Sadie Robertson Huff Welcomes Baby No. 2 With Husband Christian Huff

May 26, 2023

Sadie Robertson Huff and her husband Christian Huff are soaking up newborn bliss this week after welcoming their second daughter, Haven Belle, on Monday.

“Haven has brought a touch of heaven,” Sadie captioned a carousal of photos on Instagram Thursday. “May 22, 2023 at 8:30 am life got a whole lot sweeter!”

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“Peep the time on our phone in slide two and the sheer joy on my face!” she said.

Sadie, who delivered via cesarean section is seen in one of the photos smiling ear-to-ear on an operating table as their daughter was born.

“Christian and I could not be happier and more grateful. Soaking in every single moment.”

Robertson family members and friends alike flocked to the comments with love and support for the growing family.

“Love that little girl!!!” wrote Mary Kate Robertson.

On his own instagram page, Christian shared photos of the couples’ newest bundle, including a sweet picture of him swooning over his newest girl. “Surreal seeing a little miracle up so close,” he wrote. “Blown away by God. Love you so much Haven. Some of the sweetest moments ever.”

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This article originally appeared here.

Pope Blasts ‘Consumerist Greed’ on World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation

Claire Giangrave

May 26, 2023

Pope Francis Climate Crisis — Pope Francis attends the world’s first meeting of the Educational Eco-Cities promoted by the Scholas Occurrentes, at the Vatican, May 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Francis condemned “consumerist greed” and “selfish hearts” as responsible for the climate crisis in his yearly message for World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, which occurs on Sept. 1 and was presented at the Vatican on Thursday (May 25).

Inspired by the words of the Prophet Amos, the pope chose “let justice and peace flow” as the theme for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, which he established in 2015 alongside the publication of his encyclical on the environment, “Laudato Si’.”

Francis said his message was inspired by the Indigenous and Catholic pilgrimage site Lac Ste. Anne in Canada, which he visited last summer. Standing before the lake and “surrounded by the beating of drums,” the pope said he was reminded “of the maternal heartbeat of the earth.”

“During this Season of Creation, let us dwell on those heartbeats: our own and those of our mothers and grandmothers, the heartbeat of creation and the heartbeat of God,” Pope Francis said in his message. “Today they do not beat in harmony; they are not harmonized in justice and peace.”

Pope Francis blesses faithful as he arrives at the Lac Ste. Anne pilgrimage site in Alberta, Canada, July 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Modern societies, more interested in profit than in future generations, are responsible for the disharmony between humanity and the environment, the pope said. “Consumerist greed, fueled by selfish hearts, is disrupting the planet’s water cycle. The unrestrained burning of fossil fuels and the destruction of forests are pushing temperatures higher and leading to massive droughts. Alarming water shortages increasingly affect both small rural communities and large metropolises,” Francis said.

“Predatory industries are depleting and polluting our freshwater sources through extreme practices such as fracking for oil and gas extraction, unchecked mega-mining projects, and intensive animal farming,” he added.

While this bleak picture might seem discouraging, Francis said he believes there is still hope. “We can and we must prevent the worst from happening,” he said, urging people and communities to “come together like so many streams, brooks and rivulets, merging finally in a mighty river to irrigate the life of our marvelous planet and our human family for generations to come.”

The Argentine pope said change can occur only through the transformation of “our hearts, our lifestyles.” To do this, Catholics and non-Catholics must “repent of our ecological sins,” the pope said, quoting the words of Ecumenical Patriarch Batholomew of the Eastern Orthodox Christian Church.

Lifestyle changes must include “less waste and unnecessary consumption,” the pope said, but also “using resources with moderation and a joyful sobriety, disposing and recycling waste, and making greater use of available products and services that are environmentally and socially responsible.”

While faithful are called to make changes in their own lives, Francis also urged Catholics to take actions that affect public policies that can have immediate and future impact. “Economic policies that promote scandalous wealth for a privileged few and degrading conditions for many others, spell the end of peace and justice,” the pope said.

Citing his “green encyclical,” “Laudato Si’,” Francis referred to the “ecological debt” that must be paid by richer nations who enjoyed economic development for centuries through reckless environmental policies. For this reason, he said, “world leaders who will gather for the COP28 summit in Dubai from November 30 to December 12 next must listen to science and institute a rapid and equitable transition to end the era of fossil fuel.”

Drawing from the international Paris Agreement on climate change, which the Holy See joined in 2022, the pope described the “continued exploration and expansion of fossil fuel infrastructures” as “absurd.”

10 Secrets of Many Senior Pastors

Ron Edmondson

May 26, 2023

I get to hang out and know many senior pastors. I have a great heart for them and understand, firsthand, some of the pressures, frustrations and joys that are unique to the role of a senior pastor. In my recent blog survey, over half my readers are in ministry and half that number are senior leaders.

When I first shared the points in this post a few years ago it was at a conference for executive pastors. I was asked to give my perspective as a senior pastor, since each of them reported to one. Specifically, the request was to share some things about senior pastors they may not know. I honestly didn’t realize what I was sharing would be so revealing for some of them. They didn’t know some of these about their senior leader.

And, granted, I can’t speak for every senior pastor in every church. I can only speak in generalities from what I know and personally experience—in my life and among the senior pastors I know. Thankfully, this blog platform and my personal ministry have afforded me access to hundreds of senior pastors.

I share this post simply for the purpose of understanding. I know and have felt the extreme love most of the church has for its senior pastor. I’m grateful for that in my own life. Hopefully this helps you love and understand your pastor even more.

Here are 10 “secrets” about many senior pastors:

1. Leading from this position is overwhelming at times. We know Christ is ultimately in charge, but we also know it often seems everyone is looking to us to have all the answers. And we know we don’t always have them. (Granted, some senior pastors are more honest about this than others.)

