John MacArthur Sparks Concern After Falling Ill, Unable To Preach Second Service

January 3, 2023

John MacArthur, 83-year-old pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church (GCC), made headlines after he fell ill and wasn’t able to preach the megachurch’s second worship service on Sunday.

On Monday, GCC released a statement saying, “Many of you are praying for Pastor John’s health due to his absence from the pulpit during the second service. We are pleased to report that he is doing well. He saw a doctor on Sunday afternoon and he is in good health, and just needs rest from a busy holiday week. Thank you for your continued prayers for Pastor John.”

According to polemical news site Protestia, a GCC elder informed worshipers attending the service that MacArthur had become sick earlier in the week.

“Just so you know, Pastor John had a bug this week and preached our first hour but asked if he might be able to take a break for the second hour. So Mike Riccardi is going to be answering the call. It’s pretty amazing we have guys with sermons in their Bibles wherever you go, and so Mike’s going to be here,” the GCC elder said.

Over the past few years, MacArthur has found himself in the news for refusing to close the doors of GCC or restrict gathering sizes in accordance with California state mandates in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an article titled “Christ, not Caesar, Is Head of the Church,” MacArthur encouraged other churches would stand with them, saying, “In response to the recent state order requiring churches in California to limit or suspend all meetings indefinitely, we, the pastors and elders of Grace Community Church, respectfully inform our civic leaders that they have exceeded their legitimate jurisdiction, and faithfulness to Christ prohibits us from observing the restrictions they want to impose on our corporate worship services.”

GCC and MacArthur were fined and threatened with jail time if they did not comply with the state’s mandates.

With the help of former Trump lawyer Jana Ellis, along with Charles LiMandri, the church filed a lawsuit against California Governor Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Xavier Becerra, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and public health officials.

Last February, MacArthur celebrated 53 years as GCC’s senior pastor.

‘Prayer Is Real, and It’s Powerful’—Teammates, NFL Players Rally Behind Damar Hamlin Following Injury

Jesse T. Jackson

January 3, 2023

bills_hamlin_prayer — Screengrab via Twitter @BuffaloBills

On Monday, the world witnessed of horrific injury to 24-year-old Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin during the NFL’s final game of week 17 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

With approximately six minutes left in first quarter, the Bengals were leading the Bills 7-3 when Hamlin tackled Bengals’ wide receiver Tee Higgins near the 50-yard line.

Anticipating Hamlin’s tackle, Higgins legally drove his shoulder into Hamlin’s chest. Hamlin made the routine tackle and stood to his feet, but roughly three seconds later, he shockingly collapsed to the turf at 8:55 P.M.

An official immediately signaled for an injury timeout as players ran to his aid, waving and shouting to the team’s trainers for assistance. After stabilizing Hamlin to be moved, medical personal had to lower him back down and administer CPR for nine minutes. Hamlin was placed in an ambulance on the field at 9:25 P.M. and transported to University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

As seen in video before the game, Hamlin’s family was in attendance, and they were allowed onto the field while Hamlin was being attended to. Nina, Hamlin’s mother, rode with her son in the ambulance to the hospital.

Following a 43-minute temporary suspension, wherein both teams return to their locker rooms, the game was officially postponed at 10:01 P.M.

Hamlin’s friend and marketing representative, Jordan Rooney, provided an update a little over an hour after Hamlin was removed from the Bengals’ home playing field.

“His vitals are back to normal and they have put him to sleep to put a breathing tube down his throat. They are currently running tests. We will provide updates as we have them,” Rooney posted.

Rooney shared an announcement from Hamlin’s family thanking everyone for their love and support, expressing that they are “deeply moved by the prayers, kind words, and donations from fans around the country.”

“We also want to acknowledge the dedicated first responders and healthcare professionals at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center who have provided exceptional care to Damar. We feel so blessed to be part of the Buffalo Bills organization and to have their support,” Hamlin’s family continued. “We also want to thank Coach Taylor and the Bengals for everything they’ve done…Please keep Damar in your prayers”

After news of Hamlin’s injury spread, donations totally over $4.4 million began flooding into a GoFundMe page the Bill’s safety setup two years ago, titled “The Chasing M’s Foundation Community Toy Drive.” According to the page, Hamlin created the fundraiser to support “toy drives, back-to-school drives, kids camps, and more.”

In a statement released Tuesday (Jan. 3), the NFL shared that the postponed game would not resume play this week. The league has not made a decision “regarding the possible resumption to the game at a later date.” The league said it hasn’t made any changes to the season’s final week of games, which are scheduled to take place Saturday (Jan. 7) and Sunday (Jan. 8).

Players Pray on the Field

Players and coaches from both teams were visibly shaken by Hamlin’s injury.

As they watched Hamlin fight for his life, tears could be seen running down the faces of multiple teammates, including the Bill’s Pro-Bowl quarterback Josh Allen and wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

Likewise, Bengals’ players, including Pro-Bowl quarterback Joe Burrow, could be seen consoling Bill’s players with hugs and prayers.

As the ambulance drove off the field, Bill’s players, who are led by outspoken Christian coach Sean McDermott, along with coaches and other personnel, gathered and prayed in the area where Hamlin had been lying lifeless.

The Bills posted a moving image of the team praying, surrounded with tweets from multiple teams and players around the league echoing that they were praying for Hamlin.

Former NFL Player, Pastor Derwin Gray Shares His Reaction

Former NFL defensive back, Derwin Gray, who is now the lead pastor of Transformation Church in North Carolina, was watching the game Monday night and shared with ChurchLeaders how he felt after witnessing Hamlin fall lifeless on the field.

‘Ideal for the Patriots’—Donald Trump Jr. Promotes ‘We the People Bible’

Jessica Lea

January 3, 2023

Donald Trump Jr., the eldest child of former president Donald Trump, is promoting the recently released “We The People Bible,” marketed as “ideal for the patriots who believe it is time to give America back to God.” A video of Trump Jr. promoting the Bible has gotten over 2 million views on Twitter as of this writing.

“With American Judeo-Christian values under attack, there could be no better time than to re-up our commitment to America and to the Christian values that this country was founded on,” says Trump Jr. in the video, adding that the We The People Bible was made, printed and assembled in the United States. “You’re gonna love it, and I think the people in your life probably need it too.”

