AM - PEOPLE FILES
- Greg Abbott - Josh Abbotoy - Bob Abernethy - Gary Abernathy - Wendy Abrahamson - Todd Achilles - Richard Ackerman - Saeed Abedini - Heather Adams - Rachael Adams - Meeke Addison - Abimbola Adelakun - Carrie Afanador - Timothy Agee - Philip Adhikary - Che Ahn - April Ajoy - Ayo Akerle - Danny Akin -
==greg abbott=====
Gregory Wayne Abbott was born in Wichita Falls, Texas on Nov 13, 1957. Abbott is a practicing Roman Catholic and often cites his Christian faith as influencing his political positions. His wife, Cecilia Abbott, is also Catholic, and her faith is reported to have influenced his own conversion after an accident. He has strongly advocated for religious freedom, signing legislation like the Freedom to Worship Act, which prohibits government agencies from closing places of worship, according to Texas Values. He also issued a memo instructing state agencies to protect Texans' religious liberties, particularly after the Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage. He successfully defended the right to display the Ten Commandments at the Texas state capital as Attorney General. His faith is a cited reason for his support of legislation restricting abortion access, including a 2021 law that banned the procedure as early as six weeks. Abbott celebrated the groundbreaking of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic School, highlighting the importance of faith-based education options for parents. He also signed a bill mandating a daily period for prayer and Bible reading in Texas public schools, according to the Texas Freedom Network. Additionally, he is expected to sign a bill requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in all Texas public school classrooms. While citing his responsibility to ensure the safety and security of Texans, Abbott's stance on barring Syrian refugees from Texas drew criticism from the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops, who reminded Catholics of the importance of welcoming strangers. Abbott frequently emphasizes the importance of prayer, praising its power at public events, such as the Governor's Prayer Breakfast. He has also called for Days of Prayer in response to events like natural disasters. It's important to note that while Abbott often references his faith as a driving force behind his actions, his interpretation of religious values and their application to policy can differ from the views of some religious leaders and organizations.
Dec 10, 2015 — A practicing Roman Catholic, Gov. Greg Abbott often cites the spiritual underpinnings of his political positions. His stance on barring Syrian refugees from Tex...
Apr 28, 2025 — Governor Greg Abbott praised the power of prayer during the Governor's Prayer Breakfast in Round Rock in celebration of the National Day of Prayer. “Where...
Nov 6, 2014 — [Cecilia] Abbott's Catholic faith has also influenced her husband, who converted to Catholicism after his Abbott's actions have drawn criticism from various religious groups, often stemming from differences in interpreting religious values and their application to public policy. The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops criticized Abbott's decision to ban refugees from initially settling in Texas, calling it "discouraging and disheartening" and contrary to the Catholic teaching to welcome the strange. Newsweek reported that Bishop Mark Seitz of the Diocese of El Paso criticized Abbott's migrant policies, stating that efforts by Texas officials are part of a "brutal, historical project in Texas to criminalize and police people who migrate"
Lutheran Immigration and Refugees Service also condemned Abbott's refugee ban, stating it needlessly separates families torn apart by violence and persecution. Pro-choice religious leaders from various faiths, affiliated with groups like Just Texas and the Texas Freedom Network, have criticized Abbott's policies restricting abortion access, including the ban during the COVID-19 pandemic, as an attack on religious freedom. They argue that imposing one religious perspective on all Texans violates religious liberty, especially given the diversity of religious views on abortion, according to Religion Dispatches. The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), representing non-religious individuals, condemned Abbott's call for prayer after a flood disaster and urged investment in science-based solutions instead. They also sued Abbott for removing a Bill of Rights nativity display from the Capitol, claiming it was an act of illegal censorship. The Baker Institute notes that some groups criticize legislation promoting displays like the Ten Commandments and the presence of chaplains in public schools, arguing these actions undermine the separation of church and state and could discriminate against religious minorities and non-religious students. Pastors for Texas Children, a network of faith leaders supporting public education, condemned Abbott's scheduling of a vote on school vouchers during a religious holiday week, arguing it was a political maneuver and calling for the issue to be put before the people for a more democratic decision. Some religious leaders have criticized Abbott for prioritizing what they see as politically motivated actions, like his crackdown on immigration or his focus on issues like redistricting, over addressing the needs of vulnerable Texans, particularly those affected by poverty and lack of social services. Abbott's stance on the death penalty has also been criticized by some religious groups, particularly Catholics, who believe it contradicts the Church's pro-life stance that encompasses opposition to the death penalty, reports The Texas Tribune.
Dec 10, 2015 — A practicing Roman Catholic, Gov. Greg Abbott often cites the spiritual underpinnings of his political positions. His stance on barring Syrian refugees from Tex...
Apr 28, 2025 — Governor Greg Abbott praised the power of prayer during the Governor's Prayer Breakfast in Round Rock in celebration of the National Day of Prayer. “Where...
Nov 6, 2014 — [Cecilia] Abbott's Catholic faith has also influenced her husband, who converted to Catholicism after his Abbott's actions have drawn criticism from various religious groups, often stemming from differences in interpreting religious values and their application to public policy. The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops criticized Abbott's decision to ban refugees from initially settling in Texas, calling it "discouraging and disheartening" and contrary to the Catholic teaching to welcome the strange. Newsweek reported that Bishop Mark Seitz of the Diocese of El Paso criticized Abbott's migrant policies, stating that efforts by Texas officials are part of a "brutal, historical project in Texas to criminalize and police people who migrate"
Lutheran Immigration and Refugees Service also condemned Abbott's refugee ban, stating it needlessly separates families torn apart by violence and persecution. Pro-choice religious leaders from various faiths, affiliated with groups like Just Texas and the Texas Freedom Network, have criticized Abbott's policies restricting abortion access, including the ban during the COVID-19 pandemic, as an attack on religious freedom. They argue that imposing one religious perspective on all Texans violates religious liberty, especially given the diversity of religious views on abortion, according to Religion Dispatches. The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), representing non-religious individuals, condemned Abbott's call for prayer after a flood disaster and urged investment in science-based solutions instead. They also sued Abbott for removing a Bill of Rights nativity display from the Capitol, claiming it was an act of illegal censorship. The Baker Institute notes that some groups criticize legislation promoting displays like the Ten Commandments and the presence of chaplains in public schools, arguing these actions undermine the separation of church and state and could discriminate against religious minorities and non-religious students. Pastors for Texas Children, a network of faith leaders supporting public education, condemned Abbott's scheduling of a vote on school vouchers during a religious holiday week, arguing it was a political maneuver and calling for the issue to be put before the people for a more democratic decision. Some religious leaders have criticized Abbott for prioritizing what they see as politically motivated actions, like his crackdown on immigration or his focus on issues like redistricting, over addressing the needs of vulnerable Texans, particularly those affected by poverty and lack of social services. Abbott's stance on the death penalty has also been criticized by some religious groups, particularly Catholics, who believe it contradicts the Church's pro-life stance that encompasses opposition to the death penalty, reports The Texas Tribune.
March 1, 2022: Abbott won the primary with over 66% of the vote. He was challenged by the Democratic nominee, former U.S. Representative Beto O'Rourke. Abbott defeated O'Rourke, 54% to 43%, becoming the fifth Texas governor to serve three terms.
April 7, 2022: Abbott announced in a press conference a plan to direct the Texas Division of Emergency Management to bus illegal immigrants with 900 charter buses from Texas to Washington D.C, citing the potential surge of immigrants who would cross the border after Title 42 provisions regarding communicable disease were set to be rolled back by President Biden the next month
May 24, 2022: Abbott said that an 18-year-old carrying a handgun and possibly a rifle (later identified as an Daniel Defense DDM4, an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle) killed 19 students and 2 teachers at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde
May 25, 2022: Abbott held a news conference to give further information on the Uvalde shooting. Gun laws were not mentioned. Abbott said that mental health in the community was the root cause of the event.
May 27, 2022: Abbott published a YouTube message. He did not mention the sale of assault rifles, but said that gun laws have not been effective, noting that the shooter broke two gun laws the day he committed the multiple murders. It is a felony to possess a gun on school property, and "what he did on campus is capital murder. That's a crime that would have subjected him to the death penalty in Texas", Abbott said
September 15, 2022: Abbott sent two buses with 101 mostly Venezuelan migrants detained after crossing the U.S. border with Mexico to the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris, at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D. C.
September 17, 2022: Abbott sent another bus with 50 migrants to the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris, at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D. C.
