The church at the edges
RSS for Missions
WASHINGTON – The U.S. is on track for a historic first: an entire year without resettling a single Christian refugee from the countries where believers face the most persecution. Roughly one in seven Christians, globally, are persecuted for their faith. For decades, those forced
John Piper explains why he likes the ESV, how many copies he has, and what Bible translation he uses for his personal devotions.
A Christian missionary camp was expelled from Burning Man after organizers accused its members of repeatedly violating festival policies while sharing the gospel and conducting baptisms in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. Federal officers and volunteer Black Rock Rangers ordered Shift
Falling water levels in the Sea of Galilee have exposed part of an ancient Roman-era port that once connected Capernaum to the lake during the time of Jesus. The structure emerged along the lake’s northern shore in November 2025, revealing rows of enormous stones arranged to crea
BURG near Magdeburg, Germany (RNS) — The AfD may gain power on Sept. 6 in Saxony-Anhalt, posing a direct threat to refugees and the German churches that serve them. Inspired by past resistance in East Germany, faith leaders are doing everything they can to stand in the way of the far-right group.
The following letter was sent to the clergy of the ADOSC on September 2, 2026. Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Grace and peace to you in our Lord Jesus Christ. Tuesday morning at 8:45 a.m., Bishop Edgar submitted a letter to Bishop Julian Dobbs, Dean of the Province, indicating v
President Donald Trump is putting a pastor at the table at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and he’s making it clear that reaching America’s overlooked communities is part of the mission. Pastor Darrell Scott, a longtime Trump ally and outspoken Christian leader, h
Electoral Code of Conduct Observer CommissionInterfaith Gathering of Prayer for Peace, Integrity and a Just and Fair Election The Most Revd Dr Thabo Makgoba, ChairSt George’s Cathedral, Cape TownSaturday August 22, 10 am My Colleagues who lead the Religious Communities of our Cit
New York City police officers shot and killed a woman Monday after a Times Square stabbing incident left one person dead and one wounded. The suspect, later identified as Pamela Cisneros, had previous run-ins with the NYPD due to mental health concerns, but she had no prior crimi
When Wendell Berry’s despair woke him in the night, he would go and lie down in the “peace of wild things,” he wrote. He’d find a wading duck, a feeding heron, and a stream of rushing water and “rest in the grace” of creation. To counter the world’s troubles, he engaged the earth
On the cover of Lucy S. R. Austen’s biography of the late Elisabeth Elliot, she looks—well, old. The black-and-white photograph, from 1986, shows the wife of the martyred missionary Jim Elliot in a kind of wry pose, perhaps a little amused. Her gray hair has been styled in the ma
The water of the soaking pool I’d chosen at the Olympus Spa was pretty perfect: 104 degrees and gently bubbling with hot tub jets. It was delightful, but I was exhausted, jet-lagged from a redeye flight, and in the heat of battle between two powerful instincts. One was to people-
I began to find unexpected joy and relief in the fact that I simply couldn’t know.
(RNS) — Franklin Graham, one of President Trump’s most stalwart evangelical allies, did not offer any reasons for rejecting the federal funds, which would have been used for ‘immediate life-saving assistance to people affected by natural disasters.’
Because gospel influence, like water, flows downhill along channels of relationships, Paul was confident these churches would spread.
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — As the CIA director quietly carried warnings to Moscow, Pope Leo’s foreign minister arrived offering dialogue and humanitarian cooperation — two contrasting missions that one Vatican expert likened to a 'good cop, bad cop operation.'
Churches and mission partners are responding after catastrophic floods along the Nepal-Tibet border, as Asian Christian leaders call for prayer, humanitarian support and sustained solidarity with affected communities.
Southern Methodist University has canceled an upcoming Muslim youth event after determining that hosting an organization designated as a terrorist group by Texas conflicts with the university’s mission. The North Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations planned
This piece was adapted from CT’s books newsletter. Subscribe here. Craig Fehrman, This Vast Enterprise: A New History of Lewis & Clark (Avid Reader Press, 2026) The Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806) is one of the most compelling stories in American history. Searching for a w
A flood expert is sounding the alarm after a catastrophic glacial collapse unleashed a deadly wall of water, mud and debris across Nepal and Tibet: This is not necessarily a one-time disaster. “This will happen again,” Dr. Jeff Da Costa, a meteorological hazards researcher, warne
A catastrophic wall of mud, rock and water tore through the Nepal-Tibet border region Wednesday, killing at least 95 people and leaving hundreds missing as rescuers struggled to reach devastated communities. The disaster began when a massive ice-and-rock avalanche crashed into th
Andrew Hartley bikes to work, eats a plant-based diet, and involves himself in multiple organizations that help him do what he thinks the Bible tells him to do: care for the Earth. His employer, Hartley argues in a new lawsuit filed last week, does not share his mission. Now he i
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The U.N. mission known as UNAMA also called for an investigation to establish the circumstances of the explosion.
