Church

Across South Florida, congregations are confronting a hard numbers problem: rising costs, shifting demographics, aging facilities, and, in some cases, fewer people in the pews. A wave of foreclosures, property sales and mergers has put the issue in sharp relief. At the same time, pastors and church leaders say new tactics — from housing development and nonprofit partnerships to online giving — are helping churches remain anchors of community life.

Florida’s new law is part of a growing movement known as YIGBY — Yes in God’s Backyard. Touted by many faith leaders, lawmakers and developers, the movement imagines a connection between a religious mission to serve and the very real hurdles of building affordable housing.

Founded by Bahamian settlers in 1895, the historic congregation continues to uplift Miami’s Black community through education, worship, and resilience.

In 2011, an alcoholic pastor felt called to start a new kind of church: One run by addicts for addicts. Called Recovery Church, it blended the teachings of two life-changing books: The Bible and “The Big Book” of Alcoholics Anonymous.

The pastor at a St Petersburg church whose congregation includes immigrants and minorities is calling out law enforcement officers who showed up in force at his carpark after he had protested against their partnership with ICE. He invoiced them $10k and said he is considering legal action.

A longtime pastor says the question used to be how can the church change the culture? Now, it's how do they change the culture of the church? Ways range from gardening to food giveaways to fire pits.

The Story County Sheriff's Office in Ames, Iowa, received multiple 911 calls about shots being fired outside of Cornerstone Church at about 6:51 p.m., it said.

A prosecutor said the man charged with opening fire on a Taiwanese church congregation in Southern California wanted to "execute in cold blood as many people in that room as possible."

A gunman killed a 52-year-old man and wounded five others in an attack at a Southern California church on Sunday, authorities said.

Four others were critically wounded and another person suffered minor injures, officials said.

Hundreds of churches in the quake zone were damaged or destroyed. Services have resumed in many places, but rebuilding will be a lengthy process.