Russia Bans Mission Eurasia Bibles and Christian Resources August 31: Moscow designated U.S.-based Mission Eurasia an “undesirable organization,” making possession of its materials — including Bibles bearing its logo — potentially prosecutable. Authorities have searched and levied fines on seminaries, churches, and bookstores. Russia has not publicly detailed its justification, though Mission Eurasia believes its reporting on persecution in Russian-occupied Ukraine contributed to the ban. (Christianity Today)

Thousands of Women Gather for Bible-Centered Event in Mexico City August 28: Thousands filled Arena Ciudad de México for “The Bible and Us,” an event combining Scripture teaching, worship, testimony, and creative activities to strengthen women’s faith and biblical identity. The gathering concluded a tour of 25 cities across Mexico and the United States. Participants were invited to continue studying through a 40-day devotional, extending a movement that began as a small Bible study into an ongoing discipleship community. (Christian Daily)

Excavations Strengthen Historical Case for Jesus’ Traditional Tomb August 27: Archaeologists beneath Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher (see below) uncovered an abandoned quarry with rock-cut tombs and a garden, matching Gospel descriptions of Jesus’ burial place. Evidence suggests a Roman structure covered one chamber before it was exposed and enshrined under Constantine. Researchers stress that the findings cannot prove Jesus was buried there, but they support the site’s longstanding tradition. (New York Post)

United Bible Societies Distributed 148 Million Printed Scriptures in 2025 August 27: United Bible Societies distributed 148.3 million printed Scriptures last year, including 22.4 million full Bibles, 10 million New Testaments and 115.9 million portions and selections. Digital engagement also grew: resources were downloaded 26.4 million times, chapters viewed 32.2 billion times (up 13.8%) and audio Scripture played 1.4 billion times. Since its 1946 founding, UBS has distributed 25 billion Scripture materials across 240 countries. (Christian Daily)

Christian Leaders Respond to Deadly Floods in Nepal and Tibet August 27: Flash floods believed triggered by a partial glacier collapse swept away homes, roads and bridges across Nepal and Tibet on Wednesday, killing hundreds and leaving many missing. Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally, Pope Leo XIV, and Franklin Graham each called for prayer. Caritas and the Catholic Church in Nepal are assessing needs. (Christian Today)

What’s It Like to Pray All Night in Jerusalem’s Holiest Church? August 26: Each night, a representative of the Muslim family entrusted for 850 years with the Church of the Holy Sepulcher’s keys locks clergy and registered pilgrims inside until dawn. In the quiet, near-empty basilica, visitors pray at the site of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial, and resurrection while clergy from various denominations conduct rotating services, creating a powerful, ecumenical space for meditation on Jesus’ ultimate defeat of death. (AP)

How the Gideon Bible Became an Icon of American Roadside Culture August 26: Gideons International began placing Bibles in hotel rooms in 1908, just as affordable automobiles helped create America’s emerging road culture. The evangelical organization has since distributed more than 2.5 billion Bibles worldwide, including in prisons, hospitals, and military bases. Although fewer U.S. hotels now offer religious materials, the bedside Bible endures as a source of comfort woven into American travel and culture. (AP)

Ancient Christian Amulet May Contain Biblical Passage August 26: Archaeologists in central Turkey discovered a rare fourth- or fifth-century Christian amulet inside a corroded copper case. Its paper-thin, 0.1-millimeter gold sheet was most likely inscribed with a Bible passage, though researchers have not yet identified the text. The amulet may have belonged to a child and functioned as a protective charm. Excavations also uncovered a 3,500-year-old stone seal with hieroglyphics. (New York Post)

First Temple-Era Figurine Mold Found in Jerusalem August 26: Archaeologists discovered a 2,600-year-old clay mold near the Tower of David — the first evidence that Jerusalem produced its own female pillar figurines. Scholars debate whether these common household objects were toys, protective amulets, or representations of Asherah, potentially illuminating biblical accounts of tension between worship of Yahweh and persistent Canaanite practices in Judah. (Evangelical Focus)

