VE-VU PEOPLE FILES
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VE-VU: |
Graham Veale |
Heidi Vegh |
Scott Venable |
Anthony Verdugo |
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Carlos Vielma |
Carlo Vigano |
Rich Villodas |
Conrad Vine |
Matthew Vines |
Samantha Vincent-Alexander |
Frank Viola |
Phil Vischer |
Ryan Visconti |
Edward Vitagliano |
Jon Voight |
Russ Vought |
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==graham veale======
Graham Veale has particular interests in the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection, and the design and moral arguments for God’s existence; he is also enthusiastic about introducing apologetics to young people. He has graduate and post-graduate degrees in theology from Queen’s University Belfast and has taught Religious Education for 17 years. Graham Veale is the head of the Religious Education department at the City of Armagh High School, Armagh, Northern Ireland and co-founded saintsandsceptics.org, a web ministry for apologetics
Graham Veale
When God wishes to increase our suffering he sends us theologians. At least, this is one lesson Job learned; his infamous comforters were well informed and had undergone deep, mystical experiences; but their learning had no useful lessons for Job. These armchair philosophers lacked the wisdom that life requires; they thought that Job’s suffering was a philosophical conundrum and that his questions were academic. So they gave the simplest answer available to them. God punishes the guilty by making them suffer; therefore, Job’s suffering was evidence of his guilt: Job needed to repent.
This is very neat, very tidy and very rational. After all, Job’s comforters could not monitor all his activity. Surely Job had some secret sin which they did not know of and which he had not confessed? But the reader – who has a “God’s eye view” of Job’s plight – knows better. The reader has already learned that Job had sacrificed for sin and that God had declared him righteous. God had reasons for allowing Job’s suffering – reasons that we will come to. But these were above the reach of the philosophers.
In any case, when Job howled like a wounded animal before the philosophers, he was not asking for philosophical answers. He suspected that his life was meaningless and so he wished to be erased. He could no longer sense any goodness or joy in creation, so he desperately desired not to exist. What Job needed was reassurance and vindication. He needed to know that God was great enough to defeat evil and he needed God to defend his honour before an accusing world. Job did not deserve to be left alone, without love, comfort and hope. He had lived for God; did he live in a universe in which faithfulness and goodness counted for nothing?
Ancient doubts are often regurgitated in contemporary culture (and fashionable theology for that matter!) . Nihilism is alive and well and oh-so scientific. After all, aren’t we merely the products of atoms and molecules and the shuffle of our genes? Isn’t every human, at heart, a selfish-capitalist seeking to maximise gain and minimise loss? If so, there is no transcendent goodness that can redeem suffering. In the trials of life some people are going to get hurt. Some people will be casually eliminated. Deal with it. At least we have the comfort of knowing that the stars can’t last forever, and that life, that titanic waste of time, will be extinguished with their light.
If the universe is to have substantial meaning there must be something greater than the universe. So God intervenes in Job’s story– he must if anyone is to have hope. Job learns, by direct experience, that God is great enough to defeat evil. Then God declares to his accusers that Job’s suffering was not a punishment. In fact, there were deeper reasons for this tragedy. Job is not told these reasons because he does not need to hear them; vindication and comfort are what he requires. Job’s counsellors are not let in on the reasons because they are not wise enough to understand them; they need to learn humility before they can teach others about God.
We cannot understand the story of Job without referencing the prologue’s scene in heaven. Before the tragedy can begin, an “enemy” (literally, a Satan) comes into the court of God. This demon would murder the world if God would let him. If it was possible, he would tear the creator down from his throne. And this hatchet-man, this spin-doctor and muck-raker, wants to establish that God is unjust and humans are worthless. How could a just God allow this petty, rebellious human race to exist? How can a good God have relations with them? These are reasonable questions; they stand behind many Old Testament texts. When the first humans rebelled, why didn’t God shut the whole project down? God’s answer – with Eve, Enoch and Noah – is always “the human race is not beyond hope.”
Here, God pre-empts the accuser: “Have you considered my servant Job?” The cynical Satan is not content. Sure, Job is faithful, but God has bribed Job with a prosperous life, full of love and comfort. Job is only in the religion game for the short-term benefits. Take those away, and you’ll find the rebel inside. The devil is sure that human hearts cannot be transformed and God has not created any goodness in Job. So God gives his enemy permission to test Job; he will discover for himself that Job is faithful. The book of Job is not the story of a bet between God and the Devil. The stakes are too high for any wager.
Job loses his family in a day. When that does not break him, Satan tortures him. Yet Job remains faithful. This establishes that the accuser was wrong: God is good and the human race is not beyond redemption. Having learned his place, the evil one disappears very early in the book of Job. That still leaves Job with his unanswered questions. From the perspective of the divine court we can see that Job’s agony is meaningful. His trials have a purpose: in the drama of Job they establish that God is good, that he knows his people and cares for them. Job illustrates that the most terrible suffering can be conquered by God; that even the collapse of our entire world is not enough evidence to establish that God has abandoned us.
But Job does not see his life from the heavenly court. He does not even have the luxury of studying the problem of evil in a well stocked library. On his own, with no human counsel or love, in the depths of despond, he must choose. Will he curse God and die? Job refuses – even if God slays him he will not abandon hope. Is this a blind faith in the face of overwhelming evidence? Hardly. Depressed and exhausted, Job is in no position to engage in abstract arguments. When breathing takes effort and eating a chore you need something more than a philosophical proof.