2. People tell the senior pastor all kinds of things about what is happening in their life or in the lives of others—many we would rather not know sometimes. And, frankly, some things we don’t need to know—such as gossip, rumors and information they don’t have permission to share. Many times it’s in the form of a “prayer request.” We don’t always know what to do with this information. (And again, in total frankness, some senior pastors have abused this information and hurt people in their church.)

3. Most pastors walk with a degree of uncertainty about our abilities to do the work we feel called to do. We intellectually know this is designed by God. It keeps us in prayer and walking by faith. But we are human, and the demands upon us and our insecurities in them can also make us question at times whether we have what it takes to do the work before us.

4. Many senior pastors fear the possibility of failing in their role, so they thrive on the encouragement and prayers of others—almost to a fault. They can become very insecure. If they aren’t hearing constant positive feedback, they can begin irrational questioning how people feel about them.

5. A senior pastor’s insecurities can cause them to become overprotective of their reputation and position. At extremes, it may even cause them to react with poor leadership, such as playing politics with leaders in the church or using information as power.

Can We Hope in the Face of Death?

Chet Gladkowski

May 26, 2023

There’s a word that we don’t like to say. We’ll look for just about any other word or phrase just so long as we don’t say that word. We’ll turn ourselves inside out, we’ll do anything not to say that word. That one word. The “D” word: Death. Can we hope in the face of death?

They’re deceased, they’ve expired, they’ve passed, they’ve been released, they’ve gone into the afterlife, they’ve entered their rest, their eternal rest or eternal sleep, they’ve reached their final rest, they’ve left this life, they’ve gone home, they’ve gone to heaven, they’re in paradise, they’ve passed away or passed over. And the list goes on and on.

There’s a reason that we’re uncomfortable with the word death. We were never made to experience it. It’s completely strange and foreign to how God made us and who we are.

Evangelicals and the Book of Common Prayer

Glenn Packiam

May 26, 2023

Alan Jacobs, Distinguished Professor of the Humanities at Baylor University and former professor of English at Wheaton College, wrote a sweeping (yet not dense), elegant “biography” of the Book of Common Prayer. It is part of Princeton University Press’s “Lives of Great Religious Books” series and is one of my favorite recent reads. In an interview published by Christianity Today, Jacobs explains why the Anglican prayerbook has had such an impact. The whole interview– not too long to read in a few minutes– is well worth and read and can be found HERE.

Some of my favorite bits are excerpted below:

What makes the Book of Common Prayer a distinctively evangelical form of worship?

Well, I’m not sure it is, at least in its liturgies. Cranmer strove to maintain as much continuity with traditional forms of worship as he could, given his commitments to the Reformation. So in the liturgies themselves there is little that a medieval Catholic Christian could find fault with—except that they are in English…

Charlie Kirk Exhorts Church Leaders at Sold Out TPUSA Faith ‘Pastors Summit’: ‘If You Love God, You Must Hate Evil’

Jesse T. Jackson

May 25, 2023

Charlie Kirk — Photo credit: Jesse T. Jackson

Turning Point USA Faith (TPUSA Faith) kicked off its sold out Pastors Summit in Nashville, Tennessee, late Wednesday afternoon (May 24).

According to its website, the summit’s goal is to empower pastors in America to “stand boldly for righteousness in a world that desperately needs Jesus.” Those in attendance will be hearing from a mixture of pastors, subject matter experts, and leaders in the faith community “about the latest anti-biblical cultural topics of today and be equipped to speak biblical truth into them.”

Scheduled speakers include a long list of conservative men, women, athletes, artists, authors, and pastors. The lineup includes TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk, Rob McCoy, Dave Ramsey, Jentezen Franklin, Eric Metaxas, James Lindsay, Michael Knowles, Riley Gaines, Danny Gokey, Michael Chandler, Michael Oher, and John Amanchukwu, among others.

Over a thousand church leaders are attending this year’s TPUSA Faith Pastors Summit, twice as many as last year’s inaugural summit in San Diego, California.

TPUSA Faith donors paid for registration and hotel accommodations for church leaders in attendance. A spokesperson told ChurchLeaders that donors invested money into these pastors and church leaders because they believe in the importance of encouraging pastors to boldly proclaim the truth of the gospel in their churches—which includes speaking out against ideologies that they say directly conflict with the teachings in the Bible, such as the LGBTQIA movement, critical race theory, and abortion.

Attendees have come from all over the country and represent many denominations, the spokesperson said, but they have one common goal: to serve Jesus.

Charlie Kirk’s Opening Address: ‘If You Love God, You Must Hate Evil’

“We believe Jesus is the center of it all,” Kirk said during his opening address. “We believe in the inerrancy of Scripture, and we want to spread Jesus to as many people as possible. So that’s the most important thing that we’re going to talk about these next couple of days.”

“The second most important thing is make sure we can do that first thing,” he continued. “To make sure that the church is never labeled non-essential again.”

Kirk shared that the most important decision of his life came in the fifth grade, when he made Jesus Christ his Lord and personal Savior. Growing up in church, Kirk said he was always told that “politics and faith” were incompatible and that Christians shouldn’t bring politics into the church.

“It’s dirty. it’s unclean…You could do the politics thing, but keep it away from the Bride of Christ,” he said of what he was raised to believe.

Better Sermon Prep–Better Wellbeing

Full Strength Network

May 25, 2023

I love preaching.

Until I hate it.

Is that you? You have this unspeakable joy of bringing the Word of God week after week, and that joy brings energy and passion.

At least, until it brings despair and isolation.

And that second state leads to a host of clergy health challenges, including depression, anxiety, ulcers, and the bubonic plague. Well, I might have exaggerated that last one.

