News
Church Members Lost as Devastating Earthquakes Strike Venezuela
Faith Facts
- Multiple members of Churches of Christ in Venezuela died when powerful earthquakes struck the nation Wednesday, with at least 164 total deaths reported
- Adela Maqueda and her niece perished when a wall collapsed on them in Caracas, while another church member sustained a skull fracture and had to be carried to a hospital by bicycle
- Church members were meeting for prayer when the quakes hit, quickly evacuating their building and helping elderly neighbors and those in wheelchairs escape
Believers in Venezuela are mourning the loss of fellow church members following a series of catastrophic earthquakes that struck the South American nation Wednesday, claiming lives and leaving communities desperate for help amid widespread destruction.
“It’s a terrible situation,” said Germán Chirinos, a minister in the nation’s capital, Caracas. “Communications are down. There are places without electricity. Some people are trapped under buildings.”
Among the victims were Adela Maqueda, who worshiped with a Church of Christ in Caracas, and her niece, who died when a wall collapsed on top of them. Another church member named Edgar sustained a skull fracture in the disaster. In a testament to the dire circumstances facing Venezuelans, friends were forced to carry him on a bicycle to the nearest hospital.
In Caracas, the devastation was widespread.
“Many buildings collapsed partially, but others completely,” Chirinos said.
The destruction near the earthquakes’ epicenters was even more severe. The first earthquake struck near the town of San Felipe, about 100 miles west of the capital, around 5 p.m. Wednesday. A second, larger quake followed less than a minute later near the town of Yumare. The quakes represent the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
At least 164 people died and nearly 1,000 more were injured, according to initial reports from Venezuela’s government. Among the hardest-hit regions are communities in Venezuela’s La Guaira state, north of Caracas. At least one couple who worshiped with a Church of Christ there died in the quakes, church members reported. Several other members in La Guaira are missing, Chirinos said.
Carlos León, who ministers for a Church of Christ in San Antonio de los Altos, south of Caracas, described how a group of church members were meeting in an apartment when the earthquakes began. They prayed quickly before taking the stairs out of the building and helping others.
“There are many elderly people in that building, people in wheelchairs,” León said.
Those at the service “began to help people get out and to carry people.”
León sent a voicemail message as his cellphone was losing its charge. The minister has been without power for a day, he said. The loss of basic infrastructure has compounded the tragedy, making rescue and recovery efforts even more challenging.
“It’s been sad and difficult because we have lost church members, particularly here in San Antonio,” León said, “but also brothers and sisters we know from other congregations, some of whom remain trapped.”
Some, including Edgar, are recovering from their injuries.
“But there are other brothers… we’re trying to pull out of the rubble,” León said, “hoping they’re also alive.”
The natural disaster follows more than a decade of economic and political turmoil in Venezuela. More than 7 million Venezuelans have left the country since 2014, and those who remain struggle with unemployment and rising crime rates. In January, the U.S. attacked Caracas and seized the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, indicting them on charges of narcoterrorism. Delcy Rodríguez serves as Venezuela’s acting president, but uncertainty hangs over the country’s future and its relationship with the U.S.
Now, León said, “the earthquake complicates everything.”
The tragedy in Venezuela reminds us of the fragility of life and the importance of faith in times of crisis. These believers faced unimaginable loss yet immediately turned to prayer and service, helping their neighbors escape danger. Their example demonstrates the power of Christian community and sacrificial love even in the darkest moments.
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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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