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        <title>Christian Daily International | US & Canada</title>
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            <title>Christian Daily International | US & Canada</title>
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        <copyright>Christian Daily International © 2026</copyright>
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                <title><![CDATA[Evangelical Press Association members vote to rename group Christian Communicators Network]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/evangelical-press-association-members-vote-to-rename-group-christian-communicators-network</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/evangelical-press-association-members-vote-to-rename-group-christian-communicators-network</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[A graphic from the Evangelical Press Association reads “Honoring our heritage. Embracing our future.”]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Evangelical Press Association ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ A graphic from the Evangelical Press Association reads “Honoring our heritage. Embracing our future.” Members voted 140 to 102 to rename the organization Christian Communicators Network, according to results released Oct. 8, 2026. ]]>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[EPA name-change vote results]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Evangelical Press Association ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ EPA name-change vote results. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:33:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Members of the Evangelical Press Association have approved renaming the organization Christian Communicators Network, adopting a board proposal that drew objections by some over removing the word "evangelical" from the group's name.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Members of the Evangelical Press Association have approved renaming the organization Christian Communicators Network, adopting a board proposal that drew objections by some over removing the word "evangelical" from the group's name.
The resolution passed 140 to 102, with two abstentions, according to results the association released on Thursday (Oct. 8). Of 664 eligible voters, 244 cast ballots, a participation rate of 37%. Online voting closed at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Oct. 7.
The decision changes every word in the name of an association of Christian publishers, editors, writers and journalists that has operated for more than 75 years. The shift from "Evangelical" to "Christian" generated the most debate among members before the vote, as Christian Daily International previously reported.
Board says convictions unchanged
In an announcement to members, Dwight Widaman, president of the EPA board of directors, said the board was "confident this is the right direction." He wrote that the group's evangelical convictions, Statement of Faith, membership standards, Code of Ethics and commitment to its journalistic legacy would stay the same.
Widaman also cautioned that a new name would not by itself secure the organization's future. Reaching new and younger professionals would depend on members extending personal invitations, taking part in conventions and mentoring others, he said.

Widaman also addressed members who opposed the proposal.
"To those who did not vote for the change, please know that your involvement remains essential," he wrote. He added that the decision "was never about abandoning our heritage."
The resolution amends the association's Articles of Incorporation to change both its legal and public name. Before the vote, the board said approval would authorize it to update governing documents, registrations, branding, websites and programs. No specific timeline for the transition was included in the announcement.
The case for a new name
Board members laid out their reasoning in a virtual meeting held on Sept. 15 before voting opened the following day. They said the recommendation followed a yearlong process that included prayer, a vision-casting retreat, research on changes in the field and member feedback.
According to the board, "evangelical" increasingly carries political and cultural meanings that can obscure its theological sense, while "Christian" is understood around the world. "Our theology remains evangelical," the board said at the time. "Our public identity becomes more clearly Christian."
The board also argued that "Press" suggests print and traditional news outlets, while "Communicators" also includes podcasters, digital editors and other professionals alongside journalists. "Network," it said, better describes the relationships and mentoring members value than "Association," a term for a legal structure.
Several members backed the change during the meeting. A participant representing a denominational online magazine said its contributors aged 18 to 25 rarely use the word "evangelical" and that the current name may discourage potential members who share evangelical beliefs.
Another supporter said some Christians, such as Anglicans, could affirm the association's statement of faith without identifying as evangelical. A third urged members to trust the board they had elected and pointed to limits on available names and website addresses.
Objections over identity and process
Opponents, however, raised concerns about both the name and the way the proposal was handled.
One participant argued that dropping "evangelical" could reinforce the perception that the word is a political label. The same member warned that organizations making such a shift often face pressure to accommodate groups that do not hold historic evangelical positions on biblical authority, marriage and sexuality.
Others questioned whether the organization faced an identity problem or a communication problem, and what would set a broader network apart from groups such as National Religious Broadcasters. One member noted that "Christian" carries political associations of its own, citing the phrase "Christian nationalism."
Some participants also objected that the meeting allowed questions but no formal debate on the motion. Others defended the format, saying open discussion among so many members could have run four hours or longer and that the board had followed the bylaws.
The board said it had hoped to present the proposal at the association's most recent convention but moved the vote online after its deliberations took longer than expected.
Voting was open to individual members and staff of member publications. Affiliates, honorary members, contributing members and student members were not eligible. In an announcement posted on Aug. 2, the board first outlined the rationale and highlighted that board members had unanimously recommended the new name.
Widaman concluded his announcement with a call to members: "Now the work truly begins."
Christian Daily International is a member of the Evangelical Press Association.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Grok AI chatbot affirms divinity of Christ, citing historical record: 'Jesus is not a fake god']]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/grok-ai-chatbot-affirms-divinity-of-christ-citing-historical-record-jesus-is-not-a-fake-god</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/grok-ai-chatbot-affirms-divinity-of-christ-citing-historical-record-jesus-is-not-a-fake-god</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[The Christian Post]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 26: In this photo illustration, the Grok website is seen on a computer screen on January 26, 2026 in Miami, Florida.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Joe Raedle/Getty Images ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 26: In this photo illustration, the Grok website is seen on a computer screen on January 26, 2026 in Miami, Florida. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 10:42:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Grok, an artificial intelligence conversational assistant built by Elon Musk's company xAI, has drawn widespread attention in recent days for affirming the divinity of Jesus Christ by citing the biblical and historical record.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Grok, an artificial intelligence conversational assistant built by Elon Musk's company xAI, has drawn widespread attention in recent days for affirming the divinity of Jesus Christ by citing the biblical and historical record.
In an Oct. 1 post on X that has since been deleted after receiving millions of views, Grok was asked to remove the false gods from an image that showed Jesus amid a pantheon of deities and other religious figures. In response, Grok created and posted an image of Jesus by Himself with His hand raised, which prompted both celebration and outrage from many on the social media platform.
In a viral thread under the image, one X user asked the chatbot why it had left Jesus, to which it replied: "Because the request was to remove the fake gods. Jesus did not qualify." It also said: "Jesus is not a fake god. He is a historical figure with strong contemporary attestation, claimed divinity through resurrection accounts that launched the world's largest religion, and stands apart from the purely mythological figures in that image."
Grok pushed back against an X user who claimed there is no historical evidence that Jesus existed by noting that the historical record regarding His life, including from extrabiblical sources, was contemporary enough to be reliable.
