Embodying Hospitality - Build Community by Participating in a Youth Retreat

During the month of October, we are highlighting opportunities for 11 to 32-year-olds as part of Montreat’s Youth & Young Adult Takeover Month. Check out our social media or visit our website to explore all of the ways you can participate.

Building Community Through Youth Retreats Friendships aren’t built overnight. It takes time, shared experiences, and moments of intentional conversation to form those bonds. When youth groups are only able to spend a few hours together each week, it can feel like it’s taking forever for your group to become close. However, we find that spending an extended period of time together during a conference or retreat can supercharge the bonds of friendship among your group, allowing members to discover what it’s like to truly belong to a community of faith… READ THE FULL ARTICLE NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS The Manna Retreat, a Gathering for Young Adults Sometimes, navigating life as a young adult can feel like you’re wandering through the wilderness without a map. But what if being in the wilderness isn’t a bad thing? What if it’s really a place of learning, growth, and community? During the 2027 edition of The Manna Retreat, we’ll focus on these ideas and more using the theme “Tending the Wild.” Find out more or sign up now on our website. No Group is Too Small for Montreat If you are interested in attending Montreat Youth Conference but are concerned that your group is too small, never fear! We have a new resource available to help connect you with other churches who might be willing to act as partners for housing, travel, or adult leadership. Check out our MYC attendee map here. The Best Lodge for Youth Groups? Looking for a place to host your next youth retreat? Consider the Glen Rock Inn! This large lodge can sleep up to 41 guests in single or double occupancy rooms. Featuring a fully equipped kitchen, multiple meeting rooms, and a large porch, this location has it all! Click here to view the full details or contact our sales team for availability. Attending an Event is Just the Beginning! Each year, participants find new ways to stay connected and give back, from serving as Small Group Leaders or Summer Staff to joining a Planning Team, becoming a Montreat Patron, or leading a Back Home Group. Visit our website to see how you can get involved! EXPLORE PARTICIPATION OPTIONS One of Montreat Conference Center’s core values, “embodying hospitality” refers to our belief that our witness is grounded in welcome and belonging and that all people are created in the image of God and possess great capacity for growth and transformation. You can learn more about Montreat’s mission and values by clicking here.

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This Week in Religion - How Sharia has become a political flashpoint

Lead story Editor's note: What is Sharia, and why is it so controversial in the United States? At a rally in Port Huron, Michigan, President Donald Trump labeled Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed a "jihadist" who would impose Sharia – Islamic law – in the United States. His comments on Sharia reflect fears that go beyond the recent surge in Islamophobic rhetoric. According to Asma Uddin, a law professor at Michigan State University, they reflect a “broader pattern among Republican politicians of portraying Sharia as a threat to the American legal system.” Muslims believe Sharia to be divinely guided principles which offer guidance for a religious and moral life. Sharia guides practices on prayers, fasting and charity, and addresses issues on marriage and divorce. As she writes, the debate over Sharia is not just about religious law – it’s about how ordinary Muslim religious practices are perceived as political threats.

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Religion News Michigan’s US Senate race deeply divides the state’s Jews Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic candidate, has been a sharp Israel critic, dividing Michigan Jews. By Yonat Shimron/Religion News Service Catholic bishops regret White House prayer photo with Trump, say it was used politically Two bishops have issued statements expressing regret about agreeing to a meeting that produced a publicly distributed photo of them praying with President Donald Trump. By David Crary/The Associated Press To make AI morally good, tech companies are turning to religion. But some say it isn't that simple Executives are seeking input from faith leaders, acknowledging that moral questions about AI can't be answered in labs alone. By Krysta Fauria/The Associated Press As support for Trump dips, conservatives fight to boost evangelical turnout in midterms ‘Evangelicals have to fill up their tanks with gasoline as well,’ said Pastor Robert Jeffress, head of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. By Jack Jenkins/Religion News Service Top Vatican official says pope's cancer diagnosis is 'game-changer' for papacy even as he recovers Even though Pope Leo XIV is recovering well from surgery and is going ahead with a big trip to Latin America next week, the diagnosis is 'a bit of a game-changer' for the Vatican, says the Holy See's foreign minister. By Nicole Winfield/The Associated Press

Commentary and Analysis How religion collided with race and politics in Brazil’s presidential election

Religion has become an important factor in Brazilian politics. But to see the whole picture, you need to analyze diversity within churches, a political scientist writes. By John Thomas III for The Conversation Democratic candidates must be bad Christians After half a century of portraying itself as the Party of God, the GOP is understandably annoyed to find a slew of Christian clerics running for office on the other side. They've got to be PINOs – Pastors in Name Only. By Mark Silk/Religion News Service Why ultra-Orthodox parties hold so much sway in Israeli politics Ultra-Orthodox Jews, often called Haredim, make up a small but growing percentage of Israel’s population. Still, their political parties wield significant influence. By Hannah Ridge for The Conversation Ghost stories don’t just scare us – they remind us of historical injustices From phantom ships carrying enslaved people to an apparition in a Maine lake, ghost stories have revived memories of injustices that might otherwise have been forgotten. By Marcus Anthony Librizzi for The Conversation Photos of the Week: Durga Puja, Jordan church attack and more Hindu women apply sindoor, or vermilion powder, to each other's faces on the last day of the Durga Puja festival in Hyderabad, India, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.) About the Global Religion Journalism Initiative

This Week in Religion is a publication of the Global Religion Journalism Initiative, a collaboration among the Religion News Service, The Associated Press and The Conversation U.S. The three news organizations work to improve general understanding and analyze the significance of developments in the world of faith. The Conversation U.S.'s daily and weekly newsletters The Associated Press Newsletter Hub Religion News Service newsletter sign-up page