Donald Trump Jr. made headlines in December 2021 for disparaging Jesus’ command to “turn the other cheek.” While speaking at Turning Point USA’s 2021 AmericaFest in Phoenix, Trump Jr. said, “We’ve turned the other cheek. And I understand. I understand sort of the biblical reference. I understand the mentality. But it’s gotten us nothing, okay? It’s gotten us nothing.”

Donald Trump Jr.: ‘Faith Is Being Targeted’

The website for the We The People Bible says it was released “just before” the 2022 midterms. The site features a picture of Donald Trump Jr., executive vice president of The Trump Organization, and quotes him saying, “Faith is being targeted and our country’s founding beliefs are being targeted. The ‘We The People Bible’ is restoring what there is an attempt to remove. Preservation of Faith, preservation of America.” ChurchLeaders has reached out to We the People Bible representatives for comment and for clarity about Trump Jr.’s relationship with the site.

According to the We The People Bible website,

The We The People Bible was designed with the patriot in mind and features a vertical reversed American flag design that represents a country in distress. Our bible is proudly made in the USA and has been designed with large print that delivers an easy reading experience to anyone looking to explore the tried-and-true King James (KJV) translation.

Included in the We The People Bible are copies of the Pledge of Allegiance, the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. The Bible costs $79.99, and the website has other patriotic items for sale as well, including a We The People t-shirt, a We The People / In God We Trust hat, and an In God We Trust Challenge coin. People can buy these and other items in different combinations, such as the Patriot Bundle, the Liberty Bundle or the Save America Bundle.

Other ‘Patriotic’ Bibles

The We The People Bible is not the only Bible of its kind. The Founders’ Bible, for example, features a copy of the New American Standard translation of the Bible, along with “over 1,000 pages of in-depth culturally relevant articles, insightful Biblical commentary from the Founders on a wide range of topics, and some of the most inspiring history of this nation’s founding and the destiny and purpose God intended.”

Gym Evangelist Disrupts Exercisers by Urging Them To Accept Jesus

Stephanie Martin

January 3, 2023

Ryan Foley, a Christian influencer who often preaches in public places, went viral last week for shouting his message in a gym. While people lift weights and work out, Foley urges them to “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Since a Twitter user posted video of Foley preaching on December 29, it’s been viewed almost 4 million times. It’s captioned: “A Christian ‘influencer’ causes a scene at the gym to force his religion on people.” The location of the gym isn’t disclosed.

Reaction to the clip is mixed, with some people praising Foley’s witness for Christ and others questioning his methods.

Ryan Foley: ‘I’m Just Preaching the Word of God’

In the clip, Ryan Foley shouts and points at the gym clientele, asking, “Will you all deny Christ on this day? Are you under the father of deception, which flies in this city, or under the Father of God? On the day of judgment, will you inherit the kingdom of heaven? Or are you living in sin? Sin will drag you to hell. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Most people seem to ignore Foley’s preaching, though one person requests help from security. “Turn to God today,” Foley continues. “You laugh, you mock, but God said in the last days many will laugh and mock. They don’t want to hear the Word of God.”

Shortly after asking, “Does anyone want to make a stand for Jesus today?” Foley notes that no hands were raised. “You are all cowards,” he then says.

When confronted, apparently by security, Foley says, “I’m just preaching the Word of God… They all have ears to hear.” He also asks, “Who just touched my phone and deleted the video of me talking about Christ? Why does it upset you so much?”

Mixed Reactions to Gym Sermon

On social media, several people credit Foley for publicly sharing his faith. One posts the words of Jesus’ Great Commission, while another writes, “Well done Ryan. God is on your side. May [the] Holy Spirit continue to guide you.”

Other comments aren’t favorable, with people calling Foley’s actions extreme and disrespectful. One writes, “It is a marvel that these folk think spending an eternity around people like them is anything anyone would actually want.”

Another notes, “Nothing at all wrong with being Christian… this isn’t being a Christian. Him quietly helping a person at the gym is what Christ wants, not proselytizing.”

Other people are okay with Foley’s message but not necessarily the situation and location. “I don’t really hate this,” someone comments. “I think he shouldn’t have done it there though. You’re supposed to spread the word, but read the room lol.”

James Choung: How to Navigate a Crisis of Faith as a Pastor

Jason Daye

January 3, 2023

As ministry leaders, when our hopes have been dashed, or we find ourselves experiencing a personal crisis of faith, it can be very challenging to navigate through those times. Oftentimes we will turn to disillusionment, deconstruction, or even despair. In this conversation on FrontStage BackStage, host Jason Daye is joined by James Choung, Vice President of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and author of Longing for Revival. Together, James and Jason explore how God actually invites us into these challenging spaces, and how we can position ourselves with a posture of invitation and expectancy, so we can experience personal revival and tremendous spiritual growth.

FrontStage BackStage Podcast Guest James Choung

Watch the entire podcast here.

Looking to dig more deeply into this topic and conversation? Every week you’ll find a free toolkit so you and your ministry team can dive deeper into the topic that is discussed. Find your Weekly Toolkit below… Love well, Live well, Lead well!

Keep Learning

Video links to this week’s episode – easily share with the ministry leaders in your church
Audio links to this week’s episode – easily share with the ministry leaders in your church
Additional resource links from this week’s conversation – so you and your team can easily find what is mentioned or referenced
Ministry Leaders Growth Guide – key insights and concepts from this week’s conversation as well as engaging questions for you and your team to consider and process
Full-text transcript of this week’s episode – review something you heard, pass along snippets, post tweets, create presentations to share, or use in whatever way you find most helpful in developing your ministry leaders
Shareable Social Graphics – Feel free to post them on your church social accounts, your personal accounts, or use them as graphics in your communications

Podcast Links

YouTube https://youtu.be/rjAzaNDf6_k

Apple http://bit.ly/3TS6JLz

Spotify http://bit.ly/3g79QRU

Lifeway Research: Churchgoers Value Time Alone With God, Practice Varies

Marissa Postell Sullivan

January 3, 2023

Most Protestant churchgoers spend time alone with God at least daily, but there’s a range in what they do in that time and what resources they use.

According to a study by Lifeway Research, nearly 2 in 3 Protestant churchgoers (65%) intentionally spend time alone with God at least daily, with 44% saying daily and 21% saying more than once a day. Meanwhile, 17% of churchgoers say they are alone with God several times a week, and 7% say once a week. Others admit to being alone with God a few times a month (5%), once a month (2%), less than once a month (3%) or never (1%).

