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        <title>Christian Today | Culture</title>
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            <title>Christian Today | Culture</title>
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                <title><![CDATA[Christian bookshop named 'champion' by industry association]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/christian-bookshop-named-champion-by-industry-association</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/christian-bookshop-named-champion-by-industry-association</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Green Pastures]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Booksellers Association) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Green Pastures Christian Bookshop ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 08:41:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Green Pastures is believed to be the only Christian bookshop in Norfolk and Suffolk.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A Christian bookshop in Dereham has been declared one of 20 “Bookshop Champions” by the Booksellers Association as part of this year’s Independent Bookshop Week.
Green Pastures is believed to be the only specialist Christian bookseller in Norfolk and Suffolk. The shop also has the distinction of winning last year’s national “Best Christian Bookshop” award.
The Booksellers Association said that an open submission process among its members had taken place to select its 20 champions. The champions are intended to showcase the breadth and depth of independent bookshops and the “shared values and strengths that underpin the sector”.
This year’s Independent Bookshop Week is due to take place from 13-20 June and will be the 20th anniversary of the celebration. To mark the event a poem will be composed by author Matt Goodfellow.
Helen Cockburn of Green Pastures said, "Our bookshop in Dereham is a place of joy for our community. It has become rather like a bookish living room for some of our customers. People drop in and relax. A welcome smile awaits with the offer of a free coffee/tea and a friendly chat. We want people to come in, browse books, and even listen to a story at our listening station in a comfy corner of the shop.
“Please support us during Indie Bookshop Week. We want more people to enjoy reading good books, so give us a shout of encouragement on our socials and drop in. It makes all the difference. "
Emma Bradshaw, Head of Marketing and Communications at the Booksellers Association, commented, “We’re honoured to announce Green Pastures as one of our Bookshop Champions, following an open submission process across our membership. The quality of entries made the selection incredibly challenging, and the final selection beautifully reflects the variety, creativity and value independent bookshop bring to readers of all ages.
“We cannot wait to see the fantastic work they do be an integral part of our celebrations.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Brandon Lake and Nick Jonas team up for faith-based single]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/brandon-lake-and-nick-jonas-team-up-for-faith-based-single</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/brandon-lake-and-nick-jonas-team-up-for-faith-based-single</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Leah MarieAnn Klett]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Brandon Lake and Nick Jonas]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Instagram/Brandon Lake) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Brandon Lake and Nick Jonas ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 08:08:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Contemporary Christian artist Brandon Lake and pop singer Nick Jonas have released a two-song collaboration, featuring the new single “The Author” and a remix of “Hope.”]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Contemporary Christian artist Brandon Lake and pop singer Nick Jonas have released a two-song collaboration, featuring the new single “The Author” and a remix of “Hope.”
The project, released May 1 after weeks of online teasers, includes Lake’s ballad “The Author” alongside a reworked version of “Hope,” a track that originally appeared on Jonas’ solo album “Sunday Best.”
“Picked up the Book for the first time in ages/ Still washed me clean with the dust on the pages/ My life is a story I struggle to write/ But is it one worth telling? Is it one You like?” Lake sings in the opening verse, before moving into the chorus.
“So who am I? Who am I?/ Am I just a poor preacher’s prodigal son?/ Troubled child, running wild/ Chasing the glory instead of the One/ Who says that I, even I, have something still left to oﬀer?/ So who am I?/ Who am I to question the pen in the hands of the Author?”
Jonas joins on the second verse, singing, “Like every good story, you learn from the loss/ And I lost the plot every time I played God/ I live in a moment You already wrote/ It’s proof that I’m someone, yeah, someone You love,” before joining Lake on the refrain.
According to a release announcing the collaboration, the song was written during a writing camp hosted by Lake, a five-time Grammy winner, in late 2025 and is credited to Lake, featuring Jonas.
Lake’s recent mainstream visibility has grown following his collaboration with Jelly Roll on “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” which helped expand his reach into arena tours and secular festivals. The track earned a Grammy Award for best contemporary Christian music performance/song, along with song of the year honors at the K-LOVE Fan Awards and the Dove Awards.
The collaboration also arrives shortly after Lake’s April 3 release, “The Jesus I Know Now,” with Lainey Wilson.
Jonas, a member of the Jonas Brothers, has previously spoken about his faith journey and the challenges his family faced when his father lost his position as a pastor after the group signed with Columbia Records in 2005. The group, which recently performed with Switchfoot, initially started out as a Christian band.
“Our dad was at that church for 10 years. It was a real safety net for us and a place where we felt a part of a community,” Jonas said during an appearance on the “Jay Shetty Podcast.”
He added, “Some of the families that were there prior to our arrival did not like my dad and made it their mission to get him pushed out of the church. So effectively, he lost his job while also funding this dream of ours.”
“We had to move out of our home because we were living in the church parsonage, which is owned by the church,” Jonas said. “We moved into basically a little house in a place called Little Falls, New Jersey. The owners of the home were kind enough to let us rent it from them for basically nothing while we were in this transitional period.”
Jonas said the transition, combined with early career pressures, led him to wrestle with his faith.
“It all kind of collided at the same time, and you look up and life just looked very different,” he said.
“It took a lot of faith, and even questioning faith at that time,” Jonas said, “going from the safety net of the church to all of a sudden being sort of betrayed by them and having to redefine your relationship with God while going through some of your toughest moments.”
“Throughout those years following our exit from the church, I really questioned faith and what relationship I would have to organized religion at all,” he said, “which is something that I can say now knowing that my relationship with my God is totally intact and that my belief is totally intact.”
In addition to “The Author,” the pair reimagined “Hope,” an organ-driven pop-soul track in which Jonas reflects on his church upbringing and sings, “I need some hope/ Where’s the silver lining cutting through all the smoke?/ I need some hope/ I’m praying that the devil loosens up his hold, hold, hold/ I need some hope.”
Previously, Lake shared with The Christian Post how he hopes his music reaches both the Christian struggling with hurt and doubt, as well as non-Christians. Healing from church hurt is possible, he said, and God, through His people, can restore what has been broken.
“Your primary call isn't to ministry, it's to intimacy,” the worship leader said. “Let everything flow from that. Just focus on your relationship with God. Take one day at a time. Surrender daily. Don't worry about tomorrow. Focus on what He asks you to do today, and you'll end up where you're supposed to be.
“Everyone's going to be hurt by a Christian,” he added. “But it doesn't mean God hurt you. At some point, the church is going to let you down. But it doesn't mean God did. Church isn't perfect, because you're there and I'm there. So if you've ever had food poisoning, you don't stop eating food. You have to eat again at some point. So just keep moving forward. Find healthier and healthier people to surround you. Keep your arms up, keep your faith on fire, and be quick to forgive.”
© The Christian Post]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Newsboys launch legal action against MercyMe, concert promoters and media]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/newsboys-launch-legal-action-against-mercyme-concert-promoters-and-media</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/newsboys-launch-legal-action-against-mercyme-concert-promoters-and-media</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Katelyn Webb]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Newsboys]]></media:title>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 06:26:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The Christian band Newsboys and owner Wes Campbell have filed a federal lawsuit in Tennessee alleging defamation and antitrust violations against major figures in CCM, including MercyMe and frontman Bart Millard, claiming a coordinated effort to force them out of the concert market.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Christian band Newsboys and owner Wes Campbell have filed a federal lawsuit in Tennessee alleging defamation and antitrust violations against major figures in CCM, including MercyMe and frontman Bart Millard, claiming a coordinated effort to force them out of the concert market.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, accuses concert promoters, nonprofits, media outlets and artists of participating in what it describes as a wide-ranging scheme to damage the plaintiffs’ reputation, sever business relationships and eliminate them from the Christian touring ecosystem.
“In this case, Wes Campbell, and the four musicians comprising the Christian musical artists known as the ‘Newsboys,’ their families, and the ministries they have dedicated their lives to build, have been destroyed by the actions of the Defendants,” the lawsuit states. 
It alleges those actions included “the publication of defamatory articles fueled by competitors with anticompetitive motives” and were “part of a coordinated scheme involving anticompetitive misconduct, misappropriation of confidential information, contractual breaches, and the dissemination of statements known to be false.”
