Samuel Smith

Latest

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  May 26, 2020

  Chicago threatens to temporarily close churches that defy gathering restrictions

  The city of Chicago has threatened to temporarily close at least three churches that continue to violate the governor’s executive order by holding in-person worship services with over 10 people during the early phases of the city’s coronavirus reopening plan. 

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  May 23, 2020

  The Bible Belt is the 'death belt,' Shane Claiborne says

  Christian activist, author and self-proclaimed “recovering redneck” Shane Claiborne said this week that America’s Bible Belt should really be known as the “death belt,” warning that the pro-life ethic should be applied consistently. 

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  May 22, 2020

  Nigerian sentenced to 26 years after forcing Christian teen into Islamic marriage

  A federal court in Nigeria sentenced a man to 26 years in prison after he abducted a Christian teenager from her home and forced her into an Islamic marriage in 2015. 

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  May 22, 2020

  CPS workers arrested, charged for removing kids from parents without court oversight

  Three current and former employees of a child services agency in North Carolina were arrested this week and indicted with over three dozen felony and misdemeanor charges related to its alleged practice of separating children from their families without proper judicial oversight. 

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  May 22, 2020

  8 Christians arrested in India while preparing relief packages for the poor

  Eight Christians were arrested in India in late April and accused of violating a coronavirus lockdown order while they were putting together relief supplies to distribute to a poor nomadic community, a pastor says. 

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  May 21, 2020

  'Bet you stay home now you hypokrits': Miss. church destroyed in suspected arson attack

  A Mississippi church that filed a lawsuit against a town ban on worship gatherings was destroyed by a fire Wednesday morning that investigators believed to have been set as an act of arson.

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  May 21, 2020

  Calif. megachurch initiative distributes $44K in groceries to families in need

  Many churches across the United States are partnering with local organizations to provide food to hundreds of people in need in their communities as the coronavirus pandemic has caused economic frustration and hunger for many families. 

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  May 21, 2020

  France's top court strikes down Macron's ban on religious gatherings

  France’s supreme court for administrative justice has ruled that the government’s absolute ban on religious gatherings in hopes of stopping the spread of COVID-19 is unlawful and ordered the government to relax restrictions on religious worship. 

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  May 20, 2020

  India forces detained American pastor to pay $50K before he’s allowed to return home

  A Tennessee pastor, who was detained in India for seven months before returning to the United States Tuesday, was forced to pay over $50,000 to secure his release, his lawyer said. 

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  May 19, 2020

  Over $153K raised for churches impacted by COVID-19 during celebrity benefit simulcast

  Over $150,000 were raised to help churches struggling financially during the COVID-19 pandemic during a charity simulcast event last Friday co-sponsored by Right Now Media that featured Christian leaders, celebrities and athletes.