Once in a Life Time Solar Eclipse Seen in U.S.
The astronomical phenomenon of the century occurred on August 21st as Americans from coast to coast were captivated by the first total solar eclipse in the U.S. since 1918. Temperatures dropped, birds stopped chirping and tens of millions of people stood looking up at the sky. It was easy to understand why many Christians viewed this as an act of God. It was for many, evidence of God’s majesty- and even to a few, a harbinger of the coming of the end of the world.
Anthem Protests Divides Country
The NFL National Anthem Protests, where players knelt during the National Anthem, caused quite a stir in 2017. The nation, including Christians, have been divided on whether they agree with the NFL player protests. A poll for ESPN found that 51 percent of adults said they disapprove of the protests while 39 percent said they approved. Amid the division, thousands of Christians from across the nation chose to take a knee in Washington, D.C., to ask God for forgiveness for the sins of racism and hate, and to pray for racial healing and unity.
The Good in Hurricane Harvey
Hurricane Harvey was a tragic disaster that caused harm to many, but it also showed how Americans can come together and help each other. The response was amazing, and millions in donations and hours of volunteering help came pouring in. An estimated 80 percent of the aid came from Christians.
The Bible Still Going Strong
In 2017, more people than ever read, listened, reflected and shared the Word of God, according to the popular YouVersion Bible App. The report says that this years most popular verse was Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
Hillsong Worship Named Billboard’s Top Christian Artist of 2017
Their song, “What A Beautiful Name” became the most-consumed track in Christian music for the year and Billboard’s Hot Christian Song of the Year. Hillsong Worship has sold more than 20 million records and garnered 1.5 billion album streams over the past 20 years.
Christians Celebrate the 500th anniversary of the launch of the Protestant Reformation
On Oct. 31, Protestants, evangelicals, and Pentecostals around the world marked the day when an Augustinian monk and scholar by the name of Martin Luther is widely believed to have posted 95 theses outlining his objections to corrupt practices in the Catholic church to the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. Arguably, the most important recovery from Luther’s life was the doctrine of justification, that a person receives salvation by the grace of God through faith and not by any of his of her works, a truth that had gotten buried under mounds of traditions over the years.
The Museum of the Bible Opens
In November in the nation’s capital. The Museum of the Bible officially opened. Designed to keep the attention of a 21st Century audience with cutting-edge interactive displays, the museum quickly succeeded in drawing thousands of visitors. The 430,000 square-foot facility showcases more than 40,000 items related to the world’s best-selling and most widely read book. It signals to the people of the country a simple fact: The Bible is an indelible core aspect of our history, society and culture. Western civilization has been crafted by the Bible, the reformation and the enlightenment.
Billy Graham Made Gallup’s ‘Most Admired’ List for a Record 61st Time
After recently turning 99 and entering his 100th year of life, Billy Graham has been recognized once again as one of the people Americans admire most—an honor he has received 61 times. Gallup just released its annual list of which man and woman in the world were admired most in 2017. The poll has two criteria: the man or woman must be living, and the open-ended question is asked with no prompting, meaning those whose names are in the headlines are likely choices. Mr. Graham has been among the top 10 most admired men every year since 1963 (except 1976 when the survey didn’t happen). He also appeared on the list every year from 1955-1961. He was ranked fourth this year.
‘Epic’ Year at Harvest Ministries With 25,000 People Deciding to Follow Christ
Megachurch Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship in California has said that as many as 25,000 people decided to follow Jesus Christ with the help of his ministry, calling 2017 an “epic” year. TV programs, online outreach, and the Steve McQueen movie and book earlier this year were all instrumental in this success. Laurie’s events have drawn big crowds this year, with the 28th annual SoCal Harvest revival crusade held at Angel Stadium in Anaheim seeing over 10,000 decisions for Christ in August.