Among the defendants is LiveCo/TPR, which the lawsuit describes as a dominant force formed through the consolidation of Transparent Productions, Premier Productions and Rush Concerts. The complaint alleges the consolidation created a monopoly over Christian concert promotion, with involvement from Waterland Private Equity.
The lawsuit also names World Vision, alleging it secured exclusive or near-exclusive fundraising access at concerts promoted by LiveCo/TPR, limiting opportunities for other nonprofit partners tied to Campbell.
In addition, The Roys Report is accused of defamation over articles published in 2025 and this year related to an incident in 2014 in which a woman who toured with Newsboys alleged that a crew member raped her while former lead singer Michael Tait watched.
While many of the named defendants have not commented publicly, Julie Roys, the founder and publisher of The Roys Report, told Variety, “We have not been served with the complaint, but we are aware of it."
"As a matter of policy, we don’t comment on pending litigation," she added. "The Roys Report stands by its reporting and will address the allegations through the appropriate legal process.”
The complaint alleges those news reports omitted statements made to law enforcement that plaintiffs say contradicted later claims. What was initially characterized as a “consensual liaison” had “morphed into a story of rape” by The Roys Report amid what plaintiffs claim was a broader competitive battle.
“The ‘non-story’ of Nicole’s [a pseudonym given to the woman] consensual liaison in 2014 that had 11 years later morphed into a story of rape cannot be understood apart from the anticompetitive battle,” the complaint states, adding that the dispute centers on tensions between Campbell’s companies and Waterland Private Equity. “Solving the mystery starts and ends there,” the suit adds.
Several artists, including MercyMe and lead singer Bart Millard are also named. The lawsuit alleges they breached contracts with Campbell-affiliated entities and that those breaches were induced as part of the broader alleged scheme.
Beyond the allegations, the plaintiffs are seeking significant financial damages for lost income, reputational harm and disrupted business relationships. The lawsuit also asks the court to halt what it describes as anticompetitive practices, potentially opening the Christian concert market to greater competition and restoring access to tours, venues and partnerships the plaintiffs say were denied to them.
Additionally, the complaint seeks to clear the plaintiffs’ names by challenging what it describes as false or misleading reporting, while also requesting court intervention to prevent similar conduct in the future.
The filing comes during a tumultuous period for Newsboys, which has faced industry fallout tied to allegations against Tait, published last year by The Roys Report. Multiple men have accused Tait of sexual misconduct spanning decades, including allegations of drugging and assault, some dating back to the early 2000s and allegedly involving minors.
Tait has acknowledged engaging in “unwanted sensual” contact with men and admitted to long-term substance abuse, while disputing some details of the allegations.
In the wake of the controversy, Newsboys were dropped by their longtime record label and pulled from radio rotation, with new frontman Adam Agee telling audiences the band had been “canceled by promoters and venues all over the world.”
© The Christian Post]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Proclaiming Good News through musical theatre]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/proclaiming-good-news-through-musical-theatre</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/proclaiming-good-news-through-musical-theatre</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Gareth Hides]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[It Is Well With My Soul]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ A scene from "It Is Well With My Soul". ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 06:23:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[We serve a creative God - the One who spoke and  creation itself exploded into life! What an opportunity, then, to use creative ways to share the Good News of Jesus. ]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
This week, I took my nine-year old daughter to London to see Starlight Express, the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. It’s very colourful, with plenty of energy, spectacle, and of course, roller skates!! My daughter was captivated throughout. So was I! But what message was it trying to tell? What conclusion did it bring me to? 
Some musicals can have really positive messages to share. Others not so much. And in many cases, despite a shallow message, they can be powerful! There can be something very special about visiting a theatre or watching a live performance.  
Christians are a people of Good News! It’s the Good News of Jesus that informs our whole lives -  including the message we bring to others. And we serve a creative God - the One who spoke and  creation itself exploded into life! What an opportunity, then, to use creative ways to share the Good News of Jesus. 
I have the privilege of doing just this through the ministry of Handiwork, a small ministry my wife Sarah and I set up just over two years ago to use musical theatre as a vehicle for mission and evangelism. One of our hallmarks as a company is seeking to make our performances accessible to the deaf community through offering BSL interpreted performances. 
Next month, from 1-9 May, we will be touring churches and community spaces telling the story of the people behind the old hymn, “It is Well with My Soul”. With a professional cast of seven actors and two professional technicians, we will be bringing the message of hope in Christ to the West Midlands and the South East through Musical Theatre. We’re also currently taking bookings from churches in January 2027, who want to host a performance as a follow up to their Christmas outreach programmes.
We’re passionate about telling stories of faith in a way that connects with audiences. We don’t just want people to be ‘entertained’, but to be challenged to follow Christ. It’s for this reason that everyone who attends one of our performances is offered a copy of John’s gospel as they leave - an opportunity to consider the message of the musical further in their own time.  
We also recognise the way the musical encourages Christians in their faith. There is power in the stories of men and women who have gone before us and have served the Lord in the face of challenge and tragedy. Rather than shrinking back from the question “Where is God with so much suffering in the world?”, our production confronts this head on: in the aftermath of a Civil War, in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, in the sinking of the Ville du Havre and the tragic loss of the Spafford daughters, here is God in the midst and here are people in the trenches of life with real, battle-proof faith. 
When peace like a river attendeth my way  
When sorrows like sea billows roll  
Whatever my lot, Thou hadst taught me to say  
It is well, it is well with my soul  
It was Gospel music pioneer Larry Norman who said, “Why should the devil have all the good music?” And it’s true! May we, as Christians, look for creative ways to point people to Jesus, including through music and drama. We have the best message to share: the Water of life for a thirsty world! 
“It is Well with My Soul” Tour dates: 
Thursday 30 April, 6pm - St Saviour’s Church, Retford 
Friday 1 May, 7pm - Himley Road Methodist Church, Dudley
Saturday 2 May, 7pm - Badsey Remembrance Hall, Evesham (BSL interpreted)
Wednesday 6 May, 7pm - Ravenscourt Baptist Church, Hammersmith (BSL interpreted)
Thursday 7 May, 7pm - Romford Baptist Church 
Friday 8 May, 7pm - Offington Park Methodist Church, Worthing 
Saturday 9 May, 7pm - Pollards Hill Baptist Church, South London 
www.handiwork.org.uk 
www.itiswellmusical.com
Rev Gareth Hides is artistic director of Handiwork Productions. ]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Why Raye is right to choose a Bible app over Instagram]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/why-raye-is-right-to-choose-a-bible-app-over-instagram</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/why-raye-is-right-to-choose-a-bible-app-over-instagram</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Raye]]></media:title>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:15:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[In a world obsessed with being seen, heard and validated online, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Raye has made a refreshingly countercultural decision: stepping away from social media and leaning into Scripture instead.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
In a world obsessed with being seen, heard and validated online, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Raye has made a refreshingly countercultural decision: stepping away from social media and leaning into Scripture instead.
The Christian artist from South London recently revealed that she is taking a break from social media to protect both her faith and her mental wellbeing. Speaking to The Times, Raye shared that rather than endlessly scrolling through Instagram, she has been turning to a Bible app for answers.
She said: “I think since I’ve come offline it’s been much better. Ignorance is bliss. If someone said I look awful in a dress, it’d make me sad. If I don’t know someone said I look awful in a dress… So, I’m really (big) on being offline.” 
She also explained that after years of working “as hard as I can,” she is now prioritising balance and pulling back from the unending pressure to keep producing, live under public examination, and remain constantly visible online.
And honestly? She is right.
The dark side of social media
Social media can be a wonderful tool, but it can also become a relentless vacuum - one that quietly drains peace, clarity and confidence. Every scroll exposes us to countless voices telling us who we should be, what we should look like, what success should resemble, and how our lives should measure up.
Podcasts. Reels. Viral opinions. Perfectly curated images. It is an endless stream of comparison.
One day you are celebrated; the next day you are ignored. One mistake can spark public outcry and be made to seem unforgivable or irredeemable in the eyes of the online world. Trends change overnight, and the world expects you to change with them. Validation becomes addictive, and relevance can feel like survival.
But where is the truth in all of that? Where is the peace? Where is the stability?
Too often, social media leaves people with more questions than answers. It can stir anxiety, insecurity, restlessness, fear and even despair. It feeds the flesh while starving the soul.
