Culture wars turn classrooms into battlefields

To understand the wrangling over religion in public schools, consider these three questions. 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 — Before I got my start in religion reporting 25 years ago, I … Continue reading Culture wars turn classrooms into battlefields

Bobby Ross Jr. wins two first-place prizes in regional Diamond Journalism Awards

By Bobby Ross Jr. I was honored to receive two first-place prizes and be recognized as a finalist for Journalist of the Year in the 2024 Diamond Journalism Awards. The regional contest, sponsored by the Arkansas pro chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, celebrates journalistic excellence in Arkansas and six neighboring states. Winners were announced at an awards ceremony Wednesday night in Little Rock. … Continue reading Bobby Ross Jr. wins two first-place prizes in regional Diamond Journalism Awards

📰 He’s fired! No, he’s not! Behind the scenes of the week’s craziest religion story 🔌

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 News doesn’t happen on a 9-to-5 schedule. Particularly during the 24/7 era of social media, journalists find themselves on the clock pretty much all the time. That … Continue reading 📰 He’s fired! No, he’s not! Behind the scenes of the week’s craziest religion story 🔌

🇺🇸 We have to ask: Where does God Almighty stand on Biden vs. Trump? 🔌

Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” meets readers at the intersection of faith and news. Subscribe now to get this column delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com. By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged America’s presidential candidates keep invoking God Almighty. President Joe Biden, 81, did so two weeks ago when — fresh off the worst debate performance in U.S. presidential history — he was … Continue reading 🇺🇸 We have to ask: Where does God Almighty stand on Biden vs. Trump? 🔌

✏️ Teaching the gospel during public school hours? It’s totally constitutional 🔌

Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” meets readers at the intersection of faith and news. Subscribe now to get this column delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com. By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged GREENVILLE, S.C. — Jeffery L. Williams found Jesus through his public middle school. Now the pastor of Golden View Baptist Church in Fountain Inn, South Carolina, Williams grew up in … Continue reading ✏️ Teaching the gospel during public school hours? It’s totally constitutional 🔌

❤️ 60th anniversary tribute: 2 people fell in love and share a legacy of faith 🔌

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 PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — Just three days after she turned 17, the bride wore a simple white gown that her mother made. She was so nervous that she gashed … Continue reading ❤️ 60th anniversary tribute: 2 people fell in love and share a legacy of faith 🔌

🤖 High-tech translator: AI helps missionaries share faith in more languages 🔌

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 Christian missionary Leslie Taylor preaches in English and Japanese each Sunday at a bilingual church in the Tokyo area. A military brat who spent time as a … Continue reading 🤖 High-tech translator: AI helps missionaries share faith in more languages 🔌

⛪︎ 5 takeaways from Indy: Putting the SBC’s annual meeting into perspective 🔌

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 I’m no expert on the Southern Baptist Convention, but I’ve followed it — as a journalist focused on religion news — for nearly a quarter century. I covered my first … Continue reading ⛪︎ 5 takeaways from Indy: Putting the SBC’s annual meeting into perspective 🔌

🙏 Slain missionaries mourned: Praying ‘God will make a way’ in Haiti 🔌

Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” meets readers at the intersection of faith and news. Subscribe now to get this column delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com. By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged I can still see the joy on the faces of the Haitian people. I traveled to the poor Caribbean nation in 2018 to report on Healing Hands International, a … Continue reading 🙏 Slain missionaries mourned: Praying ‘God will make a way’ in Haiti 🔌