V - PEOPLE FILES
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==dillon valadez======
Dillon Valadez
Dillon Valadez is an academic, economics researcher, and active member of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) church community. He serves as a Professor of Economics at Weimar University (formerly Weimar College), a private Seventh-day Adventist institution located in Colfax, California. He earned his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, Irvine (UCI). His academic background focuses on econometrics, specialized econometric modeling, and big data techniques like Bayesian Dynamic Factor models. He is a listed contributor and author for the Ojai Valley SDA Church network in California. Outside of teaching data and economics, he is a health and gardening enthusiast. He helped co-found a community garden in Santa Barbara, California, and has presented at events like the Herbivore Festival to speak on the link between nutrition, gardening, and overall health.
Dillon Valadez is an academic, economics researcher, and active member of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) church community. He serves as a Professor of Economics at Weimar University (formerly Weimar College), a private Seventh-day Adventist institution located in Colfax, California. He earned his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, Irvine (UCI). His academic background focuses on econometrics, specialized econometric modeling, and big data techniques like Bayesian Dynamic Factor models. He is a listed contributor and author for the Ojai Valley SDA Church network in California. Outside of teaching data and economics, he is a health and gardening enthusiast. He helped co-found a community garden in Santa Barbara, California, and has presented at events like the Herbivore Festival to speak on the link between nutrition, gardening, and overall health.
Dillon Valadez
Lucifer deceived many angels to become part of heaven’s ardent opposition. In fact, because his insinuations had reached so deep, “Even the loyal angels could not fully discern his character or see to what his work was leading” (Patriarchs and Prophets, pg. 41). In order to right them it became necessary for Jesus to commit to the plan of redemption, and in this way Jesus became the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev. 13:8). Although Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice, the responsibility for the consequences rest solely with Lucifer. This conspiracy, like many after it, involved the highest level of authority in heaven. In order to be successful the co-conspirators needed to be deceived. Ellen White, in commenting about how successful the deception was, says,
“Taking advantage of the loving, loyal trust reposed in him by the holy beings under his command, he had so artfully instilled into their minds his own distrust and discontent that his agency was not discerned” (ibid., pg. 38). Have you ever read a more accurate description of brain washing? The angels did not know they were led down a path for the only purpose of legitimizing Lucifer’s own feelings. --Dillon Valadez: Fulcrum 7: Assassinations 9/25/24
“Taking advantage of the loving, loyal trust reposed in him by the holy beings under his command, he had so artfully instilled into their minds his own distrust and discontent that his agency was not discerned” (ibid., pg. 38). Have you ever read a more accurate description of brain washing? The angels did not know they were led down a path for the only purpose of legitimizing Lucifer’s own feelings. --Dillon Valadez: Fulcrum 7: Assassinations 9/25/24
==Jennifer Erin Valent======
Jennifer Erin Valent
Jennifer Erin Valent is an American novelist best known for writing award-winning Southern historical Christian fiction. She gained widespread recognition in the publishing industry after winning the 2007 Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild's Operation First Novel contest, which launched her debut book and subsequent writing career.
Major Awards and Accomplishments:
Operation First Novel Winner (2007): Awarded by the Christian Writers Guild for her unpublished manuscript, which became her debut novel. Christy Award Winner (2010): Won the prestigious Christy Award for Best First Novel for Fireflies in December. Audie Award Recognition: The audiobook version of Fireflies in December—narrated by Kate Forbes—won an Audie Award for inspirational fiction.
