Good News for Today

 Episode 580

Texas-based ministry serving in Haiti; Many cite rise in hatred against Jews, Muslims during Israel-Hamas War, study says; How to support missionaries as they serve

Texas-based ministry feeding the hungry in Haiti in Jesus’ name; Pew Study reports increase of awareness of antisemitism in light of Israel-Hamas War; How can a church care for a missionary sent to the field?

Host

Brandon Porter

Resources

Texas on Mission serves in Haiti

Many cite rise in hatred against Jews, Muslims during Israel-Hamas War

International Mission Board

Caring for missionaries on the field

Transcript

Serving people in need sometimes requires a change in plans. Texans on Mission’s long-time ministry partner in Haiti shifted gears in recent days to respond to immediate hunger needs.

“Hunger has not been our focus” in Haiti, said Ernie Rice of Stockdale, Texas. “But right now, it is just a desperate situation. … Haiti is full of hungry people.”

Rice’s work in Haiti began through the group’s response to a 2010 earthquake that killed as many as 300,000 people. Since then his nonprofit – Good for Haiti – has focused on working with a church in the mountains by supporting general and technical education, along with strengthening the Christian presence in an area once dominated by voodoo practices.

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Many Americans believe antisemitism and islamophobia have increased during the past three years and is especially driven by the Israel-Hamas War, Pew Research said in a study released April 2.

Concurrently, most Americans believe rhetoric supporting or opposing Israel statehood or Zionism should be allowed, Pew said. But an overwhelming majority, 73 percent, oppose calls for violence against Jews and Muslims.

The share of Americans who believe antisemitism is prevalent doubled from 20 percent in 2021 to 40 percent in 2024; while similar perceptions of islamophobia rose from 39 percent to 44 percent during the same period.

Jews and Muslims themselves say they sense the hatred, Pew said. Ninety percent of Jews, 70 percent of Muslims and 64 percent of Arabs expressed an increase in discrimination against their respective groups since the war began. Numbers have supported their feelings.

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Every day, hundreds of thousands of people die without the hope of Jesus. Your faithful prayers will make a difference. That’s why the IMB created a free 18-month calendar, called “Impacting Lostness Through Prayer”. It provides guidance, reminders and encouragement as you pray for individuals and communities who have yet to hear the gospel. Learn more about this free resource at IMB.org/prayercalendar.

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What happens to missionaries once they leave our churches?

First, it’s important to remember missionaries are normal people who face normal problems. You struggle with physical health, family stress, sick kids, financial pressure, and job pressures. Missionaries face these same problems. However, whereas you jump in a car and visit your ...

 Episode 579

Florida Supreme Court rules in two abortion cases; Evangelicals lean conservative, survey says; Malcolm Yarnell shares joys of Jesus’ resurrection

Florida Supreme Court rules in 15-week abortion ban bill and allows issues to be placed on November ballot for Constitutional vote; Survey says most evangelicals lean toward conservative or moderate views on political issues; SWBTS prof Malcolm Yarnell shares how God continues to worth through Jesus Christ’s resurrection

Host

Brandon Porter

Resources

Florida Supreme Court rules in abortion cases

Evangelicals are diverse but lean conservative

International Mission Board

Yarnell on the joys of the resurrection

Transcript

A six-week abortion ban with exceptions will be implemented in Florida, but voters will also have the option of enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution in November.

The changes flow from two Florida Supreme Court rulings April 1. The first, which upheld a 15-week ban, also means that Florida will be able to implement a six-week ban that Gov. Ron DeSantis has already signed into law. The ban most supportive of life also includes exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. Both the 15-week and six-week bans were on hold awaiting the court’s decision.

In its second April 1 ruling, the court allowed a proposed amendment to be included on Florida’s Nov. 5th ballot to enshrine abortion rights in Florida’s constitution.

With the court’s ruling, Florida becomes the second state – behind Maryland – to include on the November ballot a challenge to the right to life that would enshrine abortion rights in the respective state’s constitution.

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More than a third of evangelicals describe themselves as politically moderate or liberal, a new study found, but most across the evangelical spectrum profess the same bible-based beliefs and practices.

63 percent of evangelicals described themselves as politically conservative in the study,” 24 percent described themselves as “in the middle” or moderate, 13 percent describe themselves as liberal according to a Grey Matters Research and Infinity Concepts study.