Job chooses to believe because the alternative is worse than his agony. He would be forced to admit that his grief was not rational, because his sons and daughters were an insignificant consequence of a chaotic universe. He would have to concede that love was not stronger than death. He would lose all hope of justice and redemption. Job believes because he has no other choice. He is profoundly rational and his story could not be more relevant to our time. --Graham Veale; Saints and Sceptics; Job and Hope for the Suffering 8.18.18
This is very neat, very tidy and very rational. After all, Job’s comforters could not monitor all his activity. Surely Job had some secret sin which they did not know of and which he had not confessed? But the reader – who has a “God’s eye view” of Job’s plight – knows better. The reader has already learned that Job had sacrificed for sin and that God had declared him righteous. God had reasons for allowing Job’s suffering – reasons that we will come to. But these were above the reach of the philosophers.
In any case, when Job howled like a wounded animal before the philosophers, he was not asking for philosophical answers. He suspected that his life was meaningless and so he wished to be erased. He could no longer sense any goodness or joy in creation, so he desperately desired not to exist. What Job needed was reassurance and vindication. He needed to know that God was great enough to defeat evil and he needed God to defend his honour before an accusing world. Job did not deserve to be left alone, without love, comfort and hope. He had lived for God; did he live in a universe in which faithfulness and goodness counted for nothing?
Ancient doubts are often regurgitated in contemporary culture (and fashionable theology for that matter!) . Nihilism is alive and well and oh-so scientific. After all, aren’t we merely the products of atoms and molecules and the shuffle of our genes? Isn’t every human, at heart, a selfish-capitalist seeking to maximise gain and minimise loss? If so, there is no transcendent goodness that can redeem suffering. In the trials of life some people are going to get hurt. Some people will be casually eliminated. Deal with it. At least we have the comfort of knowing that the stars can’t last forever, and that life, that titanic waste of time, will be extinguished with their light.
If the universe is to have substantial meaning there must be something greater than the universe. So God intervenes in Job’s story– he must if anyone is to have hope. Job learns, by direct experience, that God is great enough to defeat evil. Then God declares to his accusers that Job’s suffering was not a punishment. In fact, there were deeper reasons for this tragedy. Job is not told these reasons because he does not need to hear them; vindication and comfort are what he requires. Job’s counsellors are not let in on the reasons because they are not wise enough to understand them; they need to learn humility before they can teach others about God.
We cannot understand the story of Job without referencing the prologue’s scene in heaven. Before the tragedy can begin, an “enemy” (literally, a Satan) comes into the court of God. This demon would murder the world if God would let him. If it was possible, he would tear the creator down from his throne. And this hatchet-man, this spin-doctor and muck-raker, wants to establish that God is unjust and humans are worthless. How could a just God allow this petty, rebellious human race to exist? How can a good God have relations with them? These are reasonable questions; they stand behind many Old Testament texts. When the first humans rebelled, why didn’t God shut the whole project down? God’s answer – with Eve, Enoch and Noah – is always “the human race is not beyond hope.”
Here, God pre-empts the accuser: “Have you considered my servant Job?” The cynical Satan is not content. Sure, Job is faithful, but God has bribed Job with a prosperous life, full of love and comfort. Job is only in the religion game for the short-term benefits. Take those away, and you’ll find the rebel inside. The devil is sure that human hearts cannot be transformed and God has not created any goodness in Job. So God gives his enemy permission to test Job; he will discover for himself that Job is faithful. The book of Job is not the story of a bet between God and the Devil. The stakes are too high for any wager.
Job loses his family in a day. When that does not break him, Satan tortures him. Yet Job remains faithful. This establishes that the accuser was wrong: God is good and the human race is not beyond redemption. Having learned his place, the evil one disappears very early in the book of Job. That still leaves Job with his unanswered questions. From the perspective of the divine court we can see that Job’s agony is meaningful. His trials have a purpose: in the drama of Job they establish that God is good, that he knows his people and cares for them. Job illustrates that the most terrible suffering can be conquered by God; that even the collapse of our entire world is not enough evidence to establish that God has abandoned us.
But Job does not see his life from the heavenly court. He does not even have the luxury of studying the problem of evil in a well stocked library. On his own, with no human counsel or love, in the depths of despond, he must choose. Will he curse God and die? Job refuses – even if God slays him he will not abandon hope. Is this a blind faith in the face of overwhelming evidence? Hardly. Depressed and exhausted, Job is in no position to engage in abstract arguments. When breathing takes effort and eating a chore you need something more than a philosophical proof.
Job chooses to believe because the alternative is worse than his agony. He would be forced to admit that his grief was not rational, because his sons and daughters were an insignificant consequence of a chaotic universe. He would have to concede that love was not stronger than death. He would lose all hope of justice and redemption. Job believes because he has no other choice. He is profoundly rational and his story could not be more relevant to our time. --Graham Veale; Saints and Sceptics; Job and Hope for the Suffering 8.18.18
==heidi vegh======
Heidi Vegh is a writer, speaker, and ministry leader living in Gig Harbor, WA. She is a remarried mother of four, navigating the blended family life after the loss of her first husband to cancer in 2013. She contributes to her blog found at thebreathingmama.com, sharing stories and devotionals of faith stemming from her loss and healing, mothering, and her blended and complex family. She graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a degree in Creative Writing and English and is working on her first book. Heidi is the Women’s Ministry Director at Gig Harbor Foursquare and has a deep heart for sharing Jesus with women and encouraging them in their faith walk.
Heidi Vegh Files
Sex was designed as a selfless act of deep intimacy with our spouse. We read in Genesis 2:24 that they shall become one flesh. God desires couples to experience this kind of pleasure with each other and no one else, not even an image.
