Our last interview with former President Carter in 2012 focused on his Christian faith

OUR COVER STORY, this week, is timed to coincide with our national time of mourning this remarkable world leader—both during his time in office as the American President and in his decades after leaving Washington D.C. Please share this inspiring interview with Carter via social media—to honor his memory and to spread his message that biblical values still matter in our world today.

This week’s memorial schedule: On Tuesday January 7, Carter’s body will be taken from the Carter Center in Georgia to he U.S. Navy Memorial, where he will be carried via a horse-drawn caisson to the U.S. Capitol. He will lie in state until the morning of Thursday January 9, which is the official “national day of mourning” and a federal holiday. Washington National Cathedral will host the state funeral service on January 9 with a eulogy by President Biden. After the funeral, Carter’s body will be transported back to Georgia on a military flight where he will travel by motorcade to Maranatha Baptist Church for a private funeral service with his family and close friends. After that service, Carter’s remains will be taken by motorcade back to his home for a private burial.
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What is the religious makeup of the new Congress?

Pew finds it’s still more Christian than the American population

MSU SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM BIAS BUSTERS founder Joe Grimm summarizes the latest data from Pew Research about the religious makeup of the new U.S. Congress.

Holidays & Festivals

Debuting Stephanie Fenton’s 2025 Global Calendar!

EVERY JANUARY, we know our readers around the world are waiting to see Stephanie Fenton’s “new” calendar of religious and cultural holidays, festivals and observances. Stephanie is unique among journalists globally in her ongoing, in-depth reporting about this always-moving, always-changing calendar that ranges from “moveable feasts” and holidays to unusual anniversaries and festivals.

WHO USES THIS CALENDAR? We’ve heard, over the years, from chaplains, social workers, media professionals, HR directors, school employees, civic leaders and a host of other professionals who use this annual calendar to chart their own community cycles in the year ahead.

PLEASE, take a look at this new calendar—and email us at [email protected] if you spot any typos—or if you find a “missing” holiday or festival or anniversary that’s especially important to you. We appreciate your kindness in alerting us to such updates that can improve the usefulness of our coverage.

Photos to Spark Your Spirit

PHOTOGRAPHER AND AUTHOR RODNEY CURTIS has just sent us this “love letter” of a column, pulling together some of his most memorable photographs from 2024. You don’t want to miss this colorful adventure!