At least 70 people have died in catastrophic flash floods in Kerr County, Texas, according to Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha. The disaster struck Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp in Hunt, where 11 girls and one counselor remain missing. The Guadalupe River rose rapidly, overwhelming the facility that hosted approximately 750 campers. Rescue operations have entered their third day, with over 850 people rescued by state responders. The death toll includes 38 adults and 21 children, with notable victims including camp director Dick Eastland. Governor Greg Abbott has declared a disaster across multiple counties as search efforts continue.
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Victory Christian Center in the US held a prison outreach event at the John H. Lilley Correctional Center in Boley, Oklahoma. Pastor Paul Daugherty led 32 volunteers to serve 751 inmates with worship, meals, and religious materials. The church reports that 41 people were baptized and over 400 made a profession of faith. The team distributed hundreds of Bibles and booklets, while also providing gift bags to staff. Daugherty stated the initiative began three months ago and plans are already in place for future visits to other facilities.
A U.S. District Judge in North Carolina has temporarily blocked Chatham County from rejecting The Summit Church's rezoning request. The ruling, issued by Judge William Osteen Jr., addresses a lawsuit filed by the church, led by J.D. Greear, which claims the denial violated federal religious liberty laws. While the judge refused to force the county to immediately approve the project for nearly 100 acres in Chapel Hill, he prevented the local government from maintaining the rejection while the case proceeds. The U.S. Department of Justice previously supported the church, arguing that the zoning decision imposed an undue burden on religious exercise. This decision matters as it balances local land-use authority against federal protections for religious institutions during ongoing litigation.
Children’s Hunger Fund (CHF) broke ground last month in Prosper, Texas, for a new 85,000-square-foot center scheduled to open in 2026. The facility aims to distribute approximately 100 million meals to children in poverty across North Texas and neighboring states. CHF founder Dave Philipps stated the site will include volunteer and processing spaces. While the first phase is funded, later stages await support. The organization, which has served hundreds of millions of children since 1991, selected the location for its logistical advantages near Dallas and major highways. This project aligns with CHF’s 2030 initiative for debt-free distribution centers.
The Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty held its inaugural meeting on June 16 at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., presided over by Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. Created by President Donald Trump via executive order, the commission aims to protect religious freedom through hearings scheduled through 2026. Panelists including Ben Carson and Phil McGraw discussed the historical and legal foundations of religious liberty. Attorney General Pam Bondi and legal experts emphasized the importance of freedom from government interference. However, critics like Rachel Laser argued the event favored specific religious groups, highlighting ongoing debates about the role of religion in American public life.
Authorities in Colombia discovered a mass grave containing the bodies of eight evangelical leaders from a neighboring region. The victims, who were engaged in humanitarian work, were summoned by armed dissidents and killed. Prosecutors believe the killings aimed to suppress a potential guerrilla cell, though no evidence linked the leaders to such groups. The grave was located after a captured guerrilla’s phone revealed crime photos. The president and church organizations condemned the act as a human rights violation, while families and the UN highlighted the lack of state protection in conflict zones.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of parents in Maryland who objected to LGBT-themed books in Montgomery County Public Schools. The majority opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito, stated that forcing children to engage with materials conflicting with their parents' religious beliefs burdens religious exercise. The court granted a preliminary injunction, allowing families to opt their children out of the curriculum. This decision reverses lower court rulings that had previously denied the request. Dissenting justices argued that such opt-out provisions would create administrative burdens and harm students. The controversy originated from a 2022 curriculum approval and subsequent lawsuits filed by Christian and Muslim parents.
Police in the US identified Brian Browning as the gunman fatally shot by church staff during a Vacation Bible School event. The incident occurred around 11 a.m. when Browning, armed with an AR-15 and handgun, fired indiscriminately outside the church. A security guard was injured but survived. Authorities stated that church staff returned fire to stop the attack, which began after Browning drove erratically to the location near Detroit. Police suggested Browning may have been experiencing a mental health crisis. Officials praised the staff's emergency training for minimizing harm during the chaotic scene.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has urged the State Department to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern due to severe religious freedom violations. This appeal follows a recent attack in a region of northern Nigeria where militants killed many Christians. USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler and Commissioner Mohamed Elsanousi stated that government prevention efforts are failing and called for U.S. foreign assistance to support conflict resolution and security training. Reports indicate thousands of Christians have been killed in Nigeria since 2000, with recent violence displacing thousands more in the Middle Belt region.
UK lawmakers passed the Terminally Ill (Adults) Bill on Friday, legalizing assisted dying in England and Wales. The measure received 314 votes in favor and 291 against, with 39 abstentions. It allows terminally ill adults with a six-month prognosis to end their lives under strict safeguards, including medical and legal approvals. The Christian Medical Fellowship condemned the vote, stating the nation has crossed a significant moral threshold. The group argues that the legislation removes state protection for vulnerable people, linking the decision to broader societal concerns about life and truth. The bill now awaits approval from the House of Lords.
