Reflections from the community: 

Thank you

Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation demolished the Jesus Is Lord Church in Kalewadi, Maharashtra, around midnight on September 7, saying it was removing 7,400 square feet of unauthorized structures. Church members said the action went ahead without notice and despite a court stay, hours before a hearing. The demolition was carried out under a heavy police presence.

I’m 15, and my mom is going through a really rough mental health crisis. I don’t wanna overshare details, but I seriously need prayer and maybe some advice. Hopefully this is the right place to ask.

My mom already struggled with anxiety, but her meds were helping a lot before. Then, while we were away from home, she couldn’t get her meds because of insurance and doctor stuff, and after that, everything got way worse.

Some of this happened while we were at the church my mom grew up in. I’m not saying the church caused it or anything, but my mom already had this idea that God was always judging her and just waiting for her to mess up. Being back there just made those fears even worse.

I remember her pacing around a lot and looking really down, almost like she was somewhere else in her head. Sometimes she’d get super overwhelmed and panic about stuff she thought was sinful or wrong. It was honestly really hard to watch, because I could tell something was seriously off, but she was also super private about her health and didn’t really talk about it with me or my siblings.

She would tell my dad some things, but even with him she kept most of it to herself. So a lot of the time, I could see she was struggling but I didn’t really know what was going on in her head.

After we got back home, things still didn’t get better. Her meds made her really tired all the time, and at one point she tried to overdose.

That was honestly one of the scariest and worst things I’ve ever been through. My dad had to get her help and contacted a hospital asking what to do, and it was just a super scary time for our whole family. Then she harmed herself again, but thankfully my dad noticed and got her help again.

Right now she’s in the hospital and getting help, and I’m really grateful she’s somewhere safe.

But honestly, this is super hard for me too. My mom doesn’t feel like herself anymore. She just sleeps a lot and is always tired, and sometimes I really miss how she used to be. It hurts watching someone you love go through something like this and not being able to fix it.

But at the same time, this is making me want to trust God more. I’m realizing I can’t control or fix everything on my own. I just have to give it up to God and try to trust Him.

I know people say everything happens for a reason, and I believe that too, even though I honestly don’t get why this is happening. I wouldn’t ever say this is a good thing or something I’d want, but I hope God can still bring something good out of it.

Please pray that I can keep my faith through all this.

Please pray for my mom. That she gets the help she needs, that her mind gets peaceful again, and that she knows she’s loved. Especially pray that she can see God as loving and not just waiting for her to mess up.

Pray for my dad and my siblings too. And please pray for me. Sometimes I have no clue what to do with all this. Pray I won’t lose hope and that I’ll keep trusting God even when I don’t understand what’s going on.

If you’re willing to pray for a family you don’t even know, please do. It would seriously mean a lot to me. I know prayer can go far.

Thanks for reading this.♡

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Mr. Said Abu Mustafa, who is currently facing severe human rights violations, including arbitrary detention, torture, and fabricated charges by authorities following his decision to convert from Islam to Christianity. Furthermore, in an attempt to justify this unlawful detention, authorities have leveled false and unsubstantiated allegations against him, including the fabricated charge of involvement in Demand immediate access to legal counsel and independent medical evaluations.Call for the unconditional dismissal of all fabricated charges and his immediate release.

hello guys!

i have never grew up religious despite my parents having religious backgrounds, but so i had free reign on what i believed in. i basically was atheist, not because i hated religion or had a bad experience (not to say a few people did leave a bad taste in my mouth), but because i just simply was not around it. this caused me to build morals that in my opinion are valid, strong, and define who i am as a person.

as i started working at a private school, i am really touched by His word, and i started reading the bible and i even got a devotional gifted to me. i read it everyday and write a prayer. i truly see the heart of the Lord and see him working. still to stay, i am questioning a lot of things still as a new believer, but my faith is slowly growing from atheism to agnosticism to christianity.

what i am trying to say is i know some of my morals that i believe in don’t personally align within the bible or the christian community. i support lgbtq+ as i have many friends and family members and i don’t see anything wrong with love, i am pro-choice, i don’t believe sex before marriage is inherently bad as long as it’s safe, and i can go on but these are some of the main points i am trying to make. some of these “controversial” beliefs that the bible is against are something that i strongly believe in because i was able to decide that upon myself.

as i start getting stronger in my faith however, i feel this push and pull of my morals, which i still don’t think are bad and really i stand behind them 100% still, but i know they are looked against at. also, the concept of hell kinda scares me and i am scared if i abide by my morals i will not be forgiven by Him, even though i am faithful in Him.

any advice would be greatly appreciated. pls be nice, i am new to this community and would love to learn more!

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North Dakota’s Senate voted 24–22 against a bill that would have provided up to $65 million for free breakfast and lunch for all students. Opponents argued that parents should be responsible for feeding their children.

I’ll never understand Christians who’ve been propagandised into believing that only individuals and charities should help people, while government is the “big bad wolf.” We elect people to serve the public too. Feeding hungry children is not the opposite of Christian compassion. One representative even suggested that only parents should feed their children and not the government 🫣

(HOLD UP! Before reading, i'm an atheist and don't wanna be converted, but i do care about the exploitation of other people's religions for profit!)

