Pastor of 121-year-old Fort Bend Church says despite roadblocks, heโs determined to build a new โdebt-freeโ sanctuary
It is a church that has been around for more than 100 years, and although its membership has dwindled in recent times, they are looking to touch a growing number of souls with a bold plan for the future.
Victims allege Magnolia youth pastor charged with indecency of a child forced victims to โspoonโ and โcuddleโ with him
A former employee of a Magnolia church is now the center of an investigation after he reportedly turned himself in and confessed to โinappropriate behavior with adolescentsโ during his time at the ministry.
Houston pastor working to get lights turned on in time for Sunday service after thieves steal copper, cut power at Space City Church
A local church is now forced to deal with the aftermath of thieves stealing copper and cutting off the power, leaving their place of worship without air conditioning and electricity.
Minnesota town grants permit to โwhites onlyโ church
MURDOCK, Minn. โ The city council of Murdock, Minnesota has anonymously voted to grant a permit that allows a Nordic heritage church identified as a white supremacist group to gather at an abandoned church. The vote came after Murdockโs city attorney advised town officials that rejecting the Asatru Folk Assemblyโs request could violate its religious rights. Council members, who were meeting online because of the coronavirus pandemic, kept video cameras turned off and refused to identify who voted for or against the permit. Mayor Craig Kavanagh said the vote was 3-1 to approve the Conditional Use Permit as long as the group meets the conditions set on the permit. โThere has been a lot of concern on this topic in the city of Murdock and rightfully so.
Fire guts historic church home to New Yorkโs Liberty Bell
Firefighters work to extinguish a fire that erupted from a building next to Middle Collegiate Church on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020 in New York. The historic 19th century church in lower Manhattan was gutted by a massive fire early Saturday that sent flames shooting through the roof. The Middle Collegiate Church had been in two other locations in Manhattan since 1729. Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted that the fire was โheartbreakingโ and pledged: "Weโll do whatever we can to help Middle Collegiate rebuild." The fate of the church building is unclear, Lewis said, but the ministry will continue.
โWe will not be stoppedโ: Local church determined to serve despite heavy building damage
A local Houston Pastor said his church might be structurally damaged but his congregation is determined to give back. โWe may be bent but we arenโt broken,โ said Pastor Ronald Smith of New Mount Calvary Baptist Church. On Sept. 13, a car plowed through the front of the church and created significant damage to the sanctuary. Despite the damage, Smith said that the church opted to move forward with a free food distribution event. โThough damaged, the church is in us and thatโs why this movement is going on today,โ said Pastor Smith, โCars lined up because we are able to serve and we will not be stopped.โ
Lakewood Church resumes in-person services today
HOUSTON, Texas โ Worshipers filled Lakewood Church Sunday for the first in-person services since March. Idlebird has attended Lakewood Church for many years. โEven though we can pray at home or wherever you are, but being among a bunch of other worshipers.โAll worshipers are required to wear a mask. Lakewood Church has taken safety measures, including installing touch-less options in the restrooms and a UV-light on the escalators to disinfect the handrails. Weโre gonna do our part.โFor those who plan on attending a service in the future, people must first pre-register on the churchโs website at https://www.lakewoodchurch.com/Lakewood Church was also offering services online, as well.
Church seeking donations after man drives through front door causing $300,000 in damage
HOUSTON โ A southeast Houston church is still rebuilding after a car crashed through its front door. Earlier this month, the car smashed into New Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church along Beldart and South Wayside Drive. The driver was seen moments after the crash, tearing up the inside of the church, before he took off. The suspect was later caught and arrested but not before causing an estimated $300,000 worth of damage. Maybe seeing the damage done would give remorse but certainly, the church as we recognize we are the recipients of mercy.
Houston churchโs Black Lives Matter banner targeted for second time
HOUSTON โ A Houston church community is praying that thieves and vandals stop making them a target. For the second time in two months, someone has destroyed or stolen a Black Lives Matter banner from the front of Resurrection MCC Church on West 11th Street near the Heights. This isnโt the first time someone tampered with a Black Lives Matter sign at Resurrection MCC. โI cannot believe that I just drove by your church and you have the sign of Black Lives Matter,โ the voice said. โIt matters enough to our congregation and it matters enough to our world right now to say: Black Lives Matter,โ said Threash.
Ask 2: Are churches allowed to hold in-person services?
As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: Ask 2: Are churches allowed to hold in-person services? Answer: Yes, places of worship are allowed to hold in-person services; however, Texas Health and Human Servicesโ protocols suggest that churches strongly encourage at-risk attendees to watch or participate in service remotely. Greg Abbottโs latest executive order regarding the matter states there is no occupancy limit for religious services conducted in churches, congregations, and houses of worship. Send it our way, and we will try to hunt down an answer.
Ask 2: Are there still occupancy limits for churches?
