Several churches and statues of religious figures were badly damaged in separate incidents across the nation over the weekend.

Law enforcement is currently investigating these incidents in light of the recent protests over statues and monuments.

In Florida, one man crashed his car into the foyer of Queen of Peace Catholic Church before pouring gasoline in the church and setting it on fire, Fox News reports.

The Catholic church was in the midst of conducting its Saturday morning mass at the time of the incident. After setting the building ablaze, the suspect sped away in his vehicle but was eventually caught and taken into custody by police.

24-year-old Steven Anthony Shields was arrested on multiple charges including attempted murder, arson, burglary, and evading arrest.

According to an affidavit report, the suspect in custody told law enforcement officers his actions were “awesome” and that he was on a “mission,” referring to himself as the “king.”

A detective was told by Shields that he took issue with the Catholic Church and did not take his medication for his schizophrenia diagnosis.

While the church’s foyer was immensely burned by the fire, the church was able to safely continue its Mass service.

Meanwhile, on Saturday around 4 a.m., a church in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles California was also set ablaze.

San Gabriel church in Los Angeles had been undergoing renovations in…

A recent event at Bethel Church involving a Lord of the Rings-like staff and a line from the film has sparked a social media debate over its appropriateness.

The moment took place toward the end of the two-hour “Transformation NOW!” event on June 12 that featured multiple speakers, including Bethel Church pastor Bill Johnson, addressing ethnic reconciliation and social justice. It was livestreamed on Bethel.TV, YouTube and Facebook Live. The congregation is located in Redding, Calif.

A Twitter video of the moment has been viewed more than 300,000 times.

Marlyne Barrett, a pastor at Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena, held the wooden staff on stage, surrounded by the speakers.

“I am an artist,” said Barrett, an actress known for her role in NBC’s Chicago Med and Chicago Fire. “… One of the movies that has really touched my heart is Lord of the Rings.”

Barrett referenced the night’s speakers and how they had impacted and inspired her to help bring the body of Christ together. She then mentioned a scene in the film trilogy in which Gandalf battles a demon known as Balrog on a bridge over a hellish-like abyss. In the scene, Gandalf holds his staff and shouts, “You shall not pass!” Half the bridge crumbles, and Balrog falls into the abyss.

Speaking of the “racist spirit in America,” Barrett said, “We are going to lift the staff — and we’ll command the spirit, not…

Christians across China continue to be persecuted by Communist officials in the ongoing crackdown against houses of worship.

Bitter Winter reports that at least 400 Three-Self and house churches were either demolished, shut down or repurposed in Shangrao City of Jiangxi Province. Additionally, video footage shows a cross being removed from the rooftop of a Shangrao church.

 “The central and provincial governments planned to send a team to focus on rectifying Christianity in Yugan county,” a local preacher told Bitter Winter.

He was also told that his church’s cross had to be removed otherwise it would be destroyed.

“If we didn’t do it, the church could have been demolished when the team came,” the preacher added.

Bitter Winter also noted that many of Three-Self churches were transformed into activity centers or libraries.

One director of a Three-Self church reported that local authorities were ordered by the central government to rectify all state-run churches under no exceptions. He told Bitter Winter that churches built or approved after 2014 were told to shut down, despite some of the churches having necessary permits.

In May, a local church built off of the donations of its congregants was destroyed in the Guangxin District.

A Seventh-day Church venue was also forcibly demolished in Huanggu town in the Guangxin district.

One preacher of a Three-Self church who had its cross removed told Bitter…

A giant cross estimated to be at least 1,200 years old has been discovered in the mountains of Pakistan and could include hints of Christianity’s early presence there.

The marble rock cross, weighing three to four tons and spanning seven feet from top to bottom, was found by a team from the University of Baltistan, Skardu in the Himalayan mountains near Baltistan, according to Union of Catholic Asian News.

Researchers discussed the findings at a press conference in mid-June.

Bordered by Afghanistan, Iran, India and China, Pakistan is a majority Muslim country, with more than 96 percent of its citizens practicing Islam.

Caritas Pakistan, a Catholic organization, celebrated the find.

“It is indeed great news for all of us that an ancient cross was found in Skardu,” said Mansha Noor, executive director of Caritas Pakistan. “It shows that Christianity existed in this area and there must be a church and houses of Christians. There are currently no Christian families in that area, but they were once present.

“I request the authorities invite international historians to find out more about the accurate history of the cross.”

