Victory Boyd, a Grammy Award-winning Gospel artist, has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against mainstream rapper Travis Scott. Boyd claims that Scott copied some original lyrics and melodies from her 2019 song “Like the Way It Sounds” for use in his 2023 song “Telekinesis.”

Other defendants include Scott’s “Telekinesis” collaborators, SZA and Future, as well as a watch company that used the song in an ad campaign against Boyd’s wishes.

In the lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court on Jan. 8, Boyd asks that Scott, SZA, and Future “recall and destroy” any music that infringes on her work. She is also seeking damages in an amount to be determined at trial.

“It’s not about the money,” Boyd wrote on social media. “It’s about reclaiming GODs [sic] property.”

Victory Boyd Files Lawsuit Against Travis Scott

Boyd, one of nine siblings, has been performing since age 4. The 30-year-old singer, whose voice has been compared to Nina Simone’s, moved to Wyoming “on a whim” in 2019 to write songs for Kanye West, known as Ye.

RELATED: Kanye West Receives 3 Award Nominations for ‘Jesus Is King’

According to a lengthy Instagram video, Boyd got tired of seeing her hard work get “scrapped and truncated.” So she “decided that I am no longer writing songs for Ye, but rather I am writing songs for Jesus.” After switching her focus, Boyd said, she knew her work would never be in vain, even if no one but God heard the results.

On Instagram, Boyd shares a clip of her singing a tune she wrote about a heavenly dance party. Before she released it through her label, Roc Nation, Boyd said she heard “stolen” portions of it in “Telekinesis.” She claims Scott had access to her work through his friendship with West during that singer’s “Jesus Is King” era.

Next, Boyd played snippets of Scott’s “Telekinesis,” which contains some explicit lyrics. “I never would have consented to being associated and to help make a hit song that spread this message,” said the Gospel singer.

“Not once did anyone ask me or consider to inquire about my participation in this song,” Boyd added. “The answer would have been no. I wrote this song for God, and to the extent that Ye was working for God, I was working for Ye.”

The Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention has named Jeff Dalrymple as the head of the office that will be dedicated to the long-term implementation of denominational reforms to address sexual abuse prevention and reporting. 

Dalrymple’s appointment comes roughly eight months after the temporary task force assigned with implementing reforms was dissolved having fallen short of its purpose to create the “Ministry Check” website, which would serve as an online database of SBC pastors, church leaders, and volunteers who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse. 

While the task force did succeed in creating a resource toolkit for churches seeking training in abuse prevention and reporting, task force chairman Josh Wester reported at the denomination’s annual meeting in June 2024 that the team had been plagued by liability concerns that had kept it from implementing the Ministry Check site. 

Wester nevertheless expressed optimism that the Executive Committee would complete the task under the leadership of its new president, Dr. Jeff Iorg. 

RELATED: Johnny Hunt’s Defamation Trial Against SBC Gets New Date; Hunt Seeking $100M, Claims His Annual Income at NAMB Was $610K

“If we hadn’t had the cooperation and leadership that we’ve seen from Dr. Iorg, we probably would have just tried to extend the task force another year,” Webster said, “rather than turning it over to a body that not only has been in turmoil, but was really at the center of where this started.”

“If we get here next year and there are no names on the database, which seems unfathomable to me,” Wester said, “I’m confident that messengers are going to rise up and demand to know why and potentially take whatever actions are necessary, because [the database] is completely achievable.”

Iorg has now announced that Jeff Dalrymple will spearhead the effort to complete the task. 

Dalrymple comes to the position after serving as executive director of the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention (ECAP), which works to set national standards to protect vulnerable groups. 

Dalrymple has also served as a vice president at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and was previously in a leadership position at the Kentucky Baptist Convention.

RELATED: Survivors Say DOJ Investigation Into SBC Executive Committee Is Not Closed

“During our multiple interviews, I was consistently impressed with Jeff’s breadth of technical knowledge as well as his calm and reasoned demeanor about these sensitive issues,” Iorg said in a statement to Baptist Press. “He has the informational background and strength of character needed to take on this strategic new position.”

Angela Halili and Arielle Reitsma of “Girls Gone Bible” have gone viral and are taking heat from some for a prayer they gave at a rally one day before President Donald Trump’s inauguration, which took place Monday, Jan. 20. During the first part of her prayer, Halili modified the Lord’s Prayer to apply to Trump.

“God, thank you. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you Jesus for today, seriously,” Halili began. “God, we thank you. We thank you that your will always prevails.”

“Thank you God that it’s your will,” she said, “your kingdom come, Lord, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, in America as it is in heaven, in the life of President Donald Trump as it is in heaven.”

