A minister transition can be difficult. An Oregon congregation seeks to make it work. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle CORVALLIS, Ore. — After 38 years of ministry with the Circle Church of Christ, Gregg Strawn sprinkled bits of humor, warning and reflection into his final sermon. Sporting a tie that belonged to his late father — a former elder of this 150-member congregation in the … Continue reading ‘I don’t want to be the sacrificial lamb’
By Bobby Ross Jr. LAS VEGAS — The Religion News Association presented the 2019 Awards for Religion Reporting Excellence at its annual convention this past weekend. I was honored to receive third place for reporting at magazines and non-daily newspapers. Emma Green of The Atlantic won first place, while Tiffany Stanley of the Washington Post Magazine earned second place. My entry portfolio included these three … Continue reading Bobby Ross Jr. wins RNA Award for Religion Reporting Excellence
By Bobby Ross Jr. | GetReligion
If you follow college football, you probably know that Oklahoma opened with an impressive win Sunday night, highlighted by 508 yards of total offense by Alabama transfer quarterback Jalen Hurts.
One game into the season (a small sample size, no doubt), it even seems possible that a different Sooners QB could claim the Heisman Trophy for the third straight year.
To which I say: Boomer Sooner!
Here in Oklahoma, The Oklahoman offered readers a special treat on the front page Sunday: a smart news-feature by longtime sports columnist Jenni Carlson on the Sooners playing on what many consider the Lord’s Day. (FYI: Carlson recently celebrated 20 years with the newspaper, which sparked a tribute column by colleague Berry Tramel.)
I loved the headline, which captures the storyline perfectly:
Continue reading “Touchdown! Oklahoman scores with feature on Sooners game combining two faiths”
Country star baptized in a Church of Christ reflects on his spiritual highs and soul-wrenching lows. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle And it was down with the old man, up with the new. Raised to walk in the way of light and truth. I didn’t see no angels, just a few saints on the shore. But I felt like a newborn baby, … Continue reading In new memoir, Randy Travis goes ‘diggin’ up bones’
Faith-based program ties opportunities to behavior. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle PORTALES, N.M. — Biatriz Larez knows what it’s like to struggle to feed her family. A few years ago, the single mother and her three young children made do in a crumbling, two-bedroom mobile home. She worked an hourly, low-wage job as a custodian. “It was paycheck-to-paycheck living,” said Larez, who was born … Continue reading In New Mexico town, single parents get free rent, benefits — if they’ll go to church
22 white balloons, ‘Amazing Grace’ and a little hope. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle For Monica Moreno, the first news of the El Paso, Texas, massacre came via social media. A glance at Snapchat drew her attention to a relative’s post warning of an active shooter at a Walmart in Moreno’s hometown. By the time the rampage ended that Saturday, 22 people … Continue reading After El Paso massacre, one Mexican-American grandmother turns to God for answers and comfort
Organizers eye a single-day meal assembly record, as 1,200 racially diverse volunteers serve at the nation’s largest food bank. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle HOUSTON — A sea of blue washed over America’s largest food bank this past weekend. That was the color of matching T-shirts worn by 1,200 Christians and their friends who showed up Saturday for “Mission Day 2019” — an effort by … Continue reading Houston-area Churches of Christ unite to feed the hungry
By Bobby Ross Jr. | GetReligion
Los Angeles Times national correspondent David Montero’s front-page feature on the parents of an El Paso, Texas, shooting victim is not perfect.
But it’s pretty darn close.
It just might be — in terms of the mixture of storytelling prowess and attention to faith details — the best religion story you’ll read all year.
However, be sure to grab a tissue before clicking the link and becoming engrossed in the narrative. Trust me on that.
Continue reading “From El Paso, a heart-wrenching religion story that might be the best all year”
By Kelly McBride|Poynter Institute Bobby Ross Jr. is a veteran religion reporter and a man of faith. He edits The Christian Chronicle, an independent news organization serving the Church of Christ community. It was surprising, then, when Ross took to Twitter last week to call out a Fox News reporter. The cable TV network “aggregated” (Ross will say “stole”) one of his best stories without doing its … Continue reading This journalist got a big scoop, only to watch Fox News steal his reporting — and his traffic
Faith. Family. Fastballs. 