This time looks different for different churchgoers, but they are more likely to talk to God through prayer than to listen to Him through His Word. Churchgoers most often pray in their own words (83%), thank God (80%), praise God (62%) or confess sins (49%). Fewer than 2 in 5 read from the Bible or a devotional (39%). Fewer repeat a set prayer (20%), consider God’s characteristics (18%) or something else (1%).

But if churchgoers were to read something during their time alone with God, most would read from a physical Bible (63%). Others would read the Bible in a different format such as a Bible that includes additional commentary or devotional thoughts (25%) or Scripture from an app (20%). Fewer than 1 in 3 say they would read from a devotional book that prints some Scripture (32%), and even fewer say they would read from a devotional book that doesn’t print Scripture (8%). Still, others say they would read a devotional from an app (7%) or read something else (3%).

Quiet Time Frequency

When it comes to spending time alone with God, females (48%) are more likely than males (38%) to say this is a daily habit for them. Those in the South (49%) are also among the most likely to say they spend time alone with God on a daily basis. One in 4 Baptists (25%) say they have alone time with God more than once a day. And those with evangelical beliefs (30%) are more likely than those without evangelical beliefs (15%) to say the same. Church attendance is also an indicator of quiet time frequency. Those attending worship services at least four times a month (26%) are more likely than those who attend one to three times a month (13%) to say they spend time alone with God more than once a day.

“We see a pattern in Scripture of followers of God withdrawing to spend time alone with Him. Jesus Christ Himself also did this,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “Most Protestant churchgoers continue this relational interaction with God and use a variety of resources as they do.”

Preferences on Prayer

When spending time alone with God, some prefer to pray in their own words, while others would rather repeat a set prayer. Younger churchgoers—ages 18-34 (31%) and 35-49 (26%)—are more likely than those 50-64 (16%) and over 65 (11%) to say they repeat a set prayer during their alone time with God. And those ages 50-64 (85%) and over 65 (89%) are more likely than those 18-34 (77%) and 35-49 (77%) to say they pray in their own words.

“There are many reasons to pray a set prayer. Whether someone is praying the model prayer Jesus gave or repeating the same request to God each day, these can be meaningful,” McConnell said. “At the same time, Scripture also records Psalms and prayers within its narrative accounts that show how personal and forthright we can be when talking to God in our own words.”

Females (86%) are more likely than males (79%) to pray in their own words. And those in the South (86%) are more likely to pray in their own words than those in the Northeast (77%).

Evangelical beliefs and the frequency of church attendance are also factors in how a person prefers to pray. Those who attend worship services at least four times a month are more likely than those who attend less frequently to pray in their own words (85% v. 79%). But those who attend a worship service one to three times a month are more likely than those who attend more frequently to repeat a set prayer (24% v. 16%). Those with evangelical beliefs are more likely than those without such beliefs to pray in their own words (92% v. 76%), while those without evangelical beliefs are more likely than those who hold those beliefs to repeat a set prayer (22% v. 16).

‘Good Grief, Apple’—John Piper’s Watch Mistakes His Preaching for a Hard Fall, Prompts Call to Emergency Services

Dale Chamberlain

January 3, 2023

Pastor and theologian John Piper is well known for his passion in preaching. The author of “Expository Exultation: Christian Preaching as Worship,” Piper’s sermons are a full body activity, often involving sweeping hand gestures.

Recently, however, Piper’s hand gestures were so exuberant that his smartwatch thought that the 76-year-old preacher had taken a hard fall and prompted him to call emergency services in the middle of a sermon.

A clip posted to Twitter by Tony Reinke, author and host of Piper’s “Ask Pastor John” podcast, captured the humorous moment.

“God is God,” Piper declared, waving his right hand. He almost continued, but then looked down at his Apple Watch and said, “You know what, my phone is telling me that I fell down.”

“I’m okay,” Piper said as he looked down to dismiss the notification. “I did not fall down.”

Pointing to someone in the crowd, he asked, “Did you hear it?”

“This has happened twice in my life,” Piper said as the crowd laughed. “I’m preaching and they think I fall down.”

“I’m not falling down,” Piper declared. “I’m standing up! I’m preaching! Good grief, Apple.”

Fall detection is a standard safety feature of Apple Watches that will flag sudden movement and prompt help in the event a user is injured.

The moment came during an Advent sermon Piper delivered at South Cities Church in Lakeville, Minnesota, which was formerly the South Campus of Bethlehem Baptist Church, of which Piper was the longtime pastor. The church became a separate congregation distinct from Bethlehem Baptist in 2022.

Focusing his sermon on Psalm 16, Piper said, “This is the battle of the Christian life: to have God as our good, to have God as our delight, to have God as our treasure.”

“That’s the way you go through your days. That’s the way you live the Christian life,” Piper went on to say. “You’re going to get up tomorrow morning, and you’re going to put him right there before you by his word. You’re going to reach out and take him and keep him right there in the treasured, cherished, honored position of your right hand, and you move through life.”

It looks like you’ve taken a hard fall.

Emergency call?

Piper: No, I’m preaching! pic.twitter.com/m3YFRGlqIa

— Tony Reinke (@TonyReinke) January 2, 2023

Vatican Releases Pope Benedict XVI’s Spiritual Will: ‘Stand Firm in Faith!’

Claire Giangrave

January 3, 2023

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — In a spiritual will written in 2006 and released by the Vatican on Saturday (Dec. 31), Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI thanked his family and friends, but chiefly God, for standing by him during his long life and career in the church.

Benedict, known for his theological efforts to reconcile faith and reason, offered his last thoughts to the Catholic faithful, urging them to hold on to their faith despite social and philosophical opposition.

“Remain firm in the faith! Don’t be confused!” wrote Benedict, in the testament dated August 29, 2006, a year and four months into his papacy.

Benedict died at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery at 9:34 a.m. on Saturday. He had lived at the monastery inside the Vatican since stepping down as pontiff in 2013, the first pope to do so in more than 600 years.

While science and history can sometimes “offer irrefutable results in contrast with the Catholic faith,” Benedict wrote, his 60 years of experience in theology proved that such theories have often failed to stand the test of time.

“I have lived the transformations of the natural sciences since ancient times and I have been able to see how, on the contrary, apparent certainties against faith have vanished, proving to be not science, but philosophical interpretations only apparently due to science,” he wrote.

Benedict insisted that faith has benefited from a dialogue with science and from understanding its limitations.

