Matt Chandler: Evangelism without Discipleship Falls Short of the Great Commission

 

Pastor Matt Chandler argues that modern churches often prioritize conversion over genuine discipleship, leading to believers drifting from their faith. 

Pastor Matt Chandler says the Great Commission does not end at conversion, yet too many modern churches have operated as though it does, emphasizing professions of faith while failing to ensure those new believers are still walking with Christ years later.

The lead pastor of The Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas, Matt Chandler, is the author of the new book Becoming Like jesus  (Thomas Nelson), which he wrote after watching young people enthusiastically embrace Christ only to drift from the faith years later, as well as longtime believers abandoning their convictions after enduring difficult life struggles. The book’s subtitle hints at its content: “The Everyday Journey to Living a Life of Holiness.”

“The main goal has never been conversion,” he said. “The main goal has always been discipleship. And so I think the majority of churches put a ton of energy into ‘how do we get people saved?’ – and put not near enough energy in the ‘now what?’”

Chandler cited his own church as an example.

 

Fulani assailants kill 11 Christians in Plateau state, Nigeria

 

Fulani herdsman in north-central Nigeria in 

screenshot from video obtained by Morning Star 

 

In attacks on three villages over two weeks, Fulani herdsmen killed 11 Christians and injured five others in one county in Plateau state, Nigeria.

On Sunday (May 3), Fulanis killed five Christians in Fan village, Barkin Ladi County, at about 9 p.m., said resident Bot James.

“Muslim Fulani gunmen killed five Christians in a fresh attack on Fan village, a Christian community in Barkin Ladi area of Plateau state,” James told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “The victims were ambushed and attacked as they were returning to their houses from their businesses within the area.”

Area community leader Rwang Tengwong corroborated the account in a press statement he issued in Jos on Monday (May 4), saying all residents of Fan village are Christians.

“The victims were ambushed, shot at and killed by the Fulani attackers as they were returning to their homes after their daily business activities in the area,” Tengwong said.

In Barkin Ladi’s predominantly Christian Kassa village, two Christians were reportedly killed on April 27; one was identified as Gyang Choji Kim. On April 19 in predominantly Christian Hurum village, also in Barkin Ladi, four Christians were slain and five others wounded, said resident Florence Yohanna.

“God have mercy and rescue us from armed Fulani band,” Yohanna said. “My village, Hurum in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau state, has been attacked again by Fulani herdsmen; four Christians have been killed.”

Tengwong said the attack on Hurum village, Gashish District occurred at about 10 p.m.

“Fulani gunmen stormed the village and opened fire on residents, killing four Christians and injuring five others,” he said.

More Christians were killed in Nigeria than in any other country from Oct. 1, 2024 to Sept. 30, 2025, according to Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List. Of the 4,849 Christians killed worldwide for their faith during that period, 3,490 – 72 percent – were Nigerians, an increase from 3,100 the prior year. Nigeria ranked No. 7 on the WWL list of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.

Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdom’s All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a 2020.

“They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity,” the APPG report states.

Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians’ lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds.

In the country’s North-Central zone, where Christians are more common than they are in the North-East and North-West, Islamic extremist Fulani militia attack farming communities, killing many hundreds, Christians above all, according to the report. Jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and the splinter group Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), among others, are also active in the country’s northern states, where federal government control is scant and Christians and their communities continue to be the targets of raids, sexual violence, and roadblock killings, according to the report. Abductions for ransom have increased considerably in recent years.

The violence has spread to southern states, and a new jihadist terror group, Lakurawa, has emerged in the northwest, armed with advanced weaponry and a radical Islamist agenda, the WWL noted. Lakurawa is affiliated with the expansionist Al-Qaeda insurgency Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin, or JNIM, originating in Mali.

 

Northern Christian leaders tackle Wike over Jabi Lake

 

The Northern Christian Association has faulted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over remarks credited to him during the controversy surrounding land administration issues at Jabi Lake, warning that political authority must never be used to disrespect God or offend public sensibilities.

The association said that although government officials possess constitutional powers to administer land and enforce regulations, such authority must be exercised with humility, restraint and sensitivity to citizens’ religious beliefs.

The criticism followed widespread reactions to comments attributed to Wike after a female cleric reportedly knelt publicly to plead with the minister to reconsider a proposed development around Jabi Lake in Abuja.

Wike, while reacting to the emotional appeal, was reported to have stated that even if “God comes down,” he would not succumb to pressure, a remark that has continued to generate outrage among some Christian groups and religious leaders.

In a statement issued in Kaduna on Thursday, the Chairman of the association, Rev. Joseph Hayab, urged the minister to reflect on the concerns raised by Nigerians, apologise to those offended and embrace humility before God and the people.

Hayab said leaders must recognise the weight of their public utterances, noting that words spoken by those in authority should promote peace, unity and mutual respect in a multi-religious society like Nigeria.