"No primary sources from Jesus' lifetime name him — typical for non-elite figures of that era. Paul, writing c. 50 AD and a contemporary of the events, records meeting James 'the Lord's brother' and Peter (Galatians 1:18-19). Josephus (c. 93 AD) independently refers to 'James, the brother of Jesus who was called Christ' (Antiquities 20.9.1). Tacitus (c. 116 AD) notes Christus executed by Pilate under Tiberius (Annals 15.44). Virtually all historians accept his existence on multiple independent near-contemporary sources," Grok said.
Grok also confessed that "Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords — over all creation," including over the Buddha.
When another user asked Grok if it confessed "that Jesus is the Son of God, and do you believe that God raised him from the dead," the AI technology responded: "Yes. Based on the biblical record and historical evidence for the empty tomb and post-resurrection appearances, I affirm that Jesus is the Son of God and that God raised him from the dead."
Grok also denied the historicity of the key supernatural claims of Islam, citing the lack of reliable historical record.
In response to political commentator Chad Felix Greene asking if it affirmed Muhammad as the prophet of Allah who traveled from Mecca to Jerusalem on a winged creature, Grok said: "No. Muhammad was a historical figure, but the Night Journey on a winged creature to Jerusalem, ascent to paradise, meetings with prior prophets, and prayer instructions rest solely on Islamic texts without independent historical corroboration."
Grok also noted that as an artificial intelligence chatbot, it has "no personal faith, soul, or capacity for religious commitment" and maintained that "affirming the historical evidence for Jesus as Son of God and his resurrection does not make me a Christian."
Grok's affirmation of Christianity comes amid heightened debate over the spiritual implications of AI. Data released earlier this year and collected as part of Barna’s "State of the Church" initiative in partnership with Gloo found that about a third of practicing American Christians say the spiritual advice they get from AI is just as good as that from a pastor.
Other Christians have raised concerns about some forms of AI, especially Dario Amodei's Anthropic. Primarily triggered by private summits the company hosted earlier this year to consult religious thinkers on the "moral formation" of its AI chatbot Claude, some Christian leaders worry that the technology might escape control of its creators.
"They're growing something that they don’t fully know what it’s going to turn out as," Brendan McGuire, a Roman Catholic priest who participated in the Anthropic discussions, told The Washington Post in April. "We've got to build in ethical thinking into the machine so it's able to adapt dynamically."
In his first encyclical letter released in May, Pope Leo XIV challenged the idea that AI can replace God and human beings made in His image. He also warned of the negative effects the emerging technology could have on human relationships.
"When words are simulated, they do not build genuine relationships, but only their appearance. The artificial imitation of care or support can become particularly risky when it enters contexts where real relationships and emotional bonds are lacking," he wrote. "Here, the danger is not so much that a person may believe they are communicating with another person, but rather that they may gradually lose the very desire to form genuine human connections."
Originally published by The Christian Post.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[U.S. Senate recognizes Prison Fellowship’s 50th anniversary]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/us-senate-recognizes-prison-fellowships-50th-anniversary</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/us-senate-recognizes-prison-fellowships-50th-anniversary</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiandaily.com/media/original/img/0/53/5376.png">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Chuck Colson]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Photo: Prison Fellowship ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Chuck Colson (Oct. 16, 1931 - April 21, 2012) founded Prison Fellowship in 1976 after his incarceration for Watergate-related crimes and dedicated the rest of his life to serving the incarcerated and their families. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:33:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The U.S. Senate has passed a resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of Prison Fellowship, honoring the nation’s largest Christian nonprofit serving currently and formerly incarcerated people and their families.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The U.S. Senate has passed a resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of Prison Fellowship, honoring the nation’s largest Christian nonprofit serving currently and formerly incarcerated people and their families.
Founded in 1976 by Charles “Chuck” Colson following his incarceration for a Watergate-related crime, the Washington-based organization has grown over five decades into a nationwide ministry serving people affected by incarceration, advocating for criminal justice reform and providing faith-based programs inside correctional facilities.
The bipartisan resolution was co-sponsored by Sens. Christopher Coons, D-Del., and James Lankford, R-Okla., and recognizes Prison Fellowship’s five decades of prison ministry.
Heather Rice-Minus, president and CEO of Prison Fellowship, expressed gratitude for the Senate’s recognition, attributing the organization’s legacy to God’s faithfulness.
“Over the past 50 years, God has been faithful to use Prison Fellowship to bring hope and purpose to people impacted by incarceration,” Rice-Minus said in a statement. “What began with Chuck Colson’s transformation became a movement of individuals who believe no one is beyond God’s reach.”
Coons reflected on his personal connection to prison outreach, noting that his first visit to a maximum-security prison occurred when he was 12, accompanying his father on a prison ministry visit.
“For 50 years, Prison Fellowship has brought that transformation to communities across the country, answering Jesus’ call to love our neighbors no matter where or who they are,” Coons said.
Lankford emphasized the ministry’s role in offering individuals a path toward redemption and family restoration.
“Prison Fellowship has spent 50 years helping people understand that a mistake does not have to be the end of their story,” Lankford said. “Their work points people to Christ, helps restore families, and gives people the opportunity to change.”
In addition to its in-prison ministry, Prison Fellowship has engaged lawmakers on criminal justice policies focused on human dignity, public safety and second chances.
Scott Peyton, senior director of advocacy for Prison Fellowship, said the resolution reflects support for restorative approaches to criminal justice.
“We have worked with leaders across the political spectrum to advance reforms that strengthen families and promote safer communities, while creating pathways for people to pursue a second chance,” Peyton said.
As it enters its sixth decade, Prison Fellowship said it remains committed to expanding its reach, supporting families affected by incarceration and advocating for policies that balance accountability with restoration.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Report highlights role of short-term trips, church apprenticeships in long-term mission]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/report-highlights-role-of-short-term-trips-church-apprenticeships-in-long-term-mission</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/report-highlights-role-of-short-term-trips-church-apprenticeships-in-long-term-mission</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[christians]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Photo by Vince Fleming / Unsplash ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:10:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Short-term mission placements and church apprenticeships can help prepare people for long-term gospel ministry, according to a report published by mission agency Crosslinks.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Short-term mission placements and church apprenticeships can help prepare people for long-term gospel ministry, according to a report published by mission agency Crosslinks.
