Decade in review: Christian Chronicle’s 10 biggest stories of the 2010s

From racial reconciliation to declining membership, these headlines captured readers attention. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle What a decade! The 2010s saw the invention of the iPad, three more “Star Wars” movies (although I still haven’t seen the 1977 original) and my beloved Texas Rangers’ first-ever World Series appearances (spoiler alert: They didn’t win). Here at The Christian Chronicle, the last 10 years brought inspiring narratives from places such as Deadwood, S.D.; Wasilla, Alaska; Providence, … Continue reading Decade in review: Christian Chronicle’s 10 biggest stories of the 2010s

Ministry serves the poor in hard-hit steel town

Faith-based nonprofit in Ohio offers physical and spiritual support. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle LORAIN, Ohio — This struggling Rust Belt city of 64,000 souls can use a little hope. A ship-building company, an automotive plant and steel mills along Lake Erie — at the mouth of the Black River — once provided thousands of jobs for the community 30 miles west of … Continue reading Ministry serves the poor in hard-hit steel town

Despite ‘unthinkable’ grief, Christian couple has hope for the holidays

Oklahoma parents who lost a daughter — and then a son — work to help others. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle EDMOND, Okla. — Twelve days before Christmas, Allen and Jeanette Wiederstein celebrated the graduation of their 22-year-old grandson, Hunter, from Oklahoma Christian University. They thought about how proud his mother, April, would have been. The Wiedersteins lost their beloved daughter in 2003, exactly a month before … Continue reading Despite ‘unthinkable’ grief, Christian couple has hope for the holidays

Love in three languages

Christians in Ohio join together to praise God in English, Spanish and Twi dialect of Ghana. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle COLUMBUS, Ohio — The hymns were familiar, even if all the words were not. At an areawide assembly hosted by the Northland Church of Christ, Ghanaian immigrants full of joy sang “Yɛn Nyame Te Ase” — “Our God, He Is Alive” — in their native dialect of … Continue reading Love in three languages

Story behind the story: How a busy weekend turned into front-page news

The behind-the-scenes narrative of our deadline coverage of the memorial events for Jack Evans Sr. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle TERRELL, Texas — Over the weekend, and on deadline for our December print edition, I made a 42-hour trip to this town 30 miles east of Dallas.  My mission: to cover the memorial events for Jack Evans Sr., the trailblazing longtime president of Southwestern Christian … Continue reading Story behind the story: How a busy weekend turned into front-page news

‘A giant has fallen’

Life of Jack Evans Sr., influential preacher, crusade speaker and Christian college president, celebrated. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle TERRELL, Texas — Jack Evans Jr. rose from his seat on the front row of the Graham-Kennedy-Farmer Auditorium at Southwestern Christian College. Dressed in a black suit with a white shirt and tie, the oldest son of Jack Evans Sr. — one of the most influential … Continue reading ‘A giant has fallen’

‘I’m a dealer, but I don’t gamble’

Christians in Sin City differ on whether it’s sinful to wager on a game of chance. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle LAS VEGAS — I hit the jackpot on a recent Sunday. No, I didn’t win big money at the slot machines or blackjack tables. Since I don’t gamble, that would be impossible. But I did strike it rich in terms of how … Continue reading ‘I’m a dealer, but I don’t gamble’

From global justice champion to Christian university president

A Ugandan teenager imprisoned on false murder charges. An American law professor inspired to follow God’s calling. The story behind a life-changing meeting, an African nation’s reforms and Pepperdine’s surprising choice. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle MALIBU, Calif. — A few hours after Jim Gash’s inauguration this fall as Pepperdine University’s eighth president, his wife, Joline, showed up at her husband’s fourth-floor executive … Continue reading From global justice champion to Christian university president

Trust to distribute $35 million to Churches of Christ in Tennessee, Kentucky

Final court order deems non-instrumental congregations and related ministries as beneficiaries. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle A one-time traveling salesman born in small-town Kentucky before the start of the Civil War moved to Nashville, Tenn., in the early 20th century and started a successful apparel company. In its heyday, R.W. Comer’s Washington Manufacturing Co. — best known for its DeeCee work clothing — … Continue reading Trust to distribute $35 million to Churches of Christ in Tennessee, Kentucky