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Authorities of the self-declared Luhansk People's Republic, an unrecognized entity in eastern Ukraine, have regularly halted worship meetings by a range of religious communities, seized religious literature and fined religious leaders.

CHICAGO (RNS) — The lead pastor and entire elder board of Willow Creek Community Church have announced they will resign to give the church a “fresh start” following new allegations of sexual harassment against founder and former pastor Bill Hybels.

The first half of August is a difficult time for many Japanese people, especially for those middle-aged or above. The great suffering caused by Japan’s warring activities from 1931 to 1945, in what the Japanese refer to as the Fifteen- Year War, has since the end of that war motivated many Japanese people to be strong advocates of world peace.

OKLAHOMA CITY (RNS) — Christy Watson, communications director for the Oklahoma State School Boards Association, said she has noticed a definite uptick in engagement between houses of worship and public schools throughout Oklahoma. Since much of the activity occurs at the grassroots level, though, it’s difficult to quantify, Watson said.

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (BP) -- In an Illinois town proud of its Route 66 heritage, thousands gather every year to celebrate what John Steinbeck called "the Mother Road." For more than 20 years, Edwardsville's annual Route 66 festival at City Park has offered visitors fun, food, and classic cars.

What was missing, realized church planter Rayden Hollis, was a gospel opportunity.

OGALLALA, Neb. (BP) -- A grieving father's Scripture-laden plea for mercy led to a lenient 180-day jail sentence for the truck driver who killed a missionary family of five in an auto accident last year.

NASHVILLE (BP) -- Teens who report high-frequency digital media use are twice as likely to develop attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association reports. Christian mental health practitioners say excessive screen time can damage the soul as well.

(RNS) — Fewer adults are attending religious services in the United States, but not necessarily because they don’t believe.

Many cite practical or personal reasons for skipping weekly services, according to new Pew Research Center data released Wednesday (Aug. 1).

Parishioners place significant trust in their pastors when it comes to addressing poverty, according to a Barna Group report released on July 31.

REDDING, Calif. (BP) -- California Southern Baptist Disaster Relief chaplaincy teams have begun providing spiritual and emotional counseling to survivors of Northern California's Carr fire, which started on July 23 and rapidly grew over the weekend to consume more than 98,000 acres.