Author: Bobby Ross Jr.

Bobby Ross Jr. is an award-winning journalist who has reported from all 50 states and 20 countries.
Religion Unplugged

📰 Politics, sex, war: Old religion headlines are new 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 “How would Jesus vote?” A panel of religious experts weighed that question at a conference in Austin, Texas. “If ever there were a bleeding-heart liberal, it was … Continue reading 📰 Politics, sex, war: Old religion headlines are new again 🔌

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Christian Chronicle

Bobby Ross Jr. wins six national ‘Best of the Church Awards’ from Associated Church Press

By Bobby Ross Jr. The “Best of the Church Press” Awards were presented Friday night in Chicago. I was blessed to receive six awards — including first-place honors in three categories — from the Associated Church Press. My awards: • First Place, News Story (Short Format), for “It’s the same Jesus” from Chicago. “As an old news writer turned minister, I really enjoy well-done feature stories. This has it … Continue reading Bobby Ross Jr. wins six national ‘Best of the Church Awards’ from Associated Church Press

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Religion Unplugged

🎤 Preach it, Jelly Roll: Emotional singer celebrates another big award 🔌

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 Jelly Roll is on a roll. The “Son of a Sinner” artist — whose songs feature raw, religious lyrics that wrestle with his troubled past — won another big … Continue reading 🎤 Preach it, Jelly Roll: Emotional singer celebrates another big award 🔌

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Christian Chronicle

‘A great, joyful sense of closure’

For Harding School of Theology, it’s the end of an era after 66 years in Memphis. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle MEMPHIS, TENN. — Before the preacher stepped to the pulpit, the crowd seated in wooden pews at Harding School of Theology stood to sing. The hymn before the lesson — “Our God, He Is Alive” — rose in volume and intensity, a crescendo of emotion befitting the moment. … Continue reading ‘A great, joyful sense of closure’

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Religion Unplugged

⚾️ New biography gives insight into star pitcher Clayton Kershaw’s faith 🔌

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 LOS ANGELES — On a sunny Sunday afternoon, 10-time All-Star pitcher Clayton Kershaw stood atop the Los Angeles Dodgers dugout and declared his love for Jesus. Microphone … Continue reading ⚾️ New biography gives insight into star pitcher Clayton Kershaw’s faith 🔌

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Christian Chronicle

Nancy French’s ‘Ghosted’ offers a haunting, helpful read — but not for everyone

Author recounts growing up in Churches of Christ — and her sexual assault by a preacher. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle The biggest villain — and rightly so — in Nancy French’s memoir “Ghosted: An American Story” is a preacher who gives the seventh-grader a ride home from Vacation Bible School. “In his early twenties, he was too young to be a preacher,” French writes. “But … Continue reading Nancy French’s ‘Ghosted’ offers a haunting, helpful read — but not for everyone

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Christian Chronicle

What’s really going on at the Texas Rangers game

The story behind ministers spending an afternoon in a ballpark suite. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle ARLINGTON, TEXAS —Fishing is about more than fishing. That was the gist of a Top 10 country song released in 2011. Trace Adkins’ “Just Fishin’” details a father’s deeper desire for simple time spent with his daughter: And she thinks we’re just fishing on the riverside Throwing back what … Continue reading What’s really going on at the Texas Rangers game

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Religion Unplugged

🌪️ Symbol of hope: Church’s stained-glass windows survive monster tornado 🔌

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 SULPHUR, Okla. — A miracle. That’s what Pam Chitwood calls it. To her surprise — and delight — the First Christian Church’s century-old stained-glass windows survived a … Continue reading 🌪️ Symbol of hope: Church’s stained-glass windows survive monster tornado 🔌

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Christian Chronicle

‘All I could see was destruction’

Christians mobilize to help after monster tornado strikes small Oklahoma town. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle SULPHUR, Okla. — After a monster tornado hit this southern Oklahoma town late Saturday night, the Vinita Avenue Church of Christ swung into action. With power out Sunday morning, the congregation — which counted 38 worshipers on a recent Lord’s Day — canceled the regular assembly and focused on helping storm victims. … Continue reading ‘All I could see was destruction’

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