Thursday's Catch: 'The Best Ways to Encourage a Discouraged Church' And More

The Best Ways to Encourage a Discouraged Church (Your Next Three Steps)
n this episode, Josh and Sam explore what happens when a church becomes discouraged and how God restores hope in a congregation that feels stuck, tired, or overwhelmed. Discouragement drains energy, distorts reality, and slowly turns a church inward. Encouragement is both spiritual and strategic. It starts with leaders who refuse to catastrophize and instead cast vision. Pessimists predict failure. Realists describe what is. But optimistic, faith-filled leaders show what could be.

Also See: Ten Practical Ways to Encourage a Discouraged Church

Burge’s Vanishing Church shows high costs of politicized churches
Ryan Burge, perhaps our top “quantitative scholar of American religion,” makes numbers speak, and in his latest book they tell the sad story of how politics trumped creed in evangelical churches, leaving “no place for moderates,” many of whom departed.

What Causes Some to Stay With Their Faith While Others Leave?
The churches that help their youngest attendees recognize the lifelong relevance of their faith will keep the next generation.

12 Theses on Church Buildings
I would have added to this list that the function of a building should determine its form and not the other way around.

What Is Arminianism? The History, Beliefs & Myths
Arminianism is controversial. Some devout and scholarly Protestant Christians firmly oppose it. Many have misunderstood it and even misrepresented it.

A Defense of Percy Dearmer and his ‘British Museum Religion’
It has become something of a sport, almost since his death in 1936, to accuse Percy Dearmer of fostering “British Museum religion.”

A Liturgical Theology of Preaching—What Is a Sermon?
This is the first essay is a special series by the Rev. Dr. Nathan Jennings, Professor of Liturgics at Seminary of the Southwest. There will be eight installments in this series presented in intervals through the winter of 2026. A “round up” with links to all eight essays will be available in the spring.

How to Derail a Bible Study
We’re vulnerable to being led astray by statements in other sources that have a Christian ring to them but lack a solid biblical foundation.

Preteen Ministry Tips for High-Impact Outreach
Preteen ministry tips help you understand these kids and serve them most effectively. Use these insights to reach tweens and preteens at your church.

Thursday Evening at All Hallows (January 29, 2026) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

This evening’s service is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Rosa Ann McGarr Crass who entered the nearer presence of God on January 18, 2026. Rosa was a longtime member of St. Mark’s Anglican Church in Benton, Kentucky and more recently a member of Christ Chapel (Anglican) in Fairdealing, Kentucky. She was a kind and generous soul who loved flowers and church music.

This evening’ message is a distillation of what J. C. Ryle, the first Bishop of Liverpool wrote about John 14:1-3 in his Expository Thoughts on John, an exposition on John’s Gospel, Like many of Bishop Ryle’s works it was written to be read aloud to a Sunday school class or other gathering.

Reading: John 14: 1-11

Message: In My Father’s House

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/01/thursday-evening-at-all-hallows-january_29.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-It is recommended that after reading or hearing a lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows the lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

May Thursday Evenings at All Hallows be a blessing to you

Wednesday's Catch: ' Small Church Leadership: Serving as Both Watchman and Shepherd' And More

Small Church Leadership: Serving as Both Watchman and Shepherd
Small church leadership requires discernment to determine when and for how long a pastor should lead from the tower or the field.

Pew Research challenges claims of revival in the UK
Recent headlines suggesting a revival of Christianity among young adults in the UK may overstate the picture, according to a new analysis by the Pew Research Center, which says the evidence depends heavily on how surveys are conducted.

Sarah Mullally officially confirmed as Archbishop of Canterbury
Dame Sarah Mullally has been officially confirmed as the Archbishop of Canterbury in a special ceremony held at St Paul’s Cathedral.

Also See: Sarah Mullally confirmed as 106th archbishop of Canterbury

Lone Anglican church in Moscow suspends worship services
The only official Anglican congregation in Moscow, Russia, has suspended worship services amid a reported internal dispute over who controls the church.

US Catholic bishops make urgent pleas to rein in ICE after recent deaths
‘We ask — for the love of God and the love of human beings, which can’t be separated — vote against renewing funding for such a lawless organization,’ Cardinal Joseph Tobin said.

Now some Republicans are weary of Trump’s immigration plan
Even some Republicans are growing weary of President Donald Trump’s harsh campaign against immigrants, and Catholics are among those losing faith in the president, according to new polling from Navigator Research.

Church Leaders Show ‘Revolutionary Love’ After Minn. Shooting
Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe and at least five bishops across the Episcopal Church released statements after a second deadly shooting occurred in Minnesota on January 24, killing Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse. In a bystander video, Pretti was seen in a confrontation with federal immigration officers before being pinned to the ground and shot in the back.

Also See: Episcopal priests share experiences protesting as immigration raids continue in Minnesota; Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe: Support emergency migration ministry

What Gen Z Deconstruction Is Teaching the Church Right Now
Deconstruction is often framed as rebellion. In many cases, it is something closer to grief. A generation is trying to reconcile inherited faith with lived experience, and the church is being invited into a moment of honest reckoning.

Preach for Action, Not Just Information
To expound a text requires a double task: exposition and exhortation.

Pope Leo XIV warns against unchecked use of AI, overly ‘affectionate’ chatbots
Pope Leo XIV has joined a growing list of influential voices warning against the unchecked use of artificial intelligence, as studies indicate rising global concern about the risks it poses to humanity, including privacy, jobs and security.

ChatGPT can embrace authoritarian ideas after just one prompt, researchers say 

Artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT can quickly absorb and reflect authoritarian ideas, according to a new report.

Neighborhood Ministry 101: Listening First, Serving Second, Speaking Clearly
If your church wants to serve its community well, the order matters. Listen first. Serve second. Speak clearly.

Tuesday's Catch: 'Quiet Quitting Church: When the Numbers Reveal Everything and Explain Nothing' And More

Quiet Quitting Church: When the Numbers Reveal Everything and Explain Nothing 

Ryan Burge calls it 'trying to put smoke in a box' — mapping religious decline when people can't explain their own choices and churches won't die on schedule.

Study finds ‘Quiet Revival’ report has boosted evangelicals’ confidence in sharing faith 

A new survey suggests that UK evangelicals are feeling more confident about speaking openly about their Christian faith, with the greatest impact seen among younger adults and black British Christians.

