Holy imagination: Churches seek to reverse decline

Southern California seminars tackle ‘The Challenge of the Empty Church.’ By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle MISSION VIEJO, CALIF. — Spiritual earthquake, meet holy imagination. That’s one way to characterize the cultural and societal forces that brought together about 140 leaders representing 40-plus Churches of Christ on a recent weekend. From Orange County to the Inland Empire, ministers, elders and other concerned Christians flocked to back-to-back seminars … Continue reading Holy imagination: Churches seek to reverse decline

Top 24 of 2024: Bobby Ross Jr.’s best stories of the year

By Bobby Ross Jr. OKLAHOMA CITY — I love what I do. I get paid to travel and tell newsworthy stories. 2024 marked my 35th year in full-time journalism, and I thank God for allowing me to live my dream. A major career highlight: In April, I was honored to receive the Religion News Association’s Supple Award for Feature Writing at its 75th anniversary convention in … Continue reading Top 24 of 2024: Bobby Ross Jr.’s best stories of the year

A little farm, a giant legacy

An ordinary Christian couple made an extraordinary difference. A new memorial pays tribute. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle BELLVUE, Colo. — A blind farmer. A motorcycle-riding nurse. The story of the late Bob and Helen Bland is as ordinary as it is extraordinary, right down to their last name. Yet on a blue-sky Sunday afternoon, a crowd of friends, family and fellow Christians gathered … Continue reading A little farm, a giant legacy

✈️ Planes, trains and automobiles (and even motorcycles): The road to religion news 🔌

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 — I’ve helicoptered across Israel and cruised past “Moose Crossing” signs on an Alaskan highway. Jetlagged, I’ve dozed on a passenger train from the Netherlands … Continue reading ✈️ Planes, trains and automobiles (and even motorcycles): The road to religion news 🔌

‘God has placed us together for a purpose’

Two New England churches with common roots become one body. SEABROOK, N.H. — A white poster board decorated with four red hearts  greeted worshipers at the Seabrook Church of Christ on a recent Sunday. “Welcome Brothers & Sisters From Kittery Church of Christ,” declared the handwritten sign near the front entrance. The simple message reflected a new beginning for the two coastal New England congregations — one in New Hampshire, … Continue reading ‘God has placed us together for a purpose’

Don’t skip the Pleasant-ries

A Saturday afternoon at Michigan Stadium was thrilling, but time spent with a coaching legend was even better. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle ANN ARBOR, Mich. — When a legend invites you to the Big House, you go. That’s how I ended up among 110,250 fans at Michigan Stadium — the largest stadium in the United States — for last Saturday’s football game between the defending … Continue reading Don’t skip the Pleasant-ries

Meet the suddenly most quotable minister in Minnesota

Ethan Bilbrey’s name keeps showing up in stories. But why? By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle RICHFIELD, Minn. — Nebraska. Tennessee. Minnesota. I keep running into Ethan Bilbrey … and I keep quoting him in The Christian Chronicle. The funny thing is, I had never met him — or even heard of him — until three months ago. Scott Laird, a longtime Montana minister who serves … Continue reading Meet the suddenly most quotable minister in Minnesota

🙏 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 🔌

Hitting the Target (Field): My Minnesota trip and new MLB ballpark rankings

By Bobby Ross Jr. MINNEAPOLIS — I checked Target Field off my bucket list over the weekend. I’ve now experienced MLB games at 22 current ballparks (and 27 overall). I’ll rank my favorites below. On a reporting trip to Minnesota, I saw my beloved Texas Rangers (the defending World Series champions!) play the Twins on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. As happened last year when I … Continue reading Hitting the Target (Field): My Minnesota trip and new MLB ballpark rankings