—and many more—throughout 2026. You can sign up for the free weekly e-newsletter to keep up.

When Should a Church Hire an Executive Pastor?
As churches grow, leaders often reach a tipping point where the senior pastor can no longer carry the full weight of vision, preaching, pastoral care, administration, staff oversight, and organizational leadership. That’s when the question arises: Is it time to hire an Executive Pastor? In this episode, Josh and Sam unpack what an Executive Pastor actually does, why this role has become more common across church sizes, and how to know whether your church is ready for one.

12 Trust Killers Pastors Miss Until It’s Too Late
Trust rarely disappears overnight. It erodes quietly, one small disappointment at a time. That’s why pastors who genuinely want to build trust as a pastor are often shocked when confidence suddenly seems gone. They didn’t intend harm. They simply overlooked habits and decisions that slowly weakened credibility.

Pastoral trust is fragile because it’s personal. People entrust you with their faith, their families, and their wounds. When trust cracks, it’s usually not because of one dramatic failure, but because of patterns that went unaddressed for too long.

A Worship Rehearsal Plan That Respects People’s Time: A Simple System That Works
If you’ve ever stood in front of a group of worship volunteers watching the clock tick louder than your drummer’s metronome, you know the pain of bad rehearsals. That’s exactly why having a solid worship rehearsal plan isn’t optional for a healthy ministry. You don’t want distracted musicians checking their watches or volunteers who feel like you just stole two hours of their week. People’s time matters. Your rehearsal should honor that while still preparing the team spiritually and musically.

College Minister, Consider Why Students Come to You for Counsel
Campus ministers are frequently the first responders to students in crisis. When Christian students come to us with their private struggles, how will we respond?

Clean Your Bookshelves and Your Soul
On the first day of January, I was a bit late getting to my morning prayer. Thinking I needed to hurry, God once again reminded me that he could not be rushed. It took me a while to slow my mind. Reading through the Old Testament currently has me in the Psalms and that helped slow me to a reflective tone.

Digital Evangelism That Works: Moving from Posts to Real Conversations
Digital evangelism isn’t just about visibility. It’s about vulnerability, listening, and walking with someone from curiosity to conviction. If all we offer online is polished content, we miss the messy, beautiful work of forming real relationships.

Thursday's Catch: '12 Ministry Trends for 2026' And More

12 Ministry Trends for 2026
Pastors and church leaders should keep these 12 trends in mind as they aim to disciple their congregations and reach their communities in 2026.

How to Use Gen Z's Gifts and Bold Faith at Your Church
Even as teenagers, Gen Zers Luke LeFevre and Daniel McLeod were preaching at their high school and at raves. They share why Gen Z is so bold, what's creating the surge in church attendance, and why so many Gen Z are not using their gifts in local churches, and how to change that.

Evangelism is making a comeback and it's BOLDER than ever!!
A short video on how evangelism is making a comeback and how your church can get in on it.

More young men are coming to church BUT women are leaving!?
A short video on the widening gender gap in Gen Z church attendance.

Gen Z is now THE most frequent church attenders of any demographic!!
A short video on Gen Z church attendance..

Greenland bishop urges calm in the face of US aggression
Four years ago, despite rising tension, few people believed a Russian invasion of Ukraine would actually happen. In those innocent days it would also have sounded far-fetched to suggest that the US would try to annex, possibly militarily, Greenland.

Now churches in Greenland are reporting “widespread anxiety” among their congregations that some form of US action may occur.

How a Bivocational Pastor Can Work Without Destroying Family or Soul
For many leaders today, becoming a bivocational pastor is not a temporary workaround. It is the reality. Between rising costs, smaller congregations, and shifting ministry models, pastors are often carrying both a calling and a paycheck that comes from somewhere else.

That arrangement can work. But it only works if it is approached with clarity, boundaries, and a theology that honors limits instead of pretending they do not exist. Bivocational ministry done well can be life-giving. Done poorly, it quietly grinds people into dust.

Why Small Groups Stall After the First Few Weeks
Small group attendance shouldn’t be the thing that keeps ministry leaders up at night, but if your groups launch well and then sputter after a couple of gatherings, you’re not alone. Every church leader I’ve talked with has felt that fickle momentum: week one was packed, week three had conversations that felt alive, and by week six half the room is on its couch watching Netflix. This frustrates leaders not because the numbers drop, but because relationships and discipleship stall right when things should be deepening.