Winter storm prompts cancellations, online services as it brings precipitation to over half the country
A winter storm that spread snow, freezing rain and sleet across the United States from New Mexico to Maine prompted the cancellation of Sunday services, events and annual meetings for Episcopal churches in its path.

GSFA Primates Reaffirm Anglican Communion Ties
The primates of the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA) reaffirmed their commitment to the Anglican Communion and worked on a strategic plan to become “an increasingly effective instrument for the reform of the Communion.” They met in Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles, on January 14-17.

Pastor in Mexico jailed, expelled for refusing to participate in Catholic ritual
Officials in a village in southern Mexico’s Oaxaca state detained for five days and then expelled a Protestant pastor for refusing to participate in Catholic church rituals, according to a U.K-based advocacy group.

Freshers' fair organisers back down after blocking church stall
A company that organises the freshers’ fair at Goldsmiths University has backed down from its decision to ban a church from the event, following an intervention by The Christian Institute.

Foreign aid cuts leave Gen Alpha increasingly exposed to leprosy, Christian aid charity warns
Children in some of the world’s poorest communities are facing a growing risk of leprosy, as reductions in overseas aid undermine efforts to detect and treat the disease, according to The Leprosy Mission Great Britain.

Varieties of Gifts: Applying Strategic Thinking in the Parish
Too often parishes try to decide what to do before they have discerned who they are becoming. The strategy must come first.

The 5 Myths of Church Building (and Why They Cost Churches Millions) - Part 1
Thom and Jess are joined by Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group, who are “The Church Facility Experts.” In this two-part series, we discuss the five myths of church building and why they cost churches millions.

Also See: The 5 Myths of Church Building (and Why They Cost Churches Millions) - Part 2

When ‘Equipping’ Isn’t Enough
“Equipping the saints” is vital for a church’s multiplication efforts. As we train future planters, pastors and missionaries to go from our churches—and frankly, as we train small group leaders, Sunday school teachers, deacons and every other role in our churches—we must transition our equipping efforts from being merely formative to being transformative.

The Art of Clear Teaching and Preaching
Murray Capill suggests nine things to work on if you want to be clear in your Bible teaching and preaching (whether that is a sermon, a Bible talk, a devotion, a lesson for kids, or any other ministry of the word).

J. C. Ryle was the first Bishop of Liverpool and a leading nineteenth century Evangelical in the Church of England.

How to Coach New Worship Leaders: A Repeatable Path from ‘Helper’ to ‘Leader’
If you want to train a worship leader, the process usually starts long before anyone hands them a microphone. It begins when a faithful helper shows up early, stays late, and quietly learns how ministry really works. Most churches don’t lack talent. They lack a clear pathway that turns willingness into leadership.

Making Sense of Praying With Faith
Few means of grace are so well known and yet so misunderstood as the “prayer of faith” or the act of “praying by faith.”

Why Volunteer Recruitment Requires Repetition
Volunteer recruitment is one of those tasks where repetition is key.

Following Jesus in the Age of Influencers
How can Christians leverage the power of digital tools to serve the purposes of God, not conform to the patterns of social media influencers?

Monday's Catch: 'Episcopal leaders call for action after latest federal killing of Minnesota resident' And More

Episcopal leaders call for action after latest federal killing of Minnesota resident
Episcopal leaders are amplifying widespread calls for the Trump administration to de-escalate its deployment of federal immigration authorities to American cities and for Congress to block new Homeland Security spending after those authorities on Jan. 24 killed a second U.S. citizen in three weeks in Minnesota.

Amateur video of the latest killing shows 37-year-old Alex Pretti using his cellphone camera to record federal agents patrolling a Minneapolis street. Those agents can be seen roughing up residents at the side of the street and attacking them and Pretti with pepper spray, then tackling Pretti to the ground and, seconds later, opening fire on him.

Also See: From Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe: Death and despair do not have the last word

Kristi Noem is a liar
Kristi Noem is a liar, but so is everyone else who keeps propping up the Liar in Chief.

I have written extensively for years about the corrosive effects of Donald Trump’s lies and how they are infecting entire populations of people and now the world order. And I have warned there are deadly consequences to these lies.

I am not alone. Many others — journalists and politicians and pastors — have issued similar warnings that have gone unheeded.

Murdoch paper tears into ICE Barbie and Miller after nurse killing
The Rupert Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal blasted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller for trying to paint a Veterans Affairs nurse killed by ICE agents as a “domestic terrorist.”

The administration’s massive deployment of ICE agents to Minnesota has become “a moral and political debacle” for President Donald Trump after a second U.S. citizen, 37-year-old Alex Pretti, was shot and killed while trying to help a woman who had been pepper-sprayed by federal agents, the Journal’s editorial board wrote.

Trump’s favorite newspaper tears into his handling of nurse shooting
A typically sympathetic Murdoch‑owned outlet, the New York Post, broke from its usual stance to sharply criticize the Trump administration’s handling of the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis.

The day after the public execution of Alex Pretti
This is the world we’re living in now: The government puts out propaganda and attempts to destroy evidence to maintain its lies.

Alex Pretti tributes: colleagues, friends call death "cold-blooded murder"
Friends and colleagues have paid tribute to Alex Jeffrey Pretti after the 37-year-old was shot dead by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis.

Pretti, an ICU nurse and U.S. citizen, was shot and killed while attending a protest event on Saturday, January 24. His death has intensified tensions as ICE and other law enforcement agents carry out President Donald Trump‘s deportation operations in Minnesota. Now friends, colleagues and organizations associated with Pretti have taken to social media to pay tribute while also criticizing the Trump administration.

Maine Episcopalians respond to surge in immigration enforcement operations in the state
Episcopalians in the Portland-based Diocese of Maine joined thousands of faith leaders and pro-immigration advocates at rallies in Portland and Lewiston over the weekend to protest the recent surge in federal immigration authorities in the New England state.

Human warehouses should spark ‘fires of injustice’
U.S. society will be “consumed” by the “fires of injustice” if Americans remain silent about federal plans to hold huge numbers of immigrants in warehouses across the country, Rabbi Kimberly Herzog Cohen said during a clergy press conference in Dallas last Friday.

The Clergy League for Emergency Action and Response in Dallas-Fort Worth, or CLEARDFW, and Faith Commons held the livestreamed briefing Jan. 23 to decry the Trump administration’s increasingly violent immigration enforcement tactics and to generate opposition to its plans to store 9,500 human beings in a 1 million-square-foot warehouse located south of Dallas in Hutchins, Texas.

