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Check out Christian Chronicle journalists’ favorite stories of 2025
Besides serving as editor-in-chief of The Christian Chronicle, I write a…
10 Sundays to remember
The Christian Chronicle's editor reflects on the blessings of 2025.
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OKLAHOMA CITY — In 2025, I celebrated my 35th anniversary in full-time journalism.
I’ve spent the last 20 of those with The Christian Chronicle.
The best part: I still love what I do.
My colleagues and I travel across the U.S. and around the globe to report real news that honors God. And you, kind reader, make it all possible. If you’d like to help us keep fulfilling the Chronicle’s mission, it’s easy to donate.
As I reflect back on 2025, here are 10 Sunday church visits on the road (and the related stories) that I’ll remember:
1. Farris Church of Christ in southeastern Oklahoma: 2025 marked the five-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The timing seemed appropriate to tell for the first time the story of my brother-in-law’s miraculous — as our family sees it — survival.
Tod Dillard, second from left, with his wife Tracie, sister Tamie and brother-in-law Bobby at the Farris Church of Christ in southeastern Oklahoma.
While at Farris with my family, I got to witness the baptism of an 80-year-old former Super Bowl champion named Carl McAdams.
2. Winterfest Way Out West in Flagstaff, Ariz.: Worship on this Lord’s Day occurred in a hotel ballroom 150 miles north of Phoenix.
Then — after a weekend spent reporting on the new teen event — I jumped in my rental car to head back to the airport.
A bonus: I interviewed Winterfest entertainer Hoss Ridgeway about his dual role as a preacher and a stand-up comedian.
3. Lincoln Avenue Church of Christ in Pasadena, Calif.: This Southern California congregation helped neighbors and trusted God after wildfires devastated its community.
My experience there prompted me to write about the positive side of reporting on way too many disasters.
Bobby Ross Jr., center, poses for a photo with minister Rodney Davis and his wife, Lejuene, at the Lincoln Avenue Church of Christ in Pasadena, Calif.
4. Arlington Church of Christ in Virginia: I traveled to Washington, D.C., to moderate a panel discussion at the Religion News Association annual meeting.
While in the nation’s capital, I visited the Arlington church and learned about its effort to make the Lord’s Supper more meaningful.
5. Lake Orion Church of Christ in Michigan: A feature on a faith event at a Detroit Tigers game brought me to the Motor City.
While in the area, I caught an Uber to the Lake Orion church and heard B.T. Irwin, the Chronicle’s podcast director and host, preach.
Bobby Ross Jr. watches his favorite team, the Texas Rangers, play the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit.
6. Fifth Ward Church of Christ in Houston: Believe it or not, the deacon who oversees the Fifth Ward church’s visitors ministry is also an NFL head coach.
I interviewed the Houston Texans’ DeMeco Ryans after he preached on a Sunday night. By the way, Ryans’ team is headed to the NFL playoffs for the third straight season.
DeMeco Ryans discusses his faith during an interview with The Christian Chronicle’s Bobby Ross Jr.
7. Northwest Church of Christ in Fort Worth, Texas: Back in January, I wrote a column about the closing of the rural Greenwood Church of Christ near Decatur, Texas, where my father, Bob Ross, preached for almost 23 years.
My parents, Bob and Judy, later placed membership with the Northwest church. I visited that congregation — along with my brother Scott and sister Christy — on Mom’s birthday in June. Preacher Robert Dodson even wished Mom a happy birthday and gave the Chronicle a shoutout from the pulpit.
Bobby Ross Jr. at the Northwest Church of Christ in Fort Worth, Texas, with his father Bob, mother Judy, brother Scott and sister Christy Fichter.
8. Green Bay Church of Christ in Wisconsin: Herald of Truth is working to share the Gospel with the nation’s fast-growing Hispanic population.
I witnessed the ministry’s Mission: Evangelize Spanish America emphasis up close in Green Bay.
9. Midvale Church of Christ in Idaho: Some of the best faith stories can be found off the beaten path.
I traveled to western Idaho to write about a 144-year-old congregation that nearly died — but instead survived and thrived.
10. Chapelle de Fuveau Church of Christ in France: My wife, Tamie, and I worshiped with the French-speaking congregation during a 10-day reporting trip to the Western European nation.
Bobby Ross Jr., with his wife, Tamie, while reporting in La Chapelle au Riboul, France, about 160 miles southwest of Paris.
In France’s second-largest city, the Chapelle de Fuveau church is transforming an abandoned monastery into a Christian outreach center.
I’m excited to see where the news takes me in 2026.
First up: a trip to Nashville, Tenn., on the first weekend of the year. I’ll save the specific details of that story for later, but I can’t wait for you to read it.
If you have ideas for the Chronicle’s coverage in 2026, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
BOBBY ROSS JR. is Editor-in-Chief of The Christian Chronicle. Reach him at [email protected].
