Leonardo Blair

Latest

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  Jan 24, 2023

  More Americans say they want to grow spiritually amid growing openness to other faiths: study

  Despite a growing rejection of organized religion, Spiritual openness is on the rise with a majority of U.S. adults saying they believe in God or a higher power and want to grow spiritually, new data from The Barna Group suggests.

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  Jan 23, 2023

  Fasting Celebration Church founders expected in court to fight eviction notice

  Stovall and Kerri Weems, the founders of Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida, are expected to return to court on Monday afternoon to fight a push from the current leaders of the church to evict them from a Black Hammock Island home that was purchased as a parsonage.

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  Jan 20, 2023

  Prostitution case against megachurch Pastor John Blanchard could be reopened after public outcry

  After public outcry and the receipt of "new information," a special prosecutor has been requested to review whether a prostitution case against Rock Church International Pastor John Blanchard in Virginia Beach should be reopened.

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  Jan 20, 2023

  Family says 6-year-old boy who shot teacher has ‘acute disability,’ offers prayers

  The family of a 6-year-old boy who shot first-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner as she taught her class at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, earlier this month revealed that he has an “acute disability” and offered prayers for her recovery.

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  Jan 20, 2023

  City of Bethlehem in bidding war with Lehigh University over church properties

  Officials in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, are now engaged in a bidding war with Lehigh University over three Lutheran churches and undeveloped land for sale that has triggered a contentious debate over affordable housing.

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  Jan 20, 2023

  Pastor forgives atheist cousin who shot him after dispute over Heaven and Hell

  Despite suffering injuries that could see him taking up to nine months to recover, a Georgia pastor has chosen to forgive a younger cousin who shot him during a dispute over Heaven and Hell after the funeral of another family member earlier this month.

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  Jan 19, 2023

  Ex-SBC Pres. Johnny Hunt returns to pulpit after allegation he sexually assaulted pastor’s wife 12 years ago

  Six months after he was suspended as pastor emeritus by First Baptist Church Woodstock in Georgia following an investigation that concluded allegations he sexually assaulted a younger pastor's wife over a decade ago are credible, former Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt returned to preaching on Sunday, declaring that God’s call on his life is “irrevocable.”

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  Jan 19, 2023

  Decline in church attendance drove deaths of despair among middle-aged white population: study

  Deaths by drugs, alcohol and suicide, known as “deaths of despair,” dramatically increased among middle-aged white Americans in the late 20th century due to lower participation in organized religion that was preceded by a repeal of blue laws that prohibited commercial activities on Sunday, a new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research shows.

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  Jan 18, 2023

  Duquesne University's Theology Department Chair found dead with woman in apparent murder-suicide

  Marinus C. Iwuchukwu, an associate professor of theology and chair of the Theology Department at Duquesne University, was found dead inside his Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, home Tuesday along with a woman in what local police say is an apparent murder-suicide.

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  Jan 17, 2023

  Man wearing ‘Jesus Saves’ T-shirt at Mall of America asked to take it off or leave

  A street preacher in Minnesota who dared to wear a T-shirt declaring “Jesus Saves” to the Mall of America in Bloomington was recently threatened with eviction from the mall if he didn’t remove the shirt because it was offending people.