A dramatic clash over the legitimacy of Pope Leo XIV has resulted in the excommunication of a Texas priest who allegedly declared the pontiff a “usurper” and promoted purported supernatural messages claiming he is “not a true pope.” John Mary Foster, the founder and de facto lead
Lake Mead has fallen to its lowest water level on record, placing millions of Americans at risk of water shortages, higher electricity costs and possible power outages. The reservoir, formed by Hoover Dam on the Colorado River between Nevada and Arizona, stood just below 1,040 fe
Kidnappers released Kevin Rideout, an American missionary pilot held hostage for nine months in Niger, last Friday, according to his missions agency, Serving in Missions (SIM). Throughout Rideout’s captivity, one missionary familiar with ministry in Niger (we’re leaving out his n
On March 7, 2014, Brian Simmons spoke at Harvest Time Church, an Assemblies of God congregation in Greenwich, Connecticut. He encouraged the crowd to follow God’s will, regardless of their own human qualifications. He gave examples of biblical heroes who had been used by God: Gid
American missionary Kevin Rideout has been released from Niger following his abduction in October 2025. “We are grateful to confirm that our good friend and brother in Christ, Kevin Rideout, has been released after over nine months in captivity. He was kidnapped from outside his
When Juan García awoke on the morning of Friday, July 31, and looked out his window, he saw hundreds of migrants seeking relief from the sweltering heat in a public fountain that separates his home from that of fellow pastor Javier Santolaria across the street. In two days, an un
Something strange has been hiding in complete darkness beneath one of America’s most fascinating military installations—and scientists say they had no idea it was there. Researchers have identified an entirely new genus and species of cavefish living in the groundwater beneath Re
‘The Gospel Way Catechism for Kids’ is a beautifully illustrated book that can be used in the home or at church to help 8-to-12-year-olds answer our culture’s most pressing questions.
The United Methodist Church in the Philippines and church partners have provided food, supplies and spiritual care to more than 700 families following deadly quake.
More than 600 people living near a Kenyan dumpsite received free medical care through a United Methodist mission center’s outreach.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — The landslide occurred at Tsadqane Debre Mitmaq St. Mary Monastery, where hundreds of worshippers had gathered for a holy water cleansing ritual that is popular among people seeking spiritual healing for chronic illnesses.
Reid Wiseman had just completed the longest journey from Earth in human history, and after he landed, one of his first requests was a chaplain. Wiseman was one of the four astronauts on the Artemis II space mission, NASA’s first crewed mission to orbit the moon in more than 50 ye
TGC articles are human-made, human-edited, human-assessed, made in human community for other humans—as an act of love, fellowship, and worship.
Scientists say they are closer than ever to understanding one of Antarctica’s most mysterious natural wonders. New research into the continent’s famous “Blood Falls” suggests the crimson-colored stream flowing from Taylor Glacier may be the visible remnant of an ancient body of s
Every generation of Christians replays the age-old debate: What does it mean to be in the world but not of it? The radicals insist you must sell all you have and give the money to the poor (Matt. 19:21). You must go into full-time vocational ministry or be a missionary to an unre
What would be the impact of an extra £100 million in grants from the Church Commissioners for frontline parish ministry in the Church of England? An outlay of £1 million would easily fund a parish minister for 10 years, provided the diocese getting the grant had not sold off the
Sometimes, the best man for the job just might be an otter. Just ask Michael Hadsell, president of Peace River K9 Search and Rescue in Englewood, Florida. Hadsell had worked with dogs to recover bodies and evidence, but in Florida, a lot of bad guys dispose of things deep underwa
A school district in New York has paused its plan to deploy an AI-powered teaching assistant in classrooms. The shift follows education officials, teachers, and residents expressing concern over the initial effort. The state’s Education Commissioner, Betty Rosa, sent a letter to
During its 11th Connectional Conference, members of the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico committed to strengthening ministries amid U.S. challenges.
(AP) — Judge John P. Cronan said that although a federal law requires that advisory commissions have a balance of viewpoints, it didn't specify how this should be done.
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit Monday that sought to declare President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission unlawful, handing the White House a clean victory on one of its signature faith-based initiatives. U.S. District Judge John Cronan, a Trump appointee serving on the fe
SOCORRO, Texas (RNS and El Paso Matters) — The parishes that won Socorro, Texas, running water in the 1980s are now fighting ICE's plan to convert warehouses into a mega detention center. And the town's water system is at issue again.
The co-author of "AI for Nonprofits: Putting Artificial Intelligence to Work for Your Cause" debunks myths and raises up opportunities available to mission-driven organizations right now
Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham traveled to Venezuela this week to encourage earthquake survivors, pray with local pastors and visit relief teams serving families devastated by the powerful June 24 earthquakes. According to Fox News, two earthquakes measuring magnitud
More than 600 households now have access to clean water through a project funded by the United Methodist Committee on Relief.