US Church

How to fix a problem like Hillsong
2022-05-18T09:26:00+01:00By Tim Wyatt
The global megachurch has been engulfed by multiple scandals in recent months. As allegations of cover-ups, affairs and inappropriate behaviour do further damage to Hillsong’s reputation, Tim Wyatt asks whether this pre-eminent Christian brand can weather the storm
Why some Christians are worried Disney is no longer ‘family-friendly’
2022-05-13T13:54:00+01:00By Heather Tomlinson
A row about Disney and LGBT issues is breaking out among Christians in America. As the debate crosses the Atlantic, Heather Tomlinson looks at why this beloved institution is generating so much controversy
Men’s events with monster trucks don’t promote toxic masculinity, they’re reaching blokes with the gospel
2022-05-09T10:57:00+01:00By Carl Beech, Christian Vision for Men (CVM)
A US conference has come under criticism for hosting monster trucks and rodeos alongside Christian speakers. For Carl Beech, organiser of a Christian men’s event in the UK, the complaints were not new. But for him, they simply don’t stack up
Roe v Wade: We need a grown-up conversation about abortion law
2022-05-05T09:04:00+01:00By George Pitcher
Christians may prefer not to engage in complex and divisive debates about abortion, but there are too many lives at stake not to take a position, says Rev George Pitcher
US Christians like me will rejoice if abortion is made illegal. And we will also care for vulnerable mothers
2022-05-05T08:45:00+01:00By Chelsea Sobolik, ERLC
We must work toward a day when abortion is not only illegal but also unthinkable, says Chelsea Sobolik
Maverick City’s Dante Bowe: ‘Being famous for being a Christian is ridiculous’
2022-04-26T12:41:00+01:00By Emma Fowle
Ahead of his UK debut at Big Church Day Out, the trailblazing worship leader and fashion model talks to us about breaking boundaries, hearing from God and why he’s ‘traumatised’ by the thought of being a Christian celebrity
Why single Christian women are leaving the church
2022-04-04T10:40:00+01:00By Dr Katie Gaddini, Sociologist and author of The Struggle to Stay
If leaders don’t respond to women’s concerns about sexism, misogyny and their role in church life soon, it will be too late to stem the tide, says Dr Katie Gaddini
Why Anaheim’s decision to leave the Vineyard is a betrayal of trust
2022-03-29T11:43:00+01:00By Costa Mitchell, Former director of Vineyard South Africa
One of the most well-known Vineyard churches in the world has announced its withdrawal from the movement. Costa Mitchell, who has been involved in the network for decades and has personal relationships with many of the people affected, explains why Anaheim's decision has caused such widespread upset.
Why believing conspiracy theories corrupts your Christian witness
2022-03-28T14:33:00+01:00By Jared Stacy
Christians have a dual responsibility to question conspiracy theories and show compassion to those who believe them, says Jared Stacy
After a heartbreaking week in Christian news, here are 6 things to do when our leaders fail
2022-03-25T12:42:00+00:00By Sarah Yardley
When our leaders fail the pain of disappointment can be hard to bear. Sarah Yardley leads us into lament, and encourages us to look to Jesus to learn the lessons of good leadership
My church isn’t taking Covid seriously. Should I leave?
2022-02-23T16:13:00+00:00By NT Wright
Q: My husband and I live in the USA and have been heartbroken by our church’s lack of precautions during the pandemic. Now that we are fully vaccinated, we’re looking forward to worshiping in person again, but we’re struggling with whether to go back to church. We love it deeply, ...