Anchored in Truth, not trends
That is why turning to the Word of God instead is so powerful. The Bible does not shift with culture. God’s truth does not bend with trends or popular opinion. Scripture is constant, eternal and life-giving (Isaiah 40:8; Psalm 119:89; Hebrews 4:12).
The Bible tells us truths our souls desperately need. We are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). We are chosen, holy and dearly loved (Colossians 3:12). We are saved by grace, not by performance or human approval (Ephesians 2:8-9). We are not defined by outward appearance, but by the condition of our hearts before God (1 Samuel 16:7). As believers, we are called to be set apart, resisting the sinful patterns and empty pursuits of this world, and living lives that reflect God’s holiness (Romans 12:2). We are not meant to follow the status quo or be swept along by culture, but to walk by faith in the God who does the impossible (2 Corinthians 5:7). 
Scripture also reminds us that we are never alone because the Holy Spirit is our Helper, Comforter and guide (John 14:26). And even when we fall short, make mistakes or stray, God remains rich in mercy and abundant in forgiveness, ready to redeem and restore all who turn to Him in repentance (Psalm 103:8-12). Our hope is not rooted in this temporary world, but in the eternal Kingdom of God (Philippians 3:20). And in every hardship, disappointment or season of suffering, we can rest in the truth that God is still sovereign, still good and still working all things together for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28).
Most importantly, in Scripture we find Jesus Christ - the Word made flesh - who reveals the depth of God’s love and the true meaning of our lives (John 1:14; Colossians 1:15-16). Through His death and resurrection, we are reconciled to God, fully known and fully loved (2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Romans 8:38-39). We no longer have to strive for the approval of the world because, in Christ, we already have acceptance, purpose and eternal hope (Ephesians 1:5-6; Jeremiah 29:11; 1 Peter 1:3).
Final thoughts
That does not mean social media is inherently evil. It can be used for encouragement, creativity, ministry and connection. But when it becomes an idol - when likes become our measure of worth and algorithms become louder than God’s voice - it may be time to log off and reset.
RAYE’s decision reflects something many people are beginning to realise: peace is often found in disconnecting from the noise and reconnecting with God. As Jesus tells Martha, only one thing is necessary - time with Him, listening to His words (Luke 10:38–42). 
So, dear reader, perhaps the real question is this: who are you turning to for answers - creation or the Creator? Who shapes your identity and purpose - followers or your Father?
Maybe we could all learn something from Raye and choose the Bible app over Instagram a little more often.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[The backstory to St George and his flag]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/the-backstory-to-st-george-and-his-flag</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/the-backstory-to-st-george-and-his-flag</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Neil Rees]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[England, St Georges Day, English flag, English, church]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 02:14:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[23 April marks St George’s Day, which often passes unnoticed. But who was St George and why is he England's patron saint? This is the story … ]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
23 April marks St George’s Day, which often passes unnoticed. But who was St George and why is he England's patron saint? This is the story … 
Who was St George?
St George might be the patron saint of England, but St George himself was not English. Tradition places his origins in Cappadocia in what became the Byzantine Empire, and which today is in modern-day Turkey. He was not Turkish, because the Turks had not settled that region then. His first language was likely Greek and he served as a Roman soldier and later became a Christian.  
Martyred for his ‘atheism’
At the time George lived, the Romans regarded Christians as atheists, which at that time referred to people who did not believe in the Roman gods. To the Romans, Christians were atheists who did not believe in any of the gods, but stubbornly only believed in one God. In 303 AD, Emperor Diocletian issued an edict demanding that Christians sacrifice to pagan gods or face punishment. George openly professed his faith, gave his possessions to the poor, and tore up the edict in front of the emperor. George was executed on 23 April, 303 AD, for defiance in the face of persecution and for his monotheism. It might sound odd today but he was technically martyred for his ‘atheism’, because he refused to believe in the Roman gods, which to him were just fairy tales.
George and the Dragon
The English word “dragon” came into English from the Old French dragon, which in turn came from the Latin draco, which in turn came from the Greek δράκων (drákōn), originally denoting any large creature, with a literal sense of something with a deadly glance, from the verb ‘dérkomai’ meaning to see clearly.  The images of dragons evolved in the imaginations of mediaeval illustrators who had not travelled and had no zoos, and they became fire breathing creatures, but originally were often just crocodiles. It might be that the story has its roots in George saving a village by killing a crocodile. 
The famous story of St George killing the dragon is thought by most to be legendary, but it carries symbolic weight. The dragon has often been interpreted allegorically as a representation of evil, chaos, or oppression. In Christian imagination, this aligns with the biblical depiction of Satan as the great dragon (Revelation 12:9). George’s courage, then, is not merely physical but spiritual: a steadfast resistance to evil and a defence of the vulnerable. The call to “overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21) is not limited to dramatic acts of heroism. It extends to the daily work of cultivating communities marked by kindness, justice, and humility.
Christian saint
As such George is highly respected across the Middle East and in Ethiopia. The idea of St George resonated with early Christian beliefs. St Paul wrote, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile … for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). From its earliest days, Christianity has dismantled the dividing walls of hostility (Ephesians 2:14), forming a new community not based on nationality, but on allegiance to Christ. As such he was revered as a saint. Some people associate the red cross of St George with images of crusaders, but that is quite unfair, since St George actually lived some centuries before the birth of Muhammad and the start of Islam. Pilgrimage sites dedicated to St George are visited by many nationalities, and by both Christians and Muslims. Some Muslims revere Saint George and call him Al-Khidr.
George as Patron Saint
St George was not adopted as patron saint of England until mediaeval times. In this position his adoption actually ousted two previous patron saints who were English. Before St George, St Edmund the Martyr, king of the East Angles from 855 until his death in 869, and St Edward the Confessor (1003–1066), were considered as national saints. King Edward III preferred the story of St George, the Middle East saint over the former two English ones. In that sense, the patron saint of England is, by modern definitions, an Orthodox Christian from the Middle East who has been embraced and adopted as part of English culture.
The Flag
The idea of the red cross was the cross of Jesus dipped in blood. The cross represents the execution of Jesus in the holy land and his blood shed for all people. A similar idea in reverse with a white cross on a red background forms the basis of the Danish and Swiss flags.
St George’s flag, while sometimes seen flying alone, is more often seen as an integral part of the flag of the United Kingdom, often called the Union Flag or the Union Jack. The Union Flag includes three crosses on it: the red cross of St George for England, the saltire of St Andrew for Scotland and the cross of St Patrick for Ireland. 
If you see the Union Flag as England, Scotland, and Ireland, it represents the different nations of the UK. If you see the flag as heraldic symbols of saints, it represents St George and St Andrew who were both from the Middle East but have been adopted by the English and the Scots, and St Patrick who was British but was adopted by the Irish. 
If you see the Union Flag as three Christian crosses it represents the cross of St Andrew who was Jewish and an apostle of Jesus, who today we might call a Messianic Jew; the cross of St George who was a Gentile and a convert to Christianity in the Middle East, who today we might call Eastern Orthodox; and the cross of St Patrick who was British and went to Ireland, representing what we might call the Celtic Church. Whichever way you look at it, this flag is itself a symbol of a multi-ethnic land and Christian diversity.
Summary
England adopted St George, a Middle Eastern Byzantine Christian, who had never been to England, as its saint, over homegrown English alternatives. Both the flag of St George and the Union Flag thus speak as powerful symbols of tolerance, multi-ethnic diversity, and Christian faith. St George’s flag demonstrates how England is a nation that welcomes people from other cultures by its Christian values. 
Collect
The Anglican collect prayer for St George’s Day is, “God of hosts, who so kindled the flame of love in the heart of your servant George that he bore witness to the risen Lord by his life and by his death: give us the same faith and power of love that we who rejoice in his triumphs may come to share with him the fullness of the resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Charlie Puth shares more about his church background and its influence on his music]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/charlie-puth-shares-more-about-his-church-background-and-its-influence-on-his-music</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/charlie-puth-shares-more-about-his-church-background-and-its-influence-on-his-music</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Leah MarieAnn Klett]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Charlie Puth]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Charlie Puth (R) during an appearance on "The TERRELL Show". ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:46:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Puth said he appreciates "all things church".]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Charlie Puth recently reflected on his appreciation for the Church and its impact on his Grammy-winning music during an appearance on "The Terrell Show," where he surprised viewers by singing Richard Smallwood’s gospel staple “The Center of My Joy.”
