News
Reaction and Response: Systemic Racism Can’t Be Denied
Politicians and pundits have offered divergent views on systemic racism and whether or not it exists in the US. Several faith leaders tell Good Faith Media that racism can’t be denied and to deal with it requires honest repentance.
Moral Values Mold Public’s View of Journalism
Public trust of journalists has been in decline for decades in the US. A recent study suggested that the public’s view of journalists isn’t shaped by people’s political affiliation, as many assumed, but by their moral values.
Faith Groups, Leaders Hail Revised Refugee Quotas
Faith groups and leaders across the US have welcomed the policy change announced by the Biden administration, which will increase the annual US refugee resettlement quota to 62,500.
Third of US Kids Live in Low-Income Homes
Despite declines over the last decade, more than one-third of US children live in low-income households with Native American, Black and Latino children significantly more likely to live in poverty than white children, a report found.
People of Good Faith: Hal Bass
Hal Bass is professor emeritus of political science at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He is a member of the Good Faith Media strategic advisory board for news and opinion.
New Nurturing Faith Titles Focus on Dementia, Tension
“Staring at Dementia” by Danny E. Akin and “Tension” by Gerald L. Borchert are the latest releases from Nurturing Faith books, the publishing imprint of Good Faith Media.
US Homelessness Continues Inching Upward
More than half a million people in the US were homeless in early January 2020, a federal report found. It’s the fourth year in a row that the total number of unhoused persons increased, a trend one official called ‘very troubling.’
India’s Deadly COVID-19 Surge: ‘Scary, Heart-Breaking’
India is seeing an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases, which began to spike in March with a seven-day average now surpassing 300,000 cases per day. Urging prayer, a pastor there called the situation ‘scary and heart-breaking.’
Slim Majority in US Favors Stricter Gun Laws
A slim majority (53%) of the US supports stricter gun regulations, a report found, dropping seven points from 2019 when 60% favored tighter laws. It is the first time since 2017 that the desire for stricter laws declined.
Reaction & Response: Biden Most Popular Among ‘Nones’
President Biden, like President Obama, is most popular with people claiming no religious affiliation, a report said. While 71% of ‘nones’ approve of Biden’s presidency, only 26% of church-going white Protestants feel the same.
People of Good Faith: William Neal
William Neal is a retired Baptist minister who served during his career as a campus minister, journalist and CEO for a social services organization. He is currently serving as the chair of the strategic advisory board for Good Faith Media’s publishing division.
Newest Book from Nurturing Faith Offers ‘Sermons for Special Days’
The latest book from Nurturing Faith, the publishing imprint of Good Faith Media, offers a collection of ‘sermons for special days.’ The authors’ goal is to help move beyond sentimental, shallow messages on such occasions.
Less Confident, But More People Reflect on Life’s Purpose
Whether it’s daily, weekly or monthly, nearly six out of 10 US adults say they think about finding meaning and purpose in their lives, a report found. Yet, less than a third strongly agree that they should pursue that purpose.
Report: US Religiosity Largely Stable in 2020
Despite the pandemic, US religiosity was largely stable in 2020, a report said, with 48% of people saying religion was ‘very important’ in their lives. Still, it’s the lowest level in polling history and a 10-point dip since 2012.
Major U.S. Supermarkets Failing on Plastic Reduction
Major supermarkets in the U.S. are not doing enough to reduce single-use plastics and the resulting waste, a report said. None received a passing grade in the four areas of assessment.
People of Good Faith: Marv Knox
Marv Knox founded Fellowship Southwest in 2017 after a four-decade career in journalism. He is currently serving as the chair of the Good Faith Media news and opinion strategic advisory board.
Look Back | Tax Policy Can Help Promote Racial Equality
Tax policies can help move the U.S. toward racial equality and mitigate the negative impacts of racism, a report said. Discriminatory policies, then and now, have created a racial wealth gap.
Police, Prosecutorial Misconduct Create ‘Innocence Epidemic’ on Death Row
There is an “innocence epidemic” on death row, a report said. Nearly 200 inmates on death row have been exonerated following their conviction due to prosecutorial misconduct or false testimony.
Starlette Thomas Now a GFM Contributing Correspondent
Starlette Thomas is joining Good Faith Media as a contributing correspondent. She will write articles for the website and Nurturing Faith Journal, as well as develop season two of “The Raceless Gospel” podcast.
The Curious, Adventurous Life of Gene Espy
Gene Espy first heard of the Appalachian Trail in seventh grade, two years after it had been completed. He set out to hike the entire trail in 1951 at age 24, becoming just the second person to “thru-hike” the entire trail.
New Podcast Focuses on ‘Discovering Wholeness’
A new collaborative podcast will drop at Good Faith Media next week. “Discovering Wholeness: Healing Trauma, Unearthing Self” will focus on a variety of topics that address what it means to heal from trauma.
U.S. Confidence in Safe In-Person Worship Increases
A growing number of U.S. adults feel confident that they can safely attend in-person religious services. Yet, less than half of Christian churchgoers in the U.S. plan to attend an in-person Easter service this year, well below the 62% historical average.
Under Half of US Adults Affiliate with House of Faith
Fewer than half of U.S. adults now claim membership in a church, mosque or synagogue, a report found. It’s the first time in polling history when a majority has not done so, following a decades-long membership decline.
Good Faith Media to Host Writers’ Retreat in Georgia Mountains
“Open to anyone who loves words,” Good Faith Media will host its first Writers’ Retreat, Oct. 20-22, 2021, at Amicalola Falls Lodge in the colorful mountains of North Georgia.
Widespread Support in US for LGBTQ+ Rights
By Zach Dawes Jr – More than three out of four, or 76%, of US adults support the enactment of nondiscrimination laws to protect LGBTQ persons, a report found. The support crossed age, gender, political and religious demographics.
People of Good Faith: Ronnie Brewer
Ronnie Brewer is a retired pastor and campus minister living in Miramar Beach, Florida, near Destin. He is currently serving as the chair of the strategic advisory board for the Good Faith Media experiences division.
Five Things to Listen for in “Raceless Gospel” Podcast
Starlette Thomas – a womanist in ministry – treats these five episodes as five Sundays. Each episode is structured like a church service and features different elements of a Sunday worship hour: welcome, testimony, sermon, call to discipleship, offering and benediction.
People of Good Faith: Starlette Thomas
Starlette Thomas is a member of the Good Faith Media strategic advisory board and host of the forthcoming GFM podcast, “The Raceless Gospel.”
Most U.S. Protestants Plan In-Person Attendance Post-Pandemic
A new report found that most Protestant churchgoers planning to attend in-person worship when it is safe to do so. So, clergy can mostly breathe a sigh of relief regarding post-pandemic engagement.
Latest Nurturing Faith Book Focuses on Life Together
Jeff Hampton jumped at the opportunity to write a weekly church blog post, offering up his thoughts on matters of faith. Ten years later, he’s still at it, and has collected his writings on community into a book.