But what if I were to tell you that some tweaks in your message prep and delivery would not only up your preaching game but improve your physical and emotional health as well? Too good to be true? Not at all.

With all that in mind, here are some sermon tips that might just improve your overall wellbeing in the process.

The Joy of Discovery

The most rewarding thing about preaching is what I call the “joy of discovery”—the time spent in study when through scribbling and researching, the Scripture’s truth leaps out of antiquity and off the page and into the preacher’s lap. I love sharing that “a-ha!” moment with the congregation while preaching. If they can’t tell that you have been fascinated by the Scripture, why should they be captivated by you? Barely a Sunday goes by at Good Shepherd church without a mention, for example, that “Mark is a genius and Jesus is glorious” or “Luke is brilliant and Jesus is beautiful” or even “this inspired and anonymous author of I Samuel weaves his tale with such impeccable skill that I can’t help but shake my head in wonder and say, ‘Praise God.’”

Be interestED in Scripture so you can be interestING when you talk about it. I encourage colleagues to become captured by the Bible’s quirks, its art, its marvelously flawed heroes, and its raw power. When it captures you, you will be much more likely to capture your listeners’ ears and hearts.

Make Change Your Constant

I am grateful I am not the same preacher I was in 1990. I am also grateful the internet had not been invented back then so that there are no digital recordings of those early efforts.

After Mass Shooting That Claimed His Daughter, Grieving Nashville Pastor Preaches About Loss

Stephanie Martin

May 25, 2023

In his return to the pulpit following the death of his 9-year-old daughter during the recent Nashville shooting, the Rev. Chad Scruggs expressed gratitude for congregants’ love and support. The Mother’s Day sermon, titled “Loss and Gain,” touched on suffering and grief as well as hope and endurance.

On March 27, third-grader Hallie Scruggs was one of six people killed during a mass shooting at The Covenant School, founded by Covenant Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee. Scruggs, the church’s lead pastor, addressed the tragedy from the pulpit on May 14 before preaching from John 19:23-27, about the women who faithfully stayed with Jesus as he suffered and died on the cross.

Pastor Chad Scruggs: ‘I’m Searching for a New Baseline’

“First of all, we love you,” an emotional Scruggs told worshipers. “We loved you before March 27, and we love you more now because of how you have loved us…and we thank you.” As for how he and the family are doing, the pastor said that’s not a bad question, but they “just don’t know how to answer it.”

Scruggs admitted, “I’m searching for a new baseline in life right now.” The pastor and his wife, Jada, have three other children. Hallie was their youngest.

For help with the grieving process, Scruggs said he has turned to C.S. Lewis’ journal-like book “A Grief Observed.” Lines that stand out to him—but which he acknowledged aren’t easy to hear—include: “There is nothing we can do with suffering except to suffer it” and “There is no device which will make pain no longer be pain.”

Although Christians aren’t “magically shielded from hurt” and can’t “pretend it away,” Scruggs said, we grieve with hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). “The hope never erases the grief,” he added, but just as the women in John 19 stood by Jesus’ cross, people have faithfully showed up to suffer with his family.

“That has been your gift to us,” Scruggs told congregants, noting that people haven’t tried to cheer up his family or pretend the suffering from the Nashville shooting isn’t so bad. But through hugs, cards, texts, meals, flowers, and prayers, he added, “You have showed up to suffer with us, which is an acknowledgment that love under the shadow of the cross is often best expressed not with words, but in presence and tears.”

Loss As an Amputation

Scruggs also cited Lewis’ comparison of loss to the amputation of an arm. “We’re learning to live with a part of us missing,” he said. “From our perspective now, it feels impossible to ever pretend the arm will regenerate or that it will ever feel whole this side of heaven.” The pastor added, “We’re learning to live with sadness, and that’s okay. You can do that.”

Pointing to Isaiah 40:31, Scruggs said he’s “trying to walk without fainting” and is “grateful that we’ve never felt alone.”

While examining the sermon text, Scruggs referred to the women at the cross as the “faithful remnant,” staying by Jesus “in his moment of horror.” Because John lists names, “history will not forget the faithfulness of these women who came to be with Jesus in this, his darkest hour,” said Scruggs.

He concluded with reminders that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:38-39) and that “death itself cannot tear us apart.”

Pastor Scruggs Remains ‘Focused on His Family’

A spokeswoman for Covenant Presbyterian Church said Scruggs isn’t speaking to the media at this time. “He is focused on his family and the grieving and healing process,” she told The Washington Times. Other church and school leaders aren’t giving interviews about the Nashville shooting either. “The church and school are focused on caring for the students, faculty, staff, and families and ending the school year as well as possible,” the spokeswoman said.

‘I Didn’t Know Myself Anymore’—Lauren Daigle Reveals Mental Health Struggles Shaped Her New Album

Jessica Mouser

May 25, 2023

Lauren Daigle’s new, self-titled album was born from a time of pain during which the singer struggled with anxiety and depression. Daigle shared these details about her album’s background in an interview with People Magazine.

“I felt like I didn’t know myself anymore,” Daigle said. “I started developing panic attacks.” She had seen amazing success with her 2018 album “Look Up Child” and her record-setting song, “You Say.” But in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced Daigle to stop touring and “it all dismantled. You combine the disappointment with grief and loss and the state of the world,” said Daigle, and that perfect storm led her into anxiety and depression. “I found myself at a rock bottom.”

Lauren Daigle: ‘My Whole World Fell Apart’

Lauren Daigle is a Grammy Award-winning Christian artist who on May 12 released her latest album, which Daigle has described as her “most precious project.” The singer departed from her previous record label, Centricity Music, and released her new album with Atlantic Records. The record is releasing in two parts—the first 10 songs came out May 12 and the second 10 will release later this year.