During the interview, the 34-year-old singer sang a portion of the 1980 song, which includes the lyrics “Jesus, You're the center of my joy/ All that's good and perfect comes from You/ You're the heart of my contentment.”
“Pause. How do you know that song?” a surprised Terrell asked Puth, who in response, walked through its chord progressions and shared his appreciation of gospel and church-inspired sounds.
“Because I appreciate all things church,” Puth said. “We gotta get the ’90s. Like that chord, I first heard that chord on this record Talking Book by Stevie Wonder.”
“I was always fascinated with that chord, and I always wondered where it came from,” he said. “It’s kind of a jazz-ish kind of thing without going too deep into it.”
After continuing with the chorus, Puth noted that when it comes to music, listeners’ emotional responses come from a deeper place.
“It does something to me,” he said. “I think that visceral reaction that you had just now when I did … it’s all present in the chords. And then when you add lyrics on top of it, it’s like cherry on top.”
When Terrell commented, “There’s a language in chords, it makes you feel all kinds of emotions,” Puth agreed, adding that for him, the music itself drives that connection.
“I grew up in Roman Catholic Church, which is a bit different,” he said. “Which is fine. It’s great in its own right, but I was always wondering, there has to be another level.”
Puth, a New Jersey native, previously shared with "Armchair Expert host Dax Shepherd" how his parents discovered his musical talent after he shocked his church congregation by playing an entire mass from memory. 
“I think my parents knew I was artsy and musical when I went to Catholic school, which meant I went to Catholic Church,” the “One Call Away” singer said in the podcast interview. “That was the deal. I would hear the same music, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy Lord.’ I would hear the same music over and over every Sunday, sometimes three times a week. 
"I remember one day, the church organist didn't show up. I looked at everybody and said, ‘Don't put the tape on. I've memorized it because I heard it so many times,’ and everyone looked at me like an alien … I was 11 or 12.”
“I played the whole mass from memory,” he continued. “It wasn't like a cocky thing. It's just like, I've heard enough times, I know how to do it. … My parents are like, ‘OK, we're going to go get your brain tested, see what's going on up there.’’
In a July interview with The Christian Post, gospel legend CeCe Winans reflected on how CCM and gospel music have the ability to reach beyond the walls of the church.
“There’s power in music when it’s negative and when it’s positive,” she said. “That’s why it’s so important when we sing the gospel. … It’s in those darkest moments that it matters most.”
“People being encouraged, people understanding that even though things didn’t turn out the way you thought they would, God loves you, and He’s in the midst of the fire with you. He’s in the midst of the flood with you,” she added.
Winans, who, with her brother, BeBe, were among the first gospel artists to experience crossover success, stressed that the genre's future must remain tethered to its spiritual roots even as it sees more mainstream success. 
“Our prayer, and I'm sure I can speak for BeBe, is the same as it’s always been,” the Grammy-winning singer said. “That gospel music will continue to spread and to reach those who are outside of the church, to bring them in. That’s the whole goal: to reach people for Christ, to reach them with the love of God, the peace of God.”
© The Christian Post]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Yet more voices point to religiously illiterate BBC]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/yet-more-voices-point-to-religiously-illiterate-bbc</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/yet-more-voices-point-to-religiously-illiterate-bbc</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Robert Parr]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[BBC]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:45:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Former BBC Radio 4 presenter Roger Bolton lamented the “relative illiteracy about religion" at the Beeb.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
BBC journalists are illiterate about religion, a former editor for the corporation has said.
Roger Bolton, who presented Radio 4’s “Feedback” programme for over two decades, was speaking to the Religion Media Centre, when he lamented the BBC’s “relative illiteracy about religion, both what it is and the way it’s practised”.
He added that there is “mismatch on the whole between the importance of religion to people throughout the country and the way it’s represented in the media, however well it’s done”.
The BBC, he argued, needs to make an effort to educate its staff on the reality and importance of religion.
Bolton is by no means the first person to publicly question the BBC’s ability to understand and report on religion.
Last month, also speaking to the Religion Media Centre, the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, said, “My concern is much more about the place of religion across the whole output of the BBC, rather than simply seeing it as religious broadcasting in that rather more narrow definition. So I note with sadness and some distress the sometimes appalling lack of religious literacy in so much of the BBC."
The decline in religious broadcasting has also been picked up by The Christian Institute, which said that between 2010 and 2022 the number of hours devoted to religion and ethics by public service broadcasters had nearly halved from 243 to 140.
Last year another former BBC man, Robin Aitken, said that many journalists at the corporation have a “woefully inadequate” understanding of religion. This stems in part from the liberal middle class background of much of the BBC and also leads to a “general feeling of disdain” for the Church of England and a “mild hostility to the idea of religion”.
The hostility to the historic religion of the country, Aitken argued, also leads to skewed editorial priorities. As an example he pointed to the acres of air time given to the persecution to the Rohingya Muslims, compared with the relative silence on the persecution of Christians.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[New ‘Tyndale Trail’ launched to mark 500 years of English New Testament]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/new-tyndale-trail-launched-to-mark-500-years-of-english-new-testament</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/new-tyndale-trail-launched-to-mark-500-years-of-english-new-testament</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[William Tyndale]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ The William Tyndale statue in Whitehall, London. ]]>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Tyndale Trail, Anne Hayward]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Anne Hayward) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Anne Hayward with a statue of Tyndale along the new trail. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:46:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A new long-distance walking trail tracing the life of Bible translator William Tyndale has been launched in south-west England, as part of commemorations marking 500 years since his groundbreaking English New Testament.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A new long-distance walking trail tracing the life of Bible translator William Tyndale has been launched in south-west England, as part of commemorations marking 500 years since his groundbreaking English New Testament.
The “Tyndale Trail”, devised by writer Anne Hayward, links key locations associated with the 16th-century reformer across Gloucestershire and Bristol, offering walkers a two-day, 28-mile journey through landscapes closely tied to his early life and ministry.
Hayward said the idea for the route emerged from a personal pilgrimage she undertook last year.
“In September 2024 I had the opportunity to walk on pilgrimage between the cities of Gloucester and Bristol in order to visit sites associated with the Bible translator William Tyndale,” she explained.
The trail connects a series of historic sites including Little Sodbury Manor - where Tyndale worked as a tutor for 2 years - as well as Chipping Sodbury, Iron Acton, North Nibley and central Bristol.
Along the way, walkers can also visit more recent landmarks dedicated to his legacy, such as Tyndale Baptist Church in Bristol, which features stained-glass depictions of his life, and the Tyndale Monument near North Nibley, a prominent memorial overlooking the surrounding countryside.
It largely follows existing footpaths and established walking routes, while also passing through places of wider historical interest.
“To mark the 500th anniversary of Tyndale’s translation of the New Testament … I have devised a walking trail in his home area which connects several key places in his life as well as various commemorations to him in more recent years,” Hayward said.

Designed to be accessible to walkers of varying experience, the route is laid out across standard Ordnance Survey maps and can be completed in around two days.
Additional nearby sites connected to Tyndale - including Berkeley, Slimbridge and Frampton on Severn - can be explored separately via short detours or local travel links.
The launch of the trail forms part of a wider anniversary year recognising William Tyndale (c.1494–1536), whose translation of the New Testament from Greek into English marked a turning point in the history of the Bible.
Tyndale’s work laid the foundation for later English translations, including the King James Version, and helped make Scripture accessible to ordinary people for the first time.
His efforts exacted a severe personal toll: forced into exile, he was eventually arrested and executed for his work.
Today, he is remembered not only as a Bible scholar and linguist, but as a central figure in the history of the English Bible - a legacy the new trail seeks to bring to life through the very places he once knew.
By retracing Tyndale’s footsteps, Hayward hopes walkers will encounter both the historical landscape of the English Reformation and the enduring impact of a man whose vision was that “a boy that driveth the plough” should be able to understand the Scriptures for himself.
Hayward said: "William Tyndale is one of the most significant figures in British history and yet few know about his early life in Gloucestershire. I hope people will enjoy walking this trail."]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Harry Clark meets Pope Leo XIV in new BBC One documentary]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/harry-clark-meets-pope-leo-xiv-in-new-bbc-one-documentary</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/harry-clark-meets-pope-leo-xiv-in-new-bbc-one-documentary</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Harry Clark]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: BBC) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Harry Clark with the Pope. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 04 Apr 2026 05:40:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Clark described the meeting as one of the most extraordinary experiences of his life.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A new BBC One documentary follows Traitors winner Harry Clark on a personal journey to Rome as he explores his Catholic faith and unexpectedly secures a private meeting with Pope Leo XIV.