He also countered political philosophies that proposed alternate views of the world. “With the passing of each generation I have seen theses that seemed unshakeable crumble, proving to be mere hypotheses,” he added, pointing to the failures of liberal, existential and Marxist ideologies. “I have seen, and I continue to see, how the reasonableness of faith has emerged and is emerging again from the tangle of hypotheses,” he said.

Benedict thanked God in the will for guiding him, especially during troubled times. “In retrospect, I see and understand that even the dark and tiring stretches of this journey were for my salvation and that it was precisely in them that He guided me well,” he wrote.

He thanked his parents, “who gave me life in a difficult time,” and his siblings for sustaining him through the years. He expressed heartfelt gratitude for the friends, teachers and students he encountered through the years.

Killings in Kaduna State, Nigeria Darken Christmas Season

Morning Star News

January 3, 2023

christians_nigeria — Mourners at Dec. 22, 2022 funeral for 40 Christians slain on Dec. 18, 2022 in Mallagum, Kaura County, southern Kaduna state, Nigeria. (Anthony Timothy for Morning Star News)

ABUJA, Nigeria (Morning Star News) – One Christian was killed and 53 were kidnapped on Dec. 25 in southern Kaduna state, Nigeria after more than 40 Christians were slain in the week leading up to Christmas, sources said.

Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists on Dec. 25 attacked Angwan Aku village in Kajuru County, Kaduna state, at about 10 a.m., area resident James Akawu said.

“Church worship service was about to commence when the attackers arrived at the village riding on motorbikes and shooting sporadically,” Akawu told Morning Star News in a text message. “They killed one Christian and kidnapped 53 other Christians who are still being held captive.”

In Kaura County, residents said herdsmen and other terrorists killed 40 Christians in Mallagum on Dec. 18 and another three Christians in Kagoro on Dec. 23, area sources said.

“We’re being attacked again by terrorists. There are gunshots everywhere again this night,” Kagoro town resident Jay Awan told Morning Star News in a Dec. 23 text message. “This is worse. Please we need help.”

Another resident, Amos David, on Dec. 19 sent a text message saying Kagoro was attacked beginning the prior Sunday night.

“Homes and barns are still burning as I send out this message to you,” he told Morning Star News.

The Rev. Stephen Panya Baba, president of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), sent out a prayer request in a group text message on Dec. 23.

“Right now (9:45 p.m.) there are gunshots from the suspected Fulani herdsmen,” Baba said, recalling that the assailants had struck nearby Mallagum the previous Sunday. “The dead were just buried yesterday, Thursday. Now in less than a week, they are back again.”

Kagoro is home to the ECWA Theological Seminary, the ECWA College of Health Technology and several churches. Town resident Emmanuel Gandu said terrorists were destroying both lives and property.

“Family life has been disrupted, the lucky survivors have become refugees in their land waiting for palliatives in an endless genocide they can’t understand,” Gandu said. “Mass graves litter the community and the countryside. Our people can no longer go to their farms for fear of being gunned down or macheted.”

Settlements and villages yet to be attacked have become ghost towns as people have fled, he said.

“Lamentably, the Fulani terrorist attacks have continued unabated as they are heard chanting, ‘Allah akbar [God is greater]’ during the killing and destructive expeditions,” Gandu said. “It is on record that Kagoro has suffered 13 deadly attacks with catastrophic consequences from 2011 to 23/12/2022.”

Without decisive and urgent action, he said, Christians in Kagoro may be wiped out.

In nearby Mallagum, 40 Christians were killed and more than 100 houses were burned down on Dec. 18, area sources said.

“The attackers, whom we know are herdsmen and armed bandits, attacked our town at about 11 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 18,” Mallagum resident Rikichi David said in a text message. “Six members of my family were among those killed.”

Speaking at a funeral for the slain on Dec. 22, the Rev. Benjamin Bala, a Roman Catholic priest, noted that he and others began hearing gunshots after 11 p.m. on Dec.18.

“We made efforts to contact security agents. After one or two calls however, the network became inaccessible,” Bala said. “Within few minutes, many houses were in flames as we could hear helpless people who were trapped, crying for help that did not come until their voices went silent in painful death.”

By the next day, Dec. 19, at least 40 people were killed, many others wounded, 102 homes were burned down along with grain houses, and many people were displaced, the priest said. The attack was executed simultaneously across various villages, he said, with ammunition shells apparently from machinegun-like weapons recovered.

“In this attack, about six families were entirely wiped out,” Bala said, adding that the assailants fled after police later arrived with counter-gunfire.

The Rev. John Hayab, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State Chapter, corroborated that 40 Christians were killed at Mallagum, as did Luka Biniyat, spokesman for the Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU).

How To (Painlessly) Connect Generations in Church

Christina Embree

January 3, 2023

connect generations — Lightstock #188443

Let me let you in on a little secret. Well, maybe it’s not a secret. Maybe you already know. But here it is…

Some people don’t like the idea of children being in worship on Sunday morning. Others don’t think it’s a good idea for the youth group to be in Sunday school in the same class as older adults.

Still others question whether corporate worship is developmentally appropriate and some wonder if it’s safe, considering the world we live in, for older people and younger people to interact in meaningful ways like mentoring relationships and close friendships.

Now, it’s possible that you do not feel any of these ways… but I promise you, there are some in your congregation that do. And let’s be honest. There are legitimate reasons for their concerns about safety and developmental appropriateness and there are years of experience and tradition and structures that bolster these opinions. And frankly, sometimes the protests arise from parents that are just tired and want a break and a place to receive instead of give.

I’ve written blogs about many these topics and concerns (just click on the links)…but that is not what this post is about. Because sometimes, instead of trying to turn a whole ship, it’s wiser to just introduce some simple course corrections; ones that offer the goal of intergenerational connections without having to completely overhaul programming or interrupt the congregational flow. And sometimes, these course corrections can eventually lead to a culture that is more ready and able to begin turning the ship and embracing new (actually old) ways of worshiping and congregating together, across ages and generations.

Below are a few practices that could allow for your community to begin to connect children, youth, and the elderly (the groups that tend to be left out of communal gatherings) in meaningful ways. I’ve linked to resources as needed and would be happy to discuss any or all in deeper conversation if interested.

