A deaf Pennsylvania couple is helping to lead a ministry for the deaf community and encouraging churches to understand the needs of those hard of hearing in their communities. Pittsburgh residents Megan and Matt Chopek, who both became deaf before age 5 and are now in their 30s, have served in the Deaf Life Gatherings at Redemption Hill Church in Jefferson Hills since October 2018.
Nicaraguan authorities have detained two senior Catholic priests, escalating tensions between the state and the Catholic Church. The priests, identified as Carlos Aviles and Hector Treminio, are closely associated with the country’s top Catholic leader. Their arrest brings the total number of clergymen detained last week to at least six, Reuters reported Saturday.
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes announced that more than 51,000 decisions for Christ were made at the youth organization’s various gatherings in fiscal year 2023. The prominent Christian student group said in a news release that 51,730 faith decisions were made at its various events held from September 2022 to August 2023.
The Methodist Church in Great Britain released an "Inclusive Language Guide" this month advising Methodists to avoid using gendered terms such as "husband" and "wife" because such allegedly assumes what is not "the reality for many people."
The World Council of Churches' recent visit to Cuba, led by General Secretary Rev. Prof. Jerry Pillay, has drawn the ire of religious freedom advocates. Critics say the visit, which included a meeting with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, overlooked the Cuban government's violations of religious freedom.
In Tampa, a Christian ministry and fashion boutique called Loft 181 are addressing the dire need for clothing among hundreds of foster girls. Loft 181 accepts clothes, shoes, accessories and other personal items from various donors and area residents and donates the items to 13- to 18-year-old girls in foster care.
Four months after the attacks on dozens of churches and Christians' homes by Muslim mobs in Pakistan, the Christian minority fervently and enthusiastically celebrated Christmas. Across the country, churches and streets were adorned with festive lights and trees, reflecting their resilient spirit.
Several Muslim suspects have been arrested in France, Germany and Austria for allegedly planning Christmas terror attacks, according to reports, which say there’s a “very high level of terrorist threat” from Islamic terrorists in France. Spain is also on alert.
A Christian rights group is calling for the release of a church elder who was forcibly detained by police officers in front of his 6-year-old daughter at his home in Anhui province, central China, on what it says are trumped-up charges of "fraud."
Christian colleges' support for abortion and Planned Parenthood increased by 10% since 2021, and one in 10 have maintained some relationship with America's largest abortion provider, according to a study released by a national pro-life group.
A Sudanese family that faced severe persecution for their Christian faith has been given refuge and will celebrate their first Christmas in the safety of the United States. Nada and Hamouda, a married couple, along with their children, escaped a dire situation in the Arab Muslim country of Sudan, where they were criminally prosecuted and threatened with death for converting to Christianity.
Bombarded by food insecurity, poor sleep habits, fast food and too much screen time, more American children between the ages of 2 and 4 are being diagnosed with severe obesity, which "is strongly associated with high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, prediabetes, and early mortality," a new study finds.
