Report: 10M Christians Face Deportation from U.S. under Trump Plan

 A new report by several Christian organizations warns that up to 10 million Christians could face deportation under proposed Trump administration policies -- raising concerns for families and churches across the U.S. -- the Christian Daily website reports today (April 2, 2025). 

"One Part of the Body: The Potential Impact of Deportations on   American Christian Families" is a  multi--agency report produced by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity, the National Asssociation of Evangelicals the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Migration and Refugee Services, and World Relief.

The report highlights that the Bible teaches that there is one body of Christ, which is "not made up of one part but of many" (Corinthians 12--13--14)and if one part suffers, every part suffers with it;" if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it" (verse 26). 

The authors note that immigrants that are "integral pats" if American churches, whether they have permanent legal status or not, are vulnerable to deportation. This puts millions of Christians at risk under President Donald Trump's pledge to carry out the largest deportation in history.

Survey: Most U.S.Christians Don't Believe in the Trinity

An overwhelming majority of American Christians reject the basic  Christian teaching of the Trinity, prompting new concerns that Americans are living without the influence of "the truths and life principles of God," the Christian Post website reports today (March 31, 2025).

The Cultural Research Center of Arizona Christian University released the latest installment of it American Worldview Inventory series which documents Americans' views on the Trinity. The research is based on responses collected from 2,100 adult sin January.

Overall, ,just 40%of respondents believe that God exists and affects people's lives. That figure rises to 53% among self--identified Christians, 60% among theologically--identified born--again Christians, and 100% among Integrated Disciples. The latter term refers to those who have a biblical worldview, while a majority of those surveyed (59%) believe in the existence of Jesus Christ, a significantly smaller share of adults (29%) believe int he Holy Spirit.

Slightly more than 1 in 10 respondents  (11%) believe in the Trinity, that the God of the Bible is "three distinct but inseparable and equal persons in one infinite Being."The peronsin the Trinity are God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. 

"These results are further evidence of the limited or lack of trust Americans have in the Bible, the limitations we place in the authority and influence of God, and over refusal to cooperate with God by living in harmony with His ways and purposes," said theologian George Barna in response to the survey results.

Pope Has Worst Health Crisis Ever; Returns to Vatican after Five-Week Hospital Stay

Pope Francis was released from Rome's Gemelli Hospital, where he has been battling double pneumonia for the past five weeks, returning to the Vatican on March 23, where he will continue his recovery, the USA Today website reports today (March 27, 2025). 

The pontiff left the hospital shortly after he made his first public appearance in weeks, waving to people and giving thumbs up from a balcony. 

Now, the attention in the Vatican is on how the 88--year--old pontiff will lead the Catholic Church following the worst health crises of his papacy. 

Francis' convalescence will take place in the Casa Santa Marta, designed as a guesthouse primarily for cardinals taking part in conclaves. It is this guesthouse that is the backdrop for much of "Conclave," the recent movie on the drama of a papal transition. 

On Sunday, March 23, Francis was discharged from the Gemelli Hospital and made his first public appearance since being admitted on Feb. 14. As he was wheeled out onto the hospital balcony, the pope looked happy to be heading home, giving a thumbs up to the crowd.  

Noticing God with Heart, Soul, Mind , and Strength

 Modern technology has become a "superpower," making the sensation of skill and semblance of progress almost effortless, the Crossmap website reports today (March 25, 2025). 

Personalized algorithms allow us to shed the seeming inconveniences of effort , connection, and patience that engage our human personhood.

Jay Yikim has welcomed Andy Crouch, renowned author, thought leader, and partner for theology and culture at Praxis. Crouch has written several influential books on faithful Christian living, including Culture Making. The Tech--Wise Family, Playing God, Strong and Weak, and most recently, The Life We're Looking For. 

In their conversation, Kim and Crouch explore the unique ways in which modern "personalized" technologies are malforming our loves, desires, and sense of personhood. 

They discuss the unprecedented  "superpower" that technology grants us to experience the illusion of power without the burden of effort. They draw a strong connection between our ever--shortening attention spans and our common struggle to experience God's presence meaningfully every day.Our growing absence of personal discipline, coupled with waning relational connection, is informing a covert belief that following Jesus should be easy and require little day--to--day effort. Informed by Scripture and Christian history, Kim and Crouch encourage us to embrace God's grace by committing to simple, time--tested spiritual practices that will open us up to the activity and presence of God over time. 

Lonely People Need to Find True Friendship in Christ

 A recent survey by Opinium of 10,000 UK adults revealed a sobering one in 10 people have no close friends, and three in 10 feel lonely almost all of the time, the Christian Today website reports today (March 23, 2025). 

God is love. When He created us, He imprinrted His image -- love -- within us. Just as a sunflower instinctively turns toward the sun, our souls naturally seek the source of life.

The problem? Instead of turning to God from whom we can receive true and complete love, we often seek fulfillment elsewhere. 

We chase counterfeit versions of love -- relationships based on convenience, status, beaurty, or wealth. And when these superficial connections crumble, the emptiness creeps back in, and the cycle of loneliness starts again. 

You know who can relate to this universal human experience of loneliness? Jesus. 

Betrayed by Judas, abandoned by His closest disciples, and left to face unimaginable suffering,Jesus knows the pain of rejection and isolation. 

Despite knowing He would be abandoned, Jesus showed unwavering love to the disciples till the very end. He humbled Himself , washing His disciples' feet, serving them with patience and grace . He didn't walk away when things got hard. Instead, He laid down His life -- because that's what true love looks like. 

Study: Half of Churches See Growth since COVID--19 Pandemic

 A recent study shows that around half of Protestant churches in the U.S. have experienced growth in worship service attendance since the end of the COVID--19 pandemic, the Christian Post website reports today (March 21, 2025). 

A report by Lifeway Research published March 18 found that 52% of surveyed Protestant congregations saw their worship attendance grow at least 4% over the past two years. 

The report also found that more growth was reported among Evangelical pastors than Mainline Protestant pastors , with 57% of Evangelical congregations reporting at least 4% growth versus 46% of Mainline congregations reporting the same. 

Additionally, 62% of Pentecostal congregations have seen at least 4% growth within the last two years, as well as 59% of Baptist congregations . By contrast, 43% of Methodist congregations and 37% of Lutheran congregations reported a growth of at least 4%. 

"Clearly, at least two years of attendance growth was aided by people returning to regular attendance after being away since the start  of the pandemic," said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, as quoted in the report.

Pope Looks to Christ at "Period of Trial"

 In his weekly Angelus address. Pope Francis gave praise to God as the one who never abandons us, even in times of severe trial, the Christian Today website reports today (March 19, 2025). 

The pope, who has been in Rome's Gemelli Hospital for over a month battling double pneumonia, said that he was facing a "period of trial" and noted that he was far from being the only person in the world faced with serious health issues. 

"Our bodies are weak, but even like this, nothing can prevent us from loving , praying, giving ourselves,  being shining signs of hope for one another in faith," he said. 

In his address, Pope Francis referred to the transfiguration of Christ, an event in which Christ shone with heavenly light while on a mountaintop with Peter and John, His disciples. While on the mountain, Jesus met with two figures from Israel's past, Moses and the prophet Elijah.

"Jesus immerses Himself in prayer and becomes radiant with light....In this way, Jesus shows  the disciples what is hidden behind the gestures. He performs in their midst: the light of His infinite love."

The pope called for His followers to "praise the Lord, who never abandons us and who, in times of sorrow, places people beside us who reflect a ray of His love."