Faith Facts

• Philip Anthony Mitchell leads one of America’s fastest-growing churches and is calling Christians back to Scripture.
• Mitchell says many believers today follow a ‘soft’ Jesus disconnected from biblical truth.
• The pastor links rising biblical illiteracy to the decline of biblical Christianity in the United States.

Philip Anthony Mitchell is urging believers to return to the Word of God as the foundation of their faith.

The pastor of a rapidly growing congregation says biblical illiteracy has left many Christians drawn to spirituality but detached from the actual teachings of Scripture.

“Biblical Christianity” is losing influence in the United States, Mitchell warned.

He cautioned against the spread of a watered-down version of Jesus that appeals to feelings rather than truth.

Mitchell’s message comes as churches across the nation wrestle with declining biblical engagement among younger generations.

“Biblical Christianity” is losing influence in the United States, Mitchell warned.

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

Faith Facts

• Damasus was elected pope on October 1, 366, after a turbulent succession following the death of Liberius.
• Charles Finney, the renowned revival preacher, contracted cholera on October 2, 1831, during one of his evangelistic campaigns.
• A 62-foot statue of Jesus called Lux Mundi was dedicated at Solid Rock Church in Ohio on October 5, 2012.

Christian believers around the country are looking back this week at several pivotal moments that shaped the faith and witness of the church in America and beyond.

On October 1, 366, Damasus was chosen as the new bishop of Rome after a contested election that followed the death of Pope Liberius. His leadership helped strengthen the early church’s commitment to biblical doctrine and the authority of Scripture during a time of division and political pressure.

“The Lord has given us a shepherd who will guard the flock with courage,” one contemporary account noted of Damasus’s election.

Exactly 1,465 years later, on October 2, 1831, famed evangelist Charles Finney fell ill with cholera while preaching in the Northeast. Though gravely sick, Finney continued to call people to repentance and faith in Christ, demonstrating the steadfast commitment that marked the Second Great Awakening.

“I was so ill that I could hardly stand,” Finney later recalled, “but the Lord sustained me and the work went on.”

On October 5, 2012, Solid Rock Church in Monroe, Ohio, dedicated its towering 62-foot statue of Jesus known as Lux Mundi. The gleaming figure with arms outstretched replaced an earlier statue destroyed by lightning and quickly became a visible reminder of the congregation’s desire to point travelers on Interstate 75 toward the Savior.

“We wanted something that would proclaim Jesus to everyone who passes by,” church leaders said at the dedication.

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

Faith Facts

• 15 men convicted for their roles in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed over 250 people, including many Christians at worship.
• Christian communities in Sri Lanka continue to press for full accountability while grieving the loss of loved ones during Resurrection Sunday services.
• Believers emphasize the need for justice that protects religious freedom and safeguards future generations of worshipers.

The recent convictions of 15 men tied to the deadly Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka have drawn a cautious response from Christian leaders who stress that justice remains incomplete. Families who lost loved ones during the coordinated attacks on churches and hotels continue to seek deeper answers about who masterminded and enabled the assault.

While the court handed down sentences, many in the faith community note that the investigation has yet to fully identify all those who supported or directed the terror cell. Christian pastors and victims’ relatives have called for transparency, emphasizing that true healing requires knowing the complete truth behind the attack.

“We welcome any measure of accountability, but the wounds remain open until every link in the chain is examined,” one church leader stated.

Survivors and their families have gathered regularly for prayer vigils, seeking both justice and the strength to forgive. They point to the biblical call to pursue righteousness while trusting God with the ultimate outcome.

“Our hearts ache for those taken from us, yet we stand firm that light must expose every hidden corner of this tragedy,” another pastor remarked.

Local congregations have also focused on rebuilding trust with authorities and strengthening security at places of worship. Many see this moment as a reminder that religious liberty must be actively defended through both prayer and prudent action.

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