The slaughter of Christians continued in Plateau State, Nigeria on May 8, as Fulani herdsmen killed 13 Christians in Bassa County, the Christian Daily website reports today (MAY 11, 2026).
Muslim Fulani gunmen killed the Christians in a pre-dawn attack on Ngbra Zongo community in Kwall District, said Joseph Chudu, Yonkpa spokesperson of area Mango communities in a statement issued in Jor.
"The attack has left dozens of other Christians injured, and hundreds of others displaced,"Yonkpa said.
A new global study by Pew Research Center shows that Catholicism has experienced net losses through religious switching in nearly every country surveyed, while Protestantism has recorded gains in several regions, the Christian Daily website reports today (May 3, 2026).
The analysis, released as part of Pew's Global Religious Futures project with a different religion than the one in which they were raised.
The report found that more people left Catholicism than joined it in 21 of the 24 countries surveyed. Hungary was the only country where converts into Catholicism outnumbered those leaving the church.
Pew defines "religious switching" as a change between the religion.
Multiple recent reports confirm a major surge of converts entering Greek and other Eastern Orthodox parishes across the U.S., with some churches overflowing and clergy struggling to keep up, the Greek up, the Greek Reporter website reports today (April 25, 2026).
Across the U.S., Orthodox parishes -- including many Greek Orrthodox communities == are experiencing record numbers of inquirers, catechumers, and converts. Several independent news utlets describe this as a "flood," "surge," or "unprecedented shift"in Ameerican Orthodoxy.
Clergy report more prospective converts then they can handle, with some parishes doubling or tripling in size since the pandemic.
In Colorado Springs, Holy Theophany Orfthodox Church had to launch a second parish because crowds were spilling outside every Sunday. A third parish is already being discussed.
While the surge spans all Orthodox jurisdictions, Greek Orthodox parishes are central to the trend. St. Sophia Cathedral in Los Angeles is highlighted repeatedly as a hub of new converts.
Most people think of prayer as something spiritual , but prayer can affect the body also, the Crossmap website reports today (April 22,2026).
One of the biggest changes involves cortisol, the body's stress hormones.When stress stays high for a long time, cortisol levels can stay high too, This cam lead to poor sleep, anxiety, fatigue, higher blood pressure and s weaker immune system.
Studies have found that people who pray regularly often have lower cortisol levels during stressful situations. They also tend to feel calmer, more stable, and emotionally stronger.
Prayer can also calm the body's "fight or flight" response. When we are stressesd, our breathing becomes faster, our heart beats harder, and our muscles tighten. Quiet prayer can help slow those reactions down. Breathing becomes more steady,heart rate slows,and the body begins to relax.
A 2024 study found that prayer combined with slow breathing may lower stredd hormones and help the bodyr relax. Researchers said slow, steady prayer may activate the parasympathic nervous system, which helps the body rest and recover.
Prayer centered on God's love,peace, protection,gratitude, and trust often brings a deeper sense of comfort and healing.
A newly released national study by the American Bible Society finds that while Bible reading and engagement in the U.S. have declined from last year's levels, openness to the Bible has grown significantly, with 9 million more Americans expressing interest in its message since 2024, the Christian Daily website reports today (April 20, 2026).
The findings come from the first chapter of the organization's 2026 State of the Bible report, published April 9, which analyzes Americans' attitudes toward Scripture,faith practices, and church involvement. The report shows that 28% of U.S. adults now fall into what researchers call the "Movable Middle" -- those who are curious about the Bible but not deeply engaged -- marking a notable increase over the past two years.
The proportion of Americans considered "Scripture Engaged" has returned to about 17%, similar to levels recorded two years ago.
For 0ver 50 years, the mission of the Trinity Broadcasting Network has remained unchanged:To use available means to reach as many inividuals and families as possible with the life--changing Gospel of Christ, the Crossmap website reports today (April 18, 2026).
Launched in 1973 by the Christian television pioneers Paul and Jan Crouch, TBN began as one low--power television station broadcasting a few hours of Christian programming each day to viewers throughout the Los Angeles area. In the years since, TBN has grown into a family of over thirty twenty-- four hour global network reaching every inhabited continent with entertaining inspirational and life--changing programming to family member and demographic' TBN began as a dream to build a Christian television network for the whole world.Today that dream is reality and still expanding.
Orthodox Easter occurred on April 12, 2026 -- one week after Western Easter on April5 5-- due to the Eastern Orthodox Church's continued use of the Julian Calendar to calculate Easter, while the Catholic and Protestant Churhes use the Gregorian Calendar.. Orthodox Christians also maintain that Easter must fall after the Jewish Passover.
Across Orthodox Churches worldwide -- from Greece, Russia, Egypt,Ethiopia, Romania, and diaspora communities -- the celebration began late on Holy Saturday, April 11, 2026.
Churches were completely darkened as the faithful gathered in silence.
Just before midnight, the priest lights a single candle, symbolizing Christ's rising from the tomb.
The flame is passed from person to person until the entire church glows with candlelight.
At midnight , the priest proclaims: "Christos Anesti." (Christ is risen) and the people respond :"Alithos Anesti." (Truly He is risen).
The Paschal Divine Liturgy follows with many parishes communing all Orthodox Christians present.
This moment -- darkness shattered by light -- is the heart of Orthodox Pascha.