4 Ways To Be a Proactive Christian Witness in 2026
In his immensely popular book “7 Habits of Highly Successful People,” author Steven Covey gives one habit that can be particularly helpful in planning for a blessed and productive 2026:

Be proactive, not reactive. If your life seems more influenced by the latest news cycle, social media trend, or you simply give too much time to checking notifications, it’s a sign you are more reactive than proactive in your life. Being proactive means to take agency over your life, your time, and how you live your life in that time. You focus more on being an encourager, influencing others for good, and on creating more than critiquing.

Thursday Evening at All Hallows (January 15, 2026) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

In this evening’s service we return to the previous order of service, an adaption of Morning and Evening Prayer Order One from A Prayer Book for Australia (1999). We also return to our examination of Jesus’ teaching and its implications for us. In this evening’s message we consider one of the implications of the prayer which Jesus taught his disciples.

Reading: Luke 11:1-4

Message: What Are We Praying When We Pray, “Thy Will Be Done…” in the Lord’s Prayer?

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/01/thursday-evening-at-all-hallows-january_15.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: 'Is Revival Here Now?' And More

Is Revival Here Now?
In July, I wrote about the news of some members of Gen Z coming back to church. Gen Z is still less religious as a generation than prior generations, but there are early signs of a shift. Given the much-publicized downward trends in church attendance over the past two decades, this is welcome news. As a result, some people are wondering if these are signs of revival.

However, the truth is if you have to ask if there’s a revival, there’s not a revival. In other words, if there were a revival, you’d know.

What is Your Parish’s Top Priority?
While it is incontrovertible that the love of Jesus binds us to serve the poor and broken, it is also pellucid that the social gospel is a byproduct of the Great Commission. Put differently, Jesus did not say, “Go and make social workers” but rather “Go and make disciples.”

3 Ways Churches Get Discipleship Wrong
Here are three root issues that can contribute to discipleship ranking among the weakest ministries in our churches.

How to Train Your Church for Evangelism (Without a Guilt Trip)
Church evangelism training has a reputation problem. For many people in the pews, the phrase triggers memories of awkward scripts, pressure-filled altar calls, or sermons that quietly imply they’re failing Jesus if they haven’t led a stranger to faith this week. That kind of approach doesn’t produce lasting fruit. It produces anxiety, avoidance, and eventually disengagement. If you want your church to grow in evangelism, the goal isn’t guilt. It’s confidence, clarity, and love.

Discipleship and evangelism are inseparable.

Digital curiosity about faith surges as Christians dominate online activity
New research suggests that interest in faith is increasingly playing out online, with Christianity emerging as the most active religious community on major social media platforms.

The study, carried out by Christian jewellery company MyCross, examined how different world religions are searched, shared, and discussed across the internet.

Church Closures Eclipse Openings in the U.S.
In 2024, Lifeway Research estimates 3,800 new Protestant churches were started in the U.S., but analysis points to 4,000 church closures.

The Trouble with Watching Religious Trends
We evangelicals tend to get too enamored with religious trends, both the encouraging ones and the discouraging. We read too much into data that confirms our hopes or validates our fears.

There are at least three reasons we should hold these trends more loosely.

Right questions to ask as the new year begins
Pastors and other church leaders can feel a sense of fulfillment in the completion of the year just ended. The tendency of many is to put the past year behind and turn all thoughts and energy to the unfolding of the plans for the new year. However, the early days and weeks of the new year provide an appropriate time to use a few right questions to look back and learn from your most recent past. The goal is to discover clues so that the new year will be more fruitful than the past. In the questions below, I hope you will see at least one that you know will likely provide information pertinent to your church’s situation. Engage others among your leaders to see what next steps your church can take this year.

From vision to action: Adaptive planning for uncertain times
You spent three months writing the strategic plan. The leadership team spent six meetings arguing about mission statements and vision boards. You printed it on glossy paper. You preached about it for three Sundays. By February, it was in a drawer. By April, nobody remembered what it said.

You're not alone. And you're not failing.

Making Change in an Older Church (Without Running Over the Old Guard)
It can be particularly challenging for a pastor to lead change in an older church when the primary decision makers (or most of the members) have been in the church for several years, sometimes a few decades. Thom and Sam look at four developments that often take place when leading change is successful. They reviewed over 20 successful churches.

