By Loretta Fulton

Each December, members of Religion News Association, including Spirit of Abilene creator and editor Loretta Fulton, vote on the top religion stories of the year. 

The vote this year ended in a tie for the top news story between the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pontiff, and the Trump administration’s sweeping deportations of immigrants that led to faith-based groups protesting and reporting that parishioners were avoiding worship for fear of arrest. The administration also ended “sanctuary” protections from immigration enforcement in houses of worship. Click here to read RNA news release. 

Locally, religion news stories were plentiful and meaningful. Following are some of the local highlights from 2025:

Father Bush, former priest at Sacred Heart for 23 years, dies
Monsignor Robert N. Bush, former longtime priest at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Abilene, died at the age of 81 on Jan. 17, 2025, in Abilene. Msgr. Bush was pastor of Sacred Heart for 23 years, from 1996 to 2019, when he was reassigned by Bishop Michael Sis of the Diocese of San Angelo to a role of Reduced Active Ministry at St. Anthony and St. Joseph Parishes in Odessa. Burial was in Calvary Catholic Cemetery in San Angelo. 

Father Bush

Love & Care Ministries celebrates 30 years of service
Love & Care Ministries began in January 1995 when Mark Hewitt and Jim Sayre took 20 large cups of soup to the streets in search of hungry people. Over the past 30 years, Love & Care has expanded its services and its range with ministries in Clyde, Merkel, and Anson. 

New Light Baptist Church celebrates 100 years
“We look forward to being on this corner for another hundred years.” With those words, DeOri Newman, pastor of New Light Baptist Church, welcomed a crowd that gathered to celebrate the church’s first one hundred years. The ceremony took place on Saturday, Feb. 22, when a Texas Historical Marker was unveiled.

Bishop Sis conducts Ash Wednesday services at Abilene’s universities
Bishop Michael Sis of the Catholic Diocese of San Angelo was in Abilene for Ash Wednesday observances at all three universities, McMurry, Hardin-Simmons, and Abilene Christian. Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, fell on March 5, 2025. The bishop conducts the services on a rotating basis among cities in the diocese with colleges or universities. 

Gatlin Brothers return to Abilene, where they got their start
The Gatlin Brothers brought their 70th anniversary tour to the Abilene Convention Center on Saturday, March 8. That was the exact same date–70 years later–that Larry, Steve, and Rudy Gatlin won a local talent contest in Abilene that propelled them to fame. 

The Gatlin Brothers

Locals react to Pope Francis’ death and the election of Pope Leo XIV
Bishop Michael Sis of the Diocese of San Angelo and local Catholics weighed in on the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at age 88 and the election of Pope Leo XIV on May 8. 

ACU’s Spain Center gets new director
The Carl Spain Center on Race Studies & Spiritual Action at Abilene Christian University got a new director in May 2025. Tryce Prince, a 2018 graduate of ACU, took over from founder Dr. Jerry Taylor. The center was founded in 2018, and Taylor, a religion professor at ACU, led it until Prince took over. 

Abilene loses two faith-based childcare centers
In May, two faith-based childcare centers announced that they would close, both citing rising costs and staffing issues as the primary cause. On Monday, May 19, Pioneer Drive Baptist Church sent an email saying that its Pathways Learning Center would close effective Aug. 15. Earlier, His Little Angels on Buffalo Gap Road announced it would close as of noon on Wednesday, May 14. 

Terry Bradshaw guest speaker for Meals on Wheels 50th anniversary dinner
Legendary Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw was guest speaker for the Meals on Wheels 50th anniversary dinner held on Thursday, May 22, at the Doubletree by Hilton in downtown Abilene. Topic of Bradshaw’s speech was “Why Not Your Best?”

Terry Bradshaw

National Eucharistic Pilgrimage comes to Abilene
Catholics from across the Diocese of San Angelo were in Abilene the weekend of June 6-7. Bishop Michael Sis conducted a Mass at the Abilene Convention Center and then led a procession to the parade grounds of Frontier Texas for a closing ceremony. The pilgrimage began in Indianapolis on May 18 and traversed 10 states enroute to Los Angeles, where a Mass, Eucharistic procession, and festival was held June 22.

Aldersgate celebrates 75 years
Aldersgate Methodist Church celebrated its 75th anniversary on Sunday, June 8. The church was the dream Dr. Harold Cooke, president of McMurry College, who wanted a church across the street from campus. The first service was held June 11, 1950, in Old Main at McMurry with 56 people in attendance. The current church opened in November 1960. 

Christian Service Center celebrates 60 years
Christian Service Center celebrated 60 years with a luncheon on Sept. 12, at the Abilene Country Club. Joe Almanza shared his testimony about finding his calling to ministry while in prison. He retired as Community Minister at Highland Church of Christ in 2023 after 18 years. 

McMurry inaugurates 11th president
Dr. Lynne Murray was inaugurated as McMurry University’s 11th president on Friday, Sept. 26. Theme for the inauguration and a reception was “Rising With Purpose.” The two events highlighted a week of activities tied to the inauguration that began Monday, Sept. 22. 

Dr. Lynne Murray

Love & Care Ministries holds 30th fall revival
Love & Care Ministries celebrated the 30th anniversary of its fall revival Oct. 12-15. Beginning in 1995, Love & Care pitched a tent and filled it with worshippers who were seeking revival and a little tender loving care. The revival moved from a tent to the Abilene Convention Center in 2015. In addition to worship, guests are treated to a meal, clothing distribution, haircuts, and nail care. 

Texas Baptists convene in Abilene
The Baptist General Convention of Texas met in Abilene Nov. 16-18 with more than 3,000 churches represented. Hundreds of Messengers or delegates, plus guests, met at the Abilene Convention Center. Local Baptist churches and institutions hosted meals and special events. 

New pastors and retirements
First Baptist Church
Dr. Ray Miller was named the new senior pastor at First Baptist Church Sunday, June 15, a little over a year after the former pastor resigned. Miller, 41, had been senior pastor at Crievewood Baptist Church in Nashville since 2016. While in Nashville, he also was an adjunct professor of Bible at Belmont University. 

Dr. Ray Miller

St. Vincent Pallotti Catholic Church 
Effective July 1, Bishop Michael Sis of the Diocese of Angelo appointed Rev. Tony Franco to replace Father Emilio Sosa as priest at St. Vincent Pallotti parish in Abilene. Franco left after a brief stay and was replaced by Rev. Reggie Odima.  

Rev. Reggie Odima

Westminster Presbyterian Church
Dr. Sara Core, a veterinarian for 34 years in Abilene, was ordained as an elder in the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) following her retirement. On Nov. 1, she was named pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Abilene. 

Dr. Sara Core

Aldersgate Methodist Church
On Nov. 1, Rich Jones became pastor of Aldersgate Methodist Church. He replaced Dustin Wilhite, who left in July to return to a teaching career. Wilhite came to Aldersgate in 2019. 

Rev. Rich Jones

Zion Lutheran Church
Rev. Clyde Kieschnick, better known as Pastor K, is retiring Dec. 31 as pastor of Zion Lutheran Church. He will be replaced by Rev. Craig Sanders, who has been a member of the church since 1999 and is an associate pastor. Kieschnick became pastor of Zion Lutheran in March 2002. 

Rev. Craig Sanders