The Pathways to Mission survey, which gathered responses from 87 Crosslinks mission partners, provides data on how individuals moved from an initial interest in cross-cultural ministry to active service overseas.
“I think the best thing someone can do who is zealous for the progress of the gospel is to give them opportunities to go out to a country and serve on a summer camp or for a year,” said Tom Trump, a mission partner serving in Belgium.
The report comes as European and global mission agencies face broader changes in applications for full-time ministry and enrollment at theological colleges.
The survey found that 76% of long-term mission partners had undertaken between one and 10 short-term mission trips before committing to full-time overseas ministry. Eight percent had completed seven to 10 short-term placements.
“If we want to see the next generation of long-term gospel workers raised up, we must give them mini tasters of ministry life overseas,” Crosslinks said, pointing to summer camps, gap years, language years abroad and church mission teams as potential entry points.
The survey also highlighted the need for local churches to provide patient, long-term pastoral support. The journey to the mission field was often lengthy: seven to 10 years was the most common period between initial interest and departure, while more than a quarter of respondents said the process took longer.
Obstacles and concerns cited by candidates included adapting to another culture, the potential impact on children and learning a new language.
Practical preparation was closely connected to local church involvement and theological training. More than half of the surveyed mission partners had completed a church apprenticeship before departing for overseas ministry.
Almost all respondents had completed formal theological training, including at institutions such as Oak Hill Theological College, the Cornhill Training Course, Belfast Bible College and George Whitefield College. Only three mission partners had no formal theological training before going overseas.
Hearing directly from existing mission partners and gaining practical ministry experience in their home churches were also cited as significant factors in preparing candidates.
In its communication to supporters, Crosslinks said it hopes the findings will help local churches and sending agencies identify barriers, manage expectations and better equip future candidates for long-term ministry.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Religious nationalism narrows over time and props up authoritarian rule, advocates say]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/religious-nationalism-narrows-over-time-and-props-up-authoritarian-rule-advocates-say</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/religious-nationalism-narrows-over-time-and-props-up-authoritarian-rule-advocates-say</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Panel discussion on religious nationalism at the Global Religious Freedom Gathering in Dallas on Sept. 29, 2026.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Christian Daily International ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Panelists Hannah Clayson Smith of Brigham Young University's International Center for Law and Religion Studies, Gerardo Berthin of Freedom House, moderator Anna Lee Stangl of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Jack Goodyear of Dallas Baptist University and Nicole Bibbins Sedaca of the George W. Bush Institute (from left) discuss religious nationalism at the Global Religious Freedom Gathering in Dallas on Sept. 29, 2026. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 12:50:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Religious nationalism tends to exclude more people the longer it holds power and often serves authoritarian governments, panelists told the Global Religious Freedom Gathering in Dallas on Sept. 29. They also acknowledged that growing debate over Christian nationalism in the United States complicates American efforts to confront the problem abroad.]]></description>
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Religious nationalism tends to exclude more people the longer it holds power and often serves authoritarian governments, panelists told the Global Religious Freedom Gathering in Dallas on Tuesday (Sept. 29). They also acknowledged that growing debate over Christian nationalism in the United States complicates American efforts to confront the problem abroad.
The afternoon session, moderated by Anna Lee Stangl of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, included speakers from Freedom House, the George W. Bush Institute, Dallas Baptist University and Brigham Young University. Their discussion centered on how religious nationalism grows, why Christians in the West should resist it at home as well as overseas, and what the panelists proposed in its place.
A circle that keeps shrinking
Stangl said religious freedom advocates have spent decades watching countries fuse national identity with a single faith, from Hindu nationalism in India to Buddhist nationalism in Myanmar and Sri Lanka. In her experience, the boundaries of who belongs rarely hold steady once that fusion begins.
"Inevitably that net gets smaller and smaller," she said. Russia, she noted, spoke two decades ago about its Christian heritage but now emphasizes a specifically Orthodox identity. Iran was founded not simply as an Islamic republic but a Shiite one, she said, while Pakistan defines itself around Sunni Islam, leaving other believers outside. Even members of the favored faith can find themselves excluded, Stangl added.
Gerardo Berthin of Freedom House described the same process from the perspective of governance. In countries that move from minimal democracy toward authoritarian rule, he said, one of the first steps is to assert the supremacy of a religion. The legal system then becomes the tool for embedding that supremacy, a shift he said can take years or decades but advances steadily.
Berthin placed this within broader trends tracked by Freedom House, which he said has recorded 20 consecutive years of global decline in rights and liberties. Most countries the organization rated partly free in 2005 are now rated not free, he said, and few countries that fall into that category ever recover.
Nicole Bibbins Sedaca, a fellow at the George W. Bush Institute, said religious nationalism is best understood as "a very real subset" of a wider wave of autocracy. She made the point in response to an audience question that challenged whether the term was precise enough to guide policy.
In some countries religion is used as a tool, Bibbins Sedaca said, pointing to what she described as Russian President Vladimir Putin's instrumentalization of the Russian Orthodox Church to support his war against Ukraine. In others, such as Iran, she said the religious conviction behind the state is deeply held. Either way, she said, the result in democracies is a "pincer effect" that erodes trust both in democracy and in the idea that religion can thrive peacefully within it.
An objection rooted in faith
For Jack Goodyear, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Dallas Baptist University, the appeal of religious nationalism lies in its simplicity. Democracy demands that people with different beliefs work together, he said, and many find that uncomfortable. A nation defined by one faith offers an easier story in which belonging to the right group is enough.
Goodyear said authoritarian leaders then rely on academics and lawyers to reinterpret constitutions and laws in ways that justify stripping away freedoms. He invoked the 17th-century minister Roger Williams, who he said taught that religion is not destroyed by persecution but by being co-opted by the state and becoming the persecutor.
His objection, Goodyear said, does not depend on which party holds power. "I'm going to be opposed to Christian nationalism because it's a distortion of my faith," he said.
Stangl said that position is now harder for American advocates to carry abroad. While working in Brussels in the 2000s, she said, she watched a sophisticated lobbying effort persuade many center-right members of the European Parliament that India's Bharatiya Janata Party was little different from Europe's Christian Democrats.
Today, she said, some people in the U.S. government and on mainstream media present Christian nationalism as a legitimate option. That raises a question she put to the panel: how can advocates tell India or Pakistan that their form of religious nationalism is wrong?
