Faith Facts

• Truett McConnell University is a Christ-centered institution dedicated to biblical truth and academic excellence in Cleveland, Georgia.
• The university community is turning to prayer and Scripture as it mourns the loss of one of its students.
• Scripture reminds believers that God is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Truett McConnell University in Cleveland, Georgia, is mourning the loss of one of its students found dead inside a campus apartment on Sunday. The small Christian college is known for its commitment to biblical values and preparing students to serve Christ in their communities.

University officials have not yet released the student’s name or details surrounding the death, but the campus is rallying together in prayer and support for the grieving family. Faculty and staff are providing counseling resources and spiritual guidance during this difficult time.

“We are deeply saddened by this loss and ask for prayers for the student’s family and our campus community,” university leaders said in a statement. “Our faith sustains us in moments like these, and we cling to the promise that God works all things together for good.”

Students have been gathering in small groups across campus to pray and comfort one another. The close-knit Christian environment at Truett McConnell is providing a foundation of hope as the university navigates this tragedy.

Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Faith Facts

• Governor Andy Beshear defended his veto of legislation restricting taxpayer funding for transgender procedures on minors by invoking his Christian faith.
• Scripture teaches that God created male and female and calls His people to protect children from harm.
• Christian teaching emphasizes bodily integrity and the rejection of irreversible medical interventions on minors.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has publicly tied his Christian faith to his decision to veto a bill that would have protected minors from irreversible medical procedures. The Democratic governor argued that opposition to taxpayer-funded transgender interventions on children is somehow contrary to Christianity.

The vetoed legislation would have prevented state dollars from supporting procedures that carry documented risks including infertility and permanent loss of sexual function. Beshear framed his opposition as a matter of compassion rooted in his understanding of the Christian faith.

“I believe as a person of faith that we are all created in the image of God and that we are called to love and care for one another.”

The governor also criticized Senator JD Vance’s profession of Christian faith, suggesting that Vance’s support for the bill was inconsistent with Christian values. Beshear positioned his stance as the truly compassionate and faith-informed position on the issue.

“I think it’s important that we remember that our faith calls us to be in relationship with one another and to care for the most vulnerable among us.”

Christian conservatives maintain that protecting children from experimental medical interventions aligns with both Scripture and sound medical ethics. They point to the growing number of European countries that have restricted or banned such procedures for minors due to lack of evidence and serious long-term risks.

Traditional Christian teaching holds that God created humanity as male and female and that medical interventions attempting to alter this created order contradict biblical anthropology. Many believers argue that true compassion involves addressing underlying mental health issues rather than affirming a child’s confusion through irreversible procedures.

Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Faith Facts

• Romans 16:16 calls believers to greet one another with a holy kiss while identifying congregations as churches of Christ.
• Acts 15:39 records the sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas that led them to part company over John Mark.
• 2 Timothy 4:11 shows that John Mark later earned Paul’s trust and respect by the end of his life.

Churches of Christ carry many labels today. Conservative mainstream. Moderate mainstream. Non-institutional. Progressive. Instrumental. One cup. Little c. Big C. Doctrinally sound. Yet believers across these groups share one common sentiment.

They do not like labels. Most prefer simply to be called the church or the Lord’s church.

Congregations remain autonomous. They take their name from the second part of Romans 16:16, which states, “All the churches of Christ send greetings.”

Common beliefs exist. Differences remain over women’s roles, the number of communion cups, and hand clapping in worship. These divisions echo patterns seen throughout church history.

Social media now makes it easier for believers to stay inside smaller circles of like-minded Christians. Algorithms filter out opposing voices. This trend mirrors divisions in the wider culture.

Fellow believers can disagree. Scripture records the heated discussion between Paul and Barnabas about whether to take John Mark on their second missionary journey. “They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company” (Acts 15:39).

John Mark had left early during the first journey. He was young. Barnabas believed in second chances. Paul later reconciled with Mark, as shown in 2 Timothy 4:11.

Both teams advanced the gospel. Paul and Silas demonstrated the Lord powerfully in Acts 16-18. Barnabas and John Mark did likewise.

“Can we disagree on such matters and find a way to move forward together? Or should we be content to labor separate and apart from each other?”

A disagreement over travel companions differs from disagreements over instruments in worship. Yet the principle remains the same.

Reporting for the “Who Are We?” series reveals a shared desire to proclaim the Kingdom. Brothers and sisters across the right, left, and center of the fellowship express the same hope.

“I wish we could get past all this and concentrate on seeking and saving the lost.”

Perhaps this shared mission offers a starting point for unity. The holy kiss may take more time.

Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.