October 11 Chinese authorities have detained Pastor Jin “Ezra” Mingri and nearly 30 leaders of Zion Church, one of China’s largest house church networks, in a coordinated crackdown across six cities. The arrests, citing “illegal dissemination of religious information,” follow years of government pressure on Zion, which counts nearly 10,000 members across 40 cities. Despite the persecution, house churches continue to meet and minister to the sick and marginalized. (Christianity Today and The Gospel Coalition)
October 10 A closer look at the 2025 State of Theology study (see Sept. 22) reveals shifts in U.S. evangelical beliefs post-pandemic. Evangelicals who believe Jesus was only a teacher declined to 28% (down from 43% in 2022) and those who think modern science disproves the Bible declined to 19% (from 30%), while belief in the obligation to join a local church rose to 61% (from 36%). However, 53% still view the Holy Spirit as a force, not a person, and 47% believe God accepts worship from all religions. (Lifeway Research)
October 9 Pope Leo XIV released his first Apostolic Exhortation, Dilexi te (“I have loved you,” Rev. 3:9), emphasizing the inseparability of faith and care for the poor. The document critiques economic inequality, “throwaway culture,” and systems that marginalize migrants and women. Quoting various saints, the Pope urges Christians to recognize Christ in the poor, avoid being led astray by secular ideologies, and work toward dismantling unjust structures to promote dignity and justice for all. (Vatican News)
October 9 Over 1,400 evangelical Christians from more than 60 countries gathered in Jerusalem during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot to show support for Israel, citing a “Biblical duty” to stand against antisemitism. Participants emphasized their theological and moral commitment to Israel as being central to biblical prophecy. While some oppose a two-state solution, others stressed reconciliation and prayer for Palestinians. The event coincided with the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. (AP)
October 9 A Barna Group study confirmed earlier findings that Gen Z and Millennial men are driving a rise in U.S. church attendance, with 46% of Gen Z men and 55% of Millennial men attending weekly, compared to lower rates among women. This shift, driven in part by the pandemic fostering a need for community and purpose, marks a reversal of past trends where women outnumbered men in church. Today, many young women cite gender inequality in church leadership as a barrier to participation. (Religion Unplugged)
October 7 The second part of Lifeway’s discipleship study (see August 21) found that 52% of U.S. Protestant pastors claim to have an intentional discipleship plan, but only 30% use specific methods to measure its effectiveness. While 71% believe such methods exist, only 29% say they consistently assess discipleship progress. Larger churches and those established since 2000 are more likely to evaluate and describe their strategies as effective. (Lifeway Research)
October 7 The Bible Access List published an interactive map and table highlighting the regions where access to Scripture is most challenged due to restrictions and shortages. The report (see October 4, below) shows the results of efforts by oppressive regimes and extremist groups to weaken Christian communities. Initiatives like Open Doors’ Ground Zero program are working to address this crisis by distributing and teaching Bibles. With this map, you can see for yourself where the need is greatest. (Bible Access List)
October 6 Today is the 500th anniversary of William Tyndale’s first printed work, the “Cologne Fragment,” which introduced Matthew’s Gospel in English to the public. Despite opposition and danger, Tyndale completed the first full English New Testament in 1526. Though betrayed and executed for heresy in 1536, his translation became the foundation for modern English Bibles, coining terms like “atonement” and “Passover” that influenced the King James translators and are still in wide use today. (Christian Today)
October 6 Tony Evans, founder of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, has completed a yearlong restoration process following his admission of an undisclosed sin in 2024 — but will not be returning to church leadership. During a “Restoration Sunday” service, Evans apologized to his congregation and family, expressing regret for the “instability this season has caused.” Jonathan Evans, his son, is expected to be installed as the church’s new lead pastor. (RNS)
October 4 A new study by the Bible Access Initiative found that 100 million Christians worldwide lack access to a Bible due to legal restrictions, persecution, and severe shortages. Countries like Somalia, North Korea, and Nigeria face the highest barriers, while millions in nations such as India and China await copies of Scripture. The report suggests a combination of digital, audio, and print Bibles to address this “modern famine of the Word.” (Christian Daily)
October 3 The 2025 “Bring Your Bible to School Day,” organized by Focus on the Family, is expected to involve 2 million students across the U.S., a significant increase from last year’s 1.3 million participants. The event encourages students to share Scripture and discuss faith in schools, with support from over 10,000 churches. Adults are also participating, with an estimated 3.5 to 4 million joining by bringing Bibles to workplaces. (Christianity Daily)
