Weekly religion news roundup (January 9-15, 2026)
Photograph by Utsav Srestha via Unsplash
Hannah Estifanos
Suspect arrested after a fire damages a historic Mississippi synagogue. The synagogue is the largest in Mississippi and the only one in Jackson. (Politico)
Buddhist monks and their dog captivate Americans while walking for peace. A group of Buddhist monks and their rescue dog are striding single file down country roads and highways across the South, captivating Americans nationwide and inspiring droves of locals to greet them along their route. (Associated Press)
In Pittsburgh, pro-immigrant interfaith efforts emerge amid concerns about ICE. On Fridays, a group of interfaith believers holds a vigil outside the city’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office, where over 800 people have been held amid the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts. (Religion News Service)
Battle for public funding of Christian schools expands. The ongoing effort to seek government funding for Christian public schools failed in Oklahoma last year, but advocates are trying again with Christian public schools in Colorado and Tennessee and a Jewish public school in Oklahoma. (Baptist News Global)
As Iran Cracks Down on Protests, Christians Speak Up. This time, believers in the Iranian diaspora are praying more explicitly for the fall of the country’s rulers. (Christianity Today)
Each Friday in The Christian Citizen, we publish a Religion News Roundup with summaries of religion news stories and links for those who want to read more.
Palestinian students strike as Israel bans access to West Bank teachers. Israel limits the ability of teachers from the West Bank to travel to occupied East Jerusalem. The strike was called by the General Secretariat of Christian Educational Institutions in Jerusalem and later joined by all private schools in East Jerusalem. (Al Jazeera)
Houston Texans’ Anderson and Al-Shaair built faith-based bond despite practicing different religions. Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair were brought together by football, but it is a relationship forged by faith. (Associated Press)
Oklahoma mosque project voted down after weeks of anti-Muslim pushback, zoning debate. Over 1,000 people packed a nearly four-hour-long Broken Arrow City Council meeting on Jan. 12, which ended with a council vote of 4-1 to stymie the project. (Religion News Service)
Kentucky church foregoes FEMA aid because of demands made. A Baptist church in Frankfort, Ky., turned down a much-needed federal grant for facilities repairs because the award mandated cooperation with immigration enforcement efforts and elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion policies. (Baptist News Global)
‘Draw Closer To God’: The Power Of Sign Language Bibles Worldwide. A new Bible video translation app now brings Scripture to life through movement, expression, and visual storytelling. Known as the Deaf Bible, it allows users in 195 countries to download the app and watch verses signed in sign language, giving the Deaf community access to God’s word in their own language. (Religion Unplugged)
Hannah Estifanos is the copyeditor of The Christian Citizen.
The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of American Baptist Home Mission Societies.
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