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📰 Lessons learned in high school journalism class still resonate 🔌

Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” meets readers at the intersection of faith and news. Click to join nearly 10,000 subscribers who get this column delivered straight to their inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged KELLER, Texas — Ronald Reagan was president. “Top Gun” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” were massive hits at the box office. Telephones were attached to the wall, and … Continue reading 📰 Lessons learned in high school journalism class still resonate 🔌

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Together again — decades after split

The pieces fit as two Pennsylvania congregations merge to become one body. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle POTTSTOWN, Pa. — A match made in heaven. In God’s timing. That’s how members and leaders alike characterize the merger of the Coventry Hills Church of Christ and the Chesmont Church of Christ. After decades apart, the congregations — halfway between the high-rises of Philadelphia and the horse-drawn … Continue reading Together again — decades after split

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Best in Class for 10th time: Christian Chronicle wins Associated Church Press’ top award

By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle OKLAHOMA CITY — The Christian Chronicle, where I serve as editor-in-chief, earned 28 national awards in annual journalism contests sponsored by the Associated Church Press, the Evangelical Press Association and the Religion News Association. In the ACP’s “Best of the Church Press” competition, the Chronicle claimed the Best in Class honor as overall top newspaper for the 10th time. The prize was presented at the faith-based … Continue reading Best in Class for 10th time: Christian Chronicle wins Associated Church Press’ top award

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🚨 ‘As predictable as original sin’: In San Diego, hate targets another house of worship 🔌

Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” meets readers at the intersection of faith and news. Click to join nearly 10,000 subscribers who get this column delivered straight to their inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged Jeff Cohen heard the news while at work: Two teenage shooters had opened fire on a mosque and slain three men — including the Islamic Center of … Continue reading 🚨 ‘As predictable as original sin’: In San Diego, hate targets another house of worship 🔌

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‘There’s nothing Calvin can’t do’

Evangelical Press Association honors Calvin Cockrell with its Emerging Journalist Award. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle DALLAS — We have a saying at The Christian Chronicle: “There’s nothing Calvin can’t do.” In fact, we must resist the temptation to pile more and more duties on our friend and colleague. Calvin Cockrell, 30, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism from the University of Alabama, maintaining a perfect 4.0 … Continue reading ‘There’s nothing Calvin can’t do’

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🗳️ Even if elected to Congress, these pastors plan to remain in the pulpit 🔌

Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” meets readers at the intersection of faith and news. Click to join nearly 10,000 subscribers who get this column delivered straight to their inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged OKLAHOMA CITY — Jackson Lahmeyer and Frederick D. Haynes III couldn’t be any more different politically. Lahmeyer, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a “MAGA Warrior” who founded Pastors … Continue reading 🗳️ Even if elected to Congress, these pastors plan to remain in the pulpit 🔌

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Bobby Ross Jr.’s ‘Faith in France’ series wins two Evangelical Press Association national awards

By Bobby Ross Jr. OKLAHOMA CITY — My “Faith in France” series earned two national awards from the Evangelical Press Association. EPA announced the winners this week at its annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee. My story on Christians bringing new life to an old monastery in Marseille won second place for reporting. Christianity Today’s Andy Olsen took first for his piece on “An American Deportation.” The … Continue reading Bobby Ross Jr.’s ‘Faith in France’ series wins two Evangelical Press Association national awards

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Religion News Association honors Bobby Ross Jr. with eighth Excellence in Religion Reporting Award

By Bobby Ross Jr. DECATUR, Ga. — I was honored to receive my eighth Excellence in Religion Reporting Award at the Religion News Association’s recent annual convention. I earned second place in the national contest for Excellence in Analysis and Explanatory Reporting. The prize recognized the Weekend Plug-in column I write each Friday for Religion Unplugged. My entry featured these three columns: 1. COVID miracle: … Continue reading Religion News Association honors Bobby Ross Jr. with eighth Excellence in Religion Reporting Award

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🚨 Religion is always in the room: D.C. shooting proves it once again 🔌

Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” meets readers at the intersection of faith and news. Click to join nearly 10,000 subscribers who get this column delivered straight to their inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged DECATUR, Ga. — I was attending the annual awards banquet of the Religion News Association when news broke Saturday night of shots fired outside the White House Correspondents’ … Continue reading 🚨 Religion is always in the room: D.C. shooting proves it once again 🔌