Be Willing to Learn from Gen-Z
Leslie Schumucker explains why 18,000 Gen Zers caused her to rethink her attitude toward them.

What Can Women’s Ministry Do to Address Young Adults Leaving the Church?
Both the young women who leave and those who stay voice similar needs that should anchor your women’s ministry activities.

Female Pastors: 7 Men You Should Watch Out For
Women in pastoral ministry navigate a complex landscape. They face questions about their authority, assumptions about their availability, and sometimes encounter men who confuse pastoral warmth with personal invitation. The challenges don’t always mirror what male pastors experience. They’re often different, sometimes more subtle, and occasionally more dangerous precisely because they’re unexpected.

Right Gear, Right Time
Buying tech gear for your church can be overwhelming, and with the new year upon us, you might have some hard decisions to make if you’re on a tight budget. Take heart, because any pastor worth their salt has been where you are.

The Biggest Tech Mistakes Churches Make with Volunteers
Helping someone run sound, slides, or livestreams can feel like trying to teach someone to swim by tossing them in the deep end. Church technology has amazing potential to strengthen community and extend your reach, but only when the people who serve are equipped, valued, and supported. If your volunteer experience mostly consists of crossed cables, confused faces, and quiet exits after service, you’re probably making some predictable missteps with your church tech volunteers. Let’s walk through the biggest ones and practical ways to fix them.

Ten Nonnegotiable Rules for Student Safety in Churches
Student ministry is often where rules about minors break down in the church. Student ministries don’t need fewer rules than children’s ministries. They need different rules. Though rebellion seems to be a rite of passage for many teenagers, they are far more receptive to guidance than you might think. Young people need leaders to shoot straight with them. About life. With biblical depth. We don’t need to wade in the shallows and soft peddle the Christian faith. Instead, we must shepherd our youth through the depths of Scripture and the valleys of life. Be clear and honest with them.

One sure way to confuse the younger generation is to set expectations and then not hold anyone accountable. A lack of transparency from adults is frustrating to teenagers. The younger generation tends to follow leaders who are transparent rather than distant or detached. And they want to know they’re not alone in their struggles. Consider the following best practices for building better student safety systems in our churches.

Could stained glass still have a role in modern-day mission?
When the Bible Society’s Quiet Revival report was published last year, the headlines rightly focussed on the numbers of young people being drawn to church.

But, within the report’s pages was another, perhaps surprising, finding. It was that one of the top three places for people with no religion, or non-practising Christians to encounter the Bible was while sightseeing in a cathedral or church.

This underlines the importance of churches making available good printed material and displays explaining the Christian gospel.

Yet it also may show the importance of a form of Christian communication that many modern-day evangelists may have ignored. The enduring appeal of stained glass.

Evangelism for Introverts: A Relational Approach That Doesn’t Feel Fake
If the phrase evangelism for introverts makes your stomach tighten, you are in good company. Many faithful believers love Jesus deeply but freeze at the idea of cold conversations, scripted pitches, or awkward door-to-door encounters. They want to share their faith, but they do not want to become someone they are not.

The good news is that the Bible never requires extroversion. It calls for faithfulness, love, and honest witness. Evangelism does not have to feel loud to be effective. It can be quiet, relational, and deeply authentic.

Sundays at All Hallows (January 25, 2026) Is Now Online

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

This Sunday is the Third Sunday after the Epiphany. Here in western Kentucky, it is snowing and it is expected to keep snowing throughout the night. Churches in the region have cancelled their Sunday services due to the severe weather. An extreme cold warning has been posted for Monday.

The topic of this Sunday’s message is Peter, the Galilean fisherman whom Jesus called to be an apostle and made a fisher of people.

Readings: Isaiah 9:1-4; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; and Matthew 4:12-25

Message: Pursued by God’s Love

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/01/sundays-at-all-hallows-january-25-2026.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Sundays at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-It is recommended that after reading or hearing each lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows each lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

May Sundays at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Saturday Lagniappe: 'ICE raids turn life into a daily terror for Minneapolis schoolkids" And More

ICE raids turn life into a daily terror for Minneapolis schoolkids: 'This is a generational trauma'
In south Minneapolis, a special education student logged on for their online class from the basement. They were hiding because immigration agents were banging at the door.

A second grader started having a panic attack in the middle of art class because agents had arrested his dad. His teacher had to ask a colleague to watch the other students, bring him outside, and hold him for half an hour to help calm him.

Also See: ICE detains four Minnesota children including five-year-old, school officials say; Minneapolis residents shelter immigrant children separated from parents and sought by federal agents

Are we OK with children going missing?
A child was taken. Taken from routine. Taken from familiarity. Taken from the quiet assumptions that adults would keep him safe.

Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, moved across state lines, shipped to Texas and placed into a system that does not know his favorite color, his bedtime ritual or the sound of his parents’ voice when he is afraid.

This is not an unfortunate side effect. It is the cost of a system we have learned to tolerate. And here is the question Christians on both sides of the aisle must stop dodging: Are we OK with children going missing?

Inside the effort to organize clergy nationwide to resist ICE
Hundreds of clergy from around the country gathered in Minneapolis to learn from Minnesota faith leaders how to protest against ICE enforcement. Then they took to the streets and helped block the city's airport.

Also See: On the ground in Minneapolis: It’s an occupation; Hundreds of clergy descend on Minneapolis and go on lookout for ICE

One year after she urged Trump to have mercy, Bishop Budde leads clergy protests in Minneapolis
'I don't think a year ago we could have fathomed how quickly and how dramatically this country would change,' Budde told RNS in Minneapolis.

Also See: Episcopal clergy travel to Minneapolis to march in ‘ICE Out of Minnesota’ day of action

'Human rights emergency' a year into Trump's term, Amnesty warns
The human rights organization's report listed 12 'alarm bells' of the administration’s practices a year since Donald Trump began his second term.

Also See: ICE officers rounding up legally resettled refugees in Minnesota; Border czar Tom Homan says US citizens can be detained on ‘reasonable suspicion’

MN sociologist: Careful who you blame for ICE tensions
Republicans who back the operation have said it's community members who are making things dangerous. However, Minneapolis-based sociologist Nicole Bedera said research shows the opposite.

"And the reality is that things like 'ICE Watch' and mutual aid are de-escalation tactics – that they are ways of reducing violence," she said, "and that even though they do come with some risk, those risks are minimal in comparison to the risk of doing nothing."

