Author: Bobby Ross Jr.

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

🎊 Happy New Year: What will be the big religion stories in 2024? 🔌

Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” features analysis, fact checking and top headlines from the world of faith. Subscribe now to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com. By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged Good morning, Weekend Plug-in readers! Today’s edition marks the launch of Plug-in’s fifth year. If you enjoy it, please encourage … Continue reading 🎊 Happy New Year: What will be the big religion stories in 2024? 🔌

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Associated Press, Christian Chronicle, Christianity Today, Religion Unplugged

From MLB faith nights to refugee ministries, my Top 10 stories of 2023

By Bobby Ross Jr. I love what I do. I get paid to travel and tell interesting stories. 2023 marked my 34th year in full-time journalism, and I thank God for allowing me to live my dream. This year, I was blessed to report from a dozen states and four countries, including Cuba and Mexico. My stories from Australia and Vanuatu will publish early next year. Related: … Continue reading From MLB faith nights to refugee ministries, my Top 10 stories of 2023

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Christian Chronicle

For newly arrived refugees, an unexpected Christmas blessing

Caring hearts welcome Ukrainian family to America with food, furniture and friendship. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle It’s a Christmas miracle. In an incredible set of circumstances, God made a wonderful thing happen for a Ukrainian refugee family this busy holiday week. “This is how God works, whether we realize it or not,” said my good friend David Duncan, minister for the Memorial Church of … Continue reading For newly arrived refugees, an unexpected Christmas blessing

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Religion Unplugged

🏆 Weekend Plug-In year in review: The best religion journalism of 2023 🔌

By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged Good morning, Weekend Plug-in readers! For today’s special year-end edition, I asked some of the nation’s top religion journalists to share their favorite or most important story they produced during 2023. It’s a holiday week, so I didn’t catch up with everybody. But once again this year, I sure appreciate my Godbeat colleagues who responded — more than 60 … Continue reading 🏆 Weekend Plug-In year in review: The best religion journalism of 2023 🔌

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Religion Unplugged

🗳️ Ballots are in: Check out the Top 10 religion stories of 2023 🔌

Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” features analysis, fact checking and top headlines from the world of faith. Subscribe now to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com. By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged Top 10 stories — times two: The Religion News Association used to do one Top 10 list. Now, it splits the … Continue reading 🗳️ Ballots are in: Check out the Top 10 religion stories of 2023 🔌

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Christian Chronicle

‘We who are many are one body’

A trip around the world provides a reminder of the global nature of communion. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle PORT VILA, Vanuatu — I forgot what day it was. I was tired — exhausted, actually — when I landed thousands of miles from home after roughly 30 hours of travel. I had ventured around the globe to report on a mission effort, yet I had … Continue reading ‘We who are many are one body’

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Christian Chronicle

One of America’s oldest Churches of Christ celebrates its 200th anniversary

The rural Tennessee congregation traces its roots to studies led by Barton W. Stone, a key Restoration Movement leader. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle TUCKERS CROSSROADS, Tenn. — The Bethlehem Church of Christ has a long history — 200 years and counting. It has a bright future, too, lifelong member Carolyn Ragland Poston believes. “This congregation probably has 20 babies under 6 years old,” Poston, 74, said … Continue reading One of America’s oldest Churches of Christ celebrates its 200th anniversary

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Christian Chronicle

The oldest Church of Christ in America? It’s complicated

The rural Kentucky congregation at the top of 21st Century Christian’s list began with Baptist ties in 1796. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle LOUISVILLE, Ky. — What’s the oldest Church of Christ in America? It’s the Cedar Springs Church of Christ in Kentucky’s rural Fern Creek community, according to a national directory published by 21st Century Christian. In actuality, the answer is more complicated. Yes, the Louisville-area congregation’s … Continue reading The oldest Church of Christ in America? It’s complicated

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Christianity Today, Religion Unplugged

Sermons on hate still resonate 60 years after JFK’s assassination

By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged DALLAS — Less than a year before the U.S. presidential election, pastors took to their pulpits to decry a culture of hate, extremism and vile politics. “Much of the hate and discord that has been poisoning our nation has been preached in the name of Christ and the church,” the Rev. Charles V. Denman declared. In a different sanctuary, … Continue reading Sermons on hate still resonate 60 years after JFK’s assassination

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