-
'The Voice' Gives Top 12 Contestant Jordan Smith Chance To Catapult Praise Song Up iTunes Chart
Showing clear conviction for faith on Monday night's vocal contest television show, The Voice, was Jordan Smith singing a well-known hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness." While selecting a religious song can be perceived as risky at this point of the contest when public votes determine which contestants progress, Smith said this song was special to him because "the entire song is about God's faithfulness."

-
Faith or Force: Star Wars' Christians Explore Connection Through Hope, Light Before #TheForceAwakens
Religious-associated interests in the seventh installment of the Star Wars' series franchise to premiere Dec. 18 prompted 'geeks' at First United Presbyterian Church in Wisconsin to present a special event about "Faith and the Force" on Saturday.

-
Pastor Rafael Cruz, Father of Sen. Ted Cruz, Says Christian Voters Have Been 'Asleep At The Wheel' At Rally for Religious Liberty
Prayer is only half the equation, proclaimed pastor Rafael Cruz, father of Texas senator and Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz, to an estimated 2,500 attendees at the Rally for Religious Liberty on Saturday at Bob Jones University in Greensville, S.C.

-
Country Singer Joey Martin Feek of Joey+Rory Sings Praise To Savior In Last Days of Cancer Struggle, Shares 'I Don't Fear Anything'
While country singer Joey Martin Feek stopped treatment in her fight against cancer, she hasn't stopped showing belief in her religious faith as she faces her last days on Earth in hospice, with her family at her side. Releasing a video singing the hymnal "Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling," she smiled as she peacefully sang the lyrics " Come home, come home; Ye who are weary, come home."

-
Churches in Columbia Help Heal Racial Tensions in Missouri Campuses Through Forgiveness, Prayers as Social Action
Spiritual peacemakers in Columbia, Mo., are trying to mend a community whose residents recently found themselves being 'judged' by other Americans due to accusations of racial inequalities. National media coverage and flurries of social media posts thrust the University of Missouri-Columbia's recent protests, hunger strike, football team boycott, terrorist threats against student groups, class cancellations, security notifications and college administrator resignations into the limelight of publ

-
Qatar Evangelical Alliance breaks ground on worship center, witnessing Christ in a Muslim nation
A worship center for evangelical churches has commenced construction in Qatar, marking a significant spiritual milestone in the history of evangelicals in the country.

-
Hong Kong's deadliest fire in a Century: churches mobilize and pray to support the community
On 26 November, a severe level‑five fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Early reports said at least 13 people died and 23 were injured. Local churches mobilize to support the community and pray.

-
Christians gather in Hong Kong to pray for victims of Tai Po Hong Fu Court fire
More than 1,000 Christians gathered in Hong Kong on Dec. 5 for a united prayer service commemorating the victims of the five-alarm fire that devastated Hong Fu Court in Tai Po on Nov. 26, destroying thousands of homes and killing 159 people.

-
Faith and freedom: USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler shares insights on China’s religious landscape
As China continues to update its religious regulations, changes in the country’s faith environment and space for religious practice have drawn increased global attention. In this interview, USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler responds to questions about religious policy, human rights, and faith, offering her perspectives on China’s current situation and sharing words of support and encouragement for Christians facing challenges.

-
U.S. Congressional hearing highlights religious freedom challenges facing Chinese Christians and other faith communities
A recent U.S. congressional hearing cast a spotlight on religious freedom conditions in China, with witnesses sharing firsthand accounts of pressure faced by Christian, Muslim, and Tibetan Buddhist communities.