Calls to defund ICE go unheeded in House vote
A coalition of civil and human rights organizations is demanding members of Congress oppose legislation that would boost the scope and cruelty of President Donald Trump’s immigration detention and deportation programs.

Nevertheless, that funding passed the House of Representatives Jan. 22 as seven Democrats joined Republicans to support the measure opposed by all other Democrats.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and his top leaders joined rank-and-file Democrats in voting no on the DHS funding bill, saying it lacked guardrails and accountability for ICE.

Why evangelical Christians need to start talking about immigration reform
Evangelicals are not anti-immigration; they are anti-chaos and anti-disorder.

Friday's Catch: 'Setting—and Reaching—God-Honoring Goals' And More

Setting—and Reaching—God-Honoring Goals (Part One)
Research shows something surprising: Most people don’t struggle with accomplishing goals; they struggle with setting them in the first place.

Also See: Setting—and Reaching—God-Honoring Goals (Part Two)

‘Crazy Lorenzo’ joins other fictional Methodists
A new novel, “The Deliverance of Barker McRae,” is set in the world of circuit preaching in the early 19th century. The author of the book is Stacia Pelletier, a graduate of United Methodist-related Candler School of Theology at Emory University. The fictional character Lorenzo McRae is based on real-life evangelist Lorenzo Dow, who was rejected by the Methodist church for ordination because of his appearance and speaking.

Also See: Lorenzo Dow’s ‘crazy’ life

Review: The Lectionary of 1662
Isaac Rehberg reviews The Lectionary of 1662, a eucharistic lectionary designed to introduce the historic one-year lectionary to congregations who are accustomed to the modern three-year lectionary and to provide Psalms and Old Testament lessons to those who already use the historic one-year lectionary.

Finally! Seminary Training for Co-vocational Church Leaders: An Interview with Andy Miller 

Thom and Jess interview Dr. Andy Miller, the president of Wesley Biblical Seminary, about seminary training for co-vocational church leaders.

Also See: From Near Closure to Incredible Growth: The Story of Wesley Biblical Seminary – An Interview with Andy Miller

From Performance to Pastoral: Lead Worship Like You Actually Shepherd People
The deeper calling of anyone who wants to lead worship is not to produce a flawless set. It is to guide real people toward real engagement with God. That shift from performance to pastoral leadership changes everything about how you prepare, how you lead, and how you measure success.

Also See: Leading Worship Is Worship

We Don’t Sing for Fun
Singing is serious business! It is as serious as preaching and prayer and communion.

How we plan the songs for our Sunday morning worship services
This video shows the process of how we select the songs and plan the worship sets for our Sunday morning church services. In fact, through a few time-lapse videos, you get to see the actual process from start to finish. We start by listing a bunch of potential songs to use over the next few weeks, then using a dry erase board we begin selecting songs and trying to create a flow for each service.

Also See: How to introduce new worship songs to your church congregation; 5 tips to find new worship songs for your church services; and How often should I reuse songs in my worship sets

How to Lead a Small Group When No One Does the Reading
Ever opened a small group to expect a lively conversation about the week’s passage only to be met with blank stares and shaky “umms”? You’re not alone. Facilitating rich dialogue when no one has done the reading feels like trying to start a campfire with wet wood—but it’s possible. These small group discussion tips will help you shepherd the conversation forward without shaming anyone, building trust and engagement even when people come unprepared.

Winter Retreat Planning Tips for Youth Ministry
This article provides practical insights to help you plan, promote, and pull off a winter retreat that changes lives.

From a San Antonio Sidewalk, a Congregation Blooms
Every Saturday morning near a sidewalk in San Antonio’s historic Monte Vista district, scores of people gather for an 8:30 a.m. Eucharist celebrated by clergy from Christ Episcopal Church. On average, 60 to 70 people receive Communion. The Rev. Justin Lindstrom, the church’s associate rector for community formation, has helped lead the outreach event called Sidewalk Saturday for over seven years.

Thursday' Catch: "Ryan Burge on ‘The Vanishing Church’ and how polarization is reshaping American faith" Andd Mre

Ryan Burge on ‘The Vanishing Church’ and how polarization is reshaping American faith
Social scientist Ryan Burge discusses what polarization means for congregations, community life and the American civic landscape.

Republican politics is killing the modern-day church: analysis
Over the years, traditional religious practice has declined in both the United States and globally, according to one political scientist.

Speaking to The New York Times' "Interesting Times" podcast, Ryan Burge, an ordained Christian minister who became a professor, analyzed data trends for his new book, "The Vanishing Church: How the Hollowing Out of Moderate Congregations Is Hurting Democracy, Faith, and Us."

Young adults driving renewed interest in Christianity, research finds
A new set of supplemental reports from the Evangelical Alliance suggests that young adults are emerging as a significant group among those coming to Christian faith in the UK, with authenticity, Scripture and community proving decisive factors in their journeys.

The findings form part of the wider Finding Jesus research project published last year, which surveyed 280 adults who became Christians within the past five years.

Middle East Christians warn rapid growth in faith is outpacing discipleship support
Christian leaders working across the Middle East say a surge in spiritual openness is leading thousands to explore faith in Jesus, but warn that a lack of local discipleship structures risks leaving many new believers unsupported.

Speaking to Church Mission Society (CMS), regional Christian leaders described unprecedented levels of spiritual searching, emerging from years of war, displacement, political instability and global upheaval.

It Takes Everyone
Recently Lifeway Research released the 2025 Rural Churches Today study that not only documents many helpful descriptions of rural ministry, but also raises good questions about ministry anywhere. This comprehensive survey of over 1,000 pastors serving rural areas and towns with populations under 10,000 was co-sponsored by the Rural Church Institute at the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center, the Rural Home Missionary Association, and the Center for Rural Ministry at Grove City College.

One of the important elements the survey uncovered is how these pastors feel about the work of ministry in the local church and who is doing it.

How to Deal with a Censorious Spirit
The title of this column is deliberately vague. By dealing with a censorious spirit, I mean both watching out for the temptation to adopt this posture toward others and knowing how to respond to people who adopt this posture toward us.

What psychologists have labeled the "negativity bias" or "negativity affect" may encourage us to adopt this posture toward others.