Evangelicals also believe pastors and churches should be publicly engaged in various politically connected issues that overlap with biblical values.

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Every day, hundreds of thousands of people die without the hope of Jesus. Your faithful prayers will make a difference. That’s why the IMB created a free 18-month calendar, called “Impacting Lostness Through Prayer”. It provides guidance, reminders and encouragement as you pray for individuals and communities who have yet to hear the gospel. Learn more about this free resource at IMB.org/prayercalendar.

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Though we are days away from Easter Sunday, the power of the resurrection is still as strong as ever. Malcolm Yarnell says there are multiple reasons for joy related to Christ’s resurrection. Here are three:

The Gift of the Holy Spirit: Jesus promised that he wo...

 Episode 577

ServeTour Dallas makes Gospel impact; Christian leaders react to Biden proclamation; Learning to wait in prayer

More than 40 churches partnered with the North American Mission Board in Dallas in mid-March for the Send Tour where dozens were impacted; Christian leaders are reacting to Pres. Biden’s pro-transgender proclamation that conincided with Easter Sunday; Kie Bowman says that believers should act God to respond to the their prayers suddenly but that may not mean quickly.

Host

Brandon Porter

Resources

Serve Tour Dallas

Christian react to Biden proclamation

International Mission Board

Waiting on a sudden answer in prayer

Transcript

A group of local churches joined the Send Relief Serve Tour event in Dallas to serve those in need and open doors for Gospel conversations.

Over the course of the weekend of March 15-16, 48 churches from across nine states convened in Dallas to make a tangible impact in the community.

Serve Tour Dallas generated more than 520 Gospel conversations, which led to at least 34 people professing faith in Christ.

On one of the projects, volunteers partnered with Bartimaeus Baptist Temple, a church serving individuals with disabilities, as the congregation hosted its first outreach event in at least 15 years. The project resulted in five new believers and created a lasting partnership with the church.

Send Relief Serve Tour projects spanned a wide range of activities, from providing material assistance to schools, churches and homeowners to other forms of outreach in the community.

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President Joe Biden is facing backlash from religious conservatives for proclaiming March 31 – which coincided with Easter Sunday this year – as “Transgender Day of Visibility.”

Biden issued the proclamation on Good Friday, calling on “all Americans to join us in lifting up the lives and voices of transgender people throughout our Nation and to work toward eliminating violence and discrimination based on gender identity.”

On his daily podcast “The Briefing,” Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler said Biden’s long proclamation juxtaposed with his very short one about Easter make the White House’s priorities “abundantly clear.”

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Every day, hundreds of thousands of people die without the hope of Jesus. Your faithful prayers will make a difference. That’s why the IMB created a free 18-month calendar, called “Impacting Lostness Through Prayer”. It provides guidance, reminders and encouragement as you pray for individuals and communities who have yet to hear the gospel. Learn more about this free resource at IMB.org/prayercalendar.

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In our Toolbox, scholar Malcolm Yarnell gives us seven reasons the resurrection brings joy to Christians. Here are three of them.

1. Justification: Paul writes that Jesus was raised from the dead to justif...

 Episode 577

Louisiana Reach Haiti Celebrates Safe Return, Baptists Cooperate to Help Texas Ranchers & Reasons to Rejoice in the Resurrection

Four weeks after they became trapped in Port-au-Prince, two staff members of Louisiana Reach Haiti (LRH) have made it safely to the ministry’s Children’s Village in Cap Haitien. Now that wildfires are under control in the northern panhandle of Texas, what about the cattle? Texas is home to some 11 million head of cattle, more than 85% located in the Panhandle, according to the Texas Department of Agriculture. And, in our Toolbox, scholar Malcolm Yarnell gives us seven reasons the resurrection brings joy to Christians. Here are three of them.

Host

Brandon Porter

Resources

UPDATE: Louisiana Reach Haiti celebrates safe return of staff members

DR DIGEST: Baptists cooperate to help Texas ranchers; NC DR celebrates 40 years

International Mission Board

Seven reasons you can rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus Christ

Transcript

Four weeks after they became trapped in Port-au-Prince, two staff members of Louisiana Reach Haiti (LRH) have made it safely to the ministry’s Children’s Village in Cap Haitien.

Darrin Badon, president of Louisiana Reach Haiti, said the women left on a bus from the capital city early March 26 and took the eight-hour bus ride for a long-awaited reunion with the children and staff at the Children’s Village. They had been living in a relative’s home since March 4, when gang activity forced them to remain inside the house.