A 2024 report by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office reveals that Evangelical Christians in Switzerland are bucking the national trend of declining religious practice. Data from the Réseau évangélique suisse shows that nearly half of Evangelicals identify as religious and spiritual, compared to lower rates among Catholics and Reformed Protestants. Additionally, Evangelicals show higher engagement in prayer and spiritual reading. The Swiss Evangelical Network welcomed the inclusion of their data, noting that their community remains active despite the country's overall shift toward secularism.
The ELCA Southeastern Synod filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee against the state over a new law prohibiting shelter for undocumented immigrants. The suit, supported by two co-plaintiffs, challenges Governor Bill Lee’s May legislation, which classifies harboring illegal entrants as a misdemeanor. The Synod argues the law infringes on First Amendment religious rights by burdening faith-based ministries that provide shelter regardless of status. The lawsuit cites a 2019 denomination resolution declaring churches as sanctuaries for migrants. The legal action aims to protect religious exercise from what the Synod describes as unjustified state interference.
Three students filed a lawsuit in Virginia against state officials, alleging they were denied scholarship grants because they chose to study religion. Cameron Johnson, Luke Thomas, and Trace Stevens claim the exclusions violate the First Amendment. They are represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, which argues the programs are generally available public benefits. The suit names several Virginia officials as defendants. This case follows recent Supreme Court rulings supporting religious students' access to public funding, such as the 2022 decision in Maine and a similar reversal in Georgia. The students seek equal treatment compared to their peers in other fields of study.
Christian Concern, a UK-based legal organization, announced plans to sue Westminster City Council over its decision to display Progress Pride flags on Regent Street. The group argues the flags promote a secular ideology that divides communities and labels dissenters as intolerant. Executive director Andrea Williams criticized the symbolism, particularly regarding transgender issues, and cited a recent Supreme Court ruling on biological sex. While the council defends the display as a welcoming tradition for visitors, Christian Concern warns it will pursue legal action if the flags remain. This follows a petition with over 31,000 signatures against the display.
Members of the CHANGED Movement gathered at the California State Capitol in Sacramento last week to oppose government restrictions on counseling for those leaving LGBTQ identities. Organized with the California Family Council, the event featured testimonies from individuals who believe they changed their sexual orientation or gender expression. Organizer Elizabeth Woning stated the goal was to resist censorship and protect free speech. Co-founder Ken Williams shared his personal recovery story, noting that the type of faith-based therapy he received as a minor is now illegal in California. The protest coincided with the anniversary of a failed bill that sought to classify such counseling as consumer fraud.
The Church of England has unveiled a three-year financial strategy to boost mission funding by nearly 9 percent, totaling over $564 million. The plan also raises clergy stipends by 10.7 percent and allocates $129 million for retirement housing. Endowment funds are projected to provide $2.17 billion by 2029, a 36 percent increase. The denomination cites four years of rising attendance and aims to support low-income communities, cathedrals, and Net Zero targets in the UK. These measures will be discussed at the General Synod next month to sustain community revitalization efforts.
A recent American Bible Society report indicates that active Bible engagement correlates with higher scores on the Human Flourishing Index, particularly among Generation Z and millennials in the United States. Data from 2,656 interviews show that daily readers averaged a score of 7.9, compared to 6.8 for non-readers. The study, conducted via the AmeriSpeak panel, also noted a reversal in post-pandemic declines, with approximately 11 million more Americans reading the Bible now. Geographic analysis revealed increased engagement in the Northeast and West, while the South remained steady. Researchers attribute these trends to a general upward movement in well-being domains across nearly every surveyed area.
On Pentecost Sunday, more than 28,000 people were baptized across the United States during a nationwide revival coordinated by Baptize America. Over 600 churches hosted more than 1,000 separate ceremonies where participants publicly professed their faith in Jesus Christ. Mark Francey, founder of Baptize America and pastor at Oceans Church in California, stated the initiative stemmed from a prayer vision. He estimated the total baptisms reached between 28,000 and 30,000. The event also included international components, with approximately 1,100 baptisms in Canada and smaller gatherings in Paraguay and Sweden. Francey noted that several of the largest US churches supported the effort to create critical mass.
The Asia Evangelical Leadership Forum opened Wednesday in Seoul, South Korea, bringing together approximately 100 leaders from over 20 nations. Held at the Antioch Center from June 11 to 13, the event focuses on renewing commitment to discipleship under the theme “Disciple or Die 2.0.” Dr. Bambang Budijanto, General Secretary of the Asia Evangelical Alliance, emphasized the need for new strategies to fulfill the Great Commission in a changing global landscape. Organizers aim to unify participants around a ten-year vision for strengthening discipleship movements across Asia, moving beyond traditional models to address current realities.
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