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        <title>Christian Today | US</title>
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                <title><![CDATA[US Episcopal Church membership falls below 1.5 million as decades-long decline continues]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/us-episcopal-church-membership-falls-below-15-million-as-decades-long-decline-continues</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/us-episcopal-church-membership-falls-below-15-million-as-decades-long-decline-continues</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/85/98520.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[pews, church, church attendance]]></media:title>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2026 07:27:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The US Episcopal Church has reported a further decline in membership and worship attendance, with new data it has fallen below 1.5 million members despite signs of post-pandemic stabilisation.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The US Episcopal Church has reported a further decline in membership and worship attendance, with new data it has fallen below 1.5 million members despite signs of post-pandemic stabilisation.
According to its 2025 Parochial Report, the Church’s membership now stands at 1,425,065, compared with nearly 2 million in 2015, continuing a downward trend that has persisted for decades.
The Episcopal Church, which belongs to the worldwide Anglican Communion and has adopted liberal positions on issues including same-sex marriage and LGBTQ clergy, acknowledged the continuing membership decline while pointing to some recovery in church attendance following the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, the latest figures reveal that average in-person Sunday attendance has fallen from nearly 600,000 a decade ago and from 413,034 in 2024 to 407,001 last year.
While attendance has recovered from a low of 300,000 in 2021, it remains below pre-pandemic levels, although the Church cautioned that changes to its data collection methods in 2024 mean some historical comparisons should be treated carefully.
An additional 116,936 people attended Sunday services through livestreams on average in 2025, while the median congregation recorded a combined in-person and online attendance of just 43.
The report was based on responses from 6,131 congregations, representing 91.9% of Episcopal parishes and missions in the US. 
This year’s data includes findings from a 2024 survey by the Hartford Institute of Religion Research among 2,541 people across 123 Episcopal congregations. 
The results raise questions about the denomination’s ability to attract a new generation of worshippers.
The 2024 survey found that 57% of Episcopalians were aged 65 or older, while only 10% were between 18 and 34. The median age of church members was 60. 
The survey also revealed that most people who had recently joined Episcopal congregations were already familiar with church life.
Although nearly a third (32%) of those surveyed had begun attending their current church in the past five years, 77% of these newcomers had transferred from another congregation.
A further 20% had come back to church after many years away, while just 3% said this was their first time attending a congregation.
The report described this pattern as “growth by switching, not conversion,” highlighting the limited proportion of newcomers without a previous church background.
Despite the denomination’s ageing membership, the survey found among worshippers younger than 35, nearly nine in ten (89%) expressed optimism in their church’s future.
Existing worshippers also demonstrated high levels of participation, with 92% attending services at least monthly and 65% volunteering regularly.
“There are many deeply engaged Episcopalians,” Hartford said. “Most have increased or maintained their involvement in attending, volunteering, and financial giving over the past five years.”
Amid declining membership, Episcopal congregations identified children, young people and families as their greatest source of hope for the future.
When asked about initiatives that gave them hope for the Church’s future, 1,289 congregations highlighted programmes for children, young people and families. Outreach to those in need was mentioned by 1,094 congregations, while 1,000 pointed to community partnerships.
Community outreach also remained a significant feature of congregational life, with more than three-quarters of Episcopal churches reporting involvement in ministries supporting people in need.
The denomination’s finances remained relatively stable, with total income and expenditure both standing at approximately $2.7 billion in 2025. Donations through church offerings and pledges accounted for around 54% of total income.
The Episcopal Church’s declining membership follows a similar pattern among other theologically liberal mainline Protestant denominations in the US.
Earlier this year, the Presbyterian Church (USA) reported losing 26,845 members and 128 congregations during 2025, bringing its total membership to 1,019,003.
Although the denomination described the 2.6% decrease as its slowest rate of decline in a decade, its membership has fallen substantially from over 2.5 million in 2000.
Like the Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA) has an ageing membership, with 60% of its members above the age of 55 and only 4% aged 18 or younger.
Both denominations have adopted progressive positions on sexuality and church leadership, decisions that have contributed to theological disagreements and, in some cases, congregational departures.
The Presbyterian Church (USA) saw hundreds of congregations leave following its 2011 decision to permit the ordination of non-celibate gay and lesbian clergy, with many joining the evangelical ECO denomination.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Research uncovers some of the reasons why young people go to church]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/research-uncovers-some-of-the-reasons-why-young-people-go-to-church</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/research-uncovers-some-of-the-reasons-why-young-people-go-to-church</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/92/99223.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Bible reading, Bible study, Bible, Christianity, faith]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2026 08:12:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Men were more likely to go for politics and women for support, but the main reason for both overall was faith.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A new survey has given greater insight into the reasons why young people in the US go to church, with the desire to reconnect with their faith unsurprisingly getting the top spot.
The research, conducted by Barna, found that 43 per cent of young adults attended church in order to reconnect with their faith.
The joint second most commonly cited reasons, at 30 per cent each, were the desire to know oneself better and to improve their mental health.
Just over a quarter of young adults (26 per cent) said they went to church to get support for their current life challenges, while a quarter said they wanted to discover their spiritual gifts and be part of something bigger than themselves.
Nearly a quarter (23 per cent) said the desire to use their spiritual gifts motivated them to go to church, while 12 per cent said going to church was motivated by a desire to engage in politics.
Many churchgoers gave multiple reasons for attending church, but still a significant portion (25 per cent) said their decision was not motivated by any of the reasons outlined above.
The research also found a gender divide, with young men more likely to say they were going to church for political reasons. Young women meanwhile were more likely to say they went in order to reconnect with their faith, to improve their mental health, and get personal support.
A racial divide was also observed in the research, with young black churchgoers more likely than other ethnic groups to say they were going to discover and use their spiritual gifts, to be part of something bigger than themselves, to learn about themselves, and gain personal support.
In an article exploring the data, Barna said, “The personal reasons young adults give for attending church point primarily to a generation looking to reconnect with their faith - a distinction that, according to the data, rings true across nearly every subgroup of churchgoing young adults.
“The fact that young adults want to explore their faith and integrate it more holistically into their lives points to a generation that prioritizes well-being and mental health.
"Combined with their spiritual and social reasons for coming to church, the picture across all three parts of this series is consistent: young adults are already showing up, and they are looking for more once they’re there.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Fewer than half of Americans believe in virgin birth, study finds]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/fewer-than-half-of-americans-believe-in-virgin-birth-study-finds</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/fewer-than-half-of-americans-believe-in-virgin-birth-study-finds</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Leonardo Blair]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/92/99208.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Jesus, nativity, mary, joseph, angels, baby Jesus, Christmas]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 09:51:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[This is the first time a major national survey has recorded belief in the virgin birth dropping below 50%.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Fewer than half of Americans now believe the birth of Jesus was a miracle stemming from the supernatural conception of Mary by the Holy Spirit, according to new research from the American Bible Society.
