Vox Gratiae

10/08/2026

Evangelical and Pentecostal leaders are remembering televangelist Jim Bakker following his deæțh at age 86, reflecting on both his influence in Christian broadcasting and the difficult chapters of his life.

Bakker, who led the PTL ministry and became a prominent figure in Christian television, d!ed Monday evening. His ministry later faced serious financial problems that resulted in a criminàl convictiøn and imprisonmeèț. In his later years, he returned to Christian broadcasting through “The Jim Bakker Show.”

Following his deàțħ, Christian leaders offered different perspectives on his legacy.

Franklin Graham expressed sadness over Bakker’s passing and remembered him as a friend. Graham credited Bakker with providing Samaritan’s Purse with important early television exposure and said Bakker frequently used his program to highlight other ministries and Christian leaders. Graham also recalled a personal meeting with Bakker shortly before his father’s funeral.

Harold Hunter emphasized the importance of accountability and responsible leadership in ministry. While acknowledging Bakker’s failures, Hunter argued that poor organizational and financial oversight contributed significantly to the cøllapse of his ministry.

Charismatic pastor Jeremiah Johnson described Bakker as a pioneer who helped shape Christian television and gave many ministers a larger platform. Johnson acknowledged the painful parts of Bakker’s story but emphasized that failure should not completely define a person’s life. He pointed to Bakker’s later years as evidence of rebuilding and continued faith.

Albert Mohler described Bakker’s rise and fall as an important chapter in American religious history. He said the story raises questions about prosperity teaching, Pentecostalism, religious broadcasting and celebrity culture.

Together, the reflections present a complicated legacy: a pioneering broadcaster whose ministry reached millions, whose serious failures brought lasting consequences, but whose later years also included efforts to rebuild his life and continue sharing his Christian faith.

10/08/2026

Trey Lara, a rising young leader in the Foursquare Church, has d!ed at 24 after experiencing a medical emergency while running the Portland Marathon in Oregon.

Lara, who was just days away from his 25th birthday, had reportedly trained for months and appeared healthy throughout most of the 26.2-mile race. His wife, Audrey Shin-Lara, told Fox 12 that she saw him around miles 18 and 19, when he smiled, kissèd her, and continued running.

Around mile 20, Lara cøllapsed. His wife said doctors determined that he had suffered cardiàc arrest and were unable to save him.

Lara had recently stepped away from his role as a youth pastor at Eastside Church in Bothell, Washington, to take on a broader role supporting young pastors and ministry leaders within the Foursquare denomination. He had also helped launch Camp Genesis, a youth camp, during the summer.

In his final sermon at Eastside Church, Lara spoke about the growing need to encourage and equip young people who feel called to ministry. He described his passion for resourcing, empowering and encouraging the next generation of Christian leaders.

Friends remembered Lara for his unwavering faith, love for people, sense of humor, creativity and passion for advancing God’s Kingdom.

He leaves behind his wife, parents, two sisters and extended family.

“He’s the love of my life, always will be,” Audrey said. “And we’ll see him again.”

His family and friends are now mourning a young life remembered for faith, service and a deep commitment to others.

10/07/2026

Two TikTok influencers in West Virginia have been charged with first-degree arsøn and conspiracy after authorities say a fire started at an abandoned home spread to a nearby church, causing more than $10,000 in estimatêd damäge.

Dakota Harper, 22, and Felicity Eatmon, 22, were arrested Sept. 29 in connection with the Sept. 27 fire in Charleston.

According to investigators, surveillance footage allegedly shows the pair approaching the vacant house shortly before the fire began. Authorities say Eatmon handed Harper what appeared to be a piece of paper, which was then lit and placed inside the building. Investigators allege the two partially entered the home before leaving as the fire grew.

The blaze eventually spread to Canaan United Methodist Church, resulting in significant damaġẽ.

Harper appeared in court for a preliminary hearing, where his bond was increased from $10,000 to $20,000 and he was ordered to remain confined to his home. His attorney requested that he be placed in a facility where he could receive care. Eatmon remains held on a $10,000 bond and waived her initial hearing.