Harry Clark Goes to Rome, which aired on Thursday and is available on BBC iPlayer, centres on Clark’s attempt to understand his beliefs and identity more deeply while asking what it means to live as a Catholic today.
The programme builds towards an audience with the Pope, a moment presented as the emotional high point of the documentary.
Clark, who travelled with his mother, Georgia, described the meeting as one of the most extraordinary experiences of his life.
He shared: “I never thought The Pope would want to meet me but here we are. It was a life changing experience and it was great to do it alongside my mum. It’s one of the coolest experiences of my life.
"It was the first time in my life my mind was blown and I thought wow, I'm just a kid from a council house in Slough and here I am sitting opposite Pope Leo XIV … My message to other young people is to never let anyone tell you can’t achieve or accomplish something. Keep dreaming big.”
During the encounter, they discussed topics including mental health and football, and he presented the Pope with a custom Chelsea shirt.
The documentary traces a wider spiritual journey as Clark reflects on the role faith has played in his life. Speaking ahead of the show airing, he said faith sustained him during some the most difficult periods, including serious mental health struggles, painful personal setbacks, and the loss of direction he experienced after serving in the army.
He says his faith “saved” him, describing it as central to the person he has become, and prayer gradually becoming a source of strength when he felt overwhelmed.
Clark describes himself as a “modern Catholic,” saying he believes in God while still wrestling with some Church teaching and traditions, and how religion connects with younger generations.
The trip to Rome is framed as an effort to confront those questions directly by speaking to senior Church figures at the centre of Catholicism.
His mother’s presence is a key part of the story. Clark says she was the one who first grounded him in the faith and later encouraged him to return to prayer during one of the lowest points in his life, making it especially meaningful that she was beside him for the journey and the papal meeting.
He shared: “My mum is a superwoman. She had five kids and while she was raising us, getting us to school, pressing out uniforms, and getting everyone fed, she was studying for a nursing degree. She'd go to uni, come back, pick us all up, cook food, put us all to bed, and then study.
“We'd never been on holiday together … She's never really travelled. Neither had I, despite joining the army to see the world. So being in Rome at all was just enough for both of us. Plus, I'm going for favourite child, and I think I've secured that title for at least a year.”
The documentary also includes Clark’s visits to significant religious sites, as well as moments of worship and reflection.
He has been moved by seeing major places of Catholic history for himself and says the experience changed his understanding of faith from something inherited in childhood to something more consciously embraced.
He also suggests the programme is aimed not only at believers, but also at those who may be curious, sceptical or searching for meaning.
Clark said: “Like, what would you rather? A life where you believe in faith, but you're wrong, or a life without faith, and you're wrong? It doesn't make sense to me as someone who would want to not believe and then be wrong, because then you're not going to have a turn of your happiness. But then, if you do believe, and you're wrong, at least you've lived your life with peace in your life. At least you've lived your life treating other human beings as human beings, with peace.”
He says he wants viewers to see that faith and modern life do not have to be in conflict, people with different beliefs should still be able to live with mutual respect, and that life has value whether or not someone has faith.
Clark added: “If I can talk about my religion wherever I want, other young people definitely can. And I want kids to see that. You can be cool and still believe in God. You can do both. And I think if that's what we all try to do, just try to be better and help people, the world would be a much better place.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Leading Christian drama company still riding high]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/leading-christian-drama-company-still-riding-high</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/leading-christian-drama-company-still-riding-high</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Peter Crumpler]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Night Falls]]></media:title>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:52:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[‘Riding Lights,’ the Christian drama company that has toured to communities across the UK for nearly 50 years is still going strong, with its production of ‘Night Falls’ playing to audiences across the country.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
‘Riding Lights,’ the Christian drama company that has toured to communities across the UK for nearly 50 years is still going strong, with its production of ‘Night Falls’ playing to audiences across the country.
But the curtain could have come down abruptly on its current tour after the company’s van was stolen in Leeds earlier this month with £10,000 worth of stage, lighting and sound equipment inside.
Despite this, all performances planned for the tour went ahead, using an adapted set from a previous production.
The current tour features ‘Night Falls,’ a production written by artistic director and joint chief executive officer Paul Birch. It is a powerful presentation of the Easter story where, in a stark set, two actors playing Lazarus and Jairus’s daughter live out the final days before the crucifixion.
The production I saw at the Verso Vineyard Church in St Albans, Herts, captivated the audience for the play’s full duration, as the dialogue and interplay between the two people – both brought back to life by Christ – wrestle with the implications of Christ’s life and teaching. 
‘Riding Lights’ describe the characters as “Two strangers torn between faith and doubt, hope and grief, trying to prevent Jesus of Nazareth from getting himself arrested.”
‘Night Falls’ draws the audience into reflecting on how they might respond to Christ and his claims. The challenge feels deeply personal, both for the characters on stage, and for each of us watching the production. 
‘Riding Lights’ are due to perform ‘Night Falls’ at the Spring Harvest conferences in Skegness and Minehead, as well as in Stratford-upon-Avon, Cornwall and in London, in coming weeks. 
The company was founded in York in 1977. Since then, it has toured to communities across the UK, performing in churches, schools, prisons, theatres, and on the streets. ‘Riding Lights’ describes itself as “shaped by a Christian ethos” with its work “inclusive, accessible and welcoming to all.”
Rev Peter Crumpler is a Church of England minister in St Albans, Herts, UK, and a former communications director with the CofE.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[The groundbreaking BBC series that brought Jesus to TV screens]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/the-groundbreaking-bbc-series-that-brought-jesus-to-tv-screens</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/the-groundbreaking-bbc-series-that-brought-jesus-to-tv-screens</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Neil Rees]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Jesus of Nazareth]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: BBC Archive) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ The 1956 mini-series starred Scottish actor Tom Fleming as Jesus. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 21 Feb 2026 05:47:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Seventy years ago, in February 1956, the BBC aired the mini-series “Jesus of Nazareth”, which was the first filming of the life of Jesus to be created for television. This is the story …]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Seventy years ago, in February 1956, the BBC aired the mini-series “Jesus of Nazareth”, which was the first filming of the life of Jesus to be created for television. This is the story …
History
The first television broadcast in the world was made by the BBC in 1936. Few people owned televisions at the time, but sales shot up dramatically before and after the Queen’s Coronation in 1953. 
In 1954, the BBC had the idea to produce an eight-part serial that dramatised the life of Jesus, climaxing on Easter Sunday. This was the first time it had been done on British television. The series was created for children and was to be shown during the Sunday children’s hour slot.
Joy Harington was a seasoned BBC children’s producer. She wrote and oversaw the series after a year of meticulous preparation, consulting Rev Robert C Walton, head of BBC Schools’ Religious Broadcasting, and Rev Roy McKay, head of BBC Religious Broadcasting.
Filming
Joy Harington’s scripts tell the life of Jesus from a boy of twelve living in an occupied country to the Resurrection. To give the whole series authenticity, in spring 1955 they headed off to Israel to spend several weeks filming scenes on location, in the very places where they first happened in Galilee and Jerusalem.
The series then blended these pre-recorded episodes with live studio broadcasts made at Lime Grove Studio E in Ealing. To make it more accessible, the characters spoke in normal, everyday English rather than in the archaic language of the King James Version most people associated with Christianity at the time.
In February 1956, Freda Lingstrom, head of Children’s Television, wrote in the “Radio Times”: “Our aim is to awaken the interest of children in the origins of the most significant influence in their lives and help them to understand something of the background against which the Christian story was enacted.”
The Series
The series was broadcast in 1956 as eight episodes, shown each Sunday at 5:20pm, starting on February 12 and ending on Easter Day, 18 March. The episodes traced the story of Jesus from his boyhood to the Resurrection. The eight shows were:
Prologue: Preparing the Way
The Beloved Son
Jesus the Healer
Jesus the Teacher
Jesus the King
The Road to Jerusalem
Behold the Man
I Am Always with You
The cast featured acting talents such as Tom Fleming as Jesus, Barbara Lott as Mary Magdalene, Michael Bryant as John, Anthony Jacobs as Judas, and Alan Wheatley as Pontius Pilate.