Jon Tyson: ‘Praise God I’m alive during one of the greatest declines in the Western Church’
2022-02-23T15:11:00+00:00By Emma Fowle
The straight-talking New York City-based pastor believes there’s a “tremendous opportunity” ahead of him to reach an increasingly secular world
After George Floyd, I needed a new prayer. When thousands joined Black Liturgies I realised I wasn’t alone
2022-02-11T15:51:00+00:00By Cole Arthur Riley, Creator of Black Litugries
Ahead of Racial Justice Sunday, Cole Arthur Riley explains how racial injustice sparked her to create Black Liturgies
Jessica Chastain’s movie about disgraced televangelists is both an eye-opener and a bridge builder
2022-02-03T13:31:00+00:00By Krish Kandiah
This new film gives us a sympathetic portrayal of a Christian ‘power couple’ who dominated religious TV broadcasts in the 1980s
Inside the fastest growing religious movement on earth
2022-01-27T15:44:00+00:00By Elle Hardy, Author of Beyond Belief
The agnostic journalist Elle Hardy has been investigating how Pentecostalism is taking over the world. Here’s what she discovered
An interview with Jesus
2022-01-25T15:45:00+00:00By Esther Higham
Jonathan Roumie reveals what it's like to play Jesus Christ in the hit TV series, The Chosen
2021 in numbers
2021-12-16T20:23:00+00:00By Marcus Jones, Sam Hailes, Emma Fowle
Our small team has spent the past year writing, designing and editing 840 pages of this magazine and uploading more than 500 articles to our website. But here, in no particular order, are the most important numbers you need to know about
PJ Smyth is a victim of trauma. He deserves our support, not our condemnation
2021-12-16T11:17:00+00:00By Andrew Graystone, Author of Bleeding for Jesus
PJ Smyth has been forced to step down as the leader of a US church movement affiliated to Newfrontiers, after a report concluded he did not disclose important information about his father’s abuses. But Andrew Graystone, who wrote a book on the John Smyth case, says PJ was his father’s first and most damaged victim.
Politics in the Church: Row breaks out over evangelical ‘elites’
2021-11-26T09:28:00+00:00By Heather Tomlinson
Leaders are being accused of selling out their Christian beliefs in order to curry favour with the secular liberal majority
The petitions and prayer vigils worked. Julius Jones is saved from death row
2021-11-19T20:09:00+00:00By Ruth Clemence
After 20 years of campaigning, which included prayer vigils and singing worship songs outside the prison, the Christian family and friends of Julius Jones are celebrating a huge answer to prayer
The Church has benefited from Facebook. But should we embrace Zuckerberg’s Metaverse?
2021-11-08T14:45:00+00:00By Dr Pete Phillips, Head of Digital Theology for Premier
Is the recent Facebook rebrand just a business decision? And what exactly is a metaverse anyway? Our head of digital theology answers your questions
In half-hearted defence of Hillsong’s VIP worship tickets
2021-10-20T11:51:00+01:00By Chris Llewellyn, Rend Collective
The news that Hillsong United and Chris Tomlin will offer special VIP passes for their worship tour has sparked a debate about Christian music, celebrity and finance. Some have argued the selling of VIP tickets for Christian events is morally wrong, but the Rend Collective frontman Chris Llewellyn sees things differently
This powerful book is forcing the Church to re-think what the Bible says about women
2021-10-07T08:41:00+01:00By Emma Fowle
The Making of Biblical Womanhood argues that Christians have distorted key verses and even written women out of Bible translations to justify their position
John Shelby Spong (1931-2021): The ‘heretical’ bishop who divided opinion
2021-09-16T15:19:00+01:00By Jonty Langley
Spong didn’t believe in the resurrection, and rejected mainstream Church teaching on prayer, miracles and the nature of God
I’m a Christian and I survived 9/11. Here’s what I want the next generation to know
2021-09-10T09:39:00+01:00By Christina Ray Stanton
NYC tour guide Christina Ray Stanton survived 9/11. Here’s what she wants Christians everywhere to know about evil and suffering
Our society is more divided than ever. Here’s how Christians can help fix it
2021-08-02T13:48:00+01:00By Jon Yates
I bring good news and bad news. The good news is that the people of Britain are right about something. The bad news is that they are right about how awful something is. Half of our fellow citizens tell pollsters that our country is “more divided than ever before”. Following ...
Christine Caine: The prolific evangelist and activist isn’t slowing down yet
2021-06-30T19:54:00+01:00By Emma Fowle
There is an honesty about Christine Caine that is rare in high-profile leaders. When the bestselling author, internationally acclaimed speaker and leader of multiple international organisations appears on our morning Zoom call, she is straight off the treadmill, laughing and apologising for her appearance in a sorry-not-sorry way that epitomises ...