October 3 Dame Sarah Mullally has been named the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, a historic milestone for the Church of England. She will lead the Anglican Communion’s 85 million members worldwide. Mullally said her first calling is to follow Christ, but acknowledged challenges including declining church attendance, mishandled abuse scandals, and divisions over gender issues — including her own appointment, which though celebrated by many, has drawn criticism from conservative Anglican groups. (Various sources)
October 2 Robert Morris, founder of Gateway Church in Texas, has pleaded guilty to five counts of child sexual abuse from the 1980s. He will serve six months in an Oklahoma jail, register as a sex offender, and pay $270,000 to survivor Cindy Clemishire. The abuse, which began when Clemishire was 12, came to light last year, leading to Morris’s resignation and an independent investigation. Gateway Church apologized for initially mischaracterizing the abuse. (Christianity Today)
October 2 Prison Fellowship International and Bible League International have partnered to distribute 620,000 Bibles to prisoners in 20 countries over five years. Building on a 2019 collaboration, which provided over 570,000 Bibles, this initiative supports inmates completing the “Prisoner’s Journey” program, offered in 700+ prisons globally. The Bibles, available in eight languages, include 52 study lessons tailored to prison life, emphasizing the transformative power of Scripture to foster rehabilitation. (Christian Daily)
October 2 A new, large-scale study identifies a global pattern of religious decline: the Participation–Importance–Belonging (P-I-B) sequence. It begins with a decrease in worship attendance, then in personal importance of religion, and ends with declining formal affiliation. The study, analyzing data from over 100 countries, shows secularization progressing fastest in Europe, while Africa remains highly religious. Scholars debate whether this trend signals the end of religion or a shift toward individualized spirituality. (RNS)
September 30 Bible translation efforts are accelerating, with 118 new translations released worldwide in the past year, including 23 full Bibles and 95 New Testaments. Wycliffe Bible Translators estimate that brings the full Bible to 197 million people for the first time in their native language, while 54 million gained access to the NT. Translation programs have also begun in 461 new languages, preserving endangered tongues and fostering literacy. But 1.5 billion people still lack access to the Bible in their language. (Christian Today)
September 30 Over 7,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria this year, bringing the total to 52,000 deaths since 2009. Islamist extremists have destroyed thousands of churches and displaced millions, yet government accountability remains rare. Despite the horror, faith endures as displaced Christians gather in shelters and share Scripture, while advocacy groups like Open Doors and Global Christian Relief provide aid, trauma care, and advocacy. (RELEVANT)
September 30 The new YouTube series The Promised Land reimagines Moses’ desert journey as a workplace comedy in the style of The Office. Created by Mitch Hudson, a crew member of The Chosen, the series balances comedy with serious moments, such as the golden calf incident. It also highlights overlooked perspectives, like Miriam’s role as a prophetess. Showrunners hope the focus on humor will make Old Testament stories relatable and encourage viewers to revisit Scripture. (RNS)
September 28 Big events coming up next month for Bible scholars: Alongside the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) Annual Meeting — the world’s largest gathering of biblical scholars — in Boston, MA from Nov. 22-25, the Biblical Archaeology Society will host its 28th Annual Bible and Archaeology Fest right next door, Nov. 21-23. And the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC will be displaying the world’s oldest Bible manuscripts in their Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit opening Nov. 22 and running through September 7, 2026.
September 28 Award-winning novelist Marilynne Robinson discussed the religious dimensions of her work in a lengthy interview. Among her insights is the uniqueness of Genesis among all ancient literature: “The idea that God explicitly calls creation good — you don’t find that anywhere else. … Human beings, understood in their fallibility and their frailty, are absolutely central in the cosmos of this very ancient book, and that is such a phenomenal thing. There’s nothing to compare.” (New York Times, paywalled)
September 28 Digital Bible sales surpassed print for the first time ever, and Brazil surpassed other countries in distributing the latter. Millions are seeking faith advice from AI chatbots — and watching AI Bible videos. Religious people are happier and have stronger self-identity than nonreligious. Oh, and the Rapture was predicted — but didn’t happen — on September 23-24. Review all the biggest, strangest, and most inspiring Bible news stories of September!
