Despite multiple requests by disgraced faith healer Benny Hinn, YouTube is refusing to remove a documentary exposing Hinn’s alleged deceptive practices. On April 15, the copyright team at YouTube emailed video producer Mike Winger that his recent documentary, which included video clips of Hinn, would remain on the platform. The message noted that Hinn’s ministry had asked YouTube to take down the video, citing “copyright infringement.” But YouTube had denied the request twice, including after an appeal.    ..read more

The top legislative body of the United Methodist Church passed a series of measures Thursday to restructure the worldwide denomination to give each region greater equity in tailoring church life to its own customs and traditions. The primary measure, voted on as the UMC General Conference met at the Charlotte Convention Center in North Carolina, was an amendment to the church’s constitution to divide the denomination into four equal regions — Africa, Europe, the Philippines and the United States.   ..read more

After the unexpected recent death of Grammy-winning recording artist Mandisa, a celebration of life is being held in Tennessee this weekend that will also be livestreamed.  On April 18, Christian singer Mandisa Hundley was found deceased in her home in Nashville. The cause of death is still unknown one week later.  However, on April 22, a statement from the Franklin Police Department (Tennessee) reported: “At this time, there is no indication the death was the result of suspicious or criminal activity.” On Saturday, April 27, fellow artists, friends, and family will gather ..read more

When Cait West got on a plane and left behind the Christian patriarchy movement at age 25, she hoped for a clean break. But years of covering up her body, constantly fearing eternal damnation, being isolated from the outside world and being raised to take over society for God weren’t easy to shake. “I wanted to focus on fiction writing, but my own story just felt like it was trapped inside of me and I needed to get it out,” West said in a recent video interview.   ..read more

Islamic extremists waging an insurgency in northern Mozambique have increasingly targeted Christians and church buildings in the first three months of this year. As a result, priests and their followers — a total of 100,000 people — have been forced to flee following increased attacks that have left scores of dead and some church buildings destroyed. The renewed attacks are coming at a time when the Mozambican government has been celebrating what it claimed to be a victory over the insurgency that has been raging in the Northeastern Cabo Delgado province for the past seven years.   ..read more

Worship musician Jeremy Riddle has been removed from the Arise Shine Conference lineup in early May at Radiant Church in Michigan, following allegations he spiritually abused former staff at the embattled Dwelling Place in Anaheim, California. “After a discussion between Jeremy and Katie Riddle and Radiant Church along with prayerful consideration, it has been decided that Riddle will not be joining us at the Arise Shine Conference this year,” a statement on Arise Shine’s Instagram page said.   ..read more

A pastor and elementary school teacher in a small city on the shore of Puget Sound in Washington has been arrested and charged with nine counts of child molestation, according to Pierce County Superior Court records. Jordan Henderson, a worship pastor at Wellspring Fellowship in Lakebay and teacher at public elementary school, was charged with nine counts of sexual molestation, involving children under 12 years old, court records reported. The 34-year-old pastor was arrested by Pierce County Sheriff’s office, following a two-month investigation, according to Fox 13.   ..read more

United Methodist officials are acknowledging a struggle to get delegates from Africa and other non-U.S. parts of the church to General Conference, the crucial legislative assembly that convenes today in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Commission on the General Conference reported in a press release on April 18 that 269 delegates — representing 73% of the allotted delegates from Africa, the Philippines, Europe and Eurasia — are confirmed. But the commission said 39 such delegates — 11% —  will not be attending and no replacements will be available.   ..read more

Megachurch pastor John Lindell apologized to his congregation Sunday for inviting sword-swallower Alex Magala and disgraced pastor Mark Driscoll to the Stronger Men’s Conference two weekends ago in Springfield, Missouri. The apology follows a week of controversy sparked by Driscoll’s sharp condemnation of Magala’s “strip” act and Lindell’s initial defense of Magala’s act and rebuke of Driscoll for alleged divisive and “demonic” actions. “I want to apologize and let you know I take full responsibility for the decision that was made to invite Mark Driscoll and Alex Magala to the Stronger Men’s ..read more

Conservative religious leaders who had been imploring Speaker Mike Johnson to back assistance for Ukraine and Israel in fighting their wars celebrated the House’s passage of foreign aid packages Saturday, clearing the way for the measures to go to the Senate. Brent Leatherwood, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, was among those lobbying Johnson, himself a Southern Baptist, on behalf of Ukrainian and American Baptists concerned about the plight of Ukrainian Christians.   ..read more