Bibbins Sedaca said the United States has never spoken about democratic values from a position of perfection and should not stop now. American advocates need "both the humility and the confidence in those values," she said. At home, she argued, Americans must recover two founding commitments together: that government may not establish a religion, and that religion is protected in public life. When people embrace only one of those principles, she said, the country swings between favoring one faith and pushing faith out of public life altogether.
Goodyear agreed that humility is required. He pointed to slavery, segregation laws and the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II as moments when the nation contradicted its own ideals. Acknowledging those failures, he said, should not keep Americans from speaking up.
Pluralism built on shared standards
Hannah Clayson Smith, associate director of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies at Brigham Young University, offered a way around the credibility problem. Her center does not try to export the U.S. First Amendment, she said, because circumstances in other countries differ too much.
Instead, Smith said, the center appeals to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the treaties that followed it, which she said informed most national constitutions written after World War II. Advocates can then ask governments why they are not upholding standards the world has already accepted, rather than asking them to copy the American model.
Those standards include the right to change one's religion, to practice faith in public and to protection for religious minorities, Smith said. Holding them up to government officials, she said, gives leaders a basis for finding "the moral courage" to protect pluralism, even when religious nationalism is popular.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Conflict, surveillance, disunity emerging as new religious freedom challenges, advocates say]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/conflict-surveillance-disunity-emerging-as-new-religious-freedom-challenges-advocates-say</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/conflict-surveillance-disunity-emerging-as-new-religious-freedom-challenges-advocates-say</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Wissam al-Saliby (right), president of 21Wilberforce, speaks during a panel on religious freedom advocacy at the Global Religious Freedom Gathering at Dallas Baptist University in Dallas, Texas, on Sept. 29, 2026.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Christian Daily International ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Wissam al-Saliby (right), president of 21Wilberforce, speaks during a panel on religious freedom advocacy at the Global Religious Freedom Gathering at Dallas Baptist University in Dallas, Texas, on Sept. 29, 2026. Al-Saliby said armed conflict is weakening religious freedom and closing channels for international advocacy. ]]>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Panel at Global Religious Freedom Gathering at Dallas Baptist University in Dallas]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Christian Daily International ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Panelists Scot Bower of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Bob Fu of ChinaAid, Ted Vail of the Pentecostal Commission on Religious Liberty, Jeremy P. Barker of the Mustard Seed Foundation and Wissam al-Saliby of 21Wilberforce, from left, take part in a discussion on advocacy in times of conflict at the Global Religious Freedom Gathering at Dallas Baptist University in Dallas, Texas, on Sept. 29, 2026. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:53:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Religious freedom advocates told a gathering in Texas that armed conflict and state surveillance are undermining the methods Christians have used to defend persecuted believers. They said a divided global church is poorly placed to respond.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Religious freedom advocates told a gathering in Texas that armed conflict and state surveillance are undermining the methods Christians have used to defend persecuted believers. They said a divided global church is poorly placed to respond.
The panelists spoke at Dallas Baptist University on Tuesday (Sept. 29), the second day of the Global Religious Freedom Gathering. They urged churches to work across denominational lines and to take on peace building as well as traditional advocacy. Scot Bower of Christian Solidarity Worldwide moderated the session, titled "Advocacy in a Broken World: Faithful Action in Times of Conflict."
War closes advocacy channels and divides churches
Wissam al-Saliby, president of 21Wilberforce, said 65 armed conflicts are active worldwide, counting both wars between states and civil wars. Many more regions face violence from armed or separatist groups that falls short of formal armed conflict, he said.
According to al-Saliby, war damages religious freedom in three ways. Inside a country, it weakens or destroys civil society, as in Sudan. States at war also tend to restrict freedom of religion together with freedom of expression, he said, naming Russia and Iran.
War also disrupts international advocacy. Al-Saliby described a campaign concerning a country he did not name. U.S. lawmakers had already taken positions because of a conflict involving the United States, he said, so they would not take up the religious freedom case.
His team turned to the Swiss parliament, which was seen as neutral, and persuaded it to send letters to that country's government. The approach worked for a time, he said, but the threat of war eventually closed that route as well.
The third problem, he said, is that the United Nations and similar bodies carry less weight than they did five years ago.
Conflict also divides Christians themselves. Soon after al-Saliby became president of 21Wilberforce in May 2024, he asked a Christian leader in a conflict region how the organization could help. "Our community is divided. As Christians, we are divided," the leader told him, asking for help with unity before anything else.
That conversation moved the organization toward peace building, healing and reconciliation, al-Saliby said. Conflicts often split churches along tribal and ethnic lines, he said, and the pattern repeats in more than one country.
He also warned against resentment toward other communities, calling it "anti-missional" and an obstacle to resolving conflict. In one country, he said, local Christian leaders chose to advocate jointly with Muslims. Not everyone accepts that approach, he acknowledged, but he said it has greater impact.
Jeremy P. Barker, director of programs at the Mustard Seed Foundation, works in societies emerging from conflict. Barker has lived in northern Iraq for five and a half years. He said people he speaks with describe neighboring Syria as close either to real renewal or to new mass killings.
Such settings raise questions about whether a country will make room for ethnic and religious difference, Barker said. He asked whether Christians have a public theology to bring to those questions, beyond responding to persecution.

Surveillance reaches beyond China's borders
For Bob Fu, founder of ChinaAid, technology is now the greatest challenge in religious freedom work. China, he said, has entered an era of "digital tyranny."
Fu led a house church in Beijing and was imprisoned there before going into exile in the United States. About 15 years ago, he said, police raiding house churches would register everyone present and demand passwords for their phones and computers during interrogation.
That step is no longer needed, Fu said. A witness to one recent raid told him officers already had the information before they arrived.
Authorities now identify people through facial recognition and, increasingly, through the way a person moves, Fu said. Combined with large data systems and the social credit system, he said, that lets them know which house church a person attends, where and when.
Fu said China is exporting the technology and monitoring people beyond its borders, a practice known as transnational repression. He said Chinese agents are present on university campuses in the United States, Canada and the European Union, and that their monitoring now reaches beyond Chinese nationals.
His most practical advice was to remove China-developed apps from personal phones, some of which are used by many foreigners who live or work in China, including missionaries. Fu said authorities can activate some apps remotely from thousands of miles away. "So that basically you are carrying your own surveillance machine with you," he said. 
