Thirty-five congregations in Arkansas that currently belong to The United Methodist Church are undergoing processes of discernment for possibly disaffiliating from the mainline Protestant denomination over its ongoing homosexuality debate. A spokesperson for the UMC Arkansas Conference, which begins its official annual meeting this week, confirmed the number of churches under discernment in an email to The Christian Post on Wednesday, adding that she was uncertain as to how many more will undergo the process in the near future, labeling it "pure speculation." Read more.

Cumberland County Sheriff Ennis Wright announced on Facebook Monday that 57-year-old Terry Wayne Raeford of Fayetteville, N.C., was arrested in connection with the vandalism of two churches. Investigators say the man was caught on video throwing Molotov cocktails at the churches and that security cameras captured the suspect's vehicle at both locations, enabling them to identify Raeford as the man in the video. Raeford was charged with "two counts of Manufacture, Assembly, Possession, Storage, Transportation, Sale, Purchase, Delivery, or Acquisition of Weapon of Mass Death and Destruction; Exceptions, and two counts of Malicious Damage of Occupied Property by Use of Explosive or Incendiary; Punishment." Read more.

Video footage from RuPaul's DragCon 2022, which took place May 13-15 in Los Angeles, shows children dancing on stage for money alongside drag queen performers. The list of performers at the drag convention included "A'Whora," "Madame Laqueer" and "Trinity the Tuck." The Libs of TikTok Twitter account posted the video on Sunday alongside the caption, "Nothing to see here … just a child dancing for adults with drag queens on stage for money at a drag convention." Convention sponsors included streaming service Paramount+, makeup brand Anastasia Beverly Hills, the craft and fabric store chain Jo-Ann, Out Here Sexual Health and the Los Angeles Public Library. Should children be exposed to sexually explicit drag performances? Read more.

Writer and commentator Samuel Sey addresses the issue of absentee fathers in society, noting that nearly two-thirds of teenagers who commit suicide are fatherless. Sey asserts that fathers who don't value their child's life teach their child a person's life isn't valuable, either. "The father of the teenager who murdered 19 children and 2 adults in Uvalde, Texas, said: 'He probably would have shot me, too, because he would always say I didn’t love him,'" Sey points out, concluding, "I know that if the school shooter’s father valued his son’s life—his son would have been more likely to value other people’s lives too." Read more.

Award-winning TV show host, author, speaker and former school counselor Shannon Perry discusses school shootings through the lens of her experience as a school counselor. Asserting the problem boils down to a "heart issue," Perry shares key ways parents and educators can prevent these tragedies. Among her recommendations: family members should volunteer their time and become a constant presence at their local schools, identify children in crisis and intervene early, and enlist the help of reliable adults for mentorship programs. Read more.

Dr. Tony Evans says that we’re all at one of three places in life: we're either being tested, just got through being tested, or about to be tested. Join him as he explains how to be ready to succeed when those times come by depending on the power of the Holy Spirit. Listen Now

Christian Post Senior Features Reporter Leonardo Blair writes about his experiences attending several churches in the metaverse. From worship services to religious debates and the existence of God, Blair's experiences shed light on how the metaverse is becoming a platform for people to discuss thoughts, ideas, and even the Gospel. On sharing his faith with two non-believers, Blair writes, "In the end both non-believers sent me friend requests. I accepted fully realizing that it had been a very long time since I was asked so many questions about what I believed and why. And even though the young men said they weren’t yet convinced that God exists, I know that God made a connection with them through our conversation because they opened the door to keep listening." Read more.

Grammy Award-winning worship leader Naomi Raine of Maverick City Music is gearing up for the release of her solo album Journey and wants listeners to know that her faith-filled music goes beyond the worship songs they're accustomed to. During an interview with The Christian Post, the "Jireh" singer explained that distraction from her faith and getting pregnant "out of wedlock" turned into a teachable moment. "The Lord used that time to really deal with me and actually teach me not just about His presence, but about who He is," the singer explained. Raine says her album, which touches on mental illness, is really about facing the truth—and yourself. "What I realized is that when you face the truth, and when you tell the truth, tell yourself the truth, and tell others the truth: you are going to go through difficulty. And if you can't handle that you can slip into depression, you can slip into some of these places because it's difficult to tell the truth and change your life." Read more.

Sadie Robertson Huff recently invited Hillsong Young & Free singer-songwriter Aodhan King to her podcast, "Whoa That's Good," to discuss how young adults can handle changes in adulthood and maintain their faith by saying "yes" to friendships. During the May 25 episode, which Robertson hosted alongside her husband, Christian Huff, Robertson touched on the ways young adults go through "stretching seasons" that can help push them to reach their maximum potential. "It's uncomfortable, and it hurts, and it's hard sometimes, but it's getting you to your maximum potential. And that's why, [for] athletes, it's before you go on a race that you're going to stand on the sidelines and you're going to really stretch it out, and it might hurt, it might be uncomfortable, but that's going to get you to your best potential," she explained. Read more.