Iranian Christians hope and pray for a free Iran

Iranian Christians hope and pray for a free Iran after US and Israeli strikes killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose Islamic regime has long persecuted believers.

Looking at the history of Iran’s theocratic persecution provides spiritual and political lessons for life after the ayatollah, writes Mark Tooley.

A church in Guadalajara locked its doors and continued its worship service as cartel violence broke out in the wake of the killing of drug kingpin El Mencho.

When Houston Astros manager Joe Espada prays to God, he tries not to ask for baseball wins, reports Marvin Olasky.

Historically, presidents have eschewed memorializing themselves. President Trump leans into it.

Many Christians condemn health-and-wealth preaching, writes Brad East, but they may not recognize a subtler kind of prosperity gospel.

Behind the Story

From CT contributor Franco Iacomini: When I first heard about the turmoil in Mexico following the killing of Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes, all I could think about was the security of the Christians I had interviewed (albeit from afar, since I am based in Brazil) for previous CT reports. Like many other Latin American Christians, they know firsthand what it is like to live in regions where the power of criminal groups is real and, in some regions, prevails over the state.

The most intense clashes between the armed forces and the cartel members occurred on Sunday morning, right during church services. At Guadalajara’s Iglesia Bautista Gracia & Amor, the praise group continued singing after the service, and congregants prayed as they waited for news that they could return home.

Many Mexican believers are relieved that the government has taken direct action against the cartels. Others fear that the conflicts will drag on as the Jalisco New Generation Cartel seeks revenge or other groups try to gain territory for their illicit activities.

In this situation, it would be easy to despair, but pastor Constantino Varas of the Gracia & Amor church sees an opportunity for the Mexican church to adopt a culture of prayer.

A Lutheran pastor was installed as the first female presiding bishop of the Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church.  A member of Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, has sued journalist Don Lemon and protestors who disrupted a worship service in January.   A group of religious parents will receive $1.5 million in a settlement after Maryland schools did not let them opt their children out of lessons with LGBTQ characters in books.

Today in Christian History

March 2, 1791: Founder of Methodism John Wesley dies in London. Thanks to his organizational genius, we know exactly how many followers he had when he died: 71,668 British members, 294 preachers, 43,265 American members with 198 preachers and 19 missionaries.