Dec 14, 2022: Abbott asked his top law enforcement official to investigate nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) operating in the state over their role in assisting immigrants to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. In a letter to Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), Abbott said the number of “illegal immigrants crossing the Texas-Mexico border has reached an all-time high. Indeed, this past Sunday, over a 24-hour span, over 2,600 illegal immigrants crossed the border near El Paso and illegally entered Texas”
April 7, 2022: Abbott announced in a press conference a plan to direct the Texas Division of Emergency Management to bus illegal immigrants with 900 charter buses from Texas to Washington D.C, citing the potential surge of immigrants who would cross the border after Title 42 provisions regarding communicable disease were set to be rolled back by President Biden the next month
May 24, 2022: Abbott said that an 18-year-old carrying a handgun and possibly a rifle (later identified as an Daniel Defense DDM4, an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle) killed 19 students and 2 teachers at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde
May 25, 2022: Abbott held a news conference to give further information on the Uvalde shooting. Gun laws were not mentioned. Abbott said that mental health in the community was the root cause of the event.
May 27, 2022: Abbott published a YouTube message. He did not mention the sale of assault rifles, but said that gun laws have not been effective, noting that the shooter broke two gun laws the day he committed the multiple murders. It is a felony to possess a gun on school property, and "what he did on campus is capital murder. That's a crime that would have subjected him to the death penalty in Texas", Abbott said
September 15, 2022: Abbott sent two buses with 101 mostly Venezuelan migrants detained after crossing the U.S. border with Mexico to the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris, at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D. C.
September 17, 2022: Abbott sent another bus with 50 migrants to the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris, at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D. C.
Dec 14, 2022: Abbott asked his top law enforcement official to investigate nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) operating in the state over their role in assisting immigrants to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. In a letter to Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), Abbott said the number of “illegal immigrants crossing the Texas-Mexico border has reached an all-time high. Indeed, this past Sunday, over a 24-hour span, over 2,600 illegal immigrants crossed the border near El Paso and illegally entered Texas”
December 16, 2022: After the 2018, Santa Fe High School shooting, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said that he would consult across Texas in an attempt to prevent gun violence in schools. He had a series of round-table discussions followed at the state capitol. In a speech to a NRA convention in Dallas almost two weeks later, Abbott said, "The problem is not guns, it’s hearts without God". So, if that is the problem..what is the answer? It would be making efforts to turn hearts toward God, would it not? Or is it blaming the Christian church for not reaching those hearts? And how does an elected official deal with that when separation of church and state is a paramount issue throughout America's history?
A few days later Abbott published a Youtube video saying the shooter broke "two gun laws the day he committed the multiple murders"..... It is a felony to possess a gun on school property" and "what he did on campus is capital murder. That's a crime that would have subjected him to the death penalty in Texas." So, if that is the answer..what is the problem? Are shooters concerned about committing a crime? Obviously not. The State of Texas has executed 578 people since 1982. Seems to me that if you combine both responses from Governor Abbott that the shootings resulted because they had a godless heart and ignorance of capital penalties.
Before God reaches hearts, men are subject only to or restrained by secular rules and laws of society. Don't kill people with guns. Governments can only really control the penalty phase of any legal breach of justice...though lawyers can often breach that and do quite often. Reaching hearts is actually the most sure way. But you can't make reaching hearts a law with consequences no matter how hard you try to legislate it. And since the second amendment is applied in the way it is today which gives any gun enthusiast an orgasm there aren't much options...or maybe none at all -ZRZ-ED
A few days later Abbott published a Youtube video saying the shooter broke "two gun laws the day he committed the multiple murders"..... It is a felony to possess a gun on school property" and "what he did on campus is capital murder. That's a crime that would have subjected him to the death penalty in Texas." So, if that is the answer..what is the problem? Are shooters concerned about committing a crime? Obviously not. The State of Texas has executed 578 people since 1982. Seems to me that if you combine both responses from Governor Abbott that the shootings resulted because they had a godless heart and ignorance of capital penalties.
Before God reaches hearts, men are subject only to or restrained by secular rules and laws of society. Don't kill people with guns. Governments can only really control the penalty phase of any legal breach of justice...though lawyers can often breach that and do quite often. Reaching hearts is actually the most sure way. But you can't make reaching hearts a law with consequences no matter how hard you try to legislate it. And since the second amendment is applied in the way it is today which gives any gun enthusiast an orgasm there aren't much options...or maybe none at all -ZRZ-ED
==josh abbotoy======
Josh Abbotoy is the Executive Director of American Reformer. He is also a Managing Director at New Founding. A seasoned private equity lawyer by background, Josh is the grateful beneficiary of Christian education, having been homeschooled, then earning his B.A. (History) from Union University and an M.A. (Medieval and Byzantine Studies) from the Catholic University of America before earning his J.D. at Harvard Law School. His writing has appeared in American Reformer, the American Mind and the Federalist, among other places.
December 29, 2025: BBC reported: As Josh Abbotoy gazes out at lush green woods and pastureland nestled among Tennessee's Appalachian hills, he describes what he intends to build here: a neighbourhood with dozens of residential lots, centred around a working farm and, crucially, a church. "A customer might very well buy and build roughly where we're standing right now," he says as we hike up to the top of a ridge. Mr Abbotoy is founder of the real estate company Ridgerunner, which has bought land here and in neighbouring Kentucky. But his is no garden-variety housing development. Mr Abbotoy is prominent in US conservative circles and describes his development as an "affinity-based community" - marketed to people not only interested in the peace and quiet of rural life, but in a constellation of right-wing ideals. "Faith, family and freedom," he says. "Those are the values that we try to celebrate."
==gary abernathy======
Gary Abernathy (born 1956) is an American political commentator who writes a nationally syndicated column for The Washington Post and makes frequent appearances on the PBS NewsHour. Gary Abernathy identifies as a Christian.
Abernathy emphasizes his complete faith in Jesus Christ, the significance of the cross for atonement, and the belief in Jesus' resurrection and return. He stresses the importance of understanding the cross as the path to being "washed clean and perfectly blameless" before God. He sees every sin as contributing to Christ's suffering on the cross. Abernathy believes gratitude is a fundamental aspect of belonging to Christ and encourages practicing thankfulness through exercises like making gratitude lists. He suggests that the Holy Spirit guides and provides strength, particularly during times of difficulty, and reveals future blessings. Abernathy acknowledges the ongoing struggle for Christians to live according to God's will and be a positive influence on the world. He emphasizes the need to give away the fruits of the Spirit to experience them in one's own life. Abernathy believes that the brevity of this life in comparison to eternity should inform Christians' priorities and actions. He has commented on the alignment of certain political goals with evangelical Christian beliefs, although some have challenged the direct link to biblical teaching in specific instances, according to The Washington Post. In summary, Gary Abernathy's Christian faith is central to his worldview and informs his perspectives on life, current events, and the role of believers in the world
Abernathy emphasizes his complete faith in Jesus Christ, the significance of the cross for atonement, and the belief in Jesus' resurrection and return. He stresses the importance of understanding the cross as the path to being "washed clean and perfectly blameless" before God. He sees every sin as contributing to Christ's suffering on the cross. Abernathy believes gratitude is a fundamental aspect of belonging to Christ and encourages practicing thankfulness through exercises like making gratitude lists. He suggests that the Holy Spirit guides and provides strength, particularly during times of difficulty, and reveals future blessings. Abernathy acknowledges the ongoing struggle for Christians to live according to God's will and be a positive influence on the world. He emphasizes the need to give away the fruits of the Spirit to experience them in one's own life. Abernathy believes that the brevity of this life in comparison to eternity should inform Christians' priorities and actions. He has commented on the alignment of certain political goals with evangelical Christian beliefs, although some have challenged the direct link to biblical teaching in specific instances, according to The Washington Post. In summary, Gary Abernathy's Christian faith is central to his worldview and informs his perspectives on life, current events, and the role of believers in the world