Pray For Me Campaign

The Pray For Me campaign connects young people with others in the congregation as prayer partners for an academic year. While there are programming resources available, the church I did this with simply prayed for each other. Each child who participated was giving 3 bookmarks with their picture and a little bit of information on it and they asked 3 adults of varying generations to pray for them for the school year. We had 40 students and 78 adults participate. Each week an email was sent out with Scripture to pray over your student for that week. That was it.

The Pray For Me book is fantastic if your church can afford to buy one for each participant; if not, buy a few copies for your team and each Sunday school and share as needed. Long story short – when people pray for each other, they begin to invest in one another. You can read more about my experience here.

Kids Worship Team

Often times in church, we define “worship team” as the group that gets up in front of church and leads singing. But worship is SO much more than that. Worship is showing reverence and adoration for God and we can do that in so many ways. Our Kid’s Worship Team “led worship” through hospitality (holding doors and handing out bulletins), prayer (going up to the altar to pray when the pastor offered that during prayer time so no one would pray alone) and generosity (taking up the offering and praying over it).

Get creative; how can the kids and youth in your church “lead worship”? In our church now, our kids teach the adults the lesson they learned at the end of the service. It’s incredible to watch how the adults connect to the kids lesson and how the kids get to share what they’ve learned. It takes 3 minutes but it’s 3 minutes well spent for all. What about you?

Can Cancer Be God’s Servant? What I Saw in My Wife’s Last Four Years

Randy Alcorn

January 2, 2023

In March, my beloved wife, Nanci, lost her four-year battle with colon cancer. All 54 years I’ve known her, Nanci loved Jesus. But from a front-row seat, I watched a wonderful—and supernatural—change in those last four years.

In 2019, Nanci wrote to a friend and fellow cancer sufferer,

The cancer battle has been tough. However, my time with the Ancient of Days (one of my favorite names for God) has been epic! He has met me in ways I never knew were possible. I have experienced His sovereignty, mercy, and steadfast love in tangible ways. I now trust Him at a level I never knew I could.

I saw Nanci meditate on Scripture daily, read great books about God, and journal—writing out verses, powerful quotations from Spurgeon and many others, and personal reflections. One unforgettable morning, after meditating on Psalm 119:91, “All things are your servants,” she shared with me what she’d just written:

My cancer is God’s servant in my life. He is using it in ways He has revealed to me and in many more I have yet to understand. I can rest knowing my cancer is under the control of a sovereign God who is good and does good.

Brokenhearted and Thankful

Nine months later, at Nanci’s request and on short notice, our daughters and their families gathered to hear her speak final words of overflowing love for us and unswerving trust in her sovereign King.

As one of our grandsons sat beside her, listening to her struggling to speak and to me reading powerful words from her journals, he said, “Grams, if you can trust God in this, I know I can trust Him in whatever I’ll go through.” Another grandson told her, “I will never forget what you said to us today.”

Exactly one week later, I held her hand and watched her take her last breath in this world under the curse.

Every day during those four years, I witnessed God’s sanctifying and happy-making work in my wife: “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope . . . because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:3–5).

Nanci and I—and thousands worldwide—prayed daily for her healing. God’s final answer was to rescue her from suffering and bring her into his presence where it’s “better by far” (Philippians 1:23). Through her afflictions, He achieved in her an eternal weight of glory that far outweighs them all (2 Corinthians 4:17). She praised Jesus for it, and I will forever do the same, though I miss her immensely.

Why God Permits What He Does

When our ministry posted Nanci’s words, “My cancer is God’s servant,” someone responded, “WHAT? God does NOT give people cancer. Jesus bore our sicknesses and carried our pains on the cross.”

That reader is not alone in trying to distance God from suffering. But by saying sickness comes only from Satan and the fall, not from God, we disconnect Him from our suffering and His deeper purposes. God is sovereign. He never permits or uses evil arbitrarily; everything He does flows from His wisdom and ultimately serves both His holiness and love.

Joni Eareckson Tada often shares the words of her friend Steve Estes: “God permits what he hates to accomplish what he loves.” God’s “permitting” something is far stronger than it may sound. After all, whatever God permits actually happens; what he doesn’t permit doesn’t happen.

In the final chapter of Job, God reveals that Job’s family and friends “showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him” (Job 42:11). The author told us from the beginning that Job’s troubles were Satan’s idea and actions. Yet the inspired wording indicates Satan’s efforts were, indirectly by sovereign permission, God’s own doing. Many find this truth disturbing, but properly understood, it should be comforting. What should be profoundly disturbing is the notion that God stands by passively while Satan, evildoers, diseases, and random accidents ruin the lives of His beloved children.

Charles Spurgeon suffered terribly from depression, gout, rheumatism, neuritis, and a burning kidney inflammation. Yet he said, “It would be a very sharp and trying experience for me to think that I have an affliction which God never sent me . . . that my trials were never measured out by him, nor sent to me by his arrangement of their weight and quantity.”

Mouse Ears – Have Our Churches Become Like Disneyworld?

Ray Hollenbach

January 2, 2023

One of my on-line friends took his kids to Disneyworld. He’s seriously addicted to Twitter, so with the help of his iPhone the rest of us got to experience the trip as well. He spent a ton of money and dove into the whole Mickey Mouse experience, souvenirs and all. His final tweet that day: “We have left the park—now what do we do with these mouse ears?”

What do we do with these mouse ears?

This is a parable. What happens if we are so heavily invested in the church-world that we look ridiculous outside the church? It’s one thing to be a fan of Mickey Mouse inside an exclusive park where everyone is a fan. It’s quite another to represent him out in the real world. And I wonder, are mouse ears the best way to do so?

Vandals Deface Church Hosting Sean Feucht ‘Let Us Worship’ New Year’s Eve Event

Jesse T. Jackson

December 31, 2022

“Let Us Worship” and “Hold The Line” founder Sean Feucht posted images on Instagram and YouTube Saturday morning (Dec. 31) showing his followers that the church he was scheduled to perform at on New Year’s Eve was vandalized with explicit graffiti. Feucht says the vandalism was due to his upcoming performance.

Feucht performed at City View Church in San Diego, California, at 9 P.M. on New Year’s Eve. He stated that police are investigating the vandalism as a hate crime.

“Last night, bigots spread hate and violence at a church where we are holding a New Year’s Eve event in San Diego,” Feucht wrote in his Saturday post. “The police are investigating it as a hate crime. The enemy making the age old (sic) mistake. Persecuting the Church won’t stop the gospel, it’ll spark a wildfire.”