In the seventh chapter of its 16th annual State of the Bible report released Thursday, the American Bible Society highlights the experiences of Americans with the supernatural, including beliefs in God, Heaven, Hell, Satan, angels and demons. The data included responses from 2,649 Americans collected from Jan. 8 to 27.
Overall, 171 million Americans, about 62% of U.S. adults, believe in the supernatural, ABS said. 
While more than half of Americans, 53%, still believe in the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection, only 49% believe the virgin birth is at least probably true. This is the first time a major national survey has recorded belief in the virgin birth dropping below 50%.
In 2017, data from the Pew Research Center showed that 66% of Americans believed Jesus was born to a virgin. That share declined from 73% in 2014. The 2017 survey was based on 1,503 phone interviews and used different question wording than the ABS survey.
ABS researchers also found that only 44% of Americans in general believe in the biblical parting of the Red Sea.
When broken down by levels of belief in God, the report shows that practicing Christians still overwhelmingly believe these miracles to be true. Some 97% of practicing Christians still believe in the virgin birth; 99% believe in the resurrection of Jesus; and 92% believe God miraculously parted the Red Sea for the Israelites.
Still, ABS found that a majority of Americans report believing in God, with only about one in eight saying they do not. Just over 50% of Americans also stated that they believe Satan, Hell and demons exist.
A majority of practicing Christians, 58%, also report experiencing a spiritual attack. Another 69% say they experienced divine healing, and 90% say they experienced an answered prayer. 
“Most of our neighbors sense that our lives are more than a material existence. They have a sense of the supernatural and are seeking answers to their questions in diverse ways, whether that means engaging in mainstream religious practices or diverging from them,” John Farquhar Plake, American Bible Society’s chief innovation officer and editor-in-chief of the State of the Bible series, said in a press statement. “The Bible helps us understand how the natural world and the supernatural world are connected, and it’s our responsibility to help our fellow Americans open the Bible and experience a life-changing encounter with God.”
When it comes to dealing with spiritual attacks, researchers asked respondents who had personally experienced the challenge to explain which practices they found most helpful in countering the problem.
Some 74% selected prayer as the most helpful practice, while 36% said they declared the authority of Jesus Christ. Another 24% said they listened to praise and worship music. The least-selected option, to meditate on or quote Scripture, was chosen by only 15% of respondents, which the American Bible Society sought to bolster in its analysis.
“We at American Bible Society would love to bolster the last-place response: Meditating on or quoting Scripture (15%),” researchers noted. “We’ll just point out that, during his own temptation, Jesus replied to the devil’s three challenges by citing Scripture each time (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10).”
© The Christian Post]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[US evangelicals more religious than other Christians, but still declining]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/us-evangelicals-more-religious-than-other-christians-but-still-declining</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/us-evangelicals-more-religious-than-other-christians-but-still-declining</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/88/98814.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Bible, christianity, church, church attendance]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 10 Oct 2026 09:04:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The decline is slower among evangelicals.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A professor at Washington University has used Pew research data to argues that while US evangelicals take their faith more seriously than Christians of other traditions, they are still being secularised, albeit at a slower rate.
Looking at a “composite religiosity index” (CRI), which essentially merges together factors like the importance of religion in a person’s life, church attendance and certainty in God’s existence, Professor Ryan Burge reports that since at least 2007 evangelicals have been consistently more religious than other traditions by a large margin.
Evangelicals from the “Silent Generation” - those born around 1928 to 1945 - were found to be the most religious demographic, with a CRI score of 75 per cent in 2024. By contrast, members of the Silent Generation who belonged to other Christian traditions only scored 56 per cent on the CRI.
The youngest cohort, Gen Z, saw an evangelical CRI of 63 per cent, compared with a non-evangelical CRI of 40 per cent.
The sharp drop in religiosity between the Silent and Gen Z cohorts was by no means unique. The Silent Generation CRI in 2007 was 80 per cent among evangelicals and 67 per cent among non-evangelicals.
The data shows that from 2007 to 2024 the CRI of all age groups and of both evangelicals and non-evangelicals has declined. The only technical exception was Gen Z, as the only data point available for them was 2024, and hence no long term pattern could be recorded either way.
Burge said, “Evangelicals take their faith seriously, and it shows up consistently. The gaps are often pretty sizable, too. The average evangelical scores about twenty points higher on the religiosity index compared to other Christians.”
He added, however, “Every generation of evangelicals is less religious today than the same generation was a decade or two ago. Secularization isn’t skipping over them … Evangelicals are declining more slowly than other Christians, not staying flat while everyone else falls.
Evangelicals, Burge argued, “aren’t immune to secularization."
"They’re just secularizing more slowly than the Christians around them," he said. 
Burge argued that this apparent decline was down to each successive generation being less religious than the last, but also to the trend of people becoming more secular as they get older.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[More than one in four US Protestant churchgoers believe some biblical truths become outdated]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/more-than-one-in-four-us-protestant-churchgoers-believe-some-biblical-truths-become-outdated</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/more-than-one-in-four-us-protestant-churchgoers-believe-some-biblical-truths-become-outdated</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/85/98595.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Bible reading, Bible, Bible study, faith, Christian living, discipleship, life]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Unsplash / Sixteen Miles Out) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 13:25:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[US Protestant churchgoers who hold evangelical beliefs are more likely than their non-evangelical counterparts to express confidence in the Bible and its continuing authority, according to new research from Lifeway Research.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
US Protestant churchgoers who hold evangelical beliefs are more likely than their non-evangelical counterparts to express confidence in the Bible and its continuing authority, according to new research from Lifeway Research.
The study found significant differences between churchgoers classified as having evangelical beliefs and those who were not, particularly over whether the Bible’s message can be interpreted differently by different readers.
Three-quarters of churchgoers with evangelical beliefs agreed that the truth of God’s Word can mean different things to different people, rising to 90% of those without evangelical beliefs.
There were also differences between denominational groups, with agreement highest among churchgoers from the Restorationist movement, at 96%, followed by Methodists at 92%. 
The figure fell to 80% among Baptists, 79% among Presbyterian and Reformed churchgoers, and 77% among those attending non-denominational churches.
Evangelical respondents were among those most confident in their ability to help other people understand or engage with the Bible, alongside churchgoers who attended services more frequently.
The survey was conducted online between September 2 and 7, 2025, among 1,200 US Protestant and non-denominational churchgoers who attended services at least once a month.
The results were compared with a 2019 Lifeway study of 1,002 churchgoers conducted using the same methodology. 
Lifeway found that while most churchgoers continue to express considerable confidence in Scripture, a growing minority believe some biblical teachings no longer apply or do not correspond with their personal beliefs.
