Leonardo Blair

Aid group asks for continued prayer for 17 kidnapped missionaries

The Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries urged continued prayers for their 17 missionaries being held captive by the 400 Mawozo gang in Haiti as families of 26 Americans being held hostage around the world recently pressed the Biden administration to push more aggressively to free their loved ones.
'No credible religious argument' against Covid-19 vaccine, says Robert Jeffress

Pastor Robert Jeffress, leader of the 12,000-member First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, says there "there is no credible religious argument against" Covid-19 vaccines as an increasing number of Americans seek religious exemptions to vaccination mandates.
More college-educated women having babies out of wedlock - study

Facing diminishing returns from their education and overall economic insecurity, women with college degrees are now six times more likely to give birth to their first child out of wedlock than their counterparts just 25 years ago, a new study from Johns Hopkins University shows.
In 2020, white churchgoers favoured Trump, religious 'nones' Biden - study

A majority of white Americans, particularly evangelicals who attend worship services regularly, voted for former President Donald Trump in 2020, while President Joe Biden was the overwhelming favorite among religiously unaffiliated voters, especially among those who identify as atheists and agnostics.
Americans increasingly open to evolution

With increased exposure to college-level education and declining levels of religious belief, a majority of Americans now believe in evolution after nearly two decades of being nearly evenly split on the issue, according to a new study.
Churches will one day be able to host virtual reality services on Facebook, says COO Sheryl Sandberg

Calling faith communities the "best of Facebook," the social media giant's Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg said she's looking forward to the day when churches and other religious groups begin hosting services in virtual reality on the platform as many flocked to the service amid the pandemic to stay connected.
Many black churchgoers favour hybrid approach to church

The Trends in the Black Church study also found that black church pastors were able to innovate during the pandemic.
Jerry Falwell Jr wants Liberty University to drop $40m lawsuit

Disgraced former president and chancellor of Liberty University, Jerry Falwell Jr., wants leaders of the evangelical institution founded by his father to stop apparently trying to ruin his reputation and publicly shame him after resigning in the wake of an explosive sex scandal last summer.
In 2019, more Protestant churches closed in the US than opened

With fewer than 50% of Americans holding formal memberships in churches in 80 years, more Protestant churches are closing than opening nationwide, and further decline appears "inevitable," new data show.
Christian behind massage parlor mass shooting had 'sexual addiction' - police

Christian mass shooter Robert Aaron Long, 21, told police he was addicted to pornography and was trying to eliminate "temptation" when he shot up three massage parlors in the Atlanta area, killing eight people who were mostly Asian women.
John MacArthur says he wouldn't fight for religious freedom

While studies show most Americans support religious freedom as a core component of American cultural values, Pastor John MacArthur of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, said he doesn't support it because it allows idolatry.
Civil rights activist and pastor becomes Georgia's first black senator

Longtime civil rights activist the Rev Raphael Warnock was elected as Georgia's first black senator, defeating Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler in a closely contested runoff contest.