05/17/2023
Curated for you byCP Editors
Good afternoon! It's Wednesday, May 17, and today's headlines include research on foster care and adoption among churchgoers, a Massachusetts family that is suing a school district for allegedly violating their son's free speech rights, and the upcoming premiere of "The Secrets of Hillsong."
A report from Lifeway Research found that, among Protestant churchgoers in the U.S., 16% saw a member provide foster care, down from 25% in 2017. Meanwhile, 13% reported seeing a member adopt a child from the U.S., down from 17%. Some 11% saw a member adopt a child from another country, down from 15%. Eighteen percent of churchgoers reported that leaders raised funds for adoptive families, up from 8% in 2017; 44% of respondents reported active support for adoption and foster care in their congregation. Lifeway Research's Scott McConnell pointed to limiting factors brought on by the pandemic for the drop in foster care and adoption but noted that "the need is still great in the U.S. and could grow larger in states with abortion restrictions." Full Story.
P.S.Volume 5 of CP Magazine, "'Unmasking Gender Ideology' Panel Warns 'Women are going to Lose' Rights if Trans Ideologues Win," is here! If you'd like to help support Christian journalism, this digital-only offering runs just $19.99 annually—or get your free copy when you sign-up for a free Christian Post account. Sign-up to download your flipbook or PDF copy today.
Listen to the CP Daily PodcastApple podcastsGoogle podcastsSpotifyEdifi
FacebookTOP STORIES
Lawmakers and pro-life activists are calling for the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act to be repealed or reformed, contending there is a double standard in its enforcement based on one's view on abortion. During a press conference on Tuesday after a hearing to revisit the implications of the FACE Act, Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., the chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government, insisted the act "has been stripped of its intent and used as a tool to both simultaneously prosecute pro-life individuals and insulate those who carry out attacks on pro-life advocates and facilities." Read more.
The family of Liam Morrison, a 12-year-old student at Nichols Middle School in Middleborough, Mass., who was removed from class in March and ordered to remove his shirt because it read "There are only two genders," is preparing to sue the school district, alleging Morrison's free speech rights were violated. In a second incident on May 5, the seventh grader wore a shirt that read, "There are censored genders" and was again asked to take off his shirt. The Morrison family is being represented by the Massachusetts Family Institute. Read more.
Follow Us OnFacebookTwitterTwitterTwitter
FacebookCP VOICES
Pastor Greg Laurie reminds readers that God has given people two pillars of encouragement in these negative times: The Word of God and the people of God. "Where will you find hope? That is where you will find hope," he writes. Read more.
Wallace Henley writes about concerns regarding President Joe Biden's ability to lead, Vice President Kamala Harris' inability to do so, and the need for a miracle in America. "Voters must go beyond soundbites and appearances from candidates and look deeply into their characters, temperaments, and records. ... Pray for a leadership miracle for the United States in 2024," he says. Read more.
FacebookA MESSAGE FROM Baker Publishing Group
It was a typical Thursday night for our team. We arrived at 8:30 p.m., unloaded our food, and set up in front of the DJ booth. We’d prepared a crowd favorite that night: fried chicken and mashed potatoes, rolls, salad, and mac and cheese—enough to feed everyone who works at the strip club, thirty dancers and ten bouncers. Yes, you read that right.
For years, I’ve led groups of Christian women who minister to the men and women who work in the adult entertainment industry. When I train volunteers to prepare meals and take them into clubs, one of the first things I teach them is that this kind of ministry is hard, laborious, and requires courage. But how does an average Christian find the courage to do something outrageous? Let me tell you a story. Read more.
FacebookCHURCH & MINISTRIES
Tim Keller's family has asked for continued prayers for the pastor and bestselling author as he recently returned to the hospital amid his ongoing battle with pancreatic cancer. "After being released from the hospital on Saturday, he returned late Sunday night to receive additional care. Please continue to pray for his recovery," Michael Keller, Tim Keller's son, wrote on Twitter Wednesday morning. Read more.
In the upcoming "The Secrets of Hillsong" docuseries, which is set to premiere on FX Networks on Friday, former Hillsong NYC pastor Carl Lentz claims he was sexually abused by a family member as a child. Lentz also denies that he sexually abused his former parishioner and nanny, Leona Kimes, contending it was a consensual relationship between two adults. Read more.
FacebookMEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT
During an interview with host Alex Cooper on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast, actress Gwyneth Paltrow admitted that she wasn't prepared for how much her children's school in Los Angeles, Calif., taught preteens about sex. Paltrow, who founded the newsletter Goop, which also sells beauty products and sex toys, stated, "Anything you're thinking, they taught like the 11, 12-year-olds." Read more.
A Miller Lite ad released earlier this spring is garnering backlash and some calls for a boycott, with critics accusing the campaign of being too "woke." The "Bad $#!T to Good $#!T," ad sees comedian Ilana Glazer reveal the beer company was using old ads that sexualized women as compost to fertilize the soil to grow the components for their beers. Conservative influencer Rogan O'Handley was among those to call for a boycott, tweeting, "Newsflash: After a hard day's work, working-class beer drinkers don't want to be lectured like they're in a Gender Studies class at SUNY-Oswego." Read more.
Thank you for spending part of your day with us. We look forward to seeing you again tomorrow! -- CP Editors