Pornography is entirely self-focused. There is no need for a relationship and no requirement for love. However, acting out sexually without a spouse will end in deep dissatisfaction and leave them wanting more, entering addiction. This is a perfect tactic for the enemy. He comes to steal, kill and destroy John 10:10, and marriage is his number one target.
The act of pornography not only destroys marriage intimacy but can also lead to destroying families and societies as a whole.
A Focus on the Family article "How Pornography Impacts Marriage" states, "God-honoring and marriage-honoring sex is about self-giving love. Righteous sex is about self-sacrifice. It joins two people together in love and should always strengthen a relationship rather than weaken it. The opposite of God's design for sex between a husband and wife can be seen in the use of porn where satisfaction is always at the expense of your spouse — because it's all about you. God created sex to be about love, sacrifice, mutual respect, dignity, and care between a husband and wife. Great sex happens when the focus is on serving each other and not on getting our own needs met." Heidi Vegh; Crosswalk; 4 Ways Pornography Damages a Marriage
Pornography is entirely self-focused. There is no need for a relationship and no requirement for love. However, acting out sexually without a spouse will end in deep dissatisfaction and leave them wanting more, entering addiction. This is a perfect tactic for the enemy. He comes to steal, kill and destroy John 10:10, and marriage is his number one target.
The act of pornography not only destroys marriage intimacy but can also lead to destroying families and societies as a whole.
A Focus on the Family article "How Pornography Impacts Marriage" states, "God-honoring and marriage-honoring sex is about self-giving love. Righteous sex is about self-sacrifice. It joins two people together in love and should always strengthen a relationship rather than weaken it. The opposite of God's design for sex between a husband and wife can be seen in the use of porn where satisfaction is always at the expense of your spouse — because it's all about you. God created sex to be about love, sacrifice, mutual respect, dignity, and care between a husband and wife. Great sex happens when the focus is on serving each other and not on getting our own needs met." Heidi Vegh; Crosswalk; 4 Ways Pornography Damages a Marriage
Heidi Vegh Files
The Lord doesn't call us to guard our hearts against things in our world because He is a strict dictator, but because He loves us and wants to protect us; He wants us to protect ourselves. If we are filling our minds and hearts with violent, sexual, or evil content, we are filling our hearts and minds with things that don't please God. This can hinder our relationship with Him and keep us from glorifying the Lord in our everyday life. This doesn't mean we need to abstain from secular entertainment completely; we just need to be vigilant in filtering out what we choose to watch and what we choose to listen to. In proverbs 4:23, it says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Meaning watch over the entrance to your heart; the door is where things can enter your heart. Be careful about what you let in. --Heidi Vegh; Crosswwalk 12.21.21
==scott venable======
Scott Venable is the Lead Pastor of Northwood Church in Keller, Texas. Before leading Northwood, Venable planted and led a multi-ethnic church in Chicago, which grew and planted 10 other churches over seven years. He has been pastoring and preaching for 23 years, and holds a Doctorate in Ministry Leadership in a Multi-ethnic Context from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Northwood Church, under Venable's leadership, is known for its multi-ethnic, multi-generational, multi-ability, and multi-lingual approach. They emphasize loving all people without conditions, as Jesus did, engaging their local and global communities through service. This approach is informed by Venable's doctoral work in redemptive leadership in multi-ethnic contexts. The church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Venable's preaching often emphasizes the significance of Jesus and his word, calling for attachment to Jesus rather than places and programs. He asserts that breakthroughs from sin to forgiveness, and in life in general, are found in Jesus. In addition to his pastoral work, Venable is also involved in multifaith ministry, building friendships with people of various faiths like Muslims and Jews.
Faith-based refugee organization calls on Christians in Fort Worth to see immigration as a ‘biblical issue
When Keller pastor Scott Venable thinks about the church’s role in immigration, his mind goes to two congregants who loved their neighbor. As federal funding paused for refugee resettlement agencies earlier this year, Northwood Church responded to Christian humanitarian organization World Relief’s call for congregations to help fill the gap. Since February, Northwood Church has been serving three refugee families who arrived in North Texas in December. While the two church members come from different ends of the political aisle, they were the first to carry a couch up flights of stairs into a refugee family’s apartment, take them to the grocery store and help them get jobs, Venable said. (KERA 7/23/25) READMORE>>>>>
When Keller pastor Scott Venable thinks about the church’s role in immigration, his mind goes to two congregants who loved their neighbor. As federal funding paused for refugee resettlement agencies earlier this year, Northwood Church responded to Christian humanitarian organization World Relief’s call for congregations to help fill the gap. Since February, Northwood Church has been serving three refugee families who arrived in North Texas in December. While the two church members come from different ends of the political aisle, they were the first to carry a couch up flights of stairs into a refugee family’s apartment, take them to the grocery store and help them get jobs, Venable said. (KERA 7/23/25) READMORE>>>>>
==anthony verdugo======
Anthony Verdugo is the executive director of the Christian Family Coalition (CFC) in Miami-Dade County. However, the name is also associated with several other individuals. He is the founder and executive director of the Christian Family Coalition (CFC), an organization based in Florida. He is a politically active figure, speaking on family-focused issues and social conservative causes. Verdugo's appearances on C-SPAN dating back to 1997 indicate his long history as a public figure.
Anthony Verdugo
“Speaker Johnson has done what no other speaker candidate could, which is to unite our party and get back to the people’s business of leading in these historic and perilous times,” Verudgo said.
“We pray that Speaker Johnson will lead clarity, boldness and vision as we set forth the course for our nation, we are heartened by the fact that he is a principled leader and follower of Jesus Christ for such a time as this.” --Anthony Verdugo, Founder of Christian Family Coalition of Florida
“We pray that Speaker Johnson will lead clarity, boldness and vision as we set forth the course for our nation, we are heartened by the fact that he is a principled leader and follower of Jesus Christ for such a time as this.” --Anthony Verdugo, Founder of Christian Family Coalition of Florida
==carlos vielma======
Venezuelan Evangelicals respond to US capture of Maduro
Pastor Carlos Vielma, speaking from Caracas, told Diario Cristiano Internacional (Christian Daily International): "We were startled awake in the middle of our sleep early this morning by loud explosions. We have no electricity or Wi-Fi. Of course, that at that hour of the morning leaves you in shock. I believe the first steps have been taken; some details and individuals still need to be identified."
(Christian Post; 1.3.26) READMORE>>>>>
Pastor Carlos Vielma, speaking from Caracas, told Diario Cristiano Internacional (Christian Daily International): "We were startled awake in the middle of our sleep early this morning by loud explosions. We have no electricity or Wi-Fi. Of course, that at that hour of the morning leaves you in shock. I believe the first steps have been taken; some details and individuals still need to be identified."
(Christian Post; 1.3.26) READMORE>>>>>
==carlo vigano======
Over 12K Sign Christian Petition Condemning 'False Prophet' Mike Johnson
In response to Mike Johnson recently becoming the new House speaker, over 12,000 people have signed a Christian petition condemning the congressman as a "false prophet" among other Republican Party members.
Faithful America, an online Christian group that supports social justice causes, released their second-annual "False Prophets Don't Speak for Me" campaign featuring a list of top Christian-nationalist leaders in both church and politics along with a petition on Tuesday. The list, which in addition to Johnson, identifies former President Donald Trump, pastor Mark Burns, self-proclaimed prophet affiliated with the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) Julie Green, Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Ohio Representative Jim Jordan, conservative activist and radio talk show host Charlie Kirk, pastor Jackson Lahmeyer, Texas' Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Archbishop Carlo Viganò, self-proclaimed prophet affiliated with NAR Lance Wallnau, and co-founder of Moms for Liberty and school board chair in Sarasota, Florida, Bridget Ziegler as "false prophets."
(Natalie Venegas/Newsweek 11/4/23) Read More>>>>>
In response to Mike Johnson recently becoming the new House speaker, over 12,000 people have signed a Christian petition condemning the congressman as a "false prophet" among other Republican Party members.
Faithful America, an online Christian group that supports social justice causes, released their second-annual "False Prophets Don't Speak for Me" campaign featuring a list of top Christian-nationalist leaders in both church and politics along with a petition on Tuesday. The list, which in addition to Johnson, identifies former President Donald Trump, pastor Mark Burns, self-proclaimed prophet affiliated with the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) Julie Green, Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Ohio Representative Jim Jordan, conservative activist and radio talk show host Charlie Kirk, pastor Jackson Lahmeyer, Texas' Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Archbishop Carlo Viganò, self-proclaimed prophet affiliated with NAR Lance Wallnau, and co-founder of Moms for Liberty and school board chair in Sarasota, Florida, Bridget Ziegler as "false prophets."
(Natalie Venegas/Newsweek 11/4/23) Read More>>>>>
Rich Villodas iBorn in Brooklyn, he grew up in a small church after a conversion experience at age 19. he is lead pastor of New Life Fellowship, a large multiracial church with more than seventy-five countries represented in Elmhurst, Queens. He serves as the lead pastor of New Life Fellowship in Elmhurst, Queens, a large multiracial church representing over 75 nations. He holds a BA in Pastoral Ministry and Theology from Nyack College and a Master of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary. His ministry emphasizes integrating emotional health with spiritual formation, racial justice, and monastic-style contemplative rhythms. Villodas is a key voice for the Emotionally Healthy Discipleship movement and often speaks on topics such as self-differentiation, anxiety management, and building healthy ministry rhythms. He has authored several award-winning and influential books: The Deeply Formed Life (2020): Offers a "roadmap" for spiritual breakthrough through five transformative values, including racial justice and interior examination, Good and Beautiful and Kind (2022): Explores a vision for wholeness in a fractured world, The Narrow Path (2024): Reintroduces Jesus's wisdom from the Sermon on the Mount for modern times, Waiting for Jesus (2025): A 25-day devotional for the Advent season.
December 15, 2025: Baptist news Global reported: Rich Villodas is waiting for Christmas. His latest book comes from that personal experience he believes will resonate with others in this Advent season of awaiting the birth of the Christ Child. Waiting “is very painful, I would say, which I think is in the tradition of the people of God in the Scriptures where waiting is often fraught with challenge and complexity, reminding us ultimately of our dependence upon God, the one who comes,” he said in a recent interview with BNG.
Yet waiting on Jesus is an important part of the Christmas tradition, he added. That’s a theme he explores in Waiting for Jesus.
Yet waiting on Jesus is an important part of the Christmas tradition, he added. That’s a theme he explores in Waiting for Jesus.
August 26, 2024: Christianity Today reported: On this episode of Being Human, host Steve Cuss welcomes his friend, the pastor and author Rich Villodas. The two discuss Villodas’ new book, The Narrow Path, which focuses on the Matthew text. Villodas and Cuss discuss false needs, the longing for the good life, and what it means that God only dwells in reality.