5 Ministry Game-Changers for Building a Team-Based Leadership Approach
Even the strongest pastor can’t do it alone. Moses had Aaron and Hur, Jesus sent disciples in pairs, and Paul never went solo. Yet too many churches still rely on a single leader. Kim Jenne gives us five practical ways to build a culture of shared, team-based ministry—and empower your congregation to step into their God-given calling.

What Kind of Sermon Did I Just Preach? The 5-Axis Audit
Why do we preach the kind of sermons we preach? Are we mere products of our environment, adopting whatever is trending?

Why Bible Reading Plans Fail (and What We Can Do About It)
How can we lead our churches to find success in following Bible reading plans that help them spend time in God’s Word in a meaningful way?

Preparing the Heart for Prayer
There is a wrong way to pray, and there is a right way to pray.

Give the Mic Away: The Team-Based Shift That Grows Faithful Youth
What is the key to a vibrant, growing youth ministry? Many churches assume it’s finding the right youth director and offering programming so entertaining it can compete with every other option in a teenager’s life. But Laura Heikes shares how youth ministry in her congregation has grown in a different way—not by doing more for young people, but by choosing to do ministry with them.

A Spiritual Warfare Reason that Evangelism is Hard
Evangelism is hard for most believers. Sometimes fear stops them from speaking the good news. Most believers have no strongly evangelistic role models. Many have never been trained in evangelism in the first place. Frankly, some Christians are also simply apathetic about the lost. In this post, though, I want to talk about another hindrance to evangelism we seldom consider: a supernatural enemy who fights against us.

Thursday Evening at All Hallows (January 22, 2026) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

In the United States truth is becoming a scarce commodity due to a variety of reasons. This makes what Jesus teaches on the matter more important than ever for Christians. The topic of this evening’s message is Jesus’ teaching about lying and deceitfulness.

Reading: Matthew 5: 33-37

Message: “Let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes and your ‘no’ be ‘no’.”

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/01/thursday-evening-at-all-hallows-january_22.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-It is recommended that after reading or hearing a lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows the lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

May Thursday Evenings at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Wednesday's Catch: 'Rethinking Church Growth' And More

Rethinking Church Growth
Why are ministry leaders rethinking church growth? And how can gospel-centered principles cultivate faithful, lasting growth in churches?

Want to Reach The Next Generation? The New Rules of Cultural Influence with Ruslan KD
YouTuber Ruslan KD sits down to explain that ambiguity from preachers on cultural issues is costing them more than they think. The next generation is looking to the church for what to think and how to think. In this episode, we do a deep dive into how the next generation is leveraging YouTube and social media to preach the Gospel.

How Big is the God Gap on College Campuses?
New data from over 68,000 college students reveals how faith still shapes political identity.

From Online Attender to Disciple: The Next Step Churches Keep Missing
Many churches are grateful for online engagement, but quietly frustrated by what comes next. You stream services, post clips, host online prayer, and still wonder why viewers are not becoming disciples. Digital discipleship is often discussed as a strategy problem, when it is really a formation problem.

The gap is not technology. The gap is intentional next steps. Churches have gotten good at gathering online attenders and far less clear about how those attenders are invited into a shaped, accountable life of following Jesus.

Minnesota Church Responds to Immigrants’ Fears 

On January 19, for the first time in almost 20 years, no immigrants of color attended the worship service at Messiah Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. “Not one of Messiah’s African nor Southeast Asian members was willing to risk coming in person,” said the Rev. David Langille, the parish’s rector.

The congregation averages 157 people on Sundays, and usually around 40 of these—sometimes more—are people of color.

Immigration officers assert sweeping power to enter homes without a judge's warrant, memo says
Federal immigration officers are asserting sweeping power to forcibly enter people’s homes without a judge’s warrant, according to an internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo obtained by The Associated Press, marking a sharp reversal of longstanding guidance meant to respect constitutional limits on government searches.

Leaked Trump admin doc shows DHS considers Americans the nation's main threat
America faces significant threats to our nation's infrastructure from hostile actors like Russia, China, and others. But a leaked security threats assessment from President Donald Trump's administration says the greatest threat America faces is within its own borders, according to a new report.

Faith leaders call for end to ICE aggression in communities  

The tactics of masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents hunting down people of color evokes memories of the oppression Black Americans have faced throughout U.S. history, said Boise Kimber, president of the National Baptist Convention USA.

Cities Church in Minnesota is considering legal options after anti-ICE protest
Southern Baptist leaders say the protest was a violation of religious freedom and called on federal officials to protect churches.

Let’s talk about how Cities Church treats women
While those who lean toward the left have a variety of takes on the protest, conservatives are playing the persecution card by casting the pastors of Cities Church as poor, faithful victims.

Survey: Catholicism continues sharp decline in Latin America
The survey found the religiously unaffiliated nearly doubled or saw even larger gains in every country.

Deacons included in new Episcopal, ELCA clergy exchange guidelines
Marking a quarter-century of full-communion partnership, The Episcopal Church and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) now welcome the exchange of deacons in updated clergy exchange guidelines.

Local historic landmarks aid emotional stability and wellbeing
A new report has suggested that churches and other local historic buildings can improve general wellbeing and provide people with emotional stability.

How to be an extraordinary Christian during Ordinary Time
During Ordinary Time, the church invites us to immerse ourselves in the Scriptures from both the Old and New Testaments.

Tuesday's Catch: 'Dave Ferguson: Unity of the Spirit' And More

Dave Ferguson: Unity of the Spirit
Division is real. We see it every day in our politics, in our group texts and on our social media feeds. And here’s what I’ve come to believe after decades of leading and observing the American church: Disunity is the greatest threat to the mission of Jesus in our generation.

We are also living in a moment of surprising spiritual awakening among young adults across the Western world. But if, in their search for truth and transcendence, they discover a divided church, they may never find the Jesus their hearts are longing for.

How to Handle Church Conflict Before It Goes Nuclear
Church conflict resolution rarely begins when voices are raised or emails get forwarded to everyone with an inbox. It usually starts weeks or months earlier with small frustrations, unspoken assumptions, and quiet resentment. By the time conflict explodes publicly, the real work has already been neglected.

Healthy churches are not conflict-free churches. They are churches that address tension early, clearly, and pastorally before it metastasizes into something destructive.

US Catholic cardinals urge Trump administration to embrace a moral compass in foreign policy
'Our country’s moral role in confronting evil around the world, sustaining the right to life and human dignity, and supporting religious liberty are all under examination,' they warned.