Around a third of respondents (34%) said they accepted some biblical teachings but not others that conflicted with their own beliefs, compared with 30% in 2019. Men were more likely than women to hold this view (40% vs 29%).
Over a quarter (28%) agreed that some biblical truths lose their relevance as culture evolves - up from 24% seven years ago.
Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, said the findings showed that some churchgoers were becoming selective in their approach to Scripture.
“Most churchgoers enjoy trying to understand the Bible, but some are selective in what they believe in the passages they read,” he said.
He pointed to Jesus’ instruction to his followers to keep His teaching and to make disciples by teaching “everything I have commanded you”.
“His invitation was for the whole, not parts,” McConnell said.
He added: “The concepts in any other book will show signs of age requiring new editions. But the Source of the Bible is not Someone whose truths change. James refers to Him as ‘the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows,’ (James 1:17, CSB). The thought of unchanging truth is an unprecedented concept even for many churchgoers today.”
Despite the signs of growing uncertainty about particular biblical teachings, the overall figures suggest that the Bible continues to occupy an important place in the lives of most Protestant churchgoers.
Some 95% said they liked studying the Bible to grasp its meaning, while 91% said they were generally able to relate Scripture to their personal circumstances. 
A majority (84%) expressed confidence that they could respond to someone questioning the truthfulness of Scripture, while 82% said they could help someone struggling with biblical morality and the same proportion felt able to assist someone who found a passage difficult to understand.
McConnell expressed some concerns, though. 
“While large numbers are confident they can address various difficulties others have with the Bible, less than a third of churchgoers strongly agree,” he said. 
“This is likely tied to their evaluation of their own ability to understand passages and relate them to life. Only 38% strongly agree they can do this, while the majority (53%) only somewhat agree.”
More than half of respondents (56%) said interpreting Scripture without help could be difficult. Women were more likely than men to report struggling with this, at 61% compared with 51%.
The findings revealed a marked generational divide, with more than half of churchgoers aged 18 to 29 (54%) agreeing that cultural change can make some biblical teachings seem less applicable. This fell to 40% among those aged 30 to 49, 19% among 50 to 64 year olds, and 13% of those aged 65 and over.
Younger churchgoers were among those most likely to say that some biblical teachings did not align with their own beliefs, with 56% of 18 to 29 year olds agreeing. Some 87% of that age group said biblical truth could be understood differently by different people.
Church attendance appeared to be associated with how confident respondents felt about engaging with Scripture.
Among those attending worship between one and three times a month, 62% said they struggled to make sense of the Bible by themselves, falling to 52% of those attending four or more times a month.
Churchgoers in churches with congregations of fewer than 50 people were among the most likely to report difficulty interpreting Scripture alone, at 65%.
At the other end of the scale, respondents attending churches of 500-plus people were among those least likely to believe biblical teachings had become outdated, with 84% rejecting that view, while a quarter rejected the idea that biblical truth varies from person to person. 
Lifeway also found broad agreement about the importance of interpreting Scripture in context.
Some 96% said understanding the context in which the Bible was written was important, although the proportion who strongly agreed fell from 73% in 2019 to 67% in the latest survey.
Similarly, 92% agreed that the message and principles of Scripture should be applied to contemporary circumstances but the proportion strongly agreeing fell from two thirds in 2019 to 60% in 2025.
McConnell said: “We live in a re-mix world in which people apply phrases, pictures, tunes and memes to situations that may have nothing to do with the originals. AI often pulls from past content in the same way. 
“That may work for a laugh or to make something sound familiar. But the value of biblical principles is not to sound good. The message of the Bible was revealed to specific people in contexts we need to understand to know how that message applies to us today.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Survey finds Gen Z most likely to identify as religious]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/survey-finds-gen-z-most-likely-to-identify-as-religious</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/survey-finds-gen-z-most-likely-to-identify-as-religious</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Ryan Foley]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Bible faith young people]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 26 Sep 2026 10:04:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Generation Z adults are more likely than older Americans to describe themselves as “religious,” even as many also engage in practices at odds with Christian teaching, according to a new survey. ]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Generation Z adults are more likely than older Americans to describe themselves as “religious,” even as many also engage in practices at odds with Christian teaching, according to a new survey. 
The Harris Poll released a survey Thursday based on responses from 2,136 U.S. adults collected July 1 to 4. The poll grouped respondents by generation: Generation Z (ages 18 to 29), millennials (30 to 45), Generation X (46 to 61) and baby boomers (62 and older).
Gen Z adults were the most likely to consider themselves religious and the least likely to describe themselves as neither religious nor spiritual. Thirty-three percent of Gen Z adults described themselves as “religious,” followed by 22% of Gen X adults, 19% of millennials and 18% of boomers.
Meanwhile, 19% of Gen Z adults considered themselves “neither religious nor spiritual,” followed by millennials (20%), Gen X adults (21%) and boomers (23%).
“Gen Z self-identifies as the most religious generation in America, with the practices to back it up,” Libby Rodney, chief strategy officer at The Harris Poll, said in a statement shared with The Christian Post. “But that doesn’t show you the whole story, because they aren’t choosing religion instead of everything else. They’re stacking it. Church on Sunday, manifestation on Wednesday, tarot on Friday. The old assumption was that each generation picks faith less than the last. Gen Z picked more of everything.”
Gen Z adults were more likely than older generations to engage in several spiritual activities.
A majority of Gen Z adults (54%) said they “read scripture or religious texts” regularly in the past year, as did a similar share of millennials (53%). Fewer than half of Gen X adults (48%) and boomers (43%) said they regularly read Scripture or religious texts.
Nearly half of Gen Z adults (49%) regularly attended religious services in the past year, compared with 44% of millennials, 43% of Gen X adults and 42% of boomers.
By contrast, boomers were the most likely to have regularly prayed on their own in the past year. Seventy-five percent of boomers regularly prayed, along with 72% of Gen X adults, 67% of Gen Z adults and 65% of millennials.
Eighty-eight percent of Gen Z adults said they regularly engaged in at least one of the following spiritual activities, including prayer, Scripture reading, religious services, meditation or ritual, manifestation, astrology or tarot, or energy work. Smaller shares of millennials (84%), Gen X adults (84%) and boomers (82%) said the same.Fifty-seven percent of Gen Z adults agreed with the statement, “I’ve turned to manifestation practices or spirituality to feel I have greater control over my future.” Millennials were slightly more likely to agree (59%), while fewer than half of Gen X adults (46%) and 30% of boomers agreed.
"The generation expected to be the most secular is now the most likely to identify as religious," researchers noted. 
Sixty percent of Gen Z adults agreed that “I belong to more real-world, in-person communities than I used to (e.g. run clubs, faith communities, hobby or volunteer groups),” along with 59% of millennials, 42% of Gen X adults and 32% of boomers.
