Skillet frontman John Cooper says he was trying to protect the “little ones of the faith” in a now-viral Facebook post last week and that he was willing to put his career on the line to take a stand for Christ.

He also wants Christians to be more courageous in defending Scripture. 

Cooper told Christian Headlines Tuesday he wasn’t “attacking one person” in the post and had been mulling over the issue “for several years.”

“It’s time for the silent majority of the church, to speak out and say, ‘Hey, we are reaffirming that there’s only one thing in this world that never changes. That is the unchanging, unerring Word of God,’” Cooper told Christian Headlines. “And I just thought, if it costs me my career, if it cost me some fans, I don’t even care anymore.” 

Cooper posted his comments about two weeks after bestselling author and former pastor Joshua Harris said he was no longer a Christian and just days after Hillsong’s Marty Sampson said his faith was on shaky ground. In his Facebook post, Cooper encouraged Christians to stop following “influencers” and instead to rely on God’s Word. 

Cooper told Christian Headlines he was reacting to multiple social voices who have criticized or contradicted God’s Word. He was surprised and frustrated, he said, that “no one” was “speaking out on the social…

Amidst a violent climate towards faith leaders, a Mexican pastor was shot and killed during a church service on Sunday.

Pastor Alfrery Líctor Cruz Canseco, who preached at the Fraternidad Cristiana church in the town of Tlalixtac de Cabrera in the Oaxaca state, died when a gunman shot him point-blank, according to the Christian Post.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and congregation of Pastor Cruz Canseco,” international watchdog group Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s Chief Executive Merwyn Thomas said. “The fact that he was targeted while in the pulpit is particularly shocking.”

The assailant did not attempt to shoot anyone else and congregants were able to prevent his escape, leading to his arrest. Canseco died on the way to the hospital after the attack, who leaves behind a wife and children.

Canseco’s passing comes in the wake of several attacks on faith leaders in the region. Pastor Aarón Méndez Ruiz, who ran a shelter for Cuban immigrants, was kidnapped earlier this month.

“We also remain concerned for the wellbeing of Pastor Méndez Ruiz and urge the Mexican government to spare no effort in ensuring his safe return, investigating all of these crimes and prosecuting those responsible,” Thomas also said.

CSW believes criminal groups are largely behind the attacks, though the motives are unknown. “Even though no wars are being fought…

Delta Air Lines has donated more than 100 flights to fly human trafficking survivors to safety and has committed $1.5 million to Polaris, the operator of the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

“We couldn’t be prouder to partner with Delta Air Lines and its team of employees dedicated to helping us combat human trafficking,” Bradley Myles, CEO of Polaris, said in a press release. “From helping us ensure there are staff available to answer calls on the National Hotline to encouraging Delta customers to donate miles so we can help survivors get home after a trafficking situation, Delta’s work continues to lead the way.”

According to a report by Polaris, more than 70% of labor trafficking survivors said they fly on planes as part of their recruitment and 40% fly for purposes of exploitation.

According to USA Today, Delta’s financial donation will help Polaris collect valuable data to fight human trafficking, as well as staff the hotline to keep up with the 200-300 contacts the nonprofit makes every day. The donation will also support the organization for the next three years. 

This is not Delta’s first contribution to Polaris. In 2017, the airline donated $1 million. Polaris saw a 36% increase in survivor contacts after the donation.

Delta also employs several strategies to fight trafficking on their planes. With input from survivors, Delta has…

A Virginia real estate agent filed suit last week after a state board prohibited her from including Bible verses or Christian-themed messages on her email signatures or business website.

Hadassah Carter was a licensed real estate agent in 2017 when the Virginia Real Estate Board filed a complaint against her for her faith-themed messages in her public correspondence, according to the lawsuit. 

Specifically, her email signature read, “For Faith and Freedom, Jesus loves you, and with God all things are possible.” Her website included this message: “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’ John 3:16. I am available to you when you need me.”

Both messages, the board said, violated the Virginia Fair Housing Code, which states the “use of words or symbols associated with a particular religion” shall be “evidence of an illegal preference.” 

The board reached an agreement with Carter’s employer that prevented her or any employee from posting religious statements on any communication or advertising material. Although Carter resigned, her employers warned her the board had said it would track her license and would “file another complaint against her if she re-adds her previous religious statements to her communications and website,” the lawsuit…