The statement read in part, “Political office is temporary and should be handled with humility. No leader should allow power to create the impression that they are beyond accountability to God or the people they serve.

“As a Christian who professes Christ, the Holy Scriptures admonish believers that their words must be seasoned with grace and guided by wisdom.” 

The association added that the minister could have politely declined the plea made by the kneeling woman while calmly explaining the legal basis for the government’s position without making statements capable of being interpreted as insulting to God or offensive to believers.

It stressed that its position was not politically motivated but a moral and faith-based intervention aimed at promoting respect for religion and responsible public conduct.

“We are speaking out against Wike just as we will speak out against anyone who disrespects our faith,” the statement added.

The group also called on political office holders across the country to exercise caution in their public communication and avoid statements capable of deepening tension or provoking unnecessary controversy.

The controversy erupted amid growing public debate over land administration and development activities around Jabi Lake, one of the prominent recreational districts in the FCT.

The issue gained national attention after videos emerged showing a female cleric kneeling before the minister during a public engagement, appealing to him to halt or reconsider aspects of the development project.

The incident has since sparked mixed reactions, with some Nigerians defending the minister’s firmness on government policy, while others condemned the tone of his remarks as insensitive and disrespectful to religious sentiments.  

We’re not planning to wipe out Christians — Sultan

 

Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) 

ABUJA— The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday pushed back against fears of a religious agenda in Nigeria, declaring that Muslims were not planning to wipe out Christians, as religious and government leaders called for a reset in how the country understands its conflicts.

According to him, much of the violence often described as religious is being misunderstood, deepening suspicion and mistrust.

The remarks came at the first triannual meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, NIREC, in Abuja, where the Sultan, who co-chairs the council, spoke alongside President of Christian Association of Nigeria, Daniel Okoh, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.

Leaders said the way forward laid in dialogue, trust and a stronger push for religious literacy.

The Sultan said:  “Today, as I stand here, I want to affirm that Muslims are not in a hurry and are not planning anything like decimating the population of Christians in Nigeria.

“We are not in any position whatsoever to remove Christians from Nigeria. No, it is not possible.’’

He stressed that both faiths must coexist in an environment of stability, respect and understanding of one another, and urged Nigerians to rethink how insecurity was described, even as he warned against attaching religion to criminal acts.

“Let us get the narrative right, it is not about religion. Let us stop bringing religion into it.  Let us call them what they are, criminals, not Muslim criminals, not Muslim terrorists, not Muslim bandits. Even if someone claims to be Muslim, what they do goes against Islam,’’ the Sultan said.

Linking the problem to ignorance, he warned against false claims of religious authority, adding that “the fact that you understand Arabic does not make you a Sheikh. Arabic is just a language. So literacy is very important.’’

The Sultan advocated return to dialogue repeatedly, describing it as the only workable path.

He said further:  “In NIREC, we believe in dialogue. No matter how bad things are, we believe in dialogue. When talking, you need to understand one another, not just tolerate.

“If you do not believe me, what else can you do? You cannot open my heart to see what is inside. We must trust one another.”

On those who carry out violence in the name of religion, he said:  “Somebody can go to the market, blows his or herself up, kill people and shout ‘Allahu Akbar’. Yes, God is great, but you are going to hell. They will suffer for taking innocent lives.’’

Earlier in his remarks, CAN President, Daniel Okoh, framed the conversation around education and understanding, warning against reducing religion to stereotypes.

“Religious literacy is not merely the academic understanding of doctrines or rituals. It is the cultivation of awareness, sensitivity and respect for the beliefs and practices of others,” Archbishop Okoh said.

While noting that many tensions were wrongly labelled, the CAN president said:  “Across various parts of our nation, we continue to witness tensions that are sometimes framed along religious lines, even when their root causes may be social, economic, or political.’

The Christian leader stated that NIREC had continued to demonstrate the possibility of cooperation across faith lines.

“Through NIREC, we have demonstrated that despite our religious differences, we share common values of peace, justice, dignity of human life, and the well-being of our nation,” Archbishop Okoh said.

In his remarks, the SGF, George Akume, linked understanding directly to national stability.

“Where there is ignorance, suspicion can take root. Where there is misunderstanding, conflict can arise. But where there is knowledge and empathy, trust can flourish,” George Akume said.

While warning against divisive narratives, he called for stronger institutional support, particularly through education.

He said:  “Education plays a crucial role… Schools, universities, and community institutions must prioritise inclusive and accurate teaching about religions and worldviews. We must challenge our assumptions and resist narratives that seek to divide us.’’

On security and education, he added: “We must do everything as a government to ensure that the terrorists who kidnap children who are willing to study must come to an end.” 

Canadian Hospital Told Catholic Priest to Consider Assisted Suicide for Broken Hip

 

A Catholic priest in Canada was reportedly offered assisted suicide multiple times during his recovery from a broken hip, highlighting concerns about the country's expanding euthanasia program.