Daigle shared with the New York Times that she has had some apprehension about how people will receive her new album since it will include some love songs. She explained, “I’m all about writing songs to help people through things they’re questioning,” but she wonders if people will wrongly assume those songs are about her personal life.

Creating her new album, she told People, “was this rebirth process…My whole world fell apart, and I had to learn how to find myself again.” Healing came through the support of family and friends, as well as through counseling.

Listeners can hear echoes of her struggle in the lyrics of her new album, such as in the single “Thank God I Do”:

It’s been a hard year
So many nights in tears
All of the darkness
Tryin’ to fight my fears
Alone, so long, alone

I don’t know who I’d be if I didn’t know You
I’d probably fall off the edge
I don’t know where I’d go if You ever let go
So keep me held in Your hands

Daigle performed the singles “These Are the Days” and “Thank God I Do” (both from her new album) during this week’s “American Idol” finale with runner-up Megan Danielle. It was a “full circle moment” for the two as Daigle had originally surprised Danielle by joining her in singing “You Say” during Danielle’s audition for the reality show.

‘I’m a Trump Man’—Eric Metaxas Compares Trump to Martin Luther, Calls Trump ‘Anointed,’ ‘Astonishingly Entertaining’

Dale Chamberlain

May 25, 2023

Eric Metaxas Trump DeSantis — Screengrab via Rumble @FlashPoint

During a panel discussion on the Victory Channel’s FlashPoint on Tuesday (May 23), author and conservative commentator Eric Metaxas voiced his support for Donald Trump in the 2024 election amid rumblings of the candidacy of Florida governor Ron DeSantis, comparing the former president to famed Protestant reformer Martin Luther and arguing that Trump was a beacon of courage for the church.

The discussion was filmed live at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) conference, which was held in Orlando, Florida. When asked to comment on the address given at NRB by DeSantis on the previous day, Metaxas said that he “missed it,” but wanted to comment anyway.

“I’m a Trump man,” he said. “But I love DeSantis. I think he will get his chance…But I believe that Donald Trump will be our next president.”

Shortly following his appearance at NRB, DeSantis made the highly anticipated announcement that he would be running for president in the 2024 election.

Metaxas on Trump’s ‘Anointing’ and Ability To Speak ‘To the Common Man’

Later in the panel discussion, Metaxas reiterated that he likes DeSantis, but he believes that “the Lord wants Trump to be president in this next term.”

“I believe that it has something to do with anointing,” Metaxas said.

He further expressed that as someone who grew up in a “working-class home,” when “the elite media…denigrated and despised Donald Trump,” Metaxas said he knew that “they were despising” his parents and the people with whom he grew up.

“I could smell that. I could see that. And if for no other reason than that, I find myself rooting for Trump, because he’s someone who connects with the common man and who seems to understand that,” Metaxas said. “And that’s a very powerful thing in a leader. Because I think many of us in America can’t even remember the last time we felt that there’s somebody speaking for us, there’s somebody who cares.”

While Metaxas conceded that Trump doesn’t “get everything right,” he believes that “the cultural elites and the media and a lot of fussy, religious Christians…don’t understand the language that he speaks. But I think that many people in America say that ‘he’s speaking my language, and he speaks for me.’”

“And I want to say that I think that the elites therefore dramatically underestimate him,” Metaxas continued. “First of all, there’s nobody more astonishingly entertaining on the stump than Donald Trump…We don’t know what’s going to happen, but we care [about] what the Lord cares about, and I believe the Lord cares about this nation.”

Metaxas: Trump Faced ‘The Forces of Hell’

Going on to reiterate his belief that Trump is anointed, Metaxas said, “[Trump] had no idea that he would be facing the forces of hell.”

Vatican Takes Climate Activists to Court on Laudato Si’ Anniversary

Claire Giangrave

May 25, 2023

vatican museums — Last Generation climate activists demonstrate near Vatican City on May 24, 2023, in Rome. RNS photo by Claire Giangravè

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Climate change activists faced trial at the Vatican on Wednesday (May 24) on vandalism charges for gluing themselves to the statue of “Laocoön and His Sons” in the Vatican Museums last summer.

The trial of Ester Goffi, a 25-year-old art history student, and Guido Viero, a 61-year-old health worker, took place on the eighth anniversary of “Laudato Si’,” Pope Francis’ encyclical promoting the care of creation and the environment.

The activists belong to a group called Ultima Generazione, which translates to “Last Generation” in English and brings together many young people throughout Italy to raise awareness about climate change through public gestures and social media.

Last Generation activists specifically target artistic sites such as the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and the Trevi Fountain in Rome.

“Today is a special day because it’s the anniversary of the publication of the encyclical ‘Laudato Si’,’ the wake-up call issued by the Holy Father regarding the condition of the environment and the planet,” Tommaso Juhasz, 30, a member of the Last Generation, told Religion News Service in an interview. “Let’s hope this coincidence will be beneficial for whatever will take place in that tribunal.”

Juhasz joined other climate activists on Wednesday for a protest near St. Peter’s Square in support of Goffi and Viero. The two were offered a defense lawyer who is an expert in canon law by the Vatican since they claimed they could not afford their own. They risk paying over 30,000 euros in fines.

Juhasz told RNS that he “absolutely” views Pope Francis as an ally in this battle against climate change.

“He is more radical than we are,” he said. “If one reads ‘Laudato Si” and what it says and what it demands, it’s much more radical than we are.”

A priest who supports Last Generation gifted members of the group a copy of the “green-encyclical” and the activists said that they often read it when they are taken back for questioning by the police after their public protests.

Carlotta Muston, 33, said the encyclical “has a very powerful and clear message that can summarize in 60 pages all the complexity that we are living through.”

“It also sheds light on the real problem of the crisis, which is that we will live in a society even more polarized between the poor and the rich,” she said.

