Faith Facts

• More than half of American women under 50 without children express no desire for motherhood.
• The U.S. fertility rate fell below 1.6 children per woman in 2024, far under the replacement threshold of 2.1.
• Over 70% of Americans view the cost of raising children as unaffordable, prompting many to reconsider family planning.

America faces a troubling decline in birth rates, with fewer women desiring motherhood as highlighted by the 2025 American Family Survey.

This decline challenges the biblical call to be fruitful and multiply, confronting the foundational importance of family in God’s design.

Federal data shows significant drops in birth rates among women aged 15–34, while economic concerns are driving families to limit or postpone having children.

Many now see raising children as financially out of reach, a reality at odds with a flourishing, faith-rooted society.

Those entrusted with leading our nation must champion policies that strengthen families and uphold faith-based values to secure lasting freedom and prosperity.

Now more than ever, Christians are called to uplift the sanctity of life, marriage, and family as cornerstones of American renewal.

Read the full article at Christian Post

Faith Facts

• Eighteen leaders, including Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, were arrested at Zion Church in Beihai, Guangxi.
• Authorities accused them of “illegally using information networks,” a charge often used against unregistered churches.
• Detentions and possible prison sentences up to three years threaten the fellowship of thousands of believers.

Authorities in China have intensified efforts to suppress non-state sanctioned Christian worship, as seen in the latest arrests at Zion Church—an unofficial congregation with over 5,000 members.

The government’s ongoing crackdown has included closures and surveillance demands, with the aim of pressuring churches to register with the Communist Party.

“They have been targeted solely for the peaceful exercise of their religious beliefs,” said Scott Bower, CEO of Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

Christian organizations report that accusations like “fraud” and “organising unlawful meetings” are often levied, causing many house church fellowships to halt their meetings.

“Due to the recent crackdown, our church has come to a standstill. More than 80 groups within the house church movement have ceased meeting. Of the original 14 churches, only a few remain.”

Let us stand together in prayer for our brothers and sisters in China, seeking God’s protection for their faith and resolve to worship freely, and urge leaders worldwide to defend the right to gather in His name.

Read the full story at Christian Today

Faith Facts

• One in four Americans faces mental health challenges, impacting church communities.
• David J. Pope offers practical Christian guidance in “How Can I Help You?: Basic Helping Skills for Christians.”
• Pope’s book emphasizes empathy, understanding, and destigmatizing mental health within the body of Christ.

As believers, we are called to bear one another’s burdens, including those related to mental and emotional health. Too often, these realities are overlooked in our churches, despite the growing need for compassionate outreach.

Marie Stroughter, an elder’s wife, highlights that many in the fellowship—even leaders—struggle silently with mental health issues, reminding us of the importance of awareness and active support within the congregation.

Pope, drawing from four decades as a therapist and member of Prescott Church of Christ, shares personal experiences with addiction, disability, and recovery, inspiring readers with his faith-based approach.

His book organizes conditions like grief and depression, offering practical “dos and don’ts” rooted in Scripture and Christian wisdom, helping readers love their neighbors in meaningful ways.

Pope warns against stereotypes and encourages genuine empathy, validating the real pain of those suffering and challenging the church to be a refuge of hope, not judgment.

He reminds us to see mental health with the same compassion as any physical illness, as Christ taught us to care for the whole person and uplift the weary.

Let us keep one another in prayer and look for opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those burdened around us.

Read the source article on The Christian Chronicle