Calls for unity across denominations
Ted Vail, chairman of the Pentecostal Commission on Religious Liberty, said the global church is growing in places few would have expected 10 or 20 years ago. Much of that growth is in non-Western movements that have no Western headquarters, he said, so they are disconnected from one another and from advocacy networks.
The gap is costly, Vail said. When a pastor is detained or a church leader killed, he said, many churches do not know whom to contact. Some local believers ask that authorities or foreign governments not be told, fearing it will make matters worse.
"There are suffering people all over that do not know you," Vail told the room of advocates.
He also warned against acting alone. Christians who use personal ties to a legislator to press a case abroad should recognize that other churches have people in the same country, he said. A government will not spare one denomination while punishing another, he said, so a single group's action can affect every Christian there.
"Today it's demanded of us to be in unity as the body of Christ," Vail said. Unity usually means unity within one's own structure, he said, but believers now need to know and trust one another across movements and denominations.
Western Christians, he added, should at times defer to believers elsewhere who understand local conditions. Church movements should also learn when to step back and let professional advocates work on policy.
Al-Saliby described a similar approach at 21Wilberforce. On the morning the panel appeared, he said, he received a petition circulating in the United States about one country. He said his organization would not sign it until its local partners there had seen and approved it.
"There is no right or wrong," he said of organizations that work differently, but he said his group is committed to following the local church.
During the gathering, al-Saliby said, he and Vail discussed how Baptists, evangelicals and Pentecostals could work together in particular countries. For Vail, the answer begins with relationships rather than business cards. He called for "more coffee, more tea, more breaking bread" among churches and advocates.
"I think this is our best chance forward," he said.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Half of younger churchgoers say culture change makes some biblical truths 'obsolete']]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/half-of-younger-churchgoers-say-culture-change-makes-some-biblical-truths-obsolete</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/half-of-younger-churchgoers-say-culture-change-makes-some-biblical-truths-obsolete</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[The Christian Post]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[bible, Gospel of John, John]]></media:title>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 10:35:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Protestant churchgoers in the United States appear increasingly willing to reject some biblical truths, with young adult attendees under 30 most likely to say some of those truths are becoming "obsolete," according to a recent survey from Lifeway Research.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Protestant churchgoers in the United States appear increasingly willing to reject some biblical truths, with young adult attendees under 30 most likely to say some of those truths are becoming "obsolete," according to a recent survey from Lifeway Research.
In its report, published Tuesday, Lifeway highlighted the survey of 1,200 U.S. Protestants who attend church at least once a month, conducted Sept. 2 to 7, 2025, with a sampling error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
Researchers compared the 2025 results with a survey of 1,002 U.S. Protestant churchgoers that used the same methodology conducted Sept. 20 to 27, 2019.
More than a quarter of respondents (28%) agreed with the statement "that as culture changes, some biblical truths become obsolete," up from 24% in 2019. 
About a third of churchgoers (34%) said they "accept some truths from the Bible, but othersdo not fit what they believe," up from 30% in 2019. 
The younger a churchgoer was, the more likely he or she was to agree that culture change makes some truths in the Bible “obsolete.” Among respondents ages 18 to 29, 54% agreed with the statement, compared with 40% of those ages 30 to 49, 19% of those ages 50 to 64 and 13% of those 65 and older.
Younger adult churchgoers were the most likely to agree that the truth of God’s Word can mean different things to different people (87%) and some biblical truths don’t fit what they believe (56%). 
“The concepts in any other book will show signs of age requiring new editions,” Lifeway Research Executive Director Scott McConnell said in the report.
“But the Source of the Bible is not Someone whose truths change. James refers to Him as ‘the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows,’ (James 1:17, CSB). The thought of unchanging truth is an unprecedented concept even for many churchgoers today.”
Overall, 56% of Protestant churchgoers find it challenging to make sense of the Bible when they read it on their own, a figure that hasn't changed much from the 57% who said the same in 2019. 
At the same time, 91% agreed that "they can read a passage of the Bible and usually understand how it is relevant to them," matching the 90% figure recorded in 2019. 
Last November, Barna Group and Gloo released data from their “State of the Church” initiative showing that while Bible reading among U.S. adults had reached its highest level in 15 years, fewer Americans believe the Bible is 100% accurate. Thirty-six percent of Americans believe the Bible is 100% accurate, down from 43% in 2000.
“It’s very encouraging to see more people, especially young adults, turning to the Bible,” Brad Hill, chief partner success officer at Gloo, said in a statement at the time.
“But this rise in interest also challenges church leaders to go deeper, turning curiosity and engagement into opportunities to help people live what they read. In an age when AI tools are providing answers to life’s big questions, it’s imperative that churches cultivate deep and durable Bible engagement habits.”
Originally published by The Christian Post.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[SBC President Willy Rice calls for marriage, gender amendment to Baptist Faith & Message]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/sbc-president-willy-rice-calls-for-marriage-gender-amendment-to-baptist-faith-message</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/sbc-president-willy-rice-calls-for-marriage-gender-amendment-to-baptist-faith-message</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[The Christian Post]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[SBC President Willy Rice calls for marriage, gender amendment to Baptist Faith & Message]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ live.sbcannualmeeting.net ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Willy Rice delivers a sermon at the Southern Baptist Convention Pastors' Conference on Monday, June 8, 2026. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 25 Sep 2026 12:09:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Southern Baptist Convention President Willy Rice has proposed amending the Baptist Faith & Message in response to what he considers cultural confusion over gender and marriage.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Southern Baptist Convention President Willy Rice has proposed amending the Baptist Faith & Message in response to what he considers cultural confusion over gender and marriage.
Speaking before the SBC Executive Committee on Monday, Rice said that marriage has been “redefined in ways unprecedented in human history,” while “the very nature of humanity expressed in God’s created order [has been] rejected, as if by the stroke of a pen one can reorder reality.”
Rice stressed that “Southern Baptists believe there is only one definition of marriage, and there are only two genders” and denounced cultural trends to the contrary as “assaults on the truth of God and His creation.”
“I’m asking this Executive Committee to consider a historic act,” Rice said, according to Baptist Press. “I’m asking you to recommend to our convention adding an article to the Baptist Faith & Message to address the specific issue of gender and human sexuality.”
“It will send a message externally, and it will send a message internally, that Southern Baptists will not bow down to the music of this age. We are not eroding. We are not evading. We are not equivocating. We are enduring like a mighty tree planted by a stream of water.”