Methodists caught the car; now what?
As 2026 dawns, The United Methodist Church enters a new era much like a chasing dog that caught a passing car: Now that they’ve got it, what do they do with it?

Should We Sing Repetitive Songs in Church?
This question perennially raises a cloud of dust in the African church. Someone once said to me that he grew up singing repetitive songs at church until he became Reformed. Repetitive songs, he said, are not only considered biblically shallow by some but also galling by others. The discussion that follows is a reflection on this brief anecdote.

In this article, I argue that what makes a song shallow or sound is the presence or absence of substance; not necessarily its structure, repetitive or non-repetitive. To try and calm the dust, I will show that repetition, as a rhetorical device, isn’t substance; rather, repetition serves substance as modelled in the Psalms. But let’s begin with why I think repetition in church liturgy is a boon to believers.

Tuesday's Catch: 'What's Happening with Christianity in America?' And More

What's Happening with Christianity in America?
Is America in revival? Not quite, according to Barna CEO David Kinnaman who joins me to discuss 2026 church trends. New data shows that overall, American Christianity is still in decline, AND that Gen Z men are dialing into Jesus, young adults are the most churched group in America, and that we're setting ourselves up for a succession crisis.

Carey Nieuwhof - Churchfront Leadership Podcast
"Does your church really need to live Stream?" and a lot more.

Hype Worship is DEAD! Carey Nieuwhof
" Do we need to ditch our high-end AV equipment?" and a lot more.

How Alpha Is Impacting Churches in the United States
Thom and Jess welcome John Wentz, the president of Alpha USA, to The Church Answers Podcast.

Bible sales surge to record levels among Gen Z on both sides of the Atlantic
Bible sales in both the UK and the US have climbed to their highest levels on record, with analysts pointing to a growing interest in faith and spirituality among Generation Z as a key driver of the trend.

Church Leadership Trends for 2026
As church leaders look toward 2026, familiar approaches to leadership are proving insufficient amid changing communities, evolving teams, and growing demands on leaders. Lewis Center Director Jonathan Page highlights key shifts shaping the year ahead and offers practical guidance for how church leaders can respond with clarity, collaboration, and purpose.

Why Pastoral Burnout Isn’t a Badge and How a Weekly Rule of Life Helps
Pastoral burnout is one of those phrases we pastors throw around like a rite of passage. It sounds almost noble to work until you collapse, like some spiritual merit badge you earn for devotion. The reality is harsher: burnout robs pastors of joy, clarity, and longevity in ministry. Rather than wearing burnout like a badge, we must confess it for what it is — a sign our rhythms, boundaries, or spiritual practices are off — and adopt intentional practices like a weekly rule of life that safeguard our souls and sustain our calling.

Why Worship Leaders Are Quitting: The Fix Isn’t ‘Try Harder’
When leaders burn out, the church loses more than someone who can run PowerPoint and cue the band. We lose pastors, mentors, and spiritual companions for the congregation. If we want worship leaders to thrive, not just survive, we must ask better questions and build smarter solutions together.

10 Ways to Freshen Your Prayer Life
Every now and then, I feel discontented with my prayer life. Sometimes it’s because I feel far from God, can’t find the right words, or keep saying the same old things about the same old things. In moments like this, I like to switch things up. I have long observed that doing something new can inject energy into rusty habits. As C.S. Lewis observed, we naturally desire both change and permanence, and God designed life under the sun with rhythms that satisfy both desires. So if you’re in a season where you want to try something new in your prayer life, here are ten ideas to get started.

Bullying Also Involves Our Attitudes
Bullying comes in many forms, Lynda Freeman reminds us in this guest post. Learn how to make children aware of the impact of their actions, words, and attitudes.

Youth Volunteers Will Bless Your Children’s Ministry
Youth volunteers can take your children’s ministry to the next level. If you’re looking to expand your kidmin volunteer team, read on.

Church Outreach That Isn’t Cringe: A Field Guide for Normal People
Church outreach ideas often fail for one simple reason: they don’t sound like something a normal human being would ever do. Too many outreach efforts feel forced, awkward, or suspiciously cheerful, leaving church members embarrassed and neighbors unconvinced. The good news is that outreach doesn’t have to be gimmicky to be effective. When outreach is grounded in presence, generosity, and honesty, it stops being cringe and starts being credible.

