The Christian Chronicle

14/08/2025

OKLAHOMA CITY — In the South Walker Church of Christ auditorium, 10 flags hang from the vaulted ceiling. The banners represent the countries from which members hail, including Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.

At its foundation, the south Oklahoma City church is “for everyone.” It’s the congregation’s slogan — “A church para todos!”

Around 30 years ago, South Walker’s leadership recognized the area’s shifting demographics. A community with a 20 percent Latino population surrounded the predominantly White church body.

Read Andrew Reneau's story:

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... OKLAHOMA CITY — In the South Walker Church of Christ auditorium, 10 flags hang from the vaulted ceiling. The banners represent the countries from […]

12/08/2025

GREEN BAY, WIS. — “Our God, He Is Alive.” “Existe un Dios.”

On a recent Sunday, the Church of Christ - Green Bay — just two-tenths of a mile off Packerland Drive — sang the unofficial anthem of Churches of Christ in both English and Spanish.

The church's Spanish-speaking ministry is part of the Herald of Truth Ministries program MESA, short for “Mission: Evangelize Spanish America.”

Read Bobby Ross Jr.’s story:

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... GREEN BAY, WIS. — “Our God, He Is Alive.” “Existe un Dios.” On a recent Sunday, the Green Bay Church of Christ — just […]

08/08/2025

Listen to Episode 135 of The Christian Chronicle Podcast: https://christianchronicle.org/episode/episode-135-how-journalism-can-be-a-truth-seeking-ministry-that-serves-gods-justice-jerry-mitchell/

MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient, Pulitzer Prize finalist and legendary investigative journalist Jerry Mitchell talks about how a relentless pursuit of the truth honors God and promotes God’s desire for justice.

In this episode, Mitchell talks about how he helped crack cold cases that brought to justice the murderers of five 1960s-era civil rights workers in Mississippi. He also makes a plea for Christians in society to renew and restore their collective and personal efforts to find and hold up truth, even when it hurts.

MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient, Pulitzer Prize finalist and world famous investigative journalist Jerry Mitchell talks about how a relentless pursuit of the truth honors God and promotes God’s desire for […]

06/08/2025

OKLAHOMA CITY — What’s your most evangelistic T-shirt? I’ve got a bunch from my church — youth camps where I was a counselor, mission trips, Leadership Training for Christ. But the T-shirt that gets the most comments simply says “Jesus ♥ You.”

“Jesus loves you, too, sir!” said the TSA agent as I stepped into the airport scanner and held up my arms (a posture of surrender, appropriately enough). As I stepped out, the agent said, “If more people believed that, this world would have a lot less problems.” Preach!

Read Erik Tryggestad’s insight:

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... OKLAHOMA CITY — What’s your most evangelistic T-shirt? I’ve got a bunch from my church — youth camps where I was a counselor, mission […]

05/08/2025

Read our latest news briefs from across the nation: https://christianchronicle.org/across-the-nation-a-student-center-in-alabama-a-stronger-sense-of-identity-in-texas-and-more-quick-takes/

🌎 HUNTSVILLE, ALA. — Three years ago, Mayfair Church of Christ leaders saw an opportunity to support an expanded college ministry.

Elders fasted and prayed about such an initiative before a house — owned by church members who were former missionaries — became available near the University of Alabama Huntsville campus.

Now, Mayfair has realized its vision with the opening of the University Christian Student Center in that renovated building.

🌎 FRESNO, TEXAS — The Agape Church of Christ has changed its name to the Fresno Church of Christ.

This decision reflects the congregation’s desire to more accurately represent and connect with the community it serves, said leaders of the congregation south of Houston.

They hope the rebrand will help clarify the church’s identity and vision, making it more accessible and inviting to both current members and newcomers. By calling attention to the church’s location, “we aim to foster a stronger sense of identity and belonging among community members,” minister Graylon Freeman said.

04/08/2025

Listen to Episode 134 of The Christian Chronicle Podcast: https://christianchronicle.org/episode/episode-134-our-gen-y-and-gen-z-editors-on-the-future-of-christian-journalism-calvin-cockrell-and-audrey-jackson/

In this episode, former managing editor Audrey Jackson and new managing editor Calvin Cockrell talk about how working with The Christian Chronicle is exposing them to the Church of Christ they never imagined or knew.

