The Christian Post

By Ryan Foley, Christian Post Reporter Wednesday, April 29, 2026iStock/StockPlanetsA new survey shows growing support among parents and teachers for allowing public school students to receive voluntary, off-campus religious instruction during the school day, as concerns about student mental health continue to rise.The survey, conducted by RMG Research and shared first with The Christian Post, highlights widespread concern about anxiety, depression and other pressures facing students — and strong backing for programs that offer moral and character education rooted in biblical values. Researchers collected responses from 1,000 parents between March 25–27 and 200 public school educators between March 20–31. The margin of error was +/-3.1 percentage points for parents and +/-6.9 percentage points for educators.The survey was conducted on behalf of LifeWise Academy, which provides “Bible education to public school students during school hours under released time religious instruction laws.” The program currently serves more than 970 schools across 37 states and is expected to reach more than 100,000 students by the end of 2026.When asked whether they support teaching moral and character education in public schools, large majorities of both parents (86%) and educators (93%) said they were in favor, while 10% of parents and 4% of educators said they were not.Children involved in LifeWise Academy, a Christian ministry that provides release time Bible instruction for public school students, pose in this file photo. | Lifewise AcademyRespondents were also told that some districts allow private organizations to offer programs teaching moral and character education based on biblical values during the school day, off campus and with parental permission. The survey noted that such programs are voluntary and constitutional.A majority of parents (69%) and educators (73%) said they believe these programs, which are voluntary and have been ruled constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, would be helpful. “In schools where these programs have been introduced, parents and teachers report a number of positive outcomes, including better behavior, improved grades, better relationships between students, better attendance, and fewer suspensions,” the survey stated.Support increased further when respondents were asked if they backed such programs with that context, with 86% of parents and 89% of educators expressing support.The findings come as educators and families report widespread concern about students’ mental health.LifeWise CEO Joel Penton said the results reflect a shared recognition that students are struggling.Asking parents if they supported or opposed the programs in light of this new information, the research found that 86% of parents and 89% of educators supported them. LifeWise CEO Joel Penton reacted to the strong support for released time instruction during the school day in an interview with CP.“I think that what it shows is that there’s near unanimous agreement that we have problems, that students are facing real issues with record high anxiety and depression and pressures of all sorts,” he said. “I think it’s not surprising that people are looking for answers and that the vast majority of people obviously almost unanimously think that those answers need to go deeper than some of the approaches we’ve been trying in recent decades,” he added.As Penton indicated in his comments to CP, parents and educators have expressed major concerns about anxiety and depression among public school students. Large majorities of educators said they are somewhat or very concerned about anxiety (93%) and depression (91%) affecting students. Similar percentages expressed concern about bullying and cyberbullying (94%), social isolation (93%), not fitting in at school (88%) and loneliness (86%).Among parents, 69% expressed concern about anxiety, while 62% cited bullying or cyberbullying. About half reported concern about depression (52%), social isolation (51%), loneliness (50%) and not fitting in (49%).The survey also found that most parents (55%) were unaware that students can legally attend voluntary religious instruction off campus during the school day with parental permission, while most teachers (57%) were aware of the option.Penton said that lack of awareness about students' right to receive religious instruction during the school day is LifeWise’s “greatest obstacle.” “There’s the desire out there, but people don’t know that it’s possible,” he said. “They don’t know there’s a legal pathway. And we’re hopeful that more and more people will learn about LifeWise and that option.”The survey also indicated that most parents (55%) were not aware that public school students can “legally attend voluntary religious instruction off of school property during the school day with their parents’ permission,” while most teachers (57%) did know about the option.The Supreme Court ruled in the 1952 caseZorach v. Clauson that there is “no constitutional requirement which makes it necessary for government to be hostile to religion and to throw its weight against efforts to widen the effective scope of religious influence.” “When the state encourages religious instruction or cooperates with religious authorities by adjusting the schedule of public events to sectarian needs, it follows the best of our traditions,” the opinion added. “To hold that it may not would be to find in the Constitution a requirement that the government show a callous indifference to religious groups.”Critics argue that released-time instruction can disrupt the school day and that religious education should take place outside school hours.In October 2024, the Ohio-based Westerville City School Board voted 4-0, with one abstention, to discontinue its local program. Board President Kristy Meyer said at the time that she had “significant concerns about the distractions caused by pulling kids out of school during the middle of the day.”“I want to make one thing very clear: the concern around this policy has nothing to do with any specific religion or religious programs in general,” Meyer stated. “It’s about utilizing the time we have with students in school to focus on educating them and minimizing disruptions to the school day for students, teachers and staff.”

