| | Study shows the benefits of digital religion for millennials | | Curated for you byCP Editors | | Good afternoon! It's Monday, August 1, and today's headlines include new research on the benefits of digital faith experiences among millennials, an Uber driver who has been charged with murder in the death of a Texas pastor, and Pope Francis' comments on the possibility of retirement. | | A study published in the Review of Religious Research has found that engaging with digital religion has made millennials' faith experience richer. The research, which was based on data from the 2019 Millennial Trends Survey, also suggested that some non-churchgoers have found religion in digital spaces. "[T]hey are the first truly digital natives in North America, in that they were raised since childhood with the digital world at their fingertips," the study's author, University of Waterloo sociology professor Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme, said of the findings. Digital religion is defined in the study as an umbrella concept that reflects "a new frame for articulating the evolution of religious practices online" and "points to how digital media and spaces are shaping and being shaped by religious practice." | | The research also found significant differences between Canadian and U.S. millennials. While around 29% of Canadian millennials in the study reported consuming religious or spiritual digital content at least once a month, 41% of U.S. millennials reported the same. In a statement to The Christian Post, Wilkins-Laflamme explained, "We know that more and more people are turning toward digital mediums for spirituality such as chat groups with pastors, online sermons and religious content on social media. We've found that while digital religion isn't necessarily attracting a lot of new millennials to participate, it is making the experience of those already involved richer." Read more. | | P.S. Did you hear? CP has launched FREEDOM POST, a free, twice-weekly newsletter highlighting breaking news and headlines on key issues ranging from freedom to religious liberty. Sign-up today to get FREEDOM POST delivered to your inbox every Monday and Thursday. Subscribe now. |
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| Kentucky flooding death toll rises | | The death toll from devastating flooding in Eastern Kentucky has risen to at least 28 as search and rescue teams look for the stranded and missing, while more rain is expected in some areas already hit hard. First responders from Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia were able to rescue at least 1,432 Kentuckians, and over 300 people displaced by the flooding were being temporarily housed at state parks. "We continue to pray for the families who have suffered unfathomable loss. We also pray for the first responders. This mission has been especially challenging, and what they are experiencing firsthand is tremendously stressful and difficult. We thank all those involved for their tireless efforts," Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said. Read more. | | Uber driver charged with murder of Texas pastor | | Police in Houston, Texas, have charged a 23-year-old Uber driver with murder in the death of Pastor Ronald K. Mouton who was killed in a road rage shooting on the Gulf Freeway at Gould Road on June 24. Deshawn Longmire, who was driving for Uber in his black Honda sedan, was seen by a witness at a stoplight arguing with the pastor who was in his white BMW. When both vehicles started moving, Longmire "stretched his arm out of the driver window with a pistol in his hand," shot the pastor and took off, per witness accounts, Click 2 Houston reported. A surveillance video from Pusch and Nguyen Injury Lawyers showed Mouton’s vehicle crashing at a curb. Read more. | | Also of Interest... | | Texas pastor killed in road rage incident; Crime Stoppers offers $5K reward for leads on suspectFamily, church grieve beloved pastor killed in road rage incident as cops hunt for unidentified shooterHouston pastor was fatally shot after 10-second road rage argument, police say | | Pope Francis discusses the possibility of retirement | | While speaking to journalists on a return flight from Canada, Pope Francis shared that he should slow down on his international travel and potentially consider retiring if he discerns that it's God's will. "I think that at my age and with this limitation, I have to save myself a little bit to be able to serve the Church. Or, alternatively, to think about the possibility of stepping aside," Francis told journalists during an in-flight press conference on his return flight from Iqaluit, Canada, on Saturday, AFP reported. Francis said that "the Lord will say" when it's time to retire, per Catholic News Agency, adding, "The door is open. It’s one of the normal options, but up to today I haven’t knocked on that door." Read more. |
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| 5 factors Christians should consider when casting their vote | | In light of the upcoming midterm elections, author and Emmy-nominated journalist Jason Mattera shares five factors Christians should consider when heading to the ballot box. Among Mattera's recommendations: support candidates who are allies to the pro-life community, as well as candidates who protect the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech and religious liberty. Mattera also says voters should look at who an elected leader will staff their administration with, noting that President Joe Biden's appointment of Admiral "Rachel" Levine, formerly known as Richard Levine, put an individual who supports puberty blockers and genital mutilation surgeries into a position of power. Read more. | | I don’t need a friend as much as I need a prophet | | Robin Schumacher writes about church leaders choosing to be friends instead of prophets and why it is important that leaders, particularly pastors, remember that believers need a prophet more than a friend. Noting that Paul's description of prophecy refers to "the gift of communicating and enforcing revealed truth and is not referring to future, predictive revelation" (1 Cor. 12), Schumacher concludes that today's prophets should "not be accommodators, people pleasers, and 'friends' in the way that our culture socially defines the term" but instead reveal truth, protect God's people, point out errors, and say "the hard things that need to be said." Read more. |
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| Report: 6 pastors killed, dozens kidnapped in Nigeria so far this year | | An Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) report has revealed that suspected Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists in Nigeria have killed six pastors and kidnapped 27 Christians of the ECWA in the past seven months. Christian leaders in Nigeria believe that herdsman attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria's middle belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians’ lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds. Nigeria led the world in Christians killed for their faith last year (Oct. 1, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2021) at 4,650, up from 3,530 the previous year, according to Open Doors’ 2022 World Watch List report. The number of kidnapped Christians was also highest in Nigeria, at more than 2,500, up from 990 the previous year, according to the WWL report. Read more. |
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| David and Maria Barrera on trusting God, raising strong children | | Actors David and Maria Barrera, the stars of Pureflix's first original movie, "Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters," recently shared how they rely on God to guide them in their parenting journey. The stars, who have been married for over 20 years, also play a married couple in the film, which is available for streaming exclusively on Pureflix on Aug. 1. Maria Barrera discussed the movie's theme of "being your daughter's hero," explaining, "I think it's encouraging dads to know that it doesn't matter where you think you lack ... don't get caught up in being perfect as a dad, just be involved, because a daughter needs to know that her dad wants to know what she has to say." The couple also shared the importance of raising children through God's help and love, with David Barrera noting, "It's not a battle between us and our kids. We're on the same team." Watch the official trailer for "Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters" here. | | | | | | | | Thank you for spending part of your day with us. We look forward to seeing you again tomorrow! -- CP Editors |
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