Outreach works best when it feels like people being people, not a marketing campaign disguised as kindness.

Monday's Catch: 'What Types of Invitations Are Most Effective to Get People to Come to Church?' And More

What Types of Invitations Are Most Effective to Get People to Come to Church?
Not all invitations are equal. Some feel distant and impersonal. Others feel warm, trusted, and safe. Understanding these differences can help churches focus less on volume and more on relationships.

When churches align their outreach with how people actually respond to invitations, evangelism becomes more natural—and far more fruitful.

If Amazon Ran Your Church: What Would Change in 12 Months?
What if a first-time guest experienced your church the way a customer experiences Amazon? No confusion. No friction. No wasted steps. Just clarity, care, and consistency.

This episode is not about turning the church into a corporation. It’s about learning from an organization that obsesses over people, removes barriers relentlessly, and improves every system on purpose.

Today, Thom and Jess ask a simple but uncomfortable question: If Amazon ran your church for one year, what would actually change?

Seventy-Five Years of Narnia
The year 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of the publication of one of the most successful children’s books of all time: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis, the first volume in his seven-book series, the Chronicles of Narnia. It has been translated into over forty languages, has been adapted numerous times for cinema, stage, television, and radio, and every year still ranks as a global bestselling title in the fantasy genre.

Resilient Texas Parish Celebrates 175 Years
Trinity Church in Marshall, Texas, was established in the late 19th century to minister to the numerous railroad workers, and their families, who came to work with the Texas and Pacific Railway Co. The city serves as the seat of Harrison County and is approximately 39 miles from Shreveport, Louisiana.

The church was founded on January 4, 1851. Marshall was a boomtown then and soon became one of the largest and wealthiest towns in east Texas. The parish’s lasting presence, which was not without difficulties and challenges, gave it a prominent place in the community’s history.

Is the Church really seeing a revival in attendance among Gen Z?
Church attendance among Generation Z has shown signs of stabilizing after years of generational decline, with some indicators pointing to a modest religious rebound, but there is no evidence that a "religious resurgence is underway," polling data suggests.

New Communion rules spark debate over bishop's authority in Charlotte Catholic diocese
A letter has exposed divisions over liturgical authority, leadership style and worship practices.

Safeguarding Complaint Against Mullally Dismissed
The Archbishop of York has dismissed a renewed version of a complaint brought against Archbishop of Canterbury-elect Sarah Mullally in a safeguarding case.

Trump's lies are killing us: The deadly consequences of big and little lies everywhere
If we trace the chain of events that caused ICE agents to be deployed to Minneapolis in the first place, they are anchored in Trump’s lies.

A Simple Path to Healthier Doctrine & Discernment
Bad theology undermines our comfort, assurance, peace, and joy in Christ. Bad theology leads to dark places. Wrong thinking and wrongdoing alike can destroy our lives or at least diminish our intimacy with God and our faithfulness. God intends our thinking to align with His Word, and from it our feeling and doing as well. Obedience to God is the fruit of the Spirit through faith, so it is very important what we believe. Some professing Christians think, “The Bible alone is my theology,” and in one sense that’s true, but what does the Bible mean? And the moment anyone begins to explain what the Bible means, they are expressing some theological hermeneutic or framework. But is their hermeneutic or framework a good one?

5 Steps to Foster a Right Relationship Between Family and Ministry
Pastors need a new way of thinking about the relationship between family and ministry, other than “balance.”

7 Dangers and 7 Benefits of Church Technology for Preaching
Technology can be a wonderful servant but a terrible master. Nowhere is that more true than in the area of Christian ministry, especially for the preacher preparing sermons. My aim in this article is to help preachers use technology in such a way as to get the most out of this willing servant, but also to avoid it becoming a damaging tyrant. To do that, we will honestly face some of the dangers of church technology in sermon preparation; then we will outline a number of ways technology can help in sermon preparation; finally, I’ll give you a brief description of the primary ways in which I use church technology in sermon preparation.

A Baker’s Dozen of Benefits of Reading Your Bible Every Day
Whether you have just become a follower of Christ or have been one for many years, establishing a daily habit of reading the Bible is great medicine for the soul and the means of living effectively in daily life. At the anticipation of a New Year, or after a particularly inspiring sermon, Sunday School lesson, or Christian book, we often think about ways to grow spiritual well-being, strengthen our walk with Christ, and determine to live purposefully.