A friend of Harper told reporters that both defendants had been struggling with mental-health and addiction-related issues, while emphasizing that those challenges should be considered.

If convicted, the defendants could face substantial prison sentences on the arson and conspiracy charges. Authorities have reportedly said they do not believe the fire was connected to the pair’s TikTok activity.

10/07/2026

10/07/2026

A new report from the Institute for Family Studies (IFS) suggests that couples who regularly attend church, pray and embrace traditional teachings about marriage may experience stronger relationships and greater intimacy than their less religious peers.

The report, titled The Devout Difference: Religion, Marital Quality, and $ęx Among Americans, examined patterns among married Americans and found that churchgoing couples appear to have been more resilient to a broader decline in intimate activity seen in recent decades.

According to General Social Survey data cited by IFS, 64% of married Americans ages 20 to 54 reported being intimate at least weekly in the 1990s. Today, that figure has fallen to about 54%.

However, regular churchgoers showed a much smaller decline. Today, approximately 62% of married regular church attendees report weekly intimacy, compared with 48% of secular couples.

A separate IFS survey of more than 3,100 married adults produced similar results. About 69% of Catholic churchgoers reported weekly intimacy, compared with 60% of Catholics who attend less frequently. Among Protestants, the figures were 60% and 52%, respectively. Only 47% of couples with no religious affiliation reported the same frequency.

The researchers also found higher levels of relationship and intimate-life satisfaction among couples who regularly attend church. Daily prayer was particularly associated with greater satisfaction among Catholic and Protestant couples.

Researchers said the findings challenge the stereotype that religious couples are less satisfied in their marriages. Instead, they suggest that shared faith, commitment, prayer and a sense of sacredness surrounding marriage may contribute to stronger relationships.

The study was sponsored by FOCUS, a Catholic ministry.

10/07/2026

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott says faith has become an important part of the team’s culture, especially in how players respond to both victories and challenges.

After the Cowboys rallied to defeat the Houston Texans 34–30, Prescott told reporters that many of his teammates share his Christian faith. He said the players recognize that their lives and careers have a purpose beyond football.

“We’re all here because of God, and we’re all here to serve a greater purpose,” Prescott said.

The quarterback explained that the team seeks to keep faith at the center of its perspective, asking what they can learn from every situation, whether they win or lose. He said players are encouraged to become better people while serving God and others.

Prescott credited head coach Brian Schottenheimer for helping create an environment where faith can be openly expressed. He also mentioned team chaplains Jonathan and Tony Evans as important spiritual influences.

Prescott has spoken about his faith throughout his career, particularly after suffering a serious ankle injurý in 2020. At the time, he said he trusted God’s plan and viewed the difficult experience as an opportunity to grow and encourage others.

For Prescott, faith remains a source of gratitude, strength and purpose both on and off the field.

10/07/2026

Two University of Toronto psychiatrists are raising concerns about how Canada’s assisted-dyiñġ system is being used, pointing to cases in which vulnerable people may consider ending their lives because of loneliness, løss of purpose or difficult circumstances.

In a New York Times opinion article, Madeline Li and Gary Rodin described a woman in her 70s who had løst the ability to cook for her family. She reportedly felt that she no longer had value because she could not prepare the Sunday meals she once made.

The woman was approved for medically assisted death, but counseling helped her recognize that her family valued her for who she was rather than what she could do. She ultimately chose not to proceed and later celebrated Christmas with her family while others prepared the meal.

The psychiatrists also described an elderly Holocaust survivor who reconsidered his decision after counseling helped him think about the impact his dèàťħh would have on his family.

They argue that people considering assisted de@th should receive meaningful opportunities for counseling, support and alternatives that can restore dignity and purpose.

Canada introduced its assisted-dýinġ program in 2016 and later expanded eligibility. The doctors now say society should ensure that people facing suffering can see meaningful reasons to continue living.

10/07/2026

United Methodist pastor and U.S. Senate candidate Adam Hamilton is facing renewed scrutiny over how his church handled allegations involving a former youth camp volunteer nearly two decades ago.