Members of Last Generation said that they asked a priest to help them write a letter to Pope Francis seeking his support for the defendants in the trial.

Meet the Activists Who Spearheaded the Texas Chaplains Bill

Jack Jenkins

May 25, 2023

unlicensed chaplains — The Texas state Capitol in Austin. Photo by Charles Fair/Unsplash/Creative Commons

(RNS) — On Wednesday afternoon (May 24), Texas state Rep. James Talarico approached the microphone on the House floor with a stack of papers in hand. It was time for the final vote on a bill that would allow public schools in the state to hire their own unlicensed chaplains. It was largely ceremonial, but Talarico, a vocal critic of the bill, still had a few questions.

Looking down at his notes, he asked Rep. Cole Hefner, the chief champion of the bill in the House, if the head of the National School Chaplains Association had worked on the proposal that has drawn controversy and national attention.

“They provided some input,” Hefner offered.

It was an understated acknowledgment of a coalition that shepherded the chaplains bill through the Texas Legislature. Whereas two other bills introduced this session that involved religion and public schools — one that dealt with school prayer and another requiring classrooms to hang donated Ten Commandments signs — never made it across the finish line, the chaplains bill was carried by an alliance of right-wing activists, Christian groups and conservative lawmakers who have aided each other’s rise while championing forms of Christian nationalism.

Texas state Rep. James Talarico speaks on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives on May 24, 2021, in Austin, Texas. Submitted photo

Texas state Rep. James Talarico speaks on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives on May 24, 2021, in Austin. Submitted photo

Their victory points to the ascendant power of the ideology in red states, where legislators are lining up behind bills involving religion, including opposition to LGBTQ rights, that critics say only reflect a specific Christian vision for society.

The lawmaker most associated with the Texas chaplains bill is Sen. Mayes Middleton, a former Texas House member serving his first term in the state Senate in a district that includes Galveston. As head of the Freedom Caucus during his time in the Texas House, Middleton was a vocal supporter of U.S. lawmakers from Texas who attempted to halt the certification of the 2020 presidential election on Jan. 6, 2021.

He has also articulated support for Christian nationalist ideas, such as insisting that the separation of church and state is “not a real doctrine” during debate over the chaplains bill. And in a recent interview with The Washington Post, he declared “there is absolutely no separation of God and government, and that’s what these bills are about,” referring to the chaplains bill as well as the Ten Commandments bill, which he also authored.

Sen. Mayes Middleton speaks about his proposed bill to allow administrators to furnish public schools with chaplains, Monday, April 24, 2023, at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas. Video screen grab

Sen. Mayes Middleton speaks about his proposed bill to allow administrators to furnish public schools with chaplains, April 24, 2023, at the Texas Capitol in Austin. Video screen grab

As head of his own oil company, Middleton has been an influential political donor in Texas, including providing a $5,000 donation to Julie Pickren, who successfully ran for the State Board of Education last year in a district that includes Galveston.

Pickren was a controversial choice: An ardent supporter of Donald Trump, she sparked outcry in March 2021 when it was revealed she was in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6 to attend the Trump rally that preceded the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Although Pickren, then a local school board member, did not appear to enter the Capitol herself, her presence nearby was criticized by area NAACP representatives, as were her false claims that the Capitol attack was led by “antifa” members instead of Trump supporters.

Pickren lost her local school board seat two months later but remained a rising star in the Texas Republican Party. She appeared on an education-focused panel at the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2022 and has also developed connections with the prominent state-level activist group Texas Values, which champions “faith, family and freedom” and played a role in authoring the state’s controversial heartbeat bill. During a September 2021 appearance on the Right Side Broadcasting Network, a host asked Pickren about the Texas heartbeat bill. Instead of responding herself, Pickren simply turned her camera slightly as Jonathan M. Saenz, the head of Texas Values, leaned in to speak next to her.

Julie Pickren. Photo via Facebook

The following year, the political arm of Saenz’s group, Texas Values Action, formally endorsed Pickren’s campaign for the State Board of Education.

Also among Pickren’s supporters: activist and self-declared prophet Lance Wallnau, who identifies as a Christian nationalist. Wallnau promoted Pickren during CPAC in 2021, seeking her out on the conference floor and recording a video with her while encouraging viewers to support her.

ChatGPT in Church – The Pros and Cons

Duke Taber

May 25, 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology has made significant advancements in recent years, leading to the creation of language models such as ChatGPT. While AI technology can provide many benefits to the church, it can also raise several ethical and moral concerns. This article aims to introduce ChatGPT to church leaders and help them think through the ramifications of using ChatGPT in church.

The Pros and Cons of using Chat GPT in Church

Using ChatGPT and other AI software in a local church setting can provide several benefits. One major advantage is that ChatGPT can be used to respond to basic queries from the congregation, such as service times, event schedules, and general information about the church. Additionally, ChatGPT can provide initial support and guidance for congregants who are experiencing spiritual or emotional distress. The technology can direct individuals to appropriate resources or connect them with church leaders for further assistance. ChatGPT can also supplement discipleship and education efforts by providing resources, study guides, and other learning materials to the congregation.

However, the use of ChatGPT in church must be approached with caution. One major concern is the potential displacement of human jobs. Additionally, there is concern about the possible effect of AI technology on the quality of education and learning skills. Finally, there are questions of privacy and transparency. Church leaders must be careful to ensure that the use of ChatGPT in church complies with legal and regulatory requirements, is transparent, and considers privacy concerns.

Ethical Considerations for Pastors and Church Leaders

When it comes to using ChatGPT or other AI software for sermon preparation, pastors and ministry leaders must consider the ethical and moral implications. While ChatGPT can provide ideas and inspiration for sermons, pastors should not rely solely on technology for preparing their messages. Sermons are a critical part of the spiritual development of the congregation and should be rooted in personal study, prayer, and reflection.

