Religions Around The World

In the early morning hours, monks can be seen walking on their alms round in Kanchanaburi, Thailand
Showing humility and detachment from worldly goods, the monk walks slowly and only stops if he is called. Standing quietly, with his bowl open, the local Buddhists give him rice, or flowers, or an envelope containing money.  In return, the monks bless the local Buddhists and wish them a long and fruitful life.
Christians Celebrate Good Friday
Enacting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in St. Mary's Church in Secunderabad, India. Only 2.3% of India's population is Christian. 
Ancient interior mosaic in the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora
The Church of the Holy Saviour in Istanbul, Turkey is a medieval Byzantine Greek Orthodox church.
Dome of the Rock located in the Old City of Jerusalem
The site's great significance for Muslims derives from traditions connecting it to the creation of the world and to the belief that the Prophet Muhammad's Night Journey to heaven started from the rock at the center of the structure.
Holi Festival in Mathura, India
Holi is a Hindu festival that marks the end of winter. Also known as the “festival of colors”,  Holi is primarily observed in South Asia but has spread across the world in celebration of love and the changing of the seasons.
Jewish father and daughter pray at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, Israel.
Known in Hebrew as the Western Wall, it is one of the holiest sites in the world. The description, "place of weeping", originated from the Jewish practice of mourning the destruction of the Temple and praying for its rebuilding at the site of the Western Wall.
People praying in Mengjia Longshan Temple in Taipei, Taiwan
The temple is dedicated to both Taoism and Buddhism.
People praying in the Grand Mosque in Ulu Cami
This is the most important mosque in Bursa, Turkey and a landmark of early Ottoman architecture built in 1399.
Savior Transfiguration Cathedral of the Savior Monastery of St. Euthymius
Located in Suzdal, Russia, this is a church rite of sanctification of apples and grapes in honor of the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
Fushimi Inari Shrine is located in Kyoto, Japan
It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. Fushimi Inari is the most important Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice.
Ladles at the purification fountain in the Hakone Shrine
Located in Hakone, Japan, this shrine is a Japanese Shinto shrine.  At the purification fountain, ritual washings are performed by individuals when they visit a shrine. This ritual symbolizes the inner purity necessary for a truly human and spiritual life.
Hanging Gardens of Haifa are garden terraces around the Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel
They are one of the most visited tourist attractions in Israel. The Shrine of the Báb is where the remains of the Báb, founder of the Bábí Faith and forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh in the Bahá'í Faith, have been buried; it is considered to be the second holiest place on Earth for Bahá'ís.
Pilgrims praying at the Pool of the Nectar of Immortality and Golden Temple
Located in Amritsar, India, the Golden Temple is one of the most revered spiritual sites of Sikhism. It is a place of worship for men and women from all walks of life and all religions to worship God equally. Over 100,000 people visit the shrine daily.
Entrance gateway of Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple Kowloon
Located in Hong Kong, China, the temple is dedicated to Wong Tai Sin, or the Great Immortal Wong. The Taoist temple is famed for the many prayers answered: "What you request is what you get" via a practice called kau cim.
Christian women worship at a church in Bois Neus, Haiti.
Haiti's population is 94.8 percent Christian, primarily Catholic. This makes them one of the most heavily Christian countries in the world.

World Religions News

Leighton Ford Ministries launches ‘LiveCalled’ to help leaders discern true calling


New initiative offers pastors, evangelists, Christian leaders and ministries a sacred pathway to rediscover clarity, calling and renewed purpose

As pastors and ministry leaders around the world face growing levels of burnout, isolation and vocational strain, Leighton Ford Ministries (LFM) is launching a renewed initiative designed to help leaders and ministries rediscover clarity, purpose and spiritual direction.

Recent research underscores the challenge: 65% of pastors report feeling lonely or isolated while nearly 1 in 4 say they have recently considered leaving ministry. Emotional exhaustion continues to rise as a contributing factor, with studies showing the share of ministers citing burnout as a reason for leaving ministry has more than doubled in the past decade.

Building on this broader trend, a 2025 Barna report finds that pastoral flourishing remains uneven and fragile, revealing hidden vulnerabilities, especially in relational health and support systems, that could threaten long‑term ministry sustainability if left unaddressed.

In response, LFM is introducing LiveCalled — a framework for spiritual mentoring, coaching and discernment aimed at helping pastors, Christian leaders and ministries move from pressure and fatigue toward renewed calling and joy.