Christians in Pakistan frequently face persecution for their faith. Byzantine history expert Béatrice Caseau told Barnabus Fund the cross could be evidence that Middle East merchants brought the gospel to the region.

“Even if we lack the sources…

All indoor businesses, which include churches, in 30 counties are now closed in the state of California according to a new order by Governor Gavin Newsom. On Monday, Newsom cited the surge of COVID-19 cases and increased hospitalizations as reason for the closures, according to CBNC.

These businesses include indoor operations for fitness centers, churches, personal care services, malls, offices, hair salons and barber shops to close. These counties account for 80% of the state’s population and had been on the state’s monitoring list for three or more consecutive days. The counties include Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange counties.

In addition, all restaurants, wineries, movie theaters, zoos, museums, and bars statewide must shutter their doors. Newsom granted allowance to all businesses, except bars, to meet outside if possible.

“We’re seeing an increase in the spread of the virus, so that’s why it’s incumbent upon all of us to recognize soberly that COVID-19 is not going away any time soon until there is a vaccine or an effective therapy,” he said, according to CBN.

The order was effective immediately on Monday and remains indefinitely.

The Los Angeles Times reported that California has recorded more than 333,000 cases of COVID-19 with more than 7,000 deaths. The state averaged 8,211 new cases a day and nearly 6,500 people were hospitalized as of Sunday.

“The…

At least six people who allegedly support Israeli annexations have reportedly been arrested by the Palestinian Authority.

Under a U.S.-Israeli plan, Israel would annex parts of the West Bank. The Palestinian Authority, however, has said it is against the proposal.

According to Barron’s, the Palestinian Authority security denies it made any arrests related to the claim.

In an Israeli television report from June, several Palestinians were recorded by a hidden camera, saying they supported the annexation and hoped to become Israeli citizens.

The report distorted their voices and blurred their faces.

“I want an Israeli identity card,” one Palestinian says. Another said that he didn’t see “Israelis as enemies – their government is the enemy.” Another said he “chose Israel.”

Israeli journalist Tzvi Yehezkeli, who made the report, said at least six people who voiced support for the annexations have since been arrested. He said family members of the recorded people told him of the arrests and that he felt “responsible.”

“I was surprised to see that even though I’ve blurred the faces of all the people I filmed and distorted their voices, the Authority has reached and arrested (some) of them, it’s just amazing,” he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he supports the Middle East plan put forth by President Donald Trump.

Israel has yet to announce its decision on…

(RNS) –­ Earlier this week, megachurch pastor John Ortberg claimed his congregation had “extensively investigated” concerns about his son and found “no misconduct.”

Now elders at Menlo Church, a Bay Area congregation of 5,000, say their initial investigation fell short and have announced plans for an additional “supplemental” investigation.

“While many of you know that the Board took immediate action upon learning of these concerns, we understand our initial investigation could have gone further and included specific expertise in child safety and sex abuse issues, and it could have been informed by conversations with a wider group of people,” church elders said in an email to the congregation Saturday (July 11).

The Rev. Ortberg was placed on leave last fall after church leaders learned he had withheld information about his son from them, a move they described as “poor judgment and a betrayal of trust.”

In July 2018, the Rev. Ortberg’s youngest son — who volunteered with children at the church and in the community — told his father he experienced what church leaders called an “unwanted thought pattern of attraction to minors.” The senior Ortberg did not tell church leaders or staff about what he had learned from his son. Nor did he act to prevent John ‘Johnny’ Ortberg III — his youngest son — from working with children.

Church leaders finally learned of the…

CHICAGO (RNS) — Not long into the coronavirus pandemic, the Rev. Sandra Maria Van Opstal, a pastor at Grace and Peace Church on the West Side of Chicago, began to hear from congregants who lost their jobs and were struggling financially as the city closed nonessential businesses to slow the spread of the virus.

Some congregants were essential workers who were anxious about their exposure to the coronavirus and staying apart from family members so they didn’t risk bringing the virus to them.

Some had lost loved ones to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Others were unable to celebrate births or graduations.

And all that was before the nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd, a reminder of the systemic racism that exists in the United States and the trauma that it has caused communities of color.

“I don’t think we can ever underestimate the level of trauma we’re all experiencing,” Van Opstal said.

As Americans deal with the impacts of the pandemic and the country’s reckoning over racism, many Christian leaders, organizations and churches are providing resources not only to care for their spiritual and physical health, but also their mental health. 

The Chicago pastor said churches have a key role in helping people deal with the fears and anxiety raised by the current crises. 

“It’s giving people a sign of hope, not just through our words, but the…