Religions Stories

Faith

Lifeway Research finds fewer than 1 in 3 churchgoers read the Bible daily

Most churchgoers place a high value on the Bible, but only about a third commit to reading it every day.
International

167 Christians abducted during worship in Nigeria after dozens killed since new year

Nearly 175 worshippers were abducted Jan. 18 from three churches in Kaduna State in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, Christian advocacy groups reported, after at least 35 were killed in separate attacks on villages in the Middle Belt and eastern Nigeria.
Faith

Lifeway Research finds church closures eclipse openings

In 2024, Lifeway Research estimates 3,800 new Protestant churches were started in the U.S., while 4,000 churches were closed. This is based on analysis of congregational information provided by 35 denominations or faith groups, representing 58% of all Protestant churches.
Faith

State of the Church: Bible use resurges in U.S. with Millennial, Gen Z men in front

Weekly Bible reading resurged 12 points this year in the U.S. after a 15-year low, with Millennial and Gen Z men leading the way, State of the Church researchers said in their November release.
Faith

Missouri Baptist Apologetics Network’s Vaughan serves as resource on Mormons

John Vaughan lives in south Springfield near the site where Missouri’s third Mormon temple is under construction. He’s a great resource on the beliefs and practices of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) and wants to share that information with Missouri Baptists. As the newest member of the Missouri Baptist Apologetics Network, Vaughan has hundreds of files of information he can share with churches as they confront the counterfeit-Christian beliefs of the LDS Church.
Faith

‘If God spare my life’: English Scripture that Tyndale lived, died to translate turning 500 years old

Five hundred years ago, English evangelical William Tyndale fled for safety from the city of Cologne, Germany. Catholic authorities were eager to arrest him and stamp out his work. His crime? Translating the Greek New Testament into the English language.
Faith

Americans skeptical about paranormal phenomena

Many U.S. homes may decorate with ghosts and witches for Halloween, but most U.S. adults are doubtful they actually exist. Surveys from Gallup and Pew find broad skepticism for psychics, ghosts, astrology and witches.
International

USCIRF condemns Chinese religious persecution as jailed pastor’s U.S. family urges prayer

Chinese Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, among 22 pastors jailed this week in China on erroneous charges, lived in the U.S. with his wife Chunli Liu and their children before returning to China in 2007 to plant Zion Church. His wife, who has remained in the U.S. to raise their children, U.S. citizens, is appealing for prayer as the U.S. advocates for her husband’s release.
Faith

State of the Bible: Nearly quarter of U.S. adults say Bible ‘just another book’

Nearly a quarter of U.S. adults think the Bible is “just another book of teachings written by people,” the American Bible Society (ABS) said in its latest release from the 2025 State of the Bible.
International

U.S. urges release of jailed Chinese pastors

China falsely claimed Oct. 13 to protect religious freedoms after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged the country’s government to release several pastors arrested in house church raids.
Ethics

Amid incivility, reaffirm liberty of conscience

The assassination last month of Charlie Kirk brought many Americans face-to-face with a gruesome reality encountered all too often across the globe: namely, that a man might be killed simply for expressing what he believes to be true. In this age of growing incivility, may we reaffirm the foundations for liberty of conscience.
International

Nik and Ruth Ripken encourage believers to follow Jesus, no matter the cost

As retired International Mission Board missionaries Nik and Ruth Ripken speak in a variety of small group settings, churches and conferences, they desire to share practical insights with prospective missionaries about what to expect mentally, physically and spiritually.

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