‘Morally acceptable’ for US troops to disobey orders, archbishop says
The Catholic archbishop for the U.S. military services said it “would be morally acceptable to disobey” orders if troops considered them against their conscience as the Trump administration intervenes in Venezuela, readies troops for a possible deployment to Minnesota and threatens to seize Greenland.

ICE broke into Minnesota home, forced barely clothed man outside into snow
A Minnesota man told Reuters on Monday he felt fear, shame and desperation a day after ICE officers broke down his door with guns drawn, handcuffed him and forced him outside into the snow wearing shorts and Crocs.

ChongLy Thao, 56, a naturalized U.S. citizen who goes by the name Scott, was returned home later on Sunday without explanation or apology, he said.

Also See: Girl, 6, found wandering the streets alone in tears after dad seized by ICE; Second man dies at Texas ICE detention facility in two weeks

Black church leaders aid Minneapolis, seek laws curtailing federal agents' mask usage
Minneapolis-area AME Church officials stated Renee Good’s death 'never should have happened' and listed more than a dozen ways they have tried to meet community needs there.

Memphis churches demand justice for Afghan refugees
A coalition of churches in Memphis, Tenn., has joined the chorus of voices demanding justice for lawfully resettled Afghan refugees targeted for detention and deportation by federal immigration authorities.

Episcopalians ‘protest faithfully’ against authoritarian abuses, bearing Christian witness
This month, after ICE’s killing of a 37-year-old Minnesota woman led to escalating clashes between protesters and federal immigration authorities, The Episcopal Church encouraged Episcopalians to review its “Protesting Faithfully” toolkit.

Also See: New Hampshire bishop warns clergy to prepare for 'new era of martyrdom'

ACNA College of Bishops calls for Provincial Assembly
The College of Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) concluded its semiannual meeting yesterday, January 16, 2026 where it unanimously reaffirmed its confidence in the interim leadership of Bishop Dobbs, advanced discussions for improved vetting of bishops in episcopal and archepiscopal elections, and took steps to fast-track the enactment of proposed new disciplinary reforms in June 2026. The gathering convened more than 50 bishops from across North America for five days of prayer, discernment, and ecclesiastical action to advance mission and address key issues facing the College and the wider Church.

Alleged victim of CofE clergy abuse claims Sarah Mullaly ‘misled public’
The incoming Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, has been accused of misleading the public over the status of a clergy abuse case. A complainant, known as Survivor N, has said the denominational leader's claim that the case had been “fully dealt with” is contradicted by ongoing proceedings.

Church Rights in an Age of Protest: What Pastors Need To Know
What are church rights under the laws? Following the disruption of worship at a Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) church in St. Paul, Minnesota, yesterday (Jan. 18), experts are advising pastors and lay leaders about the legal rights of churches. With protesters claiming the right to free speech, churches should understand their own protections under federal and state law.

The group' disruption of the worship service of Cities Church was ill-advised as it plays into the hands of Trump administration which characterizes lawful protests of how ICE conduct its operations as the work of left wing agitators and the like.

Do Americans Trust the Bible? (And What This Means for the Church)
Although many don’t wholeheartedly trust the Bible, the average American may be more open to Scripture than you would assume.

When You Do Not Know How to Pray
The psalms of lament and the intercession of Jesus show that God's grace is working for you even when you do not know how to pray.

Great Youth Pastor: 6 Ways to Improve
Eager to become a great youth pastor or church leader? All youth pastors want to be good at their job. In fact, we all want to excel at what we do. This applies to all occupations, both inside and outside the church.

Now, I don’t claim to be a perfect youth pastor. Way more people out there are better at the role than I am. I make mistakes…lots of them. But I’m working on six things to become better at what I do.

The School Choice Debate
Just because you send your kids to a Christian school does not guarantee they will serve Jesus, and just because you send your kids to a public school does not guarantee they will rebel against him.

Autism Outreach: Becoming a Special Needs Missionary
Interested in autism outreach? Want to serve people with special needs? Then read this guest post by Kelly Sapp, director of the Champions Special Needs Ministry for Capital Christian Center in Sacramento, California. As one of the most progressive inclusion ministries in the United States, the Champions ministry succeeds by including children and students with autism.

Providence & Provocation: On the Jehovah’s Witnesses
My old friend Jeff Boldt recently wrote an article here on Covenant about a surprising encounter with a Jehovah’s Witness in Egypt. I agree entirely with his critique of Witnesses’ heretical doctrine, and yet I’d like to complicate the story a little. To be clear, my allegiance is with Jeff and the orthodox Christian tradition that both he and I endeavor to uphold. I aim not to offer a rebuttal of my theologically astute friend, but a companion reflection that proposes what I will call a teleodicy of Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs) and their persistence.

Also See: A Jehovah’s Witness in Egypt

Monday's Catch: 'More Protestant churches closed than opened in the US in 2024, new analysis finds' And More

More Protestant churches closed than opened in the US in 2024, new analysis finds
The Lifeway research findings are an unpleasant reminder that church closures in the United States are outpacing new church launchings.

Also See: More Protestant churches closing than opening in America as older congregations struggle: study

Church in Germany plants seeds of hope
Germany Regional Conference Bishop Werner Philipp has launched an initiative titled “Hope on the Way,” which is rooted in the everyday life of local congregations across Germany. Philipp will visit congregations in all three conference regions of The United Methodist Church in Germany each month for the next several years. At every stop, an apple tree will be planted — a sign of faithfulness, patience and God’s hidden work. On the second Sunday of Advent, the first stop of the tour took place in the Kiel/Flensburg district.

The FAQs: What Should Churches Do When Protest Enters the Sanctuary?
...when protesters block entrances, enter the building without permission, use amplified sound to drown out worship, threaten or intimidate congregants, or refuse to leave when asked, they’ve crossed the line from protected speech into unlawful conduct.

Court prophets and the crisis of the prophetic
We are living in a moment of widespread moral confusion, and yet we have no shortage of people claiming to speak with moral and even prophetic authority.

Everyone seems certain. Everyone seems outraged. Everyone seems convinced God is on their side — the right and the left. The word “prophetic” is everywhere in our public discourse, but genuine prophetic vision is increasingly rare.

A Translation Guide for What Church Committees and Boards Really Mean
With a smile (and a little truth), here is a short translation guide for phrases many of us have heard more times than we can count.

