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This edition is sponsored by Aspen Group
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Church attendance may have radical health benefits. That’s the argument of Rebecca McLaughlin’s new book How Church Could (Literally) Save Your Life, which walks through telling statistics on how going to church impacts mortality; the likelihood of alcohol, smoking, and drug abuse; depression; and the risk of suicide.
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"As someone leery of pragmatism, I confess I was wary when I received McLaughlin’s book," writes our reviewer. "The true allure of church isn’t its health benefits or even its social community but the gift of worshiping the God who gave his one and only Son. Period."
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But happily, "although McLaughlin hooks readers with promises of wellness, she lands at the true heart of the matter: the gospel."
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The wellness industry is profoundly digital, with Gen Zers "more likely than others to seek out health information online rather than see a doctor. … In 2024 wellness content saw the highest growth surge among topics on Instagram." And on the same feeds where they’re encountering advice about supplements and exercise, Gen Z Christian women are also getting spiritual counsel.
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That’s the subject of another piece in this week’s digital pages, Kelsey Kramer McGinnis’s report on the fragmentation that broke the evangelical women’s blogosphere. "As online life has turned partisan, so have the evangelical women’s spaces that have emerged in recent years," from Allie Beth Stuckey to Jen Hatmaker. "Rather than the essays and blog posts that once drew in readers," McGinnis writes, "Christian women are spending more time with short-form videos and podcasts, formats that lend themselves to polarizing takes and attention-grabbing personalities."
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Not so at CT! We’re still publishing thoughtful essays (and thoughtful podcasts too) that resist our "quick to speak, slow to listen" era—including this amazing piece of in-depth immigration reporting from one of our editors.
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This week, Russell Moore sits down with legendary documentarian Ken Burns to talk about his new miniseries The American Revolution—and to explore what eight years of wrestling with the founders can teach us about our fractured present.
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"E pluribus unum. ‘Out of many, one.’ Today, there’s too much pluribus and not enough unum. That’s what I have spent the last 50 years saying. All of the great moments have been when we have come together to coalesce, regardless of differences, to make a difference in the world." | Listen here.
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Your church is uniquely suited to serve your community—and your building should be just as uniquely suited for your ministry. When church facilities are designed with purpose, they can become a catalyst for spiritual growth.
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Aspen Group combines the insights of Barna research with the resources of a national firm and deep local expertise. The result—spaces that reflect your church’s mission and help you serve your community effectively. Aspen Group’s team understands your church climate, culture, and context—ensuring designs that are both impactful and functional for today and years to come.
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Want to explore how your space can shape spiritual formation? Download the free guide: 10 Key Takeaways About Church Spaces from Barna Research—packed with insights and practical ideas to reimagine your facility.
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Isabel Ong, Asia editor: CT’s Advent devotional is now available in Spanish, Portuguese, simplified and traditional Chinese, Indonesian, and French. Visit the Facebook or Instagram accounts linked in the previous sentence for details on how to download them for free, and share with others who might find this resource helpful for their Christian communities.
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Angela Fulton, international editor: My current favorite show is the UK’s Taskmaster (all 20 seasons are free without ads on YouTube). It’s a panel show where five comedians are given tasks to do (some simple games, some more complicated) and the Taskmaster gives out points based on their performance. The banter between the hosts and the comedians is the best.
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Mia Staub, senior editorial project manager: Once I finish my seminary classes, I’m planning to watch season 2 of Nobody Wants This. I am currently watching season 2 of St. Denis Medical, the show my brother works on (proud sister moment!).
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The YouTube mockumentary works best when it pulls laughs directly from Exodus.
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Facing pressure from parents, Christian women struggle to find a man.
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He made the case that evidence and arguments aren’t necessary for rational, reasonable belief.
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"The Carpenter’s Son," starring Nicolas Cage, is disconnected from biblical hope.
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As we enter the holiday season, we consider how the places to which we belong shape us—and how we can be the face of welcome in a broken world. In this issue, you’ll read about how a monastery on Patmos offers quiet in a world of noise and, from Ann Voskamp, how God’s will is a place to find home. Read about modern missions terminology in our roundtable feature and about an astrophysicist’s thoughts on the Incarnation. Be sure to linger over Andy Olsen’s reported feature "An American Deportation" as we consider Christian responses to immigration policies. May we practice hospitality wherever we find ourselves.
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