Vandals spray painted numerous epithets and warnings around the church property, including, “F— Sean Feucht,” “Queers Bash Back,” “Christofascists not Welcome,” “BLM,” “Sean Feucht Kindly F— Off,” “Anti-fascist resistance will not falter,” “Separate Church & State,” “Trans Rights Are Human Rights,” “Bigots not welcome,” “No Safe Space for Bigots,” “Transphobes out of SD,” “God Loves LGTBQ,” “Sean Feucht hates queers, Queers Bash Back,” “F— Christian Nationalists. Church←→State,” “Awaken Breeds Hate,” and “Sean Breeds Hate” all over the church’s outside walls and signs.

Along with defacing the church’s property with vulgarity, symbols, and threats, the vandals also broke a glass window after defacing it with spray paint.

Feucht told ChurchLeaders that the vandalism is “a fear tactic, it’s intimidation, and you know, we don’t get discouraged when fear comes, we actually get emboldened and this is a chance for the church of California to take a stand to rise up in unity and to say, ‘We’re not going to let persecution, bigotry, hatred, vandalism, stop us from worshiping. The church isn’t a building. We’re the bride of Christ and in 2023 we’re rising up like never before.”

A police report has been filed, Feucht said, and the police are currently present at the church and were on location during Feucht’s event. Feucht posted video of the vandalism on his YouTube account here.

Small Group Leader: Failure Is Not Final

Josh Hunt

December 31, 2022

One of the major themes of the Bible is that: FAILURE IS NOT FINAL. We can risk failure because we know that God is a God of a second chances. We can recover from failure because we know that God forgives and restores.

Consider the story of Jonah. The prophet Jonah was called by God to a missionary ministry to the city of Nineveh, sort of an ancient version of Las Vegas. But when Jonah disobeyed God, he ended up in the belly of a fish, with seaweed wrapped around his face. I suspect he felt like a failure. To be honest, he was a failure at this point. But failure is not final, God is a God of second chances.

Because we are secure in our relationship with Christ, because we know He will forgive us when we need it, because we know he believes in us, we have the security to risk failure. So, I encourage you to try something that may not work. You never know. It just might work. I would not have given you a nickel on a dollar that we would ever sustain a group to meet at 7:30 a.m. Sunday mornings for Bible Study. But it hasn’t failed. In fact, it has served a tremendous need. It has increased the options that we are able to offer to the community. But the point is—it might have failed. No one knew for sure. Only those who risk failure have the opportunity to receive great rewards. You cannot steal second with your foot on first. In order to discover new oceans, you have to lose sight of the shore.

Perhaps there was a time in your life when you sought to do great things for God. . . but failed miserably. Maybe you discovered that it is easier to quit dreaming than to keep failing. Maybe you tried to implement new strategies in your small group ministry, but they didn’t quite work out, and now you are playing it safe. I have good news. Failure is not final. I invite you to become a dreamer again.

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

Movies About Bullying: 12 Films to Get Teens Talking

Stephanie Martin

December 30, 2022

Movies about bullying can spark important discussions among teens. Both in-person and online bullying are rampant these days. The result? Emotional trauma, loneliness, even suicide. Most young people have experienced some type of harassment. And some kids in your youth group may have behaved in a bullying way.

Use films about bullying to introduce the tough topic. Create discussion-starter questions and add biblical concepts to lessons. Some films below are more appropriate for older teens. Others will work well with tweens and older elementary students.

Warning: Always preview movies before showing them to kids. Also notify parents about what you’re planning for youth group meetings.

As you teach, remind kids of God’s promise in Deuteronomy 31:6. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

And while emphasizing bullying prevention, share this command from Ephesians 4:29. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

12 Movies About Bullying to Show Teens

If you’re showing entire films, obtain copyright permissions first. And remember: You can show just clips. Focus on key scenes about bullying, its impacts, and our Christian response.

1. The Zeroes

In this 2014 film, kids band together to combat neighborhood bullies.

2. Bully

This intense documentary (2012) features several heart-wrenching real-life stories.

3. CyberBully

Use this made-for-TV movie about internet bullying to explore the dark sides of technology.

4. Billy Elliot

Although this film received rave reviews, it’s rated R. So proceed with caution.

Kirk Cameron’s Indianapolis Library Book Reading, After Initially Being Denied, Results in Overwhelming Turnout

Jesse T. Jackson

December 30, 2022

Actor Kirk Cameron (Growing Pains, Left Behind, Fireproof, Lifemark) recently reported that he was denied requests to host a reading of his new children’s book “As You Grow” at multiple public libraries around the nation.

Cameron’s new book is published by Brave Books, which releases a new children’s book every month to help parents tackle “difficult topics like gender identity, dangers of communism, cancel culture, critical race theory through family-friendly stories.” According to their website Brave Books’ goal is to “honor God by shaping a future generation of Americans, who will fight for a nation defined by freedom, truth, humility, bravery, and compassion.”

“As You Grow” is described as a “fun story with brilliant art” that “teaches the Biblical truths of the Fruit of the Spirit,” and although the story part of the book doesn’t mention God or contain any Bible verses, Cameron explained that the goal of the book is to teach biblical wisdom and values to children.

“‘As You Grow’ is a fun story that makes the concepts of joy, love, and gentleness easy to understand. After a family finishes going through the book, there are Bible verses within the Games and Talk About It sections that pertain to the story. Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 2:1-4, Romans 5:8, James 1:2-3, Proverbs 15:4, Proverbs 15:1, and Matthew 11:28-29 are all quoted throughout the ‘Games’ and ‘Talk About It’ sections in the back of my book,” Cameron shared.

Brave Books told Fox News, “All of the libraries [including the Indianapolis Public Library] that we have contacted have hosted LGBTQ+ story times with drag queens in the past.”

The Indianapolis Public Library said in a statement that they are highly selective about the events they officially sponsor and promote, and that Cameron was never told he couldn’t rent a reading room to host his own event.

However, Brave Books Chief of Staff Zach Bell told ChurchLeaders that wasn’t exactly true.

“Yes, it always costs to rent a room at the Indianapolis Public Library if it isn’t a sponsored event like their “Drag Queen Story Hour,” Bell explained. However, “we were denied to rent a room during our first call with the library, then after the story was published citing their initial denial, the library recanted and allowed us to rent a room for Kirk’s reading.”

Although, unlike the library’s promotion of “Drag Queen Story Hour” this past June, Cameron’s book reading didn’t appear on the library’s event calendar.

