The College of Biblical Studies-Houston has entered into an agreement to pursue a merger with Crossroads Bible College in Indianapolis. CBS-Houston hopes to combine resources in an effort to strengthen both colleges and increase offerings to students. CBS-Houston and Crossroads share a focus on multiethnic urban ministry and have predominately ethnic minority students.

Before any business of the 77th International General Assembly got underway on Tuesday morning, July 31, 2018,Presiding Bishop Timothy Hill called for the privilege of addressing the General Council. The following represents the heart and vision of the address, which was followed by a powerful period of prayer, laying on of hands, anointing with oil and a parade of ministers and laypersons who represented the core of the future of the Church of God:

For more than 50 years, Americans have been confused about the issue of prayer in school and students’ rights to pray in school. Congress never passed any law prohibiting prayer or the free exercise of religion as stated in our U.S. Constitution / First Amendment. … “Congress shall make no law establishing a religion or denying the FREE EXERCISE THEREOF.”

Amid new sexual misconduct allegations against founding pastor Bill Hybels, Willow Creek Community Church is facing a reckoning at all levels of leadership. The shameful situation at the iconic church should inspire Christian communities everywhere to take seriously how power corrupts, and guard more vigorously against its abuse.

During the traditional Thursday night World Missions service of the 77th International General Assembly last week, International Director of Church of God World Missions Dr. David Griffis and Assistant Director Dr. M. Thomas Propes announced the addition of three new cities to its Send the Light to the Cities project.

Despite mounting pressures for Christians to keep quiet about their faith, a new book by Pastor Steve Reynolds and David L. Winters recommend just the opposite. “At this point in our nation’s history, every institution needs strong leadership to survive and thrive,” Winters said. “There are many forces seeking to tear down authority and keep faith out of the marketplace. Christianity and the Bible are all about showing leadership under fire.”

A new women’s contemporary fiction release explores family secrets that lead to guilt and isolation and the beauty of new beginnings. Katherine Scott Jones in Shadow Sister (Redemption Press) writes of love and betrayal, and the power of truth.

Charlottesville, Va.—Amidst the threat of protests this weekend as commemorations of the one-year anniversary of the Charlottesville riots which left three people dead and many injured are scheduled, Covenant Church of God is planning a Covenant Cares Celebration for both the 8:30 and 10:45 Sunday services in an effort to convey to the community and to the world that the unity they seek can be found in Christ.

Rabbi Tuly Weisz, director of Israel365 and editor of The Israel Bible, issues the following statement in response to a report recently released by Crossway that surveyed the Bible study habits of 6,000 American Christians: