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- 1
One year after a deadly attack on a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse in Grand Blanc, Michigan, the congregation has begun rebuilding the damaged building. The milestone marks a step toward recovery for members of the local church community, who continue to mark the anniversary of the violence that struck their place of worship.
- 2Pastor Halts Sermon to Confront Alleged Witch in Congregation●This Pastor Just Stopped Preaching to Call Out a Witch in the Room
A pastor is drawing wide attention after stopping his sermon mid-service to call out what he described as a witch present among his congregation. The moment, captured in a widely shared clip, has sparked debate online, with some viewers praising the pastor's boldness in spiritual warfare while others criticized the public accusation as a form of shaming without evidence.
- 3
A string of burglaries has targeted churches across Kenya, with church property and valuables stolen in multiple incidents. The attacks have raised alarm among congregations and religious leaders concerned about the security of places of worship. Details about the number of churches affected, the extent of losses, and whether suspects have been identified remain unclear.
- 4
A volunteer at a church in Pea Ridge, Arkansas, has been accused of sexually assaulting a girl, according to local reporting. Details about the volunteer's identity, the church's response, and any charges filed have not yet been made public. The case is likely to draw attention as authorities investigate the allegations and the congregation reacts to the accusations against someone in a trusted position.
- 5Michigan LDS congregation breaks ground a year after attack▼LDS church in Michigan breaks ground year after attack
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Michigan has held a groundbreaking ceremony marking one year since an attack on one of its congregations. The event signals the community's determination to rebuild and move forward, and local coverage highlights the congregation's resilience and continued faith in the wake of the violence.
- 6First Baptist Church Fernandina Beach Grows Through Conversation▼How First Baptist Church Fernandina Beach Is Growing Through Conversation
First Baptist Church Fernandina Beach in Florida is being highlighted for its approach to growth centered on conversation, according to Outreach Magazine. The church's emphasis on dialogue is being presented as a model for how congregations can develop community and membership through open engagement rather than traditional programs alone.
- 7Former Long Island church to sell for $11.8 million as congregations merge●Former Long Island church to be sold for $11.8 million as two congregations merge
A former Episcopal church building on Long Island is being sold for $11.8 million, with proceeds tied to the merger of two congregations. The sale marks the end of an era for the historic church property, and the combined congregation will move forward under one leadership. Local religious communities are following the transaction and what it says about shrinking membership and consolidation among mainline Protestant churches in the New York suburbs.
- 8Former Long Island church to be sold for $11.8 million▼Former Long Island church to be sold for $11.8 million as two nearby congregations merge
A church building on Long Island is being sold for $11.8 million, with proceeds connected to the merger of two nearby congregations. The sale, reported by Episcopal News Service, marks the end of the property's use as an active church and reflects ongoing consolidation among congregations facing declining membership and rising costs of maintaining aging buildings.
- 9What marks a healthy church, and why it matters▼FIRST-PERSON: Marks of a healthy church (and why you need it)
A commentary from Baptist Press outlines the characteristics of a healthy church and argues that believers need to be part of one. The piece, written in first-person form, reflects on what qualities define a faithful congregation and why involvement in local church life matters for Christians.
- 10Cool Valley church and city clash over blocked driveway●Cool Valley church, city clash over blocked driveway
A church in Cool Valley, Missouri, is in a dispute with the city over a blocked driveway. Local outlet FOX 2 reports the disagreement has escalated into an ongoing clash between the congregation and municipal authorities. Details about which side blocked the driveway, and what remedy each party is seeking, have not been made clear in initial coverage.
- 11United Methodist conference moves to dismiss church disaffiliation lawsuit●UMC conference seeks dismissal of Bedford County church's disaffiliation lawsuit
The United Methodist Church's regional conference has asked a court to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a Bedford County church seeking to leave the denomination. The congregation sued over its disaffiliation process, and the conference is contesting the case. The dispute reflects the broader wave of congregations leaving the United Methodist Church in recent years.
- 12Johnson County relocates two polling places from Adam Hamilton's church▼Johnson County moves two polling places away from Adam Hamilton’s church
Johnson County election officials have moved two polling places that had been located at Resurrection Church, the Leawood congregation led by prominent pastor Adam Hamilton. The Kansas City Star reported the relocation, drawing attention because the church is one of the largest United Methodist congregations in the country and Hamilton is a well-known national religious figure. Officials' stated reasons for the change and any reaction from the church remain unclear.
- 13Johnson County moves polling sites out of Resurrection Church▼County moves voting sites at Adam Hamilton's Resurrection Church
Johnson County election officials have relocated voting sites that were previously housed at Resurrection Church, the large Leawood-area congregation founded by pastor Adam Hamilton. The change affects voters who used the church as their polling place, and officials will direct them to new locations. The county has not been quoted on the specific reason for the move, and reaction from the church or local voters has not been reported.
- 14Messiah Lutheran Church holds 5th Annual Oktoberfest▼Messiah Lutheran Church hosts 5th Annual Oktoberfest
Messiah Lutheran Church has hosted its 5th Annual Oktoberfest, a community celebration combining traditional German food, music and fellowship. The event, now in its fifth year, has become a recurring gathering for congregation members and local residents. Coverage of the festival highlights the church's role in bringing the community together through a family-friendly cultural tradition.
- 15
A church has announced it will host a shredding event, inviting community members to bring documents for secure, free disposal. Such events are a common way congregations offer a practical service while connecting with neighbors, letting people safely discard paperwork with personal information. Specifics like the date, location and any limits on how much can be brought were not included in the available report.
- 16What's next for First Baptist Church in High Point?●What’s next for First Baptist Church in High Point?
First Baptist Church in High Point, North Carolina, is facing an uncertain future, with local coverage asking what comes next for the congregation. Details of what prompted the question were not provided, but the story has drawn attention in the local community as members and residents await news about the church's direction.
- 17
A local group is campaigning to save a church from closure or demolition, pressing authorities to preserve the building. Details about which church is involved and the group's specific demands remain limited, but the effort reflects a broader push in many communities to protect religious heritage sites facing shrinking congregations or redevelopment pressure.
- 18
A Dallas Express opinion column argues that the institutional church, as currently practiced, is effectively dead and asks what should come next for Christian communities. The piece reflects ongoing debate over declining church attendance and institutional religion's fading cultural role, particularly in the United States, and what might replace traditional congregational life.
- 19Digital Tools Reshaping How Churches Run Ministry▼Church Technology: How Digital Tools Are Shaping Ministry
Christian Standard has published a feature examining how churches are adopting digital tools, from streaming services and online giving to apps for Bible study and congregation management. The piece argues that technology is no longer optional for ministries but a core part of how they reach and serve members. It reflects a wider conversation among church leaders about balancing digital convenience with traditional in-person worship and community life.
- 20Site of deadly LDS church attack being rebuilt as symbol of hope▼‘It’s a symbol of hope’ — The site of a deadly shooting and arson attack on an LDS church is being reborn
The site of a deadly shooting and arson attack on a Latter-day Saints church is being reborn, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Those behind the rebuilding describe the effort as 'a symbol of hope,' turning the place of tragedy into something meaningful for the congregation and community. Details about the reconstruction and reaction from members remain limited in the available reporting.
- 21Pastor Barred From US Leads Wisconsin Church From Guatemala▼Barred From the U.S., a Pastor Leads his Wisconsin Church From Guatemala
A pastor has been barred from entering the United States and is now leading his Wisconsin congregation remotely from Guatemala. His church continues to gather under his leadership, with services and pastoral duties handled from abroad. The case is drawing attention within religious communities and raising questions about immigration decisions affecting faith leaders serving American congregations.
- 22Presbyterian Co-Moderators Launch Online Series on Politics and Faith▼PC(USA) Co-Moderators offer church-wide online series on politics and public witness
The Co-Moderators of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are hosting a church-wide online series exploring politics and public witness. The series aims to help members think through how their faith informs civic engagement and public life. It comes as many denominations grapple with how to address divisive political issues among congregations across the country.
- 23ACS Technologies and Evangelical Lutheran Church Expand Partnership●ACS Technologies and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Expand Strategic Partnership to Deliver a Connected Ministry Experience
ACS Technologies and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have announced an expanded strategic partnership aimed at delivering a connected ministry experience. The agreement will deepen collaboration between the church-management software provider and one of the largest Lutheran bodies in the United States, integrating technology tools to support congregations. Details on financial terms and rollout timelines were not disclosed in the announcement.
- 24LDS Church breaks ground on chapel at Michigan attack site●LDS Church breaks ground for new chapel at site of deadly shooting and arson attack
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new chapel at the site where a deadly shooting and arson attack destroyed its meetinghouse in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Church leaders say rebuilding on the same ground is meant to honor the victims and show the congregation's resolve to continue meeting there.
- 25
The Catholic bishop has decided to spare a Warren church from a planned closure, taking it off a list of parishes slated to shut. The reversal affects the parish's congregation and comes amid wider diocesan restructuring. Local church members had been facing an uncertain future for their place of worship, and the bishop's decision means the church will remain open for now.
