Today’s Briefing

After the hit singer’s skateboarding injury and claims of a miraculous healing, fans agree that God’s got Forrest Frank’s back.

Saudi Arabia released a Kenyan Christian from a death-penalty sentence after he collected enough blood money to pay off his victim’s family.

Speaker and activist Christine Caine shares her testimony of finding God’s love after childhood secrets of migration, sexual abuse, and adoption.

The prophet Isaiah brings together eight Hebrew names for God in what one pastor calls the most emotionally resonant and theologically significant passage in the Old Testament.

An American war hero and diplomat drew on what he learned as a missionary kid in early 20th-century Lebanon.

Behind the Story

From worship music correspondent Kelsey Kramer McGinnis: Journalists can’t verify a miracle. So when musician Forrest Frank cited divine intervention for “complete healing” two weeks after fracturing his back, we can only report on what Frank said and how fans responded.

Even though there is no reason to think Frank is being dishonest (he already had a song on the Billboard Hot 100 before the injury—he didn’t need the publicity), it’s good journalistic practice to use qualifiers like “according to” and “Frank claimed.” Still, it can come across as casting doubt on his account.

Covering Christian music in general requires me to report on what artists are doing and saying without accepting unverifiable statements as fact. When artists say, “God gave me a song,” or “God told me…,” they may be totally sincere, but I can’t actually corroborate that. It can be hard to quote artists about their process when they claim divine involvement, because I have to add qualifiers, and those qualifiers can seem like skepticism.

There’s a silly old journalism adage: “If your mom says she loves you, check it out,” meaning “Fact-check everything.” For reporters who cover Christian culture, we can’t fact-check the presence of God or divine intervention, but we can share what artists say in their own words.

In Other News

Russia continues to raid Baptist worship services in occupied Ukrainian territories, fining pastors under its restrictive anti-missionary law.
The late John MacArthur’s church is being sued for allegedly firing construction workers who complained about asbestos.
Christian musician John Mark McMillan said he is ending his music career to focus on other endeavors.
A new study asks when kissing started in ancient Israel.

Today in Christian History

September 5, 1888: Sensational preacher Billy Sunday marries Helen Amelia Thompson, who became his evangelistic campaign adviser. Her organizational talents helped raise him to national prominence.

Can the Tech Bros Save the World?

Much has been made of the daunting challenges of our times—from the global economy to artificial intelligence—with leaders from the left, right, and center all discussing how to overcome them.…

Are Christians Hotter?

Some Christian women on the internet seem convinced that Jesus wants them to be holy—and hot. If you search “Jesus glow-up” on Instagram or TikTok, the first video to show…

Died: Appalachian Trail Legend Gene Espy

Gene Espy wasn’t trying to set a record. He went into the woods in May 1951 to connect with God. Then he walked for 123 days. One foot in front…

Why an Early American Missionary Family Was Beloved in Lebanon

Pastor Michael Sbeit stood pensively in front of the marble gravestone in the evangelical cemetery of Sidon, a Lebanese city 25 miles south of Beirut. Mediterranean Cypress trees offered shade…

in the magazine

As developments in artificial intelligence change daily, we’re increasingly asking what makes humanity different from the machines we use. In this issue, Emily Belz introduces us to tech workers on the frontlines of AI development, Harvest Prude explains how algorithms affect Christian courtship, and Miroslav Volf writes on the transhumanist question. Several writers call our attention to the gifts of being human: Haejin and Makoto Fujimura point us to beauty and justice, Kelly Kapic reminds us God’s highest purpose isn’t efficiency, and Jen Pollock Michel writes on the effects of Alzheimer’s . We bring together futurists, theologians, artists, practitioners, and professors to consider how technology shapes us even as we use it.

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CT Daily Briefing – 09-05-2025

Today’s Briefing

Behind the Story

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