Latest news with #BethelChurch
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Worship news: Priest ordination service and Bishop Noll summer camps
Bethel Church: 10202 Broadway — Bethel Church will have an outdoor service at 10:45 a.m. on June 15 on the Northwest Lawn, weather permitting. After the service, there will be grilled hotdogs in celebration of Father's Day. Bethel Church will begin a women's summer bible study on June 10. Bethel women are invited to join at the Crown Point campus every Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. to explore accounts of Jesus and watch videos filmed on location in Israel. Register here: St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church: 101 W. Burrell Drive — St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church will have a faith and fitness workout boot camp for ages 12 and up from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. June 7. After the workout, attendees are invited to stay for fellowship. To register, visit Faith Church: 100 W. 81st Ave. — There will be a 'Men of Faith' event from 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on June 7 to provide an opportunity for men to grow in their relationship with Jesus and each other. For more information, visit Cathedral of the Holy Angels: 640 Tyler St. — Bishop Robert J. McClory will ordain Deacon Alexander Kouris, 28, and Deacon Ivan Alatorre, 26, as Roman Catholic priests to serve the Diocese of Gary at 10:30 a.m. at the cathedral. During the liturgical celebration, seminarian William O'Donnell, 25, will be ordained to the transitional diaconate. Kouris will celebrate his first Mass at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 8, at St. Patrick in Chesterton. He will be assigned to Holy Family Parish in LaPorte with Father Nate Edquist, pastor, and serve as a hospital chaplain in Michigan City. Alatorre will celebrate his first Mass at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 8, at St. Joseph the Worker in Gary. He will be assigned as the associate pastor at St. John Bosco in Hammond and co-chaplain of Bishop Noll Institute. Christian Valley M. B. Church: 1910 Adams Street — Christian Valley M. B. Church will have a Valley Village Summer Enrichment Camp for ages 5 to 18 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Monday through Wednesday, June 9 to June 25. Breakfast, snacks, and lunch will be served. The camp is free. Register by calling 219-883-5762. Flourish Church: 3935 Cleveland St. — NWI Summer Learning Lab at Flourish Church will allow rising 1st through 4th graders to strengthen their math and reading skills, explore extracurricular activities, and make friends at a free 5-week program. For more information and to register, visit Marquette Park United Methodist Church: 215 N. Grand Blvd. — All are welcome to worship at 11:15 a.m. Sundays at Marquette Park United Methodist Church. There will be refreshments to follow in the Fellowship Hall. Bishop Noll Institute: 1519 Hoffman St. — Bishop Noll Institute will have a series of summer camps for students who will be entering kindergarten through eighth grade next school year. Offerings include STEM and sports camps. STEM Summer Camp sessions are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Weeks are July 7 to 10 and July 14 to 17. Children may attend one or both weeks. Cost is $125 per camper per week. Visit for registration information. Our Lady of Consolation: 8303 W. Taft St. — Young adults age 18 to 39 are invited to the 2025 Young Adult Summer Speakers Series, held each Wednesday evening through June 25. The next session will begin at 7 p.m. on June 11 with speaker Danielle Kuboushek who will discuss 'Self Awareness: The Key to Spiritual Growth.' Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for food and fellowship, with a bonfire to follow, pending weather.
