Religion

Black houses of worship were shocked by former president Donald Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, leading to a range of emotions and a need for prayer and support to help members cope with the loss.

Faith communities across the country are opening their doors on Election Day to provide a respite from the stress of the election, offering a range of services from meditation to pastoral care, in an effort to affirm the values of dignity, justice, and peace.

Rev. Dr. Heber Brown III has founded the Black Church Food Security Network, a nationwide movement of over 230 congregations fighting food insecurity through self-sufficiency, and is helping to rebuild lost connections between people and land.

The Poor People's Campaign is mobilizing low-income people of color to vote by engaging directly with the communities and addressing the issues that matter most to them, with a goal of 30 million eligible voters.

Faith United to Save Democracy, a nonpartisan, multi-racial, interfaith organization, is dispatching trained poll chaplains and peacekeepers to help ensure free and unhindered access to the polls for members of vulnerable communities.

Black Christians believe that praise is an important part of their worship, and studies have shown that those who attend church or other houses of worship reduce their risk for mortality by 55%, and that worshiping God causes an increase in BPNF, a neurotransmitter that helps grow healthy brain cells.

A group of white evangelical pastors are urging their followers to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, using the words of the Rev. Billy Graham and Donald Trump to make their case, prompting a response from Franklin Graham who condemned Harris as "anti-Christ in her positions."

Three women entrepreneurs, driven by their faith, have started businesses that serve their communities, live out their beliefs, and build a legacy for their families, with one of them launching a new initiative within her business to empower health professionals to make a meaningful impact in their communities.

Rev. Cecelia Williams Bryant was a spiritual leader and visionary who impacted the world through her ministry, prayer, and advocacy for community healing and mental health awareness.

Rev. Stacey Nickerson of Salem United Methodist Church of Upper Falls, MD, organized a coalition of churches and ministers to lift up Joppatowne High School in prayer and offer support to the community following a school shooting.