Tom Fleming
The actor who played Jesus was Tom Fleming, the son of a Baptist minister and already an established actor and commentator. He had commentated on Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation in 1953, and had also appeared on an episode of the BBC’s Epilogue programme discussing his Christian faith. His devout and reverential portrayal of Jesus resonated with his own deep faith.
Fleming was an organist, lay preacher, and secretary at Canonmills Baptist Church in Edinburgh. He went on to commentate on many momentous events. In 1981, he joined Angela Rippon as a commentator for the wedding of Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer. In 1990, he was awarded an OBE, and in 1998 he was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO). He died in 2010 aged 82.
Book
Joy Harington produced a tie-in book for the series, which was published as a hardback by Brockhampton Press of Leicester in 1956. A paperback version came out in 1963, produced by Hodder, which sold for five shillings. It was also published in the USA by Doubleday. The book had a foreword by BBC Director-General Sir Ian Jacob. A review by the Times Educational Supplement read: “Parents and Teachers are urged to put this altogether remarkable work into the hands of their children and then read it themselves … Its publication is an event of incalculable importance.”
Legacy
Although designed for children, the series also captivated adults and achieved the highest audience since the Coronation. “Jesus of Nazareth” won the 1956 Guild of Television Producers and Directors award (a precursor to BAFTA), the first time it had been presented for a children’s serial. Viewers wrote to the BBC wanting it to be repeated. Fortunately, the live transmissions had been recorded, so it was rebroadcast over Holy Week in 1957 and again in 1958, but this time without the prologue.
The series inspired Joy Harington to produce a follow-up series called “Paul of Tarsus”, which was broadcast in 1960. Later, in 1977, ITV produced its own mini-series, also called “Jesus of Nazareth”.
The 1956 production remains a landmark as the first British screen Jesus. It blended reverence, innovation, and gospel truth for a generation, and paved the way for others to do similar things, up to the current popularity of “The Chosen”.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Traitors’ winner Harry Clark heads to Rome in new BBC documentary exploring faith in modern Britain]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/traitors-winner-harry-clark-heads-to-rome-in-new-bbc-documentary-exploring-faith-in-modern-britain</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/traitors-winner-harry-clark-heads-to-rome-in-new-bbc-documentary-exploring-faith-in-modern-britain</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/86/98622.png">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Harry Clark]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: BBC) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Harry Clark embarks on a quest to meet the new Pope in a brand-new 60-minute documentary – "Harry Clark Goes to Rome". ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 05:40:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[BBC Two and iPlayer are set to air a new one-hour documentary this Easter charting The Traitors’ winner Harry Clark’s personal pilgrimage from Slough to the Vatican]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
BBC Two and iPlayer are set to air a new one-hour documentary this Easter charting The Traitors’ winner Harry Clark’s personal pilgrimage from Slough to the Vatican, and his unlikely ambition to secure an audience with Pope Leo XIV.
"Harry Clark Goes to Rome" follows the 24 year old as he explores what it means to hold onto faith in the glare of modern British culture.
Once an unknown army engineer from Slough, Clark became a household name almost overnight after winning the second series of The Traitors in 2024.
Yet he has repeatedly said that the anchor in his rapid rise has been the Christian faith he was raised in.
The documentary traces Clark’s return to the spiritual roots that shaped him in a tightly-knit Catholic family.
Growing up, Sundays revolved around Mass at Our Lady of Peace church, where he and his siblings played music.
Faith, he has said, was not an accessory to family life but its foundation.
Now navigating relationships, media appearances and increasing celebrity, Clark admits that belief can feel harder to practise consistently.
Commissioned by the BBC's Specialist Factual Head of Commissioning Jack Bootle and directed by Jonny Ashton, the documentary places that tension at its centre: can traditional Catholic faith endure in a world of constant noise and distraction?
In the lead-up to his departure, Clark enters into candid discussions with those who know him best - among them Anna, his girlfriend, his close friends, relatives, and the priest who guided him during his formative years in the Church.
Travelling to Rome with his mother, Georgia, Clark revisits core elements of Catholic devotion, including pilgrim rituals and confession, while reflecting on periods when his faith wavered.
He also visits some of the city’s most iconic sacred landmarks. Among them is the famous Mouth of Truth, where he symbolically tests his honesty, echoing the footsteps of generations of pilgrims before him.
Running alongside the spiritual reflection is a bold objective: Clark’s determination to meet the newly elected Pope Leo XIV.
Through letters, calls and persistent outreach, he attempts to navigate the layers of Vatican protocol.
Friends express doubt at the scale of the challenge, but the programme follows his efforts all the way to a meeting with a senior Cardinal close to the Pope.
Speaking about the documentary, Clark said the journey to Rome felt “once-in-a-lifetime” and deeply personal.
“Faith has shaped who I am from a young age,” he said, adding that he prays the experience might even lead to meeting the Pope himself.
“I’m excited to share this news and every step of my epic adventure,” he said. 
The BBC’s Head of Religion and Ethics for television, Daisy Scalchi, said the documentary offers a new and candid exploration of belief, promising both “hilarious moments and jaw-dropping surprises.”
Karen Emsley, Executive Producer at the production company, CTVC, described it as a gripping story not only about a trip to Rome but about “faith, family and identity”.
“Harry’s warmth, honesty and remarkable determination mean you find yourself rooting for him right to the very end,” she added.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Worship leader Ron Kenoly dies at 81]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/worship-leader-ron-kenoly-dies-at-81</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/worship-leader-ron-kenoly-dies-at-81</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Leah MarieAnn Klett]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Ron Kenoly]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: YouTube/Joe Vasconcelos) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Ron Kenoly ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 10:14:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Ron Kenoly, a pioneering Christian worship leader whose anthems helped shape modern praise music and whose ministry emphasized worship as service rather than performance, has died. He was 81.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Ron Kenoly, a pioneering Christian worship leader whose anthems helped shape modern praise music and whose ministry emphasized worship as service rather than performance, has died. He was 81.
Kenoly’s death was announced Tuesday in a collaborative post on his official Instagram account by longtime music director and close associate Bruno Miranda. The post said Kenoly died the morning of Feb. 3. No cause of death was disclosed.
“For over 20 years, I had the honor of walking alongside him in ministry around the world, not just as his music director, but as a son, a student, and a witness to a life marked by faithfulness,” Miranda wrote. “He was never an artist, never an entertainer. He was a worship leader.”
“And he took all the time necessary to explain what that truly meant. A worship leader’s calling is not to perform songs, but to lead people into true worship in the presence of a King; the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. … Today we grieve deeply but not without hope. The worship he lived is now the worship he beholds.”
Kenoly, best known for “Ancient of Days,” “Anointing Fall On Me” and “Jesus Is Alive,” rose to international prominence in the early 1990s as a central figure in the contemporary praise and worship movement. His 1992 live album Lift Him Up became the fastest-selling worship album of its time, introducing a generation of churches to large-scale, congregational worship marked by Scripture-driven lyrics.
Another album, Welcome Home, produced by Tom Brooks, was later named Billboard’s top contemporary worship music album and won the Gospel Music Association’s Dove Award for praise and worship album in 1997.
Born Dec. 6, 1944, in Coffeyville, Kansas, Kenoly showed an early interest in music and moved to California after high school to pursue a career in entertainment. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1965 to 1968, touring military bases as a member of a Top 40 cover band.
Before dedicating himself fully to ministry, Kenoly recorded secular R&B music under the stage name Ron Keith and later found commercial success as part of a duo with Candy Rae. He ultimately stepped away from secular recording, spending several years seeking a gospel music path before releasing his first Christian album, You Ought to Listen to This, in 1983.
“I was in obscurity for eight years, singing my songs. Wherever the door would open, I would go, and I would sing, making no money,” he said in a 2024 interview. “But that was the gift that was in me, and I was determined to use it. And I prayed, ‘Father, I’ll go through any door that you open.’”
Kenoly’s ministry expanded significantly after he joined Jubilee Christian Center in San Jose, California, where he became worship leader in 1985 and music pastor two years later. Ordained in 1987, he focused on teaching worship theology. In 1993, he was named the church’s Ambassador of Music and began consulting churches nationwide on developing worship ministries.