Girls Gone Bible completely butchered the Lord’s Prayer, saying “Your will be done…in the life of President Trump as it is in Heaven.”

YIKES. Welcome to North Korea.#TrumpRally pic.twitter.com/bLpKyaxRy6

— J (@WillaRance) January 19, 2025

Some took issue with this adaptation, including former Trump campaign lawyer Jenna Ellis.

RELATED: Franklin Graham Compares Trump to Moses, Vance to Aaron in Inauguration Prayer

‘Girls Gone Bible’ Cohost to Trump: ‘May Your Reign Be Righteous’

“Girls Gone Bible” is a podcast cohosted by Angela Halili and Arielle Reitsma. It covers various topics pertaining to Christian life, including not having sex before marriage, mental health, spiritual warfare, and body dysmorphia.

The first episode was released May 2023, and the podcast is the No. 1 ranked Religion and Spirituality podcast on Spotify, according to the Girls Gone Bible website. The duo is currently on tour.

Halili and Reitsma have previously interacted with Trump; on Oct. 26, each influencer posted an Instagram reel of themselves praying over him. 

Reitsma spoke after Halili at the Jan. 19 rally, saying, “We just want to take a moment and honor President Donald Trump. We thank you for your relentless love and devotion you have given to this country and we bless you and we bless your beautiful family.”

RELATED: Donald Trump Tells Joe Biden, Others To ‘Rot in Hell’ in Christmas Message

Reitsma then prayed, “Father, we thank you. Lord, you are truly everything. Your name is above every other name, and apart from you, we can do nothing. Spirit of the Living God, may you be glorified in everything that takes place today. May we humble ourselves in your presence, Lord. All glory to you.”

Jeffrey Brian Merrow, former pastor of Garden Creek Baptist Church in Marion, North Carolina, has been arrested and charged with felony embezzlement and felony larceny. According to the local sheriff’s office, congregants raised concerns about hurricane relief donations of cash and supplies that never made it to disaster victims.

Merrow, 60, is being held on $5,000 bond. He was already on supervised probation in a separate case.

RELATED: The Devastation From Hurricane Helene Is ‘Overwhelming’ but So Is the Neighborly Love

Garden Creek Baptist Church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.

North Carolina Pastor’s Congregants Contacted Police About Hurricane Donations

The McDowell County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that Garden Creek members met with a deputy on Oct. 28, 2024, about concerns, pointing to Merrow as a possible suspect. Congregants told the deputy that “large amounts of cash donations” intended for victims of Hurricane Helene were never submitted “for their intended use.” In addition, they said community donations such as generators, heaters, and chain saws were reported as stolen.

At the meeting, congregants also gave the deputy “numerous receipts…for goods that were never purchased or services that were never rendered, all paid for using church funds.” Included was an insurance claim regarding “items that were never stolen,” according to the sheriff’s statement.

The sheriff’s office issued a warrant for Merrow’s arrest on Nov. 19. They took him into custody on Jan. 5 and are continuing to investigate.

According to the sheriff’s statement, Merrow “is currently on supervised probation for Obtaining Property by False Pretense greater than $100,000, from an unrelated incident.”

Former North Carolina Pastor Preached About Temptation

Hurricane Helene, which struck the Southeast U.S. in late September, killed more than 200 people and caused catastrophic flooding in western Appalachia. Numerous faith-based relief agencies continue to assist with recovery efforts.

In a Sept. 1 sermon posted to YouTube, Pastor Merrow talked about temptation, saying the “devil likes to get you where you’re the weakest.” The way to prevent that, he added, is by “getting on your knees” and reading the Bible.

Actor and director Elizabeth Tabish portrays Mary Magdalene in “The Chosen.” After wrapping up filming the fifth of seven seasons, Tabish mentioned how emotional Season 5 is as “everything’s just ramped up.”

“It’s been an empowering thing because usually a woman that has gone through that sort of trauma doesn’t always have a happy ending,” Tabish said.

Editor’s note: This article contains spoilers for “The Chosen.”

Elizabeth Tabish Portrays Mary Magdalene, ‘Totally Focused on Jesus’ in ‘The Chosen’

In a recent interview with YouTuber Ruslan, Tabish opened up about her role as Mary Magdalene and the emotional Season 5 of “The Chosen.”

Mary Magdalene has been a character in “The Chosen” from the show’s very beginning. In the first episode of the series, Mary is possessed by evil spirits and identifies as “Lilith.” Her friends have tried many things to help her—without a solution. At the end of the series’ first episode, Jesus meets Mary, calls her by real name, and heals her from possession.

