Pastor and bestselling author Max Lucado has gotten a tattoo at the age of 70 to commemorate the “golden anniversary of God’s great grace” in his life. Lucado got the word “tetelestai,” Greek for “it is finished,” tattooed on his right forearm.

“On a spring evening in 1975, I heard a preacher describe a grace that is greater than sin. On the cross Christ paid my debt. It is paid- paid in full,” said Lucado in an Instagram post displaying his new tattoo. “I said ‘yes.’”

“That was 50 years ago. In the intervening half century, I have failed Jesus many times, but he has never failed me,” the pastor said. “To commemorate this anniversary, I got a tattoo. Tetelestai- It is finished.”

“Not everyone likes the idea of a 70-year-old pastor getting a tattoo,” Lucado observed. “That’s ok. I didn’t do it for people, I did it to say thank you to Jesus who paid a debt I could not pay.”

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Max Lucado: ‘Do You Know This Grace?’

Max Lucado is teaching minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio and the author of more than 145 million products in print. In his Instagram post, he shared, “My testimony is interwoven with my favorite word in the Bible. On the cross Christ proclaimed, ‘It is finished!’ (Jn. 19:30) In Greek- ‘Tetelestai!’ Among the meanings of this word is, ‘paid in full.’”

Lucado said that at the time he decided to put his trust in Jesus, “I was a 20-year-old scoundrel, a bum, a train off the tracks. My priority was six-packs; not the kind that come from crunches, but from Coors.” In a message he gave Sunday, April 13, Lucado expounded on his personal story and presented the gospel to the congregation.

“I come from a long line of alcoholics,” said Lucado, explaining how began drinking in his youth and continued that habit even though his father required him to go to a Christian college to get away from his high school drinking buddies. The whole time that Lucado was in the grip of alcohol, he felt a deep sense of shame.

 

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Sunday evening (April 20), “American Idol” gifted Easter viewers with three hours of worship and gospel songs. The hit singing competition’s “Songs of Faith” episode featured performances by this season’s remaining 20 contestants, the three judges, artist-in-residence Jelly Roll, and special guests Brandon Lake and CeCe Winans.

Christian music has been playing a prominent role on “American Idol” lately. For that, many people credit the influence of new judge and season-four winner Carrie Underwood. On this year’s Easter episode, Underwood sang the hymn “How Great Thou Art” from her Grammy Award-winning gospel album “My Savior.”

Fellow judge Luke Bryan, who performed his song “Jesus ’Bout My Kids,” told Billboard magazine that Underwood has had “a little something to do with” the growing number of faith-based songs on the show. “She’s never shied away from her spirituality and her Christian beliefs,” Bryan said of Underwood.

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This season’s contestants “have showed up with more of that maybe than in years past, and that’s been something really, really special to watch,” Bryan added. “I’m sure [Underwood] probably thinks, ‘Am I making a difference?’ but it showed this year.”

As ChurchLeaders has reported, Canaan James Hill, Baylee Littrell, and Breanna Nix are among the contestants who have performed Christian songs on “American Idol” this season.

Brandon Lake, Jelly Roll, CeCe Winans Praise God on ‘American Idol’

On Sunday’s Easter special, Jelly Roll—real name Jason DeFord—performed “Hard Fought Hallelujah” with Brandon Lake. In a social media post about the duet, “American Idol” wrote that the pair “bring the revival.”

CeCe Winans and Roman Collins sang “Come Jesus Come.” Judge Lionel Ritchie, who sang “Eternity,” said gospel music “shaped who I am” while growing up in Alabama. The “American Idol” Easter special, he said, was “a beautiful reminder of how music connects us.”

Underwood has described “fond memories of singing in church on Easter Sunday throughout my childhood.” With her own family, the country musician continues “that time for reflection and celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” she said.

When Underwood recently asked fellow judge Bryan about the increase in gospel performances on “American Idol,” he told her she might be having “a little something to do with that.”

The faith influence goes beyond contestants’ musical selections, according to Underwood. “They usually say something before they sing, about why they want to be the next [winner],” she said. “And so many of them said, ‘Because God put me here,’ and they’re leaning into that.” The new judge called that trend “awesome.”

Terry Gene Bollea (a.k.a. Hulk Hogan) is clearly one of the most recognized and awarded American wrestling stars. The five-time WWF Champion has lately been outspoken about his beliefs, returning to the faith he found as a teenager.

“I accepted Christ as my Savior, but it took a while for me to get it,” Hogan recently recalled.

