Author: Shalem John

The 12×30-foot storage unit in a Raleigh, North Carolina, suburb is crammed full of chairs, tables, mattresses, lamps, pots and pans. Most of its contents will soon be hauled off to two apartments that Welcome House Raleigh is furnishing for three newly arrived refugees. It’s a job the ministry, which is a project of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina, has handled countless times on behalf of newly arrived refugees from such places as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria and Venezuela. But these two apartments are going to three Afrikaners—whose status as refugees is, according to many faith-based…

Fuller Theological Seminary is sticking to its position on human sexuality. After several years discussing and debating the evangelical institution’s stance—and considering changing policies impacting LGBTQ students, faculty, and staff—trustees voted to reaffirm Fuller’s “historic theological understanding of marriage,” while noting the school’s position that “faithful Christians” can hold other views. “Fuller Seminary has historically shunned ideological polarities,” president David Goatley wrote in an email summarizing the May 18-19 board meeting. “We continue to seek another way—a Fuller way—that is a critical contribution to the church and the world.” Board chair Shirley Mullen said the decision was made after years…

They were just days away from a marriage proposal when a gunman cut their lives short.  Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were leaving a reception for young Jewish diplomats at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, on Wednesday evening when a man fired into their group. The young couple, both employees of the Israeli Embassy, were killed. Lischinsky, a 30-year-old Israeli citizen, had deep ties to his country’s Messianic Jewish community.  “He was a godly young man, and he really just wanted to serve God and Israel with all his heart,” said Sandy Shoshani, whose husband, Oded Shoshani, pastors…