Haiti mission orgs talk rise in kidnappings
Plus Colin L. Powell's faith & how prayer led protests against police brutality in Nigeria
Hi ReligionUnplugged readers,
Kidnappings in Haiti have surged by 300% this year. Most of this and other violence has been attributed to the 400 Mawozo gang. Early on Oct. 16, the gang kidnapped 17 missionaries from U.S.-based Christian Aid Ministries near the Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. They’re now demanding $17 million for the release of the group.
ReligionUnplugged’s Michael Ray Smith spoke to Dan Shoemaker, president of Reciprocal Ministries International that works in Haiti, to discuss how this incident will shape the future of missions in Haiti. Don’t miss it.
Last October in Nigeria, hundreds gathered to protest police brutality and corrupt governance. Men of the Nigerian army opened fire on unarmed protestors, killing at least 12 of them. After that, many of the protests stopped, but people of faith did not stop praying. One year later, they are still organizing prayer walks. Pelumi Salako reports from Lagos.
Colin L. Powell, who passed away this week from complications with COVID-19, was an Army general, a White House aide to four presidents and the first Black American to serve as the United States Secretary of State. He was revered by Americans across all political parties for his service. He was also a devoted Episcopalian whose faith influenced all his work. Hamil R. Harris memorializes Powell and pays tribute to his lifetime of faith and service to the U.S.
See you next week. And if you like what you read, share this with your family and friends.
Missions Groups Wary As Haiti Kidnappings Increase With Recent Abduction Of 17 People
One Year After Nigeria's Protests Against Police Brutality, Churches Keep Praying by Pelumi Salako
At the height of Nigeria’s nationwide #EndSARS protests against police brutality and corrupt governance last October, young people of faith joined and led street demonstrations with prayers and songs. The #EndSARS protests united people of different faiths, ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds to pray together and make demands for a better country. One year later, those connections are still growing and churches are still praying.
Colin L. Powell's Lifetime Of Service Informed By His Episcopal Faith by Hamil R. Harris
In life, Colin Luther Powell, the son of Jamaican Anglican immigrants, rose to become an Army general, a White House aide to four presidents and the first Black American to serve as the United States secretary of state. Powell passed away Oct. 18 at age 84 due to complications of COVID-19.
Indian Christians Who Survived 2008 Massacre Are Once Again Fleeing by Surinder Kaur Lal
In the same rural district that endured India’s worst violence against Christians 13 years ago, Hindu extremists set fire to a Christian home church, displacing five Christian families and triggering local fears of more religion-based violence.
After Criticism, Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church Repaying $4.4 Million In PPP Loans by Anne Stych
After backlash from church-state separation groups — who say PPP loan forgiveness from the U.S. government should not be accepted by religious organizations — Joel Osteen’s megachurch is repaying millions of dollars it borrowed to provide full salaries and benefits to its 370 employees during the pandemic.
Crypto Contribution? Engiven Lets Churches Take Cryptocurrency Gifts by Steve Rabey
Engiven is a cryptocurrency donation management platform formed in 2018. Its roster of churches and charities includes major groups such as The Salvation Army, Compassion International and March of Dimes, and CEO James Lawrence predicts it’ll be serving 1,000 clients by the end of 2021.
Exorcist Details His Ongoing Battle Against Demons In New Book About Possession by Clemente Lisi
(REVIEW) Stephen Rossetti, a licensed psychologist, tries to use his latest book to educate people on the subject of exorcisms and debunk myths that have been pushed into pop culture by Hollywood. He also pushes back on the idea that exorcisms are “not an integral part of the ministry of Jesus and thus are not an integral part of today’s church.”
Pastor Gets 8 Years In Prison After Ponzi Scheme Nets Nearly $10 Million by Anne Stych
Larry Holley of Grand Blanc, who is the pastor of Abundant Life Ministries in Flint, and Patricia Gray of Flint were indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2018 on several counts of fraud and money laundering. Both pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud and received prison sentences this month.
Fred Gray, Christian Civil Rights Lawyer For MLK, Gets Montgomery Street Named After Him by Audrey Jackson
Fred Gray, a 90-year-old civil rights lawyer and longtime Church of Christ elder, represented Rosa Parks when he was only 24 years old and serving as an attorney for Martin Luther King Jr. Now, the Alabama city where Parks famously refused to give up her bus seat to a White male passenger in 1955 — Montgomery — is naming a street after him.
Opinion
Surprise! Clashes Between Religion And COVID-19 Vaccines Not Going Away
In Friday’s Weekend Plug-In column, Bobby Ross Jr. shares the top reads of the week and discusses how COVID-19 is still a big issue of contention among the religious. You’ll notice that COVID-19 is unsurprisingly a common subject of the Weekend Plug-In column. It’s been the lead here, here, here, here, here and here.
Don’t forget! You can subscribe to receive Bobby’s column early on Fridays for only $5 a month. Click the button below to subscribe!
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul Says Vaccinated Are 'The Smart Ones' Who Listen To God by Terry Mattingly
Americans Are In A Mental Health Crisis — Especially African Americans. Can Churches Help? by Brad R. Fulton
The Love Of Money Has Influence Everywhere — Even Matters Of Morality by Dr. Michael Brown
An Apology To The Afghan Girl by Ewelina U. Ochab
Don’t miss our latest podcast
Death (Doesn’t) Do Us Part
Mercy Angels is a philanthropy based in the south Indian city of Bangalore, run largely by members of the Muslim community who help perform the last rites of people who have died from the Coronavirus. Volunteers like Tanveer Ahmed have helped bury and cremate the dead of all religions when their families cannot do so. Ahmed shares his experiences with ReligionUnplugged in partnership with Newsreel. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or listen directly on our website.
In case you missed it
Editorial picks from our archives
Halloween's Catholic Origins Often Overlooked By The Secular Press by Clemente Lisi
(OPINION) For many, Halloween is some extension of witchcraft and paganism. It’s a holiday, some Christians believe, that is celebrated by Satanists. It is also a big part of Christianity, specifically Roman Catholicism. That’s the part most-often overlooked by the mainstream news media.
Netflix Horror Series ‘Midnight Mass’ Warns Christians To Be Careful Who They Worship by Jillian Cheney
(REVIEW) “Midnight Mass,” a Netflix horror miniseries from creator Mike Flanagan, brings viewers to a small island town visited by a mysterious and charismatic priest and his accompanying “angel.” The show explores the enchanting power of miracles and asks Christians to be careful where they direct their worship.
Thanks again for reading!
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