Badon expressed gratitude for the many prayers on the behalf of the women and the children and other staff of Louisiana Reach Haiti.
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Now that wildfires are under control in the northern panhandle of Texas, what about the cattle? Texas is home to some 11 million head of cattle, more than 85% located in the Panhandle, according to the Texas Department of Agriculture. Tens of thousands of head were affected by the fires which burned more than a million acres.

Send Relief, the Salvation Army, Texas A&M AgriLife agents and more have been helping deliver and distribute hay for the animals.

A large corporation requesting anonymity also sent three semis with trailers to Arkansas to get feed. The effort is ongoing.

“It’s been a huge cooperative effort meeting a real need in West Texas,” Stice said. “This illustrates how Baptist DR teams and like-minded organizations can partner to get the Lord’s work done.”
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Every day, hundreds of thousands of people die without the hope of Jesus. Your faithful prayers will make a difference. That’s why the IMB created a free 18-month calendar, called “Impacting Lostness Through Prayer”. It provides guidance, reminders and encouragement as you pray for individuals and communities who have yet to hear the gospel. Learn more about this free resource at IMB.org/prayercalendar.

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In our Toolbox, scholar Malcolm Yarnell gives us seven reasons the resurrection brings joy to Christians. Here are three of them.

1. Justification: Paul writes that Jesus was raised from the dead to justify believers (Romans 4:25). In other words, we can come into the presence of the divine throne of judgment and know that ...

 Episode 576

Scientist Uses Resurrection to Lead Hundreds to Christ, God’s Design Best Learned in Church & Good Friday

Professor James Tour of Rice University uses his expertise in nanotechnology to engage in deep discussions about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. God’s design for human sexuality is better learned in the church through the Scriptures than on TikTok. That’s what Nick Moore, the pastor at First Church in Gatlinburg, Tennessee says. And, today is Good Friday. It’s the day Christians remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on a Roman cross.

Host

Brandon Porter

Resources

Scientist uses resurrection to lead hundreds to Christ

Sexuality: God’s design best learned in church, not TikTok

International Mission Board

Transcript

Professor James Tour of Rice University uses his expertise in nanotechnology to engage in deep discussions about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Inviting skeptics via Zoom and in person, he offers evidence for the resurrection, leading many to faith. With a notable scientific career, Tour prioritizes sharing the Gospel, emphasizing the importance of belief in Jesus' resurrection and lordship. He advises new believers to study the Bible, highlighting that even small faith can grow.

He lays out all the evidence for Jesus’ literal death and bodily resurrection. The fact that Roman soldiers were skilled in the practice of crucifixion, so there was no way Jesus was still alive when he was placed in the tomb. Thomas was able to feel and see the wounds in Jesus’ hands and side. Jesus appeared to more than 500 people after the resurrection and that He even ate with them and his followers were willing to die rather than deny the resurrection.
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God’s design for human sexuality is better learned in the church through the Scriptures than on TikTok. That’s what Nick Moore, the pastor at First Church in Gatlinburg, Tennessee says.

He and his wife Kyndra are working with teens in their community to under how and why God created sexuality.

Kyndra calls sexuality a good gift that God has given creation but it’s being used and misrepresented by many in today’s culture. She says it was given to present a picture of the oneness God has in Himself and the oneness He desires to have with His people.

The Moores says they find talking openly and honestly with teens is a way to help them understand God’s purpose for their lives.
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Every day, hundreds of thousands of people die without the hope of Jesus. Your faithful prayers will make a difference. That’s why the IMB created a free 18-month calendar, called “Impacting Lostness Through Prayer”. It provides guidance, reminders and encouragement as you pray for individuals and communities who have yet to hear the gospel. Learn more about this free resource at IMB.org/prayercalendar.

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Today is Good Friday. It’s the day Christians remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on a Roman cross. Betrayed by one of his own disciples and hated by religious leaders of the day, Jesus is handed over to the Roman authorities for breaking Jewish law by blaspheming and being a disrupter of the peace.

Through a sequence of mock trials, Jesus is eventually sentenced to death between two thieves on a hill overlooking Jerusalem.

It’s a gruesome scene where nails are driven into his hands and feet after a severe beating and scouring by R...

