Churches and groups all over the world celebrated the annual International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on Sunday.

This year, churches are praying under the theme of “Persecuted but not abandoned.” In 2018, some 100,000 congregations took part in the IDOP, according to the Christian Post.

“This November let us unite in prayer for our persecuted brothers and sisters,” said the IDOP organizers in a video posted to Vimeo earlier this month.

According to Open Doors USA, more than 245 million Christians are persecuted around the world. Persecution includes beatings, physical torture, confinement, rape, punishment, slavery and discrimination, the group said.

“These 245 million people are not just numbers; they are men, women and children, moms, dads, sons and daughters who all have names and share in common the fact they are being arrested, tortured, imprisoned and even killed for one reason – they follow Jesus,” said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council.

In an opinion column for Fox News, Perkins wrote that prayer for the persecuted has a long biblical history. He pointed to Hebrews 13:3, which says, “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them – those who are mistreated – since you yourselves are in the body also.”

Perkins also referred to Paul’s life, saying “the hunter became…

A street preacher is suing a city in Oregon after being prevented from preaching the gospel and expressing his pro-life views.

Mark Mayberry is seeking over $300k in damages after city officials attempted to prohibit him from handing out literature and displaying a pro-life sign at Waterfront Park in Portland.

“While Plaintiff expressed views that were undoubtedly controversial to some, his speech and conduct were civil, peaceful, and by no means incendiary,” wrote Ray Hacke, Mayberry’s lawyer, in the lawsuit, according to KOIN.

“Despite being cleared to resume free speech activities at Waterfront Park without fear of penalty, Plaintiff has not returned to the park — largely due to well-founded fears that he will be cited again,” Hacke added.

On June 1, Mayberry went to Waterfront Park and began handing out pro-life leaflets and displaying a pro-life sign. Mayberry did not hand out leaflets for long, however. Soon, the activist would be approached by a park official who ordered him to leave. When Mayberry refused, the park official cited him for disobeying the order. The official also issued Mayberry with an additional citation relating to harassment. He was told that he must not return to the park for 30 days.

Deeply disturbed by the action taken against him, Mayberry challenged the citation with the Portland City…

One of the stars from the hit Marvel movie Black Panther Letitia Wright challenged journalists who cut out her faith in a recent interview.

“It’s super cute when journalists/interviewers for magazines leave out the massive part where I give God the glory for the success/achievements in my life,” she wrote in a tweet, according to Fox News.

Wright, who gained stardom after her role as Shuri in “Black Panther” and “Avengers: Infinity War,” finished her tweet lightheartedly: “Haha I still love you and God will still be praised.”

The tweet came only a few days before Harper’s Bazaar named her as one of their “Women of the Year.” But the article failed to mention the role God and her faith has played in her life.

“A few years ago, I saw myself in a deep state of depression, and I literally wanted to quit acting,” the 26-year-old actress said after receiving the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) “Rising Star” Award. “The only thing that pretty much pulled me out of that was God, my belief, my faith, my family, and an email from BAFTA saying they wanted me to be a part of the BAFTA Breakthrough Brits, and I was like, ‘Let me try again.’”

She also credited God for her success in her speech.

In an interview with Hollywood Reporter last year, Wright opened up on her nearly crippling…

Faith-based adoption and foster care agencies that receive federal grants wouldn’t be forced to place children in same-sex homes under a proposed Trump administration rule that would overturn a rule finalized in the final days of the Obama administration.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued the proposed rule on Friday, stating it aligns with all nondiscrimination statutes that Congress has adopted, as well as with Supreme Court decisions and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

The Obama-era rule, finalized in January 2017 – the month Obama left office – prevents federal grants from going to any entity that discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The Obama rule had a dramatic impact on faith-based adoption and foster care agencies that affirm the biblical definition of marriage.

Christian groups applauded the proposed new rule and said it would allow more children to be placed in homes. Some faith-based agencies had said they could not operate under the Obama rule.

The proposed rule was released on the first day of National Adoption Month.  

“Every child deserves a chance to be raised in a loving home,” said Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel Zack Pruitt. “There are currently over 400,000 children in the foster care system and 100,000 eligible for adoption, and…

Although she’s constantly playing different roles and working on new projects, singer and songwriter Amy Grant holds herself with a calm demeanor. The woman who has released countless number one hits and has won awards in every major music category is thoughtful and calm. 

Currently, Grant is preparing to embark on her annual Christmas tour with Christian music artist Michael W. Smith and her husband, country singer, Vince Gill. Grant told Christian Headlines in an interview that touring is something that she enjoys doing each year and it never gets old for her.

“Christmas is the one time of year where people seem to make the effort to come together,” Grant told Christian Headlines. This is just one reason why she loves using this season for missions and outreach, particularly through her music.

Grant is passionate about God’s calling on her life to use music to serve him and others. “Whether someone is in a family that looks perfect or is falling apart music can help people in any season they’re in,” Grant shared.

Another reason the award-winning singer loves being on tour during the Christmas season, is what it offers families. 

“I love families getting together and enjoying one another, which is one of the things that I love about going on tour during the Christmas season,” she said.

This year, Grant, too, is in the middle of a changing family dynamic….