"We want to do something good, something special. We want the people here to be motivated, to see that it's possible to work and serve God without going abroad, to provide for your family right here, in your own community," Luba Griciuk told CBN News through her tears. Fifteen years ago, this young couple reached a crossroads.  "We were ordinary Christians, the kind of people who simply understood that you're supposed to go to church on Sundays, listen to whatever is being preached, have someone tell you something interesting, and feel comfortable sitting through that Sunday service," said Denis Griciuk. Newly married and full of dreams, the couple saw little reason to stay. In a village marked by poverty and unemployment, however, those dreams felt far away. Like so many others, they prepared to leave Moldova. "We had opportunities to leave. We were invited to move to the States. We also had the option to go to Turkey, with very good conditions," said Denis. Svetly was shrinking. Poverty and unemployment were common. Young people left for countries like the United States, Turkey, and elsewhere in Europe, convinced there was no future at home. That changed during a single weekend encounter. The Griciuks met Alex Belev, a leader with Mission Eurasia, through its School Without Walls initiative, a ministry training program designed to equip local believers without requiring them to leave their communities. "What set them apart was their deep thirst to understand how to carry out ministry, how to raise new disciples, how to serve wherever God sent them," Belev said. The training focused on Biblical wisdom, servant leadership, and practical ministry, not in a classroom, but lived out in everyday life. "We are here to raise new generations of church leaders, so that ministry does not stop here and now, but continues over time across generations," Belev told CBN News. That weekend, the couple says, God gave them a new vision: stay and build. "It gave us opportunities to learn, to discover new things, to put our Christianity into action, not just to be passive Christians," Denis said. "We realized that we can be useful right where we are, that we can do something not just be ordinary people, of which there are plenty around." Instead of leaving Moldova, Denis and Luba opened a small bakery with support from Mission Eurasia. Later, they added a café. Today, Colos Coffee serves premium coffee and fresh pastries in a village that once had little to celebrate. But the café is more than a business. Each day, Denis and Luba quietly provide free food to elderly residents and struggling families. Along with warm bread and coffee, they offer conversation, encouragement, and prayer. "We have the opportunity to talk with them, share a little about God, and plant a seed that we believe may one day bear fruit," Denis said. The café also employs young adults who once planned to leave, including 22-year-old Maria Gamarnic. "I had lived in Ukraine, Russia, and Poland, convinced there were no opportunities for me in Svetly," she said. "When I returned, it was only meant to be for a short while. Then I heard about the coffee shop and decided to stay." As the vision expanded, so did the needs they saw around them. First came a bicycle repair shop for children and families who couldn't afford new bikes. Used bicycles are refurbished and given new life. "I see how Denis pours his soul into this day and night, and Luba as well, on weekends and weekdays alike, they devote an extraordinary amount of time to their ministry," said Alexander Stoleicov who oversees the shop. Next, they opened a car repair shop to address transportation challenges caused by aging vehicles and costly maintenance. Luba's father, a lifelong mechanic, now runs the operation. "I've been a mechanic since 1979," he said. "We help with whatever we can." Each initiative created jobs, provided essential services, and strengthened the local economy. But the heart of their mission beats strongest elsewhere. Inside a modest building in Svetly, dozens of children gather every afternoon for homework help, meals, games, and Bible lessons. The center focuses especially on children from difficult circumstances, those raised by single parents, grandparents, or in unstable homes. "We work with children from difficult families, those left without parents," Denis explained. "Grandparents often can't manage their upbringing, education, and development on their own." Volunteers like Swiss missionary Damaris Blessing teach English and mentor students. "I care deeply about children, and I want them to know about Jesus," Blessing told CBN News. What began with a single "yes" to God has now grown into five ministries, dozens of jobs, and countless lives touched.   Alex Belev says the impact reaches far beyond Svetly. "They didn't just make life in Svetly better through the bakery, the cafe, the workshop, the car shop, and the school for children," Belev said. "They created a community that raises up other disciples who go on mission wherever there is need." In a village many had written off, the Griciuks chose to believe something different was possible. "God gave us this opportunity," Denis said. "We received the training, we learned the skills, and we decided it would be wrong to bury this talent, to keep it to ourselves." Fifteen years later, their choice continues to ripple through Svetly, one cup of coffee, one repaired bicycle, one child at a time.   

Leandro de Souza, known for having much of his body tattooed, will begin theological studies after receiving a full scholarship. His story includes his conversion to Christ, overcoming addictions, and his decision to dedicate himself to missionary work. Photo: Screenshot from Instagram video Leandro de Souza, once known as the “most tattooed man in Brazil,” is preparing to begin theological studies after receiving a scholarship for ministry and missionary work. His story, reported by Diario Cristiano, reflects a journey of religious conversion and life transformation. According to a post on his Instagram account, the scholarship will allow him to relocate from Bagé, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, to Pernambuco to study at an evangelical seminary, leaving his job behind to focus fully on his spiritual and ministerial training. “I’m super motivated and happy. Four years have passed, and the future belongs to God. Wherever He leads me, I want to go—whether in Brazil, in Africa, or in more remote regions. I’m ready to help others,” he said. He also asked for prayers for this new chapter in his life. “One day I was rescued from the streets, from addiction, from prison, and from many other places that do not belong to God. Once again, I chose to renounce my own will, the will of the flesh, to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” de Souza said. “It is time to be a servant, to empty oneself, and to learn from the One who is meek and humble,” he emphasized. Souza first gained attention for his appearance, with over 95 percent of his body covered by more than 170 tattoos. After converting to Christianity, he began gradually removing them—including tattoos on his face and other visible areas—with free support from a specialized studio, as a symbol of leaving his past behind and beginning a new chapter in life. Diario Cristiano reports that Souza describes this period as one of personal and spiritual restoration. “My dignity was restored. It’s not about me—it’s about Jesus,” he said, referring to his transformation after leaving addiction and homelessness. The report also notes that his early life was marked by vulnerability, abuse, and later involvement with drugs and criminal activity, which ultimately led to his arrest. His transformation began at a municipal shelter in Bagé, where an evangelism group invited him to attend church. Fifteen days later, he was baptized. Since then, he says he has left addiction behind and committed his life to faith. In interviews, Souza has said that his priority is no longer the image he once projected through his tattoos, but rather God’s calling on his life. He noted that his theological studies will be essential to his preparation and that he hopes to participate in missionary work and social outreach. He currently attends the Assembleia de Deus church in Bagé, a prominent evangelical denomination in Brazil, where he is actively involved in evangelism and social outreach as he prepares for theological training and future missionary work. His story has been shared in Christian media as a testimony of conversion and social reintegration. Originally published by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.

