🐘 Defining the Iowa evangelicals who support Trump: Is going to church a requirement? 🔌

Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” features analysis, fact checking and top headlines from the world of faith. Subscribe now to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com. By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged 2024 voting starts: What will happen Monday in the presidential campaign’s first formal test at the ballot box? “Donald Trump … Continue reading 🐘 Defining the Iowa evangelicals who support Trump: Is going to church a requirement? 🔌

🎊 Happy New Year: What will be the big religion stories in 2024? 🔌

Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” features analysis, fact checking and top headlines from the world of faith. Subscribe now to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com. By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged Good morning, Weekend Plug-in readers! Today’s edition marks the launch of Plug-in’s fifth year. If you enjoy it, please encourage … Continue reading 🎊 Happy New Year: What will be the big religion stories in 2024? 🔌

From MLB faith nights to refugee ministries, my Top 10 stories of 2023

By Bobby Ross Jr. I love what I do. I get paid to travel and tell interesting stories. 2023 marked my 34th year in full-time journalism, and I thank God for allowing me to live my dream. This year, I was blessed to report from a dozen states and four countries, including Cuba and Mexico. My stories from Australia and Vanuatu will publish early next year. Related: … Continue reading From MLB faith nights to refugee ministries, my Top 10 stories of 2023

🏆 Weekend Plug-In year in review: The best religion journalism of 2023 🔌

By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged Good morning, Weekend Plug-in readers! For today’s special year-end edition, I asked some of the nation’s top religion journalists to share their favorite or most important story they produced during 2023. It’s a holiday week, so I didn’t catch up with everybody. But once again this year, I sure appreciate my Godbeat colleagues who responded — more than 60 … Continue reading 🏆 Weekend Plug-In year in review: The best religion journalism of 2023 🔌

🗳️ Ballots are in: Check out the Top 10 religion stories of 2023 🔌

Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” features analysis, fact checking and top headlines from the world of faith. Subscribe now to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com. By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged Top 10 stories — times two: The Religion News Association used to do one Top 10 list. Now, it splits the … Continue reading 🗳️ Ballots are in: Check out the Top 10 religion stories of 2023 🔌

Sermons on hate still resonate 60 years after JFK’s assassination

By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged DALLAS — Less than a year before the U.S. presidential election, pastors took to their pulpits to decry a culture of hate, extremism and vile politics. “Much of the hate and discord that has been poisoning our nation has been preached in the name of Christ and the church,” the Rev. Charles V. Denman declared. In a different sanctuary, … Continue reading Sermons on hate still resonate 60 years after JFK’s assassination

🇮🇱 Israel-Hamas war: The crucial role of religion in the deadly conflict 🔌

By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged Good morning, Weekend Plug-in readers! Did you miss me? I traveled to Cuba on a reporting trip. Given my limited internet access while away, Plug-in took last week off. That means this is our first edition since the Israel-Hamas war started. What an overwhelming story with countless religious angles. But I’ll do my best to catch you — and me — up. The … Continue reading 🇮🇱 Israel-Hamas war: The crucial role of religion in the deadly conflict 🔌

Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists honors Bobby Ross Jr. with eight awards

By Bobby Ross Jr. OKLAHOMA CITY — I’ve been blessed to receive a number of awards from the Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists over the last 30 years. In 2021, I was surprised to win the first-place prize for best reporter. This week, I earned eight awards in the 2023 contest, for content published last year: • First place for outstanding profile: “Amid crises, rural roots anchor Southern Baptists’ president” … Continue reading Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists honors Bobby Ross Jr. with eight awards

🏈 Time to kneel again: Football coach who won Supreme Court prayer case returns 🔌

By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged NEW YORK — Live from New York, it’s … Friday morning. I’m filing this edition of Weekend Plug-in from my temporary, 38th-floor apartment in Midtown Manhattan. I’ve spent the week enjoying a mix of work and fun in Metropolis. As I type this, Pope Francis has arrived in Mongolia, “becoming the first pope to visit the vast country with … Continue reading 🏈 Time to kneel again: Football coach who won Supreme Court prayer case returns 🔌