Valent is most famous for her Calloway Summers series (also known as the Jessilyn Lassiter series). Set against the backdrop of the 1930s Depression-era American South, the series handles complex, challenging themes such as racial prejudice, vigilante justice, family struggles, and personal faith. The main series includes:
Fireflies in December (2008): Introduces a young girl navigating racial tensions and a childhood backdrop of the Ku Klux Klan in rural Virginia, Cottonwood Whispers (2009): Explores a strained interracial friendship and community tragedy during the summer of 1936., Catching Moondrops (2010): Concludes the core historical trilogy with emotional resolution and high-stakes community drama, Magnolia Spring (2016): An additional continuation of the series following the primary trilogy. Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Valent often draws directly from her surroundings and Southern background to enrich her storylines. Before her novel writing achieved commercial success, she spent over fifteen years working as a professional nanny and contributed freelance articles to several Christian women's magazines
Major Awards and Accomplishments:
Operation First Novel Winner (2007): Awarded by the Christian Writers Guild for her unpublished manuscript, which became her debut novel. Christy Award Winner (2010): Won the prestigious Christy Award for Best First Novel for Fireflies in December. Audie Award Recognition: The audiobook version of Fireflies in December—narrated by Kate Forbes—won an Audie Award for inspirational fiction.
Valent is most famous for her Calloway Summers series (also known as the Jessilyn Lassiter series). Set against the backdrop of the 1930s Depression-era American South, the series handles complex, challenging themes such as racial prejudice, vigilante justice, family struggles, and personal faith. The main series includes:
Fireflies in December (2008): Introduces a young girl navigating racial tensions and a childhood backdrop of the Ku Klux Klan in rural Virginia, Cottonwood Whispers (2009): Explores a strained interracial friendship and community tragedy during the summer of 1936., Catching Moondrops (2010): Concludes the core historical trilogy with emotional resolution and high-stakes community drama, Magnolia Spring (2016): An additional continuation of the series following the primary trilogy. Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Valent often draws directly from her surroundings and Southern background to enrich her storylines. Before her novel writing achieved commercial success, she spent over fifteen years working as a professional nanny and contributed freelance articles to several Christian women's magazines
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Meet Jennifer Erin Valent This month’s Jen’s Jewels Jennifer Erin Valent is an expert, in my opinion, in making the past come to life. In her latest release CATCHING MOONDROPS, she continues the story of a brave young white woman named Jessilyn Lassiter who comes face to face with social prejudices in Virginia in the 1930’s. The third book in the series, she takes the reader to a place where the Ku Klux Klan reigns supreme and the rights of those of a different race are put to the test. (Fresh Fiction 10/1/10) READMORE>>>>> |
==kris vallotton======
Kris Vallotton is an author, international speaker, culture leader, and most of all, a spiritual father to this generation. As the Senior Associate Leader of Bethel Church in Redding, California and co-founder of Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM) and Moral Revolution, Kris has helped thousands of Believers over the last 20 years realize their identity as sons and daughters of God. He’s a bestselling author, having written more than a dozen books and training manuals to help prepare believers for life in the kingdom. Kris has a diverse background in business, counseling, consulting, pastoring and teaching, which gives him unique leadership insights and perspectives.
Bethel Church Leaders Respond to Attempted Assassination of Former President Donald Trump
Bethel’s Senior Prophet Kris Vallotton referenced the Clement prophesy yesterday morning, calling Trump’s survival “providence to the providence, max.” Vallotton told the congregation “there’s a wrong spirit in the land,” and suggested that this might not be the only attempt that will be made on Trump’s life. “I feel like the spirit of vengeance is on our country,” he said, “and if we’re not careful, we’ll be swept up in this hatred.” Like Johnson, Vallotton has a long history of support for Trump. In 2019, he instructed the congregation to oppose Trump’s impeachment. In 2020, he inaccurately prophesied that Trump would win the presidential election. He apologized after the Electoral College confirmed Biden’s win. Yesterday, Vallotton appeared to temper his previously vocal support for Trump with a call to prioritize faith over politics. “I want to point out that Donald Trump is not the answer to our moral crisis,” Vallotton said, “Joe Biden is not the answer to our moral crisis . . . If we’re not really careful, we’ll be calling for a king,” Vallotton said, “and we have a king. His name is Jesus.”
