In Uvalde, writer found purpose
'You’re not allowed to cry.” That’s what I kept telling myself as people fell on their hands and knees, weeping. Never had I seen so…
Perspective
‘Where did the people go?’
One of the most difficult questions to answer when pursuing the story of closed churches is, “Where did the people go?” Finding “Where have all…
Reflecting on the life of Eugene Lawton
Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the…
Church closing trend began before COVID-19
MANCHESTER, Tenn. — When the Ragsdale Church of Christ closed its doors on March 6, it joined hundreds of other congregations nationwide that have ceased…
Where have all the churches gone?
Based on records maintained by 21st Century Christian, roughly 200 Churches of Christ in the U.S. closed between 2014 and 2021. These congregations encompassed every…
An easel and a cross
BENTON, Ky. — Every disaster area offers a blend of devastation and healing, of heartbreak and hope. Every day, God presents the volunteer with a…
Greater compassion for women in crisis
OKLAHOMA CITY — I’ve participated in pro-life work for over 15 years. That has created many opportunities to advocate for the preborn, something that is…
Covering COVID: Inside an ICU
JUTICALPA, Honduras — “It seems like an unnecessary risk,” one of the doctors told me the night before Erik Tryggestad and I headed to the…
‘Bless us through our enemies’
ABA, Nigeria — “We pray that you will bless us through our enemies, as we see you doing so often in Scripture.” Hearing this prayer…
Focus on community, not just content
“I think we need to refocus on the community aspect of classes, not just the content. If our pitch is just, ‘We have great content,’…
