Mark Galli, the Christianity Today editor-in-chief who generated an evangelical maelstrom over a Dec. 19 editorial labeling President Donald Trump’s actions “profoundly immoral” and calling for his removal from office, will retire tomorrow.

Galli, who served in various capacities during his 30-year tenure at the magazine, quietly announced his retirement plans in an Oct. 7 news release on the Christianity Today website.

“I’ve been EIC for about seven years now, and as it goes with many jobs, I think I finally understand what I should have been doing all along!” Galli said at the time.” It has been quite a ride for the ministry, economically and journalistically. Some definite lows, to be sure, and some wonderful highs. Aside from a strong sense of God’s call, what’s given me most joy is the people I have worked with—men and women who are passionate about their faith and dedicated to their work, and have a sense of humor to boot.”

On New Year’s Eve, Galli tweeted about his pending retirement.

“Well, my retirement is a couple of days away,” Galli, a former Presbyterian pastor, wrote. “Will be posting here more often now that I have more time on my hands. Well, given my last week, maybe not :-)”

In his retirement, the journalist will continue producing The Galli Report, a weekly newsletter discussing recent articles of interest, according to a New…

NEW DELHI, January 2, 2020 (Morning Star News) – Christians arrested in central India after Hindu nationalist tribal villagers disrupted their worship service, spent Christmas in jail before they were released on bail after 11 days – accused of illegally practicing medicine.

 Pastor Mukam Kiraad, 35, along with two members of his church, 40-year-old Lalsingh Tomar and 38-year-old Nanliya Rawat, were shocked to learn that they were charged under a Madhya Pradesh state law prohibiting unregistered medical practice, punishable by up to three years in prison.

Their attorney, Rahul Parihar, said he also was stunned.

“Their next hearing is Jan. 8,” Parihar told Morning Star News. “They will have to come for each hearing, which might fall once every 15 days, and the case may prolong for many years.”

The three Christians were initially arrested after more than a dozen tribal villagers radicalized by Hindu nationalists in Vadi village, near Alirajpur, intruded into their house-church worship service on Dec. 10 wearing blankets that concealed guns and locally-made sharp weapons, Pastor Kiraad said.

“Some of them began to film the worship service while others went out and locked us in from outside so that we would not escape,” Kiraad said. “They disrupted the service and began to search the place while using vulgar language.”

The intruders seized their cell…

Marines used tear gas to break up a gathering of pro-Iran protestors who had surrounded the U.S. embassy compound in Iraq.

According to CBN News, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said an American infantry battalion of about 750 soldiers will deploy to the Middle East after hundreds of Shiite militiamen and protesters tried to storm the Iraq embassy on Tuesday.

The protestors destroyed the reception area and smashed windows in the building before Marines arrived.

“I think it’s been handled very well,” President Donald Trump said. “The Marines came in. As soon as we saw there was potential for problem, they got in and there was no problem whatsoever.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) tweeted that he supported Trump’s efforts in Iraq.

“Very proud of President @realDonaldTrump acting decisively in the face of threats to our embassy in Baghdad. He has put the world on notice – there will be no Benghazis on his watch.”

In 2012, an Islamic group attacked the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, killing four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens.

“As you know, this will not be a Benghazi,” Trump added, referring to the most recent attack in Iraq. “Benghazi should never have happened. This will never, ever be a Benghazi.”

Protestors are rallying against U.S. airstrikes in Iraq and Syria where 25 members of an Iranian-backed militia were killed over the weekend. Those…

The latest senior appointee in the Church of England has made some startling remarks about the relevance of the Bible in our modern culture. Stephen Cottrell, the incoming Archbishop of York, made the controversial comments back in 2017 after the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, called for a “radical new Christian inclusion” amongst the Anglican communion.

Perhaps the most significant comments Cottrell made were in relation to the issue of sexuality – an issue on which he holds rather progressive views.

“I am not sure the church has ever before had to face the challenge of being seen as immoral by the culture in which it is set,” he said, according to the Christian Institute. On same-sex marriage, Cottrell noted that taking a strictly Biblical view can actually “legitimise homophobia in others.”

