Faith Facts

• Daniel Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, will retire on July 31, 2026, after 21 years of service.
• Akin emphasized the importance of standing on the infallible Word of God and championing evangelism and the Gospel during his leadership.
• He is credited with guiding SEBTS to record enrollment and giving, reinforcing a strong commitment to the Great Commission.

Dr. Daniel Akin, a respected leader in the Southern Baptist community, has announced his retirement from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife sought the Lord’s wisdom and believe this is the right season for transition, with full peace about the future of the institution.

“Charlotte and I have prayed this matter through and talked with family and friends. We are convinced the time is right for us and the school,” Akin said.

During his tenure, Dr. Akin simplified the seminary’s mission, ensuring a focus on spreading the Gospel and training future leaders for Christ’s work. His vision has strengthened SEBTS’s spiritual foundation and global impact.

Executive Vice President Ryan Hutchinson reflected gratitude for Dr. Akin’s clarity of vision and commitment to the Great Commission throughout his leadership.

“Early in his leadership our mission statement was simplified. This not only provided a more accessible mission statement but also provided the foundation on which the concept of a Great Commission seminary has been built,” Hutchinson said.

At his inauguration, Dr. Akin pledged unwavering dedication to biblical truth and evangelism, declaring SEBTS would stand on God’s Word alone.

“Southeastern Seminary will continue to stand for personal evangelism, world missions and the exclusivity of the Gospel. We believe Heaven and Hell are real and the only difference is Jesus Christ.”

Dr. Akin’s legacy includes years of theological teaching, international mission work, and steadfast leadership that have blessed the seminary and broader faith community. Christian families and leaders are encouraged to pray for SEBTS during this season of transition, trusting in God’s faithfulness to guide His people.

Read the full story at Christian Post

Faith Facts

• President Donald Trump visited Israel after the release of hostages in a US-brokered ceasefire.
• Daily life in Bethlehem and the West Bank remains difficult for many families.
• The Christian Church continues sharing hope throughout conflict and hardship.

The recent ceasefire in Gaza has brought relief, with families grateful for the release of remaining Israeli hostages. Christians give thanks for lives spared, while acknowledging peace remains fragile in the Holy Land.

Though weapons are silent, many still face pain, insecurity, and struggle across Gaza and the West Bank. Faith leaders urge that true, lasting peace must rest on justice and mercy.

The Ongoing Struggle in the West Bank

Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, endures daily hardships under occupation, and the local Christian community faces increasing pressure. Amid adversity, believers gather and ministries faithfully serve, holding fast to God’s hope even when the world overlooks their suffering.

Followers of Jesus testify that the Prince of Peace remains active across the land, even as communities are tested by ongoing challenges.

A Call to Pray for All

Church leaders urge Christians everywhere to pray for every person suffering, regardless of background, and for renewed hearts among all in the region. True peace, they emphasize, cannot come through politics or military solutions, but only when all God’s children are allowed to live with dignity and security.

“The fruit of righteousness (justice) will be peace; the effect of righteousness (again, justice) will be quietness and confidence forever.” (Isaiah 32:17)

Let us seek the Lord together for mercy, healing, and the transformation of hearts—so that the Body of Christ might offer hope and compassion, and all in the Holy Land may know peace and dignity under God.

Source

Faith Facts

• A federal judge extended an order preventing Loudoun County Public Schools from suspending two boys who objected to a female trans-identified student using the boys’ locker room.
• The students, known as S.W. and J.S., received a preliminary injunction protecting them while the court considers First Amendment and religious freedom violations.
• The controversy escalated after the students’ objections led to 10-day suspensions, sparking national debate over privacy, parental rights, and religious liberty in schools.

Christian families in Loudoun County, Virginia are facing renewed challenges as courts weigh the rights of students to express concerns about privacy and biological reality in public schools. The judge’s decision to halt the suspensions upholds the constitutional freedoms that Christian and patriotic Americans value deeply.

Victoria Cobb of Founding Freedoms Law Center stated,

“The judge sees the importance of halting a wrongful punishment so our client continues his education and both boys are ultimately vindicated.”

Many parents have voiced concerns that such school policies, which disregard traditional views of gender, undermine both privacy and the God-given distinctions between male and female. For people of faith, the protection of children, the defense of truth, and the preservation of parental rights are non-negotiable principles. The First Amendment and religious liberty remain essential to a free society, especially in the realm of education.

Stand firm for faith, family, and freedom in your community. Pray for those defending truth and biblical values in our schools—a strong America begins with strong, faith-filled families.

Read full story at The Christian Post