Americans’ Trust in Pastors Hits Historic Low
Trust in pastors continues to decline, with only 27% of Americans rating clergy’s honesty and ethics highly, according to Gallup.

Isolation is a reality for pastors despite strong marriages, new research finds
Pastors may be surrounded by people every week, but many are navigating their calling with limited personal support, according to new research highlighting a growing gap between ministry life and supportive friendship.

A recent study by Barna Group titled, ‘The Relationships of Today’s Pastors,’ suggests that while most pastors report healthy marriages and a strong sense of vocation, many struggle with loneliness and a lack of trusted relationships outside their churches.

Listening When You’re New in Town
Luke Edwards highlights a community-driven approach to leadership that centers spiritual discernment—listening to God, the congregation, and the surrounding community—to discover how the Spirit is already at work and inviting shared direction for ministry.

Should Pastors Use AI to Write Sermons?
AI is advancing faster than anyone expected—and pastors are facing a huge question: Is Artificial Intelligence a threat to biblical preaching, or a tool that can actually make you a better communicator? Should pastors use AI to write sermons?

In this video, I explore the real implications of AI for preachers: the ethics, the opportunities, the spiritual dangers, and the surprising ways AI is already shaping how people learn and engage with Scripture.

What does faithful, thoughtful preaching look like in an AI-driven world?

Sermon Prep in the Age of AI and How to Stay Faithful and Honest
The question is no longer whether AI will be used, but how pastors can use it faithfully and honestly.

How to Preach When You Don’t Want To
The pastor’s life and work are public, so how do you preach when you don’t want to? Here are four things to do when you’re in this situation.

Choosing Songs with Theological Confidence (Without Starting a War)
Picking worship songs isn’t just about what feels good in the moment or what’s trending on CCLI with the biggest streaming numbers. It’s about worship setlist theology — the way song lyrics and themes shape how your people understand God, Scripture, and Christian life. Songs become theological teachers with rhythm and melody, whether we like it or not. That means choosing them with confidence matters, and doing so without turning your planning meetings into battlegrounds is an art worth cultivating.

Why Does the Lord’s Supper Matter?
Baptism marks the Christian life’s beginning, but walking with Christ is about more than just one moment. It is about knowing Christ’s ongoing presence with us in grace to help us in all that we encounter in life. The Lord’s Supper is the meal that Christ has given His people to show us that we have His care throughout our journey with Him. We have this meal because Jesus nourishes us. What sort of nourishment does this special meal provide?

Why We Can Confidently Persevere in Prayer
Only in eternity will you see how the petitions you lift to him today were answered a hundred years after you lived and died.

Social Media Outreach for Churches: A Simple Weekly Content Plan
Church social media outreach can feel overwhelming. Between sermons, meetings, pastoral care, and staff life, carving out time for consistent posts feels like another job. But a simple weekly content plan can transform your social presence from sporadic to steady. When done with intention, your church’s social media can become a regular way of speaking hope and grace into your community’s week.

Sundays at All Hallows (January 18, 2026) Is Now Online

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

This Sunday is the Second Sunday after the Epiphany. The topic of this Sunday’s message is the practicing Christian’s partnership with Christ.

Readings: Isaiah 49: 1-7; 1 Corinthians 1: 1-9; and John 1: 29-42

Message: Partners with Christ

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/01/sundays-at-all-hallows-january-18-2026.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Sundays at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-It is recommended that after reading or hearing each lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows each lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

May Sundays at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Saturday Lagniappe: 'Creating Digital Communities' And More

Creating Digital Communities
Growing a large online audience doesn’t always create a healthy community. Brandon Robbins outlines a framework for discipleship that helps people see where they are on their journey, take the next steps, and support one another in following Jesus.

'Quiet revival' continues as Winchester sees Christmas surge
Evidence continues to mount that the “quiet revival” is both a real phenomenon and is continuing.

At Easter last year churches up and down the land reported a rise in interest and attendance, beyond the purely seasonal. This continued at Christmas, with the Church of England also saying that they were registering a record number of services.

Youth café growth reflects increasing church engagement across Suffolk
A Thursday evening youth café in Ipswich is offering a snapshot of a wider story unfolding across Suffolk, as churches report encouraging growth in attendance, community engagement and outreach - particularly among children and young people.

At St Augustine’s Church in Ipswich, a simple weekly café has become a lively hub for teenagers from across the area.

For many unhoused people, New Jersey church’s warming center is both shelter and community
When temperatures drop below freezing in Monmouth County, New Jersey, the local sheriff’s office issues a “Code Blue” alert to activate warming centers and other emergency resources for unhoused people.

Trinity Church in Asbury Park, a seaside city on the Jersey Shore, is always prepared for “Code Blue” nights. The Episcopal church runs the county’s largest drop-in overnight warming center for adults, which over the years has become a community of its own.

Judge restricts federal response to Minnesota protests amid outrage over immigration agents’ tactics
Immigration agents carrying out a sweeping operation in Minnesota can’t deploy certain crowd-control measures against peaceful protesters or arrest them, a federal judge ruled Friday. The order follows widespread outrage over a fatal shooting, reports of US citizens getting detained and Minnesotans getting asked for documents for no clear reason.

Justice Dept. enters new territory with probe of Minnesota officials
President Donald Trump’s Justice Department crossed a new threshold with its criminal investigation of top Democratic elected officials in Minnesota, targeting vocal critics during a moment of crisis in which protesters and federal agents are clashing on icy city streets.

Countering federal violence with neighborly love
United Methodists across the U.S. joined in prayer vigils and protests in the days since federal immigration enforcement agents killed a woman in Minneapolis and shot two people in Portland, Oregon. Minneapolis joins cities across the U.S. that have seen an onslaught of masked, federal agents wearing military-style gear. Some pastors used Sunday worship to comfort the grieving and counsel love in response to violence and hostility.

JD Vance’s “Christian Concept” Immigration Defense: One Year of Escalating Controversy
When Vice President JD Vance called prioritizing Americans over immigrants “a very Christian concept,” he sparked a theological firestorm. One year later, after the Pope rebuked him, a woman was killed by ICE, and 19,000+ Christians signed a petition against him—the debate has never been more intense.

The US — and its churches — can’t look away from MLK’s warnings about power any longer
The celebration of King often comes at the cost of his most radical critiques.