Seventy percent of both Gen Z adults and millennials agreed that they “want to belong to more real-world, in-person communities (e.g. run clubs, faith communities, hobby or volunteer groups),” as did smaller shares of Gen X adults (62%) and boomers (48%).
The Harris Poll survey comes amid conflicting data on Gen Z’s religiosity.
Barna Group’s 2026 State of the Church initiative found that Gen Z was the most likely generation to believe a spiritual revival would occur in the next 12 months, and Barna research released in 2025 found that Gen Z includes “the most frequent churchgoers.”
But other Barna research from 2025 found that nearly 40% of Gen Z women identify as atheist, agnostic or having no faith.
© The Christian Post]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[US closes door to Christians fleeing persecution, report warns]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/us-closes-door-to-christians-fleeing-persecution-report-warns</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/us-closes-door-to-christians-fleeing-persecution-report-warns</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Ryan Foley]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[persecution]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Open Doors UK and Ireland) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2026 04:26:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The United States is on track to admit zero Christians fleeing from the world's worst countries for persecution in fiscal year 2026, according to a new report from the global watchdog Open Doors and the Evangelical refugee resettlement agency World Relief. ]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The United States is on track to admit zero Christians fleeing from the world's worst countries for persecution in fiscal year 2026, according to a new report from the global watchdog Open Doors and the Evangelical refugee resettlement agency World Relief. 
The organizations unveiled their new report Thursday at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, documenting the state of Christian persecution worldwide and the number of refugees admitted into the U.S.
The release comes one month before the Trump administration is set to determine the number of refugees to be admitted to the country in fiscal year 2027, which begins Oct. 1.
“The U.S. has essentially taken this golden door and closed it,” asserted World Relief CEO Myal Greene at Thursday’s event. 
The report, titled “State of the Golden Door: Evaluating U.S. Refugee Resettlement and Asylum in Light of Global Christian Persecution,” states that the number of refugee admissions from the 50 countries on the 2026 Open Doors World Watch List had plummeted to zero in fiscal year 2026, which concludes at the end of the month. 
While the report primarily focused on persecuted Christians, it acknowledged that the halt on refugee resettlement during the Trump administration has applied to all religious minorities in those countries, not just Christians.
“Only three refugees were resettled from a country on the Open Doors World Watch List, and those individuals were not religious minorities," the report states. "We can conclude with a high degree of confidence that in FY2026, no refugees experiencing religious persecution will be resettled in the U.S."
The report is critical of President Donald Trump’s designation of an “invasion” at the southern border, his halting of all refugee resettlement in a January 2025 executive order and the administration’s implementation of guidance encouraging enforcement officials to “remove any noncitizens attempting to enter either at or between ports of entry even if they were attempting to seek asylum.”
Although refugees have been admitted to the U.S. in fiscal year 2026, the Trump administration has prioritized the resettlement of white South Africans whom it describes as “victims of unjust racial discrimination.”
The title of the report refers to a phrase in the poem on the base of the Statue of Liberty describing the U.S. as having a “golden door” that is “open to those yearning to breathe free, including free from religious persecution.”
While refugees are vetted overseas and seek entry into the U.S. from a third country typically near their home country, asylum seekers present themselves at a port of entry in the United States and say that they have experienced persecution in their home country and they’re requesting asylum.
Statistics in the report reveal that the asylum approval rate for countries on the World Watch List decreased from 58% in fiscal year 2023 to 10% in fiscal year 2026.
As fiscal year 2026 is on track to be the first year in at least a quarter century when not a single Christian refugee was admitted to the U.S., Open Doors estimates that 388 million Christians faced persecution worldwide — one out of every seven Christians around the globe.
Open Doors CEO Ryan Brown said “the breadth of persecution” and “the depth of persecution” against Christians have increased.
Specific examples of Christian persecution mentioned by Brown include Sub-Saharan Africa, which has seen a “continued surge in the ways that violence is characterizing the ways that persecution is being experienced by Christians on the ground there,” as well as the advancement of “digital surveillance” at “exponential rates” in countries such as China, where “the church is being monitored and technology is being used as a tool to create harm and displacement.”
The actions of the Trump administration as they relate to refugees and asylum seekers come as part of an effort to prioritize border security.
In an interview with The Christian Post, Brown lamented that “one of the things that has become confused in the discourse and the dialogue, especially with Christians, is these issues of border security, these issues of … folks fleeing for economic reasons or those types of opportunities that the U.S. seems to uniquely afford them.” 
“That’s not what this report’s talking about," he said. 
“This report is specifically talking about those individuals that have a reasonable fear for their life and their safety because of their Christian faith and identity,” Brown added. “Throughout the Church history … the Holy Spirit has used people having to leave because of persecution to bring the Gospel and to … spark revival in different places around the globe.”
Brown urged Christians to “prayerfully consider those things to try to just separate those issues that often seem to convolute issues of border security, issues of folks chasing economic opportunity and look at this issue of Christian persecution and those being forced to flee persecution on its own merits.”
He doesn't believe expanding refugee resettlement will endanger the border security the Trump administration has prioritized.
“Often when we engage these conversations, we can do so with this trepidation that there … are floodgates of individuals that … if we open the door a crack … that it’s going to be overflowing with … folks that are coming in," Brown said. "That is traditionally not the case.”
Brown characterized asylum seekers as “a relatively small number of people” who “truly have no other options,” insisting that “these are thousands of cases” as opposed to “millions of cases.”
Looking ahead to fiscal year 2027, Greene maintained that he is not "optimistic to expect a significant reversal of the policy.”
“That said, we’re people of faith, and we’re committed to being faithful in our advocacy and being consistent in bringing these causes to light,” he vowed. “We wouldn’t be issuing this report if we didn’t believe that there are Christians and people close to the administration who have a deep desire to see these policy changes and what that entails.”
World Relief Vice President of Advocacy and Policy Matthew Soerens expressed hope that Trump would reimplement the policy of his first administration, where the president made “individuals who are fleeing religious persecution a priority within the refugee determination in 2019.”
© The Christian Post]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Most US Protestant churches have grown since 2023, survey finds]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/most-us-protestant-churches-have-grown-since-2023-survey-finds</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/most-us-protestant-churches-have-grown-since-2023-survey-finds</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[pews, church, christianity, church attendance]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2026 11:08:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A majority of US Protestant pastors say worship attendance at their churches has grown since 2023, with larger congregations recording the strongest growth.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Most Protestant churches in the US are growing, according to new data compiled by Lifeway Research.
In a survey of Protestant pastors in the US, sponsored by the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center, 54 per cent reported growth of at least four per cent in their average worship service attendance since 2023. Almost a third (30 per cent) reported no growth, while only 16 per cent said their church had declined by four per cent or more.
On average, Protestant worship services were attended by 183 people, up from an average of 176 in 2023.