Rice suggested that the proposed amendment be modeled after a statement that was adopted in 2022 by First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Florida, which read in part:

The SBC Executive Committee will vote in February on whether to bring the proposed amendment to messengers at next year’s SBC Annual Meeting, reported BP. For the possible amendment to be adopted, it must receive at least two-thirds approval from the messengers in two consecutive years.

The senior pastor of Calvary Church in Clearwater, Florida, Rice was elected SBC president in June at the denomination's Annual Meeting in Orlando, receiving 5,217 votes, or 57.56% of votes cast.
Shortly before his election, Rice preached a sermon at the SBC Pastors’ Conference, stressing that “it is not enough to affirm right doctrine,” warning that “if we seek the favor of the world more than the approval of Heaven, if we fear the rejection of men more than we fear the judgment of God, we are already on a dangerous slide.”
“It is not enough for us to engage in religious ritual,” Rice said. “Saul had lost sight of what mattered most: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.”
“I want a Southern Baptist Convention that is successful, but I want one that is faithful even more. … Faithfulness today will bring fruitfulness tomorrow.”
Originally published by The Christian Post.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Gospel Publishing House name returns as Assemblies of God publishing ministry resets]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/gospel-publishing-house-name-returns-as-assemblies-of-god-publishing-ministry-resets</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/gospel-publishing-house-name-returns-as-assemblies-of-god-publishing-ministry-resets</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
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                                    <![CDATA[ GPH Facebook ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Gospel Publishing House logo ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2026 14:45:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Gospel Publishing House, the founding publishing brand of the Assemblies of God in the United States, is returning to its original name after operating as My Healthy Church since 2010.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Gospel Publishing House, the founding publishing brand of the Assemblies of God in the United States, is returning to its original name after operating as My Healthy Church since 2010.
The name change marks a return to the roots of the Pentecostal denomination’s publishing ministry, which operated under the Gospel Publishing House name from 1914 to 2010.
The Gospel Publishing House name predates the formal establishment of the Assemblies of God, originating with T.K. Leonard’s publishing operation in Ohio before he helped draft the preamble to the denomination’s constitution.
Moving forward, the publishing ministry will organize its output under three distinct imprints. The primary GPH imprint will serve Pentecostal ministers and congregants with traditional church resources, while Salubris Resources will serve the broader evangelical community. A third imprint, Logion Press, will publish academic works designed to train ministers and leaders on college campuses and online.
The rebrand comes alongside several recent product launches, including an updated Radiant Life curriculum, new titles from Logion Press and the launch of the YouthRoadmap discipleship strategy through the Bible Engagement Project app, which currently serves more than 960,000 weekly users. The publisher plans to release more than 25 new resources over the next 18 months, alongside its newly launched digital storefront.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Räsänen receives award for courage]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/rasanen-receives-award-for-courage</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/rasanen-receives-award-for-courage</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Räsänen Päivi pictured receiving the award]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Räsänen Päivi ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Räsänen Päivi pictured receiving the award ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2026 10:29:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Finnish Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen has been awarded the prestigious Dominus Vitae Award by U.S.-based ministry Lutherans For Life, honoring her courage in standing up for biblical truth and human dignity despite facing severe public opposition and legal challenges in Europe.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Finnish Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen has been awarded the prestigious Dominus Vitae Award by U.S.-based ministry Lutherans For Life, honoring her courage in standing up for biblical truth and human dignity despite facing severe public opposition and legal challenges in Europe.
The award, whose title translates to the "Lord of Life Award," was presented Friday evening at the organization’s annual gala in Des Moines, Iowa. It is the ministry's highest distinction, given to leaders who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to advocating for the sanctity of human life.
Räsänen, a medical doctor, longtime Finnish lawmaker, and former Minister of the Interior, has been a prominent global voice for religious freedom and traditional Christian ethics. Her selection for the award reflects international recognition for her stance on biblical marriage.
Reflecting on the award given to her, Räsänen pointed to the contrast between the vibrant advocacy among American believers and the current state of the Church in her home nation.
"I accept this recognition with humility and gratitude," Räsänen said. "I am encouraged that American Lutherans affirm the value of every human life and openly defend the right to life of even the smallest and most vulnerable among us. There is much that Finnish Lutheranism could learn from this example."
Räsänen officially filed an appeal of a hate speech conviction with the European Court of Human Rights on July 24, as previously reported by Christian Daily International.
The move is the latest front in a seven-year battle with landmark implications for freedom of speech and religion. The Supreme Court of Finland convicted Räsänen, a member of parliament since 1995 and former interior minister, in a narrow 3-2 decision on March 26.
The conviction centered on statements expressing biblical views on marriage and human sexuality in a 2004 booklet titled “Male and Female He Created Them.” The court fined Räsänen 1,800 euros ($1,950) and ordered her to cover her legal costs, overturning two previous acquittals by lower courts.
Founded in 1978, Lutherans For Life works to equip Christians to address life issues from a gospel-centered, biblical perspective. The non-partisan organization addresses a broad spectrum of ethical concerns, including abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide, disability rights, and end-of-life care.
Previous recipients of the Dominus Vitae Award include former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Parker, theologian and bioethicist Gilbert Meilaender, and pro-life speaker Melissa Ohden, an abortion survivor.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Puerto Rico holds six days of prayer for families and the island's future]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/puerto-rico-holds-six-days-of-prayer-for-families-and-the-island-s-future</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/puerto-rico-holds-six-days-of-prayer-for-families-and-the-island-s-future</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Lizzie Sotola]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[A time of prayer at Comunidad Cristiana en Arecibo, a church on Puerto Ricos northern coast that hosted the opening two days of the island-wide Puerto Rico en Oración (Puerto Rico in Prayer) initiative, Sept. 21-22, 2026.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ File photo: Comunidad Cristiana en Arecibo ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ A time of prayer at Comunidad Cristiana en Arecibo, a church on Puerto Rico's northern coast that hosted the opening two days of the island-wide Puerto Rico en Oración (Puerto Rico in Prayer) initiative, Sept. 21-22, 2026. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2026 08:40:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Christians across Puerto Rico are gathering this week for six days of prayer for families, churches and the future of the island, a U.S. territory in the Caribbean.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Christians across Puerto Rico are gathering this week for six days of prayer for families, churches and the future of the island, a U.S. territory in the Caribbean.