They also talk about what it is like to be journalists at a time when the profession is under cultural, economic and political duress. And, if they were to start a new Christian Chronicle just for Christians under the age of 30, how would it be different from The Christian Chronicle of preceding generations?

The two youngest members of The Christian Chronicle’s full-time news team are incoming managing editor Calvin Cockrell (Gen Y) and outgoing managing editor Audrey Jackson (Gen Z). In this episode, […]

01/08/2025

MADILL, OKLA. — Breaking apart a patio wasn’t exactly how Justin Bishop thought he’d spend his evening — but when is running a summer camp predictable?

Bishop and his wife, Shayla, manage the 135 acres that make up Pettijohn Springs Christian Camp, about 125 miles southeast of Oklahoma City. The camp, which is associated with Churches of Christ, has served children and adults since 1971.

Read Andrew Reneau’s story:

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... MADILL, OKLA. — Breaking apart a patio wasn’t exactly how Justin Bishop thought he’d spend his evening — but when is running a summer camp […]

29/07/2025

“A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” — Jeremiah 31:15

Read Cheryl Mann Bacon’s editorial on grieving for children after tragedy:

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... ‘A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no […]

28/07/2025

“From Rollercoasters to Carousels” is a guide to emotional healing and offers hope, support, strategies and visibility for those dealing with trauma, particularly parents of children with disabilities or intensive care needs — or parents facing loss.

Trindi G. Mitchell, cousin of author Gigi Khonyongwa-Fernandez, shares how Gigi’s own experiences with her legally blind son, Alejandro Fernandez Khonyongwa, inspired the book.

Read Trindi’s column:

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... In 2006, Gigi Khonyongwa-Fernandez gave birth to her son, Alejandro Fernandez Khonyongwa, born prematurely at 24 weeks. He was the size of Gigi’s hand, […]

28/07/2025

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — The 2025 Diamond Journalism Awards were presented Saturday night by the Society of Professional Journalists, recognizing outstanding work in Arkansas and bordering states.

Christian Chronicle Editor-in-Chief Bobby Ross Jr. was honored as Diamond Journalist of the Year and former Managing Editor Audrey Jackson as Emerging Journalist of the Year.

In addition, Chronicle staff members earned first place in five other categories:

— Erik Tryggestad, Ted Parks and Ross for religion reporting (coverage of the Ukraine war and refugees).

— Ross, Cheryl Mann Bacon and Calvin Cockrell for continuing coverage (education in politics stories).

— Tryggestad for profiles (“Living a green dream”) and sports feature (“Team finds the good in a tough, tough season”).

— Jackson for feature photography (images from Nigeria).

See the full list of Arkansas SPJ winners: https://arkansasspj.org/2025/07/27/arkansas-spj-announces-2025-diamond-awards-winners-at-annual-banquet

Congrats to all those recognized!

25/07/2025

Listen to Episode 133 of The Christian Chronicle Podcast: https://christianchronicle.org/episode/episode-133-why-2000-church-of-christ-volunteers-are-going-to-detroit-to-talk-to-strangers-leonardo-gilbert/

In this episode, Leonardo Gilbert, national director of the Crusade for Christ talks about why personal evangelism among strangers still works, even in a social media age when everyone seems to be afraid of “stranger danger.”

In 1979, Church of Christ congregations in Chicago joined together in a concentrated campaign to evangelize the city. That event because the first “Crusade for Christ,” an evangelism campaign that […]

24/07/2025

ABILENE, TEXAS — Twenty tiny gray houses cluster on opposite sides of Hickory Street, a mile and a half north of the sprawling Hendrick Medical Center.

Each bright red or shiny white door opens to a story — hundreds of stories, really — of a temporary guest with a loved one in intensive care or new parents with a tiny newborn in the NICU.

Houses for Healing has provided almost 12,000 nights of free lodging for people seeking medical assistance in this West Texas city since completing its first four cottages in 2018. Typically, all 20 units are full with a waiting list. Ten new units are under construction.

Read Cheryl Mann Bacon’s story:

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... ABILENE, TEXAS — Twenty tiny gray houses cluster on opposite sides of Hickory Street, a mile and a half north of the sprawling Hendrick Medical […]