September 9, 2024: Church Leaders reported: Pastor Rich Villodas, who leads New Life Fellowship in Queens, New York, posted a photo of people helping his parents in Tampa. “My parents’ neighbors are helping them board up their home in Tampa,” he said. “Grateful for good neighbors. Keep the west coast of Florida in your prayers.”
May 5, 2023: Christian Post reported: Arizona megachurch Pastor Joshua Butler resigns amid controversy over book’s hyper-spiritualization of sex. Prominent pastors also urged The Gospel Coalition to remove the article and issue an apology, including former Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren and Kevin DeYoung. Rich Villodas, pastor of New Life Fellowship in New York, issued a statement retracting his initial endorsement of the book.
March 4, 2023: Christian Post reported: The Gospel Coalition takes down 'Sex Won't Save You' article; Rick Warren calls for apology. Rich Villodas, pastor of New Life Fellowship in New York, issued a statement retracting his initial endorsement of Beautiful Union and said Butler’s “exegesis of Ephesians 5 is not just problematic, it’s dangerous. … I was wrong to write an endorsement for something I didn’t fully read."
==samantha vincent-alexander======
Two Historic Philadelphia Churches Offer Lessons for an America Divided Today and in Its Infancy
Christ Church’s current senior pastor is the Rev. Samantha Vincent-Alexander, the first woman to serve as rector in its more than 300-year history. “The idea of what do we do in this political environment right now and how do we deal with that is an incredible challenge,” she says. “Most of our congregations are not a unified voting bloc. They represent different people much like at the time of the American revolution.” “We had people who were loyalists and people who supported independence, and the clergy at the time had to find a way to keep the congregation together.” (Christian Post 10/25/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Christ Church’s current senior pastor is the Rev. Samantha Vincent-Alexander, the first woman to serve as rector in its more than 300-year history. “The idea of what do we do in this political environment right now and how do we deal with that is an incredible challenge,” she says. “Most of our congregations are not a unified voting bloc. They represent different people much like at the time of the American revolution.” “We had people who were loyalists and people who supported independence, and the clergy at the time had to find a way to keep the congregation together.” (Christian Post 10/25/24) READ MORE>>>>>
==conrad vine===========
Conrad Vine was Born into a pastoral family, Elder Conrad Vine grew up with his twin brother and two sisters in homes across the UK. After graduating with a business management degree (1995), he served in the UK public healthcare system before God led him to ADRA (1996). Initially serving in Azerbaijan, Elder Vine served with ADRA through 2002 in a variety of roles worldwide. Following seminary training at Newbold College (2002-2004), he and Luda began their pastoral ministry in London, UK. After a stint in the Middle East Union, they served in the pastoral ministry for 4 years in Minnesota following which Elder Vine answered the call to serve as President of Adventist Frontier Missions (AFM). Elder Vine is an ordained minister of the Gospel in the SDA Church. Conrad and Luda were married in December 1999, and regard their marriage as a personal blessing from a loving Heavenly Father.
A Brief Critique of Conrad Vine’s “Wycliffe, Luther, and Today”
About a month ago, Conrad Vine, president of Adventist Frontier Missions (AFM), was banned from Michigan Conference pulpits. In a public statement, the conference cited his promoting a parachurch organization and advocacy for withholding tithe, both of which “undermine the unity and integrity” of the Adventist Church, the conference said....The core issue with Vine’s presentation lies in his misinterpretation of historical events and figures. Wycliffe and Luther were engaged in profound theological disputes that reshaped the religious landscape of Europe. Their challenges were against doctrinal corruption, the sale of indulgences, and the authority of the papacy over scripture—not against public health initiatives.
(Spectrum Magazine 10/15/24 ) READMORE>>>>>
About a month ago, Conrad Vine, president of Adventist Frontier Missions (AFM), was banned from Michigan Conference pulpits. In a public statement, the conference cited his promoting a parachurch organization and advocacy for withholding tithe, both of which “undermine the unity and integrity” of the Adventist Church, the conference said....The core issue with Vine’s presentation lies in his misinterpretation of historical events and figures. Wycliffe and Luther were engaged in profound theological disputes that reshaped the religious landscape of Europe. Their challenges were against doctrinal corruption, the sale of indulgences, and the authority of the papacy over scripture—not against public health initiatives.
(Spectrum Magazine 10/15/24 ) READMORE>>>>>
==matthew vines======
To queer or not to queer, that is the question
When it comes to debating LGBTQ inclusion in the church, most folks think the debate is only about whether gays and lesbians can be Christians and whether they and their B, T and Q cohorts should be allowed full participation in the church.But that’s only the beginning. Inside the world of affirming Christians lies another big debate — actually, several debates — about where and if to draw any lines. Two of the most prominent views on the bigger debate are articulated by two gay men who have come out of evangelical Christianity: Matthew Vines and Brandan Robertson. (Baptist News Global 3/5/24) READMORE>>>>>
When it comes to debating LGBTQ inclusion in the church, most folks think the debate is only about whether gays and lesbians can be Christians and whether they and their B, T and Q cohorts should be allowed full participation in the church.But that’s only the beginning. Inside the world of affirming Christians lies another big debate — actually, several debates — about where and if to draw any lines. Two of the most prominent views on the bigger debate are articulated by two gay men who have come out of evangelical Christianity: Matthew Vines and Brandan Robertson. (Baptist News Global 3/5/24) READMORE>>>>>
==frank viola======
Frank Viola
We live in a very dark world where rumors abound. Gossip abounds. Slander abounds. Even in the “Christian” community (so-called), tragically.