Dolly Parton Dies at 80, Leaving Legacy of Faith and Music August 25: Country music icon Dolly Parton is “in the arms of Jesus” after dying peacefully in Nashville. Born into a Tennessee preacher’s family, she began singing hymns at six and carried Christian faith through her seven-decade career. Almost universally beloved, the 11-time Grammy winner recorded 25 No. 1 country songs, entered country, gospel, and rock halls of fame, and donated more than 300 million children’s books through her Imagination Library. (Multiple sources)

Pastors Want AI to Explain Bible Debates, Not Settle Them August 25: Concern about AI misinterpreting Scripture reaches 74% among U.S. adults, 83% among practicing Christians, and 94% among pastors. Yet pastors generally want engagement, not avoidance: 60% say AI should present major interpretations of disputed passages without choosing a winner, compared with 26% of practicing Christians. Another 26% of Christians want AI to identify the best interpretation, versus 10% of pastors. (Barna)

Young Adults Drive Catholic Conversion Surge in California August 25: The Archdiocese of Los Angeles reported 8,598 people preparing for baptism or formal entry into the Catholic Church — a 54% increase from 2025 and the nation’s highest archdiocesan total, while college parishes are enrolling adult initiation classes at record highs. These young converts cite loneliness, global crises, charity, ritual, and enduring tradition. Still, experts say one strong year cannot yet reverse decades of decline. (The Guardian)

Israeli Police Discover Second Temple Burial Cave in Jerusalem August 24: Border Police investigating a deadly clash between two families in eastern Jerusalem discovered an ancient burial cave containing archaeological artifacts beneath a building. Officers alerted the Israel Antiquities Authority, whose preliminary examination dates the burials to the Second Temple period, between 516 BC and AD 70. Few details have been released so far, but the area is being secured so researchers can continue studying the site. (Jerusalem Post)

Museum of the Bible to Showcase Jordan’s Biblical Heritage August 22: Washington, D.C.’s Museum of the Bible will host “Jordan: Dawn of Christianity” from early 2027 through the summer, following earlier displays at the Vatican and in Assisi, Italy. Rare artifacts will trace Christianity in Jordan through sites including Bethany Beyond the Jordan, Machaerus, Petra, Aqaba Church, and Madaba. A replica of the Madaba Map will also feature as Jordan prepares to commemorate 2,000 years since Jesus’ baptism. (Christian Daily)

Christians Urged to “Sing the Bible” in the Age of AI August 21: Hymn writer Keith Getty says congregational singing can anchor believers in Scripture, truth, and community as AI intensifies loneliness and cultural disruption. The 10th Sing! Conference, September 7–9 in Nashville, Tennessee, will mark 500 years since William Tyndale’s English New Testament with hymn sings, orchestral performances, and discussions on the Bible’s continued influence on American and global culture. (Christian Post)

Ukraine Observes “Year of the Ostroh Bible” August 21: Ukraine is celebrating three milestones in 2026: the 500th anniversary of Prince Vasyl-Kostiantyn Ostrozkyi’s birth, 450 years since Ostroh Academy’s founding, and 445 years since the Ostroh Bible — the first complete Bible printed in Church Slavonic. A traveling program with participants from various denominations plans to visit over 30 locations across Ukraine with its “Ostroh Relic” exhibition, featuring facsimiles, a printing press, and Braille and audio Bibles. (Evangelical Focus)

Ancient Inscription May Point to Lost City Linked to Exodus August 20: Excavations near Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula uncovered a colossal sandstone beam bearing titles of Ramses II and naming Horus as “Lord of the City of Mesen.” Archaeologists suspect the site may be a lost city along the Horus Military Road, which scholars associate with Exodus’s “way of the land of the Philistines” (Ex. 13:17). A fortified temple citadel, storage rooms, walls, gates, and paved roads strengthen the case, though it remains unproven. (New York Post)