I vividly remember walking into my first Cru gathering as a secular and skeptical 23-year-old. In the years leading up to that moment, I had spent countless nights wondering if life was even worth waking up for. It often felt like the world didn’t want me. So as I stepped through those doors, I asked and hoped that God would be different. The longing I felt that night isn’t unique to me. In the years since, both as an intern with Cru and as a volunteer on my church’s youth staff, I’ve ministered to students who are where I once was. In Gen Z, I commonly see fear of rejection. As Gen Zers continue to live online and find relationships there, one of the most prominent forms of rejection they face emerges in the digital realm: ghosting. And I’ve learned to meet that fear with the doctrine of God’s unshakeable love. Experience of Rejection “Ghosting” is a popular term with Gen Z that means suddenly cutting off all contact without explanation. While its most common usage occurs in online dating spaces, it can also happen in friendships. One study revealed that 50 percent of Gen Z and younger millennials report being ghosted by a close friend. In an era when Gen Z mostly lives online, this kind of rejection is almost inescapable. The same study showed that 84 percent of respondents report being scarred by ghosting. Ghosting, through its many apparitions, has left Gen Z socially isolated and lonely. Online communities become like exclusive country clubs where users can remove others, leaving them confused, hurt, and with a lingering pang of rejection from their peers. Online communities become like exclusive country clubs where users can remove others. However, for a generation highly motivated to continue learning about Jesus (52 percent) and eager for in-person relationships, what some Gen Zers find as they step into the church is sadly no different from what they experience among their peers. Another study found that the second-largest reason young adults stopped attending church was that they perceived church members as judgmental or hypocritical. ‘What Makes God Different?’ Ultimately, Gen Z isn’t searching for something new or unique to their generation but for what all generations desire: to be fully known and fully loved. As they explore Christianity, they’re asking, “What makes God any different from those who have rejected me?” This question leads us to examine God’s character, where we see how he truly stands apart. He knows everything about us, the good and the bad. Yet, strangely, this guarantees a comfort no one else can offer. No matter our story, God doesn’t reject us; he draws near and restores us. While others might reject us if they truly knew us, it isn’t so with God. Instead of turning away when he sees our ugly, broken, and sinful side, he draws near. It’s an act of agape love, a selfless, sacrificial act of goodwill, and an unconditional commitment to the one who is loved. This kind of love is distinctly Christian. It isn’t merely kindness, or excusing sin, or doing whatever the person wants; it’s cross-shaped. He loves us because he loves his Son, who conquered sin and death in our place. There’s no “he loves me, he loves me not” dynamic with God; those in Christ never have to worry about God changing his mind or ghosting them. He chose rebels before the creation of the universe, knowing fully who he’d get involved with (Eph. 1:4), and he doesn’t make mistakes (Matt. 5:48; Ps. 18:30). Revealing an Invisible God Since God is invisible, it may feel like he’s ghosting us. This ushers in an opportunity for the body of Christ to reach Gen Z with God’s unshakable and eternal love. The apostle John tells us that no one has ever seen God in his fullness, and yet his love is manifested in and through us when we abide in him (1 John 4:12). For Gen Zers questioning how God can be different, we can manifest God’s love through sacrificially meeting others’ needs. We see a beautiful example of this in the gospel community in Acts. The early church created spaces for the living God to be made manifest, and Jerusalem became a place where they could display the reality of a loving God through their love for one another (Acts 2:42–47). No matter our story, God doesn’t reject us; he draws near and restores us. Are our Christian communities also devoted to the apostles’ teaching? To fellowship, communion, and prayer? Are we the aroma of Christ to members of Gen Z (2 Cor. 2:14–16)? There’s no secret formula for getting Gen Z through our doors, but they need to see a gathering of people who recognize their brokenness and realize that Christ Jesus is the only source of restoration. Jesus said it isn’t the healthy who need a physician but the sick (Matt. 9:12). Scripture reveals we’re all sick (Rom. 3:23); everyone needs the Great Physician, including Gen Z. The sick don’t need a courthouse or a country club but a hospital where people come in need of healing and walk out experiencing that healing.