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It has long been acknowledged that the United States’ energy infrastructure isn’t particularly secure, a concern exacerbated by the lack of a central planning process for our nation’s piecemeal electric grid. Presidential administrations and Congress have been slow to address the problem, apparently daunted by the mere size and scope of the challenges the needed upgrades would present. That needs to change now. The recent news that China apparently installed hidden “kill switches” in solar equipment sold to the U.S. was the latest in a long list of reasons to be concerned about our electricity infrastructure and the foolhardy rush to replace traditional energy sources with so-called “renewables” using technology that is often sourced from China. As Reuters reported, “Rogue communication devices not listed in product documents have been found in some Chinese solar power inverters by U.S experts who strip down equipment hooked up to grids to check for security issues … Using the rogue communication devices to skirt firewalls and switch off inverters remotely, or change their settings, could destabilize power grids, damage energy infrastructure, and trigger widespread blackouts, experts said.” As one source summarized it, “That effectively means there is a built-in way to physically destroy the grid.” Or, to put it in even simpler terms, the U.S. is purchasing Chinese equipment complete with a “kill switch” that would allow China to disable the U.S. power grid at any moment. Even more concerning, the problem is not relegated to the United States. Britain’s GB News reported, “Chinese companies dominate the market for power inverters, with firms like Huawei and Sungrow controlling more than half the market in 2023, according to Wood Mackenzie research. The European Solar Manufacturing Council estimates that more than 200 gigawatts of European solar power capacity relies on Chinese-made inverters.” (One gigawatt is equal to one billion watts.) --Gary Abernathy We Need a ‘Kill Switch’ on Foreign Powers Tampering With Our Electric Grid 6.4.25 |
December 13, 2024: Abernathy in The Hill Op/ed: Early signs offer reason for guarded optimism. Trump’s comparative lack of post-election media visibility and relatively restrained social media posts lend credence to the suggestion that Trump may be taking a different approach. His first major post-election interview with Kristen Welker on “Meet the Press” over the weekend was encouraging. Trump promised that he is “not looking to go back into the past” to seek retribution, indicated support for allowing “Dreamer” immigrants to remain in the U.S., and even said, “I love you,” in response to what message he would send to non-Trump voters. ED NOTE: Trump lied. He has always been all about the retribution. Started on his first day in office. |
MAGA chronicler: 'Trump supporters aren't going away'
You could call him "The MAGA Whisperer." "They should start fathoming," he wrote, observing that Trump’s outsider, anti-establishment approach and "open contempt for all things politically correct" were energizing people who had been disaffected by traditional politics. For the past eight years, Gary Abernathy traced the rise of the Donald Trump base of supporters that became known as the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement. As editor-publisher of the Hillsboro Times-Gazette in the heart of Ohio’s Trump Country in the southern part of the state, Abernathy, who earlier had spent years in Republican Party politics, wrote in January 2016 that many of his friends in professional GOP politics could not fathom a presidential ticket headed by Trump. (Cincinatti.com 3/21/24) READ MORE>>>>>
You could call him "The MAGA Whisperer." "They should start fathoming," he wrote, observing that Trump’s outsider, anti-establishment approach and "open contempt for all things politically correct" were energizing people who had been disaffected by traditional politics. For the past eight years, Gary Abernathy traced the rise of the Donald Trump base of supporters that became known as the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement. As editor-publisher of the Hillsboro Times-Gazette in the heart of Ohio’s Trump Country in the southern part of the state, Abernathy, who earlier had spent years in Republican Party politics, wrote in January 2016 that many of his friends in professional GOP politics could not fathom a presidential ticket headed by Trump. (Cincinatti.com 3/21/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Smarsh and Abernathy on the GOP debate and Trump’s arrest in Georgia
Washington Post columnist Gary Abernathy and freelance journalist Sarah Smarsh join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, including the first GOP debate of the election season and the response to Trump's arrest in Georgia. (PBS 8/25/23) READ MORE>>>>>
Washington Post columnist Gary Abernathy and freelance journalist Sarah Smarsh join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, including the first GOP debate of the election season and the response to Trump's arrest in Georgia. (PBS 8/25/23) READ MORE>>>>>
==bob abernethy===========
Robert Gordon Abernethy (November 5, 1927 – May 2, 2021) was an American journalist, best known for serving various roles during a 42-year career with NBC News. He later co-created, and was executive editor and host of Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, which aired on PBS from 1997 until 2017. Abernethy took a leave from NBC in 1984 to study briefly at Yale Divinity School in New Haven. He returned to the network a year later to Washington, and in 1989 accepted what would be his final NBC assignment, chief correspondent of the Moscow bureau.
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December 30, 2021: Religion News Service reported: Veteran broadcast journalist Bob Abernethy, who also died in May, moved from covering the fledging U.S. space program and the Soviet Union’s collapse to founding the program “Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly” that aired on PBS for almost 20 years. “I very much dislike the intolerance and moralism of many Christians, and feel more sympathy with Honest Doubters than with them.” --Robert Abernethy
“Reporters should not have an agenda. Beyond informing, they identify what the underlying principles are in a current issue.” --Bob Abernethy
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Seven Stories Press (January 4, 2011)
PBS's Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, which Bob Abernethy conceived and anchors, has been described as "the best spot on the television landscape to take in the broad view of the spiritual dimension of American life . . ." by the Christian Science Monitor. "Finally," wrote the San Francisco Chronicle, "something intelligent on TV about religion." Now, together with his coauthor William Bole, Abernethy has turned his attention to making a book that asks all the big questions—and elicits the most surprising answers from a who’s-who of today’s serious religious and spiritual thinkers from across the spectrum of faiths and denominations. In this thoughtful collection, extraordinary people give their personal and private accounts of their own spiritual struggle. Their insights on community, prayer, suffering, religious observance, the choice to live with or without a god, and the meanings that are gleaned from everyday life form an elegant meditation on the desire for something beyond what we can see and measure.
More than fifty contributors, including Jimmy Carter, Francis Collins, The Dalai Lama, Robert Franklin, Irving Greenberg, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Harold Kushner, Anne Lamott, Madeleine L’Engle, Thomas Lynch, Martin Marty, Mark Noll, Rachel Remen, Marilynne Robinson, Barbara Brown Taylor, Studs Terkel, Thich Nhat Hanh, Phyllis Tickle, Desmond Tutu, Jean Vanier, and Marianne Williamson.
From Publishers Weekly Starred Review.
Faith and doubt stand in loving tension in this splendid collection edited by Bole, a religion writer, and Abernethy, founder and host of the PBS program Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly. The book draws from the extensive interviews the series has conducted with religious luminaries and writers, some of whom appear more than once. The interviews are loosely arranged into themes of prayer; suffering and the problem of evil; encountering religious pluralism; preparing for death and the afterlife; and the varieties of religious practice. Not all of the contributors describe themselves as religious ("You know what an agnostic is?" asks the agnostic near-centenarian Studs Terkel. "A cowardly atheist"). Most of those profiled, however, have walked a long path of religious devotion, including Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter, Thich Nhat Hanh, the Dalai Lama, Anne Lamott, William Sloane Coffin, Martin Marty, Frederica Mathewes-Green and Phyllis Tickle (PW's former contributing editor in religion). With such an amazing cast of characters, it's practically impossible to go wrong, and this collection doesn't miss a step. The section on suffering is particularly perceptive ("I know that where there is no suffering, nothing happens," novelist Madeleine L'Engle says). This is a rich feast of accumulated wisdom.
PBS's Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, which Bob Abernethy conceived and anchors, has been described as "the best spot on the television landscape to take in the broad view of the spiritual dimension of American life . . ." by the Christian Science Monitor. "Finally," wrote the San Francisco Chronicle, "something intelligent on TV about religion." Now, together with his coauthor William Bole, Abernethy has turned his attention to making a book that asks all the big questions—and elicits the most surprising answers from a who’s-who of today’s serious religious and spiritual thinkers from across the spectrum of faiths and denominations. In this thoughtful collection, extraordinary people give their personal and private accounts of their own spiritual struggle. Their insights on community, prayer, suffering, religious observance, the choice to live with or without a god, and the meanings that are gleaned from everyday life form an elegant meditation on the desire for something beyond what we can see and measure.
More than fifty contributors, including Jimmy Carter, Francis Collins, The Dalai Lama, Robert Franklin, Irving Greenberg, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Harold Kushner, Anne Lamott, Madeleine L’Engle, Thomas Lynch, Martin Marty, Mark Noll, Rachel Remen, Marilynne Robinson, Barbara Brown Taylor, Studs Terkel, Thich Nhat Hanh, Phyllis Tickle, Desmond Tutu, Jean Vanier, and Marianne Williamson.
From Publishers Weekly Starred Review.
Faith and doubt stand in loving tension in this splendid collection edited by Bole, a religion writer, and Abernethy, founder and host of the PBS program Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly. The book draws from the extensive interviews the series has conducted with religious luminaries and writers, some of whom appear more than once. The interviews are loosely arranged into themes of prayer; suffering and the problem of evil; encountering religious pluralism; preparing for death and the afterlife; and the varieties of religious practice. Not all of the contributors describe themselves as religious ("You know what an agnostic is?" asks the agnostic near-centenarian Studs Terkel. "A cowardly atheist"). Most of those profiled, however, have walked a long path of religious devotion, including Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter, Thich Nhat Hanh, the Dalai Lama, Anne Lamott, William Sloane Coffin, Martin Marty, Frederica Mathewes-Green and Phyllis Tickle (PW's former contributing editor in religion). With such an amazing cast of characters, it's practically impossible to go wrong, and this collection doesn't miss a step. The section on suffering is particularly perceptive ("I know that where there is no suffering, nothing happens," novelist Madeleine L'Engle says). This is a rich feast of accumulated wisdom.