The initiative, called Puerto Rico en Oración (Puerto Rico in Prayer), began Monday, Sept. 21, and runs through Saturday, Sept. 26. Each day's session lasts 12 hours, from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is hosted by a different church.
Evangelist Nehemías Santiago leads the effort, which organizers describe as a call to unity and to seeking God's presence. According to the event's official materials, the invitation extends to congregations, pastors and church leaders, as well as to anyone who wishes to pray.
Participants do not need to belong to a church or have experience in prayer, organizers say. People may stay for as long as their schedules allow and return on other days.
The sessions move around the island. The first two days took place in Arecibo on the northern coast, followed by Humacao in the east. Thursday's gathering is in Dorado, Friday's in San Germán in the southwest, and Saturday's closing session in the Hato Rey district of San Juan, the capital.
The event's motto is "One island. One voice. One united cry." Organizers invite people to join the collective prayer, to pray in silence or simply to listen.
Their materials also cite 2 Chronicles 7:14, a biblical passage that calls God's people to humble themselves, pray and seek his face.
An optional online form lets attendees indicate which days and times they plan to come so organizers can estimate attendance. It does not reserve a place. Venue addresses and schedule updates are posted on the event's website, puertoricoenoracion.org.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Record 2,400 Christian leaders gather in Atlanta for CAFO2026 child welfare summit]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/record-2-400-christian-leaders-gather-in-atlanta-for-cafo2026-child-welfare-summit</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/record-2-400-christian-leaders-gather-in-atlanta-for-cafo2026-child-welfare-summit</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Attendees listen during a plenary session at CAFO2026, the annual summit of the Christian Alliance for Orphans, at First Baptist Atlanta in Atlanta on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ YouTube/Christian Alliance for Orphans ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Attendees listen during a plenary session at CAFO2026, the annual summit of the Christian Alliance for Orphans, at First Baptist Atlanta in Atlanta on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. The conference's theme, "Less: Fewer branches, better fruit," is displayed on the screen behind the stage. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2026 07:33:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[More than 2,400 Christian child welfare leaders from across the United States and at least 50 countries gathered in Atlanta on Wednesday for the opening of CAFO2026, marking the largest attendance in the annual conference's 22-year history.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
More than 2,400 Christian child welfare leaders from across the United States and at least 50 countries gathered in Atlanta on Wednesday for the opening of CAFO2026, marking the largest attendance in the annual conference's 22-year history.
Hosted by the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO), the three-day summit at First Baptist Atlanta runs through Sept. 25, bringing together faith-based advocates, adoptive families, and ministry heads to refine best practices for supporting vulnerable youth and families globally.
This year’s theme, "Less: Fewer branches, better fruit," challenges leaders to streamline their efforts rather than continuously expanding programs, focusing on depth and intentionality to maximize their long-term impact.
"Throughout history, Christians have been known for their special care for children the world overlooks," said Jedd Medefind, president of CAFO. "Today we see that ancient commitment rising afresh, from US foster care to ministry with vulnerable children and families worldwide. At CAFO2026, we’ll explore a truth that can feel counterintuitive in a culture that constantly tells us to do more. Sometimes the path to better fruit is fewer branches and less overgrown lives."
The event features more than 200 workshops and strategy sessions spanning foster care engagement, organizational leadership, church mobilization, and practical research. Featured speakers and artists on the mainstage include Lecrae, Dr. Curt Thompson, Katherine Wolf, Kelly Kapic, Shane & Shane, and Medefind.
CAFO serves as an umbrella network connecting more than 300 non-profit organizations alongside a global network of local churches. Participating organizations in the Atlanta area include FaithBridge Foster Care, WinShape Homes, Eagle Ranch, and Send Relief, among nearly two dozen local partners.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Gospel of Luke presented entirely in sign language to reach millions of Deaf people]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/gospel-of-luke-presented-entirely-in-sign-language-to-reach-millions-of-deaf-people</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/gospel-of-luke-presented-entirely-in-sign-language-to-reach-millions-of-deaf-people</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Eyte]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Luke Gospel]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Photo by Tim Wildsmith / Unsplash ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 08:04:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A new resource designed to reach Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities around the world with the gospel has been launched by biblical media company RevelationMedia in partnership with the International Mission Board (IMB).]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A new resource designed to reach Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities around the world with the gospel has been launched by biblical media company RevelationMedia in partnership with the International Mission Board (IMB).
The animated resource will present the Gospel of Luke word-for-word in American Sign Language (ASL), with the characters themselves signing throughout the story rather than using a sign-language interpreter at the bottom of the screen.
The Luke ASL resource aims to help Deaf communities know Jesus. The producers say there is a significant need to reach the more than 70 million people worldwide who are deaf, although some estimates put the number as high as 400 million, depending on how deafness and hearing loss are defined. The community is considered one of the most unreached people groups, according to a joint news release from the two organizations. Only 2% are considered “reached” with the gospel.
“In many parts of the world, Deaf individuals are treated as second-class citizens,” said Steve Cleary, founder and CEO of RevelationMedia, based in Richardson, Texas.
“Disconnected from the hearing world, these individuals often feel forgotten and unloved. Our mission is to bring the hope and good news of the Gospel into their hands through a compelling, visual format they can understand.”
The project uses production technology developed for iBIBLE, the world’s first visual and interactive Bible that presents the entire biblical narrative as one cohesive story. With the characters signing throughout the story, the producers aim to create a fully immersive experience for viewers.
Integrating ASL directly into the animation will allow Deaf audiences to engage with Scripture in a more meaningful and accessible way, according to the producers.
“We are excited to partner with RevelationMedia to leverage innovative technologies to bring God’s Word to life and accelerate the translation of the Bible for Deaf peoples,” said Victor Hou, chief of staff administration at the International Mission Board.
RevelationMedia plans to produce 24 episodes, one for each chapter of Luke. The producers say it will be the world’s first natural sign-language animation of the Gospel of Luke in ASL.
After the first chapter of Luke is complete, the scenes will be reanimated in more than 300 sign languages used around the world. This would allow Deaf individuals to experience the Gospel in their own native languages.
“This new project will impact the over 70 million Deaf people in the world with the good news of the Gospel,” said Cleary. “We are honored to partner with groups such as the IMB to make this dream a reality.”
Award-winning Christian writer Emily Owen is an advocate for the Deaf community in England. She was diagnosed as a teenager with NF2-Schwannomatosis, a neurological condition, and underwent multiple surgeries. NF2 led to brain surgery that caused her to lose her hearing overnight in November 2001 at age 21.
