A new study has revealed that megachurches in America with congregations larger than 2,000 people are not only growing, but also satisfying the spiritual needs of their members. “The megachurches movement is one of the leading indicators of how American Christians exercise their faith these days, so therefore they should be understood,” said James Wellman, […]
About 12 years ago, when David Anderson first visited Faith Church, he noticed that most of the faces he saw did not resemble his. Having come from a predominately African-American church, Anderson realized that he was in the minority. But it didn’t bother him. “I felt welcomed enough to go back, and I did go […]
A survey’s finding that few Americans use social media to connect with churches and other religious groups has those who conducted the research astonished. “We were a little bit surprised,” Robert P. Jones, CEO of the Public Religion Institute, told CNN in a story published Aug. 6. “We thought there would be a higher usage, […]
As the pastor of a mostly African-American Baptist church near Houston, Timothy W. Sloan has known for years that he needed to talk about HIV and AIDS with his congregation. He worried the 3,000 parishioners at St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church in Humble, Texas, could be offended and leave the church or curtail their giving. […]
Every Monday night, Uncle Charlie‘s bar in Cheyenne, Wyo., hosts “Bibles and Beer,” a discussion that routinely pulls in people of all faiths — and an atheist. As many as 45 people have shown up, some toting Bibles. Some might have a drink; others stick to water. Some talk; others mostly listen. There are only […]
James Tate used to arrive early at First Baptist Church of Glenarden so that he could find a wider seat in the handicapped section of the Upper Marlboro sanctuary to accommodate his 415-pound frame. But today the 33-year-old former high school lineman from Southeast Washington can sit anywhere in the church because he has lost […]
Churches across the U.S. tried to beat the heat this past weekend, although some were forced to cancel events and others found alternative ways of keeping cool as they faced record-breaking temperatures. In Missouri, a combination of the heat and dry weather forced Calvary Bible Church in Nixa to postpone its annual “Freedom Celebration.” The […]
We’re seeing progress as several local Catholic churches prepare to reopen. The Cleveland Diocese closed the churches in 2009 as part of cost-cutting efforts and a reorganization. Several churches appealed and earlier this year the Vatican ruled in favor of 12 churches. In April, Bishop Richard Lennon announced he would reopen the churches rather […]
On Palm Sunday, the Pastor’s wife, LaVon Bracy took the stage at the New Covenant Baptist Church in Orlando and announced plans to participate in an effort by 50,000 black congregations nationwide to register 1 million voters by Easter Sunday. The mass-voter registration drive is headed by Rev. Jamal Bryant of Baltimore […]
One pastor in Ohio is going to extreme measures to spread God’s word. Even if that means putting a stripper pole, not just inside his…
Good News Baptist Church in Chesapeake, Va., made a theological choice to offer only traditional music that expresses Christian doctrine. In many U.S. churches today, worship musicians bang the drums for God and singers croon as if Christ were their boyfriend. Bye-bye to Be Thou My Vision, a sixth-century Irish hymn with century-old English lyrics. […]
Some wounds of war are all too visible — a missing leg, a shattered arm. The invisible wounds of mind and soul are often more difficult to spot, and equally hard to treat. But those who know where to look can help them heal, and it’s a message that is hitting home for U.S. congregations […]