Chicago Tribune
30-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Worship news: Mother-daughter high tea and speaker series
Bethel Church: 10202 Broadway — Bethel Church will begin a women's summer bible study on June 10. Bethel women are invited to join at the Crown Point campus every Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. to explore accounts of Jesus and watch videos filmed on location in Israel. Register here: The church will have 'Steps' beginning at 6:30 p.m. June 2. Steps is a 12-step care and recovery ministry that offers practical steps, care, encouragement, accountability and community to anyone struggling with life hurts. There are groups designed to tackle and overcome addiction, anxiety, trauma, family issues and a host of distress. There will also be a limited online option. Register online St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church: 101 W. Burrell Drive — St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church will have a 'Growing in Grace' mother-daughter high tea from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. June 1. For more details or to register, visit St. Matthias will have a 'Pick 7' food distribution event on May 31 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Parish Hall. Those interested will be able to pick seven items from available options, and the shopping order will be determined by a random draw. For more information, call 219-663-2201. Faith Church: 100 W. 81st Ave. — There will be a 'Men of Faith' event from 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on June 7 to provide an opportunity for men to grow in their relationship with Jesus and each other. For more information, visit Cathedral of the Holy Angels: 640 Tyler St. — Cathedral of the Holy Angels will have a 'Hope Does Not Disappoint: Understanding the Jubilee Year' mass at 10 a.m. on June 1. The Jubilee will feature mass and be followed by light food and refreshments, and a powerful message from speaker Paul Jarzembowski, Associate Director for the Laity USCCB and Co-Coordinator of Jubilee Resources for the U.S. For more information, visit: The cathedral will have a day of service and 'Neighborhood Cookout with Christ in the City' from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 31. There will be volunteer training at 11 a.m., prep for lunch at 12 p.m., lunch from 1-3 p.m. and cleanup from 3-4 p.m. Those interested can register here: Marquette Park United Methodist Church: 215 N. Grand Blvd. — All are welcome to worship at 11:15 a.m. Sundays at Marquette Park United Methodist Church. There will be refreshments to follow in the Fellowship Hall. Bethel Church: 704 W. County Road 700 North — Bethel Church Hobart-Portage campus will have a women's morning Bible study from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday mornings beginning on June 5. The Bible study will go for eight weeks and will be reading through 'When You Pray' to explore different types of prayers modeled in Scripture. Childcare is available for $25 per child. To register, visit: River Pointe Country Club: 6700 Country Club Rd. — Bethel Church will have a Men's Golf Scramble beginning at 12 p.m. May 31 at the River Pointe Country Club. All levels of golf are welcome to attend for fun, food and fellowship. The cost is $60 per person and includes greens fee, a cart, prizes and dinner. Register here: The Gathering Church: 360 E. Lincoln Hwy. — The Gathering Church will have its Worship Night, held on the first Friday of every month, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 6. The event is a night of worship and prayer. For more information, call 219-765-2124. St. John Evangelist: 11301 W 93rd Ave — Young adults aged 18 to 39 are invited to the 2025 Young Adult Summer Speakers Series, held each Wednesday evening from May 28 to June 25. The next session will begin at 7 p.m. on June 4 with speaker Sister M. Josetta Rose O.S.F. who will discuss 'hope and ceaseless adoration.' Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for food and fellowship, with a bonfire to follow, pending weather.
NDTV
30-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
IMAX-Like Churches, TikTok Gurus, Putin: Inside America's Murky 'Faith' Bazaars
November 2, 2021. Dallas. It was a cold and rainy day. They came with flags, folding chairs and unwavering faith. Mothers, mechanics, grandparents, teachers and farmers - thousands from across America - gathered under the water-laden sky, eyes fixed on Dealey Plaza, the spot where John F Kennedy was gunned down in 1963. But this was not a memorial. They had come with huge expectations. They were promised JFK was coming back - not as a ghost, but in the flesh, alongside his long-dead son. And somehow, Donald Trump was part of the plan, either guiding them or, as some claimed, secretly being JFK Jr himself, in disguise. At the centre of it all stood Michael Protzman, a demolition contractor from Washington State turned doomsday prophet, live-streaming numerological riddles and divine revelations from his phone. To his thousands of online followers, he wasn't just a man. He was a messenger. They called him 'Negative 48', the online alias of Michael Protzman, who was a well-known QAnon influencer at the time. When the prophecy failed, that is, when no Kennedy rose from the dead, the faithful didn't scatter. They