The world witnessed fleeting glimpses of the horror wrought on the Lebanese people on Aug. 4 through videos that circulated widely online, among them that dramatic footage as Rabih Thoumy celebrated Mass via livestream from Saint Maron-Baouchrieh church. He recounts the explosion and aftermath.
A parable in Judges 9 about picking poor political leaders, as seen in photos from political protests in Lebanon following a deadly explosion in Beirut that killed more than 150 people.
The first professional musical staged in the United States since theater shut down is also a de facto public health experiment. Read full piece
Clint Smith of The Atlantic reflects on a Juneteenth visit to the birthplace of Frederick Douglass helped him understand our current moment of rage, reckoning, and possibility. Read full piece
Jerry Falwell Jr. is taking an “indefinite leave of absence” from his role as president of Liberty University. The move comes Friday (Aug. 7) following a request from the executive committee of Liberty University’s board of trustees, according to a statement from the Baptist university
After a massive explosion in the Lebanese capital of Beirut Tuesday (Aug. 4), Baptists in that Middle Eastern nation immediately asked for prayers — and then started ministering to their neighbors before the dust from the blast even settled.
Evangelical leaders describe the damage after the Aug. 4 explosion in Beirut, how Christians are helping, and the need for a hope beyond politics. Includes several quotes from Baptists in Lebanon, and a cite to Word&Way reporting. Read full piece
When it comes to coping with the stress and uncertainty of a pandemic, most Americans are turning not to God, but to TV. That’s just one of the findings of a Pew Research Center survey released Friday (Aug. 7).
BJC has put together a one-page guide for churches and nonprofits during election season, listing permissible activities like assisting with voter registration, offering candidate forums, and talking about a variety of issues from a theological perspective, rather than candidate or political party-driven perspective. Read full piece
Wendell Griffen, a Baptist pastor and circuit court judge in Arkansas, reflects on the fact that the U.S. has now lost 150,000 people — almost three times the number of people we lost during the Vietnam War – due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read full piece