News
Small Town Church Refuses to Close Its Doors Despite Dwindling Numbers
Faith Facts
- The Waldo Church of Christ in Arkansas has launched a two-year revitalization plan focusing on children’s ministry despite attendance dropping from 150 to 20 members.
- Forty-two members of Abilene Christian University’s football team were baptized during a Christ-centered boot camp before fall practice began.
- Multiple Christian educators and ministry leaders across Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas, Alabama, and Nebraska have been appointed to new positions serving churches and Christian institutions.
Arkansas Church Chooses Faith Over Closure
The Waldo Church of Christ has launched a two-year revitalization plan through outreach and a renewed focus on children’s ministry. The congregation, which once had 150 attendees, now averages 20 worshipers on Sunday mornings.
The decline mirrors challenges facing the surrounding community, where the population fell from 1,400 residents in 2010 to 1,100 in 2024, while the poverty rate reached 23.7 percent, according to the U.S. Census. Rather than accept defeat, the church is investing in children through rebuilding relationships within the community.
“If you reach the children, you’ll reach their parents,” Waldo minister H.L. Shirley said.
Through the vision titled “Come Over and Help Us,” based on Acts 16:9, church leaders are seeking financial support for part-time teachers and youth ministry workers. The churchwide initiative hopes to provide children’s ministry materials, meals and other outreach resources to attract families.
“We’re letting too many congregations close their doors. I’d rather be an optimist than a pessimist. We ought to believe there’s still work to do.”
Massive Baptism at Christian University Football Camp
Few besides Abilene Christian University head football coach Keith Patterson knew what to expect for the program’s Christ-centered, identity-focused boot camp right before the beginning of fall camp. Even if the players did, it would have been hard to imagine the results.
Forty-two members of the team — 40 current players, one former player and one assistant coach — were baptized in Jesus Christ during the intensive summer gathering. The ACU football staff partnered with the Beltway Park Church’s men’s ministry to lead players in worship, lessons and small group discussions.
“It will be two days that I’ll never forget. Probably my best two days I’ve ever had in my life, and it was very impactful for me.”
Quarterback Marcos Davila was one of the players immersed on campus at Jacob’s Dream. Linebacker Bryce Morton witnessed the transformative power of the event.
“I started tearing up a little bit seeing everyone getting baptized. It made me say, ‘I’ll give my life to Christ.’ He deserves it. He’s changed my life.”
Christian Leaders Step Into New Roles
Spencer Adcock received Coach of the Year honors by Natural State Baseball. Adcock coaches for Crowley’s Ridge College in Paragould, Ark., which is associated with Churches of Christ. CRC Pioneers players Lawson DeVault and Aiden Smith earned honorable mention recognition on the 2026 All-Arkansas Collegiate Team.
Curtis Janz was named NCAA Division II Athletics Director of the Year. Janz is director of athletics for the University of Arkansas, Fort Smith. He spent more than 30 years at Oklahoma Christian University as a student, assistant coach and administrator.
Chris McCurley received honorary membership in the Dickson Firefighters Association Local 3145 in Tennessee. McCurley, preaching minister for the Walnut Street Church of Christ in Dickson, is chaplain for the Dickson Fire Department.
Scott Adair was named dean of the College of Bible and Ministry at Harding University, beginning in the 2027-28 academic year. Kevin Burr will serve as assistant dean. Garret Best becomes assistant dean of the College of Bible and Ministry and director of the Hazelip School of Theology at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn.
Tim Hall is the new preacher for the Grassy Church of Christ in Arab, Ala. Leon Lewis begins service as campus minister for York University in Nebraska. Sam Marshall joins Ezell-Harding Christian School in Nashville, Tenn., as elementary and middle school Bible teacher. Marshall is a recent graduate of Lipscomb University in Nashville and worships with the Owen Chapel Church of Christ in Brentwood, Tenn.
Cary and Ginger Richie have been named houseparents at Cherokee Home for Children in Texas. Cary is retiring after 32 years with the Wichita Falls Fire Department in Texas. Ginger taught grades pre-K through high school for more than 25 years. Cary recently earned a degree from Sunset International Bible Institute in Lubbock, Texas.
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Faith Facts
- At least 47 people were killed and 22 others injured when gang members attacked a church sheltering displaced families near Port-au-Prince, Haiti
- The violent gang rampage included burning animals alive and targeting Christians seeking refuge in a house of worship
- Haiti continues to face unprecedented lawlessness as armed gangs control large portions of the nation, threatening innocent civilians and religious communities
A horrific act of violence has shocked the Caribbean nation of Haiti as gang members stormed a church providing shelter to displaced families, killing at least 47 innocent people and injuring 22 others. The attack occurred just outside the capital city of Port-au-Prince, according to the United Nations.