However there is a wide spread of data, with 32 per cent of pastors saying their congregation was between 100 and 249 people and just over a quarter (27 per cent) reporting congregations of 50-99. Around a fifth (22 per cent) were preaching to fewer than 50, while 18 per cent had over 250 people joining the service. These figures were comparable to those of 2023.
Scott McConnell, Executive Director of Lifeway Research, commented, “Given the trajectory of many churches before COVID, we expected to see more pastors reporting declines in attendance.
“However, we continue to see a majority of pastors saying their attendance is higher than two years ago.”
Churches of over 250 were the most likely to report growth (70 per cent), followed by churches in the 100-249 bracket (64 per cent), while churches of between 50 and 99 were more likely to be declining.
However, the figures suggest that the smallest churches may be more likely to stabilise than decline, with 43 per cent of those with fewer than 50 worshippers reporting little or no change in attendance.
The figures also suggested differing patterns by denomination. Pentecostals were the most likely to experience growth (63 per cent), followed by Baptists and non-denominationals at 57 per cent each.
Meanwhile, Lutherans were the most likely to have plateaued (37 per cent), while 26 per cent of Methodist congregations reported decline.
Last month separate research from the American Bible Society suggested that American churchgoers are satisfied with their experience at church, giving an average score of 8/10. However, the same research also suggested that most self-identifying Christians go to church less than once a month.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Bethel Church leader Bill Johnson remarries in private ceremony]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/bethel-church-leader-bill-johnson-remarries-in-private-ceremony</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/bethel-church-leader-bill-johnson-remarries-in-private-ceremony</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Katelyn Webb]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/91/99121.png">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Bill Johnson]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: YouTube/Kenneth Copeland Ministries) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Bethel Church senior pastor Bill Johnson speaks at the Southwest Believers Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 15:08:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Bethel Church Senior Leader Bill Johnson has married Linda Francoeur, four years after the death of his first wife, Beni Johnson, following a lengthy battle with cancer.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Bethel Church Senior Leader Bill Johnson has married Linda Francoeur, four years after the death of his first wife, Beni Johnson, following a lengthy battle with cancer.
The couple were married Aug. 18 in a private ceremony, one month after the longtime pastor proposed during his birthday celebration. Kris Vallotton, a senior leader at the Redding, California-based charismatic church, reportedly officiated the ceremony, according to a report from Protestia. 
The marriage comes shortly after Johnson publicly announced his engagement while speaking at Kenneth Copeland's Southwest Believers' Convention. Johnson, 75, who is currently on a four-month sabbatical from Bethel, asked Francoeur to stand as he shared the news with attendees. 
“I am engaged to be married,” Johnson told the crowd, which erupted in cheers at the news. “We are getting married very soon. … we’re keeping it hush-hush on the dates.”
Johnson said he proposed July 18, his 75th birthday, after seeing the close relationship Francoeur had developed with his children and extended family.
“We have such an incredible time as a family. … Linda loves my family so much, my family is so crazy about her that I thought, ‘I’m going to do the unusual. I’m going to propose at my birthday party,’” he said.
Johnson said he got down on one knee to ask Francoeur to marry him in front of his family, adding that his children enthusiastically welcomed the engagement.
“And I went down on a knee. I’m not going to right now, but I went down on a knee. If I do it now with tears and all, I’ll be a mess,” he told the crowd as Francoeur blew him kisses. “So, but anyway, I asked her to marry me and my kids just cheered and just went, ‘This is great.’ Yeah. So, so fun.”
Johnson also previously shared news of the engagement with the Bethel congregation, describing Francoeur as a woman of “deep, deep compassion” with “great wisdom and discernment” who had become “a great strength” in his life.
At the time, the pastor stressed that his relationship with Francoeur wasn’t an attempt to replace Beni, his wife of more than four decades.
“She’s not going to be filling Beni’s shoes. That’s impossible,” Johnson said. “Beni took her shoes with her, and Linda has her own shoes to fill.”
Beni Johnson died in July 2022 at age 67 following a yearslong battle with cancer. She and Johnson had three children and 11 grandchildren and had co-led Bethel beginning in 1996.
Beni Johnson was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2018 after doctors discovered two lumps in her right breast. The lumps were removed, but doctors later discovered she had a BR2 gene mutation that placed her at increased risk for developing cancer.
As her condition worsened in 2022, Bethel launched a 24/7 prayer campaign for her healing. She underwent chemotherapy before being moved to at-home hospice care shortly before her death.
“We continue to stand with the Johnsons for Beni’s complete healing,” the church said at the time. “Medicine is a blessing and a great help, but in this moment we need a miracle from the Lord.”
Following her death, Bill Johnson shared a photo of his wife on social media with the words, “Healthy and Free.”
Bethel Church, which has drawn thousands of attendees to its Redding campus and international ministry, is known for its emphasis on supernatural healing, prophecy and other charismatic practices. Bill Johnson has served as a senior leader at the church since 1996.
© The Christian Post]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Cory Asbury takes down shirtless photo after backlash]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/cory-asbury-takes-down-shirtless-photo-after-backlash</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/cory-asbury-takes-down-shirtless-photo-after-backlash</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Ryan Foley]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/8/81/88167.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Cory Asbury]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Facebook/CoryAsburyMusic ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Cory Asbury wrote the song "Reckless Love." ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 10:54:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Christian singer Cory Asbury has taken down a shirtless picture of himself after receiving criticism that it lacked modesty and could be a stumbling block for others.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Christian singer Cory Asbury has taken down a shirtless picture of himself after receiving criticism that it lacked modesty and could be a stumbling block for others.
In an apology video posted on Instagram Thursday, Asbury addressed the controversy surrounding a photo he shared of himself posing beside fellow Christian musician Forrest Frank and a friend named Tony. 
“Honestly, I didn’t think much of it,” he said. “My heart was just to share highlights of the culture that we were [experiencing] on the road. … It was about mind, body, soul, health. So we were working out a lot, and one of those days, we were just looking at the progress and going, ‘Man … we’ve come a long way.’” 
“There was no intention for anyone to stumble or be a block of offense at all,” he added. “I guess there was a little controversy over that on the internet.”
The three men agreed to take the picture down because “that doesn’t need to live on the internet as a thing of offense that could possibly be a stumbling block.” 
“I realize a lot of different people share a lot of different opinions on modesty, and maybe one day we’ll weigh in on that, but for now, we just want to go ahead and take that down,” he added. 
Asbury also clarified that he was the one who posted the picture, not Frank. “I posted that photo,” he said. “It was from my account, so lay off my boy.”
“I just want to humbly, before everyone, say ‘I’m sorry,’” Asbury said, stressing that he “didn’t want it to be a thing” and “didn’t want it to offend anyone at all.
