What political issues do you hear about in church?

What political issues do you hear about in church?

VERBATIM:  According to the latest poll from the Pew Research Center, abortion is the topic that most often comes up in a sermon these days — 35% of regular churchgoers say they have heard a message about it in the last few months.  Israel is the second most common political or social issue to be addressed from the pulpit — 34% have heard about that.  Next comes homosexuality, immigration and the war in Iran.  MH REPORTING

A call for more church security funds

A call for more church security funds

VERBATIM:  Attacks on houses of worship are up and faith leaders want Congress to increase a pool of cash available for congregations to beef up security.  Pastors, rabbis and imams are asking lawmakers to put one billion dollars in the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which pays for faith groups to install bullet-proof glass, cameras and other security devices in their buildings.  A lot of small congregations can’t afford to do so without government aid.  MH REPORTING

Is America facing a pastor shortage?

Is America facing a pastor shortage?

VERBATIM:  According to several reports, fewer and fewer men are entering the clergy these days.  Master of Divinity enrollment is down 14% in the past five years and amongst Black Protestant denominations, it has fallen 31%.  And while new polls indicate that pastors have largely recovered from the trials of the pandemic, larger percentages of them say they still consider quitting the profession.  Some churches have closed or consolidated for lack of a pastor.  MH REPORTING

A challenge to Ohio’s new abortion amendment

A challenge to Ohio’s new abortion amendment

VERBATIM:  Pro-life advocates have filed a lawsuit to stop the legislation, arguing that its enactment actually violates the state constitution.  The plaintiffs argue the constitution clearly states that a constitutional convention must be called to enact such an amendment — it cannot be ratified solely by a vote of the people.  Janet Porter of Faith To Action tells LifeSite News that if this challenge succeeds in Ohio, it could prompt similar actions in other states.  MH REPORTING

Is religion gaining or losing influence in the U.S.?

Is religion gaining or losing influence in the U.S.?

VERBATIM:  According to a new poll from the Pew Research Center, 37% of Americans believe that faith is gaining purchase in society and that’s the highest percentage in nearly 25 years.  On the other hand, 61% of respondents think that religion is LOSING influence.  But that group is shrinking from a high of over 70% five years ago.  Roughly half of all Americans say that the influence of faith in the country is a good thing.  MH REPORTING

Americans answer questions about God and the country

Americans answer questions about God and the country

VERBATIM:  The Pew Research Center seems to have found an issue on which the general public is largely in agreement.  To the question: “Does God favor the United States over all other nations?”, the vast majority of respondents said NO.  Not even 10% of any religious group said YES.  66% of the general public believes that God does not favor any one country over all the others.  Amongst organized religious groups the percentages are even higher.  MH REPORTING

There’s a lot of God in the Declaration of Independence

There’s a lot of God in the Declaration of Independence

VERBATIM:  With the 250th birthday of the United States looming, the nation’s founding document is getting a closer look.  In its opening paragraph, Thomas Jefferson proposed that “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God” grant humans equal status and entitle Americans to dissolve the political bands with Britain.  As historians have shown, Benjamin Franklin added a phrase to suggest that those rights had been “endowed by their Creator.”  MH REPORTING

Most churchgoers are reaching out

Most churchgoers are reaching out

VERBATIM:  A new survey released by LifeWay Research reveals that 77% of Protestants who attend services regularly say they have developed lasting relationships with people in their church.  66% tell LifeWay that they intentionally try to get to know people in their congregation.  The study authors add that “Building relationships is one of eight signposts that measure characteristics evident in believers who are progressing in spiritual maturity.  MH REPORTING

Some federal workers are suing the Secretary of Agriculture

Some federal workers are suing the Secretary of Agriculture

VERBATIM:  At issue is an Easter message sent to the USDA’s 90,000 personnel by Brooke Rollins.  The plaintiffs in the suit, who are being supported by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, accuse the secretary of subjecting them to ““government-sponsored religious coercion”.  A USDA spokesman tells Politico “While we do not comment on pending litigation, we will keep the plaintiffs in our prayers during this process.”  MH REPORTING

A victory for religious freedom in Ohio

A victory for religious freedom in Ohio

VERBATIM:  Officials in Montgomery County have agreed to settle a lawsuit with Gracehaven over whether the Christian foster care ministry can hire only believers.  The county had refused to do business with Gracehaven unless it hired non-Christians.  Alliance Defending Freedom represents the organization and says “The government can’t deny public benefits to a ministry that is caring for young survivors of sex trafficking solely because of its religious character.”  MH REPORTING

Atheists have a problem with President Trump’s arch

Atheists have a problem with President Trump’s arch

VERBATIM:  The monument, which will be styled on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, will bear the words “In God We Trust”.  That has sparked a protest from the Freedom From Religion Foundation — one of the largest atheist groups in the country.  The Foundation spends much of its time trying to scour all Christian imagery from the public square.   The arch, which will mark the 250th birthday of the nation, will serve as a gateway to Washington DC.  Correspondent Michael Harrington.