Hulk Hogan ‘Totally Surrendered’ and Makes His Faith a Priority

On a recent episode of “Try That in a Small Town Podcast,” Hogan opened up about his life and career as a professional wrestler. One topic he kept returning to was his faith.

Hulk Hogan began following Christ as a teenager, at the age of 14. He recalled playing guitar at a youth ranch. A couple fellow football players invited him to a Christian youth ranch and recruited him to play guitar for worship.

“I brought my guitar and ended up playing guitar for all the songs,” recalled Hogan. “I accepted Christ as my Savior then, but it took a while for me to get it.”

He admitted that he “didn’t follow the path for many years.” But that all changed after “all the stuff that’s happened.” The professional wrestler had a roller coaster career with incredible success in the 80s.

“All the crashing and burning and getting up and moving forward and starting over—and crashing and burning again after this mistake, after that mistake, I just totally surrendered,” said Hogan.

Hogan was also involved in feuds and legal battles. He returned to wrestling multiple times and is still battling the physical injuries and strain of his career.

“You know, I’ve fought harder than anybody,” Hogan said. “I’ve worked more longer hours than anybody, and I’m just so tired of being in the same empty back-to-zero space.”

He has since returned to church, attending each week. Hogan was also baptized at Indian Rocks Baptist Church in Largo, Florida, in December 2023.

“I just tell my big God about my little problems, and all those people that nip at my heels,” said Hogan. “I just pray for them. I can’t get involved with the drama because I just let God fight those battles. I just let him take over.”

Hogan became friends with many of the wrestlers he competed against. For some, like “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, it took years for the two to set aside their differences.

A freak accident has claimed the life of an Ohio man who was on his way home from Bible study. His pastor remains hospitalized. 

The incident occurred on Thursday (April 17), when Pastor Andrew Edwards of Northwest Baptist Church in Toledo was driving home Richard Miller after a Bible study at the church. While they were traveling, a nearby tree, along with some power lines, fell onto the vehicle. 

Miller was pronounced dead at the scene, and Edwards was transported to the hospital for medical care. 

According to an official with Toledo Fire and Rescue, the tree had rotted, causing it to fall.

“It is with great sadness and sorrow of heart that we must pass along this information and update,” the church said in a social media statement on Friday morning. “After the Thursday Night Bible study, Pastor Edwards dropped off Bro Joe at his home and then was taking Richard home. While en route they were involved in a tragic accident. A tree fell on the vehicle while they were waiting at a stop light.”

RELATED: 2-Year-Old Pastor’s Son Accidentally Shot in the Head by Brother in Church Parking Lot; Child in Stable Condition Following Surgery

“As hard as this is to believe and share, Bro Richard was taken home to be with the Lord. Pastor Edwards is in critical care—but he is stable and responsive and has movement in all extremities,” the statement continued. “He suffered fractures to his clavicle, sternum, and a vertebra in his back. The biggest concern is a small brain bleed they are keeping an eye on. 

“Please pray for Pastor Edwards’ recovery and the family. Please keep the Miller Family in your prayers as they mourn the sudden loss of a beautiful life,” the church said.

The church has subsequently provided updates on Edwards’ recovery.

RELATED: Auburn Mourns ‘Remarkable’ Football Chaplain After Drowning Accident

“God is certainly answering the many prayers from across the globe! Pastor [Edwards] has been able to be awake this morning and is able to speak with the family. He has been able to recall the names of those present,” the church said on Saturday. “These are all massive answers to prayer! He will be undergoing some more tests this afternoon and through the weekend.”

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Francis, who sought to be a bridge maker as he led the Catholic Church in a time of deep polarization, died at 7:35 a.m. on Monday (April 21), at the age of 88, a day after surprising faithful in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday.

“He taught us to live the values ​​of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially toward the poorest and most marginalized,” read a Vatican statement by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is charged with overseeing the papal funeral and the election of the next pope.

The pope had been recovering from double pneumonia, for which he was hospitalized in mid-February and released after five weeks. The aging pontiff was initially treated for bronchitis during his hospital stay, but his doctors later said that he had developed pneumonia and was in critical condition at the time. Part of Francis’ lung had been removed at 21 after a life-threatening pneumonia.

As he aged, he had suffered a number of ailments, from sciatica to cataracts to chronic knee pain, and visitors to the Vatican were accustomed to seeing the pope struggle to walk when not seated in a wheelchair.

