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Downsized worship centers, smaller churches and increased focus on evangelism are among the major trends expected to overtake churches this year. The 10 major church trends projected for 2017 is a mix of both good and bad, and there appears to be a going back to the neighborhood church format described in the Book of Acts.

Speaking before the Class of 2016 at Biola University in December, Christian apologist Nabeel Qureshi delivered a powerful message that urged his audience to remember the cross, their identity in God and their ministry of being Jesus’ hands and feet into the “dying world.”

As if written straight from the Book of Acts, the story of an Islamist militant’s sister who was bitten by a venomous snake and whom Jesus completely healed is only one of many miraculous accounts among Muslims in the Middle East.

It’s difficult not to notice the unusually shaped stomach of this former Hindu fanatic. As it turns out, there’s an interesting story behind it—one that he does not hesitate to share with those who don’t know Christ.

Northern California county officials recently reversed their decision to ban a Christian congregation from meeting in a barn. Located just outside of Oroville, Calif. in Butte County, a group of Christians had been holding meetings in a barn, but county officials informed the owners of the barn and property they could no longer use the space to host church services. The same officials later even banned church gatherings in an open pasture on the property.

Famed evangelist Billy Graham has made the Gallup Poll's list of the 10 men most admired by Americans - for a record 60th year.

Prayer organizers in Australia called on Christians all over the world to join a time of prayer and worship on the first sunrise of 2017. The New Year’s Day Sunrise Prayer Relay was initiated by the National Day of Prayer and Fasting team in Australia along with other church leaders, and they are hoping that the idea will go viral so that many believers worldwide will take part in the event.

A high-ranking leader of the Islamic State planned to kill a Christian who was part of a television ministry but ended up surrendering his life to Jesus Christ.

Megachurch pastor Andy Stanley became the subject of controversy after he said that Jesus’ birth is not as important to Christianity as His resurrection.

One of the most generous 2016 Christmas gifts bestowed actually started by church members donating one dollar at a time! A Coral Springs church in Margate, Fla., surprised a mother of two children with a new car after she thought her 1992 vehicle was being towed. Church by the Glades in Coral Springs staffers and members executed a convincing prank on one of its members, Nicole Rollins, as she watched her car being pulled away.

The award-winning weekly public television series (PBS), "Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly," is slated to end after 20 years of broadcasting, announced representatives of WNET, the parent company of Thirteen Productions. The show's last episode will be Feb. 24, 2017. The group's website will remain available, providing an extensive archive, including transcripts of individual shows and streaming videos. Des Moines Register staffers called this show "a blueprint for how to accurately report on religion."

Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson has some strong words against Ohio Gov. John Kasich for not approving the Heartbeat Bill.

Disney Studios' new full-length, animated feature, "Moana," expands the ethnic and religious diversity in its heroines, and is likely to impact children in mainstream Christian, Jewish and secular homes in a considerable manner, said Mark Pinsky, author of "The Gospel According to Disney: Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust."

Steve Forbes, chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media, spoke at Liberty University on Dec. 7 and emphasized the importance of adapting to change and embracing capitalism.

Southland Church in Steinbach on the eastern edge of the Canadian Prairies, is taking on the porn epidemic first hand with over 1,350 men from their congregation going through a powerful cinematic DVD teaching series which shows men how to conquer porn and walk in freedom.

A Jewish American businessman and investor is paying it forward by supporting Christian missionary doctors who are serving African communities because these people have answered the call to “love the stranger.”

“The Pastor Is In,” reads the sign below the prayer booth that a pastor set up on a sidewalk outside his New York church, and people are stopping by and asking for prayers.

Cliff Barrows was finally laid to rest on Tuesday in a memorial service held in Charlotte, N.C. that honored Billy Graham’s music director who, for decades, served God with faithfulness and exuberant joy.

The Bible certainly has a lot to talk about when it comes to an attitude of thanksgiving and gratitude.

Along with other pastors and Christians who have experienced persecution, Mariam Ibraheem testifed at One Body, an event which aimed to make Christians help persecuted Christians all over the world.

Christian apologist, author and speaker Nabeel Qureshi, who had been diagnosed with stomach cancer a few months ago, took to Facebook and said the tumor that was in his stomach is now gone.

In a society bent towards the microwave mentality of “gotta have it now”, it would be convenient if God armed our brain with a porn “delete” button that would instantly delete the images from our mind. In a sense, He has, but not in a New York minute sort of way. Instead, He has provided a superhighway for sanctification that science is now helping us discover.

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is mourning the loss of Cliff Barrows, one of Billy Graham's closest friends and a faithful contributor to the organization's music ministry.

Recently, 3,000 religious leaders and emerging leaders from 95 countries came together at NYC's Jacob Javits Convention Center for Movement Day Global Cities (MDGC), modeling a commitment to visible unity in the body of Christ while drawing attention to social issues across the globe, especially in Syria, India and China.

Singapore City Harvest Church pastor Kong Hee has decided to give out bottles of olive oil that can be used to anoint the sick while praying for their healing.