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Willy Rice Announces SBC Presidential Bid, Citing a Call to “Renewal”

Pastor Willy Rice of Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, Florida, has declared that he will allow his name to be placed in nomination for Southern Baptist Convention president at the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting.

Oregon Ranks Last on AUL Life List; New Jersey, Vermont Near Bottom
A new report from a leading pro-life group evaluates all 50 states on abortion, assisted suicide, and healthcare conscience protections. Americans United for Life (AUL) has published its annual “Life List.”
Lawmakers and Faith Leaders Hold Prayer Gathering Amid Concerns Over Political Violence
Members of the House Freedom Caucus and others joined with the Family Research Council to pray against rising political violence in the U.S. and to seek God’s help for a nation in crisis.
Arkansas Pilots Faith-Driven “10:33 Initiative” to Offer “Hand Up, Not a Handout”
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is promoting a new statewide effort as a “hand up, not a handout,” unveiling a pilot designed to connect residents with practical, local support.

Mike Johnson Reacts To Clashes With Clergy, Dismisses Religious Freedom Concerns

House Speaker Mike Johnson defended federal immigration enforcement, rejecting claims agents were hostile to clergy protesting deportations. Johnson addressed concerns raised by videos purportedly showing one minister “being hit in the head with pepper rounds” and a United Church of Christ minister “shot directly in the face with a pepper round.”

‘Face of Radical Islam’: Franklin Graham Blasts RSF Atrocities in Sudan’s El-Fasher
Evangelist Franklin Graham denounced what he called the “face of radical Islam” in Sudan after receiving videos showing paramilitary fighters executing civilians following the Rapid Support Forces’ capture of el-Fasher. Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized el-Fasher on Monday, taking the last government-held city in Darfur.
Texas High Court Shields Judges Declining to Officiate Same?Sex Weddings on Religious Belief
Texas judges who decline to officiate same-sex marriages for reasons of sincere religious belief will no longer face discipline, following a change to the state’s judicial conduct code. The Texas Supreme Court amended the code in response to litigation brought by McLennan County Justice of the Peace Dianne Hensley.
SBC Membership Falls Across Regions as Smallest Churches Grow in Share
A new review of the 2024 Annual Church Profile indicates that existing Southern Baptist churches saw membership declines across every U.S. region, while the convention increasingly consists of its smallest congregations. Overall, the distribution shows 21% of Southern Baptist churches growing, 39% plateaued, and 40% declining.