“What we can do is recognise that what we know now about human development and human sexuality requires us to look again at those texts to see what they are actually saying to our situation, for what we know now is not what was known then,” he added.

According to the Church Times, Cottrell further asserted his view that the Church of England should be “united in our condemnation of homophobia” and that “it is of little comfort to young gay or lesbian members of our Church to know that while prejudice against them is abhorred, any…

Social media often is a source of division, but two days after Christmas, it allowed a football legend to right an overlooked 30-year wrong. 

The incident began when the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks announced that former player Brian Bosworth – who played for the team for two seasons in the late 1980s prior to a career-ending injury – would be raising the Seahawks’ “12th man flag” in a traditional pregame ceremony prior to the team’s game with San Francisco. 

That sparked pushback from several fans, who remembered Bosworth as a controversial self-centered player. Bosworth was an All-American linebacker at the University of Oklahoma and was drafted in the first round, but made it clear he didn’t want to play for the Seahawks. Still, he eventually signed with the organization. 

I was a young mother working a job in retail when “Boz” was playing for Seattle. He came through my check out line one day and was extremely rude. He actually said “do you know who I am???”. I didn’t at the time, but I will never forget how he made me feel. Not a fan.

— Tammy (@Tammy80008759) December 27, 2019

“I was a young mother working a job in retail when ‘Boz’ was playing for Seattle,” one woman named Tammy wrote on Twitter. “He came through my check out line one day and was extremely rude. He actually said ‘do you know who I…

University of Georgia quarterback Jack Fromm helped lead his team to a 12-2 record this year – and a positive attitude fueled by his Christian faith played a key role, he says.  

Fromm, who threw for two touchdowns and 250 yards in Wednesday’s 26-14 Sugar Bowl win over Baylor, was asked this week by ESPN’s Holly Rowe about the team’s mindset in light of several teammates skipping the game to prepare for the NFL draft. 

Fromm told Rose it was a chance for younger players to step up. 

“We have a ton of [young] guys – this is their opportunity. They’re ready to go out and play,” Fromm said. “They’re gonna play great.”

Fromm’s optimism impressed Rowe, who called him the “world’s most positive person.” Asked what makes him optimistic, Fromm replied, “The Holy Spirit in me. I’m trying to live out the most godly life I can do. I’m trying to influence others and hope they can see Christ in me.”

Fromm’s answer brought Rowe to tears. 

She also asked if he had a goal for the New Year. 

“Influence others, lead people to Jesus … and hopefully shed the light in their eyes,” he said.

Rowe wrote on Twitter Jan. 31, “For the New Year, let’s all be a shining light in this world like @FrommJake. Honestly brought me to tears today with his positive, lovely spirit.  Many blessings to this young man. @GeorgiaFootball should be so proud to have him leading…

James MacDonald and Harvest Bible Chapel: In 2019 several prominent faith leaders were either removed from their leadership roles or chose to walk away from Christianity, publicly renouncing their faith. Among the most shocking of these were former Harvest Bible Chapel pastor, James MacDonald and author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Joshua Harris.

In February, after announcing his “indefinite sabbatical” in January, Harvest Bible Chapel announced that they had fired founder and lead pastor James MacDonald. 

In a letter on the church website, the Elders wrote, “It is with great sadness that we as the Elders of Harvest Bible Chapel wish to convey to you a very recent development that has caused us to take immediate action regarding our Senior Pastor, Dr. James MacDonald.

“Following a lengthy season of review, reflection, and prayerful discussion, the Elders of Harvest Bible Chapel had determined that Pastor MacDonald should be removed from his role of Senior Pastor.”

According to the letter, the decision to fire MacDonald was “accelerated” on Tuesday after “inappropriate recorded comments made by Pastor MacDonald were given to media and reported.” 

MacDonald’s behavior, the Elders noted, was both “contrary and harmful to the best interest of the church.”

In November, HBC issued a statement in hopes of clarifying MacDonald’s role with the church noting that he was “biblically disqualified” from ministry. The elders shared the announcement that MacDonald “was biblically disqualified from the position of Elder, meaning he did not meet the…