Why Paul Took the Long Road to Pisidian Antioch August 19: Acts 13 sends Paul and Barnabas more than 160 miles from Perga across rugged mountains rather than along the easier coast. An inscription in modern Yalvaç, Turkey, links Cyprus’s proconsul Sergius Paulus, who believed after Elymas was blinded (Acts 13:12), to a prominent Pisidian Antioch family. This suggests he directed the missionaries toward his hometown, where Gentiles initially welcomed Paul’s preaching (Acts 13:44–45). (Biblical Archaeology Society)

Newly Found Augustine Sermons Explore Saul and the Witch of Endor August 19: Two previously unattributed sermons, preserved in a 12th-century German manuscript, have been identified as fifth-century works of Augustine. Preaching on 1 Samuel 28, Augustine considered two explanations for Samuel’s appearance: God permitted the prophet to return, or an evil spirit deceived Saul. He accepted either reading and even considered Saul’s possible repentance, comparing it with the thief on the cross (Luke 23). (Christianity Today)

Most U.S. Evangelicals Give Their Spiritual Lives a C+ August 18: A survey of 1,000 U.S. evangelical Protestants found they rate their spiritual lives an average 2.42—roughly a C+. Only 12% averaged an A, while 16% scored D+ or lower, including 2% who failed. Prayer and their relationship with God ranked strongest; evangelism, giving, and tithing weakest. Self-ratings generally matched behavior: 92% awarding themselves an A for attendance attended weekly, versus 7% giving themselves an F. (Christian Daily)

Moses Mockumentary Heads to Season 2 With Lionsgate August 18: The Promised Land, writer-director Mitch Hudson’s workplace-style comedy based on Exodus, is filming its second season in Morocco after shooting Season 1 in Utah. Lionsgate has joined as global distributor, replacing the free-to-stream YouTube model of Season 1. The series follows Moses, Miriam, Aaron, Joshua, and the Israelites through Mount Sinai, the golden calf, and Tabernacle construction. (RELEVANT)

Supreme Court Asked to Review Texas Ten Commandments Law August 17: More than two dozen Texas families and civil-rights groups have petitioned the Supreme Court to review a law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments. The measure was upheld 9–8 by an appeals court, which noted that students are not required to recite or affirm the commandments, but challengers say it violates the First Amendment. The case could revisit a 1980 ruling striking down a similar Kentucky law. (AP)

Nearly 9 Million Download Gospel of John Through Digital Outreach August 17: From October 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, Pocket Testament League (PTL) recorded nearly 9 million Gospel of John downloads — about 1 million monthly. India led with more than 3.68 million downloads, followed by Bangladesh with nearly 1.48 million. PTL has recorded over 30 million downloads since 2020, and the ministry hopes to invite another 100 million people to encounter Jesus within three years. (Christian Daily)

Nigeria Sees Religious-Freedom Gains Amid Continuing Violence August 17: Nigeria’s security forces have freed hundreds more victims of mass kidnappings through cooperation with the United States. Additionally, a federal court barred Islamic police from arresting a 22-year-old Christian convert for leaving Islam, and ordered compensation for violations of her dignity and religious freedom. Christian organizations welcome these developments, though abductions and violence persist. (Christianity Today; Christian Daily)

Europe’s Tallest Virgin Mary Statue Rises Over Tiny Polish Village August 15: Hundreds gathered in Konotopie, a central Polish village of fewer than 150 people, to consecrate what is believed to be Europe’s tallest Virgin Mary statue. Rising 55.6 meters (182 feet) — including a 15-meter crown-shaped pedestal — the statue is more than 17 meters taller than Brazil’s famous Christ the Redeemer. A viewing platform supports hopes that the site will draw pilgrims and tourists. (AP)

Science Affirms Loving Your Neighbor Is Good for Your Brain August 14: A study comparing enjoyable activities, cognitive reappraisal, and random kindness found kindness performed as well or better at reducing depression and anxiety as well as other benefits — and alone increased social connection. But since one act provides only a three-to-four-minute oxytocin boost, researchers emphasize habit. The findings add a physiological dimension to passages like Mark 12:31, Ephesians 4:32, and Galatians 5:22. (RELEVANT)