Pastors who use AI technology for sermon preparation should ensure that their sermons remain in line with the church’s mission and values. While AI can provide new ideas and perspectives, pastors must be mindful of the limitations of the technology and ensure that their messages are grounded in scripture and biblical teachings. Additionally, pastors and ministry leaders must be transparent about their use of AI technology in sermon preparation and be prepared to answer questions from congregants who may have concerns about the use of such technology.

Furthermore, pastors and ministry leaders who use ChatGPT or other AI software must consider the ethical implications of using the technology in their ministries. It is important to ensure legal and regulatory compliance, maintain transparency, and avoid confusion or deception. Additionally, it is crucial to protect user data and privacy. Church leaders must also consider the possible effect on human jobs and the quality of education and learning skills when using AI technology in the church.

Using AI in Spiritual Settings: Addressing Concerns about the Use of Something Without a Soul

One of the primary concerns that some church leaders may have about using AI in spiritual settings is the idea that the technology lacks a soul or spirit. The concern is that the use of AI technology may be seen as substituting something lifeless and artificial for the presence of God in the Holy Spirit. While this is a valid concern, it is important to recognize that the use of technology in the church is not a new concept. Churches have long used technology to enhance their services and communication with congregants. From sound systems and projectors to online streaming and social media, technology has become a part of the modern church landscape.

Youth Ministry Is Crucial for the Church’s Future: 10 Reasons Why

Greg Stier

May 24, 2023

Throughout decades of youth ministry, I’ve noticed many trends. Lately, an increasing number of churches are eliminating the youth leader position. Instead, they’re appointing the catch-all position of family pastor to oversee children through college age.

Although I’m totally for family ministry (I’m a parent, after all), I recommend against eliminating the youth pastor position in a church. With that as a backdrop, I’d like to plug the many benefits of youth ministry.

Here are 10 reasons youth ministry (and, therefore, youth leaders) are more crucial than ever for the future of the church.

Why Youth Ministry Matters

1. Youth ministry is the best bellwether (or predictor) for the future of the church.

2. Youth ministry done well is the best “farm club” for future world-changers.

3. Disciple-multiplying youth leaders often turn into disciple-multiplying church planters and pastors.

4. Well-led teenagers can set the pace for prayer and evangelistic excitement church-wide.

5. Teenagers keep the pain reverberating in our society close to the surface. That way, adults can know how to minister to their culture.

6. Godly, loving youth leaders are like parents to an increasingly un-parented generation of teens.

7. Teenagers have a built in “bologna barometer” that keeps hypocrites in churches on their toes.

Emotional Concussions: Helping Children Cope With Life’s Traumas

Linda Jacobs

May 24, 2023

In today’s world, many children experience emotional concussions. These crises and traumas can be just as lethal, and sometimes even more so, than physical concussions.

Emotional concussions occur when young children:

Live in homes controlled by alcohol, drugs, explosive tempers
Have homes characterized by stress
Live with dysfunctional adults
Are exposed to people who are physically, emotionally, and/or sexually abusive
Experience the divorce of parents

The ACEs Too High website states: “The life-in-dysfunction emotional concussion is a day-in-day-out brain bludgeoning by stress-induced hormones of adrenaline and cortisol. It wires developing brains for flight, fight or freeze. It can set people up to pass on the family legacy of dysfunction.”

Few people pay attention to the emotional concussions kids face daily. That means most of their cries for help go unheard. But your children’s ministry and church can help.

Checking for Emotional Concussions

Unlike with a physical concussion, no one evaluates kids with emotional concussions. For physical trauma, a coach checks for dilated pupils, holds up fingers to assess vision, and asks questions to make sure the child is cognizant.

With an emotional concussion, there’s no concern that the child has another new father figure at home. No one checks to see if the child is alone late at night because mom works two jobs to make ends meet. No one notices that the same kid is in trouble all the time.

Also, unlike a physical concussion where a kid is benched and needs a doctor’s permission to return, an emotionally concussed child returns right into the emotional mayhem. These kids get no do-overs or timeouts. Most have no coach or outside adult who oversees their wounds. Mostly, they just receive a head-pat and are told to straighten up and get back in the game.

Emotional concussions cause lots of damage to kids. Many become dysfunctional early on and carry that dysfunction into adulthood. As teens they may:

Contemplate or commit suicide
Abuse drugs
Become alcoholics
Become active sexually early and get pregnant as teens
Self-harm
Bully other kids
Drop out of school

Many children of divorce have emotional concussions. And, as physical concussions run the gamut from light or severe, so do emotional concussions. A child of divorce who has a support system and concerned adults outside the home may be spared from a severe emotional concussion.

Miami Pastor Convicted of PPP Loan Fraud and Sentenced to 48 Months in Federal Prison

Janna Firestone

May 24, 2023

Elie Floradin, self-described pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Miami, Florida, was tried and convicted of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan fraud after seeking more than $1 million in loans for fraudulent companies. Now he has been sentenced to 48 months in federal prison.

Through a mediator, Floradin repeatedly applied for PPP loans for fake companies, often described as employment agencies.

Elie Floradin Sentenced to 48 Months in Federal Prison

According to a press release from the Southern District of Florida Attorney’s Office, “Floradin caused an intermediary to repeatedly file false and fraudulent PPP applications, which sought federal COVID-19 assistance funds for companies that did not exist.”

One of the fake companies was described as an employment agency, which Floradin said had dozens of employees and an annual payroll of $960,000.

Floradin received a $200,000 PPP loan and then caused a third party to submit three additional fraudulent PPP applications based on non-existent companies, totaling another $600,000. The last three applications were denied.

At trial, Floradin pled guilty to the charges of PPP loan fraud. He admitted to applying for more than $1 million in aid and was sentenced to serve 48 months in federal prison.