The controversy centers on incidents reported in 2005 and 2006 involving Scott Moore, a volunteer at Hamilton’s Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. According to court records and media reports cited in the campaign dispute, two teenagers reported inappropriate conduct involving Moore during a church youth camp.

A campaign advertisement from Republican Sen. Roger Marshall accuseş Hamilton of failing to respond appropriately at the time. Hamilton’s campaign strongly disputes the allegations, calling the advertisement mislead!ñg and politically motivated.

Hamilton’s spokesman says the church conducted an internal investigation, later contacted law enforcement after another report in 2006, and removed Moore from volunteer responsibilities. The church also notified other organizations where Moore served.

Moore was later convicted in 2013 in connection with an incident involving a teenage boy. Earlier allegatioñs were reportedly presented as evidence during that case.

Hamilton has denied covering up the allegations. However, he acknowledged that he would have handled the original 2005 report differently, saying he should have contacted law enforcement directly.

The issue has now become a major focus of the Kansas Senate campaign, with both campaigns exchanging accusatiønş over their opponents’ records.

With Election Day approaching, the dispute highlights how allegatiøñş from years ago can become a significant issue in a modern political campaign.

10/07/2026

Two U.S. senators are seeking to protect federal financial aid for college students preparing for careers in ministry and religious service.

Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Ted Cruz of Texas recently introduced the Religious Education Fairness Act, which would amend federal higher-education law to ensure qualifying theology, religious studies and religious-vocation programs are not denied federal student aid because graduates have lower earnings.

The legislation comes after the U.S. Department of Education adopted a new accountability rule based on graduates’ earnings. Supporters of the Senate bill argue that ministry careers often come with modest salaries, meaning students preparing to become pastors, missionaries or other religious workers could be disproportionately affected.

Lankford said students who believe they are called to ministry should not lose access to financial assistance simply because the government evaluates their vocation through income.

The Alliance Defending Freedom also supports the legislation, arguing that students entering ministry are pursuing a calling to serve God and their communities rather than maximizing their income.

Several Christian and religious education organizations have backed the bill, including the Association for Biblical Higher Education, the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Education officials, however, defend the earnings-based rule, saying it is designed to reduce unnecessary student debt and ensure taxpayer-funded programs provide graduates with a reasonable financial return.

The debate highlights a growing question: Should ministry education be judged primarily by graduates’ income—or by the calling and service those graduates pursue?

10/07/2026

Author and former Moody Church pastor Erwin Lutzer has co-authored a new book comparing two influential 19th-century figures whose ideas and legacies continue to shape the modern world: Karl Marx and evangelist Dwight L. Moody.

Titled Marx and Moody: Two Contemporaries. Two Gospels. Two Tombstones. One Choice, the book was written with Gregg Quiggle, a former professor of historical theology at Moody Bible Institute. Lutzer wrote about Marx, while Quiggle examined Moody’s ministry and social work.

The idea for the book came to Lutzer while visiting Marx’s gravesite in London. He was struck by the fact that Marx and Moody lived during the same period and that Marx’s associate Friedrich Engels reportedly attended one of Moody’s revival meetings in England.

Lutzer uses the book to examine competing economic and philosophical worldviews. He acknowledges that capitalism has experienced corruption and failures but argues that competition, personal initiative and incentives can encourage production and innovation. He also expresses concern about increasing government control of markets and prices.

The authors also explore the growing popularity of democratic socialist ideas in the United States. Lutzer describes these ideas as influenced by Marxist thought while noting that modern advocates generally do not embrace all of Marx’s original positions.

The second half of the book focuses on Moody, who rose from poverty to become one of America’s best-known evangelists. He founded institutions that continue today, including Moody Bible Institute and what became Moody Church.

Moody also responded to practical needs. He supported schools, orphanages, churches and charitable efforts while preaching the Gospel throughout North America and Europe. Lutzer compares aspects of Moody’s ministry to that of Billy Graham.

For Lutzer, the central lesson is that Christians should understand both history and the ideas shaping society today. He also believes Moody’s example demonstrates that Christian ministry should address physical and social needs without losing sight of the Gospel.

The authors ultimately invite readers to consider how the beliefs and priorities of influential figures can shape their lasting legacy.