(ShastaScout 7/15/24) Read More>>>>>
Bethel’s Senior Prophet Kris Vallotton referenced the Clement prophesy yesterday morning, calling Trump’s survival “providence to the providence, max.” Vallotton told the congregation “there’s a wrong spirit in the land,” and suggested that this might not be the only attempt that will be made on Trump’s life. “I feel like the spirit of vengeance is on our country,” he said, “and if we’re not careful, we’ll be swept up in this hatred.” Like Johnson, Vallotton has a long history of support for Trump. In 2019, he instructed the congregation to oppose Trump’s impeachment. In 2020, he inaccurately prophesied that Trump would win the presidential election. He apologized after the Electoral College confirmed Biden’s win. Yesterday, Vallotton appeared to temper his previously vocal support for Trump with a call to prioritize faith over politics. “I want to point out that Donald Trump is not the answer to our moral crisis,” Vallotton said, “Joe Biden is not the answer to our moral crisis . . . If we’re not really careful, we’ll be calling for a king,” Vallotton said, “and we have a king. His name is Jesus.”
(ShastaScout 7/15/24) Read More>>>>>
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Mar 23, 2023: Kris Vallotton: Church Leaders: 3 Core Values of People Who Actually Made a Difference in the World
June 18, 2019: CalMatters: How Redding, California, became an unlikely epicenter of modern Christian culture
For those who flock to the School of Supernatural Ministry, proximity to Bethel’s vaunted spiritual leaders, Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton, and the promise of direct access to the supernatural are a powerful draw. But many stay for the sense of community or spiritual growth. |
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==milenko van der staal======
Milenko van der Staal is the editor of ActiveChristianity.org, a website and podcast dedicated to Christian teachings. He is also associated with the Norwegian organization Brunstad Christian Church (BCC). As editor, he oversees a small staff and volunteer workers who publish Christian articles and podcasts in multiple languages.
He is mentioned in connection with BCC's mission initiatives, indicating his involvement with the church. He frequently serves as a host on the ActiveChristianity podcast, discussing topics like forgiveness, bitterness, and how biblical parables apply to modern life. According to Norwegian business listings, he has roles in several industries, including consulting, translation, and retail, under the name Jacob Milenko van der Staal. He is also an author for Bible Kids, a resource created by BCC Media
He is mentioned in connection with BCC's mission initiatives, indicating his involvement with the church. He frequently serves as a host on the ActiveChristianity podcast, discussing topics like forgiveness, bitterness, and how biblical parables apply to modern life. According to Norwegian business listings, he has roles in several industries, including consulting, translation, and retail, under the name Jacob Milenko van der Staal. He is also an author for Bible Kids, a resource created by BCC Media
Milenko van der Staal
In James 1:14-16 I read that it is my own desires (lusts in the flesh) that cause me to be tempted. A temptation is the desire in my flesh making its presence known, usually as a thought or feeling. But the desire must conceive in order to give birth to sin. The conception occurs when my mind agrees with the flesh. The two “I’s” unify, and the thought that started out as an involuntary impulse – a temptation – becomes sin, often followed up by words and deeds.
However, the whole Bible is a call to action: to resist the enemy, which in the New Covenant is the sin that dwells in my flesh. Being tempted is not the same as committing sin, but for it to stay that way I have to take up a battle against the lusts that become visible.
It can seem impossible, but when Jesus returned to His Father in heaven, He promised to send us His Spirit, the Helper. With the Holy Spirit’s help and guidance we get strength, not only to endure in temptation, but also to totally defeat the enemy. This is the fight of faith. As long as I am fighting, I have not sinned! This is the life of an overcomer! This also means that I remain pure, and there is no condemnation for those involuntary thoughts.
--Milenko van der Staal: Active Christianity: Is it even possible to keep my thoughts pure?
However, the whole Bible is a call to action: to resist the enemy, which in the New Covenant is the sin that dwells in my flesh. Being tempted is not the same as committing sin, but for it to stay that way I have to take up a battle against the lusts that become visible.
It can seem impossible, but when Jesus returned to His Father in heaven, He promised to send us His Spirit, the Helper. With the Holy Spirit’s help and guidance we get strength, not only to endure in temptation, but also to totally defeat the enemy. This is the fight of faith. As long as I am fighting, I have not sinned! This is the life of an overcomer! This also means that I remain pure, and there is no condemnation for those involuntary thoughts.