“Leaders today are surrounded by endless content and expectations, yet many are spiritually undernourished,” said Kevin Ford, Chief Catalyst/CEO of Leighton Ford Ministries. “They’re not looking for more information. They’re longing for depth, for clarity and for companions on the journey. LiveCalled reflects our commitment to walk with leaders and ministries in those moments when they most need to hear God’s voice.”

For more than four decades, the ministry founded by global evangelist and Lausanne Movement leader Leighton Ford has quietly worked in that space, coming alongside pastors, leaders and ministries during pivotal seasons of transition, uncertainty and growth.

Now, LFM is clarifying and strengthening that work for a new generation, bringing its mentoring, coaching and consulting efforts together under the LiveCalled journey. The ministry has also launched a redesigned website and refreshed communications to reflect this next phase.

“LiveCalled brings the work God has been doing through this ministry for decades to a new generation of leaders and ministries,” said Kevin Ford. “At our heart, LFM exists to walk with leaders, ministries and churches through the up and down seasons of ministry, helping them hear God’s voice, discern their truest calling and live it out with courage, purpose and lasting impact.”

In a ministry culture often defined by performance pressures, digital noise and relentless demands, LFM’s approach centers on spiritual discernment and relational mentoring. Rather than offering formulas or pre-packaged leadership development programs, the ministry comes alongside pastors, leaders and ministries as trusted companions, inviting them into sacred space for deep listening, spiritual clarity and renewed direction.

Through LiveCalled, LFM provides a clear pathway to help leaders and churches move from pressure to purpose, from disorientation to clarity and from burnout to renewed joy — addressing not just leadership strategy, but the deeper spiritual and relational challenges many leaders face.

A Legacy of Walking with Leaders
The vision behind LiveCalled traces back to the lifelong ministry of evangelist Leighton Ford, who served for 31 years as an associate evangelist and Vice President with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, preaching the Gospel to millions worldwide through crusades, radio broadcasts and television ministry.

In 1986, Ford founded Leighton Ford Ministries with a growing passion to mentor emerging Christian leaders, helping them “lead more to Jesus, lead more like Jesus, and lead more for Jesus.”

He also helped shape the global evangelical movement as a founding architect of the Lausanne Movement, contributing to its global vision beginning with the first Lausanne Congress in 1974. Today he serves as Honorary Lausanne Lifetime Executive Chair.

Even at 94 years old, Ford continues mentoring younger leaders through conversations often held over Zoom or from his back porch in Charlotte.

“That spirit of friendship—walking alongside leaders and ministries as trusted companions—has always been at the heart of this ministry,” Kevin Ford said. “LiveCalled is a fresh expression of that calling for a new generation.”

Continuing the Journey
In 2019, Kevin Ford joined the ministry’s leadership as Chief Catalyst/CEO, bringing experience from business, government and ministry consulting. Under the leadership of Leighton and Kevin Ford, LFM has expanded its work mentoring pastors, guiding ministries through seasons of transition and helping leaders rediscover their God-given purpose.

While LiveCalled launches the next season of ministry, LFM’s theological commitments and mission remain unchanged.

“Our look may evolve, but our heartbeat remains the same,” said Kevin Ford. “For more than 40 years we have come alongside leaders and ministries not with prepackaged answers, but as trusted companions—listening deeply and helping them respond to God’s voice with courage.”

Through the LiveCalled journey, leaders and churches are invited to hear God’s voice, clarify their calling and embrace the path forward with renewed purpose.

“As we step into this next chapter,” Kevin Ford added, “our hope is that even more pastors, leaders and ministries will discover the freedom and joy of living their truest calling.”

The ministry’s newly redesigned website and expanded resources can be found at LiveCalledLFM.org.

About Leighton Ford Ministries
Leighton Ford Ministries helps leaders and ministries reconnect with their truest calling through spiritual mentoring, coaching and consulting. Founded in 1986 by evangelist Leighton Ford, the ministry has spent more than four decades walking alongside leaders and churches in pivotal seasons of ministry, inviting them into sacred space to hear God’s voice, clarify direction and move forward with courage, joy and lasting Kingdom impact. Through the LiveCalled journey, LFM continues to guide leaders and ministries toward clarity and faithful leadership.

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Contact:
Ben Konuch
A. Larry Ross & Associates
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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RNS or Religion News Foundation.

Original Source:

https://religionnews.com/2026/03/23/leighton-ford-ministries-launches-livecalled-to-help-leaders-discern-true-calling/