 Episode 575

Supreme Court Hears Abortion Pill Case, “Jesus” Film Coming to a Screen Near You & When We Blame Others For Ministry Difficulties

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on March 26 in a case that will rule on the availability of mifepristone, a drug commonly used in medication abortions. Sight & Sound’s “Jesus,” portraying the Savior’s life in a theatrical musical, will be available for free livestreaming Good Friday through Easter, March 29-31. And, everyone involved in ministry faces challenges. In the Baptist Press Toolbox, Chuck Lawless writes about the sad consequences when we start blaming others for more than their share.

Host

Brandon Porter

Resources

Supreme Court hears abortion pill case

CULTURE DIGEST: Easter weekend specials bring Jesus films to a screen near you

International Mission Board

What happens when we blame others for ministry difficulties

Transcript

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on March 26 in a case that will rule on the availability of mifepristone, a drug commonly used in medication abortions.

The case, Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, is the first time the Supreme Court has weighed in on the issue of abortion since the historic overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. A decision on the case is expected in June.

Hannah Daniel, policy director for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), was among the ERLC staff members present on Capitol Hill while oral arguments were heard.

“Despite skepticism shown by some of the justices, Southern Baptists know that chemical abortion takes the life of a preborn child and poses significant harm to women,” she said.
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Sight & Sound’s “Jesus,” portraying the Savior’s life in a theatrical musical, will be available for free livestreaming Good Friday through Easter, March 29-31.

More than 3 million people watched Sight & Sound’s pre-recorded version of the live production during the Easter 2020 weekend, leading to the launch of Sight & Sound TV.
Sight & Sound describes “Jesus” as a state-of-the-art theatrical production viewed by a million on stage and streamed by millions internationally. ‘Jesus’ normally streams for $5.99 on Sight & Sound’s pay-per-view offering.

The entire fourth season of “The Chosen,” a theatrical biopic of Jesus, is in theaters March 28 – 30 with ticket discounts, Engage Media Partners has announced.

Watch episodes 1-3 in one offering March 28, episodes 4-6 in one movie March 29, and the final two episodes as one film March 30 at several theaters nationally and internationally. The March 28 and 29th viewings will include five-minute intermissions.

Discounts include all three movies for $30 at Cinemark locations, all three for $15 at Marcus Theaters, and a 50 percent discount through the Fandango movie ticket app with the code THECHOSENSEASON4. Each discount code can only be used on one transaction.
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Every day, hundreds of thousands of people die witho...

 Episode 574

Easter Sunday Remains a High Attendance Day, Gospel’s Power Showing & Prayerfully Waiting on God’s Timing

Most pastors are expecting one of their largest crowds on Easter, but those expectations have tempered some in the past decade. Ministering to people in recovery centers and homeless shelters has resulted in some amazing Gospel success stories at Faith Baptist of Myra. And, in one of His most well-known parables in which He taught the importance of patience in prayer, Jesus contrasted a powerful judge to a vulnerable widow (Luke 18:1-8).

Host

Brandon Porter

Resources

Easter Sunday remains a high attendance day for most churches

Gospel’s power showing at Faith Baptist of Myra

International Mission Board

Prayerfully waiting on God’s timing

Transcript

Most pastors are expecting one of their largest crowds on Easter, but those expectations have tempered some in the past decade.

The three highest-attendance Sundays for pastors—Easter, Christmas and Mother’s Day—have remained the same since 2011, but each is now less likely to be among the top days, according to a Lifeway Research study of U.S. Protestant pastors.

Today, 90% of pastors identify Easter as the day their church has its highest, second-highest or third-highest attendance for worship service.

Other high attendance days are a day the church designates to invite friends (20%), homecoming or anniversary of the church’s founding (18%), Fourth of July (3%) and Father’s Day (3%).
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Ministering to people in recovery centers and homeless shelters has resulted in some amazing Gospel success stories at Faith Baptist of Myra.

Since August, Faith Baptist has had 31 baptisms — 25 of those being men drawn to the church while being in recovery. The number of men being transported from rehab to the church continues to grow, prompting a need for a second van. This month an anonymous church member donated $30,000 to help meet that need, and with $7,000 from the church, a vehicle was purchased.

The rehab ministry is special to Dave Hammond, who has pastored Faith Baptist since 1991. He has spoken in about 10 rehabs across the state and has a weekly prison ministry at Pike County Jail.