“There needs to be a balance between worship and the Word. If you get all worship and no Word, you have fanaticism. If you have all Word and no worship, you have legalism. And you need that balance. That's what is going to help us to worship. As Jesus said in John 4:23-24, to worship in Spirit and in Truth,” he told Christian Today in a 2006 interview.
He later earned multiple academic degrees, including a music degree from Alameda College, a Master of Divinity from Faith Bible College, and a Doctorate of Ministry in sacred music from Friends International Christian University.
Church leaders and worship pastors across denominations credited Kenoly with helping redefine congregational worship. 
In a statement on social media following the news of Kenoly’s passing, Pastor Tony Suarez described him as “one of the greatest psalmists of our time,” recalling a post-pandemic tent revival where Kenoly led a night of 1990s-style praise.
“He was a generational gift,” Suarez wrote. “The anointing would fall on us as he led us to sing out a joyful song and build a palace of praise to the Ancient of Days.”
In 1999, Kenoly moved to Central Florida, continuing to travel internationally as a teacher, speaker and worship leader. He also authored several books on worship, including collaborative works with Jubilee Christian Center founder Dick Bernal.
Kenoly is survived by his family. Funeral arrangements were not immediately announced.
© The Christian Post]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[7 biblical truths hidden in the Avatar movies]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/7-biblical-truths-hidden-in-the-avatar-movies</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/7-biblical-truths-hidden-in-the-avatar-movies</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Avatar 3, Avatar: Fire and Ash]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: 20th Century Studios) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jan 2026 06:27:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[When viewed through a biblical lens, Avatar reveals striking parallels that invite reflection on faith, identity, and our place within a greater story.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Have you ever heard the saying that fiction - or even fantasy - is never too far removed from reality? No matter how imaginative a story may seem, it often carries echoes of truth beneath the surface. I believe the Avatar films offer a compelling example of this.
While the movies clearly explore themes such as human greed, the power of love, the importance of unity, and the value of family, there are also deeper spiritual ideas woven throughout the narrative. When viewed through a biblical lens, Avatar reveals striking parallels that invite reflection on faith, identity, and our place within a greater story.
Below are 7 of the key biblical parallels, symbols, and lessons that emerge when we take a closer look. (Spoilers ahead!)
1. The Spiritual and the Physical World: One Connected Body
One of the most powerful ideas in Avatar is the interconnectedness of all life on Pandora - from the trees to the animals to the people. The Na’vi understand that they are not isolated individuals but part of a living, breathing whole, bound together both spiritually and physically. Their actions affect the land, and the state of the land reflects the choices of its people.
This mirrors a core biblical truth that extends beyond believers to all of humanity. Scripture teaches that the entire human race is spiritually connected through Adam, our first and representative head. When Adam fell into sin, the consequences of that fall spread to all people, and humanity inherited a broken nature together (Romans 5:12, 18-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22). What happened to one truly affected all - human relationships, human identity, and even the created world itself.
The Bible also makes clear that humanity’s sin did not only fracture our relationship with God, but disrupted creation as well. Humans were created to steward the earth, yet through disobedience, the world was subjected to decay and suffering (Genesis 1:26-28; Psalm 8:6-8; Genesis 3:17-18; Romans 8:20-22). In this sense, the brokenness of the land in Avatar reflects a biblical reality: when humanity turns toward greed and exploitation, creation bears the scars.
Yet Scripture presents a greater hope. Christ is revealed as the new spiritual head of humanity. Through Him, those who believe are joined into one body, spiritually united by the Holy Spirit and freed from the power of sin (Romans 5:15-17; 1 Corinthians 15:45; Colossians 1:18-20). Though we are many, we become one in Christ - each part dependent on the other, sharing in a restored identity (1 Corinthians 2:12-13).
The Avatar world visually illustrates this spiritual reality in a way that feels both ancient and profound, pointing to the deep truth that humanity is bound together not only in fallenness, but also in redemption - and that as humanity is restored, creation itself longs for renewal as well (Ephesians 1:9-10).
2. Creation, Source, and the God Behind It All
In Avatar, the Na’vi worship Eywa, whom they call “The Great Mother,” believing her to be the source and sustainer of all life. Eywa is not encountered through temples or doctrines, but through the living world itself - trees, animals, water, and land all bear witness to her presence. While this portrayal differs theologically from Christianity, it reflects a deeply human instinct: to recognise that life has an origin beyond itself.
Christian faith also affirms God as the source of all creation, though Scripture reveals Him not as creation itself, but as the personal, loving Creator who stands above it (Genesis 1:1; Acts 17:24-25). Christians call God “Father” - the One who brings life into being, sustains it, and remains intimately involved with His creation (Malachi 2:10; Colossians 1:16-17; Psalm 104:27-30). Throughout the Bible, God’s character and power are proclaimed through the natural world. Furthermore, creation points beyond itself, declaring the glory, wisdom, and intentionality of its Maker (Psalm 19:1-2; Romans 1:20). 
Where Avatar adopts a pantheistic lens by personifying nature as divine, Scripture draws a clear distinction: nature reflects God, but it is not God (Exodus 20:3-4). The beauty, order, and life woven into the world serve as a testimony to a living Creator rather than a replacement for Him (Romans 1:25). In this way, Avatar echoes a biblical truth it does not fully articulate - that creation itself invites us to look upward, stirring a longing to know who holds the world together and where we truly come from (Psalm 24:1-2).
2. The Fall of a Perfect World
Pandora is introduced as a breathtaking paradise - balanced, harmonious, and whole. Yet it is disrupted and wounded by the arrival of the Sky People, whose greed and violence bring destruction.
This reflects the biblical story of the Fall. The world God created was good, but through sin and the influence of evil, it became fractured (Genesis 1:31; Genesis 3). In both stories, the presence of an external corrupting force leads to the breakdown of what was once perfect, highlighting the tragic cost of rebellion and exploitation.
3. Living for Something Greater Than Yourself
Jake Sully’s journey is ultimately one of transformation and sacrificial love. He leaves behind his old life on Earth - a world driven by exploitation and greed - and steps into a new reality, quite literally into a new body, with a new purpose. By entering fully into the life of the Na’vi, Jake does not remain a distant observer; he identifies with them, lives among them, and ultimately gives himself for their survival and freedom.
This movement carries a striking symbolic parallel to the biblical theme of incarnation. In Christianity, Jesus does not remain removed from humanity’s brokenness but enters into the world, taking on human flesh in order to redeem it from within (John 1:14; Philippians 2:6-8; Hebrews 2:14-17). Biblically, this reflects the call to die to the old self and live for something far greater - the Kingdom of God (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:9-10).
To follow Jesus is not merely to admire Him, but to walk in His footsteps: abandoning former ways of life shaped by self-interest, ambition, and control, and embracing a new way where greatness is found in sacrifice and love, and true life is discovered through surrender obedience, humility, and service (Luke 9:23-24; John 12:26; Matthew 16:25; Mark 10:43-45). Jake’s choice to forsake his old identity and ambitions for the sake of others echoes this biblical vision of discipleship. In giving up one life, he gains another - one rooted in purpose, belonging, and self-giving love.
In a symbolic sense, Jake’s role in the salvation of the Na’vi points toward the greater story of Jesus’ saving work for the world. Just as Jake enters their world to rescue and restore, Jesus enters ours to redeem, reconcile, and bring new life (2 Corinthians 5:17-19). Again, there are important differences: Jesus calls His followers to lose their lives in order to find them again in Him, promising that those who surrender themselves to Him do not end in loss, but in spiritual rebirth, fullness of life (John 10:10), and eventually eternal life in the Lord.
4. Water as Cleansing and Renewal
In Avatar: The Way of Water, Lo’ak explains the reef people’s belief that the sea washes you clean and removes sin. Water becomes a symbol of renewal, forgiveness, and new beginnings.
This symbolism aligns closely with Christianity. Jesus is described as the “living water,” and baptism represents dying to the old life and rising into new life (John 4:13-14; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12; Titus 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:17)). Water, in both contexts, marks transformation - washing away the past and stepping into something restored.
5. Unity Against a Common Enemy
Jake ultimately unites the tribes of Pandora to stand together against the Sky People. What they could not overcome alone, they defeat through unity - setting aside divisions in order to confront a shared threat.