When prophets fail
2021-05-04T14:09:00+01:00By Dave Roberts
Respected leaders in the American Church were convinced God had told them Donald Trump would be re-elected president. Dave Roberts analyses why so many got it wrong, and seeks trusted voices to help us understand the role of the prophetic today
It’s one year since church leaders promised to re-examine their attitudes towards racism. So, what’s changed?
2021-04-29T19:34:00+01:00By Sam Hailes
12 months on from the tragic death of George Floyd, have church leaders kept their promises?
Luis Palau (1934-2021): Energetic, enthusiastic and effective
2021-03-24T15:45:00+00:00By Rev Canon J.John
After becoming a Christian at the age of twelve, Luis Palau began preaching on street corners. He went on to reach millions with the gospel. J.John pays tribute to the Argentinian evangelist
What if Covid-19 really is God’s judgement?
2020-10-26T00:00:00+00:00By RT Kendall
It isn’t a popular viewpoint…but could it be true? RT Kendall thinks so
The prophetic significance of taking a knee
2020-10-26T00:00:00+00:00By Ryan Galpin
Ryan Galpin looks at whether Christian athletes should be taking the knee in support of racial justice
Who are the Hebrew Israelites and why do they believe that Jesus is black?
2020-03-20T00:00:00+00:00By Megan Cornwell
Megan Cornwell investigates the sect that believes African Americans are the true Hebrew Israelites
When John Lennox met Dave Rubin
2020-01-07T00:00:00+00:00By Justin Brierley
Justin Brierley has moderated hundreds of lively debates on Christianity and atheism, but when a renowned Christian apologist met a popular YouTube personality at a Californian megachurch, it turned out to be one of the most remarkable events the broadcaster has ever hosted
50 years of CCM: Why the glory days of Christian music are over
2019-11-21T00:00:00+00:00By Derek Walker
As Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) turns 50 years old, Derek Walker says the genre has lost its way
The case against sermon-centric Sundays
2019-09-20T00:00:00+01:00By Skye Jethani
Skye Jethani explains why digital technology is disrupting our 500-year-old emphasis on lengthy Sunday sermons
RT Kendall: When Word and Spirit come together, revival will follow
2019-08-19T00:00:00+01:00By RT Kendall
Christians have taken sides for too long. Either we’ve pursued strong biblical teaching, or we’ve gone after an experience of God’s presence. It’s time to end the war, says RT Kendall
Joshua Harris: Why I regret writing 'I Kissed Dating Goodbye'
2019-03-18T00:00:00+00:00By Sam Hailes
I Kissed Dating Goodbye changed the way a generation of Christians thought about sex, relationships and purity. But two decades on, intense criticism has led Joshua Harris to pulp his bestselling book and issue an apology
Deconstructing faith: Meet the evangelicals who are questioning everything
2019-03-18T00:00:00+00:00By Sam Hailes
A new generation is re-thinking what they've been told about Christianity, the Bible and what it means to be a follower of Jesus. They argue a 'new reformation' is taking place as they voice their doubts and embrace a process known as theological deconstruction. Those who have walked this road say it's a life-giving and ultimately faith-affirming process, but others are sceptical. Sam Hailes investigates
The Passion translation: Dr Brian Simmons responds to his critics
2018-12-13T00:00:00+00:00By Sam Hailes
The former missionary explains why he’s produced a somewhat controversial new translation of the Bible called The Passion
How Hillsong conquered the world and changed the way we worship
2018-09-20T00:00:00+01:00By Sam Hailes
What began as a single Sydney congregation is now a global church famous for producing some of Christendom’s best-known worship songs. As Hillsong gears up to plant yet more congregations across the UK, we take a peek behind the scenes of this pioneering megachurch
I visited six US megachurches. Here's what I learned
2018-04-19T00:00:00+01:00By Justin Brierley
Justin Brierley travelled the length and breadth of the USA to go behind the scenes of some of the country’s biggest churches
Bethel Church's Bill Johnson: 'If I doubted God's existence, I'd have to doubt mine'
2014-12-16T00:00:00+00:00By Greg Downes
Charismatics from around the world have been flocking to Bethel Church in Redding, California, to experience its ongoing focus on worship, miracles and revival. Greg Downes speaks to Bethel’s leader Bill Johnson about faith and doubt, hunting and healing – and his hope for revival.