--Milenko van der Staal: Active Christianity: Is it even possible to keep my thoughts pure?
==david vandeput======
David Vandeput was born in Belgium but grew up in South Africa. He returned to Belgium when he was a teenager and the whole family settled near Charleroi, where he became involved in the local youth group. He has been married to Myriam since 1986 and from the beginning of their marriage they decided together to get involved in youth work, both locally and internationally. They are one of the founders of the annual youth gathering Convention de Jeunesse, which lasts 4 days and involves 650 young people, and the Explosion/The Shift movement, which takes place every two months and involves more than 150 young people. For years they were leaders of the youth group in Christian Center (Assemblies of God) and David was director of the European youth network PEFY (Pentecostal European Fellowship for Youth) until 2017. Then they took over the Antioche network of churches with more than 120 churches. Their leadership and organizational skills and their passion for youth and the church are highly appreciated. At the same time, David worked for 27 years as a sales manager in construction and Myriam worked as an employee in a multinational company. They have two children, both married and involved in the church. Kevin is pastor of a church in England and Chelsy is secretary of the Antioche network. David and Myriam have taken their careers in a different direction … David is now president of the Federal Synod of Potestants-Evanglian churches in Belgium and Myriam is a life coach at ExponenCiel.
Souls Delivered, Christians Emboldened in Brussels
“Pastors kept coming up to me, saying, ‘we need to do this more often,’” said Pastor David Vandeput, president of the Belgian Federal Synod of Evangelical and Protestant Churches. “They were so touched by the unity and the coming together of the two main regions of Belgium—the Dutch region and French region—which is a very hard thing to do.” Vandeput, who acts as an intermediate between the church and government, said the Festival has brought visibility to the evangelical church in Belgium, a nation in which Christians often feel invisible.
(BGEA 11/1/25) READMORE>>>>
“Pastors kept coming up to me, saying, ‘we need to do this more often,’” said Pastor David Vandeput, president of the Belgian Federal Synod of Evangelical and Protestant Churches. “They were so touched by the unity and the coming together of the two main regions of Belgium—the Dutch region and French region—which is a very hard thing to do.” Vandeput, who acts as an intermediate between the church and government, said the Festival has brought visibility to the evangelical church in Belgium, a nation in which Christians often feel invisible.
(BGEA 11/1/25) READMORE>>>>
==paul van noy======
Paul D. Van Noy
Paul D. Van Noy is the founding and senior pastor of Candlelight Christian Fellowship, a non-denominational evangelical church located in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. He is known locally for his conservative theological and political stances, but he has also been the center of several highly publicized regional and family controversies. He teaches using an expository style, adhering to a pre-millennial, pre-tribulational, and dispensational hermeneutic. His sermons are broadcasted via live stream, podcasts, and radio. Van Noy has served as the President of the Kootenai County Ministerial Association. He continues to lead regular services and Q&A sessions at Candlelight Christian Fellowship. In late 2025, Van Noy’s daughter publicly accused him of covering up allegations of child sexual abuse within church environments and failing to protect victims. Van Noy issued a statement on the Candlelight Christian Fellowship Facebook Page denying the claims, calling them false accusations, and stating that he chose not to provide detailed public comments to protect his family's privacy. The controversy sparked local petitions demanding his resignation.COVID-19 Hospitalization: In 2020, Van Noy made national headlines after calling himself a "no-masker" and refusing to comply with potential city mask mandates. He subsequently spent two weeks in the intensive care unit (ICU) after contracting COVID-19. He has frequently clashed with local Coeur d'Alene officials and citizens over his public stances regarding the LGBTQ+ community and his views on mixing church and state politics.