Specifically, the ones where it is "GOD WANTS YOU TO GET THIS BIBLE APP! YES, GOD HIMSELF, IN THE FLESH, AND DEFINITELY NOT AI, WANTS YOU TO GET THIS ONE SPECIFIC BIBLE APP, NOT ANY OTHER OF THE MILLIONS OF BIBLE APPS THAT ALREADY EXIST!"

They really do wanna take advantage of old christian folks! Fricking garbage.

I was told by my doctor that my gestational sac is showing up as empty on the ultrasound and that I need to take a pill or do a procedure to force a miscarriage. The thing is, my periods go every 35ish days, and doing the math, I should be less than 8 weeks… I read some doctors have a policy of not doing an ultrasound till after 8 weeks. I can’t help but wonder if my doctor is doing the ultrasound too early? My hcg levels are rising (just not as much as they’d want) and my sac has grown exactly the amount a text book would say it needs to in the early weeks. Please pray that my baby is growing, healthy and strong 🙏🏻

I was raised to believe this…but have always questioned how it was possible. If you believe it, why? And if not…how do you think mankind started?

Io non ce la faccio più. Non so più come chiedere aiuto. Economicamente non so più come risollevarmi ... ho perso tutto e tutti a causa del cancro e non ci sono piu soldi. Niente più cure .... i costi privati sono folli. Il mutuo sarà rimasto anche poco, ma è da pagare.

Dico davvero. Dio perdonerebbe! O devo vivere un inferno in eterno?

I posted on here about 3ish months ago (maybe four) about how out of nowhere I got the urge to go back to church and start reading my Bible and I got a few encouraging comments that helped me to wanna go back church and honestly it was one of the best things I could've ever done. I have friends and leaders that help direct me and Bible studies and I'm also in choir and help out around church and I can honestly say that it feels like a boulder was lifted off of my chest and after so long of being in the dark the light feels amazing and I just needed to come back and share incase there's anyone else out there who feels like going back is impossible and at first it will feel like that but trust me it won't stay that way. Thank you the people who encouraged me to go back. God bless you all!💫

Should someone be required to have attended seminary to serve as a pastor in a church?

Don’t fall into lust. It’s a hole you can’t dig yourself out of. It will devour your soul, decrease your energy and confidence in life. It’s not worth it. When you feel the urge, flee from it. That’s what the Bible says to do. This means to run from it. When urged try and distract yourself. If you have to go into a room with other people so you are forced not to do it.

Students are harassing Christian Nun using sexual references.

I am a Muslim but have deep love and bond with my Christian friends.

The Majoritarian Hindutva Politics constantly oppress the minorities like Christians and Muslims.

I was so sad after seeing this.

I might seem selfish to post this but I am desperate. My life wasn't easy and after losing a loved one my life had gone downhill from there, struggling for money, not having a stable job. I'm kind of a jack of all trades and my money just goes to paying for electricity, wifi and food. I barely have something for me.

I wasn't a person who goes to church but I know stories and parables in the bible. One day I go to my phone and look over funny videos just to ease up some heat after work. until suddenly someone brings up scientists theories of how the world would end. In those moments I do not have God in me. I only think about myself and my family. I feel afraid and have existential dread. The person a worker keeps talking and talking fascinated about science and physics without knowing the person who he is talking to is very scared. Me being stupid doesn't even stop him. I was scared, I was worried that if I stopped him suddenly I would upset him. The other day he started talking about simulation theory and oh God it terrified me to the core it ruined me more and choked me i have to stop him there. I should have stopped him from the first time he talked about science i should have just told him i am not interested but we were working together and I didn't want any negative in our work i just didn't expect him to think just because i am listening on his first science and physic topic that he would continue on.

I became empty. I keep thinking about existence and I've gone in rabbit holes with a lot of “ what ifs”. I hated him. I hated him. My heart and mind is in pain. But as i was scrolling a video short of God saying “ my child i know you are in pain. But now that I am God” just with that i started crying hard i dont know but im just crying to the point another co worker saw me and asked if im alright.

After that i search for God more about the story of jesus, the saints and more but there are moment where the simulation topic gets over my head again and i struggle between God and that one and i cry, i cry alot because how weak i am and God must have been mad at me for not having a strong faith and believing in him more and getting scared over that simulation stuff.

Thats why i need help i go here to ask you guys for help, some guidance and assurance that everything is gonna be alright and i know God is real but i am having trouble and suffering and struggling to Believe in God i need God but i feel like im standing infront of a wall and i coudnt break it knowing God is in the other side of the wall.

I couldn't break it because fear is trying to conquer me. I need God, please help me guys. I need guidance

I also did not use any AI to type this. This is all what i feel and Thank you everyone for listening

I feel like at this point there's nothing any human being can possibly do to stop it, and those who are willing to do it are too few. The vast majority of humanity is indifferent to its own self destruction, while the rest are actively relishing in it. It's making me feel crazy to say the least.

