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📣 Remembering the Rev. Jesse Jackson: His life in quotes 🔌

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 — Like so many of my journalism colleagues, I crossed paths with the Rev. Jesse Jackson. My main reporting on the civil rights icon — … Continue reading 📣 Remembering the Rev. Jesse Jackson: His life in quotes 🔌

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‘We lost our mission’

Churches must revive passion for winning souls, Arkansas conference declares. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The vision for ReMission started small. Eager to lead souls to Jesus and refocus Christians’ hearts and minds on that mission, a group of preacher friends decided to gather. “It was just going to be a few guys together, and then more people heard about it: ‘Well, … Continue reading ‘We lost our mission’

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The road to ReMission

Drive to Arkansas conference affords time for snacks, trivia and dialogue on Christian unity. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Jeremie Beller is my designated driver. No, I don’t drink. But when we travel to events such as the recent ReMission conference, my friend always volunteers to take his truck. It’s a nice, sturdy pickup — a white 2017 Chevrolet Silverado with 175,000 miles on it. Still, … Continue reading The road to ReMission

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Minnesota churches pray for peace after fatal ICE shootings

Deaths in immigration crackdown exacerbate tensions and spark widespread debate. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle Patrick Doherty’s wife, Corinne, texted him with the news Friday: Agents with ICE — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — had converged on the family’s suburban Minnesota neighborhood. Doherty preaches for the Woodbury Church of Christ in a growing community east of St. Paul. “The street we live on is … Continue reading Minnesota churches pray for peace after fatal ICE shootings

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The power of Marshall Keeble’s brown paper lunch sack

A new exhibit honors the renowned evangelist, who ‘touched tens of thousands of lives.’ By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle NASHVILLE, Tenn. — For Marshall Keeble, traveling all over the South — and beyond — to preach during the Jim Crow era of racial segregation brought challenges. For one, the renowned evangelist needed to make sure he had food and water to sustain him at a time of Whites-only public … Continue reading The power of Marshall Keeble’s brown paper lunch sack

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2025 year in review: Bobby Ross Jr.’s most memorable stories and columns

By Bobby Ross Jr. OKLAHOMA CITY — In 2025, I celebrated my 35th anniversary in full-time journalism. The best part: I still love what I do. I serve as editor-in-chief of The Christian Chronicle and write the Weekend Plug-in column for Religion Unplugged. Besides my regular work, I freelanced in 2025 for The Associated Press and the Washington Post. This fall I flew 5,000 miles to … Continue reading 2025 year in review: Bobby Ross Jr.’s most memorable stories and columns

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🍿 Question of ‘Eternity’: Which heaven is right for me? 🔌

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 You die and go to … well, it’s complicated. You wake up on a train. At the station, you follow the crowd. You connect with your afterlife … Continue reading 🍿 Question of ‘Eternity’: Which heaven is right for me? 🔌

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A dream for Christian higher education in Europe

Jerry and Zoobi Jones have big plans for an old convent school in France. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle LA CHAPELLE AU RIBOUL, France — When nuns listed a vacant Catholic girls’ school for sale in this sleepy French village in 2017, American Jerry Jones saw an opportunity to expand Christian influence and higher education in Europe. But his British wife, Zoobi Jones, gave … Continue reading A dream for Christian higher education in Europe

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Roadblocks and roller bags

Behind the scenes of a memorable reporting trip to France. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle CHARTRES, France — It’s 4:45 a.m. It’s still dark outside in this medieval French city, famous for its Gothic cathedral. In fact, I’m exploring the sidewalks around the cathedral right now. As I do so, I’m rolling a 50-pound suitcase and toting a lighter computer bag. Faith in France: Read all the … Continue reading Roadblocks and roller bags