Even during war, Coeur d'Alene pastor leads group into IsraelPaul Van Noy has led group tours to Israel for 20 years. But with a war going on, this year’s was unexpected, and unlike any other. “There has never been a trip to Israel like this one. Most unusual,” he said. “When was the last time I stood on a balcony and watched the Iron Dome take out rockets from Iran?” The pastor of Candlelight Christian Fellowship in Coeur d’Alene recently returned from a three-week trip to Israel, where he led about 20 people around the Middle East country. (Coeur D'Alene Press 5/13/24) READMORE>>>>
Feb 22, 2023: Religion News Service: How big Christian nationalism has come courting in North Idaho
There are even fissures among vocal Christian conservatives. Paul Van Noy, pastor of Candlelight Christian Fellowship in Coeur D’Alene, said Reawaken organizers originally approached him to host the September event, likely in consideration of Candlelight’s embrace of politics and clashes with LGBTQ rights activists; last year, local LGBTQ advocates pushed unsuccessfully to keep the church from being used as a polling location. And like Wilson’s congregation in Moscow, Candlelight has doubled in size since it refused to close during the pandemic. (Van Noy was so opposed to COVID-19 restrictions that he kept the church open even after he was hospitalized with the disease in 2020.)
Van Noy is unashamedly political — “I tell people what I think about candidates,” he said — but as he reviewed Reawaken’s proposal, Van Noy was struck by the inclusion of baptisms.
“All of a sudden someone says ‘We’re going to do baptisms,’” he said. “I’m asking the question, ‘OK, well, then who’s preaching the gospel? What gospel? Are they going to believe? Are they going to be told that if they’re baptized in water they’re saved?”
There are even fissures among vocal Christian conservatives. Paul Van Noy, pastor of Candlelight Christian Fellowship in Coeur D’Alene, said Reawaken organizers originally approached him to host the September event, likely in consideration of Candlelight’s embrace of politics and clashes with LGBTQ rights activists; last year, local LGBTQ advocates pushed unsuccessfully to keep the church from being used as a polling location. And like Wilson’s congregation in Moscow, Candlelight has doubled in size since it refused to close during the pandemic. (Van Noy was so opposed to COVID-19 restrictions that he kept the church open even after he was hospitalized with the disease in 2020.)
Van Noy is unashamedly political — “I tell people what I think about candidates,” he said — but as he reviewed Reawaken’s proposal, Van Noy was struck by the inclusion of baptisms.
“All of a sudden someone says ‘We’re going to do baptisms,’” he said. “I’m asking the question, ‘OK, well, then who’s preaching the gospel? What gospel? Are they going to believe? Are they going to be told that if they’re baptized in water they’re saved?”
==miles v van pelt======
When we think about Jesus fulfilling Old Testament prophecy, we often think about individual verses or statements from the Old Testament quoted in the New Testament. For example, in Psalm 118:22, the psalmist states, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” This text is referenced on multiple occasions in the New Testament as a prophetic text fulfilled by Jesus during his earthly ministry (Matt. 21:42; Mark 12:10–11; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Eph 2:20; 1 Peter 2:7).
Beyond individual texts like Psalm 118:22, the New Testament also recognizes Jesus as the fulfillment, or embodiment, of certain Old Testament institutions. -Miles V Van Pelt 12/12/25
Beyond individual texts like Psalm 118:22, the New Testament also recognizes Jesus as the fulfillment, or embodiment, of certain Old Testament institutions. -Miles V Van Pelt 12/12/25
==billy vancamp======
Feb 6, 2023: AzCentral: 'I felt very unsafe': Gay fathers confronted at Arizona religious school accepting vouchers
Pastor Billy VanCamp took them to a conference room "away from all the children" and started questioning the relationship between Williams and Ortega, Ortega said. The pastor told Ortega he wasn't allowed on campus because he is a gay man without any blood relation to Williams' daughter, he said.
Pastor Billy VanCamp took them to a conference room "away from all the children" and started questioning the relationship between Williams and Ortega, Ortega said. The pastor told Ortega he wasn't allowed on campus because he is a gay man without any blood relation to Williams' daughter, he said.
==matthew vandegriff======
Feb 24, 2023: The Christian Index: 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.”
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.”