The Trump administration promotes motherhood

The Trump administration promotes motherhood

VERBATIM:  The new website moms.gov offers a variety of resources, including locations of pregnancy centers, nutrition and dietary guidelines as well as information about adoption and mental health.  Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. says “The Trump Administration is strengthening its commitment to America’s families by equipping mothers and fathers with the resources and information they need to build healthy, prosperous lives.”  MH REPORTING

Is America facing a pastor shortage?

Is America facing a pastor shortage?

VERBATIM:  According to several reports, fewer and fewer men are entering the clergy these days.  Master of Divinity enrollment is down 14% in the past five years and amongst Black Protestant denominations, it has fallen 31%.  And while new polls indicate that pastors have largely recovered from the trials of the pandemic, larger percentages of them say they still consider quitting the profession.  Some churches have closed or consolidated for lack of a pastor.  MH REPORTING

Faith is surging in Ukraine

Faith is surging in Ukraine

VERBATIM:  According to the Slavic Gospel Association, the privations of war have turned many in the country to the cross.  SGA reports that more than 100 new Evangelical churches have opened their doors since the Russian invasion began.  Igor Bandura of the Ukrainian Baptist Union adds that “Over 13,000 people have been baptized — significantly more than before the war.”  Churches are forming a vital support system for the embattled nation.  MH REPORTING

Will Graham is on the road again

Will Graham is on the road again

Christians in Iraq are still having trouble

Christians in Iraq are still having trouble

VERBATIM:  According to a new analysis by England’s  All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief, Iraqi believers still face violent persecution and repression, years after ISIS was finally expelled from the country.  Christians living in the Kurdistan region are doing pretty well, but elsewhere in the country they are still being victimized by their Muslim neighbors.  Christians make up just about three percent of Iraq’s population.  MH REPORTING

Pastors are doing better

Pastors are doing better

VERBATIM:  According to a new poll from the Barna Group, emotional strain among America’s clergymen has reached its lowest point in 10 years — feelings of inadequacy and exhaustion are down, energy is UP.  Pastoral confidence is also climbing after collapsing during the pandemic.  It currently stands at 58 percent.  However, the Barna poll also finds that the share of clergy who are “very satisfied” with their vocation has fallen from 72 percent to 52 percent.  MH REPORTING

Samaritan’s Purse is at work in the Pacific

Samaritan’s Purse is at work in the Pacific

VERBATIM:  The giant Christian relief organization has been flying supplies into the islands of Saipan and Tinian after the most powerful cyclone of the year so far came roaring through.  Samaritan’s Purse says “we’ve distributed over 6,500 tarps, nearly 6,000 solar lights, 500 mosquito nets, and nearly 15,000 jerry cans on the islands. To help restore electricity for the most vulnerable, we’ve provided 203 generators for those with chronic illnesses.”  MH REPORTING

Richard Dawkins thinks AI is alive

Richard Dawkins thinks AI is alive

VERBATIM:  The prominent atheist and evolutionary biologist has been holding conversations with the new chatbot Claude, built by the Anthropic company, and says “I believe it has consciousness.”  Author George Calder, writing in The Expose says “Dawkins has always ridiculed belief in God.  But he now conversely appears to believe in machine consciousness.”  Anthropic has also suggested that Claude should be considered a sentient, living being.  MH REPORTING

The world is divided between Catholics and Protestants

The world is divided between Catholics and Protestants

VERBATIM:  The Pew Research Center has been mapping the two belief systems and it concludes that Catholicism is strongest in Latin America while Africa is largely Protestant.  Europe is divided about evenly with more Catholics in the East and more Protestants in the West.  Asian nations tend to skew more Catholic while the Protestants are the majority in the U.S. and Canada.  Overall, more people are quitting the Catholic Church and joining Protestant ones.  MH REPORTING

What music is playing on your local Christian radio station?

What music is playing on your local Christian radio station?

VERBATIM:  The Pew Research Center has been asking and it reports that Contemporary Christian is the genre favored by the vast majority of America’s religious broadcasters.  Worship music and Gospel tunes will also be heard.  And like their secular counterparts, most Christian radio stations spend most of their air time playing the most popular artists and songs.  The Pew study indicates that 87% of the songs heard are by the top 10% of popular artists.  MH REPORTING

A new poll reinforces the Bible

A new poll reinforces the Bible

A new study of who supports abortion

A new study of who supports abortion

Persecution of Christians is on the rise in Southeast Asia as Islam spreads

Persecution of Christians is on the rise in Southeast Asia as Islam spreads

VERBATIM:   A new report from International Christian Concern finds that “The persecution of Christians in the region is complex, damaging, and deep-rooted.  It includes direct, violent, and deadly attacks and incidents.  But it also involves immense, complex, and indirect pressure, discrimination, threats, intimidation, problematic laws, and social isolation.”  There are about 250 million Muslims across Southeast Asia and very few Christians.  MH REPORTING