- 26
Several congregations in South Jersey remain in a prolonged effort to leave the United Methodist Church, according to local coverage from the Courier-Post and Burlington County Times. The disputes continue despite the wave of church departures in recent years, with congregations still seeking to formally sever ties from the denomination.
- 27
The Brainerd Dispatch has published its regular Church News section, gathering announcements and updates from congregations in the Brainerd, Minnesota area. These columns typically list worship schedules, community events, and items of interest to local religious communities. No specific story details are available beyond the section itself.
- 28
Noonday Baptist Church is celebrating its 150th anniversary, a milestone recognizing a century and a half of worship and community life. The congregation is marking the occasion with commemorative coverage highlighting its long local history. Members and longtime attendees reflect on the church's role in the Noonday area over the generations, and the anniversary is drawing attention as a notable moment for the local faith community.
- 29Bivocational pastors open up about the realities of their dual calling●FIRST-PERSON: What bivocational pastors wish you knew
Bivocational pastors—ministers who hold outside jobs while leading congregations—are speaking out about the demands of balancing secular employment with church leadership. Writing for Kentucky Today, one such pastor shares what these church leaders wish their congregations and communities understood: the financial pressures, time strains, and quiet sacrifices involved in serving two roles at once, and why their numbers keep growing across American churches.
- 30Michigan LDS congregation breaks ground on new church a year after attack▼One year after the deadly attack against a The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, congregants and leaders break ground on a new church building. 📸 by Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press
One year after a deadly attack on a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, congregants and church leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new building. The event marks a step toward rebuilding for the community, with coverage by Detroit Free Press photographer Niraj Warikoo documenting the milestone.
- 31Michigan LDS church breaks ground on rebuilding a year after attack●LDS church in MI breaks ground year after attack: 'Beauty from ashes'
A Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregation in Michigan has held a groundbreaking ceremony roughly a year after its meetinghouse was attacked. Church members and local leaders are framing the rebuilding effort with the phrase 'beauty from ashes,' presenting construction as a symbol of resilience and recovery for the community a year on from the violence.
- 32St. Paul's Country Church Holds World Communion Sunday Service●World Sunday of Communion at St. Paul’s Country Church
St. Paul's Country Church marked World Sunday of Communion, a date when many Christian congregations around the world celebrate the sacrament together to emphasise unity across denominations. The Mercer County Outlook carried a notice of the local observance. Beyond the church's announcement, there is little detail on how the service was held or how widely the observance resonated in the community.
- 33
Denver officials have approved a rezoning request for a church property in west Denver, clearing the way for the congregation to sell the land. The move opens the site to potential redevelopment, and the sale is expected to follow. Details on the buyer, price and future use of the property have not yet been made public.
- 34Kelseyville Presbyterian Church schedules fall rummage sale for early October▼Kelseyville Presbyterian Church plans fall rummage sale Oct. 2 and 3
Kelseyville Presbyterian Church in Lake County, California, is holding its fall rummage sale on October 2 and 3. The annual event draws local bargain hunters and raises funds for the congregation's community activities. Residents in the area are being alerted to the dates as the church prepares donated goods for sale.
- 35LDS church in Michigan breaks ground a year after attack●LDS church in MI breaks ground 1 year after attack: 'beauty from ashes'
A congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Michigan has held a groundbreaking ceremony one year after its meetinghouse was attacked. Members and church leaders described the rebuilding effort with the phrase 'beauty from ashes,' framing the new construction as a symbol of resilience and recovery for the local faith community.
- 36Bishop says Grand Blanc church congregation 'stronger' after attack▼Bishop of church attacked in Grand Blanc says they're 'stronger' now
The bishop of a church in Grand Blanc, Michigan, that came under attack says the congregation is 'stronger' now in the aftermath. The remarks, reported by the Detroit Free Press, offer a message of resilience from the faith community affected by the assault, which has drawn attention in regional and national coverage of violence against places of worship.
- 37Binkley Baptist Church Pays Off Medical Debt to Honor Former Pastor●'To Make a More Equitable and Just World': Binkley Baptist Church Tackles Medical Debt to Honor Former Pastor
Binkley Baptist Church in Chapel Hill is working to abolish medical debt as a tribute to its former pastor, framing the effort as a step toward 'a more equitable and just world.' The congregation is honoring his legacy through this charitable campaign, which relieves medical bills for people in financial hardship.
- 38
Open Doors UK & Ireland is calling on Christians to pray with the persecuted church, setting out three reasons to do so. The appeal highlights the ongoing plight of believers who face harassment, violence or imprisonment for their faith in parts of the world, and encourages congregations to remember them in prayer.