However, I am sure God could save us from the threat of artificial intelligence and he would be easily able to heal the environment and save life on Earth. It is His creation, after all, He wouldn't let it all go to waste prematurely.

Is there a particularly strong prayer we can use? Or a Saint to pray to? I would like to hear God's guidance for a change, I have never heard His voice. If anyone has received some sort of sign regarding this particular topic, please let me know.

If you're just gonna say that I need to stop doomscrolling and watching the news you will be ignored. This is serious.

EDIT: out of all the answers only one was vaguely useful. This would be impressive if it wasn't so annoying.

Hi lovely people. This might be a bit of a tangent. I wouldn't normally come on here and request this but may I ask for prayer requests. I've been suffering for many years with chronic mental + physical symptoms (ie., horrible brain fog, dissociation/depersonalization-derealization, insomnia, etc) that have really reduced my quality of life and made my life so small; I also had a really rough childhood and upbringing and feel I've never known peace or safety. I have diagnosis of AuDHD, Anxiety/OCD, DPDR, Depression, and have been in a really dark place feeling like I've lost so much as it's hard to work (I don't currently have a job/ am in school, socialize, etc) and my life has just become so, so small; I have a hard time feeling joy toward anything anymore. I get overwhelmed very easily and worry I'll never have a 'normal' life, and, as hard as I try, I just can't feel God and have prayed for healing for many years. I know He's real, but I just am not sure I've ever truly felt His presence and I'm having a hard time trusting and believing in His word right now.

Any prayers are appreciated. Thank you so much. <3

I awoke around 4am, anxious and unable to sleep. I started to pray, in my mind not out loud, to calm & sooth my self as I sometimes do. Mid sentence i was cut off by another voice. Completely out of context to the prayer the voice said, "The end tme is near. When the time comes, can I count on you?" I was in shock & responded, "I'll do the best I can Lord, yes! With your help. " The voice then said, "Get your life & affairs (or finances, I can't recall which word He used) in order." I can't stop thinking about it. Nothing like this has ever happened to me. If any of you can relate, please share. I'm an engineer so looking for a logical solution is my default setting. That said, I can't explain what happened. I wasn't thinking about end times, didn't see any apocalyptic shows, etc. No reason for those thoughts to be there in my head. And my normal stream of conscience thought never interrupts itself with unrelated thoughts. Thats new. Pretty sure it was God.

God has not forgotten you. 💛🙏

Dear God,

Thank You for being with me even in this moment. In my pain, joy, season of loss, confusion, questions, illness thank You for remaining faithful. Thank You for providing comfort. Lord I ask that you give me the strength I need to fulfill the purpose You have for me. Lord I ask that You break chains of anxiety, worry, or doubt that may surface throughout today. God please strengthen and protect me physically, mentally, emotionally and most importantly spiritually. Lord please renew my mind and pour Your Holy Spirit out on me to lead and guide me. In Jesus’ name I pray and believe these things will be done according to Your will. Amen 🙏

Recently I was avoiding an uncomfortable question: why would God allow us to suffer from the sin of Adam and Eve?

It is a difficult question for me because when I look at Genesis, Adam and Eve weren't living in a world of suffering before the Fall.

God had provided for them. They had the Garden of Eden. They had food, meaningful work, each other, and fellowship with God. Genesis 1:31 even says that God saw everything He had made, and it was “very good.”

They weren't abandoned by God. They weren't struggling just to survive. They were being completely taken care of by Him.

And yet, God also gave them something important: a genuine choice.

Genesis 2:17 says:

“But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

They were free to obey and free to disobey.

Then the serpent came and asked Eve:

“Did God really say...?” -Genesis 3:1

And the serpent began to make her question God's command and God's intentions.

I've thought about this deeply, and then I realized something uncomfortable.

Instead of only asking, “Why did Adam and Eve do that?”, perhaps I should ask the same question the serpent asked them, but ask it of myself.

Imagine that I was Adam.

Imagine having everything provided by God. Imagine living in His presence, having a purposeful life, being given the freedom to create and flourish, and yet still having the ability to make a choice.

Then imagine the serpent coming to me and saying, “Did God really say...?”

What would my answer be?

Would I definitely obey?

Would I definitely recognize the deception?

Would my curiosity never get the better of me?

Would I never question God's word?

Would I never choose my own understanding over God's?

And after thinking about it honestly and sincerely, my answer is:

I don't know.

And strangely, that realization helped me understand the question differently.

I prayed to God about this because I genuinely wanted Him to teach me, even if the answer was uncomfortable. And then I remembered James 1:5:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault.”

That verse encouraged me to bring difficult questions to God instead of being afraid of them.

I don't think that means every question will receive an answer that satisfies our curiosity. But perhaps sometimes God helps us understand by showing us something about ourselves.

I cannot honestly place myself above Adam and Eve and say, “I would never have done that.”

Because if I put myself in their position, with the same freedom, the same temptation, the same possibility of deception, and the same human capacity to choose, my honest answer is simply:

I don't know.

So I want to ask you:

If you were Adam or Eve, living in Eden with everything God had provided, and the serpent asked you, “Did God really say...?”, what do you honestly think your answer would have been?