Gospels Launched in Pembrokeshire Welsh Dialect August 14: An audio recording of the four Gospels in the Welsh dialect of north Pembrokeshire was launched at the National Eisteddfod on August 6, a Welsh cultural festival drawing some 150,000 attendees. The translation was completed around 2000 by Rev Lyn Lewis Dafis, a vicar and National Library of Wales librarian who died in 2022, and remained unpublished in his lifetime. (Christian Today)

Archaeologists May Have Found Room Where Nicene Creed Took Shape August 13: Archaeologists in İznik, Turkey, believe walls, floor paving, and a column base beneath a later basilica belong to the Church of Saint Neophytos, where the First Council of Nicaea met in 325 AD and affirmed the Trinity and Jesus’ divinity. Its small dimensions match eyewitness Eusebius’s description. An earthquake destroyed the original church in 368; the commemorative basilica was built above it. (RELEVANT)

Evangelicals Serve Migrants and Neighbors After Ceuta Crisis August 13: After roughly 80,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish territory of Ceuta — population 85,000 — in the final days of July, local evangelical churches are providing food and Arabic Scriptures to the thousands who remain. Pastor Javier Santolaria of Casa de Alabanza asked for continued prayer, saying the community needs “strength and to see the hand of God at work.” (Christian Today)

Last Trappist Survivor of Mao’s Persecution Dies at 108 August 13: Father Benedict Chao, the world’s oldest Trappist monk and last survivor of the Chinese Trappist community scattered under Mao Zedong, died July 31 at the Abbey of Our Lady of Joy on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island. A monk for 79 years, Chao fled China after the persecution that martyred 33 monks at Yangjiaping, then helped rebuild his exiled community in Hong Kong, serving as its prior from 1974 to 1998. (Aleteia)

Church Remembers the Barbastro Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War August 12: On August 12 and 13, the Church honors 51 Claretian martyrs, mostly seminarians in their early 20s, executed by anarchists in Barbastro, Spain in 1936. During nearly a month of imprisonment, a brother hid consecrated Hosts in meals so the prisoners could receive Communion. All 51 were beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1992. (Aleteia)

Bible Society CTO Warns Churches of AI “Impersonation Problem” August 11: After Meta pulled an Instagram feature that generated AI images from public accounts, American Bible Society CTO Bryce Allison warned that the “impersonation problem is already here” — urging pastors to prepare congregations for AI-generated videos soliciting donations in their name. Using someone’s likeness without consent, he said, risks treating a person made in God’s image as raw material. (Christian Post)

Theologians Make Biblical Case for Formal Church Membership August 11: With U.S. church membership falling from 73% in 1937 to 49% in 2020, theologians are pressing the case for committed local belonging. Advocates say Matthew 18:17, Acts 2:41, 1 Corinthians 5:2, and Hebrews 13:17 presume identifiable congregations practicing discipline, ordinances, and pastoral oversight. They describe membership as family rather than a club, offering accountability, assurance, and care. (Baptist Press)

Thousands Gather in Germany for TeenStreet’s Biblical Wisdom Theme August 11: Teenagers and adults from Europe, the United States, and South Korea gathered in Offenburg, Germany, for Operation Mobilisation’s 34th TeenStreet conference. The event explored Proverbs under the theme “Paths—Wisdom’s Call,” pairing small-group Bible study with worship, talks, games, and workshops, and sharing faith through creative outreach. (Christian Daily)

Armenia Plans World’s Tallest Jesus Statue Amid Church-State Feud August 10: Armenian tycoon and politician Gagik Tsarukyan, who received under 4% in recent elections, plans a 101-meter Jesus statue atop 2,500-meter Mount Hatis, calling it Armenia’s “calling card.” Meanwhile, Armenian Apostolic leader Catholicos Karekin II and six clerics face up to two years in prison for refusing to reinstate a defrocked bishop at the request of a court. The church calls the prosecution an assault on its autonomy. (Christian Daily; AP)

