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In the historic black church where she worshiped, the late journalist Gwen Ifill was remembered with a new Black Heritage stamp in a ceremony featuring dignitaries of the church, politics, and journalism.

Speakers at the event January 30 at Metropolitan African Methodist Epis­copal Church took turns describing Ifill’s courage in defying expectations and praised her faith-fueled ability to serve as a mentor to young journalists who followed in her footsteps. She was known for her broadcast and print journalism and for moderating election season debates.

Herbert Chilstrom, the first presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, died on January 19 at the age of 88.

The Minnesota pastor and former dean at Lutheran College in Teaneck, New Jersey, was elected to head the new ELCA denomination in 1987. It’s widely believed that it was Chilstrom’s leadership, at least in part, that made the historic merger of three Lutheran church bodies a success.

In a statement posted to the ELCA website, the current presiding bishop, Elizabeth Eaton, praised Chilstrom’s dedication to the fledgling denomination.

Lawan Andimi, the Nigerian Church of the Brethren pastor whose hostage video made waves on the internet last month, was executed on January 20, ac­cording to conflict and terrorism reporter Ahmad Salkida.

Andimi was re­ported missing on January 3 after Boko Haram or a splinter terrorist group attacked the town  where Andimi was working as the director of the Christian Association of Nigeria.

His hostage video garnered international attention for what some called his Christian testimony.

Allen Hernandez wears his Chris­tian faith and his indigenous Maya roots on his sleeves, literally.

His left arm is tattooed with images of the sacred heart of Jesus, a pair of hands clasped in prayer, and an angel praying over the tombstone of a friend.

His right forearm is emblazoned with a tattoo of a feathered serpent, a Mesoamerican deity worshiped by the Yucatán Maya people.

“I am indigenous. I am Mayan and I am Christian,” said Hernandez, 39, whose parents are from Guatemala. “I don’t know how these fit in the same sentence.”

Democratic presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren has announced an interfaith advisory council and forthcoming endorsements from more than 100 religious leaders from across the country.

It has all the ingredients of a faith-based blockbuster: an astronaut who finds God after she’s pushed to her limits. It also has space monsters.

But you won’t find “A Prayer in Space” in theaters.

The fictional Christian film plays a central role in Faith Based, a new satirical film about the Christian film industry that premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in January.