recalibrated. Truth, after all, is flexible in the American spiritual marketplace. Protzman died in 2023 after a bike crash. But his legacy lives on: a reminder that in the United States, belief isn't just a private act. It is a public theatre, political force and, increasingly, a viral spectacle. The Land of Miracle Men For decades, Western writers and journalists have romanticised India as the land of sadhus, yogis and miracle men, casting spiritual showmanship as divine mysticism. All the while, they overlooked their own backyard, where prophets, faith healers and self-styled messiahs quietly multiplied. The trend has become much more pronounced now. So, perhaps it is time to turn the lens. To much of the world, America is the land of innovation and freedom. It's where the internet was born, where Hollywood scripts the planet's dreams, and where democracy - with all its flaws - still claims to lead the world. From AI labs to aircraft carriers, from Netflix dramas to billion-dollar tech empires, the United States oozes power and self-confidence. 'Encountering Jesus' But behind that dazzling surface lies another America - one that fasts and prays for national repentance, that warns of apocalypse, that casts out demons on TikTok and tries to raise the dead in church basements. This is the America of Bethel Church in California, where worshippers post healings on social media and believe miracles are just one prayer away. Their vibrant website claims that worshippers "encounter Jesus" here and urges them to "experience God's presence at church this Sunday". It is the America of livestreamed prophecies, where faith doesn't just coexist with modern life - it often collides with it, in dramatic and deeply political ways. And this other America isn't fringe, despite what established churches and denominations might like us to believe. It is growing, multiplying even faster in the Trumpian world. It helps to start with the numbers. Over 60% of Americans still say religion is 'very important' in their daily lives, compared to just 17% in Britain and 14% in France. The US has over 3 lakh churches, and its religious exports - like Pentecostalism, televangelism and the prosperity gospel - have found eager audiences as far afield as Brazil, Nigeria and El Salvador. In a country as saturated with spiritual options as the United States, one recent development has raised more than a few eyebrows - and prompted quiet soul-searching in church pews and academic circles alike. Putin The Hero A growing number of young Americans, especially white men disillusioned with what they see as the excesses of liberal culture, are turning to Russian Orthodoxy - specifically the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR). Drawn by its traditional liturgy, mystical beauty and clear moral order, they are finding something deeply grounding in the incense-filled churches and centuries-old chants. To them, it is not just about ritual. It is about anchoring oneself in a faith that appears untouched by modern relativism. This trend is spiritual but also carries cultural and, for some, political undertones. In their quest for roots, stability and something that feels timeless, these converts often speak of Orthodoxy as a refuge from what they perceive to be the confusion and moral ambiguity of contemporary America. Some admire Russian President Vladimir Putin for his perceived defence of Christian values - a view encouraged by certain Orthodox clergy who cast the Ukraine war not merely as a political conflict, but as a spiritual battle aimed at defending traditional civilisation from Western secularism. Orthodoxy Is Not Just About Politics A few even frame the war in theological terms, echoing the language used by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, who has described the conflict as a metaphysical stand against what he called 'sinful Western values'. While many lifelong Orthodox believers in America are uneasy with this framing, it resonates with converts seeking moral clarity in an era that often feels adrift. For most of these new adherents, this turn to Orthodoxy is not about politics per se. It is about finding a place where beauty, discipline and tradition still matter. They speak of the ancient rituals not as nostalgia, but as nourishment - something rich and rooted, in a world that often feels hurried and hollow. And so, in the great American spiritual bazaar, Russian Orthodoxy has claimed a quiet but growing corner. Also, take, for instance, the rise of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement. Led by a loose network of 'charismatic' leaders and 'prophets', NAR aims to reclaim America for God through political and cultural dominion. Leaders like Dutch Sheets and Lance Wallnau gained massive followings, especially during Trump's first term, claiming they had 'divine' visions about the president's destiny. Wallnau famously called Trump "God's chaos candidate", comparing him to Cyrus, the Persian king who helped the Israelites in the Old Testament. The Catholic Times did a long piece after another NAR leader, Paula White-Cain, was appointed as a senior adviser to the newly created White House Faith Office. The World Of Pastor Greg Locke Then there is Pastor Greg Locke of Tennessee, who has amassed a fervent social media following by mixing firebrand sermons with alleged political conspiracy