"It’s down. It’s gone. Push on toward the end goal of loving Jesus with humility.” 
The picture Asbury posted was one of several images included as part of a recap of his tour with Frank and other Christian artists called “The Jesus Generation Tour.”
The tour, which was designed to provide “a powerful night of music, worship and community,” consisted of stops in 29 cities with Frank as the headliner. All stops on the tour featured the Figs greeting fans as they arrived, Asbury leading worship and Christian musician Tori Kelly introducing Frank. 
The Jesus Generation Tour kicked off on June 1 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and concluded on Aug. 1 in Arlington, Texas. It included stops in 22 states.
© The Christian Post]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[US churches healthier than expected despite ‘massive discipleship gap’ – new study]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/us-churches-healthier-than-expected-despite-massive-discipleship-gap-new-study</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/us-churches-healthier-than-expected-despite-massive-discipleship-gap-new-study</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/86/98669.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[woman, Bible, Christianity, faith, Bible study, women]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 10:39:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[American churches are receiving high marks from those who regularly enter their pews, despite new research showing that more than half of self-identifying Christians attend services less than once a month.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
American churches are receiving high marks from those who regularly enter their pews, despite new research showing that more than half of self-identifying Christians attend services less than once a month.
The latest findings from the American Bible Society’s ‘State of the Bible USA 2026,’ which focuses on church health, suggest a mixed picture of the Church in the United States, with relatively strong levels of satisfaction among churchgoers contrasting with continued disengagement among large numbers of Christians.
The research was carried out over a three-week period in January, in partnership with National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago, and based on responses from 2,649 adults. 
It found that just a quarter of Americans attend a Christian church service each week, while 37% say they do not take part in church services at all, whether physically or virtually. 
Among those who identify as Christian, 49% attend at least monthly. However, there are some indications that occasional churchgoing is increasing. 
The proportion of Americans attending “about every six months” has risen from 5% in 2024 to 8% this year, while the proportion who never attend has fallen slightly from 39% to 37%, amounting to around eight million more Americans attending church at least occasionally.
Attendance also varies considerably between Christian traditions, with Evangelical Protestants showing the strongest levels of participation.
Two thirds of Evangelical Protestants attend church at least once a month, while half are classified by researchers as “practising Christians” - those who go to church at least once a month and regard their faith as a central part of their lives.
Black Protestants had the next highest proportion of practising Christians, at a third, compared with just 14% of Mainline Protestants.
By contrast, 65% of Mainline Protestants and 60% of Roman Catholics were classified as “nominal” Christians, indicating a sizable gap between identifying with a Christian tradition and regularly participating in church life.
The research also found differences according to age and gender. Christian women were more likely than Christian men to attend at least monthly (51% vs 46%). More than half of Christian men (54%) attend less than monthly and one in 10 do not attend church at all. 
A fifth of male churchgoers participate in services online for at least half of their attendance, rising to 30% among female churchgoers.
There were also signs of changing attendance patterns between generations. 
Gen X recorded an increase in monthly churchgoing, from 49% in 2024 to 54% this year, while attendance among younger Christians remains a particular challenge. 
Gen Z was the only generation to see a decline, with the proportion attending church at least monthly falling from 46% in 2024 to 42% today.
Despite the wider attendance gap, the findings were considerably more positive when researchers examined the experiences of people who do participate in church.
Churchgoers were asked to rate their congregations on five areas of church health - whether their church challenges them to grow spiritually; helps them understand the Bible more deeply; provides opportunities for growth through relationships; fosters a culture of serving the community; and their pastor models spiritual growth.
Across the five measures, churchgoers gave their churches an average score of 8 out of 10, with 10 being the most common individual response.
A strong relationship between active participation in Christianity, engagement with Scripture and satisfaction with church life was identified in the study. 
Across the five measures of church health, 56% of practising Christians were “very satisfied”, compared with 15% of casual Christians and 16% of nominal Christians.
The difference was particularly pronounced when respondents were asked whether their church helped them understand the Bible more deeply, with 65% of practising Christians reporting that they were very satisfied, compared with 18% among the other groups.
Those classified as “Scripture Engaged” also reported some of the highest levels of satisfaction. 
Nearly three-quarters (74%) said they were “very satisfied” with how effectively their pastor demonstrates and encourages spiritual growth.
Church leadership appeared to play an important role in encouraging this engagement. 
Around two-thirds of churchgoers agreed that their leaders encourage them to read the Bible and help make Scripture relevant to their lives.
A majority (89%) of those reporting the highest levels of satisfaction with their church “agree or strongly agree” that they received encouragement from church leaders to engage with the Bible.
The findings were less positive among Gen Z men, who consistently reported lower levels of satisfaction with their churches than other demographic groups, suggesting that “something churches are doing across America isn’t connecting with the young men sitting in the pews - and their spiritual growth is suffering because of it”.
When asked whether their church gave them a deeper understanding of Scripture, Gen Z women gave an average rating of 7.9 out of 10, compared with 6.9 among Gen Z men.
“Church leaders need to think about how to approach and engage these young men,” Bible Society said. 
“As we have seen time and again in our research, Bible engagement is one of the most effective catalysts for spiritual growth. How can churches and ministries invest in young men’s spiritual formation and activate them in the local church body?” 
The American Bible Society said the findings suggest that while the US continues to face a significant gap between Christian identification and active participation in church, congregations are having a positive spiritual impact on many of those who regularly take part.
It stated: “Though there’s a massive discipleship gap in America, individual churches are healthier than we might expect.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Over 80% of US pastors have considered leaving ministry – survey]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/over-80-of-us-pastors-have-considered-leaving-ministry-survey</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/over-80-of-us-pastors-have-considered-leaving-ministry-survey</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Christian man, faith, Bible, prayer, pastor]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 06:56:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Over 80% of pastors in the United States have contemplated stepping away from pastoral ministry at some point during the last five years, with problems surrounding church culture emerging as a leading factor, according to a new survey.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Over 80% of pastors in the United States have contemplated stepping away from pastoral ministry at some point during the last five years, with problems surrounding church culture emerging as a leading factor, according to a new survey.
The Culture Resurrection Index (CRI), commissioned by Virginia pastor and leadership coach Jared Fabac, surveyed 1,000 pastors about some of the challenges they face in church leadership.
It found that more than four in five (82%) respondents had thought about ending their pastoral ministry in the past five years. 
Among those who had considered leaving, 74% identified culture as the most significant factor. 
The findings suggest that difficulties surrounding leadership, staff relationships and organisational culture may be playing an important role in pastors questioning their future in ministry.
Nearly two-thirds (63%) said they had never received training in how to give difficult feedback effectively, while over three quarters (77%) said they would have valued more training in how leaders can model and develop a healthy culture within their churches.