By Leonardo Blair, Senior Reporter Sunday, February 15, 2026Honesty and ethics ratings of clergy have sunk to a new record low, according to Gallup.Six other professions also reached record lows, including pharmacists and high school teachers.Public trust in clergy fell below 50% for the first time in 2013.An artificial intelligence-powered tool created this summary based on the source article. The summary has undergone review and verification by an editor.Getty ImagesThe public perception of the honesty and ethical standards of clergy reached a record low over the last 50 years, according to Gallup’s annual honesty and ethics survey. Just 27% of the American public ranked clergy as high or very high on the scale.Six other professions reached record lows in their honesty and ethical standards rankings over the period, including pharmacists (53%), high school teachers (50%), police officers (37%), business executives (10%), stockbrokers (9%) and telemarketers (5%). Gallup, which has been gauging the public's views of the honesty and ethical standards of a variety of occupations since 1976, collected data for its latest poll from Dec. 1 to Dec. 15, 2025. In 2025, the Gallup poll found that 30% of respondents rated clergy as highly honest and ethical. Before 1999, pharmacists and clergy members consistently ranked as "the most highly rated professions for their ethics," researchers note.Of the seven professions reaching record lows in their honesty and ethical standards rankings, only high school teachers, pharmacists, police officers and clergy have had more than 50% of the public ranking them high or very high on the honesty and ethical standards scale at different stages over the period.The share of the public ranking clergy as high or very high fell below 50% for the first time in 2013, when 47% of Americans ranked clergy as high or very high on the honesty and ethical standards scale. Since then, it has shown a steady decline.The share of high school teachers rated as high or very high on the honesty and ethical standards scale has also declined steadily, from 64% in 2002 to 50% 24 years later. Pharmacists reached a high of 75% in 2012 but have fluctuated while remaining above 50% since 1981. The share of the public ranking police officers as high or very high reached 50% for the first time in 1993, but then fell below 50% again until 1999, when it reached 52%. Their ranking on the honesty and ethical standards scale has been trending downward steadily since 2015.Business executives, stockbrokers and telemarketers have never been ranked as high or very high on the honesty and ethical standards scale by a majority of the public.Only four professions in the survey — nurses, veterans, medical doctors, and pharmacists — are perceived as generally having high ethical standards by most Americans.Data released by Barna in 2022 found that fewer than half of American adults see pastors as “very reliable” in handling spiritual matters, with less than a quarter (23%) of all adult Americans agreeing that pastors are "definitely" a "trustworthy source of wisdom." Among Christians, the figure rises to 31%, but among non-Christians it drops to 4%.In Barna’s February 2025 State of the Church release, created in partnership with personal growth platform Gloo, the Evangelical polling firm looked at “Discipleship Across Generations” and found that “social insecurities and anxieties with ‘church people’” are one of the big stumbling blocks for younger generations.Barna also found that when seeking answers about faith and spirituality, a little over a quarter of Gen Zers (28%) trust their pastors, priests, or ministers the most. Bible (39%) was the most frequent answer, followed by their moms (34%). Among Gen Z teenagers (13-17), the research showed greater trust in family members for spiritual guidance, with 53% turning to their mothers.“This trend extends to other authority figures, with teens being more likely than their older peers to trust pastors, their fathers or grandparents with spiritual questions,” researchers said.As they get older, many Gen Zers also lean toward self-directed spiritual searching and are more likely to trust their own judgment on matters of faith.

By Dennis Lennox, CP Contributor Sunday, February 15, 2026Sens, France, offers Gothic splendor and historical significance beyond Paris.Sens Cathedral, dating to the early 12th century, exemplifies early Gothic architecture.The city features relics associated with Thomas Becket and a recently reopened museum.An artificial intelligence-powered tool created this summary based on the source article. The summary has undergone review and verification by an editor.The view of Sens, France, from St. Stephen’s Cathedral. | Dennis LennoxMost visitors to France never look beyond Paris. That is a mistake.Sens, a city of about 27,000 souls located some 80 miles from Charles de Gaulle Airport, was once a major center of power and religious authority. That past is evident in its cathedral, one of the earliest examples of Gothic architecture. Sens Cathedral, formally known as St. Stephen’s Cathedral, dates to the early 12th century, when builders were beginning to move beyond the heavy mass and limited light of Romanesque architecture. The then-new Gothic pointed arch was not merely decorative; it was an engineering solution that transformed how large churches and cathedrals could be built.What makes the cathedral especially compelling is not only its architectural importance but also its survival. The French Revolution proved catastrophic for many churches, whose interiors were stripped or repurposed. Sens escaped the worst of this destruction.Among the survivals are four 12th-century stained-glass windows, an 18th-century choir screen, and the imposing marble mausoleum of Louis, the dauphin of France. Louis was the son of King Louis XV and the father of three future kings: Louis XVI, Louis XVIII and Charles X. The dauphin died before he could ascend the throne.The interior of St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Sens, France. | Dennis LennoxThe importance of Sens Cathedral extends beyond architecture and royal history. It occupies a notable place in Christian history through its association with Thomas Becket, the martyred archbishop of Canterbury, whose conflict with King Henry II ended in his murder in 1170 and his canonization soon after. During his exile from England, Becket found refuge in Sens.Relics associated with Becket can be seen at the recently reopened Sens Museum, housed in the former archbishop’s palace. Among the objects on display is a nearly complete set of liturgical vestments connected to him.The museum also preserves other relics that attest to the city’s former prominence in medieval religious life, including fragments traditionally identified as belonging to the true cross and the crown of thorns. In the medieval era, such objects were not curiosities but focal points of devotion that drew pilgrims from afar.The streets of Sens, France. | Dennis LennoxBeyond the cathedral, Sens reveals a different but equally instructive history.The historic city center, once enclosed by walls, retains a significant number of half-timbered houses. Their exposed beams and irregular facades speak to centuries of incremental change rather than wholesale reconstruction. The buildings remain in everyday use, giving the center a distinct lived-in character rather than the feel of an area frequented only by tourists.The French city of Sens is known for its half-timbered buildings, including this 16th-century house. | Dennis LennoxSens also benefits from geography.For those interested in all things wine, it's an excellent home base for exploring three of France’s top wine appellations. Chablis lies less than an hour away. To the west is Sancerre. Even the Champagne region can be reached comfortably within a day’s drive.While wine production has existed around Sens since antiquity, it was wiped out in the late 19th century by the phylloxera parasite, which devastated vineyards. That history is now being revisited at Domaine des Senons. The family-owned winery has singlehandedly revived local viticulture here on the edge of Burgundy.What Sens lacks in size, it makes up for in what it offers visitors. Those who make the effort to come here are rewarded with a pleasant surprise.If you goGetting here requires a car. I flew into Charles de Gaulle and picked up my rental from Enterprise, one of several agencies at the airport. The process was straightforward and no different from any airport car rental experience back home. Be sure to reserve a car with built-in GPS or bring a smartphone with a working mapping application.A depiction of the entombment of Christ inside the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Villeneuve-sur-Yonne, France. | Dennis LennoxA short drive from Sens is Villeneuve-sur-Yonne. The town retains two monumental medieval gates that are still used by modern traffic entering and leaving the center. The parish church, the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, has a striking Renaissance facade. Inside is a sculptural depiction of the entombment of Christ attributed, I’m told, to sculptor Jean Goujon.Farther afield, about 70 miles away, is the small village of Vezelay. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene, built in the 11th and 12th centuries, is one of France’s great Romanesque churches and has served for centuries as a major pilgrimage site and a starting point for the Way of St. James. It was also the setting for major historical events: the preaching of the Second Crusade in 1146 by Abbot (and later St.) Bernard of Clairvaux; a sermon by Becket in 1166; and the departure of King Richard the Lionheart and King Philip II of France for the Third Crusade in 1190. Relics associated with Mary Magdalene are preserved in the ancient crypt.Sens Cathedral, Our Lady of the Assumption in Villeneuve-sur-Yonne and the basilica in Vezelay are open daily with no admission charge. While access might be limited by religious services, getting inside generally isn’t an issue. Admission to the Sens Museum is also free.I stayed at the Epona Hotel, a relatively new four-star property in the center of Sens. The rooms are comfortable and well-appointed. The hotel offers convenient on-site parking — a valuable amenity in historic city centers.The Sens Tourist Office has extensive English-language planning resources available on its website. You can also book a guided tour through the office.Dennis Lennox writes a travel column for The Christian PostDennis Lennox writes about travel, politics and religious affairs. He has been published in the Financial Times, Independent, The Detroit News, Toronto Sun and other publications. Follow @dennislennox on Twitter.