This isn’t the first case of PPP loan fraud from a church leader. Pastor Frank Jacobs of North Carolina pled guilty to fraud charges after he submitted inaccurate information.

In another example from Florida, a pastor and his son named Evan Edwards and Josh Edwards, respectively, were convicted in a PPP loan fraud case of more than $8 million. “More than $8.4 million of PPP funds were then deposited into an Edwards family bank account that, until then, had a balance of $25, according to the federal complaint. Afterward, say prosecutors, the family spread out the loan money in various accounts “’in an attempt to hide and conceal their whereabouts,’” reports Stephanie Martin of ChurchLeaders.

Pastor Rudolph Brooks Jr. was charged with PPP loan fraud in Maryland. Brooks “allegedly used PPP money to purchase 39 cars, one of which was a 2018 Model 3 Tesla that cost $60k.”

Floradin Ordered To Pay Back More than $500,000

After Floradin pled guilty, the government learned of yet another fraudulent PPP loan application connected to him that was approved. Floradin received around $336,000 in the form of a PPP loan for a fake company.

With the two fraudulently obtained loans dispensing $200,000 and around $336,000, respectively, Floradin was ordered to pay back the full $535,996 to the United States government. This amount was in addition to his prison sentence.

Christian Women Urged To Boycott Target for the Month of June

Jessica Mouser

May 24, 2023

As the backlash against the Target Pride Collection continues, some influencers are exhorting Christian women to boycott Target—and a boycott could prove effective in getting the company’s attention. Since generating outrage for promoting Pride merchandise with satanic imagery, as well as offering women’s swimsuits that accommodate male genitalia, Target has announced it is removing some of its Pride items.

“Christian women: maybe you feel that an all-out Target boycott is infeasible,” said conservative commentator Allie Beth Stuckey. “But I encourage you to at least do it for the month of June. I promise it’s possible!!”

Christian women: maybe you feel that an all-out Target boycott is infeasible. But I encourage you to at least do it for the month of June. I promise it’s possible!!

— Allie Beth Stuckey (@conservmillen) May 22, 2023

Stuckey called on Chip and Joanna Gaines, who have collaborated with Target on their Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia line, to pull their products from the company’s shelves. “I like Chip & Joanna Gaines,” said Stuckey. “But I would respect them SO much if they issued a statement about the satanic insanity being pushed by target and used their huge influence to try to keep target’s madness in check.” She added, “If they pulled their products, I would go buy all go [sic] them!! It would be the best and smartest thing they ever did.”

Target Pride Collection Generates Controversy

Earlier in May, Target released its Pride Collection ahead of Pride Month, which is observed in June. The Target Pride Collection has since received backlash for various items, including Pride merchandise marketed to toddlers, a “Pride Adult Drag Queen ‘Bible Girl 666’ Short Sleeve T-Shirt,” and women’s swimsuits designed to accommodate male bodies. The company has since removed the words “Bible Girl 666” from the title of the drag queen t-shirt.

Fox News reported Tuesday that Target leadership made “emergency” calls Friday in response to the fallout from the Pride displays and that some Target locations were scrambling to move Pride merchandise to less prominent areas of their stores. A Target insider who spoke to Fox speculated the company was trying to avoid “a Bud Light situation.”

Target announced today that it is removing some items from the Pride Collection in the interest of the safety of its employees. “For more than a decade, Target has offered an assortment of products aimed at celebrating Pride Month,” said the company in a May 24 statement, which continued:

Since introducing this year’s collection, we’ve experienced threats impacting our team members’ sense of safety and well-being while at work. Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior. Our focus now is on moving forward with our continuing commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community and standing with them as we celebrate Pride Month and throughout the year.

Twitter influencers called on people in general to boycott the company, with some singling out Christian and conservative women. “Conservative women should be embarrassed to shop at @Target,” said activist Scarlett Johnson.

“One month, minimum,” said Daily Wire reporter Megan Basham, retweeting author and political commentator Matt Walsh. “No @target through June. Moms, we can do this for our kids.”

Dodgers Apologize, Reinvite Queer ‘Nun’ Group To Annual Pride Night

Dale Chamberlain

May 24, 2023

Dodgers and Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence — San Francisco, California, USA. 8th Apr, 2023. Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence take part during the demonstration. Pro drag rights protestors marching to Union Square for drag rights across the country. (Credit Image: © Pat Mazzera/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire)

The Los Angeles Dodgers have publicly apologized to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group that satirically refers to itself as “a leading-edge Order of queer and trans nuns,” and reinvited them to the team’s annual Pride Night on June 16.

The group had previously been removed from the evening’s lineup following backlash from conservative Catholics groups, as well as other public figures.

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence came into existence in San Francisco on Easter in 1979 when three men dressed as nuns during a protest and has since grown into a larger movement with chapters around the world engaging in LGBTQ+ activism.

Operating under the motto of “go forth and sin some more,” the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence reappropriates Catholic language and iconography in a self-described effort to use “humor and irreverent wit to expose the forces of bigotry, complacency and guilt that chain the human spirit.”

However, what the Sisters describe as humor and wit, Florida Senator Marco Rubio lambasted as “lewd imitation” in a letter to Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.

Similarly, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles said in a statement that the group “clearly mocks the Catholic faith and makes light of the sincere and holy vocations of our women religious who are an integral part of our Church.”

“The Archdiocese stands against any actions that would disparage and diminish our Christian faith and those who dedicate their lives to Christ,” the statement went on to say.

While the group maintains that it is not anti-Catholic, the events it has hosted—such as a “Hunky Jesus Contest,” which was held on Easter this year and featured sparsely dressed contestants, including a pro-choice Mary of Nazareth—have led many Christians and conservatives to disagree in the strongest terms.