Slander is a serious sin, and according to Paul, slanderers will be barred from the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). -Frank Viola
==phil vischer======
How a bucolic Tennessee suburb became a hotbed of ‘Christian Nashville-ism’
Phil Vischer, the co-creator of “VeggieTales” and a co-host of the popular “Holy Post” podcast, calls it “Christian Nashville-ism” — a Southern and distinctly evangelical version of Christian nationalism.
(Bob Smietana/Religion News 11/8/23) READ MORE>>>>>
Phil Vischer, the co-creator of “VeggieTales” and a co-host of the popular “Holy Post” podcast, calls it “Christian Nashville-ism” — a Southern and distinctly evangelical version of Christian nationalism.
(Bob Smietana/Religion News 11/8/23) READ MORE>>>>>
==ryan visconti======
What Christian pastors in Arizona are preaching after Charlie Kirk's death
Several evangelical pastors in Arizona said the assassination of Kirk spurred a Christian "revival" and "renewal," with thousands more people flocking to church than before the slaying. Pastor Ryan Visconti of Generation Church in Mesa said 2,000 more people than usual attended Sunday service the week after Kirk's death
. (AZ Central 10/25/25) READMORE>>>>
Several evangelical pastors in Arizona said the assassination of Kirk spurred a Christian "revival" and "renewal," with thousands more people flocking to church than before the slaying. Pastor Ryan Visconti of Generation Church in Mesa said 2,000 more people than usual attended Sunday service the week after Kirk's death
. (AZ Central 10/25/25) READMORE>>>>
The Plot to Queer Evangelical Churches
The following essay is adapted from Shepherds for Sale: How Evangelical Leaders Traded the Truth for a Leftist Agenda. In September 2019, in Mesa, Arizona, pastor Ryan Visconti was thrilled to find himself at a private dinner with Andy Stanley, pastor of what was then the largest church in the United States. On any given weekend, Stanley’s North Point church has roughly 31,000 attendees across eight campuses in Atlanta, Georgia. Stanley is also the author of dozens of books, and his sermons are distributed through a vast digital ministry that includes not only podcasts and YouTube videos, but also traditional broadcasts on NBC, CBS, and radio stations across the country. Little wonder, then, that Preaching Magazine ranked him number eight on its list of the twenty-five most influential preachers of the last twenty-five years. But perhaps over no group does Stanley hold more sway than other pastors. Stanley was in Arizona for his “Irresistible” tour, a conference that promised to teach church leaders how to “expand [their] influence.” Visconti was excited for the opportunity to pick Stanley’s brain, though, at thirty-four, he would be the youngest at a table of about fifteen men and expected to spend the majority of the meal quietly soaking up wisdom from Stanley and the more seasoned leaders. That plan went off the rails when the discussion turned toward homosexuality and how the men’s ministries were confronting increasing cultural pressure to compromise on clear biblical teaching. Stanley shocked the room by arguing that they shouldn’t so much confront it as accommodate it. “He said he would encourage any gay couples in his congregation to commit to each other,” Visconti recalled.
(First Things 8/1/24) READ MORE>>>>>
The following essay is adapted from Shepherds for Sale: How Evangelical Leaders Traded the Truth for a Leftist Agenda. In September 2019, in Mesa, Arizona, pastor Ryan Visconti was thrilled to find himself at a private dinner with Andy Stanley, pastor of what was then the largest church in the United States. On any given weekend, Stanley’s North Point church has roughly 31,000 attendees across eight campuses in Atlanta, Georgia. Stanley is also the author of dozens of books, and his sermons are distributed through a vast digital ministry that includes not only podcasts and YouTube videos, but also traditional broadcasts on NBC, CBS, and radio stations across the country. Little wonder, then, that Preaching Magazine ranked him number eight on its list of the twenty-five most influential preachers of the last twenty-five years. But perhaps over no group does Stanley hold more sway than other pastors. Stanley was in Arizona for his “Irresistible” tour, a conference that promised to teach church leaders how to “expand [their] influence.” Visconti was excited for the opportunity to pick Stanley’s brain, though, at thirty-four, he would be the youngest at a table of about fifteen men and expected to spend the majority of the meal quietly soaking up wisdom from Stanley and the more seasoned leaders. That plan went off the rails when the discussion turned toward homosexuality and how the men’s ministries were confronting increasing cultural pressure to compromise on clear biblical teaching. Stanley shocked the room by arguing that they shouldn’t so much confront it as accommodate it. “He said he would encourage any gay couples in his congregation to commit to each other,” Visconti recalled.
(First Things 8/1/24) READ MORE>>>>>
==Ed Vitagliano======
Rev. Edward Vitagliano is Executive Vice-President of American Family Association and American Family Radio. He has served in a number of capacities since joining AFA in 1996. Ed has been an award-winning journalist for the American Family Association Journal, the monthly publication for AFA, and is a co-host on the radio program Today’s Issues, heard weekdays on the American Family Radio network. He has also helped produce a number of documentary films for AFA and American Family Studios. He has been in the pastorate since 1982. He is married and has two grown children and three grandchildren.
