Appeals Court Overrules Judge’s Decision in California Church Case, Church Meets for Sunday Services Anyway
The legal battle continues for Pastor John MacArthur and his Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California.
Christian
Beirut Christian ministry in aftermath of explosion
In the immediate aftermath of the August 4 explosion which blasted through Beirut, Christian Arab broadcasting company SAT-7 Arabic Channels began ministering to the city’s devastated community, CBN News reports. SAT-7 broadcasts to around 30 million people in the Middle East and North Africa, sharing the Gospel in Arabic, Farsi and Turkish.
A ‘Holy Spirit Hunch’ Led Lebanese Pastor to Send Everyone Home Before the Explosion
Pastor Said Deeb of Life Center Church in Beirut said the day of the massive explosion, a strange feeling came over him – a combination of anxiety, anger, and sadness that shook him to the core. He said he prayed with his staff but didn’t get a break-through and couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen.
Only one in three Americans now believes salvation is through Christ alone
A recent survey has found that only 35% of Americans believe salvation is obtained through faith in Christ alone, while 48% believe salvation can be earned through being a good person, Arizona Christian University (ACU) reports.
DA declares California’s San Luis Obispo is a “sanctuary county” for worship gatherings
The central California county of San Luis Obispo has been declared a sanctuary for churches wanting to hold indoor services with singing amid COVID-19 concerns, the Christian Post reports. County District Attorney Dan Dow confirmed at the end of July that churches will not be prosecuted for going against state coronavirus restrictions on worship gatherings.
‘Salvations, Healings, Miracles and Baptisms’: Seattle Revival Thrives Despite Angry Protesters Shouting ‘Hail Satan!’
The power of God was on display in Seattle’s Cal Anderson Park on Sunday as hundreds of people gathered for the “Let Us Worship” rally organized by Bethel Music’s Sean Feucht.
Thousands attend Sean Feucht’s ‘Riots to Revival’ event in Portland: ‘Church is rising up’
Thousands attended California evangelist Sean Feucht’s “Riot to Revival” worship concerts this weekend in Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington, two cities that have been gripped by riots and protests in recent weeks.
Evangelical colleges cut over 230 staff positions due to financial concerns
Citing continuing financial concerns, evangelical colleges and universities around the country have canceled over 230 faculty and staff positions as they head into the fall semester, Christianity Today reports. More than 150 positions were eliminated in the spring and dozens more were cut over the summer.
Lebanese Christians Suffering More Misery After Deadly Beirut Blast
The Beirut blast that killed 160 people adds to the suffering of Christians who already face food shortages and social unrest due to the coronavirus crisis, aid workers say. Their warnings came shortly before the government resigned Monday amid public outcry over the explosion, triggered by ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse at the Beirut port.
California pastor holds services for 1,000 people in defiance of COVID-19 court order
Defying a California court order issued amid coronavirus concerns, the leader of Godspeak Calvary Chapel, Ventura County held indoor church services for around 1,000 people on Sunday, the Washington Examiner reports. Prior to holding the services, Pastor Rob McCoy described the county rules on indoor services as “draconian” and stated that no one in his church was infected with COVID-19.
Christian group launches online platform to help college students keep the faith
The Christian nonprofit group Campus Renewal has launched a new online platform to help address the issue that 70% of students leave their faith during their college years, the Christian Post reports. The Every Student Sent (ESS) initiative aims to connect students with other believers on their campus or to help them join churches and Gospel-based communities close to where they are studying.
Studio’s Christian Broadcaster Damaged In Beirut Blast
The only Arabic Christian broadcaster in Lebanon said Wednesday that it continued broadcasting despite suffering minor damages to its studios in Beirut, where a massive blast killed at least 135 people and injured 5,000 others.
Virtual Bible Translation Workshops Keep Projects Moving Forward, Despite Travel Restrictions and Targeting by Authorities
Wycliffe Associates, an international organization that empowers mother-tongue Bible translators and partners with local churches in the advancement of Bible translation, has developed a virtual rendition of its MAST (Mobilized Assistance Supporting Translation) methodology.
California churches rally against Newsom coronavirus restrictions
California churches this weekend rallied against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s worship restrictions as many pastors continue to disregard state-imposed bans on singing and indoor services.
California Christians gather for outdoor and indoor services in spite of coronavirus restrictions
Despite California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s COVID-19 lockdown measures, thousands of Christians have been gathering in both indoor and outdoor services across the state, Fox News reports.
Third church looks to Supreme Court for protection from state-ordered worship restrictions
A Chicago church on Tuesday announced its intentions to appeal to the Supreme Court, following an unfavorable ruling from an Illinois federal appeals court upholding Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s worship ban.
71% of churches meeting for in-person worship, study finds
For most U.S. congregations, in-person worship has returned to mid-March levels despite a nationwide rise in coronavirus cases, a new report says.
More than a thousand gather for religious service on California beach after church closures
More than a thousand people gathered on a beach in California to hold a worship service while churches are closed over coronavirus concerns.
California Christians take to the streets to minister the Gospel as indoor services are banned
While some California Christian leaders have filed lawsuits because state coronavirus measures ban indoor church services, others have seen their congregations grow dramatically in size as Gospel ministry has been forced out of buildings, CBN News reports.
Americans’ Bible engagement dramatically declining amid COVID-19: survey
The coronavirus pandemic has affected Americans’ Bible engagement, with the number of U.S. adults who read Scripture declining drastically amid the outbreak, a recent study found.