==wendy abrahamson======
Episcopalians ‘protest faithfully’ against authoritarian abuses, bearing Christian witness.
This month, after ICE’s killing of a 37-year-old Minnesota woman led to escalating clashes between protesters and federal immigration authorities, The Episcopal Church encouraged Episcopalians to review its “Protesting Faithfully” toolkit. Some Episcopal clergy and lay leaders already were putting the church’s guidelines and resource recommendations into practice, and they are placing even greater emphasis now on protesting faithfully. For the Rev. Wendy Abrahamson, a priest in the Diocese of Iowa, that means rooting her public witness in the example and teachings of Jesus. “If I’m involved in something, it’s important for me to really, truthfully make sure I’m doing it as someone who follows Jesus,” Abrahamson, rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Grinnell, told Episcopal News Service. “He talks about caring for those who are suffering. … There’s a lot of suffering going on right now.”
(ENS; 1.20.26) READMORE>>>>>
This month, after ICE’s killing of a 37-year-old Minnesota woman led to escalating clashes between protesters and federal immigration authorities, The Episcopal Church encouraged Episcopalians to review its “Protesting Faithfully” toolkit. Some Episcopal clergy and lay leaders already were putting the church’s guidelines and resource recommendations into practice, and they are placing even greater emphasis now on protesting faithfully. For the Rev. Wendy Abrahamson, a priest in the Diocese of Iowa, that means rooting her public witness in the example and teachings of Jesus. “If I’m involved in something, it’s important for me to really, truthfully make sure I’m doing it as someone who follows Jesus,” Abrahamson, rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Grinnell, told Episcopal News Service. “He talks about caring for those who are suffering. … There’s a lot of suffering going on right now.”
(ENS; 1.20.26) READMORE>>>>>
==todd achilles======
Idaho senators craft legislation to prioritize protecting Christians globally
Todd Achilles, 58, a U.S. Army veteran and former Idaho state representative from Boise, is running against Risch for Senate as an independent. Also a Christian, he warned against the use of the U.S. military to impose on other countries America’s religious freedoms guaranteed under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
“Christians, like myself, those of other faiths, or no faith at all, should stand shoulder-to-shoulder to defend religious liberty,” Achilles said in a statement to the Idaho Statesman. “I will always support the freedom to worship, but I caution against military intervention to enforce this in other places around the world. We must continue to serve as an example to the world that people of all backgrounds can live in liberty and freedom. There is a reason President Ronald Reagan referred to our nation as the ‘shining city upon a hill.’
(East Idaho News; 1.17.26) READMORE>>>>>
Todd Achilles, 58, a U.S. Army veteran and former Idaho state representative from Boise, is running against Risch for Senate as an independent. Also a Christian, he warned against the use of the U.S. military to impose on other countries America’s religious freedoms guaranteed under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
“Christians, like myself, those of other faiths, or no faith at all, should stand shoulder-to-shoulder to defend religious liberty,” Achilles said in a statement to the Idaho Statesman. “I will always support the freedom to worship, but I caution against military intervention to enforce this in other places around the world. We must continue to serve as an example to the world that people of all backgrounds can live in liberty and freedom. There is a reason President Ronald Reagan referred to our nation as the ‘shining city upon a hill.’
(East Idaho News; 1.17.26) READMORE>>>>>
==richard ackerman======
Richard Ackerman, known online as "Redeemed Zoomer," is a contemporary Presbyterian apologist and activist. He is a Presbyterian convert and conservative activist in the Presbyterian Church. He is known for his YouTube channel, "Redeemed Zoomer," where he advocates for conservative reforms within Protestantism, with over 569,000 subscribers as of June 2025. He also uses Instagram for short educational videos. Ackerman founded Operation Reconquista and Presbyterians for the Kingdom to promote conservative theology within Mainline Protestantism and the PCUSA. Ackerman is critical of evangelical and non-denominational Christianity. He supports traditional Protestantism and conservative stances on social issues, including supporting conversion therapy and praising Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act. He has also been critical of the Republican Party. Ackerman graduated from Southern Methodist University with degrees in music and mathematics. He plans to pursue a Master of Arts in reformed theology at Dubuque Theological Seminary. Ackerman's involvement with Operation Reconquista's Discord server, which included youth, led to disciplinary charges for some involved, though an investigation found no evidence of misconduct. He has also faced criticism for comments on church splits. Although being of Jewish descent, Ackerman has denounced Judaism and stated that "Jews aren't the chosen people". He formerly identified as a Zionist, but no longer supports Israel.
June 11, 2025: Juice Ecumenism reported: Redeemed Zoomer, the online persona of Presbyterian apologist Richard Ackerman, claims that his recent comments on church splits have been misinterpreted. In his debate with Baptist apologist Gavin Ortlund, Redeemed Zoomer argued that conservative Christians should stay loyal to mainline congregations, even if that means tolerating heresy in certain rare scenarios. Specifically, if a believer was forced to choose between either attending a liberal mainline congregation or a conservative non-mainline congregation, that believer should attend the liberal mainline one, Redeemed Zoomer posited. The Presbyterian’s claims cannot be isolated from his broader goal of reclaiming the mainline Protestant denominations for theologically conservative Christians. With over 564,000 YouTube subscribers, Redeemed Zoomer is prominent in Operation Reconquista, an interdenominational movement to retake mainline Protestant institutions for Bible-believing Christians.
==Saeed Abedini======
Saeed Abedini (born 7 May 1980) is an Iranian American Christian pastor who was imprisoned in Iran in 2012 based on allegations that he compromised national security. During his imprisonment, Abedini became internationally known as a victim of religious persecution. Following international pressure, along with other American prisoners, Abedini was released from prison on 16 January 2016.
June 3, 2023: CBN reported:Saeed Abedini, a U.S. pastor imprisoned for his faith, was severely beaten at an Iranian hospital before being returned to the brutal Rajai Shahr prison. His Iranian family claims the transfer was unexpected and the reason is unclear. But one of the guards involved in the transfer suggested recent Iranian nuclear talks could be a motive, the family said. "Imagine being an individual who is important to talks between nations about a nuclear program," Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice, said. "It's pretty unprecedented that that could be the case, so that was picked up on by those who were watching this unfold at the hospital."
According to reports inside Iran, Mohammed and Nazanin Razvini, two Iranian Christians, were recently arrested. They are presently held in Vakil Abid Prison in Mashhad and their lives are reportedly in danger. They were arrested a couple of hours after their cousin, Pastor Saeed Abedini, appeared on the Voice of America’s Persian-language broadcast, speaking out against Iran’s bloodshed and terrorism around the globe. A relative of the family, Javad Mahdian, who works for the Revolutionary Guards, was asked to help, but couldn’t.
Pastor Saeed Abedini told The Jewish Press in an exclusive interview that there are daily human rights violations in Iran and yet the world remains silent. He cited social media reports of women protesters who were stripped naked and beaten by the Basij militia: “So, they showed one hair through the hijab and now the regime is forcing them to be completely naked, without a brassiere, surrounded by aroused soldiers. They are beaten to death. Their whole bodies are black.” - Rachel Avraham; Jewish Press: Exiled Iranian Pastor Describes the Regime’s Brutality and Perversion 10.27.22
Pastor Saeed Abedini told The Jewish Press in an exclusive interview that there are daily human rights violations in Iran and yet the world remains silent. He cited social media reports of women protesters who were stripped naked and beaten by the Basij militia: “So, they showed one hair through the hijab and now the regime is forcing them to be completely naked, without a brassiere, surrounded by aroused soldiers. They are beaten to death. Their whole bodies are black.” - Rachel Avraham; Jewish Press: Exiled Iranian Pastor Describes the Regime’s Brutality and Perversion 10.27.22
May 2016: Christianity Today reported: For more than three years, Iranian American pastor Saeed Abedini sat in an Iranian prison, where interrogators beat him and pressured him to recant his faith. Freed this January in a prisoner swap initiated by President Obama, Abedini is now in the United States, where many Christians and religious-liberty groups had prayed and campaigned for his release. The homecoming has been bittersweet. Last fall, Naghmeh Abedini—who had campaigned tirelessly for her husband—told supporters via email that her marriage has included “physical, emotional, psychological, and sexual abuse (through Saeed’s addiction to pornography).” She has since filed for legal separation. Christianity Today reported on Naghmeh’s emails last fall, and will continue to report on legal developments involving the Abedinis.
April 2, 2015: Secretary of State John Kerry addressed the issue following the announcement that a framework for a deal with Iran had been reached: And finally, with respect to our citizens, we of course have had a number of conversations, and no meeting, no date when we come together has been without conversation about our American citizens. I'm not going to go into any details except to say to you that that conversation is continuing. We have a very specific process in place to try to deal with it, and we call on Iran again, today, now, in light of this to release these Americans and let them get home with their families. And we are working on that and we will continue to be very focused on it.
