Blessings flow as Pearl of a church is saved: Funds raised to buy Hawaii church’s land from military. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle A Hawaiian honeymoon sounded perfect, so Neil and Carolyn Myers decided to fly for the first time. Taking off, they were a little apprehensive. “We just held hands and said, ‘Lord, you may be taking us, but we’re coming together,’” … Continue reading Blessings flow as Pearl of a church is saved
When you took in a stranger (reporting from Rochester, Minn.): Ministry that houses Mayo Clinic patients and their loved ones has cared for thousands. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle ROCHESTER, Minn. — Creaky stairs. Wooden floors. To Lee Jamieson Sr., the old house down the street from the Mayo Clinic feels like home. “It reminds me of my grandparents’ house,” said Jamieson, … Continue reading When you took in a stranger: Mayo Clinic ministry has housed thousands
Language of love spoken through FriendSpeak (reporting from Long Beach, Calif.): Hundreds of U.S. churches help internationally born neighbors improve their English skills by reading the Bible. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle LONG BEACH, Calif. — In this diverse Pacific Coast community, eavesdropping on your neighbor’s conversation can be a challenge. Hispanics and Asians comprise a majority of the 475,000 residents of … Continue reading Language of love spoken through FriendSpeak
Republican frontrunner’s personal background is an issue for some — but not all — going into Super Tuesday balloting. First Place, News Story, Associated Church Press First Place, Election Reporting, Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle OKLAHOMA CITY — To Ethan Garrett, a presidential candidate’s integrity and personal values matter. As Garrett sees it, Republican frontrunner Donald Trump lacks those … Continue reading In the GOP primaries, do politics Trump values and character?
National survey highlights political affiliations of major U.S. religious groups. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle Seventy percent of Mormons and 64 percent of Southern Baptists lean toward or identify with the Republican Party — but only 50 percent of members of Churches of Christ do, the Pew Research Center reported this week. Those findings surprised Stephen Morris, a law and political studies … Continue reading Elephant in the pews: Is the GOP the party of Churches of Christ?
Heading into crucial Super Tuesday voting, barbs and insults dominate the Republican campaign. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle OKLAHOMA CITY — In our younger years, my brother, Scott, and I loved watching professional wrestling. When our dad preached for a small Church of Christ in North Carolina in the late 1970s, we tuned into Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling every Saturday. We didn’t enjoy the … Continue reading GOP presidential politics, professional wrestling style
With residents angry and frustrated over lead contamination, Christians work to meet physical and spiritual needs. Third Place, News Story, Associated Church Press By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle FLINT, Mich. — “Father, we know the water saves us,” North Central Church of Christ member Robert McDaniel prayed on a recent Sunday. The living water of Jesus Christ washes away sins, McDaniel declared … Continue reading Thirsty souls: Churches help victims of Flint water crisis
Sierra Shields’ loved ones keep praying, sharing her story (reporting from Rochester Hills, Mich.): Disappearance of 2009 Rochester College graduate remains a mystery. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. — “Our sweet Sierra, come home.” That’s the message on the whiteboard outside Chris Shields II’s office at Rochester College on a recent weekday morning. The 34-year-old father of three … Continue reading Sierra Shields’ loved ones keep praying, sharing her story
Preach it, Teech (reporting from Santa Ana, Calif.): For California minister, rap music is a way to reach a new generation. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle SANTA ANA, Calif. — As Jason “Teech” Darden grabs a microphone, loud music pulsates. The audience — a group of urban students invited to a Saturday mentoring event — cheers as Darden begins to rap. “Turn it … Continue reading Preach it, Teech: Minister mixes God, hip-hop
Faith. Family. Fastballs. 