“I feel God has given me a testimony,” Hammond said. “I was once broken … I had an alcohol problem and was fired in 1985 as a teacher and basketball coach. It was then that I committed my life totally to the Lord. I said, ‘Take my life and make something of it.’ I can relate to those in rehab because I have been broken and down myself.”
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Every day, hundreds of thousands of people die without the hope of Jesus. Your faithful prayers will make a difference. That’s why the IMB created a free 18-month calendar, called “Impacting Lostness Through Prayer”. It provides guidance, reminders and encouragement as you pray for individuals and communities who have yet to hear the gospel. Learn more about this free resource at IMB.org/prayercalendar.

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In one of His most well-known parables in which He taught the importance of patience in prayer, Jesus contrasted a powerful judge to a vulnerable widow (Luke 18:1-8). The judge ...

 Episode 573

U.S. Funding Bill, Waco Youth Revivals & Fruit That Did Not Last

The latest Congressional spending package allows federally funded gender transitions and essentially bypasses current restrictions on government-funded abortions, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) told Baptist Press. In 1945, a group of Baylor students began leading a series of worship gatherings that came to be known as the Waco Youth Revivals. And, maybe you have a friend who started out as a Christian but isn’t producing fruit in their faith journey. In the BP Toolbox, Todd Gray offers three tips for reaching them.

Host

Brandon Porter

Resources

U.S. funding bill mixed bag on pro-life, biblical gender, religious liberty

FM72 leaders call back to Waco Youth Revivals, ask God to ‘do it again’

International Mission Board

Fruit that did not last

Transcript

The latest Congressional spending package allows federally funded gender transitions and essentially bypasses current restrictions on government-funded abortions, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) told Baptist Press.

Protections for pre-born life, religious liberty and biblical gender are among ERLC’s prime concerns in the bill that offers certain protections while overlooking other concerns.

The $1.2 trillion bipartisan bill, which President Biden signed into law March 23, is an umbrella for six appropriations bills including Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Relations Programs; Financial Services and General Government; Defense, Homeland Security and Legislative.

Enabling abortions, the bill maintains for certain federal personnel funding for abortion-related travel, paid leave to obtain an abortion, and family planning funding for institutions that also fund abortions.
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In 1945, a group of Baylor students began leading a series of worship gatherings that came to be known as the Waco Youth Revivals. The meetings sparked a nationwide Youth Revival Movement that is registered as one of the largest student-led revivals in American history.

Today, FM72 leaders believe God can “do it again.” FM72 is a group of Christian studends at Baylor University in Waco.

FM72 began in 2018 as a 72-hour worship and prayer gathering on Fountain Mall — the heart of Baylor’s campus. Beyond nightly worship gatherings at 8 p.m. from Sunday to Wednesday, the defining symbol of the meeting is a large prayer tent, which is open for 72 consecutive hours to anyone who wants a space to pray.

The organization traces its spiritual origins back to the Waco Youth Revivals of the 1940s and 1950s. Humphrey calls it a “proof of concept” for FM72. From prayers that God would “do it again” to FM72’s rallying cry (“I’d Rather Have Jesus”), much of today’s language is built on yesterday’s revivals.
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Every day, hundreds of thousands of people die without the hope of Jesus. Your faithful prayers will make a difference. That’s why the IMB created a free 18-month calendar, called “Impacting Lostness Through Prayer”. It provides guidance, ...

 Episode 572

Pastors Getting Their Groove Back, Paschal Full Moon & Recovering Pharisees Find Grace

It may be hard to believe the beginnings of the COVID pandemic began more than four years ago. That could be because so many effects of the pandemic took years to withdraw. This week is a special week in the life of the Christian faith as believers look toward resurrection Sunday. And, in the parable of the Prodigal Son, told to a crowd of Pharisees, Jesus invited the religious to find redemption. He told a story of a prodigal, the kind of moral reprobate the Pharisees knew would be far from God’s kingdom.

Host

Brandon Porter

Resources

Pastors getting their groove back after 2 years of stress and anxiety, survey finds

International Mission Board

Transcript

It may be hard to believe the beginnings of the COVID pandemic began more than four years ago. That could be because so many effects of the pandemic took years to withdraw.

Churches were hit hard by the pandemic as services faced government ordered shutdowns and the toll of the pandemic on members and ministry.

Pastors also faced significant challenges to adjust the way they minister.