“It’s pride month and the start of the summer reading program,” the library’s description of that event read. “Let’s celebrate with our community’s greatest entertainers and literacy advocates, the drag queens! Our theme this year is Discovery, so come dressed up.”

On Thursday (Dec. 29), Cameron hosted his first public library reading at Indianapolis Public Library in Indiana.

Hundreds of families with children waited outside the library. As the doors opened, families made their way up to the sixth floor where Brave Books had rented a private room for Cameron’s reading. While roughly 1,000 people entered the building, all but 170 of them were halted at the door due to the room’s capacity limit.

While Cameron had only planned on one reading, he and the team quickly arranged to do another, so that another 170 people could participate.

After the event, Cameron’s team was informed that library had an auditorium they could have rented that seated 300. It wouldn’t have been as intimate, “but we would have made it work if we had known this many people were going to be here,” the team explained.

‘The Lord Trusted Us With All of These Lives’—Pastors Shelter Over 100 People During Deadly Buffalo Blizzard

Jessica Lea

December 30, 2022

buffalo blizzard — Screenshot from Facebook / @Kris Overfield

Pastors in Buffalo, New York, used their church building to shelter over 120 people during a blizzard that devastated the area over Christmas weekend. With the help of the community, Al and Vivian Robinson provided meals, baby formula and other resources during the historic Buffalo blizzard.

“The one thing that stands out the most was the power that Jesus Christ gave us,” Al Robinson said in a statement to ChurchLeaders. “His love compelled us to take that additional step to reach out for that one more person in the sea, that one more life, it was incredible. I don’t even know how I was able to accomplish all of this without saying it was God [who] did it all. He really did it all.”

The pastor said what happened was “the most supernatural event I’ve ever had in my entire life, but I can tell you one thing: it’s real, it happened and it saved people’s lives. Jesus was able to pull them [from] the clutches of death that happily waited for them. [God] had a different plan.”

Buffalo Blizzard Pummels Residents

At least 40 people have been reported dead as of this writing from a winter storm that hit Buffalo on Friday, Dec. 23. While the storm, known as “bomb cyclone,” covered more than half of the United States, it “unleashed its full fury on Buffalo, generating a historic lake-effect snow event with hurricane-force winds and whiteout conditions,” according to AccuWeather. Snow continued through the weekend, with some areas of Erie County, where Buffalo resides, receiving more than four feet. Most of the snow fell on the Friday and Saturday right before Christmas.

The New York Times (NYT) reports that while officials had been bracing for a winter storm, they failed to anticipate how dangerous and deadly the Buffalo blizzard would be. The unusual amount of snow, generating huge drifts, was accompanied by wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour. Wind chill temperatures were -20 degrees.

An estimated 30,000 people lost power over the weekend. Hundreds were snowed in and many were stranded in their vehicles. Emergency responders had difficulty rescuing people and were at times stranded themselves. There are stories of people perishing after being trapped in their vehicles or attempting to walk in the storm.

One woman’s mother stepped outside of her home for a moment, but did not return. Hours later, a neighbor found the mother frozen to death. He told the NYT, “It looked like she had blocks of ice on her eyelashes.”

Even when people’s power came back on, many who had taken shelter elsewhere could not go home because their pipes had frozen, leaving their houses a “disaster,” according to Pastor Al Robinson. Some residents looted grocery and convenience stores.

Al and Vivian Robinson are pastors of Spirit of Truth Urban Ministry in Buffalo. Prior to the storm, they had purchased enough food to feed themselves and their nine children for two weeks over the Christmas holiday. The couple live at their church’s campus, and when the storm hit, Vivian began posting on her Facebook page that they could help anyone who was in need of shelter. She also alerted people of others who were stranded and in need.

New Episode of Docuseries Describes Hillsong’s ‘Spectacular Implosion’

Stephanie Martin

December 30, 2022

Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed — Screenshot from YouTube / @discovery plus

To close out another rough year for Hillsong Church, this week a fourth episode dropped in the Discovery+ docuseries “Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed.” Airing on partner network TLC, the “Newest Revelations” installment recaps developments that have occurred since March, when the first three episodes premiered.

Interviewees say the docuseries opened a “floodgate of conversation,” with former Hillsong members, students, staff members, and volunteers coming forward to share their stories. Journalists also describe the ongoing—and darkening—bombshell revelations about the beleaguered organization.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a spectacular implosion of a Christian institution,” says Roxanne Stone, managing editor of Religion News Service. “I couldn’t have written it this horrifically if I’d wanted to.”

Hillsong Scandals Kept Snowballing During 2022

Church Leaders has reported extensively on Hillsong-related scandals, including the “moral failures” of Brian Houston (the church’s Australian founder) and Carl Lentz (former pastor of Hillsong New York City). Allegations against various Hillsong leaders include sexual abuse and coverups, extramarital affairs, rape, lavish lifestyles, alcohol-fueled parties, and mistreatment of church staff and volunteers. Meanwhile, leaders reportedly placed strict limits on the dating behaviors and dress codes of churchgoers.

“Hillsong: The Newest Revelations” mentions Houston’s yearlong leave of absence, which began in January 2022. The following month, Senior Interim Pastor Phil Dooley warned congregants that an upcoming docuseries would be attempting to “hurt the church.” On March 23, the day before the first episode aired, Houston resigned as Global Senior Pastor. Though that was likely meant to “be a punctuation mark,” says Stone of RNS, it was “only the beginning.”

On April 11, a report about Hillsong NYC was leaked to The Christian Post. Reading all those allegations, says senior investigative reporter Leonardo Blair, was “eye-opening, shocking, disheartening.” The church’s hierarchy and power dynamic encouraged subordinates to be “invisible,” he says, and Hillsong leaders, especially the men, “appeared to be a frat party.”

Stone describes “excess at every level,” with Hillsong NYC having a “uniquely difficult and manipulative” leadership structure—minus supervision and accountability. According to Blair, Lentz was “a king of his own castle.” Both journalists note that Hillsong Global knew about some concerns and allegations but didn’t act.

A ‘Clear Pattern’ of Corruption

In the “Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed,” Stone says although a “clear pattern” of scandals emerged, Hillsong leaders kept insisting they weren’t covering anything up.

Another leaked report detailed rape allegations against Reed Bogard, who had been put in charge of Hillsong Dallas. When Brian Houston announced in April 2021 that Hillsong Dallas was closing, he cited the pandemic and the misuse of funds. According to the leaked report, Houston knew about the rape charge but didn’t address it.