Americans Trust Small Churches Far More Than Megachurches August 10: Barna’s survey of 2,000 U.S. adults found that trust runs decidedly local. Small churches scored 61 on its 100-point index, compared with 57 for Christian churches generally and just 36 for megachurches. Christian pastors scored 55, well ahead of celebrity pastors at 30. Christians ranked third overall, behind family members and local businesses. Higher institutional trust in general was linked with stronger optimism, connection, and life satisfaction. (Barna)

Bible Society of Mexico Celebrates 60 Years of Expanding Scripture Access August 10: Founded in 1966, the Bible Society of Mexico has distributed more than 374 million biblical materials and established distribution centers in 13 cities. Its work includes eight Indigenous-language translations alongside digital, audio, multimedia, AI-assisted, and Braille resources. Anniversary events will include services, conferences, and campaigns encouraging daily Bible reading, focusing especially on children and youth. (Christian Daily)

Christian Lawyers Defend Persecuted Women and Children in Nigeria August 10: A network of Christian attorneys supported by Open Doors is providing legal aid to Nigerian women and children facing abduction, forced marriage, conversion, sexual violence, and wrongful prosecution. Open Doors recorded 3,490 Nigerian Christians killed for their faith in October 2024–September 2025. (Baptist Press)

Frequent Small-Group Bible Study Linked to Stronger Discipleship August 7: A recent survey of American Protestant churchgoers found that those attending small groups at least five times monthly earned an overall discipleship score of 74.1, compared with 60.4 among nonparticipants. The sharpest difference came in “Sharing Christ,” while the only exception (where nonparticipants outscored frequent attendees) was in “Exercising Faith,” possibly reflecting greater self-awareness among mature believers. (Christianity Daily)

Algerian Christians Churches Sealed, Bibles Confiscated August 7: In 99%-Muslim Algeria, authorities have closed 46 of the 47 churches affiliated with the Protestant Church of Algeria, using registration problems under a 2012 law to justify waves of closures beginning in 2017. Believers now meet discreetly in homes, garages or beneath olive trees, privately celebrating Communion and baptisms. Bible imports are routinely confiscated, while isolation leaves many without regular guidance. (Christianity Daily)

Christians Walk Hundreds of Miles for Peace in Memory of St. Francis August 6: Christians are crossing England on foot to mark 800 years since St. Francis of Assisi’s death. Organized by the Society of St. Francis, the pilgrimage began July 17 in Alnmouth and passes through Newcastle, Durham, York, Leeds, Bradford and Manchester before ending in London. Pilgrims prayed at Bishopthorpe Palace on August 1, reflecting on Jesus’ call to be peacemakers (Matt. 5:9) and that “Christ’s peace starts with each of us.” (Christian Today)

Who Were the Mysterious Mercenaries Roaming the Biblical World? August 5: The Shardanu, likely originating in Sardinia, were celebrated Late Bronze Age warriors who served competing Mediterranean powers. Egyptian reliefs show them with horned helmets, round shields and longswords — even fighting fellow Shardanu while defending Ramesses III. Their tradition later appeared among the Philistines and even David, who served as mercenary for Gath’s king before ruling Israel (1 Samuel 27). (Biblical Archaeology Society)

Religious Freedom Movement Reaches a Global Crossroads August 5: A recent report warns that rising authoritarianism, armed conflict, mass migration, religious nationalism, and waning Western support are eroding protections for believers of every faith. U.S. policy changes such as halted foreign-assistance programs and reduced human-rights staffing have added pressure. The report urges churches, advocates, and civil-society groups to develop new partnerships and strategies against growing persecution. (Baptist Press)

