Congregationalism & Churches
He’s an East African researcher for Open Doors. The work has counterintuitively affected his faith. Nearly two decades ago, Fikiru joined a prayer and Bible study group in his hometown in East Africa, an experience that led him to accept Christ as his personal savior. But Fikiru soon found that other Christians in the area… Read More
Evangelical elites of all political stripes still dispute Trump, but the question is largely settled at the grassroots. Next week’s Iowa Republican caucuses formally launch the 2024 primary race that will almost certainly end with a third GOP nomination for former president Donald Trump. When Iowans caucus on Monday, recent polling suggests Trump will easily… Read More
When we cut out creative processes, we diminish what gives art its true value. This year, the ad agency Design Army created an entire campaign using only generative AI. In it, models seem to stand in surreal sci-fi landscapes. A world of impossible buildings, floating hats, and gigantic eyeballs announces the opening of a high-end… Read More
Eight writers daydream about passion projects they will (realistically) never pursue. Writers, in one sense, can write whatever they please. They can follow their creativity and curiosity wherever it carries them. They can ponder mysteries, investigate unknowns, and build narrative worlds, with possibilities as limitless as an empty page. Real life, of course, imposes limits.… Read More
This year’s favorite print articles chosen by the editorial team. In 2023, we published nearly 100 articles in our nine print issues, including 51 feature-length essays. It’s hard to choose, since they’re all of our favorites, but we attempted to narrow down 10 pieces that we felt everyone should read. Here are our print editors’… Read More
The hope of union that helps us persevere today The Christmas season isn’t always jolly and merry. In fact, it can be filled with heartache, sorrow, tears, and pain. I understand this intimately. Ever since June 30, 2021, my family’s holidays have been marked by tears and sadness. On that day, our 20-year-old daughter died… Read More
I picture a clean, sweet Nativity scene. But Jesus chose to come to a dirty, broken world. When I think about the night of Jesus’ birth, the first picture that comes to mind is straight from my childhood. It’s like I’m peering into a snow globe manger scene. Hallmark Channel perfect, it’s clean and serene.… Read More
Some see the holiday as the perfect time for outreach to North Korean defectors. Others aren’t so sure. Every Christmas, Lou Gallo dresses up as Santa Claus in Busan, South Korea. At the school for young North Korean defectors, Gallo and his wife, Lisa, bring gifts, teach children to decorate gingerbread houses, and talk about… Read More