Author: Bobby Ross Jr.

Bobby Ross Jr. is an award-winning journalist who has reported from all 50 states and 20 countries.
Christian Chronicle, The Ross News

Bobby Ross Jr. honored with eight ACP ‘Best of the Church Press’ awards for 2018

By Bobby Ross Jr. CHICAGO — I was blessed to receive eight honors — including first place in three categories — in the Associated Church Press “Best of the Church Press” contest. The awards, presented at the ACP’s annual awards banquet April 11, recognized content produced in 2018. In all, The Christian Chronicle received 15 awards. In case my mother is reading, here is a … Continue reading Bobby Ross Jr. honored with eight ACP ‘Best of the Church Press’ awards for 2018

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Christian Chronicle, The Ross News

Bobby Ross Jr.’s profile of disaster relief truck driver wins first in two national contests

By Bobby Ross Jr. OKLAHOMA CITY — After Hurricane Michael last year, I rode along with a disaster relief truck driver taking emergency supplies from Nashville, Tenn., to hard-hit Panama City, Fla. My “18 wheels and a heart to serve” piece earned a first-place award for personality article at the Evangelical Press Association’s annual convention this week. (UPDATE: The same story won first place for … Continue reading Bobby Ross Jr.’s profile of disaster relief truck driver wins first in two national contests

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Religion Unplugged

Meet the real-life pastor portrayed in the Easter film ‘Breakthrough’

The faith-based film, starring Chrissy Metz of ‘This Is Us’ fame, opens nationwide April 17. It’s the story of a teen who slips into an icy lake and has no pulse — until his mother prays. By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion Unplugged OKLAHOMA CITY — Four years ago, Jason Noble was an unknown pastor for an Assemblies of God church in the St. … Continue reading Meet the real-life pastor portrayed in the Easter film ‘Breakthrough’

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Religion Unplugged

President of Religion News Association wins Pulitzer for Tree of Life coverage

By Bobby Ross Jr. | GetReligion

One of my favorite religion writers just won a Pulitzer Prize, the most prestigious award in journalism.

Mega-congrats to Peter Smith of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette!

The Post-Gazette staff — including Smith, president of the Religion News Association — earned the Pulitzer for Breaking News Reporting.

That paper was cited for “immersive, compassionate coverage of the massacre at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue that captured the anguish and resilience of a community thrust into grief.”

I liked what David Shribman, the Post-Gazette’s executive editor and vice president, told his newsroom: “There isn’t one of us in this room who wouldn’t exchange the Pulitzer Prize for those 11 lives.”

Read the full column.

Continue reading “President of Religion News Association wins Pulitzer for Tree of Life coverage”
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Christian Chronicle, Religion News Service

Stunning reversal: Judge vacates former youth minister’s sex convictions

Charges against Clyde E. Brothers Jr. fell outside Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations, new ruling asserts. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle A highly publicized Pennsylvania grand jury report last year identified more than 300 predator Catholic priests who had sexually abused more than 1,000 children going back decades. But because the crimes were hidden by the church hierarchy, “almost every instance of abuse … Continue reading Stunning reversal: Judge vacates former youth minister’s sex convictions

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Christianity Today

When churches neglect payroll taxes

Experts say this is an all-too-common problem—and one church leaders cannot ignore. By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Church Finance Today For about five years, a financial secretary for a 200-member church quit sending payroll tax money to the Internal Revenue Service. Instead, she pocketed the funds. When the IRS came knocking on the church’s door, it owed about $350,000, including penalties and interest, recalled Frank … Continue reading When churches neglect payroll taxes

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The Ross News

My trip to Israel with American Jewish Committee’s Project Interchange

I traveled to Israel last week with a delegation of 13 U.S. religion journalists.I received a fellowship through the American Jewish Committee’s Project Interchange. That program aims to enhance participants’ understanding of the Middle East and provoke thought on tough questions. For me, it certainly did. I’ll be writing more about what I learned. For now, here are a few social media posts that offer … Continue reading My trip to Israel with American Jewish Committee’s Project Interchange

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Christian Chronicle, Religion News Service

In-depth exclusive: A perpetrator in the pews

Former youth minister’s presence at worship stirs discord in Pennsylvania congregation. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle UNIONTOWN, Pa. — After a longtime youth minister’s recent conviction on corruption of minors and indecent exposure charges, a judge in this western Pennsylvania community did what the Uniontown Church of Christ’s elders refused to do. The judge told Clyde E. Brothers Jr. to stay away from … Continue reading In-depth exclusive: A perpetrator in the pews

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Christian Chronicle

‘Tell somebody. Don’t keep quiet.’

Daughter of a convicted pedophile preacher urges people of faith to speak out when they suspect abuse. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle SOMERSET, Pa. — For so long, no one knew Alex Howlett’s name. In 2011, she confided in her brother Jimmy Hinton that the man he followed into ministry — their father — molested her when she was young. But when the case made headlines, the … Continue reading ‘Tell somebody. Don’t keep quiet.’

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