==jd vance======
JD Vance at March for Life: Abortion debate is a question of choosing either God or paganism
Vice President JD Vance said in his remarks at the 53rd annual March for Life rally in Washington, D.C., that the debate on abortion is a decision between God or paganism. In his remarks Friday before the massive pro-life gathering at the National Mall, Vance touted the Trump administration's efforts on behalf of the movement. This includes pardoning pro-life activists imprisoned for protesting at abortion clinics and ending federally funded experiments using aborted fetal cells. (Christian Post; 1.23.26) READMORE>>>>>
Vice President JD Vance said in his remarks at the 53rd annual March for Life rally in Washington, D.C., that the debate on abortion is a decision between God or paganism. In his remarks Friday before the massive pro-life gathering at the National Mall, Vance touted the Trump administration's efforts on behalf of the movement. This includes pardoning pro-life activists imprisoned for protesting at abortion clinics and ending federally funded experiments using aborted fetal cells. (Christian Post; 1.23.26) READMORE>>>>>
JD Vance, Erika Kirk rally University of Mississippi crowd with call for conservative Christian revival
“We ought to have faith that the best way to make sure the best idea wins is to actually just have a discussion. And that is what this event is all about, that is what Turning Point USA is all about,” Vance said. “We’re going to have a discussion tonight, and that is what Charlie would want us to do.” Calling himself a “geriatric millennial,” Vance aimed a large portion of his remarks at young people. He said the Trump administration’s immigration policies would limit competition for new entrants to the labor market, which he said would prevent immigrants from driving down wages. Vance, who has in the past railed against “childless cat ladies,” also filled his remarks with appeals to college students to have children when they are young and anchor their lives around family. (Mississippi Today 10/30/25) READMORE>>>>
“We ought to have faith that the best way to make sure the best idea wins is to actually just have a discussion. And that is what this event is all about, that is what Turning Point USA is all about,” Vance said. “We’re going to have a discussion tonight, and that is what Charlie would want us to do.” Calling himself a “geriatric millennial,” Vance aimed a large portion of his remarks at young people. He said the Trump administration’s immigration policies would limit competition for new entrants to the labor market, which he said would prevent immigrants from driving down wages. Vance, who has in the past railed against “childless cat ladies,” also filled his remarks with appeals to college students to have children when they are young and anchor their lives around family. (Mississippi Today 10/30/25) READMORE>>>>
US 'unchurching' marks the 'fastest religious shift in modern history'
Far-right Christian nationalists are feeling empowered during Donald Trump's second presidency. Idaho-based evangelical Christ Church, led by pastor Doug Wilson — who believes that women never should have been given the right to vote — is openly embraced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. And Vice President JD Vance, speaking at Turning Point USA's recent AmericaFest 2025 convention in Phoenix, told the MAGA crowd that the United States "always will be a Christian nation."(Raw Story; 12.26.25) READMORE>>>>>
Far-right Christian nationalists are feeling empowered during Donald Trump's second presidency. Idaho-based evangelical Christ Church, led by pastor Doug Wilson — who believes that women never should have been given the right to vote — is openly embraced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. And Vice President JD Vance, speaking at Turning Point USA's recent AmericaFest 2025 convention in Phoenix, told the MAGA crowd that the United States "always will be a Christian nation."(Raw Story; 12.26.25) READMORE>>>>>
JD Vance hopes his Hindu wife converts to Christianity, sparking debate on interfaith marriage
Vice President JD Vance recently told a packed college arena that he hopes his Hindu wife would someday convert to Christianity, thrusting into the spotlight the deeply sensitive challenges facing interfaith couples.
Experts who have counseled hundreds of couples who don't share religious beliefs say the key is respect for each other's faith traditions and having honest discussions about how to raise their children. Most agree that pressuring or even hoping the other would convert could prove damaging to a relationship, and all the more so for a couple in the public arena. "To respect your partner and everything they bring to the marriage - every part of their identity - is integral to the kind of honesty that you need to have in a marriage," said Susan Katz Miller, author of the book "Being Both: Embracing Two Religions in One Interfaith Family."
(ABC7 11/8/25) READ MORE>>>>>
Vice President JD Vance recently told a packed college arena that he hopes his Hindu wife would someday convert to Christianity, thrusting into the spotlight the deeply sensitive challenges facing interfaith couples.
Experts who have counseled hundreds of couples who don't share religious beliefs say the key is respect for each other's faith traditions and having honest discussions about how to raise their children. Most agree that pressuring or even hoping the other would convert could prove damaging to a relationship, and all the more so for a couple in the public arena. "To respect your partner and everything they bring to the marriage - every part of their identity - is integral to the kind of honesty that you need to have in a marriage," said Susan Katz Miller, author of the book "Being Both: Embracing Two Religions in One Interfaith Family."
(ABC7 11/8/25) READ MORE>>>>>
September 29, 2024: Washington Post reported: Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance appeared Saturday at a town hall event organized by top Christian nationalist leaders who promote election denialism and portray Vice President Kamala Harris as a “demon.” The event’s host, Lance Wallnau, who emceed the live event and introduced Vance’s first town hall on the campaign trail, is a leading figure in the fast-growing New Apostolic Reformation, a movement that preaches Christian supremacy through a blend of prophecy and hard-right politics. Though a campaign official said Vance and Wallnau didn’t speak to each other, Vance’s appearance at Saturday’s event was the latest example of the Trump campaign intersecting with once-fringe figures who now have wide followings.
==JONATHAN VANDERBECK====== |
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March 21, 2021: Queer Theology: COVID SELF-CARE: ONE YEAR LATER
It’s been a year since the pandemic shut the world and we’ve all been anxiously waiting for the curtains to unveil what might be in our future. It was also a year ago when Brian interviewed Rev. Jonathan Vanderbeck on Facebook to talk about handling anxiety and what that means for queer folks during the pandemic. Tune in to hear what Rev. Jonathan says about anxiety 1 year into this pandemic. Feb 16, 2021: Daily Gazzette: Newly unified Rotterdam congregations host first joint event, are hopeful for future expansion
Wright said conversations around unifying began last January as he was looking into making Messiah more accessible, when he and then Trinity Rev. Jonathan Vanderbeck met for something unrelated and realized they could both solve each other’s problems. |
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June 24, 2021: Vanderbeck wrote: For queer Christians, I would encourage us to be bold and honest about our grief, in whatever form it may manifest. If we need permission to feel angry or depressed or anxious, know that Christ himself experienced these things in his crucifixion, in which he must have been grieving the ultimate rejection of his friends, followers, and of God. But more importantly than even being bold about our own grief, I believe that we must examine how we receive the grief of others. If we are, in fact, called to be the body of Christ, that is, the embodiment of Christ on earth, then we are called to also receive the grief of one another. The beauty (and the pain) of our queer Christian family is that we share many of these experiences together. As such, it can sometimes feel overwhelming; the tendency to push past the pain is real. However, we are called to bear this together. What might it look like if our queer family, rather than trying to hide our griefs, instead became a place where we could honestly wrestle through the pain and help each other heal? I think it might look a little bit like resurrection, this side of heaven.
==jared vander meulen=====
Calls for solidarity with persecuted Christians
As explained by Jared Vander Meulen, a digital communications specialist with Open Doors Canada, while the campaign forms part of Open Doors’ broader work that includes Bible delivery, pastor training and providing church resources, One With Them is specifically driven by its annual World Watch List, a document created to track persecution globally. Vander Meulen attests that, even in comparison to bleak levels in 2025, this year’s levels of Christian persecution are at an all-time high. “ Things are getting worse year over year, which is a trend with persecution in general. Our research indicates that more than 388 million Christians experience high to extreme levels of persecution, which includes captivity, kidnapping or imprisonment for their faith,” he said.
(Catholic register 6.5.26)READMORE>>>>>>
As explained by Jared Vander Meulen, a digital communications specialist with Open Doors Canada, while the campaign forms part of Open Doors’ broader work that includes Bible delivery, pastor training and providing church resources, One With Them is specifically driven by its annual World Watch List, a document created to track persecution globally. Vander Meulen attests that, even in comparison to bleak levels in 2025, this year’s levels of Christian persecution are at an all-time high. “ Things are getting worse year over year, which is a trend with persecution in general. Our research indicates that more than 388 million Christians experience high to extreme levels of persecution, which includes captivity, kidnapping or imprisonment for their faith,” he said.