The Burge Report: The Democrats Have a Religion Problem (Does It Matter?)
In this episode, we look at Ryan Burge’s latest analysis showing how the modern Democratic coalition is being pulled apart by widening religious divides. While Republicans continue to draw support from a largely Christian voter base, Democrats now include two groups with opposite religious profiles: highly secular white voters and deeply religious voters of color. This creates major messaging and policy tensions within the party, tensions that didn’t exist at the same scale in earlier decades.

‘He Will Be Called a Nazarene’: Matthew’s Messianic Clue
Matthew’s infancy narrative ends with a passage that has baffled biblical scholars: “And [Joseph] went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene” (Matt. 2:22–23).

The problem is that the Old Testament never says the Messiah would be called a “Nazarene.” In fact, Nazareth isn’t mentioned in the Old Testament, and it’s believed that the town didn’t even exist when the Old Testament was written.

Youth Group Spiritual Habits for Teens Shape Faith for Life
Youth group spiritual habits for teens take effort. As you know, youth workers do far more than plan weekly gatherings. They help teenagers learn how to walk with God in everyday life. One of the most powerful ways to do this? Teach spiritual habits (or spiritual disciplines) that students can practice long after graduation.

Spiritual disciplines or habits aren’t about perfection or performance. The simple, repeatable practices help young people stay connected to God, grow in faith, and act wisely. When teens learn these habits early, the spiritual roots sustain them through stress, doubt, change, and temptation.

Help Students Build a Bible Habit They Won’t Abandon by February
By encouraging regular Scripture and devotion habits, you give teens tools they’ll carry through college, careers, relationships, and faith challenges.

Friday's Catch: 'Because I Could Not Stop for Death' And More

Because I Could Not Stop for Death
The writer of Ecclesiastes tells us there is “a time for every purpose under the heaven,” which includes “a time to be born, and a time to die… a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (Eccl. 3:1-2,4 ESV). While the inescapable reality of death loomed heavily over the imaginations of older civilizations throughout history, modern western man has sought to insulate and distract himself from this tragic truth through various forms of busyness and entertainment. The overall effect of this trend in modern society has been to minimize modern man’s exposure to, and contemplation of, the inevitable end of his life, which has in turn robbed the church of a powerful, natural apologetic for the faith. This trend has manifested even within the life of the modern church, which has in practice seemed to affirm there is no time to die as the streamlining of religious funerals becomes normalized.

Mourning in Minnesota
America is witnessing more than an immigration enforcement surge — we are witnessing an escalation of unchecked federal force that is deadly.

Civil rights leaders issue warning, call for Noem’s impeachment
Federal attacks against refugees and undocumented immigrants represent an imminent threat to the constitutional rights of all Americans, UnidosUS President Janet Murguia said.

“The government overreach and abuse of power we have seen from the Trump administration is unlawful, unacceptable and un-American, and we would note that the overreach and abuse of power are harming not only our communities but also our country as a whole,” Murguia said during a Jan. 15 virtual press briefing with leaders of numerous civil rights and advocacy organizations.

Also See: ‘This is a five-alarm fire’

Two Episcopal bishops say clergy may have to put 'bodies on the line' to resist ICE
‘I’ve asked (clergy) to get their affairs in order, to make sure they have their wills written,’ said the Rt. Rev. A. Robert Hirschfeld, the Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire.

Also See: N.H. Bishop: Prepare for Martyrdom; Thousands join Episcopal Church vigil to lament violent immigration enforcement actions, unite in pursuing justice; and Some Episcopal clergy invoke faith to counter ‘fascism’ after ICE killing of citizen in Minnesota

Trump Administration Restores Funding to Planned Parenthood, Troubling Pro-Life Advocates
Pro-life advocates are reacting to the news that the Trump administration has restored tens of millions of dollars in Title X grants to Planned Parenthood and other grantees. The administration had suspended the funds last spring but restored them in December, reported Politico.

Church of England ends Living in Love and Faith process
The Church of England's House of Bishops has announced it is bringing the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process to a close.

LLF was launched by the Church of England in 2017 to explore questions of human identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage through study, listening and discernment. Ultimately it wanted to consider whether the Church should bless same-sex relationships and marriages, and permit clergy to be in same-sex unions.

Also See: Bishops Bid Farewell to Living in Love and Faith

9 Things Church Law & Tax is Watching in 2026
Church Law & Tax will track these issues—and many more—throughout 2026. You can sign up for the free weekly e-newsletter to keep up.

When Should a Church Hire an Executive Pastor?
As churches grow, leaders often reach a tipping point where the senior pastor can no longer carry the full weight of vision, preaching, pastoral care, administration, staff oversight, and organizational leadership. That’s when the question arises: Is it time to hire an Executive Pastor? In this episode, Josh and Sam unpack what an Executive Pastor actually does, why this role has become more common across church sizes, and how to know whether your church is ready for one.

12 Trust Killers Pastors Miss Until It’s Too Late
Trust rarely disappears overnight. It erodes quietly, one small disappointment at a time. That’s why pastors who genuinely want to build trust as a pastor are often shocked when confidence suddenly seems gone. They didn’t intend harm. They simply overlooked habits and decisions that slowly weakened credibility.

Pastoral trust is fragile because it’s personal. People entrust you with their faith, their families, and their wounds. When trust cracks, it’s usually not because of one dramatic failure, but because of patterns that went unaddressed for too long.

A Worship Rehearsal Plan That Respects People’s Time: A Simple System That Works
If you’ve ever stood in front of a group of worship volunteers watching the clock tick louder than your drummer’s metronome, you know the pain of bad rehearsals. That’s exactly why having a solid worship rehearsal plan isn’t optional for a healthy ministry. You don’t want distracted musicians checking their watches or volunteers who feel like you just stole two hours of their week. People’s time matters. Your rehearsal should honor that while still preparing the team spiritually and musically.

College Minister, Consider Why Students Come to You for Counsel
Campus ministers are frequently the first responders to students in crisis. When Christian students come to us with their private struggles, how will we respond?

Clean Your Bookshelves and Your Soul
On the first day of January, I was a bit late getting to my morning prayer. Thinking I needed to hurry, God once again reminded me that he could not be rushed. It took me a while to slow my mind. Reading through the Old Testament currently has me in the Psalms and that helped slow me to a reflective tone.

Digital Evangelism That Works: Moving from Posts to Real Conversations
Digital evangelism isn’t just about visibility. It’s about vulnerability, listening, and walking with someone from curiosity to conviction. If all we offer online is polished content, we miss the messy, beautiful work of forming real relationships.