Fabac, lead pastor of One City Church in Virginia Beach, said pastors can find themselves responsible for managing difficult organisational and interpersonal situations without having been adequately prepared for them.
He said: “Pastors aren’t leaving because they lost their faith. They’re leaving because no one taught them how to lead a broken staff, run a hard meeting, or model a healthy culture. Seminary trains the sermon. It rarely trains the system.”
The findings come amid wider concern about burnout, conflict and declining wellbeing among clergy.
Research from Barna Group published last month found that 52% of US Protestant senior pastors said their mental and physical health was an area in which they most needed support. 
While pastoral exhaustion has improved from pandemic-era lows, the proportion describing themselves as “very satisfied” with their vocation has fallen from 72% in 2015 to 52% in early 2026.
Separate research published by Lifeway Research last year found that conflict and burnout were among the reasons given by former Protestant pastors for leaving pastoral ministry. 
Of 730 former pastors surveyed, 18% identified conflict within a church and 16% said burnout, although the most common reason was a change in calling, cited by 40%.
Similar pressures have also been identified among clergy in England. 
The Church of England’s long-running Living Ministry research found persistent concerns around burnout, isolation, low morale and financial pressures. 
In its most recent survey, 40% of clergy reported experiencing isolation in their ministry, while almost three in 10 recorded symptoms indicating possible or probable depression.
The Church of England research suggested that the nature and organisation of ministry itself can contribute to burnout, with administrative burdens, parish finances and responsibility for church buildings among recurring sources of stress.
Despite these pressures, its findings also showed that many clergy continue to find a strong sense of purpose in their work, with 72% believed they were living out their calling through their ministry]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Jen Hatmaker says she no longer believes in Hell]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/jen-hatmaker-says-she-no-longer-believes-in-hell</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/jen-hatmaker-says-she-no-longer-believes-in-hell</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Gryboski]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/80/98084.png">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Jen Hatmaker]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: YouTube / Jen Hatmaker) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Jen Hatmaker ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:42:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Jen Hatmaker, a prominent progressive Christian influencer and bestselling author who quit attending church last year, now says she no longer believes in Hell.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Jen Hatmaker, a prominent progressive Christian influencer and bestselling author who quit attending church last year, now says she no longer believes in Hell.
In an essay posted on her Substack last week, titled "There You Are. Laying down my belief in hell didn't cost me my faith — it rescued it," Hatmaker wrote about her Christian upbringing and growing up believing Hell existed. 
"From my first memory, all my ideas about God were tied to punishment," she wrote. "God was offended. God was punitive. God was vengeful. I was terrorized by an arbitrary, blood-thirsty God. We all were."
Hatmaker wrote that after a lengthy period of theological reflection, she had "quietly laid down my belief in a literal hell, and it is the best thing that ever happened to me."
She described the process as spanning "a couple of years of investigation," including formative conversations with fellow Christians, among them a lunch conversation roughly a decade ago with a friend she described as "verrrryyyyy prominent in evangelicalism."
“Rather than the crushing fear you might think I’d experience, I felt ten million pounds roll immediately off my shoulders. My head and heart came back into alignment, and my belief in God was rescued,” she wrote.
“Now love made sense. Everything about God made sense. I was no longer trying to maintain allegiance to a tyrant who willingly sent most of the world he created to an eternal fiery torment.”
Hatmaker asked what “if instead of assigning the darkest, cruelest, most murderous human traits to God, we understood he was the absolute best of every good trait times a million?”
She claimed that a faith without Hell is “purged of judgment, since we no longer get to be excited about sneering at people from heaven while they scream and burn and saying AMEN.”
“Self-importance and self-righteousness don’t make sense anymore,” she continued. “We’d have to purge our faith instruction of fear and shame-based threats. We could finally hang up our very embarrassing tools of evangelizing and proselytizing, and just be good, normal neighbors.”
While drawing this theological conclusion, Hatmaker wrote that she "won't go into the scholarship, which is massive, or the exegesis, which is thorough and serious," nor was she going to "list the endless theologians who have interpreted the few scriptures on 'hell' through a rigorous cultural and linguistic lens and come to a totally different conclusion."
In Christian theology, Hell is the place where people who do not accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior go to after they die, to be eternally separated from God.
In an entry about the subject, the apologetics website Got Questions noted that the Bible “explicitly teaches that hell is a real place to which the wicked/unbelieving are sent after death” and that “reality of hell was taught by Jesus.”
“The punishment of the wicked in hell is as never-ending as the bliss of the righteous in heaven. Jesus Himself indicates that punishment in hell is just as everlasting as life in heaven (Matthew 25:46),” explained the site.
Got Questions quoted noted pastor and theologian Alistair Begg: “Is Jesus Christ true in what He says? And if we start from that premise, then we simply can’t excise the hard parts out of it. We’ve got to take him at his word. So that the most loving person who has ever lived spoke so straightforwardly about the awfulness of hell.”
Hatmaker first garnered controversy in Evangelical circles in 2016, when she expressed support for legalizing same-sex marriage. In response to the outcry, Lifeway stopped selling her books.
In 2020, Hatmaker announced that she and her husband, Brandon, were divorcing after 26 years of marriage. This was reportedly in response to her discovering infidelity on his part.
Last September, Time magazine published an interview with the popular social media influencer ahead of the release of her latest book in which she acknowledged that she had quit going to church.
"I'm out of the church right now. I don't know that I will ever go back, and I don't know that I will never go back," Hatmaker said. "My lifelong exposure has left me in a place where I know too much. I have been a part of the problem. So I need a break from the machine."
© The Christian Post]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Religion, immigration and abortion could shape key US Senate races, new polling suggests]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/religion-immigration-and-abortion-could-shape-key-us-senate-races-new-polling-suggests</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/religion-immigration-and-abortion-could-shape-key-us-senate-races-new-polling-suggests</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[America, USA, United States of America, Washington DC, Capitol]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:45:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Religious demographics vary considerably across the five battleground states and could influence voter behaviour.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
New polling suggests religion, immigration and abortion could shape key US Senate races in battleground states ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. 
Research by Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI)  highlights significant differences in public opinion across Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Ohio and Michigan.
The findings come from PRRI’s newly unveiled ‘Data and the 2026 Midterms’ project, which draws on its American Values Atlas to examine demographic and political trends in states expected to play a pivotal role in determining control of Congress.
According to PRRI, religious demographics vary considerably across the five battleground states and could influence voter behaviour.
Georgia and North Carolina have larger-than-average populations of white evangelical Protestants, a key Republican voting bloc, as well as moderately higher levels of Christian nationalist identification than the national average. 
Both states have Black Protestant populations that are double the national average, a demographic viewed as important to Democratic turnout.
Unlike Georgia and North Carolina, Michigan and Ohio are home to larger shares of white Catholics and white mainline Protestants. 