I will never forget a day several years ago when I was asked to take on a monumental new ministry task. I’ll spare you the details, but it was one of those jobs that made you think, “Why in the world would anyone agree to do this?” As I pondered the job to be done, my mind was flooded with thoughts. I wonder if Noah had a similar experience when he first received his assignment.  My first thought was, “What will people think? Surely if I agree to this, everyone will think I’ve taken leave of my senses.” Like Noah’s call to build the ark, sometimes the Lord calls us to do things that just don’t make much sense! Second, I began to count the cost of taking on this project, including long hours of preparation and execution. No, I wasn’t going to build an ark, but this task felt just as huge! Finally, I knew that saying “yes” meant agreeing to subject myself to endless criticism by people who would want me to do the project their way. When I sized up the situation, there were quite a few items in the negative column and only one in the positive—which was, “I think God is calling me to do this.” Like Noah, I had a sense that this was an assignment from God. While I was still considering my decision, a dear friend gave me a devotional book. When I opened it, my eyes fell to these words, “The safest path is dangerous if it is outside of God’s will. The most dangerous path is safe if He is calling you to walk that way.” Suddenly, I saw myself suspended high above the ground on a very narrow bridge. There was danger of falling on either side, but I knew I could cross safely. Then I saw myself walking on a smooth path, stumbling and tripping and injuring myself. A strange image, but it helped me realize what the Lord was trying to tell me: with obedience comes the promise of protection. Noah certainly experienced that truth. Because He obeyed the Lord, he was safe and secure when the floodwaters came. When I said “yes” to the Lord in taking on the new ministry project, I too found myself safe in His arms. It was not always easy. And I’m sure Noah didn’t always have a fun time living in the ark with a bunch of smelly animals. But, like Noah, I always knew I was safe in His care and would emerge from the venture unharmed.  I learned quite a lot from that experience, mostly about how much the Lord can be trusted. He always, always has our best interests at heart, even when the way is tough. "If you obey my decrees and my regulations, you will find life through them. I am the LORD" (Leviticus 18:5 NLT). So, what is the Lord calling you to do today? And what obstacles make you want to say “no?” Is it fear of rejection or ridicule? Fear of failure? Fear of loss?  Whatever the concern, I challenge you to take that leap of faith—and know that you will find shelter and safety in the Lord’s loving arms. The deeper knowledge and trust of the Savior will bring you great joy and peace. And that gift is worth the difficulties you may face along the way. ~ Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

On the heels of a Super Bowl victory, the general manager for the Seattle Seahawks is sharing his faith in an unconventional way. During his team’s hometown parade on Wednesday, John Schneider threw miniature Jesus figurines to fans gathered on 4th Avenue in downtown Seattle, along the parade route for the NFL victors. He tossed the figurines — each emblazoned with the simple message “Jesus loves you” — dozens at a time. Schneider, a Catholic, is at home with the Seahawks, a team full of men of faith, as CBN News previously reported. Dozens of players attend weekly Bible studies in the team’s Seattle locker room. “They bring the same seriousness they have on the field to how they live their lives according to God’s Word,” said Scott Lindsey, media relations director for Logos, after he led one of the studies. It means a lot, he told CBN News, for people like Schneider, Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp, and New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye to speak openly about their Christian convictions. “You think about how popular and well-known quarterbacks are and to see young people, you know, their idol, if you will, their sports person, talking about their love of Jesus — that is so encouraging to young people to be that bold,” he said. “Every time there’s a mic in their mouth, it’s just awesome to see them giving glory to God.” https://t.co/xbrI3y2Znk pic.twitter.com/yuVKEXXVGR — Kole Musgrove (@KoleMusgrove23) February 11, 2026 As for Schneider, he has long incorporated his faith into his work. According to KCCR Radio, the Seattle general manager often hands out Jesus figurines before games. He also keeps a small statue of Jesus on his desk in his office. A gift from his mom, the statue is inscribed with a message: “With God, anything is possible.” It also came with a note, a reference to Matthew 10:27, “What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear” (NLT). After Sunday’s Super Bowl, both the Seahawks MVP and coach gave credit to God. Running back Kenneth Walker III said at the end of the game, “First and foremost, I want to thank God for this blessing to be here.” And during the trophy ceremony, coach Mike Macdonald said, “I believe God called me to be a coach and I listened to Him and I thank Him. We are incredibly blessed to be Seahawks, to be 12s. And now, we’re world champions.”