‘It’s a Dangerous Proposition’—Dallas Jenkins Describes Writing Process for ‘The Chosen,’ Discusses LDS Controversies With Allie Beth Stuckey

Dale Chamberlain

December 30, 2022

Dallas Jenkins The Chosen Allie Beth Stuckey — Screengrab via YouTube @Allie Beth Stuckey

Dallas Jenkins, creator and director of “The Chosen,” appeared on Allie Beth Stuckey’s “Relatable” podcast last week to discuss the show’s third season.

In their conversation, Jenkins shared how he became a Christian filmmaker, reflected on the approach he takes when writing the show, and the two discussed the recurring accusations of which the show has been subject for alleged connections with the Church of Latter-day Saints and LDS theology.

Speaking to how he became passionate about filmmaking, Jenkins cited the 1975 film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” as his inspiration. The film ignited a desire in Jenkins to use filmmaking to evoke a meaningful, emotional response in the hearts of viewers.

Only, when it came to faith-based films and media, Jenkins was never really impressed with what he saw.

“My thought was, as a young guy growing up—I grew up in the faith and as a Christian—I loved TV and movies but there wasn’t anything that represented my faith that I liked as much as the normal TV and movies I would watch,” Jenkins said. “If there was a Christian movie that came out, it wasn’t any good.”

Nevertheless, Jenkins knew that he wanted to incorporate his faith into his films.

“So I didn’t know what kind of movies I necessarily wanted to make, but I knew that I wanted to get into that in some way,” Jenkins said. “And I thought it’d be good to represent my stories in some way, stories of faith.”

“I remember there was a moment,” Jenkins continued. “I think it was around 2007 or so, I was mowing the lawn, and I felt like God just put it really strongly on my heart. Because I was kind of bad-mouthing/apologizing for faith-based films. ‘Like I don’t really wanna do that because they’re so bad.’ And God was like, ‘My people deserve good stuff too. So why don’t you just make it better?’”

“I’ve found that people that rejected stories of faith were rejecting more the quality than they were necessarily the story,” Jenkins said. “There are plenty of people who aren’t believers who will watch a movie or TV show that comes from a faith perspective or is about a faith story if it’s compelling…We found that with ‘The Chosen.'”

Ironically, when Jenkins got the idea for “The Chosen,” he didn’t feel confident that it would ever become a reality. He had directed a film that had just bombed at the box office, and “there’s not people lining up around the block to do a Jesus show.”

Nevertheless, when Jenkins created a short film for his church about the birth of Christ from the perspective of shepherds, it went viral on social media, leading to the eventual crowdfunding of “The Chosen.”

“I’m not surprised, because God can do anything,” Jenkins said. “But I wouldn’t have been surprised if it would have failed as well—for whatever you want to consider ‘failure.’”

While “The Chosen” chronicles the life and ministry of Jesus, Jenkins and his team have taken considerable creative license with many of the stories, often imagining the details left out of well-worn biblical accounts, as well as creating other vignettes whole cloth.

Terrorists Attack Christian Communities in Northeast Nigeria

Morning Star News

December 30, 2022

Nigeria_Borno_State_map — Himalayan Explorer based on work by Uwe Dedering, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

ABUJA, Nigeria (Morning Star News) – Members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on Dec. 19 burned homes in Borno state, Nigeria, nine days after terrorists killed a pregnant Christian woman in the same area, sources said.

The ISWAP terrorists attacked predominantly Christian Jibwiwi (Debiro) village in Hawul County and Ngulde village in Askira/Uba County at about 6 p.m., burning several houses and destroying livestock and storehouses of harvested crops, said area resident Shawulu Yohanna.

“They rode on motorcycles, armed with guns and cluster bombs, which they used in attacking two communities,” Yohanna said in a text message to Morning Star News. “The people in the two villages were able to escape the onslaught as no one was killed.”

On Dec. 10, terrorists invaded a home in Hawul County’s Pelachiroma village and shot dead a pregnant Christian woman, Mary Barka Paul Sawa, Yohanna said. Sawa’s husband, Paul Sawa, was wounded in the attack before escaping.

“Her husband escaped the attack with gunshot wounds,” Yohanna said. “Their house was raided by the terrorists at night.”

Habila Lemaka of the Hawul Local Government Police Division told Morning Star News in a text message confirmed the attacks on the three communities.

“Remember that these areas have been under constant attacks from the terrorists,” Lemaka said.

Sani Shatambaya, spokesman of the Borno State Police Command, concurred that ISWAP members attacked the areas.

“It is true that the areas in question were attacked by ISWAP terrorists,” Shatambaya said. “Military and police personnel have been deployed to the affected communities in order to repel these incursions by the terrorists.”

An Abubakar Shekau-led faction of Boko Haram in 2016 formally aligned with the Islamic State and changed its name to Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), though many Nigerians still refer to the Shekau-led faction of ISWAP by its original name, Boko Haram.

Nigeria led the world in Christians killed for their faith last year (Oct. 1, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2021) at 4,650, up from 3,530 the previous year, according to Open Doors’ 2022 World Watch List report. The number of kidnapped Christians was also highest in Nigeria, at more than 2,500, up from 990 the previous year, according to the WWL report.

Nigeria trailed only China in the number of churches attacked, with 470 cases, according to the report.

In the 2022 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria jumped to seventh place, its highest ranking ever, from No. 9 the previous year.

This article originally appeared here.

Players Pray on the Field

Former NFL Player, Pastor Derwin Gray Shares His Reaction

Donald Trump Jr.: ‘Faith Is Being Targeted’

Other ‘Patriotic’ Bibles

Ryan Foley: ‘I’m Just Preaching the Word of God’

Mixed Reactions to Gym Sermon

FrontStage BackStage Podcast Guest James Choung

Keep Learning

Podcast Links

Quiet Time Frequency

Preferences on Prayer

Pray For Me Campaign

Kids Worship Team

Brokenhearted and Thankful

Why God Permits What He Does

What do we do with these mouse ears?

12 Movies About Bullying to Show Teens

1. The Zeroes

2. Bully

3. CyberBully

4. Billy Elliot

Buffalo Blizzard Pummels Residents

Hillsong Scandals Kept Snowballing During 2022

A ‘Clear Pattern’ of Corruption

New Articles

New Podcasts