Nahgmeh Saeed
"As Secretary Kerry stated, the United States and Iran continue to talk about the release of Saeed and the other Americans held captive in Iran. It is the hope of our family that Saeed and the others are released and returned to their families. President Obama has told our family that he considers securing the freedom of Saeed to be a "top priority" and I continue to take him at his word. As we prepare to celebrate Easter, I want to thank the many people around the country and the world who are continuing to pray for Saeed's release."
-Pastor Saeed's wife, Nahgmeh Saeed April 2015
-Pastor Saeed's wife, Nahgmeh Saeed April 2015
May 2015: The United States Senate unanimously passed, 90–0, a resolution calling upon the Iranian government to immediately free Abedini and two other Americans imprisoned in Iran, Amir Hekmati
and Jason Rezaian, and to cooperate with the U.S. government to locate and return Robert Levinson, who is missing in the country.
and Jason Rezaian, and to cooperate with the U.S. government to locate and return Robert Levinson, who is missing in the country.
January 21, 2013: Iranian state media reported that Abedini would be released after posting a $116,000 bond. His wife, however, stated that the government "has no intention of freeing him and that the announcement is 'a game to silence' international media reports."
January 27,2013: Judge Pir-Abassi sentenced Abedini to eight years in prison. According to Fox News, Abedini was sentenced for having "undermined the Iranian government by creating a network of Christian house churches and ... attempting to sway Iranian youth away from Islam.
January 2013: The U.S. State Department condemned Abedini's sentencing: "We condemn Iran's continued violation of the universal right of freedom of religion and we call on the Iranian authorities to respect Mr. Abedini's human rights and release him."
January 27,2013: Judge Pir-Abassi sentenced Abedini to eight years in prison. According to Fox News, Abedini was sentenced for having "undermined the Iranian government by creating a network of Christian house churches and ... attempting to sway Iranian youth away from Islam.
January 2013: The U.S. State Department condemned Abedini's sentencing: "We condemn Iran's continued violation of the universal right of freedom of religion and we call on the Iranian authorities to respect Mr. Abedini's human rights and release him."
July 2012: Abedini was placed under house arrest in Iran by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
==heather adams======
Heather Adams is an author, speaker, and singer living in Connecticut. Heather’s passion is to equip and encourage believers to seek more of God’s truth and to experience more of His joy each day. Her book, Bow Down: The Heart of a True Worshipper is a practical, 30-day devotional about worship based on the writings of King David. Heather's blog, Worship Walk Ministries, offers weekly Scripture passages and insights to ponder. A native New Englander, Heather is settling into her home in the South, trying out local foods and watching for the alligators that live nearby!
Heather Adams Files
Becoming a person of praise no matter what is going on in our lives actually starts with the decision to put our faith in Jesus. God sent Christ to be our Savior, so that we could be reconciled to The Father. The more we think on this, the more thanks we’ll want to give. Soon, a habit of expressing gratitude will take hold in our hearts.
And when life makes us weary or tears us down, our thoughts will return more quickly to the Lord who loves us, and who has proved His faithfulness over and over. That will stir our hearts to reach for Him with worship on our lips.
Isaiah’s words were meant to give hope to a nation in anguish. The truth they share applies to all believers. When we choose to let God restore us, giving Him praise, others who are struggling will be encouraged. And we’ll have the chance to show them more of God’s goodness and glory.
Later in chapter 61, Isaiah voices his own appreciation and passion:
“I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God, For he has clothed me with garments of salvation, and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness…” (Isaiah 61:10) --Heather Andrews; What is a Garment of Praise 6/24/24
And when life makes us weary or tears us down, our thoughts will return more quickly to the Lord who loves us, and who has proved His faithfulness over and over. That will stir our hearts to reach for Him with worship on our lips.
Isaiah’s words were meant to give hope to a nation in anguish. The truth they share applies to all believers. When we choose to let God restore us, giving Him praise, others who are struggling will be encouraged. And we’ll have the chance to show them more of God’s goodness and glory.
Later in chapter 61, Isaiah voices his own appreciation and passion:
“I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God, For he has clothed me with garments of salvation, and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness…” (Isaiah 61:10) --Heather Andrews; What is a Garment of Praise 6/24/24
==rachael adams======
Rachael Adams is Author of A Little Goes a Long Way and host of The Love Offering podcast hopes to help women realize their God-given purpose and significance. She and her husband, Bryan, live in Kentucky with their two children, Will and Kate. Her work has been featured on Crosswalk, Proverbs 31, Today Parenting, and YouVersion.
Her published works include: A Little Goes a Long Way: 52 Days to a Significant Life: This book explores how small actions can create a big impact in God's hands. Everyday Prayers for Love: Learning to Love God, Others, and Even Yourself: A 31-day devotional and reflective journal for women, focused on cultivating love for God, others, and oneself. Fisk's Fishing Adventures: The Best Catch. Through her writing, speaking, and podcasting, Rachael Adams aims to help women realize their God-given purpose and significance. You can find more information about her and her work on her website, rachaelkadams.com, and on her social media platforms.
Her published works include: A Little Goes a Long Way: 52 Days to a Significant Life: This book explores how small actions can create a big impact in God's hands. Everyday Prayers for Love: Learning to Love God, Others, and Even Yourself: A 31-day devotional and reflective journal for women, focused on cultivating love for God, others, and oneself. Fisk's Fishing Adventures: The Best Catch. Through her writing, speaking, and podcasting, Rachael Adams aims to help women realize their God-given purpose and significance. You can find more information about her and her work on her website, rachaelkadams.com, and on her social media platforms.
God himself instituted certain holidays and traditions. In the Old Testament, he established several annual holidays for celebration, fellowship, and worship. He placed the Passover, the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Offering of Firstfruits, the Festival of Weeks, the Festival of Trumpets, the Festival of Tabernacles, and the Day of Atonement on Israel’s calendar (Leviticus 23; Numbers 28-29). These holidays provided a time for the Israelites to refresh themselves and renew their commitment to God. During these feasts, family members of all ages were reminded of his work in their lives. But tradition for tradition’s sake is just another ritual. The true heart of these traditions lies in our connection to God and those around us.
This was true in biblical times and remains true today. Holidays and traditions serve as annual reminders of what God has done, and they provide us with opportunities to connect with others. It’s essential to establish traditions in our families to serve as reminders for older generations and offer learning experiences for younger ones.
-Rachael Adams A Prayer for When You Need to Speak the Truth in Love ; May 2025
This was true in biblical times and remains true today. Holidays and traditions serve as annual reminders of what God has done, and they provide us with opportunities to connect with others. It’s essential to establish traditions in our families to serve as reminders for older generations and offer learning experiences for younger ones.
-Rachael Adams A Prayer for When You Need to Speak the Truth in Love ; May 2025
As hard as it can be, we all need people in our lives who are willing to speak the truth in love. Friends who build us up but also call us out when we’ve gone astray. People who sharpen us and keep us aligned with God’s best for us. No matter how far along we are in our faith journey, we’re still vulnerable to temptation, pride, and sin. Even those closest to God—like King David—have fallen short. David’s story reminds us of the power of truth spoken in love. After abusing his power, committing adultery with Bathsheba, and orchestrating her husband’s death, David was confronted by the prophet Nathan. Nathan didn’t approach him with condemnation, but with bold honesty and deep care. His courageous intervention led David to repentance and restoration. Psalm 51 was born from that moment—a raw, repentant cry from a humbled heart. Like David, we need friends who will speak into our blind spots. And like Nathan, we must be willing to speak truth when the Spirit prompts us, no matter how uncomfortable it may feel. The enemy would love for us to keep quiet when sin is present. He thrives in secrecy, distortion, and fear. But God works through clarity, light, and grace. He invites us to grow up into maturity in Christ, not just for ourselves but for the sake of others. Do you have a Nathan in your life? If not, ask God to send one. And ask Him to make you one for someone else. Speaking truth in love doesn’t mean we’re harsh or self-righteous—it means we care enough to risk discomfort for the sake of someone’s soul. A faithful friend who speaks with love and conviction is a gift of grace. -Rachael Adams; A Prayer to Help Future Generations Come to Know the Lord; October 2025
Human love often falls short. We’ve all experienced heartache when someone’s actions or words didn’t meet our expectations. Whether it’s the sting of rejection, the pain of betrayal, or simply the absence of care, our hearts can feel empty and longing for something more. But God’s love is different. Unlike human love, His love is perfect, steadfast, and unfailing. Psalm 136 reminds us of this truth with its repeated refrain: “God’s love never fails.” Generation after generation has experienced His faithfulness, and His love for us remains as constant and inexhaustible as ever. When we feel empty or unloved, we can look back on God’s provision in our own lives and in the stories of Scripture. His love fills every void, heals every wound, and overflows so we can share it with others. In a world of fleeting affections, God’s love is the one thing we can trust to never change.
