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Religion News Association honors Bobby Ross Jr. with eighth Excellence in Religion Reporting Award

By Bobby Ross Jr. DECATUR, Ga. — I was honored to receive my eighth Excellence in Religion Reporting Award at the Religion News Association’s recent annual convention. I earned second place in the national contest for Excellence in Analysis and Explanatory Reporting. The prize recognized the Weekend Plug-in column I write each Friday for Religion Unplugged. My entry featured these three columns: 1. COVID miracle: … Continue reading Religion News Association honors Bobby Ross Jr. with eighth Excellence in Religion Reporting Award

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Thank you, Victor Glover

NASA astronaut — our brother in Christ — made us proud. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle Welcome home, Victor Glover! We know you must be tired, but you energized us. You and your Artemis II crewmates traveled 252,756 miles from Earth — a record for humanity. We won’t take a lot of your time. But as your brothers and sisters in Christ, we must thank you. … Continue reading Thank you, Victor Glover

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🎸 Country star Ella Langley: Brought up Baptist, saved (again) at Judgement House 🔌

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 Blame it all on my roots. I showed up in Godbeat boots. I love listening to country music. I love covering religion news. And hey, if the two occasionally overlap, that’s even better, right? Which leads … Continue reading 🎸 Country star Ella Langley: Brought up Baptist, saved (again) at Judgement House 🔌

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Christian astronaut Victor Glover pilots NASA’s first lunar mission in 53 years

By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle Two friends and brothers in Christ — Brent Hankins and Tracy Lamm — flew to Florida to witness the launch of humanity’s first lunar voyage in 53 years. Both had special reasons for doing so. Hankins serves as an elder of the Southeast Church of Christ in Friendswood, Texas, the congregation about 6 miles from NASA’s Space Center Houston that Artemis II pilot … Continue reading Christian astronaut Victor Glover pilots NASA’s first lunar mission in 53 years

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⚾️ Rituals, miracles, sacred days: New film delves into the religion of baseball 🔌

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 PHILADELPHIA — For me, heaven on earth is a ballpark. I love God, my family and the Texas Rangers — mostly in that order. I’m on a journey … Continue reading ⚾️ Rituals, miracles, sacred days: New film delves into the religion of baseball 🔌

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🌎 Godbeat globetrotting: 5 memorable moments in world religion reporting 🔌

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 MATANZAS, Cuba — I’m not a world traveler. I mean, I’m not a good world traveler. I pack too much. I’m a picky eater. Mostly, I prefer … Continue reading 🌎 Godbeat globetrotting: 5 memorable moments in world religion reporting 🔌

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No fuel? No food? Amid crisis in Cuba, there’s no shortage of faith

Christians travel by boat, bus, train — and even a cargo truck — to attend a national discipleship gathering. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle MATANZAS, Cuba — René Sánchez Blanco sailed eight hours on a ferry from the Isle of Youth to Cuba’s mainland and then spent five hours on buses. Mario and Yani Suárez waited three days in line at a bus station … Continue reading No fuel? No food? Amid crisis in Cuba, there’s no shortage of faith

🇨🇺 Feeding bodies and souls: Faith sustains Cuban farmer during time of crisis 🔌

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 LIMONAR, Cuba — It’s a tough time for Christian farmer Jorge Sánchez. A U.S. blockade on oil shipments to this Caribbean island nation has spurred Cuba’s deepening … Continue reading 🇨🇺 Feeding bodies and souls: Faith sustains Cuban farmer during time of crisis 🔌

‘Cuban people love the American people’

Minister urges U.S. church members to keep making mission trips to the Caribbean island. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle MATANZAS, Cuba — This might seem like a bad time for Americans to visit Cuba. Tony Fernandez thinks it’s the perfect time. The longtime minister for the Versalles Church of Christ — a growing congregation in this provincial capital in west-central Cuba — welcomed a U.S. mission team … Continue reading ‘Cuban people love the American people’