Love in popular culture can be little more than a faint illusion. Real love is less filtered and far more faithful. didesign/Envato Valentine’s Day arrives every year with remarkable self-confidence. It assumes love should be obvious, effortless, and permanently exciting. Cards suggest that if love is real, it will feel magical. And social media portrays that everyone else seems to be doing rather well, thank you very much. Real love, actually, is nothing like that. Real love is less filtered and far more faithful. Strip away the fantasy and you don’t lose romance, you discover the real version. And before we go any further, a word to anyone reading this without a Valentine... For many, that isn’t an easy place to be. Wanting companionship is not a failure or a lack of faith; it is part of being human. Please know this: your life is not on hold, you have not missed God’s timing and you are deeply loved by him. Jesus never treated singleness as something to be fixed. He met people with dignity, presence and compassion. If this season carries both hope and longing, God can hold both and he walks with you in it. You are seen, you are valued, and you are not alone. So what does love, actually—the real version—look like in everyday life? Here are five Christ-shaped Cs that help love grow before marriage, within marriage and in the hearts of those still waiting. 1. Christ at the center Real love works best when it is not at the center of our world. Real love works best when it is not at the center of our world—Jesus is. "Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain." (Psalm 127:1 NIV) That verse isn’t about bricks and mortar; it’s about lives, homes, and relationships. I once asked a couple who had been married for over sixty years what sustained them. The wife smiled and said, "We didn’t always agree, but we always prayed." That’s romance as surrender. Love, actually, isn’t about finding the right person; it’s about becoming the right person in Christ. "Seek first the kingdom of God." (Matthew 6:33 NKJV) 2. Conversation that goes deep Real love talks and then listens. Real love talks and then listens. Not just about films, food and future holidays (important though they are), but about faith, fears, family, failure and the future. "The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out." (Proverbs 20:5 NIV) Love, actually, grows when we dare to be known, not just admired. Depth takes courage. Wisdom moves at a slower pace. 3. Consistency in the small things Real love is... formed by quiet faithfulness. Real love is rarely built by grand gestures. It is formed by quiet faithfulness. Turning up.Keeping your word.Speaking kindly when tired.Listening without reaching for your phone.

(LifeSiteNews) – The Bishop of Charlotte, North Carolina, released a video today urging Catholics in his diocese to “share Jesus.”  Bishop Michael T. Martin’s password-protected video was sent to all pastors in the diocese, who were ordered to play it at this weekend’s Masses. It was made public Saturday afternoon, and some are now questioning why the articulation of Martin’s “pastoral vision” required unusual secrecy measure. As reported by LifeSiteNews Friday, pastors were sent the password-protected video via email earlier in the week and then sent the unlocking password Saturday at noon. This prompted many to brace for a bold or controversial message. The video is entitled “Everyone so Loves Jesus, We Share Him with Others: A Pastoral Vision for the Diocese of Charlotte.” Martin begins by imagining a mirror that enables people to see themselves as God sees them, aiding them in “understand how beautiful and infinitely loved we are” by God. This would change not only people’s self-images but the world at large. He then laments that “we don’t spend too much time considering what we really want the world to look like,” speculating that the reason might be lost hope. “For me, the vision of the future is simple, though not always easy,” he says. “I see a future in Western North Carolina where everyone so loves Jesus, we share Him with others.” He goes on to lay out “three simple action steps to make this vision real.” The first is to “form missionary disciples,” meaning cultivating Catholics who don’t merely believe the faith, but are “so in love with Jesus that they would go to remote places on the earth to spread His love,” likening it to the difference between a mere fan of a football team and an actual player. “The world needs players,” the bishop said. RELATED: Bishop of Charlotte orders pastors to play video about his ‘pastoral vision’ at all Sunday Masses The second step is to “become the family of God,” meaning an intimate, familial connection to the Lord and other Christians akin to the biological connections from birth to our unchosen relatives. “Too often, we come to church looking to be served rather than to serve, as guests rather than hosts,” Martin says. “More importantly, the parish cannot be a place of serving God’s family if our homes are not the first and most important place where we live as God’s family. Imagine a world where the holiness of our family life is what we bring with us to share each week at church rather than the other way around.” Martin’s third and final step is to “go out to proclaim the Gospel,” meaning to proclaim it actively  with others, which is where “true joy” is found. “To be a disciple of Jesus and not go out to proclaim His message is like holding a winning lottery ticket but never cashing it in,” he said. “May the Holy Spirit guide us as we continue to envision a new heaven and a new earth with the Holy Spirit in western North Carolina. So loving Jesus that we share him with others,” Martin concludes. “Know of my prayers for you as we entrust this vision to the first missionary disciple Mary, mother of the church. May we follow her example of saying yes. And may God bless each of you with his peace.” The basic nature of Martin’s remarks has renewed curiosity about why they were treated with such secrecy. X user Brian “Liturgy Guy” Williams, who covers church issues, panned the video as a “message that could clearly have been shared via a letter from the pulpit read by his priests,” speculating that the bishop simply “wants his voice and face projected in every parish to deliver what some are already calling a ‘nothing burger.’” Bishop Martin’s video released. It is ten minutes long and intended to be shown during the homily at all parishes this weekend. The message is a general statement regarding discipleship and seems to possibly set the stage for the upcoming diocesan campaign which (reportedly) will… pic.twitter.com/ClBom4PotP — Brian Williams (@LiturgyGuy) February 14, 2026 Martin, who has led the Diocese of Charlotte since 2024, is no stranger to controversial decisions, which critics say undermine his video’s stated purposes by diluting traditional worship practices. In 2025, he merged the diocese’s four Traditional Latin Masses to just one small chapel 40 miles from downtown Charlotte, apparently chosen because it cannot accommodate all the faithful who wish to attend the Traditional Latin Mass. Last December, Martin ordered that all altar rails and kneelers no longer be used for the reception of Holy Communion at all Novus Ordo Masses by January 16, 2026. He also ordered churches to remove all “temporary or movable fixtures used for kneeling” for Holy Communion. Last month, 31 priests in the diocese, roughly a quarter of all its clergy, submitted dubia to the Vatican seeking clarification on Martin’s authority to restrict traditional practices.