--Rachael Adams
--Rachael Adams
July 2, 2024: MSN reported: A Little Goes a Long Way by Rachael Adams:In this 52-day guide, Christian writer and podcaster Rachael Adams helps readers discover how partnering with God has the power to unlock the eternal significance of even the smallest acts. With personal stories, encouraging prayers and Bible verses, readers will learn how a little goes a long way when showing kindness!
==MEEKE ADDISON======
Meeke Addison is an American author, speaker, women's teacher, and pro-family activist known for her work within a Christian context. Meeke has over 20 years of ministry experience, including serving as a missionary with her husband and working with American Family Radio (AFR) from 2007-2023. She is also the assistant director of the Marriage, Family, Life Conference hosted by American Family Association (AFA). Meeke co-hosts the "Culture Proof Podcast" with her husband, Wil. They previously hosted a program called "Airing the Addisons" on Urban Family Talk and AFR. Meeke's work emphasizes equipping Christians to engage and transform culture by connecting cultural and political activism with biblical convictions. She also addresses topics like home schooling, discipleship, and family issues. Meeke is the author of "Hard Truths: Devotional Book". Meeke is a native of New Orleans. The Addison family moved from Louisiana to Mississippi in 2008 to work full-time with AFA. Meeke Addison is dedicated to strengthening families and equipping Christians to navigate and influence culture with a biblical worldview.
Meeke Addison Files
“I'm a black woman, so when I think of a civil right and the fight for freedom, it kind of strikes a chord for me that your sexual preference is not equal to the colour of my skin, an immutable characteristic," Addison said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. "It's offensive, just that what you want to do in your bedroom is the same thing as the colour of my skin and who I am............ When you come across passages that condemn homosexuality, you don’t dispute that. It is never supported biblically, so for a Christian to say they are a Christian and they are also homosexual … if you go according to Scriptures, they’re mutually exclusive.......We could be entering a time where the fire could be turned up under the feet of Christians, and I don't mean that in a good way"
--Meeke Addison at a "Do Not Harm; rally in Jackson, Mississippi; 1.25.23
--Meeke Addison at a "Do Not Harm; rally in Jackson, Mississippi; 1.25.23
Feb 1, 2023: Madison County Journal reported: :Rep. Ford co-sponsors transgender legislation. Speakers included Dr. Ligon Duncan, CEO of Reformed Theological Seminary, House Speaker Philip Gunn, Meeke Addison of American Family Radio, Matt Sharp of Alliance Defending Freedom, Dr. Mike Artigues, President-Elect of the American College of Pediatricians, Xandra, a de-transitioner, Ford, and Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gibson.
May 5, 2022: Fort Cavazo Sentinel reported: Wil and Meeke Addison, hosts of the popular Christian radio show “Airing the Addisons,” spoke at the Spirit of Fort Hood Chapel April 26, then followed up the event with a question and answer luncheon April 27 at the Lone Star Conference Center. “We saw a segment of the body of Christ come together to support it, minister it,” said Chaplain (Maj.) Robert Fry, 1st Cavalry Division Artillery chaplain. “Seeing the diversity in the body of Christ – black, white, Hispanic, Samoan, men and women, young and old – was inspiring.”
Meeke Addison Files
Here are three reasons Black Lives Matter is incompatible with Biblical Christianity:
1. Black Lives Matter seeks to dismantle the Biblical definition of family. In their own words, they are “committed to disrupting the Western prescribed nuclear family structure requirement.” One man married to one woman is not a Western prescription for family; it’s a Biblical one. The mystery of two (man and woman) becoming one flesh is so powerful a union that the Apostle Paul used this illustration to talk about Christ and the church in Ephesians 5.
2. Black Lives Matter champions the celebration of homosexuality. They refer to it as “queer-affirming,” but it simply boils down to rebellion against God’s created design for sexuality. In their own words, BLM gathers “with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking, or, rather, the belief that all in the world are heterosexual unless s/he or they disclose otherwise.” No matter what secular culture decides about sexuality, the Bible is still unequivocal regarding God’s design for sexual intimacy. Romans 1, for example, lists homosexuality as a “vile passion.” We love homosexuals and wish them to be redeemed through faith in Christ. So how can we link arms with a group whose mission is to undermine and celebrate rebellion against God’s design?
3. Black Lives Matter touts gender confusion as normal and seeks to make heroes of those who are mentally confused. The movement taking culture by storm and increasingly validated by Christians, black and white alike, wants to “dismantle cis-gender privilege and uplift Black trans folk.” Yep—their justice movement is also the movement of gender revolution. BLM is “committed to embracing and making space for trans brothers and sisters to participate and lead.”
There are two genders: male and female. The science is clear, and the Bible is crystal clear when it comes to God’s creation. --Meek Addison 7.1.20; The Stated Goals of Black Lives Matter Are Anti-Christian
1. Black Lives Matter seeks to dismantle the Biblical definition of family. In their own words, they are “committed to disrupting the Western prescribed nuclear family structure requirement.” One man married to one woman is not a Western prescription for family; it’s a Biblical one. The mystery of two (man and woman) becoming one flesh is so powerful a union that the Apostle Paul used this illustration to talk about Christ and the church in Ephesians 5.
2. Black Lives Matter champions the celebration of homosexuality. They refer to it as “queer-affirming,” but it simply boils down to rebellion against God’s created design for sexuality. In their own words, BLM gathers “with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking, or, rather, the belief that all in the world are heterosexual unless s/he or they disclose otherwise.” No matter what secular culture decides about sexuality, the Bible is still unequivocal regarding God’s design for sexual intimacy. Romans 1, for example, lists homosexuality as a “vile passion.” We love homosexuals and wish them to be redeemed through faith in Christ. So how can we link arms with a group whose mission is to undermine and celebrate rebellion against God’s design?
3. Black Lives Matter touts gender confusion as normal and seeks to make heroes of those who are mentally confused. The movement taking culture by storm and increasingly validated by Christians, black and white alike, wants to “dismantle cis-gender privilege and uplift Black trans folk.” Yep—their justice movement is also the movement of gender revolution. BLM is “committed to embracing and making space for trans brothers and sisters to participate and lead.”
There are two genders: male and female. The science is clear, and the Bible is crystal clear when it comes to God’s creation. --Meek Addison 7.1.20; The Stated Goals of Black Lives Matter Are Anti-Christian
July 1, 2020: Addison wrote: By now, the images of George Floyd’s senseless death on a Minneapolis street have been etched into our national consciousness. We have seen the subsequent protests—and the riots, looting and violence that have followed. Tensions have risen, and Christians of all colors are asking hard questions. Does God care about justice? Absolutely! In fact, God says of Himself in Isaiah 61:8, “For I, the Lord, love justice” (NKJV). What about life? Does God care about life? Yes, because above all other created things, only human beings are crafted and molded in His image! Psalm 139 powerfully communicates the value, worth and sanctity of human life. God’s concerns for life and justice are woven throughout the Bible, and the two are not mutually exclusive. So we as Christians should care about justice and defend life. Likewise, we must make sure that our endeavors to plead for justice or defend life don’t inadvertently align us with veiled missions and agendas that seek to undermine God’s standard of holiness.
Meeke Addison Files
“Excuse me for what I am about to say. We are talking about a man who engages in violent sexual acts with a person he claims to love. Now that’s ugly.”
“Let’s just stop for a second here and let’s realize that our defenses have been eroded,” she added. “We have been fed a narrative for so long that now we have unrighteousness that we accept … A man who marries a man and says that this could potentially be the First Gentlemen of the United States and we’re supposed to talk about his policies? I don’t think so. I don’t think so. Do you understand the type of judgment that will be brought upon our country?...When we no longer fear God,” Addison said, “this is what we get.” ---Meeke Addison appeared on the “Focus Today” on gay Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg 5.20.19
“Let’s just stop for a second here and let’s realize that our defenses have been eroded,” she added. “We have been fed a narrative for so long that now we have unrighteousness that we accept … A man who marries a man and says that this could potentially be the First Gentlemen of the United States and we’re supposed to talk about his policies? I don’t think so. I don’t think so. Do you understand the type of judgment that will be brought upon our country?...When we no longer fear God,” Addison said, “this is what we get.” ---Meeke Addison appeared on the “Focus Today” on gay Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg 5.20.19
Meeke Addison Files
“If we do not stand between our kids and a radical transgender ideology that has now found a partnership with money and increased revenue, then they (kids) will be destroyed...There is no other explanation that since 2007, when we had one gender transitioning clinic in this country, to now in 2023 we’ve got 300. Why? Because they’re lucrative.”