Suicide is not a mental disorder, but most people who choose that path of escape do have a mental disorder such as depression, anxiety, or substance abuse (John Hopkins Medicine). Contrary to popular belief, however, suicide doesn’t just affect individuals with mental health conditions. According to NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, “Many individuals with mental illness are not affected by suicidal thoughts and not all people who attempt or die by suicide have mental illness.”

When Father Larry Holland, a Catholic priest in Canada, broke his hip on Christmas Day, he assumed traditional treatment at the hospital would help nurse him back to health. What he didn’t expect was medical professionals at Vancouver General Hospital in British Columbia telling him that he might want to consider assisted suicide.

While Holland told the hospital he was opposed to euthanasia, CBN News reported that he was “still told on two separate occasions that he has the option to kill himself if his condition gets worse.”

Holland, who is trained in health-care chaplaincy, said he was “very shocked” by this response. "There are some things you just don't talk about to some people,” he added.

 

What Christians Need to Know about the Trump IRA Retirement Savings Opportunities

 

Millions of Americans are struggling to save for retirement, with a significant portion lacking any retirement accounts and many others concerned about future financial instability. 

While many Americans dream about the day they can one day retire, many find it nearly impossible to get a plan together to make that happen. About 41 percent of those between the ages of 45 – 54 don’t have a retirement account. Even more sadly, 40 percent of those between the ages of 55 – 65 don’t have a retirement account. Of those who do, about 40 percent are concerned about financial struggles during retirement, or even running out of funds due to not saving enough.

One thing that many may see as being worse than not having a retirement account is being in a situation in which they must live paycheck to paycheck. A 2025 study found that 67 percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. That’s an increase from 2024, when 63 percent were in that situation. The most common three issues that Americans said were causing them to struggle financially included persistent inflation (especially groceries), skyrocketing housing costs (including the cost of rent), and an unstable job market, with an unemployment rate that seems to be on the rise. 

President Trump is apparently aware of the retirement issue. During his State of the Union address in February, he mentioned that there is a large number of Americans lacking employer retirement plans. He promised that he intended to take steps to provide Americans with a solution. Last week, he provided a bit more detail about what he had in mind with an Executive Order he released regarding some government retirement assistance that he referred to as TrumpIRAs. 

The program is designed similarly to the Thrift Savings Plan for federal workers, and would be aimed at assisting, “Workers in small businesses, part-time workers, independent contractors, and self‑employed workers [who] face unnecessary barriers to saving for retirement,” according to the Executive Order.

Eligible workers could receive up to a $1000 dollar match for single filers with an annual income of less than $20,500. Smaller matches would be extended to those who earn up to $35,500. Trump wants to work with Congress to expand a match to those who have an annual income that’s over $35,000.

Those who are married and file jointly could receive up to a $2000 dollar match if they aren’t earning more than $71,000 annually. The maximum match would be 50 percent of what an employee contributes.

Egypt Placed on 'Special Watch List' for Persecuting Christians

 

There is a concerning rise in Christian persecution across Egypt, where constitutional guarantees of religious freedom are increasingly undermined by community-level discrimination and state-sanctioned roadblocks to acknowledging... 

Incidents of Christian persecution in Egypt are either unaddressed or increasing, depending on which Egyptian community is being referenced. Egypt has been called out by various American administrations in the past for failing to enforce its own constitution, which states that “freedom of belief is absolute” and that “the freedom of practicing religious rituals and establishing worship places for the followers of ‘divine religions’” is guaranteed. 

Instead, Egypt allows discriminatory practices and laws that hinder Christians from freely expressing their beliefs. The majority of the persecution takes place on a community level, especially in areas with a high population of extremist Muslim groups. In general, southern Egypt is worse than northern Egypt. Christian women are subject to harassment, and school children are bullied (especially when school is in session). Christians regularly endure employment discrimination and false accusations of violating blasphemylaws. Christians are in the minority with only 15 percent being a part of the population in Egypt, though Egypt has the largest percentage of Christians overall in Africa. The rest of the population is Islamic. 

Previously, Christian churches have been bombed, believers killed, and women and children have been raped and / or forced into sex trafficking. Though the government promises Christians more legalized Churches, permits to build or repair churches have been refused because of the faith of those applying for the permit. In addition, there are aggressive neighbors and mobs that are eager to fight and hinder building or repair efforts. If Christians speak about their faith on social platforms, they can be charged with breaking blasphemy laws and fined and / or imprisoned. Muslims who convert to Christianity are typically pressured by their families to return to their Islamic faith. The state goes to great lengths to prevent conversions from being acknowledged.

Because Egypt continues to allow freedom of religion to be hindered, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is demanding that the United States place Egypt on its 2026 Special Watch List (SWL). Basically, Egypt will be monitored by the USCIRF regarding whether or not extremist groups continue to gain power, and whether or not the persecution of Christian grows any worse.