PRRI noted that these groups shifted towards Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election but said more recent polling indicates support for the president has significantly weakened.
Texas differs from the other battlegrounds because of its sizable Hispanic Christian population - 11% of Texans identify as Hispanic Protestants, while 18% identify as Hispanic Catholics, both figures being substantially above national averages.
The polling suggests Hispanic Christian communities could prove influential in the closely fought Texas Senate race. 
While Donald Trump made significant gains among Hispanic Christians during the 2024 election, PRRI said support has since declined among both Hispanic Protestants (from 64% to 37%) and Hispanic Catholics (from 43% to 23%). 
PRRI associated the fall in approval to concerns over the administration’s immigration policies, a shift that could present difficulties for Republican Senate candidate and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has been one of the strongest advocates of Trump's immigration agenda.
Abortion remains another issue likely to influence the midterm elections, according to PRRI.
Nationally, 61% of respondents supported legal abortion in all or most cases.
Support remained above a majority in each of the five battleground states, ranging from 55% in Texas to 64% in North Carolina.
The report noted that abortion laws currently differ significantly between the states, with Michigan offering extensive legal protections while Georgia and Texas have some of the country’s tightest restrictions.
Beyond electoral issues, the survey highlighted broader cultural divisions.
White evangelical Protestants were the only major religious group in which a majority (60%) agreed that “society has become too soft and feminine”.
The survey further found that white evangelical Protestants were the most likely to say American culture has deteriorated since the 1950s (67%), followed by Hispanic Protestants (58%), white Catholics and Hispanic Catholics (57% each), and white mainline Protestants (56%).]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Olivet University granted permanent land-use for Anza campus in unanimous Riverside County vote]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/olivet-university-granted-permanent-land-use-for-anza-campus-in-unanimous-riverside-county-vote</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/olivet-university-granted-permanent-land-use-for-anza-campus-in-unanimous-riverside-county-vote</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Ryan Foley]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/90/99085.png">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Olivet University]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Olivet University) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ The main gate of Olivet University's 1,000-acre campus in Anza, California — one of the largest Christian university campuses in the state. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 08 Aug 2026 10:08:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Olivet University has been granted a permanent legal right, with no expiration date, to operate its educational campus in Anza, California, following a unanimous 5-0 vote by the Riverside County Planning Commission and strong support from neighbors and the community.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Olivet University has been granted a permanent legal right, with no expiration date, to operate its educational campus in Anza, California, following a unanimous 5-0 vote by the Riverside County Planning Commission and strong support from neighbors and the community.
“We appreciate the Planning Commission and the County staff for their professionalism and collaboration throughout this process,” said Jonathan Park, president of Olivet University. “We are also grateful to our neighbors who took their time to express their support. Their encouragement and confidence in our mission mean a great deal to us.”
The Riverside County Planning Commission approved Olivet University’s plot plan on Wednesday, giving the Christian university a formal land-use entitlement for its 1,000-acre campus. Previously, OU operated its Anza campus under a public use permit with a 50-year expiration date. The approval of the plot plan authorizes OU’s continued educational use of its Anza campus with no expiration date.
As part of the Riverside County Planning Commission’s formal review process, a public comment window allowed local Anza residents, business owners, and community leaders to weigh in on Olivet University’s application for permanent land use. The commission received 30 letters from the community, all in support of Olivet University’s plot plan, with zero opposition.
One letter came from Dennis Whitfield, vice president of the Community Hall Board, who voiced his support for OU’s plot plan, explaining, “The Olivet alumni, students and families have blended in with the Anza community and every year continue to support thru their personal participation of events and growth of this community. They are now an integral part of this community and their success is our success.”
Another longtime resident who submitted a public comment was Frank Miller, who said his “family has lived and/or owned land in Anza since 1956.”
“Regarding the proposed Plot Plan for Olivet University, the property in question is the only campus-like facility in Anza that can support a college, and my family and I consider education the highest and best use for the property,” Miller explained to the Riverside County Planning Commission. “Olivet University has been a good neighbor and has provided jobs and opportunities for local businesses. I urge you to support the proposed Plot Plan. The Anza community will benefit from having a land use designation that supports an educational institution.”
Meanwhile, local library branch manager James Wyatt described OU as a “big supporter of the Anza Public Library,” and Kevin Watson, a local Anza pastor, commended Olivet University for being “an active [partner] in serving our community through food banks and other functions such as church events.”
Reflecting on the plot plan’s approval, Nathanael Tran, chairman of the Olivet University Board of Trustees, said it will provide “greater certainty and stability for our students, faculty, staff, and the broader community as we continue our educational mission and future development.”
© The Christian Post]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Mums show support for abortion pill reversal against California lawsuit]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/mums-show-support-for-abortion-pill-reversal-against-california-lawsuit</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/mums-show-support-for-abortion-pill-reversal-against-california-lawsuit</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[pregnancy]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Unsplash) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 08 Aug 2026 08:41:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Californian officials have disputed the claims made about abortion pill reversal treatment.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Over 200 mothers who took treatment to counter the effects of an abortion pill have written an open letter in support of the Abortion Pill Rescue Network (APRN) and have denounced “efforts to characterize the provision of hope and information as misconduct”.
The letter centres on the issue of Abortion Pill Reversal (APR) treatment. When a pregnant woman takes the first of two abortion pills (mifepristone), she is essentially cutting off the supply of the hormone progesterone which maintains the pregnancy.
If a pregnant woman takes mifepristone and subsequently regrets it, taking progesterone can counter the effects of the mifepristone and make it possible for the pregnancy to continue.
However, the Attorney General of California, Rob Bonta, has initiated a lawsuit against APRN provider, Heartbeat International, accusing the group of false advertising, reports Life News.
Specifically, the case takes issue with claims that mifepristone can be “reversed” by progesterone, that APR is safe and effective, and that thousands of pregnancies have been saved by APR.
California is seeking to impose penalties on the group of up to $20m.
Heartbeat International has called the lawsuit an attempt to suppress its free speech and limit the ability of women to make informed choices. According to Heartbeat, as many as 8,000 babies have been saved by APR treatment.
In their letter of support for APR, the group of mothers say, “Every woman deserves access to accurate information about her pregnancy and the freedom to make informed decisions about her health. This includes women who, after beginning a chemical abortion, experience regret and seek information about whether there is a possibility of continuing their pregnancies.
“Regardless of one’s views on abortion, women facing life-altering decisions should never be denied information simply because others disagree with it. Nor should they be criticized, dismissed, or silenced for seeking help.”
Apparently referring to the lawsuit, the letter says, “Recent efforts to characterize the provision of hope and information as misconduct are deeply concerning. In a free society, women should be able to seek second opinions, ask questions, explore alternatives, and make decisions in consultation with healthcare professionals. Restricting access to information does not empower women. It limits their choices.”]]></content:encoded>
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