I remember it like it was yesterday. Bases loaded. Two outs. Final inning of our softball playoff game. With a full count, I checked my swing on a ball in the dirt—or so I thought. The umpire decided otherwise and called strike three. Just like that, our season was over, and I blamed myself. Any other mistake, error, or missed opportunity that may have occurred during that game didn’t matter. I was sure that the only thing that would be remembered was my check swing on a clear ball four. I’d be the scapegoat. Thankfully, my strikeout wasn’t immortalized in sports history like many other well-known scapegoats—Bill Buckner, Scott Norwood, or Steve Bartman—but the shame I felt was still real. Have you ever felt like that? Like all the blame landed squarely on your shoulders, whether or not it was fair? It turns out that the role of the scapegoat is not a fun one to play. I was surprised to learn that the term scapegoat actually comes from the Bible’s description of the Jewish Day of Atonement: When Aaron has finished purifying the Most Holy Place and the Tabernacle and the altar, he must present the live goat. He will lay both of his hands on the goat’s head and confess over it all the wickedness, rebellion, and sins of the people of Israel. In this way, he will transfer the people’s sins to the head of the goat. Then a man specifically chosen for the task will drive the goat into the wilderness. As the goat goes into the wilderness, it will carry all the people’s sins upon itself into a desolate land. (Leviticus 16:20-22 NLT) Our modern use of scapegoat doesn’t come close to the original meaning. We might take the blame for a mistake, but that Old Testament goat was responsible for carrying every sin of the people of Israel into the wilderness. What a vivid picture! But the good news is that, thanks to Jesus, we never have to bear the weight of our sins—or anyone else’s—on our shoulders. Through His sacrifice, He became our ultimate and final scapegoat. As Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:24: He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By His wounds you are healed. We’ve all sinned; we’re all guilty of the wickedness and rebellion mentioned in Leviticus 16 (Romans 3:23). And the ultimate cost of that sin is death (Romans 6:23). But Jesus already paid that price. Through His death and resurrection, our sins have been carried away—never to be counted against us again (Romans 5:1-2). Let’s take a moment today to confess our sins to God and praise Him that in Christ, they’ve been removed from us as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). Father God, thank You for sending Your Son to be our ultimate and final scapegoat (John 3:16). Thank You that when we confess our sins to You, You remember them no more. Free us from shame and guilt, and help us walk confidently in the forgiveness and redemption we have in Jesus. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. ... For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy. (Hebrews 10:12, 14) ~ Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. 

(LifeSiteNews) — The government-approved Chinese Catholic bishops have backed the Communist Party’s limitation on public worship. EWTN reports that the Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China (BCCC), sanctioned by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), supported the government’s ban on “unregistered clergy” engaging in religious pastoral work or doing so in “unapproved sites for worship.” In a February 4 statement, the BCCC stated that “religious groups must comply with relevant laws and regulations when conducting religious activities.” Compliance with these rules is a matter of “national and public interest,” according to the bishops. The CCP introduced legislation limiting religious activities to “registered” religious venues by “certified and registered religious personnel.” Nina Shea, who directs the Center for Religious Freedom, called on Pope Leo XIV to summon the bishops from the BCCC to the Vatican for their support of the “suppression of Chinese Catholicism.” “That the heads of these entities are the bishops of Beijing and Shanghai, China’s most important dioceses, is shameful,” she said. “Pope Leo should immediately summon them to Rome to review their episcopal authority.” “Supporting the CCP ban on unregistered clergy and churches directly conflicts with Vatican policy,” Shea stressed. She said Leo “should disclose the content of the Holy See’s provisional agreement with China and review whether this new Chinese policy constitutes a breach of the agreement’s terms or even of its spirit.” The officially secret Vatican-China deal, signed in 2018 under Pope Francis, is believed to recognize the state-approved church in China and allows the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to appoint bishops. The Pope apparently maintains veto power, although in practice it is the CCP that has control. It also allegedly allows for the removal of legitimate bishops to be replaced by CCP-approved bishops. The deal was renewed most recently in 2024 for a four-year period. READ: China consecrates bishop approved by Pope Leo XIV under Vatican-China deal Shea referenced a 2007 letter from Pope Benedict XVI to the Catholic Church in China in which he said that the attempt by the CCP to impose its own structure on the Chinese Church was “incompatible with Catholic doctrine.” She also cited the Vatican’s 2019 pastoral guidelines to members of the Chinese Catholic Church that affirmed that priests and bishops had the right to “individually follow one’s conscience on whether to refuse to take the pledge renouncing foreign influence, such as papal influence – a pledge required to register with the state’s Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association and its bishops’ conference.” “This new position in support of banning and criminalizing those clergy who refuse to take the pledge renouncing papal authority lays bare these entities as mere party tools for communist control and suppression of Chinese Catholicism,” Shea warned.