theories. Locke claims that COVID-19 was a hoax, calls Democrats 'demonic', and sees his ministry as a frontline in a cosmic battle. At his Global Vision Bible Church, people have burned Harry Potter books, cast out demons and declared that America is under spiritual siege. Or consider Julie Green Ministries. Her YouTube prophecies regularly include messages she claims are from God, forecasting political events or divine punishment. Her channel has hundreds of thousands of views. Anyone watching her videos cannot miss her claims that she can 'command' a sick person's illnesses to be destroyed and cure the person. These leaders aren't on the fringes of faith - they are livestreamed on YouTube, hosted on Christian TV, followed by hundreds of thousands of people, and courted by politicians. In 2020 and beyond, many claimed God had ordained Trump's presidency and prophesied his return to power even after his electoral defeat. Some went so far as to encourage their followers to take action, playing a role - through fiery sermons and social media posts - in fuelling the anger that led to the storming of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Faith vs Faith Much to the agony of the established churches and ecstasy of new, fast multiplying faiths, social media has become both a pulpit and a stage in America. On TikTok, self-declared prophets warn of imminent collapse, offer prayers to cleanse timelines, or speak in tongues (it is a form of ecstatic prayer or speech in unintelligible sounds, believed by many Christians to be a spiritual language inspired by the Holy Spirit) to bring healing to followers. Clips of deliverance, where pastors shout at demons and followers convulse in spiritual ecstasy, routinely go viral. Even doomsday has influencers now. Nostradamus-style YouTube channels push visions of global famine, nuclear war or rapture. Some are monetised. Many are consumed religiously by millions seeking not just entertainment but existential comfort in chaotic times. This isn't just a revival. It's a remix of religion with, some might say, entertainment, politics and tech - an explosive cocktail that affects millions of minds and voting behaviours. Some even argue that the established, traditional faiths had become boring, and thus the new ones are getting popular because they are deeply connected to the average man. Faith As Performance There are megachurches with IMAX-style screens and fog machines. There are places like Lakewood Church in Houston, where Joel Osteen preaches positivity and wealth with a glowing smile to a stadium-sized congregation. Or Hillsong, whose celebrity-studded music and troubled leadership made headlines worldwide. Both offer worship as performance, where faith is branded, packaged and sold like a lifestyle. America's faith bazaar isn't just about Christianity. There are psychedelic churches like the Church of the Sacred Mushroom. There are UFO cults reviving in new online forums. There are wellness gurus blending Eastern mysticism with Western productivity hacks. And increasingly, these belief systems cross-pollinate. A follower may watch a Trump prophecy video, attend a yoga-mindfulness seminar and join a Facebook group on biblical homesteading - all in the same week. It's like going to a big mall with a plethora of options to choose from. This pluralism is what makes the American spiritual landscape so unique, and so bewildering. It is open-ended, endlessly adaptable and market-driven. The Search For The Divine In a country where religious affiliation and traditional church gatherings are declining, the hunger for meaning has only intensified. Many may be leaving churches, but they aren't leaving belief. They are remixing it. Rebranding it. Whether through revivals or revelations, livestreams or TikToks, prophets or presidents, the American search for the divine continues. In the country's bubbling spiritual marketplace, belief isn't passive, but performative. It sings, it shouts, it heals, it livestreams. It predicts election outcomes, dances with divine wrath and courts eternal salvation in the comment section. This is faith with stage lighting and subscriber counts. And yet, beneath the drama, there is something achingly human. A quiet fear. A cosmic question. A longing for permanence in a culture obsessed with the next update. Perhaps that's why young men are turning to incense and iconography, why TikTok prophets rise with each news cycle, and why preachers warn of an ever-nearing end. Because at some level, despite sermons and gospels, the American soul is still haunted by what English poet Andrew Marvell called 'deserts of vast eternity'. Some, much like TS Eliot did ages ago, have started to wonder if they have 'measured out their lives with coffee spoons.' (Syed Zubair Ahmed is a London-based senior Indian journalist with three decades of experience with the Western media) Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author and do not represent the views of NDTV Share
Chicago Tribune
16-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Worship news: Pancake breakfast, mass for Pope Leo, golf scramble
