The pastor whose Sutherland Springs, Texas, church was the site of a November massacre prayed at the U.S. Capitol for a country where God is honored in statehouses and schools.

“Forgive us for taking you out of our schools,” prayed Pastor Frank Pomeroy on Thursday (May 3) before a kneeling crowd. He listed churches, capitols and various public venues among “all the places that need to put you first.”

Pomeroy and his wife, Sherri, were interviewed briefly by National Day of Prayer Task Force President Ronnie Floyd in the Capitol’s Statuary Hall during his task force’s national observance of the annual prayer day. The organizers of the Christian group hold a yearly event on Capitol Hill and help organize and promote tens of thousands of prayer events across the country.

“I would say that it is a learning process and we are still in that process,” said Frank Pomeroy of the personal grief he and his wife are enduring after losing their daughter and more than two dozen other church members.

But he also sees hope in the growth in his church and the bonding of his community: “From the blood that was spilled, from the ashes, glory is rising.”

On Nov. 5, a 26-year-old gunman entered the worship service at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs and killed more than two dozen people. One of the victims was the Pomeroys’ 14-year-old…

Three days after he went missing during a boating accident, authorities said they found the body of 85-year-old founding pastor of The Chapel on Campus, Donald Tabb, in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday.

The Louisiana preacher was fishing with his friends, Jack Frey, 86, and Pat Anderson, 61, near the mouth of the Mississippi River last Wednesday when his boat capsized in the Gulf of Mexico. Authorities told The Advocate that his body was found at about 10:30 a.m. Saturday near the Southwest Pass, some 10 miles from where he was reported missing.

Tabb and his friends, were reportedly fishing on his 27-foot blue aluminum boat when it capsized after a big wave hit the boat about 7 a.m. near South Pass. He disappeared in the water near Port Eads in Plaquemines Parish shortly after the boat started to sink.

In the wake of the confirmation of Tabb’s death, Ben Jones, the Tabb family pastor, told The Advocate: “We know that this body was but a vessel and not the essence of Donald Tabb and that Donald Tabb’s eternal soul and spirit is more alive today than ever in his life.”

An obituary published in The Advocate remembered Tabb as an evangelist, veteran, cowboy and…

It is encouraging to be reminded that miracles can happen even in the modern day. Recently, the incredible story of a 13-year-old boy who was pronounced dead but then came back to life has captured the attention of people across the country.

Fox station KSLA 12 News reported on the amazing story. Thirteen-year-old Trenton McKinley of Mobile, Alabama was at a friend’s house riding in a small utility trailer, attached to a dune buggy for kids. When Trenton’s friend quickly pressed the brakes, the vehicle flipped over. Trenton had enough foresight to throw his friend’s four-year-old niece to safety, but he himself was severely injured.

“I hit the concrete and the trailer landed on top of my head. After that, I don’t remember anything,” Trenton said.

He was rushed to the hospital for emergency medical treatment and surgery, but doctors knew his case was grim. He had seven skull fractures.

Trenton’s mother, Jennifer Reindl, shared about that harrowing time:

Photo courtesy: ©Thinkstockphotos.com

“All I saw was a stretcher with his feet hanging out. He was dead a total of 15 minutes. When he came back, they said he would never be normal again. They told me the oxidation problems would be so bad to his brain, that he would be a vegetable if he even made it.”

After several days, after being told their son would…

Nearly 20 years after her controversial exit from the lineup of Bishop T.D. Jakes’ popular “Woman Thou Art Loosed” annual conference, televangelist Juanita Bynum is set to return to the stage of the event that made her a household name this fall.

About two weeks ago, Bynum teased a one-minute promotional clip on Facebook of her pending appearance at Jakes’ “Woman Thou Art Loosed: Master Class” set for Oct. 18-20, sparking excitement among her supporters.

The event, which will be held in Dallas, Texas, promises an “unforgettable weekend” to women who will be attending from around the world.

“Trust us, when we say this conference is not only going to impact you spiritually but catapult you to a level of success making you the master of your journey! So prepare yourself for Woman Thou Art Loosed Master Class!” the Potter’s House said.

Along with Bynum, the event will feature Bishop Jakes, his daughter, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and Pastor Sheryl Brady.

Bynum shot to fame after her 1997 “No More Sheets” sermon at the “Woman Thou Art Loosed” Conference.

In that sermon, she discussed her battle with her sexuality and her longing for a husband. She described the bedsheets as all the…

The Irish group U2 has won Christian fans around the world for their songs and for frontman Bono’s declaration of faith, but some of those same fans are now upset at the band’s public support of legalized abortion in Ireland.  