The church had been serving as a sanctuary for Haitians forced from their homes by the escalating gang violence that has plagued the impoverished nation. These families sought safety within the walls of a Christian house of worship, only to face unspeakable brutality from the very lawlessness they were fleeing.
Reports indicate the gang members not only massacred those taking refuge but also engaged in acts of cruelty including burning animals alive. The attack represents another devastating blow to Haiti’s Christian community and the nation’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Haiti has descended into chaos as armed gangs have seized control of large swaths of territory, including significant portions of Port-au-Prince. These criminal organizations operate with virtual impunity, terrorizing civilians, disrupting essential services, and creating a humanitarian emergency that has displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
The targeting of a church specifically highlights the complete breakdown of moral order and respect for sacred spaces in Haiti. Churches have traditionally served as sanctuaries and centers of hope in Haitian communities, making this attack particularly devastating for a deeply Christian population.
The international community has struggled to respond effectively to Haiti’s deteriorating security situation. Despite various intervention proposals and limited security assistance, the gang violence continues to escalate, claiming innocent lives and destroying the social fabric of what was once known as the first Black republic.
For American Christians, this tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the persecution and violence believers face in lawless regions around the world. It also underscores the urgent need for prayer, humanitarian assistance, and thoughtful engagement to help restore order and protect vulnerable populations in Haiti.
The attack on this church sanctuary demonstrates what happens when societies lose the rule of law and moral foundations that protect human dignity. Haiti’s crisis should move people of faith to intercede for the nation and support efforts to bring peace, justice, and the Gospel’s hope to a suffering people.
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Faith Facts
- Dolly Parton, legendary country singer and devoted Christian, passed away at age 80 in Nashville, Tennessee
- The beloved entertainer carried hymns from her small Tennessee mountain church throughout her decades-long career
- Parton achieved No. 1 hits on Christian radio, using her platform to share her faith with millions
The nation is in mourning following the passing of Dolly Parton, a treasured American icon whose faith in Jesus Christ remained at the heart of everything she did. The country music legend died Tuesday in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 80.
Parton’s journey began in the humble setting of a small mountain church in Tennessee, where the hymns and spiritual songs she learned as a child would shape not only her musical style but her entire life’s mission. She never forgot those roots, and her commitment to sharing the Gospel through her music touched countless lives across generations.
Throughout her remarkable career, Parton used her God-given talents to bring hope and inspiration to millions. Her success on Christian radio charts demonstrated that her faith was not just a private matter, but a public testimony she was eager to share with the world.
The singer-songwriter’s life exemplified what it means to be a faithful steward of the blessings God provides. From her humble beginnings in the Smoky Mountains to becoming one of America’s most beloved entertainers, Parton never wavered in her devotion to Christ or her love for traditional American values.
Her passing marks the end of an era, but her legacy of faith, family values, and service to others will continue to inspire Christians and Americans for generations to come. Dolly Parton now rests in the arms of Jesus, the Savior she served so faithfully throughout her life.
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Faith Facts
- Dolly Parton, who attended the Radnor Church of Christ in Nashville with her husband Carl Dean, passed away at age 80
- A 1966 church directory photograph documented the newlywed couple as active members of the congregation
- Parton’s family announced her passing on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, following her husband’s death in March 2025
The black-and-white photograph labeled “Mr. & Mrs. Carl Dean” appeared in a 1966 directory of the Radnor Church of Christ in Nashville. It captured a moment when one of America’s most beloved entertainers was simply known as Mrs. Dean, a young bride attending worship alongside her husband.
Mrs. Dean, who met her future husband on the day she moved to Music City after her 1964 high school graduation, became known to the world as country music superstar Dolly Parton. Her family announced her passing Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at age 80.
A message from the family of Dolly Parton. pic.twitter.com/9DNRgRx0uH
— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) August 25, 2026
The legendary singer’s connection to Churches of Christ represented an important chapter in her life story, one that reflected the faith values she carried throughout her remarkable career. Carl Dean, her husband of nearly 60 years, died March 3, 2025, at age 82.
Parton’s ties to the Church of Christ community remained a testament to her roots and the values that shaped her character. Her marriage to Carl Dean, documented in that simple church directory photograph, endured through decades of fame and fortune—a rarity in the entertainment industry.
The country music icon’s life reflected traditional American values of faith, family, and hard work. From her humble beginnings in rural Tennessee to international stardom, Parton maintained connections to the church community that welcomed her as a young bride in Nashville.
Her legacy extends far beyond her musical achievements, encompassing her charitable work, her commitment to literacy through the Imagination Library, and her steadfast devotion to her husband and family values. These principles aligned with the Christian foundation evident in her early years attending the Radnor Church of Christ.
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