Edward Vitagliano Files
In the opening paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson said that “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God” entitled the nations of the earth to a “separate and equal station.” In the context of history, this was a striking statement. Jefferson was arguing – on behalf of the American colonies – that people had a right to govern themselves because God had purposed that it be so. Nature itself demonstrated this in ways that were so clear that they could be understood as laws. In the second paragraph of the Declaration is undoubtedly one of the most famous phrases in modern history: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The statement is breathtaking in its implications. Jefferson acknowledges the existence of a God who created us and with that life-giving act also made it clear that we are equal before Him. In turn, that equality meant that we all had certain rights that could not lawfully – that is, in the eyes of our Creator – be abridged by governments. When Jefferson stated that such truths were “self-evident,” he is referencing natural law. The reality was objectively true – just as much as the laws of science. Human beings, empowered with reason, were expected to see and understand the breadth of blessings bestowed upon mankind. --Ed Vitagliano (AFA) 09.01.16
==jon voight======
Faith & Freedom Coalition disavows role in $4M plan to track, target Christians for pro-Israel digital ads
A detailed budget and planning strategy from Graystone Public Affairs — an organization based in Beaumont and registered under Schnitger’s name, according to California state records — describes a “grassroots organizing” strategy to boost Israel’s image among Evangelicals. This includes employing Christian staff in “high-density Christian areas” including Arizona, Nevada, California, and Colorado; “physical staff present” at Christian colleges, seminaries and churches; “‘Pastoral Resource Packages’ with Pro-lsrael support and educational materials sent to EVERY church in these regions”; and a “a top-of-the-line Mobile pro-lsrael display with October 7 themes” to be displayed at Christian events. The documents also outline a plan to approach high-profile Evangelical pastors and influencers as “possible Christian celebrity spokespeople,” including actors Chris Pratt and Jon Voight, former NFL player Tim Tebow, NBA All-Star Stephen Curry, and pastors Mark Driscoll and Rick Warren, who the document labels a “retired megachurch pastor with influence.” Pastor Greg Laurie, named as the “de facto leader of the Calvary Chapel Movement,” is also named.
(Christian Post 10/13/25) READMORE>>>>
A detailed budget and planning strategy from Graystone Public Affairs — an organization based in Beaumont and registered under Schnitger’s name, according to California state records — describes a “grassroots organizing” strategy to boost Israel’s image among Evangelicals. This includes employing Christian staff in “high-density Christian areas” including Arizona, Nevada, California, and Colorado; “physical staff present” at Christian colleges, seminaries and churches; “‘Pastoral Resource Packages’ with Pro-lsrael support and educational materials sent to EVERY church in these regions”; and a “a top-of-the-line Mobile pro-lsrael display with October 7 themes” to be displayed at Christian events. The documents also outline a plan to approach high-profile Evangelical pastors and influencers as “possible Christian celebrity spokespeople,” including actors Chris Pratt and Jon Voight, former NFL player Tim Tebow, NBA All-Star Stephen Curry, and pastors Mark Driscoll and Rick Warren, who the document labels a “retired megachurch pastor with influence.” Pastor Greg Laurie, named as the “de facto leader of the Calvary Chapel Movement,” is also named.
(Christian Post 10/13/25) READMORE>>>>
==russ vought======
Russell “Russ” Thurlow Vought (born March 26, 1976) is an American former government official who held significant roles in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) during the Trump administration: Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): July 2020 to January 2021: Russ Vought served as the 42nd Director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Donald Trump. He was previously the deputy director of the OMB from 2018 to 2020 and acting director from 2019 to 2020. In 2021, Russ Vought founded the organization called the Center for Renewing America. This center focuses on combating critical race theory and promoting conservative principles. Vought earned his Bachelor of Arts from Wheaton College and his Juris Doctor from the George Washington University Law School. Before his OMB roles, he worked for Heritage Action, the lobbying arm of The Heritage Foundation. His career also includes positions such as executive director and budget director of the Republican Study Committee and legislative assistant for U.S. Senator Phil Gramm.
The rise and fall of Christian nationalism
The article, which was also written by Alexander Ward, defined natural law as "the belief that there are universal rules derived from God that can’t be superseded by government or judges," and likewise called it "a pillar of Catholicism" that has "been used to oppose abortion, LGBTQ+ rights and contraception" in recent decades. The main target of the article was Russell Vought, Trump's former director of the Office of Management and Budget, who was among many on X who excoriated Przybyla on Friday for comments they claimed showed ignorance of basic American political thought as found in the second sentence of the Declaration of Independence. "Mike Johnson should put a resolution on the floor reaffirming that we are one nation, under God. Make the Dems vote against it or be called Christian Nationalists," Vought tweeted. (Christian Post; 12/8/25) READMORE>>>>>>
The article, which was also written by Alexander Ward, defined natural law as "the belief that there are universal rules derived from God that can’t be superseded by government or judges," and likewise called it "a pillar of Catholicism" that has "been used to oppose abortion, LGBTQ+ rights and contraception" in recent decades. The main target of the article was Russell Vought, Trump's former director of the Office of Management and Budget, who was among many on X who excoriated Przybyla on Friday for comments they claimed showed ignorance of basic American political thought as found in the second sentence of the Declaration of Independence. "Mike Johnson should put a resolution on the floor reaffirming that we are one nation, under God. Make the Dems vote against it or be called Christian Nationalists," Vought tweeted. (Christian Post; 12/8/25) READMORE>>>>>>
Russ Vought, Architect of Trump II, Adopts a Christian Nationalist Vision for America
The political landscape in America has been deeply influenced by figures like Russ Vought, a key architect of Donald Trump’s political agenda, who openly advocates for a radical vision of a Christian nationalist America. Vought’s fervent support for Trump’s policies and his alignment with Christian nationalist ideology underscore the growing influence of this movement within conservative circles. In a speech on Capitol Hill last year, Vought articulated his vision for a “cold civil war,” emphasizing the use of “biblical principles” to shape government policies according to the desires of the MAGA right.
