News
Faith-Based Journalism Excellence Recognized with Historic 10th Best in Class Honor
Faith Facts
- The Christian Chronicle earned 28 national journalism awards, including first place honors in eight categories across three major faith-based journalism competitions
- The publication received the Best in Class award as overall top newspaper for the 10th time from the Associated Church Press
- Awards recognized excellence in international reporting, biographical profiles, and coverage of Christian communities serving their neighbors during natural disasters
The Christian Chronicle has once again demonstrated that faith-based journalism can achieve the highest standards of excellence, earning 28 national awards from three major Christian journalism organizations. The Oklahoma-based international newspaper serving Churches of Christ claimed top honors in multiple categories, including the prestigious Best in Class award for the 10th time.
The awards came from the Associated Church Press, the Evangelical Press Association, and the Religion News Association. Judges praised the publication’s consistent voice and commitment to quality storytelling that serves the Christian community worldwide.
“Quite a selection of reading, all smoothly written with a consistent voice,” the ACP judge commented, recognizing the Chronicle’s dedication to maintaining high journalistic standards while serving its faith community.
The honors were presented at conventions in Toronto, Franklin, Tennessee, and Decatur, Georgia. Chronicle President and CEO Erik Tryggestad and Editor-in-Chief Bobby Ross Jr. responded with humility to the recognition.
“We are extremely honored and humbled by these awards,” they said in a joint statement. “They speak to the strong commitment of our board, staff and generous supporters to high-quality journalism serving our fellowship around the world.”
Among the first-place honors, the Chronicle’s coverage of California Christians helping neighbors after devastating fires demonstrated how believers put faith into action during crisis. The story “While mourning fire losses, California church helps neighbors and trusts God” showed Christians prioritizing service to their community even while processing their own losses.
The publication’s in-depth reporting on Texas flooding included powerful accounts of tragedy, survival, and community response. Stories captured both the heartbreak of lives lost and the resilience of Christians organizing emergency aid for their neighbors.
International reporting excellence was recognized through profiles of believers serving in challenging mission fields. One award-winning story followed an Algerian immigrant couple who found their calling in secular France, working to bring new life to an old monastery and sharing the Gospel in a spiritually challenging environment.
The Chronicle’s “In search of Shalom” series exploring divine reconciliation earned first place for theme coverage from the Associated Church Press and fourth place from the Evangelical Press Association. This multi-part examination addressed how Christians can pursue peace and unity in divisive times.
Reporter Erik Tryggestad’s biographical profile of Andrew Hairston, described as “the strength that runs through our veins,” took first place for biographical writing. The story demonstrated how individual Christians impact their communities through faithful service and leadership.
The Evangelical Press Association recognized emerging journalist Calvin Cockrell with their top emerging journalist award. His editorial “There is one body, so let’s act like it” also earned fifth place honors, showing young Christian journalists are carrying forward the mission of quality faith-based reporting.
Coverage of the Botham Jean Foundation’s work received third place for convention reporting. The story chronicled a journey of forgiveness on the island home of the young Christian man whose 2018 murder sparked national attention and difficult conversations about justice, mercy, and reconciliation.
The Religion News Association gave second place honors for audio excellence to the Christian Chronicle Podcast, recognizing quality conversation and commentary that extends the publication’s reach beyond print. Weekend Plug-in columns covering religion news also earned second place for analysis and explanatory reporting.
International coverage remained a strength, with stories from France, Ukraine, El Salvador, and across Asia earning multiple awards. These reports highlighted how Christians worldwide face unique challenges while remaining faithful to the Gospel message.
Visual storytelling received recognition through awards for photography and design. A candid photo of children rehearsing for a play at a Christian school in El Salvador earned first place, while the April 2025 front page design took fourth place honors.
The comprehensive recognition across multiple categories—from breaking news to features, from domestic to international reporting, from print to digital—demonstrates the Chronicle’s commitment to excellence in all aspects of Christian journalism. These awards affirm that faith-based media can meet and exceed professional standards while maintaining a clear spiritual mission.
As secular media often marginalizes or misunderstands Christian perspectives, the success of the Christian Chronicle shows the vital importance of professional journalism rooted in biblical values and committed to serving the church. The publication continues to prove that excellence in journalism and faithfulness to Christian principles go hand in hand.
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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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