Irish voters will go to the polls on May 25 to vote on a referendum that would add a new amendment to the Constitution overturning the Eighth Amendment, which was approved by voters in 1983 and gives equal rights to the unborn and to the mother. Specifically, the Eighth Amendment reads: “The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right.”

The band’s official Twitter account sent out a tweet May 1 calling for the Eighth Amendment’s repeal. The tweet encouraged followers to “vote on May 25th.” It also included the logo of the repeal movement – a red heart with “Repeal the 8th” in the center.

Vote on May 25th pic.twitter.com/jiCVZvfJuH

— U2 (@U2) May 1, 2018

As of May 7, nearly 1,000 fans had commented below the tweet.

“You profess to be a ‘christian’ band, yet how does abortion bring glory to God? You know it does not !! SEE ==> 1 COR 10:31,” one fan, @ZooKeeper_Kevin, wrote.

Another fan, @ChristyRae2013,…

The United Methodist Church Council of Bishops has endorsed a proposal to soften the denomination’s stance against homosexuality in order to prevent schism. 

Over the past couple of years, the UMC has sought a resolution to the debate over its official position against homosexuality, gay marriage, and the ordination of openly gay individuals. In February 2019, the denomination will hold a special session of General Conference to determine what, if any, changes they will make to their official position on LGBT issues.

Ahead of that meeting, the Council of Bishops released a statement last Friday, noting that a majority of their members supported what is called the “One Church Plan.”

This plan calls for changing the Book of Discipline to remove language labeling homosexuality “incompatible with Christian teaching,” allowing churches in the United States to permit same-sex weddings and gay ordination while letting clergy and some overseas conferences retain their official opposition.  

“The One Church Plan allows for contextualization of language about human sexuality in support of the mission; and allows for central…

Iran is preparing a missile strike on Israeli military sites, according to Hebrew media reports.

Reports say that Iran is striking back against Israel after the country allegedly fired its own missiles on Iran-controlled Syria.

Israel is not “on the eve of war against Iran,” said Ma’ariv defense analyst Alon Ben David, “but the Iranians do want revenge for their losses.”

Another military analyst with Channel 2 News said Iran is planning to use Shiite militias that are already in Syria to launch the attack.

Meanwhile, other reports say Israel is preparing for an attack from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps after Israel allegedly struck an Iranian operated airbase in Syria. That April attack killed seven corps soldiers.

In response, Ali Akbar Velayati, the top aid to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said Israel “should be waiting for a powerful response” to the strike on the airfield, saying “it will not remain unanswered.”

Tensions between the two countries have continued to rise. In February, an armed drone from Iran flew into northern Israel airspace. Israelis said the drone was on a sabotage attack mission. Then in April, Israel allegedly struck the Iranian operated airbase in Syria, which killed seven Iranian soldiers.

“There’s been a clear change in Israel’s strategy in Syria since last year,” nsaid Michael Horowitz, director of intelligence at…

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Board of Trustees will meet to decide the fate of President Paige Patterson amid controversial remarks about women and spouse abuse. Female Southern Baptists have signed a letter calling for his resignation. 

SWBTS Chairman Kevin Uekert announced that the board will hold a special meeting on May 22, coming “in light of recent events.”

“The Southern Baptist Convention has entrusted to the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Board of Trustees a responsibility to oversee the mission and direction of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. As chairman of this Board, I know I speak for each of our trustees in saying that we carry out this responsibility with great seriousness,” Uekert stated.

“Since April 28, 2018, I, and the Executive Committee of the board of trustees, have been in conversation with our president. In light of recent events, Dr. Patterson has requested that I convene our full trustee board to meet in official session,” he added, noting that the May 22 meeting will take place at the SWBTS location in Fort Worth,…

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas spoke at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs’ official ground-breaking for their new building, held six months after a mass shooting that resulted in the deaths of 26 people, including the pastor’s daughter.

Held Saturday morning, the ground-breaking ceremony included a prayer walk, a service, worship music, and lunch, as well as remarks from several speakers.

Cruz told those gathered that while people saw “the face of evil” with the church shooting, they also “saw so much more.”

Expand | Collapse

“You saw love. You saw strength. You saw compassion. You saw courage. You saw sacrifice,” said Cruz, who told FBC members that through their example “the entire world saw the Gospel.”

Cruz commended the church for its “powerful” showcasing of “the strength, the peace of this community,” saying that “as each of you grieving leaned on each other,” their reaction to the…