Throughout the next few seasons of Jesus’ life and ministry, Mary plays a consistent role as one of Jesus’ followers and friends.

From the first episode in Season 5, Mary Magdalene “really hears what Jesus is saying” and begins to put puzzle pieces together, Tabish said. Mary realizes that Jesus is literally going to die.

Mary “starts a grieving process in this season,” said Tabish. “I think the way it’s written is sort of preparing her to stay at the cross.” Tabish shared that her best guess is that Mary’s processing will prepare her to “be there to the very end.”

As Mary contemplates ways to help Jesus, the emotions of desperation are almost palpable. “There’s a tone of grief and sorrow this season,” she said.

Season 5 contains the events of the week leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion. “I just don’t think she can understand why yet,” Tabish said.

Tabish could not give away any spoilers, but she did, vaguely, share about an impactful scene in the upcoming season.

“There is a really special, wonderful scene with the women that we get a chance to [see] Jesus share his heart and then them get to share their hearts with him,” said Tabish. “That’s just one of those rare things…the women are rarely all together with Jesus.”

Franklin Graham credited God for bringing President Donald Trump through the darkness of the past four years prior to giving the invocation at Trump’s inauguration ceremony Monday, Jan. 20. During his prayer, Graham compared Trump to Moses and Vice President J.D. Vance to Aaron and prayed for God’s guidance and protection over America’s 47th president.

“Mr. President, the last four years, there are times I’m sure you thought it was pretty dark, but look what God has done,” said Graham after he took the stage in the U.S. Capitol with Trump and former President Biden standing behind him. “We praise him and give him glory.”

Franklin Graham: ‘We Pray for President Trump’

Franklin Graham is president of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the son of famed evangelist Billy Graham. Franklin Graham, who delivered a prayer at Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, has remained a faithful supporter of Trump’s over the years, said it was an “honor” to be asked to pray at Trump’s second inauguration.

RELATED: ‘He’s Wrong’—Trump Reveals Franklin Graham Told Him His Speeches Would Be Better If He Didn’t Cuss

During Graham’s prayer, Vice President J.D. Vance had his head bowed while Trump appeared to keep his eyes open most of the time.

Graham opened his prayer by quoting Psalm 33:12, which says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,” followed by Daniel 2:20-21. The Daniel passage says, “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.”

“Our Father, today, as President Donald J. Trump takes the oath of office once again, we come to say, ‘Thank you, Oh Lord our God,’” Graham said. “Father, when Donald Trump’s enemies thought he was down and out, you and you alone saved his life and raised him up with strength and power by your mighty hand.” 

RELATED: Faith Leaders Respond to Trump Shot in Ear During Rally; 1 Killed, 2 Critically Injured

“We pray for President Trump, that you’ll watch over, protect, guide, direct him, give him your wisdom from your throne on high,” said Graham. “We ask that you would bless him and that our nation would be blessed through him.”

Retired Pastor David Zandstra has been found not guilty of the 1975 murder of 8-year-old Gretchen Harrington. 

It reportedly took jurors roughly an hour to reach the verdict. 

Zandstra was arrested in November 2023 and charged with criminal homicide, murder in the first, second, and third degree, kidnapping, and possessing an instrument of crime. His arrest came after he allegedly confessing to investigators in July 2023. 

The case of Harrington’s murder had gone cold for nearly five decades until a child sexual abuse survivor identified Zandstra as her abuser. At the time of the abuse, which allegedly also took place in 1975, Zandstra was the pastor of Trinity Church Chapel Christian Reformed Church in Marple, Pennsylvania. 

RELATED: Johnny Hunt’s Defamation Trial Against SBC Gets New Date; Hunt Seeking $100M, Claims His Annual Income at NAMB Was $610K

The survivor told investigators that she was friends with Zandstra’s daughter and that Zandstra assaulted her while she was at a sleepover in his home. 

Investigators then linked Zandstra to the murder of Harrington, who went missing on Aug. 15, 1975, while walking to a summer Bible camp. The Bible camp utilized the facilities of Trinity Church Chapel, as well as the nearby Reformed Presbyterian Church, where Harrington’s father was pastor. The two churches and Harrington’s home were all on the same road in the small township west of Philadelphia. 

In October 1975, skeletal remains were discovered at the nearby Ridley Creek State Park. Police later confirmed that the remains were Harrington’s. 

Zandstra presided over Harrington’s funeral.

When investigators came to interview Zandstra in 2023 in Marrietta, Georgia, where he had since moved, Zandstra allegedly told them that he had murdered Harrington after attempting to molest her. 