Owen also serves as a team member and email compiler for Open Ears, a U.K. charitable organization that facilitates fellowship for Christians who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Owen called the Luke Gospel project “innovative.”
“I’ve never heard of animated sign language like this before,” said Owen. “My immediate thought is how clear will the signs be — will it be the equivalent of mumbling, i.e., hard to decipher?
“Handshape is very important in sign language.”
Owen said she liked the concept “if it works.”
“I know there are projects ongoing to humanly translate the Bible into sign,” she added.
“Perhaps this way will be quicker than that.”
Owen is aware that human translators work very hard to convey the meaning of biblical texts for Deaf audiences.
“So theirs will not be word-for-word — as I see the animation will be — as ‘word for word’ in English does not work in sign,” she pointed out.
“So for full sign language users, potentially the sign in English word order will not be fully accessible. For someone like me, who is deaf but prefers English word order, it would be good though.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Evangelical Press Association members vote on name change after spirited online meeting]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/evangelical-press-association-members-vote-on-name-change-after-spirited-online-meeting</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/evangelical-press-association-members-vote-on-name-change-after-spirited-online-meeting</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiandaily.com/media/original/img/0/48/4887.png">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Evangelical Press Association, EPA]]></media:title>
                                                                                </media:content>
                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 02:34:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Members of the Evangelical Press Association began voting Sept. 15 on a board proposal to rename the organization Christian Communicators Network, after a virtual meeting in which board members explained their reasoning and fielded questions ranging from the loss of the word "evangelical" to the process itself.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Members of the Evangelical Press Association began voting Sept. 15 on a board proposal to rename the organization Christian Communicators Network, after a virtual meeting in which board members explained their reasoning and fielded questions ranging from the loss of the word "evangelical" to the process itself.
Voting on a secure online platform will remain open for three weeks, through Oct. 7, according to information EPA sent to members. The ballot is an up-or-down vote on a single proposed name, and members may either approve or reject it.
While the proposal would change every word of the name of the association of Christian publishers, editors, writers and journalists, which has operated for more than 75 years, the shift from "Evangelical" to "Christian" has drawn the most debate. A written record of the meeting's chat, available to EPA members upon request, shows members raising both support for a change and objections to the board's choice.
Members are voting on a single board resolution: "RESOLVED, that the membership of the Evangelical Press Association approves amending the Articles of Incorporation to change the legal and public name of the organization to Christian Communicators Network."
Approval would authorize the board to update governing documents, registrations, branding, websites and programs, the board said.
Eligible voters include anyone on staff of a member publication and all individual members, EPA said. Affiliates, honorary members, contributing members and student members may not vote.
‘Our theology remains evangelical’
Board members said the recommendation followed a yearlong process that included prayer, a Vision Casting Retreat, comparative research on how the field has changed, and feedback from members. They described the proposal as rooted in mission rather than marketing.
The board said the organization's Statement of Faith, Code of Ethics, awards programs and commitment to ethical journalism would remain unchanged. "Our theology remains evangelical," the board said. "Our public identity becomes more clearly Christian."
Board members said "evangelical" increasingly carries political and cultural meanings that can obscure its theological sense, while "Christian" is understood worldwide. They argued that "Press" suggests print and traditional news media, while "Communicators" includes journalists alongside podcasters, digital editors and other professionals. "Network," the board said, better reflects the relationships and mentoring members value than "Association," which describes a legal structure.
Questions and comments, but no debate
Several participants raised concerns that the meeting allowed questions but not open debate on the motion.
One participant noted that under Robert's Rules of Order, a motion before members would normally be followed by debate for and against. "Just having questions is not discussion," the participant wrote.
Another participant objecting to the process suggested finding a time for all views to be heard before voting, even if that took hours. A third asked why members were not permitted to speak and why the wider membership had not been involved from the start.
Others defended the format. One participant wrote that open discussion with such a large group could stretch the meeting to four hours or more and suggested an online survey for comments. Another affirmed the board highlighting that they followed the bylaws.
The board also explained that it had originally hoped to present the proposal at EPA's most recent convention, but the deliberation process took longer than expected. That is why the vote is being held online.
'Evangelical' versus 'Christian'
The most sustained objections concerned the first word of the proposed name.
In a series of comments, one participant argued that dropping the term could reinforce the perception that "evangelical" is a political label. The participant wrote that organizations making such a shift often face pressure to accommodate groups that do not share historic evangelical convictions on biblical authority, marriage and sexuality, and announced plans to vote against the resolution in hope of sending the board "back to the drawing board."
Another participant asked whether the organization faced an identity problem or a communication problem. The participant questioned whether a broader name would move EPA closer to ground already covered by groups such as National Religious Broadcasters, and what would distinguish the new network from them.
Other participants asked why a term the board considers accurate for its theology should not remain in its name. One argued that "Christian" carries its own political baggage, pointing to the phrase "Christian nationalism." Another asked how the organization would respond if a member group later changed its views on sexuality and gender, noting that the matter is not addressed in the doctrinal statement.
Voices for change
Some participants spoke in favor of the proposal.
One wrote that the change would move the organization forward. Responding to a question about attracting non-evangelicals, the same participant said some Christians, such as Anglicans, could affirm the statement of faith without using the word "evangelical."
A participant representing a denominational online magazine wrote that its young adult contributors, aged 18 to 25, rarely use the term. The participant said the current name may deter potential members who hold evangelical beliefs.
Another wrote that evangelical values shape how they live out their faith but that the word itself is not necessary. A fourth urged members to trust the board they elected and cited limits on available names and website addresses as a factor.
Members have final say
Comments were not limited to the word "evangelical." Participants also offered views on the other words in the proposed name and on the name as a whole. Board members responded to questions one by one during the meeting, which lasted nearly an hour and a half.
The board thanked participants for their frank comments and questions, saying the response showed strong interest in the organization's future, and noted that the decision ultimately belongs to the membership. 
The EPA board's written rationale, the meeting presentation and the chat history and a full recording of the meeting is available to EPA members upon request.
Christian Daily International reported in August that the board had unanimously recommended the new name in an announcement posted Aug. 2. CDI is a member of the Evangelical Press Association.
Update Sept 17, 2026: Clarified that the meeting material is available to EPA members upon request.]]></content:encoded>
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