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

New era for EEM as global Bible demand surges

FORT WORTH, Tex. — EEM, one of the world’s largest Bible distribution ministries, has announced a major expansion of its leadership team following years of unprecedented growth.

Dirk Smith was named President of EEM USA after previously serving as Vice President, and Bartosz Rybinski was appointed Executive Director of EEM Eurasia following a board meeting in Dallas this week. 

Over the past decade, EEM has grown from distributing over 400,000 Bibles and other resources per year to more than two million, reaching 37 countries in 34 languages, free to all.

The changes come following growing demand for Scripture in some of the world’s most restricted regions, including Iran, where EEM recently spoke of a potential “historic opportunity” to place Bibles into the hands of millions if access to Scripture expands.

“Our goal has always been seeing lives transformed through the message of Jesus,” said Smith following his appointment.

“I’m deeply honored by the trust placed in me and humbled to help lead a ministry that has spent decades putting God’s Word into the hands of people around the world. Every Bible distributed represents a person, a family or even an entire community gaining access to hope, often for the very first time.”

Founded in 1961, EEM’s results are proven, working through a network of more than 3,000 ministry partners to place Scripture directly into the hands of people actively seeking it.

Bartosz “Bart” Rybinski, formerly EEM’s Vice President of European Operations, has played a key role in the expansion on the ground.

“It is an honor to help expand EEM’s ministry across Eurasia,” he said after his new appointment was announced. “As we share the Good News with more nations and new territories, it is vital that our structure reflects that reality so we can more effectively respond to the needs and requests for God’s Word. I am deeply grateful to the Board for their confidence, and to the European Team that makes all of this possible.”

“We’re the ‘best kept secret’ when it comes to Bible distribution,” said EEM CEO Bob Burckle, “God continues to open new doors for ministry, making this leadership expansion especially timely. Dirk and Bart have both demonstrated exceptional leadership, deep commitment to the mission and a passion for ensuring people receive God’s Word. The best days for EEM are still to come.”

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For more information, visit www.eem.org

For press images: EEM Leaders.

About EEM

EEM was established in 1961 as ‘Eastern European Mission’ to provide Bibles and Bible-based materials throughout the former communist bloc countries in Eastern Europe. Today, EEM publishes and prints Bibles and New Testaments, including Teen Bibles, Children’s Bibles and Bible activity books, distributing them through a network of more than 3,000 ministry partners across 37 countries in 34 languages. Last year, the ministry distributed more than two million Bibles and biblical resources free of charge. EEM is an accredited member of ECFA. Learn more at eem.org.

Contact:
Victoria Johnson
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/2026/05/14/4259200-revision-v1/