In Scripture, God’s people are likewise portrayed as an army, but one united by Jesus Himself. Through Christ, believers are brought together into one body and called to stand shoulder to shoulder against a common enemy - not of flesh and blood, but against spiritual evil that seeks to divide, deceive, and destroy (Ephesians 6:10-12; 1 Peter 5:8-9). Our unity is not rooted in sameness, but in Christ, who binds His people together with a shared identity, purpose, and hope (1 Corinthians 2:12-13; Philippians 1:27; 2 Timothy 2:3-4).
Unity, then, is not merely a source of strength; it is essential for survival and faithfulness. Avatar vividly illustrates the power of shared purpose and collective resistance against forces that seek to destroy, pointing toward the biblical truth that victory is found not in isolation, but in unity under one King.
6. Being Born Again
In the first movie, Jake explains that the Na’vi believe a person is born twice: first at physical birth, and again when they are accepted into the tribe.
This closely parallels Jesus’ teaching about being “born again.” In Christianity, believers experience a second birth - not of the flesh, but of the Spirit - when they accept Christ and enter the family of God (John 3:3-6; John 1:12-13; Romans 8:15-17; 1 Peter 1:23). The idea that true life begins with acceptance, transformation, and a new identity is central to both narratives, although Christian rebirth goes far beyond anything depicted in Avatar. In Christian rebirth, we die to our sin and our old selves, being born again in Christ through the Holy Spirit, adopted to sonship and co-heir with Christ. We belong to Christ and become part of His body, His people, living in, through and for Him. 
7. Father, a Son and the Cost of Obedience
One of the most striking moments in Avatar: Fire and Ash occurs when Jake is faced with the possibility of sacrificing Spider for the greater good. Caught between his responsibility as a leader and his love as a father figure, Jake is forced to confront the painful cost of obedience and protection in a broken world. This moment echoes the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 22:1-14). Abraham is asked to offer his son - the child of promise - revealing the depth of his faith and trust in God, even when the command seems unbearable.
Though the outcomes differ, the parallel lies in the internal struggle: both figures are confronted with the possibility that obedience and leadership may require the surrender of what they hold most dear for a higher purpose.
Yet, just as God intervenes to spare Isaac, Avatar ultimately resists glorifying the sacrifice of the child. Instead, the scene points toward a deeper biblical truth: that while human obedience is costly, true redemption comes through divine mercy, intervention and love. In this way, the tension between Jake and Spider gestures toward the greater story of sacrifice and salvation - where God does not spare His own Son but offers Him for the life of the world (Genesis 22:11-14; Romans 8:32; John 3:16; Isaiah 53:4-6).
Final Thoughts
The Avatar movies are not Christian stories but they are nonetheless spiritual ones, and the themes of rebirth, sacrifice, unity, creation, and redemption are relatable for Christians, albeit as we interpret them differently. By recognising these parallels, we are reminded that truth has a way of surfacing even in the most fantastical worlds. And sometimes, stories set on distant planets can help us reflect more closely on our faith and better understand the spiritual realities shaping our own world.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Jelly Roll shares Gospel message live on Netflix’s ‘Star Search’]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/jelly-roll-shares-gospel-message-live-on-netflixs-star-search</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/jelly-roll-shares-gospel-message-live-on-netflixs-star-search</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Leah MarieAnn Klett]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Bear Bailey]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: YouTube / Netflix) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Bear Bailey performing “Hard Fought Hallelujah" on "Star Search". ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 26 Jan 2026 02:11:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[“Star Search” is the second-most popular show on Netflix.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Gospel message of redemption and grace took center stage on “Star Search” Tuesday night when contestant Bear Bailey performed “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” transforming a live Netflix competition into an explicit proclamation of faith.
Bailey’s performance of the song, popularized by Jelly Roll and Brandon Lake, led to a Gospel presentation on one of the world’s largest streaming platforms. “Star Search” is the second-most popular show on Netflix.
Bailey testified about addiction, imperfection and salvation through Jesus Christ, while Jelly Roll responded by openly preaching about redemption, the Holy Spirit and God’s grace before a national audience.
“I’m a very imperfect person loved by a perfect God and Jesus. Jesus has redeemed me,” Bailey said moments after finishing the song. “Drug addiction. I’ve lost everything because of addictions, and I’m not perfect, but I serve a God who is, and he believes in redemption. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for being emotional. I’m just thankful for God. I thank you, Jesus.”
The moment was heightened by the fact that Bailey chose the song before learning Jelly Roll would be one of the judges, a revelation that left the artist visibly shaken and briefly speechless.
The Netflix reboot of "Star Search" is hosted by Anthony Anderson and features Jelly Roll, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Chrissy Teigen as judges. The live format allows viewers to vote in real time, alongside the judges’ scores.
As Bailey finished speaking, Jelly Roll struggled to respond.
“I don’t know. You might have to start with Chrissy …” he said, asking producers to move to another judge while he composed himself.
Teigen praised Bailey’s emotion and delivery: “You have a beautiful voice. … Jelly himself wants to hear feeling and passion. And I think we all heard feeling in your voice,” she said. “You had everybody jumping up and screaming. And I think you might have found a brother for life too.”
Gellar called the performance star-making.
“We came to ‘Star Search,’ and my whole thing was, it’s about finding a star. We just found you,” she said. “I don’t know what was more beautiful, though, watching you sing or watching this man watch you sing. It was everything the performance was supposed to be. I learned so much about you.”
When Jelly Roll finally spoke, he suggested the moment was orchestrated by God and used the opportunity to clearly proclaim the Gospel. 
“I prayed this morning. I said, God, give me an opportunity to talk about you,” he said. “Night one was great, but I didn’t get to live on my purpose yet. God, you called me here to talk about you.”
“What I just seen [sic] was a room full of people that might not have ever felt it before, but that is called the Holy Spirit of God,” Jelly Roll said. “He don’t [sic] care anything about your past. He doesn’t care what you’ve been through. He doesn’t care about your drug addiction. He is your Father.”
Jelly Roll emphasized the heart of the Gospel message: redemption and hope through Christ.
“He hung so you can stand here and sing His name on the biggest streaming service in the world,” he said. “This is a God moment to show what God has done. He is a redeemer. He is for everybody. Jesus is for everybody. He doesn’t hate anybody. He loves everybody, and that’s what He stands for.”
Addressing Bailey directly, Jelly Roll added, “The voice wasn’t crazy. You took my song and made it your song. In fact, you took our song and you gave it to God. I know Brandon Lake somewhere, crying right now.”
When judges revealed their scores, Teigen awarded four stars, while Gellar and Jelly Roll each awarded Bailey five stars.
“We should only give fives to people that we think could actually win this show,” Jelly Roll said. “And you, my friend, can win this show.”
"Hard Fought Hallelujah” won Song of the Year at the 2025 K-Love Fan Awards and the 2025 GMA Dove Awards, where it also took home Short Form Video and Country/Roots Song awards. The song also earned a CMA nomination and went platinum.
Jelly Roll, who has often credited his faith for his personal transformation, spoke candidly about redemption, challenging audiences to live out their faith while accepting the Dove Award for “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”
“I was thinking about Matthew, when he talks about belief, when he said, ‘When I was hungry, you fed me, when I was thirsty …’ I’m standing here because people took time with me. The world is hearing about Jesus like they have never before. Put faith on your feet and feet on your faith,” he said.
Previously, Lake shared with The Christian Post how he hopes his music reaches both the Christian struggling with hurt and doubt, as well as non-Christians. Healing from church hurt is possible, he said, and God, through His people, can restore what has been broken.
“Your primary call isn't to ministry, it's to intimacy,” the worship leader said. “Let everything flow from that. Just focus on your relationship with God. Take one day at a time. Surrender daily. Don't worry about tomorrow. Focus on what He asks you to do today, and you'll end up where you're supposed to be.
“Everyone's going to be hurt by a Christian,” he added. “But it doesn't mean God hurt you. At some point, the church is going to let you down. But it doesn't mean God did. Church isn't perfect, because you're there and I'm there. So if you've ever had food poisoning, you don't stop eating food. You have to eat again at some point. So just keep moving forward. Find healthier and healthier people to surround you. Keep your arms up, keep your faith on fire, and be quick to forgive.”
© The Christian Post]]></content:encoded>
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