News
Support for Labor Unions in the U.S. Continues to Increase
The number of U.S. adults who approve of labor unions continued to increase in 2022, according to a new Gallup report. Support has increased for the last six years and is at its highest level since 1965.
Second Nurturing Faith Commentary Volume Now Available
‘Nurturing Faith Commentary: Year A, Volume 2’ by Tony W. Cartledge is now available in the Good Faith Media bookstore. This is the second of a planned 12-volume series, with a promotional pricing offer available until the end of 2022.
Reaction and Response: Majority of U.S. Protestant Pastors Say Females Could Be Pastor of Their Church
A majority of U.S. Protestant pastors affirm that women could serve as the senior pastor in their congregation, according to a LifeWay Research report. Significant disparities exist between denominations.
Meet the Fall 2022 Good Faith Media Interns
Machael Murrell and Christine Young are Good Faith Media’s Ernest C. Hynds Jr. Interns for fall 2022. They are the seventh group of interns and will begin their internship on September 1.
U.S. Growing Pessimistic About Addressing Climate Change
A majority of U.S. adults believe climate change is taking place, but fewer say their personal actions can have a positive impact on climate change than did so three years ago, according to a report from AP-NORC.
Few U.S. Adults Say Religion / Faith Became More Important During Pandemic
Personal and public health increased in importance for one-in-four U.S. adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Pew Research Center report published Aug. 18. Few said religion / faith had become more important.
Climate Change Is Exacerbating Pathogenic Disease
Pathogenic diseases that impact humans are being exacerbated by climate change, according to research published in mid-August. Of the infectious diseases studied, greenhouse gas emission heightened the negative impacts of more than half.
#PandemicPastoring Report and Webinar Set for Sept. 1
A webinar focused on the short- and long-term impacts of pastoring through a pandemic will take place on Sept. 1. Produced jointly by Three Minute Ministry Mentor and Good Faith Media, 3MMM founder Eileen Campbell-Reed will host the webinar.
People of Good Faith: Preston Clegg
Preston Clegg is pastor of Second Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Religion, Spirituality Second Most Frequently Read Genre in U.S.
Books on religion and spirituality are the second most frequently read genre among U.S. adults, according to a new YouGov survey. Mystery and crime books are most frequently read.
Both Open- and Close-mindedness Increase in U.S.
The number of U.S. adults who are open to new ideas has increased since 2015, according to a new report from Barna Group published July 20. But so too has those who feel threatened by those who disagree with them.
U.S. Majority Wants Congress to Codify Rights, Protections Established by Prior SCOTUS Rulings
A majority of U.S. adults want to see Congress pass legislation that would codify rights and protections established in five Supreme Court rulings, according to a new YouGov / The Economist survey.
U.S. Millennial Church Attendance Sees Large Increase in 2022
Weekly worship attendance among U.S. Millennials more than doubled from 2021 to 2022, according to a new Barna Group report. The increase was primarily the result of a significant attendance increase among non-white Millennials.
People of Good Faith: Jim Hopkins
Jim Hopkins is senior pastor of Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church in Oakland, California, where he has served since 1989.
U.S. State Department Trafficking Report Notes Positive and Negative Religious Involvement
Faith-based groups are working in cooperation with governments and NGOs to help trafficking victims and raise awareness about human trafficking. However, a State Department report also highlighted instances of complicity with traffickers.
Expansive 12-Volume Resource Will Enrich Bible Teaching, Learning and Preaching
Good Faith Media is rolling out the first volumes in an expansive new resource to provide biblical insights for preaching and teaching. The 12-volume Nurturing Faith Commentary is written by longtime Bible study writer Tony W. Cartledge.
Pope Francis Urges Christians to ‘Listen to the Voice of Creation’
“Listen to the voice of creation,” Pope Francis urges in his message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. His entreaty provides both a theme and an invitation for the Catholic Season of Creation.
Latest Nurturing Faith Book Searches for ‘Common-Sense’ Gospel
Offering an exploration of the Gospels in search of a “common-sense gospel,” ‘If Jesus Were Here Today’ by Maralene and Miles Wesner is the latest book from Nurturing Faith Books, the publishing imprint of Good Faith Media.
Autumn Lockett Departing Good Faith Media for OU Medical School Position
Autumn Lockett is departing her role at Good Faith Media for a position at the University of Oklahoma’s College of Medicine. She has served as GFM’s executive director of development and marketing since June 2020.
Full Gender Parity Worldwide 132 Years Away
It will take 132 years to achieve full gender parity worldwide, according to the World Economic Forum’s 2022 Global Gender Gap Report published July 13. The index, launched in 2006, measures progress towards gender parity.
New Nurturing Faith Books Focus on Pain and Suffering, Faith and Family
New books on pain and suffering, and on faith and family, are now available from Nurturing Faith Books, Good Faith Media’s publishing imprint. Check out these and more than 100 additional titles in GFM’s online bookstore.
People of Good Faith: Barry Howard
Barry Howard is pastor at the Wieuca Road Baptist Church in Atlanta. He also serves as a leadership coach and columnist for the Center for Healthy Churches.
Food Insecurity Increased by 46m in 2021
The number of people affected by hunger globally rose to an estimated 828 million in 2021, according to a new report. This number reflects an increase of 46 million people affected by hunger since 2020.
U.S. Pastors Who Considered Quitting Less Likely to Prioritize Self-Care
Most pastors of Protestant churches in the U.S. have an overall sense of satisfaction and contentment in their role, Barna Group found. However, self-care and spiritual formation is often neglected.
White Evangelicals Are Outliers Among U.S. Faith Groups on ‘Roe’ Reversal
White evangelical Protestants in the U.S. are the only faith group with a majority approving the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in ‘Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health,’ according to a Pew Research Center report published July 6.
Fewer U.S. Adults View Bible as ‘Actual Word of God’
The number of U.S. adults who say the Bible is the “actual word of God, to be taken literally” reached an all-time low in 2022, according to a Gallup report. The number who say the Bible is an ancient book of fables reached an all-time high.
U.S. Confidence in Church, Organized Religion Declines
Less than one third of U.S. adults expressed confidence in church or organized religion, according to a Gallup report. While not the lowest level in polling history, it is a six-point drop from 2021.
Pandemic Significantly Increased Learning Poverty
Learning poverty has increased by one-third in low- and middle-income countries, due in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a World Bank report. In addition, new data reveals that learning poverty was underestimated prior to the pandemic.
Nearly One in Five Say Lack of DEI a Common Problem in Houses of Worship
Nearly one in five adults in both the United States and Canada say that a lack of diversity, equity and inclusion is a “common problem” in houses of faith, according to a new report.
U.S. Catholics Not Significantly Influenced by Church Leaders on Social, Political Issues
The political views and position on social issues for most U.S. Catholics are not significantly influenced by church leadership or official doctrine, a report found.