However, a recent poll from the Barna group indicates pastors are on the other side of the pandemic challenges they face personally.

The number of pastors who say they are “very satisfied: with their vocation” has grown to 59 percent, from 52 percent in 2022, a 7-point jump, Barna found.

“And 47 percent of pastors say they are “very satisfied” with their ministry at their current church, up from 38 percent in 2022, a significant increase from the last time Barna checked in,” the organization reported.
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This week is a special week in the life of the Christian faith as believers look toward resurrection Sunday.

Typically marked by special events and services, the week leading up to Easter gives Christians a special opportunity to reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Many churches offer special services throughout the week including Good Friday services to mark the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

According to Almanac.com, Easter Sunday always occurs on the first Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon. What is the Paschal Full Moon? This is specifically the first Sunday following the full Moon that occurs on or after the March or spring equinox. The word paschal is derived from the word Passover.
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Every day, hundreds of thousands of people die without the hope of Jesus. Your faithful prayers will make a difference. That’s why the IMB created a free 18-month calendar, called “Impacting Lostness Through Prayer”. It provides guidance, reminders and encouragement as you pray for individuals and communities who have yet to hear the gospel. Learn more about this free resource at IMB.org/prayercalendar.

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In the parable of the Prodigal Son, told to a crowd of Pharisees, Jesus invited the religious to find redemption. He told a story of a prodigal, the kind of moral reprobate the Pharisees knew would be far from God’s kingdom. But He also told the story of another kind of prodigal, one who was striving to do all the right things to please the Father but whose heart was also on a far journey. To the listeners of His day, it would be scandalous for God to ...

 Episode 571

Most Americans Say Religion’s Influence is Waning, Kendrick Brothers ‘The Forge’ Movie & Strike the Shepherd and the Sheep Will Scatter

A new poll from Pew Research says religious influence on society is shrinking. It mirrors a family reunion from the best of the Kendrick Brothers’ work. “The Forge” revives beloved characters from “War Room” and features actors from “Courageous” and “Overcomer.” And, Ken Sande of Peacemaker Ministries should do their bests to hold on to their pastors.

Host

Brandon Porter

Resources

Poll: Most Americans say religion’s influence is waning

Kendrick Brothers revive favorite characters in new release ‘The Forge’

International Mission Board

FIRST-PERSON: Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered

Transcript

A new poll from Pew Research says religious influence on society is shrinking.

80 percent of U.S. adults surveyed say religion’s role in American life is decreasing and 49 percent of U.S. adults say religion losing that influence is a bad thing.

48 percent of U.S. adults say there’s “a great deal” of or “some” conflict between their religious beliefs and mainstream American culture, an increase from 42 percent in 2020. 

According to a report from RNS, when asked whether the Bible should have influence over U.S. laws, respondents were evenly split: 49 percent said the Bible should have “a great deal” of or “some” influence, while 51 percent said it should have “not much” or “no influence.”
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It mirrors a family reunion from the best of the Kendrick Brothers’ work. “The Forge” revives beloved characters from “War Room” and features actors from “Courageous” and “Overcomer.”

Superbowl champion, husband and father Benjamin Watson makes his Kendrick Brothers debut in The Forge, as does Aspen Kennedy, who stars in BET’s “Ruthless.” Prayer and discipleship are the themes of The Forge, featuring a committed Christian husband and father who mentors a high school graduate unsure of what to do in life.

Priscilla Shirer, who is in the movie, is joined by her brother and former NFL fullback Jonathan Evans, an associate pastor at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship pastored by their father Tony Evans, also joins the cast. The Forge lands in theatres later this summer.
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Every day, hundreds of thousands of people die without the hope of Jesus. Your faithful prayers will make a difference. That’s why the IMB created a free 18-month calendar, called “Impacting Lostness Through Prayer”. It provides guidance, reminders and encouragement as you pray for individuals and communities who have yet to hear the gospel. Learn more about this free resource at IMB.org/prayercalendar.

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Ken Sande of Peacemaker Ministries should do their bests to hold on to their pastors.

He writes, “When church members are embittered by a pastor’s forced exit and their gossip and backbiting leaks into their community, their non-Christian friends, neighbors and coworkers have one more reason to ignore Jesus and the Gospel.

As George Barna observed, “Modern people contend that the greatest proof that God does not exist is the behavior of Christians themselves! In short, the way Christians live and act is solid proof in t...