Sundays at All Hallows (January 11, 2026) Is Now Online

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

This Sunday is the First Sunday after the Epiphany, also known as the Baptism of our Lord Sunday. It is with Easter, Whitsunday (Pentecost), and All Saints one of the Baptismal Sundays of the year in Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, and Roman Catholic churches, on which the sacrament of Baptism is celebrated or, when there are no candidates for Baptism, baptismal vow are renewed by the congregation.

In this Sunday’s message we take a look at a particular aspect of baptism that all who have been baptized or who are considering baptism should fully acquaint themselves.

Readings: Isaiah 42:1-9, Acts 10:34-43, and Matthew 3:13-17

Message: What Everyone Who Has Been Baptized or Who Is Considering Baptism Should Know

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/01/sundays-at-all-hallows-january-11-2026.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: 'Against the Algorithm: In Praise of the Parish' And More

Against the Algorithm: In Praise of the Parish
Local church communities can appear as retrograde curiosities in the age of increasing technology and globalisation. We may say as we drive by: ‘What does this throwback to the 1950s have to do with modern life?’

Meet the Gen-Z Pastor
In general, today’s young church leaders are unusually well-informed and excellent researchers, according to their mentors and teachers. But they also have fragmented attention and weaker reading and writing skills. They want the deep roots and accountability of denominations, but they’re also skeptical of authority. And while they’re eager to be influencers, they have less confidence than other generations did at their age.

How Do I Know If I'm Called to Serve as a Pastor?
One of the regular questions I receive is, “How do I know whether I’m called to the pastorate?” It would be one thing if God sent text messages from heaven with your name on it—discerning a call would be a whole lot easier. Did you get the text or not? But since this doesn’t happen, how can you answer this question? Historically, the church has distinguished a person’s call into internal and external categories.

Pastors Are Shepherds, Not Superheroes
Being a pastor is no easy calling. Behind the Sunday sermon and the church smiles are long hours, heavy expectations and spiritual battles few outside ministry could imagine. Here are a few of the primary challenges pastors face.

Top Seven Reasons a Pastor Chooses to Leave a Church
Jess and Thom share the top seven reasons pastors told us they felt led to leave a church.

Top Seven Traits of Pastors Who Stay at a Church for at Least 15 Years
Thom and Jess look at seven key traits of long-term pastors.

Is Personal Growth on Your Pastoral Calendar?
If your calendar is full but your soul feels undernourished, it may be time to ask an uncomfortable question: is personal growth actually on your pastoral calendar? Many pastors are faithful planners when it comes to sermon series, staff meetings, and ministry events, yet their own formation is often left to chance. Personal growth rarely happens by accident. Like everything else in ministry, it requires intention, time, and prayerful commitment.

20 Self-Evaluation Statements for Church Leaders at the Beginning of 2026
I believe it’s always good to do self-evaluation as a leader, especially at the beginning of the year. Whatever your leadership position is, I encourage you to use these statements as part of your quiet time this week. Using the following scale in analyzing the statements below, critique your personal walk with the Lord and your leadership efforts for your church.

Five Practical Tips for Pastors
In 2007, Casting Crowns released a song called “Slow Fade.” Small decisions and habits lead to increasingly entrenched sin. Rarely does it happen overnight. In a similar way, small decisions and habits can lead you not only away from distraction and exhaustion, but toward greater clarity and effectiveness in the operating rooms of people’s lives.

With this in view, here are five practical tips for pastors.

Digital Worship Fatigue: Why Online Church Can’t Replace the In-Person Gathering
Many are tired of online worship. What happened? When the pandemic forced churches online, digital worship seemed like the future. Congregations grew virtually, and pastors reached audiences they never imagined. But five years later, that momentum has faded. The church is discovering what technology can—and cannot—do for worship. On this episode, Thom and Sam explore why online engagement has declined and how churches can find balance between digital convenience and in-person community.

Understanding the Longings and Language of Gen Z
As I mentioned in the first article in this column, there are 10 key principles for reaching the next generation.

In this article, we will unpack two of them in order to understand the longings and language of Gen Z.