Holy Name of Jesus Parish: 133rd Ave. — All are welcome to join the Knights of Columbus for a pancake breakfast after Sunday masses on May 18 in the Sacred Heart Hall at Holy Name of Jesus Parish. There will be regular, blueberry and chocolate chip pancakes. St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church: 101 W Burrell Drive — St. Matthias will have a trivia night beginning at 5 p.m. May 17, with doors opening at 5 p.m. for dinner and trivia beginning at 6 p.m. Tacos will be provided, and babysitting is available with advanced notice. Call 219-663-2201 to reserve a spot. Cathedral of the Holy Angels: 640 Tyler St. — Cathedral of the Holy Angels will have a mass for Pope Leo XIV at 11 a.m. on May 18. The mass will be held in conjunction with the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV in Rome. Couples celebrating milestone anniversaries will also be honored. River Pointe Country Club: 6700 Country Club Rd. — Bethel Church will have a Men's Golf Scramble beginning at 12 p.m. May 31 at the River Pointe Country Club. All levels of golf are welcome to attend for fun, food and fellowship. The cost is $60 per person and includes green fee, a cart, prizes and dinner. Register here: Bethel Church: 704 W 700 N — Bethel Church Hobart-Portage campus will have a women's morning Bible study from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday mornings beginning on June 5. The Bible study will go for eight weeks and will be reading through 'When You Pray' to explore different types of prayers modeled in Scripture. Childcare is available for $25 per child. To register, visit: St. Michael Parish: 1 W. Wilhelm St. — St. Michael Parish will have a Memorial Day Mass and 150th Time Capsule Burial from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. May 26. This is an outdoor event and those who attend are asked to bring a chair and join in remembrance and hope. For more information, call 219-322-4505.
Chicago Tribune
09-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Worship news: Parent-child dedication, Memorial Day picnic, coffee and conversation
Bethel Church: 13620 Wicker Ave. — Bethel Church will have a 'Discover Bethel' event to meet others who are new and gain a deeper understanding of the mission and vision of the church. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. on May 17 and will feature breakfast. To register, visit Bethel Church: 10202 Broadway — Bethel Church will have a Parent-Child Dedication from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. May 11, during both services at each campus. Parents/legal guardians are required to attend the Parent-Child Dedication class. For more information, call 219-663-9200. CrossPoint Church: 214 S Court St. — CrossPoint Church will host its annual Memorial Day picnic from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on May 25 immediately following the service at the Olthoff Property. Directions will be provided that morning through the Church Center app. All are welcome for food, fun and fellowship. Families are asked to bring chips, a dessert, fruit or applesauce pouches to share. Those who attend should bring a lawn chair, blanket, sun shade, backyard games, and a fishing pole/tackle. For more information, visit St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church: 101 W Burrell Dr. — There will be a donut Sunday after all morning masses on May 11 at St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church. There will be donuts and coffee for those who attend. Faith Church: 100 W. 81st Ave. — Registration for Faith Church's 'SpringHill Day Camp' is currently open for kids who have completed kindergarten through fifth grade. The camp will be from July 21 to July 25, and will allow kids to learn about Jesus through large group time filled with music, dancing, skits and more. The cost of the camp is $349, with discount opportunities for families with multiple children and payment plans available. For more information, visit Carter Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church: 635 W. 49th St. — The church will have coffee & conversation every Tuesday and Thursday each week from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. For more information, call 219-293-7570. Cathedral of the Holy Angels: 640 Tyler St. — Cathedral of the Holy Angels will have a day of service and 'Neighborhood Cookout with Christ in the City' from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 31. There will be volunteer training at 11 a.m., prep for lunch at 12 p.m., lunch from 1-3 p.m. and cleanup from 3-4 p.m. Those interested can register here: Marquette Park United Methodist Church: 215 N Grand Blvd — All are welcome to worship at 11:15 a.m. Sundays at Marquette Park United Methodist Church. There will be refreshments to follow in the Fellowship Hall. Resurrection House Baptist Church: 1968 West 11th Ave. — Tickets are on sale now for the church's 'Standing on God's Promise' event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 28. The event will include worship, prayer, and reflection on faithfulness. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased on Eventbrite: Bethel Church: 704 W 700N — Bethel Church will have 'Level Up' on May 18 for incoming sixth graders and parents to be introduced to 'Verge.' There will be games, teaching and a Q&A session. The event will take place at all campuses, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at Cedar Lake, 4 p.m. at Crown Point, and 10:45 a.m. at Hobart/Portage. Crown Point campus students and families are welcome to stay for the end-of-the-year Color War event.