--Meeke Addison as reported in LA Times 6.30.15
“If we do not stand between our kids and a radical transgender ideology that has now found a partnership with money and increased revenue, then they (kids) will be destroyed...There is no other explanation that since 2007, when we had one gender transitioning clinic in this country, to now in 2023 we’ve got 300. Why? Because they’re lucrative.”
--Meeke Addison as reported in LA Times 6.30.15
==abimbola adelakun=====
Christian nationalism isn't limited to US, say scholars meeting in Chicago
Scholars from around the world are gathering in Chicago this week to focus on Christian nationalism, which they say is growing in influence globally. “Christian nationalism is not a single ideology, nor is it confined to one nation,” said Abimbola Adelakun, associate professor of global Christianity at the University of Chicago Divinity School and organizer of the conference. “Across the world, Christianity is being invoked to legitimize political authority and exclusionary visions of belonging. This conference brings global perspectives together to better understand how these movements operate and why they matter.” The first of what organizers say will be an annual event, the conference is designed to look at issues affecting Christians around the world, said Adelakun. “This year, we’re looking at Christian nationalism, because it’s the most topical issue,” she said.
.(Religion news; 1.28.26) READMORE>>>>>
Scholars from around the world are gathering in Chicago this week to focus on Christian nationalism, which they say is growing in influence globally. “Christian nationalism is not a single ideology, nor is it confined to one nation,” said Abimbola Adelakun, associate professor of global Christianity at the University of Chicago Divinity School and organizer of the conference. “Across the world, Christianity is being invoked to legitimize political authority and exclusionary visions of belonging. This conference brings global perspectives together to better understand how these movements operate and why they matter.” The first of what organizers say will be an annual event, the conference is designed to look at issues affecting Christians around the world, said Adelakun. “This year, we’re looking at Christian nationalism, because it’s the most topical issue,” she said.
.(Religion news; 1.28.26) READMORE>>>>>
==carrie afanador======
Evangelicals divided over what faith demands as immigration tensions deepen
Carrie Afanador, a former teacher who lives in Boone, North Carolina, said that in her part of the country, many immigrants work in agriculture and construction, but there’s not much interaction between them and long-time residents. Frustrated that there were few immigration attorneys in Western North Carolina, Afanador started training with a Department of Justice program that allows nonprofits to set up legal clinics to assist immigrants. “I tried to talk a bunch of people into doing it, and nobody would do it,” she said. “So I got mad, and was like, ‘Fine, I’ll just do it.’” (Julie Roys; 1.30.26) READMORE>>>>>
Carrie Afanador, a former teacher who lives in Boone, North Carolina, said that in her part of the country, many immigrants work in agriculture and construction, but there’s not much interaction between them and long-time residents. Frustrated that there were few immigration attorneys in Western North Carolina, Afanador started training with a Department of Justice program that allows nonprofits to set up legal clinics to assist immigrants. “I tried to talk a bunch of people into doing it, and nobody would do it,” she said. “So I got mad, and was like, ‘Fine, I’ll just do it.’” (Julie Roys; 1.30.26) READMORE>>>>>
==timothy agee======
Timothy Agee was born and raised in Suwanee, Georgia, and surrendered his life to Jesus while attending Camp Kaleo in the summer of 2003. He and his wife Rachel spent nearly two years in Texas while in seminary but moved back to Georgia in 2019. After volunteering with our college and young adult ministry for a little over two years, Timothy surrendered to the call of full-time ministry and joined the Hopewell staff in the Fall of 2022. They currently live in Talmo, Georgia, and are excited to welcome their newborn child in the Fall of 2023.
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Feb 24, 2023: The Christian Index reported: Hundreds pray for revival across Georgia campuses on Collegiate Day of Prayer Pastor Matthew Vandegriff of Poplar Springs Baptist Church and Timothy Agee, Pastor of Young Adults at Hopewell Baptist, joined Georgia Baptist Campus Minister Keith Wade and students on a prayer walk on the Gainesville campus of the University of North Georgia. Wade said, “May we continue to see the Lord move among this campus and students be bold to share Jesus.”
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==Philip Adihkary======
Philip Adhikary is a prominent Christian leader in Bangladesh, serving as the chairman of several key religious and educational institutions. He holds multiple leadership roles, including: Chairman of the Federation of Protestant Churches in Bangladesh, Chairman of the National Christian Fellowship of Bangladesh (Bangladesh Evangelical Alliance) and an Executive Board Member of the Asia Evangelical Alliance, Chairman of the Bangladesh Bible Society (representing the United Bible Society), Chairman of the College of Christian Theology Bangladesh and the Asian Churches Network. Known for his evangelism, Bible distribution efforts, and church planting initiatives, Bishop Adhikary is dedicated to spiritual renewal, unity among denominations, and improving the lives of marginalized communities, including Rohingya refugees. He advocates for the Christian minority in Bangladesh and has called for religious freedom and justice on their behalf.
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WCC expresses solidarity with peace efforts in Bangladesh "At the World Council of Churches, we actively promote the same three-zero principles. This is a natural alignment, and we're glad to walk alongside you on this path," Pillay said. Pillay also praised Bangladesh's leadership in climate adaptation efforts. “Bangladesh is home to some of the world’s most innovative and capable engineers working to overcome climate challenges,” he noted. Pillay was joined by Bishop Philip Adhikary, President of the Federation of Protestant Churches of Bangladesh; Wing Commander Christopher Adhikary (Retd.), President of the National Council of Churches in Bangladesh (NCCB); Rev. David Das, General Secretary of the NCCB; and Dinesh Suna, Programme Executive of the WCC. (World Council of Churches 4/14/25) READ MORE>>>>> What Another Trump Presidency Means To Evangelicals Around the World Philip Adhikary, chairman, Bangladesh Evangelical Alliance The election of Donald Trump to the US presidency evokes mixed reactions. While Trump’s administration generally had a strong stance in favor of religious freedom, his foreign policies toward countries like Bangladesh were often pragmatic rather than overtly focused on the concerns of specific religious minorities. His “America First” approach and his support for religious liberty could signal both positive and challenging implications for Bangladeshi evangelicals. However, US foreign aid, which sometimes comes with human rights conditions, might not dramatically shift in response to Trump’s priorities, especially if his administration prioritizes national interests over international human rights. Practically, the impact of Trump’s presidency could include increased opportunities for religious NGOs in the form of aid. However, the rise of nationalist and anti-immigrant rhetoric in some Western countries during his tenure could embolden local opposition to evangelical efforts, potentially increasing societal pressure or persecution. (Christianity Today 11/7/24) READ MORE>>>>> |
May 3, 2019: bdnews reported: Bishop Philip Adhikary, President of Bangladesh Bible Society, said: “We Christians are living here very peacefully.” “We don't know where the BBC got the information about us. But we can say we are living here peacefully,” he said. “The way the prime minister is addressing our issues, it's praiseworthy,” he said, “I think Bangladesh will be one of the few countries in the world where all religions coexist peacefully” |
==che ahn======
Ché Ahn is an American evangelical pastor. Dr. Ché Ahn and his wife, Sue, have been the Senior Pastors of Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena, California, USA, since 1994. Dr. Ché is the President of Harvest International Ministry, an apostolic network in over 65 nations, and the International Chancellor of Wagner University. In 2000, Ahn was a leader in the evangelical youth movement The Call. He is also the International Chancellor of Wagner University, an unaccredited institution in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Ahn is involved in supporting Republican politics. At a Stop The Steal rally held shortly before the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, he told an audience, "I believe that this week we're going to throw Jezebel out and Jehu's gonna rise up, and we're gonna rule and reign through President Trump and under the lordship of Jesus Christ." On January 7, 2021 after returning from the January 6 Capitol Attack in Washington, D.C., Ché Ahn said that Trump supporters were ripe for 'harvesting' or bringing into the fold of what Matthew D. Taylor calls the Christian supremacist movement.