By Christian TodayWednesday, April 29, 2026Iranian flag waving with cityscape on background in Tehran, Iran | Getty images/stock photoA Christian advocacy group has issued an urgent appeal for international intervention as humanitarian conditions in Iran continue to worsen, warning that shortages of medicine, food and essential supplies are placing millions of vulnerable people at risk.United Christian Activists (UCA) said ordinary Iranians are finding it increasingly difficult to obtain crucial medicine, medical equipment and daily necessities, with the crisis posing a serious threat to children, the elderly, low-income families and those with chronic illnesses. The group argued that the suffering of Iranian civilians should not be viewed simply as the result of external political pressure or international efforts to challenge the Islamic Republic.“The reality is that a significant portion of the pressure on the Iranian people today is the direct result of the crisis-generating, war-driven, and tension-escalating policies of the Islamic Republic, policies pursued not to protect the interests of the people, but to preserve the power structure, suppress domestic discontent, prevent the emergence of the public’s protests, and exert pressure on international bodies to compel them to restrain actions by the United States and Israel,” UCA said.The group accused the Iranian authorities of effectively using the suffering of ordinary citizens as a political tool.It said shortages of medicine, soaring food prices, reduced access to essential goods and the collapse of livelihoods have become part of daily life for many Iranians.UCA also alleged that foreign aid intended for civilians has at times been diverted by state-linked organizations or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) into illicit resale networks or to allied groups beyond Iran’s borders, including Hezbollah.The group called on the European Union, European governments, churches, humanitarian organizations and human rights institutions to establish secure and effective routes for delivering medicine, healthcare equipment and food supplies directly to civilians.It also urged policymakers to make a clear distinction between ordinary Iranians and the governing authorities, and to hold the government accountable for what it described as “creating and perpetuating this situation.”The statement criticized what it called the silence of some international institutions and activist movements that have been vocal about humanitarian crises elsewhere but have not spoken out about the crisis in Iran.“Humanitarian principles, if truly universal, must not be selective, political, or dependent on geographical considerations,” UCA stated. It added: “As United Christian Activists, grounded in our faith in the inherent dignity of every human being and our moral  responsibility toward the suffering of others, we call on the international community at this critical moment to stand not with the government, but with the people of Iran, and to take immediate, clear, and effective action to prevent the  expansion of this humanitarian catastrophe.”The warning comes amid growing instability in the region and renewed discussion among Christian organizations about the future of Iran.Eastern European Mission (EEM) recently said the conflict in the Middle East could create what it described as a “historic opportunity” to spread the Gospel in Iran, where Christian activity is heavily restricted.Open Doors ranks Iran as the 10th worst country in the world for Christian persecution.Leaving Islam is outlawed and converts risk the death penalty. Similarly, historic Christian communities often face discrimination and government scrutiny.Churches in Iran are reported to face police raids, with restrictions often intensifying during times of conflict because Christians are sometimes perceived as being aligned with foreign powers.EEM said a collapse of the present government could open the door for groundbreaking Bible distribution and evangelism.Dirk Smith, vice president of the organization, said the Bible already exists in several Iranian languages, but demand could rise dramatically if restrictions ease.In anticipation of such a possibility, EEM has printed nearly 90,000 Bibles in Iranian languages, including what it says is the first New Testament translation in Gilaki, a northern Iranian language.At the same time, the organization stressed the immediate need for prayer and peace.This article was originally published at Christian Today 

By Leah MarieAnn Klett, Assistant Editor Wednesday, April 29, 2026The Christian PostAmid viral claims he is either deathly ill or dead, Life Without Limbs founder Nick Vujicic has clarified he is “in good health” and debunked such reports as “false.” “We are pleased to report that I am in good health, and we would like to announce that there are many false reports, articles and posts that I’m diagnosed with cancer and even passed away. Although I’d like to go Home, there’s much more work to be done,” the 43-year-old Australian native told The Christian Post.  Numerous reports of the evangelist’s death or illness were circulated across various social media platforms this week and shared by thousands, along with sympathetic comments. Many of the posts featured AI-generated images of Vujicic in a hospital bed.The husband and father of four, known globally for his message of resilience and faith despite being born without limbs, has been the subject of similar online hoaxes in the past, part of a broader pattern of misinformation targeting high-profile public figures.In his statement to CP, Vujicic, who leads NickV Ministries, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing the Gospel and uniting the body of Christ, said he “especially” wants to be around to watch his new movie, “No Limbs, No Limits,” with his family in a theater. “We know life is short, and glad to report, I’m still here and doing what we can to help one more person find hope through God!” he said. The film, which hits the theaters Sept. 25, follows Vujicic’s story of overcoming intense depression and suicide attempts to reach billions with a message of hope and faith. The Australian was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by the absence of all four limbs. "To be able to see even one person feel that there is no hope, yet there is hope, is really, really, cool. It is touching, and it is honoring, and it is humbling," he told CP of why he’s dedicated his life to sharing the hope of the Gospel.In addition to his speaking ministry, Vujicic has expanded into financial ventures aligned with his pro-life advocacy. In 2025, he launched ProLifeFintech, a Christian banking alternative aimed at offering services consistent with pro-life values.The initiative stems from concerns he raised in 2021 about major financial institutions reportedly supporting abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood.“Just like Noah's saved lives, so we're going to save lives with ProLife Bank,” he told CP at the time. “It’s based on the understanding that God wants to take back His role and redistribute it through His faithful students.”“In America, there have been 77 million abortions — that’s 23% of our population. And one in three Christians has had an abortion. I’m doing my part to rattle the cages of the Church to say, ‘You can't afford not to tell people that half the abortions in America are done by a Christian.”