Amid pressure, the Dodgers rescinded their invitation to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence last week, as well as the honor of the team’s Community Hero Award, which had previously been promised to the group.

In a statement on May 17, the Dodgers said, “Given the strong feelings of people who have been offended by the sisters’ inclusion in our evening, and in an effort not to distract from the great benefits that we have seen over the years of Pride Night, we are deciding to remove them from this year’s group of honorees.”

‘Every Demon in Hell Has Been Turned Loose’—Franklin Graham Warns NRB 2023 To Prepare

Jesse T. Jackson

May 24, 2023

During his keynote address at the opening session of the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) conference on May 22, evangelist Franklin Graham warned Christian communicators that he believes there is a “coming storm that we’ve all got to be ready for.”

While charging attendees to remain faithful to the gospel, the president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse reminded them that God has the power of “waves” and “wind” in this predicted storm—a storm that Graham claims Satan is behind.

“The world is deteriorating so quickly. It seems like every demon in hell has been turned loose,” Graham said. “And we cannot be deceived and we can’t be fooled. We need to get ready and be prepared.”

Graham gave three areas where ministries can prepare themselves for when the storm hits: data companies, banks, and insurance companies.

Graham believes that large companies that provide services in these important areas, such as Amazon, which is a leading provider for storing information, will stop doing business with Christians. Graham shared that his team has started its own data center in Denver, Colorado. He intends to use the data center not only as a resource for the organizations he leads but also for others being “canceled” for their views on marriage and sexuality.

“If Amazon shuts us off, maybe we could continue for another few years,” Graham said. “The whole purpose is because we’re living in a cancel culture, and they want to destroy Christian organizations. They want us to shut our mouths, and they don’t want to hear from us.”

Franklin Graham: ‘Don’t Apologize for the Gospel’

“If you don’t preach the gospel, you don’t have anything to worry about,” Graham said. “If you’re not going to talk about sin, you don’t have anything to worry about.”

“But if you’re going to try to preach and proclaim the gospel, they’re gonna try to shut you up,” said Graham.

Graham concluded his time by exhorting Christian communicators to “preach. Don’t back up. Don’t make excuses…We cannot back up. We can’t retreat. Don’t apologize for the gospel.”

“Just declare it. Just preach it. Give an invitation. See what happens,” said Graham. “Oh my goodness gracious, it works. I promise you that it works.”

Uvalde, One Year Later

Lydia Kaiser

May 24, 2023

The media has descended on Uvalde, Texas, marking one year since the horrific shooting at Robb Elementary School. Poking and prodding the townspeople with questions to get an emotional rise out of them, they are doing more harm in the opinion of Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) local ministry director, Angela Carillo. “They are stirring the pot and poking wounds” she states.

On that fateful day, May 26, 2022, East Texas State Director for CEF, Mimi Sellers, instantly had flashbacks to the 2018 high school shooting in Santa Fe. Now comparing the two tragedies she says, “The best thing we did was keep the media out. Churches were strong, we were able to heal. When the media comes back to Uvalde on the anniversary of the shooting, we can expect protesting and possibly riots.”

The town already had a lot of challenges. Extreme poverty not only plagues the townspeople but prevents gathering enough taxes to help with civil government infrastructure. People who couldn’t afford to lose their jobs suffered such grief and turmoil that they didn’t go to work and lost employment. The ripple effect has caused the economy to suffer even more. People have spiraled down with grief, guilt, regret, and blame. The media goads people into venting about what hasn’t happened by way of improvements since the shooting. People wonder what happened to the donated money and the promises for better school security.

The atmosphere in the town is one of volatility. Loud people are approaching others, even people in their cars, and intimidating them. People feel vulnerable and afraid—when they’re not feeling angry.

Sellers summarizes the complexity and hopelessness. “There has been an economic, emotional, and spiritual collapse. There is a need for someone to rise up and take the town and turn it around. We know that Jesus is the answer.” Sellers and her ministry colleagues are strategizing on two levels.

The first part of the strategy is a partnership with churches to reach children and their families through various community outreaches. The second part has to do with long-term sustainability for ministry.

After the shooting, CEF volunteers from around Texas and even from headquarters in Missouri came to Uvalde and did street ministry. They started by connecting with pastors who themselves were traumatized. They were with families as they went to the hospital and morgue, viewed unspeakable things, and some were touched even more personally. At one point, CEF workers and pastors met for a strategy meeting. “You are the first people to ask us how we are doing” they said.

CEF volunteers brought thousands of a gospel-centered trauma healing booklet by the title, “Do You Wonder Why?,” for distribution. They walked the streets offering to pray with people and distributing both English and Spanish booklets. Representatives from the schools and library took over a thousand copies of the booklet between them. Churches used the booklet that very Sunday.

One of the CEF staff who came to the town was Angela Carillo, the CEF Local Director for San Antonio. After seeing the spiritual openness of the Uvalde townspeople, she just couldn’t leave. God provided for her to stay in town for eight months. She was able to hold several trainings and establish a local CEF ministry, coordinated by Silvia Alvear, a woman with administrative and teaching skills. Alvear leads the children’s ministry at her church and has made inroads with a few others.

Most churches in town have not recovered. Families with children or families who lost children have seemingly lost faith and are not attending church. Most churches are aging, and the pastors are demoralized. However, there are two bright spots.

Templo Christiano, which holds services in both English and Spanish hosted a volunteer training by Carillo and Alvear. Ten volunteers from the church help at the library’s Good News Club and the church held a CEF Party Club booth at a recent Dia Los Ninos fair. In the past, the church passed out candy, toys, and did games. But with Alvear’s direction, they had multiple programs with a Bible story and led over a thousand children and parents in prayer to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The church pastor loved the improved format.

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