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Ché Ahn Says Those Who Oppose Trump Are 'Fighting God Dominionist pastor Ché Ahn appeared on the Christian nationalist program "FlashPoint" last week, where he declared that those who oppose President Donald Trump or anyone in his administration are "fighting God." "Concerning all the [cabinet] candidates, I really believe we're seeing Daniel 2 played out where God says I'm going to remove leaders and replace them," Ahn said. "That's what we're seeing. God, in his sovereignty and his mercy on our nation as we have prayed and repented of our sins, he is answering our prayers." "He's put Trump into position," Ahn continued. "But not only that, [Vice President J.D.] Vance. Are you kidding me? This incredible vice president and as well as the cabinet member, it's like an all-star team, a dream team that you couldn't even figure out or make up. God's doing it and so whoever fights them is really fighting God." (People For 1/21/25) READ MORE>>>>> July 11, 2023: Bucks County Beacon: Pennsylvania’s Prayer Warrior: Abby Abildness And Her Dominionist Crusade In The Commonwealth
We initially reported on the NAR in August last year. As stated in that report, some of the NAR’s most prominent leaders include: Cindy Jacobs, John Benefiel, Lance Wallnau, Abby Abildness, Dutch Sheets, Chuck Pierce, Ché Ahn, Lou Engle, Jim Garlow, Steve Strang (Charisma News), Steve Shultz (Elijah List). |
Jan 10, 2023: Baptist News Global reported: The New Apostolic Reformation drove the January 6 riots, so why was it overlooked by the House Select Committee? Other self-proclaimed modern-day apostles include Bill Johnson of Bethel Church, Mike Bickle of the International House of Prayer, Dutch Sheets, Cindy Jacobs, Che Ahn and Don Finto.
Nov 30, 2022; Religion Dispatches reported: Apostle Ché Ahn’s California-based Harvest International Ministry (HIM) claims “more than 25,000 affiliated ministries and organizations in 65 nations,” and seeks to advance the Kingdom “by equipping leaders, multiplying churches, evangelizing, and bringing revival and reformation to the nations.” Unlike more patient revolutionaries, he wants to accelerate the arrival of the Kingdom. In the run-up to the January 6th insurrection, he declared, “I believe that this week we’re going to throw Jezebel out and Jehu’s gonna rise up, and we’re gonna rule and reign through President Trump and under the lordship of Jesus Christ.”
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==april ajoy======
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‘Vertical Morality’ Might Describe Why MAGA Christians Seem So Unchristian “Vertical morality in Christianity is the idea that our ethics and behaviors have a duty to please God alone. We get our morals from God and we must obey him, furthering the will of God no matter the cost,” said April Ajoy, author of “Star-Spangled Jesus: Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding A True Faith.” (HuffPost 11/15/25) READMORE>>>> |
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==ayo akerele======
Ayo Akerele is the senior pastor of Rhema for Living Assembly in Toronto, a fast-growing congregation of firebrand believers. Pastor Ayo hold a doctorate degree in human resource management and has worked extensively in the corporate world in Africa, Europe, and North America before answering the call to ministry. He is a sought-after intercessor, dynamic writer, public speaker, and anointed teacher of the word. His itinerant prayer, teaching, and speaking ministry under different Christian organizations has lasted for many years since he met the Lord in the early 1980s. He is the author of many other titles, including the end-time epic The Days of Noah. Pastor Ayo is married to Omolara and they are blessed with two great sons, Enoch and John.
Ayo Akerele
Politically, a one-party system can lead to “authoritarianism.” The concentration of power in one party can lead to authoritarian rule, with limited political freedoms and human rights abuses. It could also lead to the lack of accountability. Without opposition parties, the ruling party may not be held accountable for its actions, leading to poor governance and the lack of transparency. The suppression of political freedoms and economic mismanagement can lead to social unrest, political instability, and many other perils that are capable of unsettling Nigeria’s nascent democratic regimes, including the following:
- Protests and Civil Disobedience: Citizens may resort to protests and civil disobedience to express their dissatisfaction with the ruling party.
- Ethnic and Religious Tensions: In a diverse country like Nigeria, leadership failure can exacerbate ethnic and religious tensions, leading to conflict and violence.
- Suppression of Dissent: In a one-party state, the ruling party may suppress dissenting voices, leading to a culture of fear and repression.
- Human Rights Abuses: The government may use force to silence critics, leading to human rights violations.
- Media Censorship: Independent media outlets may be shut down or censored, limiting the flow of information and increasing public frustration.
Ayo Akerele
“Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed.” (Acts 15: 39-40a).
At the root of the growing spiritual weakness of the younger generation of Christians is the loss of the virtue of patience. They do not want to suffer for anything, yet suffering is a crucial furnace for killing the flesh. Suffering here does not always refer to the lack of food or water or the basic needs of life. It also speaks to the subduing of the desires of the flesh to the power of the Spirit. One of such desires is the quick success syndrome, manifesting in the desire for quick financial success, quick church growth, quick exposure, quick this and quick that. An unprepared generation will never make the most of God’s grace, much less preserve it for the next generation.
--Ayo Akerele; Rising on the platform of faithfulness, July 2023
At the root of the growing spiritual weakness of the younger generation of Christians is the loss of the virtue of patience. They do not want to suffer for anything, yet suffering is a crucial furnace for killing the flesh. Suffering here does not always refer to the lack of food or water or the basic needs of life. It also speaks to the subduing of the desires of the flesh to the power of the Spirit. One of such desires is the quick success syndrome, manifesting in the desire for quick financial success, quick church growth, quick exposure, quick this and quick that. An unprepared generation will never make the most of God’s grace, much less preserve it for the next generation.
--Ayo Akerele; Rising on the platform of faithfulness, July 2023
Ayo Akerele
One of the greatest principles of the scriptures is faithfulness. It is an extremely critical virtue and value of God’s kingdom that tons of Christians really know very little or even nothing about. What does it mean to be faithful? It refers to being truthful, loyal, consistent and honest. Faithfulness is God’s greatest test of the Christian character because it is on that basis we will all be judged after our time here on earth. Faithfulness does not jump on anyone. There is no special anointing from God for some people to be faithful. It is an intentional effort with the help of the Holy Spirit in desiring to do things right at all times and in all cases. This is what God said to the Israelites:
“And may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God (Psalms 78-8)
All through the Bible, God never trivialized the subject of faithfulness, either in the Old or New Testament. Every single person that God distinguished and blessed was faithful to God in their live and calling. Let’s see some of these people in the scriptures. -Ayo Akerele; May 2022
“And may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God (Psalms 78-8)
All through the Bible, God never trivialized the subject of faithfulness, either in the Old or New Testament. Every single person that God distinguished and blessed was faithful to God in their live and calling. Let’s see some of these people in the scriptures. -Ayo Akerele; May 2022
==danny akin======
Daniel Lowell "Danny" Akin (born January 2, 1957) is the sixth president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and the College at Southeastern in Wake Forest, North Carolina, United States. A leader in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), he has authored and edited numerous books and journal articles and is best known for his commitment to expository preaching and to the Great Commission.
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Akin tells graduates to ‘speak the truth in love’ On May 16, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Judson College celebrated their spring commencement exercises and the graduation of 220 graduates, representing 28 states and nine countries. During his commencement address, SEBTS President Danny Akin gave the graduates a challenge centered around “five words that can change the world.” “They are words that come directly from God in His inspired and inerrant word,” Akin said. “And they are five words that I pray will accompany you all the days of your life and your ministry, wherever you go and whatever you do.” These words are written by the apostle Paul and are found in Ephesians 4:15: “Speak the truth in love.” “Our God is a God of truth, and truth matters to our God. Our God, indeed, teaches us that his truth is eternal. It’s not relative,” he said. “His truth is essential.” (Baptist Press 5/19/25) READ MORE>>>>>  Danny Akin
“Charles Stanley made an impact on my life from the time I was a child. My mother would watch him every Sunday morning as we got ready for church. Later God raised him up at a critical time in the life of our Convention and the Conservative Resurgence. We are debtors to this servant of Christ.” --Danny Akin, president, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary 4.18.23 |
June 28, 2021: Biblical recorder posted: Jordon Willard recommended to serve as 2023 N.C. Pastors’ Conference president. Willard served as director of discipleship at the North Roanoke Baptist Association from 2013-16 and as a member of the church strengthening team at the South Roanoke Baptist Association in 2018. He helped organize church strengthening and revitalization conferences in 2018 and 2019, featuring speakers such as well-known author and speaker Richard Blackaby, seminary president Danny Akin and preaching professor Jim Shaddix. |
Danny Akin
“Our faculty constantly bless me and encourage me, and I marvel at the giftedness God has given them. In the midst of all that joy, there is sadness when it comes time in some of their lives for them to retire — not from serving the Lord but from full-time teaching here at Southeastern... They have served not only with distinction but also with a love and a passion for the gospel, the word of God, and these students...Your assignment as you leave this place is to be sure that the gospel gets to the nations in time. The good news for the thief on the cross is good news for all the nations as well. Graduates, never forget that wherever you go, He’s already there. And when you arrive, He’s waiting on you. And wherever He leads you — even if it’s in the valley of the shadow of death — He will be with you every step of the way......The good news of the gospel is that the man on the middle cross says that you can come and that you can come today. All you have to do is ask Him."
--Danny Akin; Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Graduation ceremony. May 2023
--Danny Akin; Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Graduation ceremony. May 2023
Feb 9, 2023: Danny Akin: Alabama Baptist: First person: Why the M.Div. program matters for ministry