Friday's Catch: 'In Minneapolis, Good versus evil' And More

In Minneapolis, Good versus evil
Renee Nicole Good was murdered in her SUV by masked ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis Jan. 7. One day after we observed the anniversary of the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, another avoidable tragedy with law enforcement occurred just blocks away from where a police officer killed George Floyd in May 2020.

Also See: Choose love, not ICE; The deadly result of excusing Trump’s lies

4 things to know about the ICE shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis
Wednesday morning's shooting in Minnesota, in which a woman was shot dead while in her SUV by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, has sparked an explosive debate among Americans and politicians about whether the use of deadly force was justified.

ICE shooting in Minnesota raises rare legal questions
A federal immigration agent’s fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis has spurred deeply diverging narratives of who is to blame.

The incident also has created an unusual rift between federal and local law enforcers, raising questions about whether, and how, Minnesota officials might seek to prosecute the agent over a shooting they say was unjustified. And it has renewed questions about Trump’s aggressive deportation agenda and the surge of ICE agents into the streets of American cities.

Was ICE agent's use of force reckless? Experts analyze Minneapolis shooting.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and killed a 37-year-old woman in Minneapolis, sparking protests as the Trump administration claimed self-defense and local and state authorities said the agent acted recklessly.

The Jan. 7 fatal shooting, which occurred less than a mile from where George Floyd was killed by a police officer in 2020, has spurred questions around the use of force by federal agents, especially as the Trump administration expands its deportation efforts.

Minnesota Bishop Calls Out Shooting, Policy of ‘Cruel Delight’
The violent incident that occurred on the morning of January 7 in Minneapolis, claiming the life of a mother of three, was inevitable, but such violence is “likely to remain a feature of our common life as long as federal agents are being deployed to cities seen to oppose the current administration for the sole purpose of provocation and intimidation.”

This was the message of the Rt. Rev. Craig Loya, Bishop of Minnesota, to the church about the shooting of Renee Nicole Macklin Good. Macklin Good was shot and killed by ICE during an encounter in the streets of southern Minneapolis. She was 37 years old.

There’s a reason more women seek help from therapists than pastors
The Gospel Coalition’s New Year’s resolution apparently is shoring up pastoral power by shaming conservative evangelical women for seeking therapy.

IRS Raises 2026 Business Mileage Rate to 72.5¢ Per Mile
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released the 2026 optional standard mileage rates. Use them to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

Authorities Warn About ‘Pastor Texting’ Scams Asking for Money
The scammer will text someone who is known to attend a local church, using the pastor’s name to establish trust. The text message will appear urgent, and the scammer will ask the recipient to reply quickly. Once the recipient replies, the scammer sends requests for gift cards, money transfers, credit card information, or even log-in information.

NT Wright warns against ‘unhealthy fascination’ with demons in modern Christianity
The public ministry of Jesus didn't create demonic activity, but it did expose it, theologian and New Testament scholar N.T. Wright said during a recent episode of "Ask Me Anything," cautioning Christians against both the denial of spiritual evil and the unhealthy fixation on it.

Responding to a question about whether Jesus’ arrival triggered an apparent surge of demonic activity in the New Testament, the 77-year-old British author said the Gospels portray Jesus’ proclamation of God’s Kingdom as a moment when hidden spiritual forces were suddenly confronted.

Do We Pray Enough?
Do we pray enough? I mean it in terms of the breadth of our prayers. Their scope. Their size.

Campus Ministry Tips: 5 Ways To Be More Effective
Do you lead a campus ministry, or are you thinking of starting one? Then check out these veteran youth ministry tips for effective campus outreach.

Restart Children’s Ministry After Christmas Break
With some planning, your children’s ministry can start the new year with renewed purpose.

Nominal Religion Is Everywhere-but Here's the Opportunity
Nominalism is often labeled a problem. And it is. But for mission, it is also a profound opportunity.

People shaped by religion—any religion—already believe the spiritual world matters. They already sense that life has moral weight and transcendent meaning. They’re not starting from zero. Yet those same assumptions can create a barrier, especially in nominally Christian contexts where people believe they already have what they most need.

Mission in nominal settings requires discernment: seeing the open doors without ignoring the locked ones.

Calling Your Church to Evangelism This Year
How can pastors and church leaders challenge churchgoers to step up their evangelism efforts this year? Here’s a place to begin.