With his pastoral style of leadership and his emphasis on mercy, however, Francis restored the credibility of the church in the eyes of Catholics and non-Catholics after decades of bad news about clergy sex abuse, financial scandals and decline in attendance at Catholic churches.

“The pontificate of Pope Francis has been a breath of fresh air for the Catholic Church globally. He was loved for his simplicity, humility, and warmth,” said Sandie Cornish, senior lecturer in theology at the Australian Catholic University and a member of the Vatican Dicaster for Integral Human Development.

“The first Jesuit Pope, the first Latin American Pope, the first Pope from outside Europe since the early church, Francis brought a fresh perspective ‘from below’ or ‘from the ends of the earth’ as he put it when he was elected,” Cornish added.

Francis was known for his commitment to welcoming migrants and refugees, the protection of the environment and support for the poor and marginalized, but he remained a polarizing figure for Catholics who mirror society’s political and ideological divisions. He was elected by his fellow cardinals in 2013 as a reformer who would restore credibility to the church’s troubled finances, restructure the Vatican’s Curial departments and the spiritual reform of the church’s leadership and faithful.

Pope Francis succeeded Pope Benedict XVI as leader of the Catholic Church in 2013, after his predecessor shocked the Catholic world by stepping down as pontiff and took the title of emeritus pope. While Benedict remained silent, he was still regarded as a champion of conservative views in contrast to Francis’ softer approach to Catholic doctrine. His presence weighed on Francis’ tenure, despite joint efforts to present a united papacy, until Benedict’s death in 2022.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio to a family of Italian immigrants in Bueno Aires, Argentina, on Dec. 17, 1936, Francis spent his youth as a chemical technician and took occasional jobs as a bouncer and janitor. At 22 he began to follow a vocation to become a priest, and after two years as a novitiate he entered the Society of Jesus, the order known as the Jesuits, on March 12, 1960.

(RNS) — President Trump told reporters on Thursday (April 17) that multiple pastors who gathered for a White House Easter service this week had complained about being investigated by the IRS over the past four years.

“They said, ‘Sir, I was targeted by the IRS, and the FBI came in, sir, and I’ve been going through Hell for years,’” Trump said in a discussion in the Oval Office about his threat to revoke the tax exempt status of Harvard University.

Religion News Service reached out to the pastors who attended the service to corroborate Trump’s account. Most did not immediately respond, but Pastor Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, confirmed in an email that he told Trump at the event that he had been investigated by the IRS.

“I told the President that our church was the subject of an IRS investigation launched under the Biden administration that spanned several years and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars due to complaints from the Freedom From Religion Foundation,” Jeffress wrote. “The case was ultimately resolved in our favor.”

For years, advocates for the separation of church and state have urged the Internal Revenue Service to hold churches that endorse political candidates accountable, saying that such endorsements violate a provision of the U.S. tax code, known as the Johnson amendment, that bars nonprofits from taking sides in electoral campaigns. Little has come of those concerns, as the IRS has long been reluctant to investigate churches.

Asked for documentation proving that the investigation occurred, Jeffress said his church is turning all of the documentation regarding the investigation over to the White House, adding that “any release of that information will come from them.”

The White House did not immediately provide documentation when asked by RNS, saying they were looking into the matter.

Verifying the investigation without documentation may prove difficult. Asked about the alleged investigation, a representative for the IRS said federal employees are barred from disclosing tax return information, “including whether the agency has or has not investigated a particular entity.”

According to the FFRF, the group filed a complaint about First Baptist in July 2020, before the election and while Trump was still president. It focused on a visit by then-Vice President Mike Pence made to First Baptist for a “Celebrate Freedom Sunday.” Jeffress said he was praying that Pence would have a second term as vice president and then be elected president.

“Mr. Vice President, I know I probably should not say this, by my congregation knows that has never stopped me before,” said Jeffress, according to a recording of the service posted on First Baptist’s YouTube channel. He added: “We are praying that when you finish your term in 2024, we don’t want you moving out of the West Wing, we just want you moving down the hall a few doors and continue to build on the legacy of the most faith-friendly president in history.”

The FFRF argued Jeffress’ remarks amounted to an endorsement.

Only one congregation in recent history has lost its exemption for electioneering — namely, an upstate New York church that took out anti-Bill Clinton ads in several large newspapers in 1992. It has not been for lack of trying. For years, secular advocacy groups have complained about events such as “Pulpit Freedom Sunday,” a campaign involving thousands of pastors in which they endorse candidates from the pulpit and send recordings of their sermons to the IRS, hoping to produce a test case to overturn the Johnson amendment.