(Catholic register 6.5.26)READMORE>>>>>>
==kevin vanhoozer======
How Technology Transformed the Global Church
Robert Webber once reminded evangelicals that “the road to the future runs through the past.” If evangelicalism is fracturing, we may just find our way to unity through what Kevin Vanhoozer called “Protestant catholicity” by retracing our steps. This, of course, raises the thorny question “What is an evangelical?” People have made valiant efforts to sort evangelicals into groups or types. Evangelicals are a diverse bunch, and the rapid growth of the movement in the Global South has only increased this diversity. It needs to be said more often and more clearly that evangelicalism is not an American movement—it is a global one—and the vast majority of the world’s evangelicals today are African, Asian, and Latin American. Evangelicalism was a transnational movement from the very outset and has never been confined to a single nation or ethnicity. David Bebbington, whose intellectual labors laid the cornerstone for building out a robust evangelical historiography, is a British evangelical whose perspectives have helpfully challenged American-centric descriptions of the movement. In this new era of world Christianity, deeper engagement with the global church (and the older church) could lead us closer to an evangelical catholicity. (Christianity Today 11/13/25) READMORE>>>>
Robert Webber once reminded evangelicals that “the road to the future runs through the past.” If evangelicalism is fracturing, we may just find our way to unity through what Kevin Vanhoozer called “Protestant catholicity” by retracing our steps. This, of course, raises the thorny question “What is an evangelical?” People have made valiant efforts to sort evangelicals into groups or types. Evangelicals are a diverse bunch, and the rapid growth of the movement in the Global South has only increased this diversity. It needs to be said more often and more clearly that evangelicalism is not an American movement—it is a global one—and the vast majority of the world’s evangelicals today are African, Asian, and Latin American. Evangelicalism was a transnational movement from the very outset and has never been confined to a single nation or ethnicity. David Bebbington, whose intellectual labors laid the cornerstone for building out a robust evangelical historiography, is a British evangelical whose perspectives have helpfully challenged American-centric descriptions of the movement. In this new era of world Christianity, deeper engagement with the global church (and the older church) could lead us closer to an evangelical catholicity. (Christianity Today 11/13/25) READMORE>>>>
==mark varughese======
Aug 24, 2023: Kingdomcity: Perth megachurch pastor Mark Varughese meets with millionaire US preacher Joel Osteen
On Tuesday, Varughese shared a post on Instagram showing his meeting with Lakewood Church pastor Joel Osteen.
In the image, Varughese and Osteen are shown with their arms around each other while smiling into the camera.
On Tuesday, Varughese shared a post on Instagram showing his meeting with Lakewood Church pastor Joel Osteen.
In the image, Varughese and Osteen are shown with their arms around each other while smiling into the camera.
==shane vaughn======
'The Return Of Jesus Is Back On The Menu': MAGA Evangelicals Celebrate The Attack On Iran
On Saturday, Trump cultist Shane Vaughn did an emergency broadcast to explain how Trump is a "prophetic instrument of God" who "has an assignment to protect Israel." "Yahweh raised up a man to do what happened this morning," Vaughn proclaimed. "Donald Trump did not strike Iran today because of a foreign policy doctrine ... Yahweh, the God of Heaven, raised up Donald Trump for today."
(People For the American Way; 3.3.26)READMORE>>>>>>
On Saturday, Trump cultist Shane Vaughn did an emergency broadcast to explain how Trump is a "prophetic instrument of God" who "has an assignment to protect Israel." "Yahweh raised up a man to do what happened this morning," Vaughn proclaimed. "Donald Trump did not strike Iran today because of a foreign policy doctrine ... Yahweh, the God of Heaven, raised up Donald Trump for today."
(People For the American Way; 3.3.26)READMORE>>>>>>