ROME (LifeSiteNews) — A leading conservative member of the College of Cardinals castigated the introduction of new anti-life policies in the West, and laid out that a primary task of the “new evangelization” lies in countering the negative influence of contemporary ideologies and philosophies, in an exclusive interview with LifeSiteNews in his Roman apartment. Cardinal Gerhard Müller, speaking in the wake of January’s extraordinary consistory, judged that “behind all this is atheism,” insisting that Westerners must recover the understanding that “God is the origin and aim and finis of our human existence.” Müller, prefect-emeritus of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, confirmed that he was troubled by recent developments in the West, in both its thinking and its policies. He lamented the political situations of Britain and Canada, where “today, you can be sent to prison if you are praying in favor of life.” “That belongs more to a dictatorship,” he added. “It has nothing to do with a modern democracy,” Müller insisted. “There is a falling back into authoritarianism.” READ: Chinese bishops side with communist regime to restrict worship, ban ‘unregistered clergy’ Müller thought these developments regrettable, since the Western world struggled against Stalinism and Hitlerism in the 20th century, but has not rid the “atheistic anthropology” that lay behind both totalitarianisms of left and right. These philosophies trace their fundamental error, Müller diagnosed, to the fact “they deny creation and the dignity of every man.” “We have all these bad traditions,” he said, “such as where Karl Marx defined human beings as only an ensemble, a mix of some social conditions. And Freudianism: only psychological conditions. Everywhere, behind all this, is atheism – the denying of the essence of every human being as a person in relation to his Creator, and to his Saviour, God.” Meanwhile, Catholic thinking saves us from such mistakes he noted, because “we can say ‘Our Father’ in our prayer, with a direct relation to God. With all respect to the next authority, in relation to God, and eventually to all.” “This is behind this anti-Christian wave,” Müller said, criticizing the arrest of anti-abortion campaigners praying silently in Britain. “A lot of politicians have lost the faith, a direct contact to their Christian roots. They see that this ideology is an instrument to have absolute power over the people, over their thinking. We are going toward an Orwellian world.” It was in this context, Müller said, “the cardinals wanted to talk about the ‘new evangelization.’” When asked about the liturgical issue, Müller acknowledged that the liturgy was discussed in brief and that it would be more substantively covered in June’s consistory. “Liturgy is a central element for the realization of the Church,” the cardinal explained, “but if the Church is not respected as an instrument for salvation in Jesus Christ – liturgy, for the atheist, is only a collection of some rites without deeper meaning or translation of grace and real contact with God. For them, liturgy is only a propaganda show of the Church.” “It is an absolute misunderstanding; a misinterpretation,” he acknowledged, revealing why in the context of evangelization it may feasibly be understood by some as not the first priority. “They [atheists] are not able to understand what the dimension of transcendence is because they are immanentists. In the end, they hate human existence because their first dogma and last dogma is that a single human being is not more than an animal.” “In former times, according to the old ‘illuminism,’ a human being [was] only machine, homo machina. Later, in Darwin’s time, humans were seen as not more than a higher-developed animal,” Müller stated, further criticizing the ideologies which work against the Church and man, which he wishes to see opposed. He reiterated: “But they don’t accept the essential difference between things and animals and us. Therefore, in the end, they hate themselves.” “And then you get elites,” he continued, not mentioning by name the Epstein scandal, “they want to be gods and they want to make definitions for themselves and the masses, the rest of mankind, and that is absolutely against our Christian understanding that God created everybody in his likeness and image.” READ: Cardinal Fernández tells SSPX superior that Vatican II documents ‘cannot be corrected’ As for the consistory itself, Müller remained positive but was not without some constructive criticisms. He found the “working groups are a little bit neutralizing” and that “free interventions” were “very, very short. So-called free interventions were not free but forced.” Müller hoped that the cardinals might help initiate a new evangelization which might resurrect the understanding that, “Before our historical existence, was the eternal providence of God, we existed in the Son – because we are created in the Son, in the Logos.” “Therefore, for our historical existence,” he explained, “we exist in the salvation plan of God.” “This is also the basis for the immortality of the soul. And for the resurrection of man, soul and body.” “We are part of this world,” Müller clarified, defending the need to be philosophically and politically engaged, “but most important is [the fact] that all is created for the human being for our salvation. God came to earth, as we confess in the Credo. God is the origin and aim and finis of our human existence, our thinking.”

Editor’s note: The following text is taken from Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò’s X account, first published on February 12, 2026, and republished here in full. (LifeSiteNews) — I cannot but note with sorrow and indignation the statement released February 12 by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, signed by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, at the end of his meeting with Father Davide Pagliarani, Superior General of the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X. After decades of humiliation, inconclusive dialogues, partial concessions revoked by Traditionis Custodes, deafening silences regarding doctrinal and liturgical deviations widespread throughout the Church, and even more serious doctrinal and moral errors promoted by the Supreme Throne, Rome now claims to make the suspension of the episcopal consecrations announced by the SSPX for next July 1 a preliminary condition for dialogue. These consecrations are not acts of rebellion, but a supreme act of fidelity to the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic, Roman Church, which has been deprived for almost 60 years of bishops who preach integral doctrine and administer the sacraments without any compromise with error. READ: Bishop of Charlotte orders pastors to play video about his ‘pastoral vision’ at all Sunday Masses The dicastery’s statement subtly repeats the same modernist scheme seen in 1988: it offers a “theological dialogue” on issues the Holy See has always refused to seriously address – religious freedom, destructive episcopal “collegiality,” pan-heretical ecumenism, the Nostra Aetate declaration that equates false religions with the one true faith, and the Abu Dhabi Document – while threatening “schism” for the only gesture that is able to guarantee the certainty of apostolic succession. But who wields “schism” as a weapon today? Who excommunicated the bishops consecrated in 1988 for defending Tradition and its beating heart, the Catholic Mass? Who excommunicated me and silenced me, while promoting declared heretics and covering up abuses of every kind? Who forced the faithful to submit to an authority that has renounced immutable Catholic doctrine in the name of a “new humanism” and a “synodality” that is nothing other than the cancer of democracy applied to the Catholic Church in order to destroy from within its divine hierarchical constitution and Petrine primacy? The true schism is not that of those who consecrate bishops to guard and transmit the Catholic faith in its entirety, but rather the schism of the conciliar and synodal hierarchy, which has denied apostolic Tradition, replacing sound doctrine with heretical ambiguities, true Catholic worship with a Protestantized liturgy, and legitimate authority with a totalitarian power exercised against the faithful who refuse to apostatize. The Society of Saint Pius X does not need the permission of those who have renounced the faith to do what Providence asks of it: namely, to perpetuate the episcopal line faithful to Tradition. Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre acted not out of schism, but out of necessity – that same state of necessity that persists today, aggravated by the systematic persecution of the Traditional Mass and the imposition of false doctrines that contradict the perennial Magisterium. Therefore, with the clarity that the situation requires and with the responsibility that falls to those who have sworn to defend the faith even to the shedding of their blood: I urge the Society of Saint Pius X to categorically refuse to suspend the announced episcopal consecrations. They are non-negotiable: they are a sacred duty before God and souls; I urge the rejection of any “theological dialogue” that assumes that the Second Vatican Council is compatible with Tradition. The problem is not “interpreting” Vatican II, but recognizing that it introduced errors that undermine Catholic doctrine on essential points and jeopardize the salvation of souls; I declare that true ecclesial communion is not measured by canonical recognition by a hierarchy that has lost the faith, but by integral fidelity to Divine Revelation, to the two-thousand-year-old Magisterium, and to the Holy Sacraments transmitted without adulteration; I invite all Catholics of good will – clergy, religious, and faithful – to recognize that the state of necessity endures and that the salvation of souls requires pastors who do not compromise with error. I am certain that the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X will continue to pray for the conversion of unfaithful pastors and for the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. And that it will not trade the truth for a recognition that would mean accepting error and betraying the legacy of its founder, the venerated Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. + Carlo Maria Viganò, Archbishop Viterbo, February 12, 2026

OTTAWA (LifeSiteNews) – Canada’s top pro-life advocacy group warned that a new Liberal bill aimed at so-called “hate speech” would in fact open the door to the “criminalization of religious expression and belief” when quoting the Bible.  On Thursday, Campaign Life Coalition (CLC) along with representatives from 4 My Canada, CitizenGo, and Campaign Québec-Vie stood together in Ottawa in a press conference to call out Bill C-9, known as the Combating Hate Act. “In the name of combatting hate, Bill C-9 opens the door to the criminalization of religious expression and belief,” CLC communications director Pete Baklinski said during the press conference. “While paying lip service to religion, Bill C-9 pulls the rug out from under people of faith.” Baklinski warned that Bill C-9 is “not what it appears to be” after what he referred to as the “troubling” amendment added to the bill. Baklinski noted how Liberal MP Marc Miller had said last year that certain passages of the Bible are “hateful” because of what they say about homosexuality, and those who recite the passages should be jailed. As reported by LifeSiteNews, he was appointed as a government minister by Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney. As reported by LifeSiteNews, the bill, if passed, could potentially criminalize parts of the Bible about homosexuality. Carney’s Liberal government recently passed amendments to the bill removing a religious exception that have been condemned by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, who penned an open letter blasting the proposed amendment and calling for its removal. Conservative MPs have warned that Bill C-9 is a direct “attack” on religious freedom and would allow the “prosecution” of those who simply read certain passages of scripture in “good faith.” CLC: Liberal bill a direct ‘threat, ‘not hate speech’ At the press conference, CLC campaigns manager David Cooke warned that the bill is a direct “threat” to Canadians’ freedoms. “The Bible is not hate speech,” he said, adding, “Biblical teaching must never be criminalized, even apart from the issue of outlying religious speech that Liberals find offensive.” “I oppose Bill C-9 for its unconstitutional and unjustified attempt at censorship,” he said, adding that the Liberal government, together with the Bloc Québécois, “aims to tighten the noose on our free speech rights.” “With their support for Bill C-9 and its amendments, our God-given, Constitutional right to express our beliefs freely in good faith, a right that we all have enjoyed up till now, is in jeopardy,” he added. Baklinski warned that Bill C-9, “creates a divided Canada” and called on Carney to drop the bill. “Prime Minister Mark Carney, Minister of Justice Sean Fraser, on behalf of over 60,000 Canadians, we call on you to withdraw Bill C-9 in its entirety,” he said. As reported by LifeSiteNews, Bill C-9 has been blasted by constitutional experts as allowing empowered police and the government to go after those it deems to have violated a person’s “feelings” in a “hateful” way. The bill was introduced by Fraser last year.

(LifeSiteNews) — Christianity was on full display by the team that won the National Football League’s Super Bowl this year. During a parade celebrating its victory over the New England Patriots this past week, Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider told throngs of cheering fans that there were “a lot of angels” looking down on the team this season. “It’s real. Angels … (are) watching over us,” he said. Schneider made his comments while mentioning several players on the team who lost siblings and parents this past year. #Seahawks GM John Schneider says they had angels around the team all year long: His father passed away during the season, Ernest Jones dad passed, Jake Bobo’s dad passed, Drew Lock’s dad passed, Charles Cross dad passed. “It’s real. They were watching over us.” (@KING5Seattle) https://t.co/N1Va7RkFdC pic.twitter.com/WwjwC3JXFd — Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 11, 2026 Schneider, who is Catholic, also tossed miniature Jesus figurines that said “Jesus loves you” on them to the crowd during the team’s parade. Several social media users posted footage of Schneider on their X accounts. Powerful: Seahawks GM John Schneider was throwing little Jesus Christ figures into the crowd at the team’s Super Bowl parade. “Jesus ❤️ you” Schneider is a devout Catholic 🙏 pic.twitter.com/R243601qgP — Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 12, 2026 https://t.co/xbrI3y2Znk pic.twitter.com/yuVKEXXVGR — Kole Musgrove (@KoleMusgrove23) February 11, 2026 Other Seahawks staff members also witnessed to their faith. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak told Sports Spectrum ahead of the Super Bowl that he is first and foremost a follower of Christ. “Your identity is not in your job. Our identity is in Christ,” he said. “I’m a child of God. Football is something that I do, but trying to be a good father, and be a faithful husband, is way more important than any of that.” Sports Spectrum reported that Kubiak bought every player on the team a Bible. “This is my favorite question of the night … Our identity is in Christ.” Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak shared about his faith and gifting his entire team a Bible at Christmas pic.twitter.com/zt2ecn3d1s — Sports Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) February 4, 2026 Others on social media noted the unusual fact that the last two times a new Pope was elected, the Seahawks clinched the number one seed in their conference and made it to the Super Bowl. Every time the College of Cardinals picks a new pope, the Seattle Seahawks punch a ticket to the Super Bowl—this time they didn’t just make the pilgrimage, they brought home the Lombardi as if by divine intervention. Since every time the Vatican sees white smoke, the 12s see blue… pic.twitter.com/iHb4F3wvPY — ChurchPOP (@Church_POP) February 12, 2026 The last two times that took place was in 2005 when Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected Benedict XVI and in 2013 when Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was elected Francis. 2005: a new Pope is elected, the Seahawks win 13 games and advance to the Super Bowl 2013: a new Pope is elected, the Seahawks win 13 games and advance to the Super Bowl (and win) 2025: a new Pope is elected, the Seahawks win 13 games, and…? 👀 — Kole Musgrove (@KoleMusgrove23) December 28, 2025 Ahead of the Super Bowl this past Sunday, EWTN interviewed Fr. Mark McGregor, the Seahawks’ Catholic chaplain. McGregor explained how he leads players in prayer and offers Mass while helping tend to their spiritual needs. The Seahawks dominated the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl in a 29-13 victory last Sunday. The team is owned by the sister of the late Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft. The team is expected to be sold to new owners this offseason.