As part of our new Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. The original question: All these businesses opening at 50% and 75%, when will churches be allowed at more than 25%? The answer: There is no longer an occupancy limit for religious services conducted in churches, congregations and houses of worship, according to Gov. Health protocols for churches or places of worship were updated on May 26. To view the updated health protocols checklist for churchgoers, click here.
Church destroyed by arsonist amid legal battle between pastor and the city
A Mississippi church at the center of an arson investigation is the same church currently in a battle with city leaders over a COVID-19 safer-at-home order. First Pentecostal Church in Holly Springs was destroyed by what investigators believe is an arsonist. Investigators found graffiti on pavement in the church parking lot that reads, โBet you stay home now you hypokrits." We donโt know anyone that we even think could be capable of doing something like this.โThe fire comes after Waldrop filed a lawsuit in April against the City of Holly Springs. According to the complaint, the pastor held outdoor services when possible but would hold them indoors while practicing social distancing during inclement weather.
Houston-area churches prepping for parishioners to return, changes in store for members
THE WOODLANDS โ Houston-area churches are preparing the music, the pews, the signs, and the digital instructions for parishioners, who have been away for weeks to return to mass Sunday. St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in The Woodlands is one of the dozens of Catholic churches in the Houston area preparing to welcome back members this weekend. For starters, St. Anthony of Padua is requiring parishioners to reserve tickets online. Like businesses across Texas, churches must operate at 25% capacity in Phase 1 of Gov. The church's pastor said many will be happy to return to church, changes and all.
Houston Catholic churches to live stream Good Friday, Easter Sunday services
HOUSTON โ Parishioners in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will be celebrating this Easter with churches closed. About one million Catholics that make up the Archdiocese will celebrate Good Friday and Easter Sunday together in spirit but separate in the body. Easter services will be streamed online. In-person services for parishes ended two weeks ago, and the church is also struggling financially. To stream Good Friday and Easter Sunday services, visit the website at www.archgh.org.
Churches continue to worship online despite now deemed essential by state lawmakers
HOUSTON โ Many Houston churches are asking their members to continue to watch services online even as the Texas government has deemed churches as essential businesses. The pews at South Main Baptist Church in Midtown will remain vacant on Palm Sunday and Easter, which is a holy time of the year for Christians. โWe plan to continue doing that so long as the County Judge recommends doing so," Well said. Second Baptist Church will continue to stream its services online for its various campuses. Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, Christ Church Cathedral and Lakewood Church also plan to remain virtual.
Texas church frees residents of $2.2M in medical debt
FRISCO, Texas โ For many in Collin County, mounting medical debt will soon be erased thanks to the generosity of one Frisco church. โIn just Collin County this week we purchased $2.2 million worth of medical debt and forgave it all,โ Josh Craft, the executive pastor at Elevate Life Church in Frisco announced at last Sundayโs service. One of the best ways to change someoneโs life is to pay off their debt.โThey are working with RIP Medical Debt to do this. โOver the next couple of months people in Collin County will be getting letters that say hey we just love you and your debt is forgiven. It says God so loved the world that he gave and the cool thing is we get the opportunity to really find a way to just be that for people.โRIP Medical Debt estimates thereโs currently $740 million of unpaid medical debt in Texas.
VIDEO: โBatmanโ seen stealing from church in Alabama
Police in Jasper, Alabama are searching for a man who robbed at least two churches while wearing a Batman-style mask. Kingโs Way Church Pastor Jason Hooper says the Batman Bandit used a rock to break the front window. The man stole a keyboard and bass guitar, committing his crime in just one minute and 18 seconds. "Your frustrated, because looking at the gentleman walking through and the way he navigated the building reveals that he is someone we've helped somehow someway," Hooper says. Police believe the batman bandit is responsible for other break-ins in Jasper, Georgia, and Tennessee.
Fort Worth-area church shooter had lengthy criminal record, officials say
WHITE SETTLEMENT, Texas โ Texas officials have identified the gunman who they say killed two people at a White Settlement church as 43-year-old Keith Thomas Kinnunen. Officials say Kinnunen opened fire at the West Freeway Church of Christ Sunday, killing two people, before being killed by church security. He also said the two congregants who opened fire on the suspect were part of a security team at the West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement. A shooter at a church in White Settlement, Texas, was taken down by parishioners with guns seconds after he began firing Sunday. (West Freeway Church of Christ/Obtained by KTVT) (KPRC)โUnfortunately, this country has seen so many of these that weโve actually gotten used to it at this point.
A church nativity scene depicts Jesus, Mary and Joseph as refugees separated in cages
A California church is displaying a nativity scene depicting Jesus, Mary and Joseph as refugees in cages to draw attention to the conditions faced by migrants seeking asylum in the United States. Lead Pastor Karen Clark Ristine spoke with CNN affiliate KABC about the scene outside of the church. "We thought about the most famous refugee family in the world, the family of Jesus," Ristine said. In a Facebook post, Ristine said the display came from the idea of "What if this family sought refuge in our country today?" โDoes the worldโs most famous and worshipped refugees separated in cages make you uncomfortable USA?