Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias dies of cancer at 74 dies of cancer at 74
by: Emily McFarlan Miller May 19, 2020 (RNS) — Popular Christian evangelist and apologist Ravi Zacharias died Tuesday morning (May 19) at age 74, a few months after being diagnosed with cancer. Zacharias rose to prominence in 1983 when he was invited by Billy Graham to speak at the inaugural International Conference for Itinerant Evangelists in Amsterdam, according to an obituary published by the ministry Zacharias founded. In his message, he pleaded with Christians not to try to “humiliate” those with different worldviews. “When you are trying to reach someone, please be sensitive to what he holds valuable,” he said.Read More
The protesters appeared to be acting peacefully before they were dispersed by force.
Trump’s Bible walk to church was an act of ‘sacrilege,’ says former Bush advisor
by: Alejandra Molina June 1, 2020 (RNS) — Posing for the cameras, President Donald Trump held a Bible at St. John’s Church near the White House on Monday evening afterRead More
[T]he decision to require worshipers to wear masks stems from research...
Churches grapple with whether to require masks
by Tobin Perry/Southern Baptist TEXAN HOUSTON, May 26, 2020 (BP) — Listening to the discussion surrounding the reopening of churches, Steve Bezner could see much of it revolved around aRead More
Updated listing... 05/03/20
Aurora churches Online/Live Streaming of Sunday worship (as of 5/29/20)
Listings of Aurora Churches Online/Live Streaming of Sunday Worship Service ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ First Presbyterian Church www.firstpresaurora.org/live-streaming-sermons 10:00 a.m. Warehouse Church www.warehousechurch.org/onlineworship 10:00 a.m. Flowing Forth United Methodist Church www.flowingforthumc.org recorded accessRead More
Saturday (May 30) at 5:30 p.m., Martin plans to join an interdenominational group of pastors in a prayer vigil...
Minneapolis pastor leads in peaceful protests after Floyd’s death
by Diana Chandler MINNEAPOLIS, May 29, 2020 (BP) — Pastor W. Seth Martin sat on guard in his front room until 3 a.m. Friday in case rioters approached his home,Read More
[A]n Indian-Canadian named Ravi Zacharias was beginning to see that Western culture was fast becoming a "post-Christendom" society...
Opinion: How Ravi Zacharias changed the way evangelism is done
by: Paul O’Donnell (Tim Keller) May 29, 2020 (RNS) — When I began my pastoral ministry in southeastern Virginia in the 1980s, that part of the United States was stillRead More
We need to look at our preaching and teaching and use this as an opportunity to insert into our preaching and teaching the elements of justice and reconciliation...
Efrem Smith on the death of George Floyd and what divides white and black Christians
by: Bob Smietana May 29, 2020 (RNS) — Watching the video of George Floyd’s death broke the Rev. Efrem Smith’s heart. Again. Floyd died slowly as a police officer constrictedRead More
Lower courts in California had previously turned down the churches' requests.
Supreme Court rejects challenge to limits on church services
by: Paul O’DonnellWASHINGTON, May 30, 2020 (AP) — A divided Supreme Court on Friday rejected an emergency appeal by a California church that challenged state limits on attendance at worshipRead More
Why did Darwish fail so miserably in one of the most densely populated Arab congressional districts in the state?
Hesham Shehab: Palestinian-American Congressional Candidate Loses Big in Illinois’ ‘Little Palestine’ District
By Hesham Shehab Palestinian-American Rashad “Rush” Darwish was the first Muslim Palestinian to run for elected office in Illinois’ 3rd congressional district, an area comprising Chicago’s southern suburbs and “LittleRead More
Editor's Links of Interest
Immigrants with COVID-19 may hesitate to go to hospitals – Chicago Sun-Times
Holy Cross nurse has advice for homebound sufferers facing ‘a beast nobody can control.’ Read Neil Steinberg’s column in the Chicago Sun-Times: Immigrants with COVID-19 may hesitate to go toRead More
In August of 2017, he (Dr. Willie Wilson) did a gospel benefit concert for the FVCMA scholarship fund...
Chicago philanthropist donates 10,000 masks to Aurora churches
AURORA, Ill., May 25, 2020 — On a real hot Sunday of the spring, in the church parking lot of First Presbyterian Church, 10,000 ‘surgical’ masks were distributed to someRead More
Editor's Links of Interest
One-third of attendees at Arkansas church events contracted COVID-19 – The Hill
Thirty-eight percent of people who attended events at an Arkansas church over a six-day period in March contracted COVID-19, according to a report released Tuesday by the Centers for DiseaseRead More
The effort already has 20 local congregations (partner churches) spanning multiple denominations...
Tallahassee churches to hold citywide virtual VBS
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., May 22, 2020 (BP) — The vision at Bradfordville First Baptist Church is to make disciples who love upward, inward and outward. And this summer, the “outward” componentRead More
Through the Churches Helping Churches initiative, a relief fund was set up to provide $3,000 grants to churches at risk...
More than $689,000 raised for small churches at risk of closure during COVID-19
by: Alejandra MolinaMay 22, 2020 (RNS) — The coronavirus pandemic hit pastor Kato Hart’s Detroit storefront church hard. Finances dwindled to almost nothing. Rent and utility bills went unpaid. AllRead More
Chicago houses of worship cope with COVID-19
Chicago clergy on seeking God in the age of COVID-19: ‘The church has left the building’ (LIVE UPDATES) – Chicago Sun-Times
Here’s what’s happening today in the continuing spread of coronavirus and its ripple effects in Chicago and Illinois. Read the article at Chicago Sun-Times: Chicago clergy on seeking God inRead More
The president said that if governors do not allow houses of worship to open, he will "override" them...
Trump declares places of worship ‘essential,’ setting up standoff with governors
by: Jack Jenkins WASHINGTON, May 22, 2020 (RNS) — President Donald Trump has unveiled new guidance classifying houses of worship as “essential services” and insisting that governors allow faith groupsRead More
All of us should choose to continue to refrain from holding indoor services at this time.
Aurora responds to Trump’s demand to open churches
———- City of Aurora May 23, 2020 Community News Release A MESSAGE FOR AURORA’S FAITH COMMUNITY During these unprecedented and uncertain times, our community has come together as only weRead More
In any case, mainstream Islamic scholars believe that, according to the Quran, that the first direction of ritual Islamic prayers (Salat) was Jerusalem.
Hesham Shehab: Jerusalem Day: Religious Symbols and Mass Mobilization
This Friday, May 22, 2020, Arabs and Muslims celebrate International Jerusalem Day. Since it will undoubtedly include anti-Israeli demonstrations and religious-political propaganda, it is important to dispel some myths aboutRead More
