Vice President Pence on Thursday thanked Americans for their prayers and urged them to be “persistent” in praying for those fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

Pence made the remarks alongside President Trump in the Rose Garden at a National Day of Prayer service with religious leaders. Pence also delivered a video address to a Pray.com National Day of Prayer streaming ceremony later in the day.  

“Karen and I will both attest that the sweetest words that we ever hear are when people will take a moment, walk up, and say, ‘I’m praying for you,’” Pence said, referencing Second Lady Karen Pence. “And you know they mean it from their hearts and we hear it all of the time. We can attest, firsthand, America is a nation of prayer.

“The American people have long believed in the power of prayer, that the effective and fervent prayer of a righteous person availeth much, and that in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, we’re to present our request to God with the promise that the peace of God that passes all understanding will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.”

Prayer, Pence said, is the “core that runs through every era of American history.”

“In 1775, the Second Continental Congress established a day of fasting and prayer,” he said. “In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln urged Americans to pray so that, in his words, ‘The…

Christian leaders across the United States have expressed horror and outrage at the shooting of a 25-year-old black man in Georgia.

Ahmaud Arbery was out jogging in Brunswick when he was confronted by a father and son who said they believed him to be connected to a spate of burglaries in the area. As Arbery attempted to evade the pair, he became involved in a tussle with one of the suspects, before being shot dead.
While the killing took place back in February of this year, police only decided to take action this month after a video of the incident was leaked by a witness, causing a nation-wide uproar. The two suspects – former police officer Gregory McMichael, 64, and Travis McMichael, 34 – have since been arrested and charged with murder.

“He was out for his daily jog and he was hunted down like an animal and killed,” his mother Wanda Jones told CBS News. “I’m hoping that all involved, they’re indicted and they go to jail.”

On Twitter, the attorney representing Mrs. Jones, S. Lee Merritt, wrote: “The series of events captured in this video confirm what all the evidence indicated prior to its release— Ahmaud Arbery was pursued by three white men that targeted him solely because of his race and murdered him without justification. This is murder.”

The slaying has also sparked responses from a number of prominent Christian leaders in the US, and has ignited racial tensions…

A pastor from Mississippi is one of the nine finalists in NBC’s singing competition show, The Voice.

Todd Tilghman, the lead pastor of Cornerstone Church in Meridian, Miss., advanced from the round of 17 to the round of nine after singing Peter Cetera’s 1986 song, Glory of Love, this week. Tilghman is a member of Team Blake, meaning he worked with and was coached by country singer Blake Shelton.

Although the series normally takes place in front of a live audience, the pandemic has forced the singers to perform at remote locations. 

Shelton called Tilghman’s performance “incredible.” 

“You have got to vote for this man,” Shelton urged the television audience.

Shelton told Tilghman, “You are one of my favorite artists that I’ve ever worked with. In 100 years of doing this show, you’re a class to be around. You deserve to go all the way, man. Great job.”

Glory of Love was featured in the 1986 movie Karate Kid II.

“Todd, you literally are the Karate Kid,” Shelton joked.

Tilghman has been married to his wife, Brooke, for 21 years. They have eight children.

“I’ve literally never performed. I just sing at church,” Tilghman told the panel of coaches in February after his first performance.

He told fans in a Facebook video this week, “I am so very grateful.” 

The pandemic has forced changes to The Voice but also to Tilghman’s church, which has gone virtual….

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, videos of three women and their respective family members singing hit gospel songs have gone viral on Facebook.

In the past seven weeks, videos of Natalie Emmons, Nicole Smith and Kara Smith from Salem Baptist Church in Lake, Mississippi, have acquired over a million views on their church’s Facebook page.

In an interview with Faithwire, Nicole drew a comparison between their unexpected reach on social media and the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000 with just five loaves and two fish in Matthew 14.

“God takes little, bitty, tiny things that we look at, and he has such a greater purpose,” she told the outlet.

“Because he can take those tiny, little, bitty efforts, and just like loaves and fish, he can break, and he can bless, and he can multiply. And he will feed the thousands. And it may simply not be loaves and fishes, but it may be with spiritual encouragement, spiritual food,” Nicole added.

The videos, which were originally meant to encourage fellow church members amid the pandemic, would eventually gain national and international attention.

“We have received so many comments, so many messages globally,” Natalie shared with Faithwire. 

“To get those messages from those people and you see videos where they’re gathered around watching your videos, and they’re worshipping, watching you worship, it changes who you are. It brings…