(The Artistree 3/20/24) READ MORE>>>>>
The political landscape in America has been deeply influenced by figures like Russ Vought, a key architect of Donald Trump’s political agenda, who openly advocates for a radical vision of a Christian nationalist America. Vought’s fervent support for Trump’s policies and his alignment with Christian nationalist ideology underscore the growing influence of this movement within conservative circles. In a speech on Capitol Hill last year, Vought articulated his vision for a “cold civil war,” emphasizing the use of “biblical principles” to shape government policies according to the desires of the MAGA right.
(The Artistree 3/20/24) READ MORE>>>>>
June 2, 2023: Media Matters: Fox’s Jeanine Pirro appears on Christian nationalist program FlashPoint to warn of “takedown of religion” in America
Pirro’s interview on FlashPoint and upcoming “tent revival” appearance are just two examples of Fox’s apparent connections to the Christian nationalist movement. Fox has regularly hosted Russ Vought, the Christian nationalist figure who is reportedly advising Republicans on how to gut the federal aid programs, and the network has also propped up a harassment campaign against libraries that pushed the movement’s talking points. Additionally, since November, Fox Business has been profiting from weekly sermons from a Christian nationalist pastor airing on the network as paid programming.
Pirro’s interview on FlashPoint and upcoming “tent revival” appearance are just two examples of Fox’s apparent connections to the Christian nationalist movement. Fox has regularly hosted Russ Vought, the Christian nationalist figure who is reportedly advising Republicans on how to gut the federal aid programs, and the network has also propped up a harassment campaign against libraries that pushed the movement’s talking points. Additionally, since November, Fox Business has been profiting from weekly sermons from a Christian nationalist pastor airing on the network as paid programming.
==jinjer duggar vuolo======
I saw an interview on Friday that piqued my interest about the world of Gothard and the Duggars. Allie Beth Stuckey interviewed one of the adult daughters of the Duggars, Jinger (see below). Jinger has just written a book detailing her life as a Gothardite and her recent renunciation of his teaching. It’s titled Becoming Free Indeed: My Story of Disentangling Faith from Fear (Thomas Nelson, 2023). After watching the interview two days ago, I bought the book and devoured it. I could hardly put it down.
The book is not a lurid behind-the-scenes tell-all about the Duggars. If that’s what you’re looking for, this is not your book. Rather, it’s a theological memoir—a testimonial of how Jinger broke free from the legalism and destructive false teaching of Bill Gothard. Jinger’s account is a devastating exposé of Gothard’s work. Jinger describes his movement in almost cult-like terms. From his legalism to his tortured proof-texting to his unbiblical views about authority and women, the guy comes across as an oppressive nutter. Jinger writes that the man who insisted women should not work outside the home made an exception for the constant rotation of attractive “Gothard girls” that worked for his ministry. Even worse, Gothard has since been accused by 34 women of sexual harassment, four of whom alleged molestation.
Growing up Duggar, Jinger knew nothing of the sordid details of Gothard’s ministry. In the dark, she remained as devoted a follower of Gothard as there has ever been. She believed his “seven pillars” were the key to life and happiness, and she pitied outsiders who didn’t know the truth like she did. Gothard himself became a close family friend and even visited the Duggars’ home. Jinger viewed Gothard as a prophet and man of God and revered him and his teaching throughout her childhood and early adulthood.
Nevertheless, Jinger’s faith in Gothard’s teaching began to crumble after she met the man who would become her husband, Jeremy Vuolo. Jeremy was a former professional soccer player and had travelled the world by the time he met Jinger. He was also raised as a reformed Baptist in a church that actually took the Bible seriously. He was an outsider to the Duggars and their Gothardite sect. For that reason, Jinger’s father had Jeremy take a crash course in the family faith, which resulted in Jeremy listening to over 60 hours of teaching from Gothard’s ministry. --Denny Burk; Jinger Duggar Vuolo Takes on Bill Gothard… and Wins 2.6.23
The book is not a lurid behind-the-scenes tell-all about the Duggars. If that’s what you’re looking for, this is not your book. Rather, it’s a theological memoir—a testimonial of how Jinger broke free from the legalism and destructive false teaching of Bill Gothard. Jinger’s account is a devastating exposé of Gothard’s work. Jinger describes his movement in almost cult-like terms. From his legalism to his tortured proof-texting to his unbiblical views about authority and women, the guy comes across as an oppressive nutter. Jinger writes that the man who insisted women should not work outside the home made an exception for the constant rotation of attractive “Gothard girls” that worked for his ministry. Even worse, Gothard has since been accused by 34 women of sexual harassment, four of whom alleged molestation.
Growing up Duggar, Jinger knew nothing of the sordid details of Gothard’s ministry. In the dark, she remained as devoted a follower of Gothard as there has ever been. She believed his “seven pillars” were the key to life and happiness, and she pitied outsiders who didn’t know the truth like she did. Gothard himself became a close family friend and even visited the Duggars’ home. Jinger viewed Gothard as a prophet and man of God and revered him and his teaching throughout her childhood and early adulthood.
Nevertheless, Jinger’s faith in Gothard’s teaching began to crumble after she met the man who would become her husband, Jeremy Vuolo. Jeremy was a former professional soccer player and had travelled the world by the time he met Jinger. He was also raised as a reformed Baptist in a church that actually took the Bible seriously. He was an outsider to the Duggars and their Gothardite sect. For that reason, Jinger’s father had Jeremy take a crash course in the family faith, which resulted in Jeremy listening to over 60 hours of teaching from Gothard’s ministry. --Denny Burk; Jinger Duggar Vuolo Takes on Bill Gothard… and Wins 2.6.23