Young Women’s Religious Decline Raises Concerns for Families August 5: Women historically showed stronger religious commitment than men, but that has reversed among young Americans. The share of young men calling religion “very important” rose in recent years, while young women ranked lowest among demographic groups, often citing gendered expectations and abuse scandals as reasons for leaving. Studies link mothers’ religiosity to greater family cohesion, raising concerns about the transmission of faith. (Religion Unplugged)

Visual Commentary Pairs Scripture With Art Across the Ages August 4: King’s College London’s online Visual Commentary on Scripture combines theology, art history, and biblical scholarship, pairing Scripture with high-resolution works from around the world and throughout Christian history, by everyone from famous artists like Rembrandt and Caravaggio to unknown craftsmen. Its new Bible and Art Daily newsletter delivers artwork and audio Scripture commentary. (Religion Unplugged)

Africa’s Children Called World’s Fastest-Growing Mission Field August 4: Africa’s population is projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, including vast numbers of children. Gen Alpha already represents 35.6% of Nigeria, while Africa’s overall Christian population has surpassed 700 million. Amid poverty, conflict, displacement, and limited biblical teaching, evangelism organizations see an extraordinary opportunity for local believers to share the gospel and provide discipleship. (Christian Daily)

New Approach to Deaf Bible Translation Launches With Book of Esther August 3: Deaf translators from six countries are using the Book of Esther to test a shared visual “sign roots” template designed to accelerate Scripture translation across hundreds of sign languages. Because Deaf people can understand up to 80% of a sign-roots presentation, local teams can more efficiently adapt it without changing the biblical meaning. The method could help bring Scripture to many of the world’s roughly 80 million Deaf people. (Baptist Press)

Ancient Cypriot Coin Illuminates Biblical-Era Trade at Ashdod August 3: A rare 2,500-year-old Cypriot coin found on an Ashdod beach offers fresh evidence of maritime trade between Cyprus and the land of Israel during the Persian period. The coin’s silver-plated siglos features rams and Cypriot symbols. It’s the first of its kind discovered in Israel, and adds historical context to Ashdod, the prominent Philistine city associated with the captured Ark of the Covenant in 1 Samuel 5. (Biblical Archaeology Society; Christianity Daily)

Near-Death Research Raises Questions Science Can’t Easily Answer August 3: Scientists studying cardiac-arrest survivors have documented remarkably consistent reports of consciousness continuing after the body appears to shut down, including encounters with light, deceased loved ones, and feelings of peace. The findings do not “prove” heaven, but they offer intriguing scientific evidence consistent with biblical belief in an afterlife, even if Scripture, not near-death testimony, remains the foundation of that hope. (RELEVANT)

Three Common Mistakes in Reading Religion Data, From Ryan Burge August 1: First, public opinion changes much less quickly than headlines suggest, typically about 2.6 points annually. Second, personal experience can exaggerate the influence of specialized theological debates like dispensationalism. And third, Americans wildly overestimate small religious groups, guessing that Jews and Muslims constitute 25% and 20% of the population when the actual shares are about 1.5% and 1%, respectively. (Religion Unplugged)

Hundreds Commit to Long-Term Mission at Arise Asia August 1: Arise Asia 2026 closed in Manila, Philippines, with 341 young leaders committing to long-term cross-cultural mission among unreached peoples. The five-day congress drew 4,278 participants from 64 countries under the theme “For the Joy,” from Hebrews 12:2. Organizers also launched a multilingual platform offering over 30 training, prayer, ministry, and mission opportunities to help turn the congress’s emotional momentum into sustained service. (Christian Daily)

Young UK Christians Sharing Faith With Confidence August 1: A survey of 611 British Christians ages 18–34 found 85% had discussed Jesus with a non-Christian during the previous six months, while 74% believed people around them were receptive to faith conversations. The respondents were highly active in church: 93% attended at least weekly, 30% went several times a week, and more than half served on ministry or volunteer teams. (Christian Today)

Catch Up on July’s Bible News Stories  August 1: Don’t forget to catch up on all the biggest, strangest, and most inspiring Bible news stories of July 2026!