RELATED: Retired Pastor Who Is Accused of 1975 Murder of 8-Year-Old Girl Appears in Court; Defense Says Confession Was Coerced

At trial, Zandstra’s defense team alleged that investigators had manipulated and tricked Zandstra into confessing to a crime he did not commit. Zandstra was 83 years old at the time of the lengthy interview with investigators.

(RNS) — Just before President-elect Donald Trump takes the oath of office on Monday (Jan. 20), country singer Lee Greenwood will join the United States Marine Band for a familiar song—“God Bless the USA,” his 1984 hit that’s become a patriotic anthem and a MAGA theme song.

And most of the world will be watching.

This doesn’t bother Greenwood, who has performed at previous inaugurations.

“There are billions of people watching, but I don’t focus on that,” Greenwood told RNS. “I focus on the moment, and where we are at the Capital, and this moment in history.”

The Trump era has been a boom-time for the 81-year-old Greenwood, with the once and future president featuring “God Bless the USA” during his campaign rallies and endorsing a Bible edition inspired by Greenwood’s hit song—including one specifically printed for the inauguration.

In a video interview from his home in Franklin, Tennessee, Greenwood, who is a member of a Baptist megachurch in the Nashville suburbs, said his hit song is a reminder of the role that Christianity has long played in American life.

“I still think we’re a Christian nation,” he said. “We have to remember our roots. We came here not to escape religion. We came to bring faith with us.”

A self-described Reagan Republican who long performed on USO tours for the military — including a 1987 tour with Bob Hope — Greenwood credits the long success of “God Bless the USA” to its combination of patriotic themes and its connection to human struggles. The song begins by recognizing those struggles, said Greenwood.

“The first line of my song resonates with people who have been in the struggles of life,” he said. “‘If tomorrow all the things were gone, I’d worked for all my life.’ Are you kidding? We’ve all been there. We’ve all been down.”

During the interview, Greenwood mixed his politics in with his faith. A native Californian who was born in Los Angeles, Greenwood said he has great empathy for victims of wildfires there but blames the disaster on what he said were the failures of California public officials. While he’s proud that “God Bless the USA” has long been used at naturalization ceremonies for new American citizens, he’s critical of the country’s current immigration policies.

“I think we should build the wall,” he said. “I think we know that we need to know who’s coming in the country. We have to be a sovereign nation.”

Following his widely discussed interview on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” Christian apologist Wesley Huff published a short video “debunking” false statements he made during the conversation. 

“It’s been just under a week since my podcast with Joe Rogan dropped, and it’s been quite the week,” Huff said in a video posted to X Tuesday, Jan. 14. “I did want to come on here, though, and say a few things.” 

“My time with Rogan was amazing,” said Huff, “but both myself and others have caught things I said that weren’t correct. And so in light of that, I’m going to be making a response video to myself.” 

I debunk… myself. pic.twitter.com/HawppbaJkw

— WesleyHuff (@WesleyLHuff) January 14, 2025

Wesley Huff Responds to Errors He Made in Interview With Joe Rogan 

Wesley Huff’s conversation with Joe Rogan, who hosts one of the most popular podcasts in the world, released on Tuesday, Jan. 7, and has nearly 5 million views on YouTube as of this writing.

RELATED: Joe Rogan and Christian Apologist Discuss Evidence for the Resurrection, Why Jesus Is Not Just a Moral Teacher, and What Rogan Believes About Christ

Joe Rogan is a comedian, UFC color commentator, and the host of “The Joe Rogan Experience.” Wesley Huff is the Central Canada director for Apologetics Canada, according to his website.

He has a B.A. in sociology from York University, a Masters of Theological Studies from Tyndale University, and is currently working on a Ph.D. in New Testament at the University of Toronto’s Wycliffe College.

During their discussion, which ran more than three hours, Rogan asked Huff questions about the possibility of miracles, the evidence for the resurrection, whether it is possible that Jesus did not die, and why Huff believes that Jesus was not merely a moral teacher. 

Huff has gone viral for the articulate and balanced way he presented evidence for the Christian faith to Rogan, who is not a Christian and whose audience is massive. In fact, it was how Huff shared his views in a controversial debate with 4BiddenKnowledge Inc. founder and CEO Billy Carson last fall that caused Rogan to become aware of the apologist in the first place.

In his video responding to his interview with Rogan, Huff quickly ticked off several corrections, including that Huff had cited the 10th article of the LDS church when he had actually meant the 8th, had said “pantheon” instead of “Parthenon,” and had referenced 1 Corinthians 15 as saying 400 people saw Jesus after his resurrection when it actually says that 500 did.