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

XO Marriage Now Offers Online Courses Available At No Cost To Couples And Churches Worldwide


Following National Marriage Day, XO Marriage Shifts to Donation-Supported Model, Making Its Full Suite of Online Courses Available at No Cost to Couples and Churches Worldwide

DALLAS — XO Marriage, a leading faith-based marriage ministry helping couples thrive through every stage of their relationship, is expanding access to its biblical principles, communication tools, and spiritual growth resources by offering its online marriage courses at no cost

nationwide. The announcement comes as founder Jimmy Evans passes the baton after decades of leadership to longtime board member and newly appointed President, Jimmy Witcher.

VISIT XOMARRIAGE.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION 

At the heart of this expansion is a conviction that has defined XO Marriage from the beginning: “When couples do marriage God’s way, they have a 100% chance of thriving,” says Jimmy Evans, Founder of XO Marriage. The ministry believes that the challenges facing modern marriages can be solved through the timeless truth of scripture. By moving to a donation model, XO Marriage is removing financial barriers to broaden resources for today’s marriages to serve couples and equip churches.

The need for accessible, biblically grounded support has never been more urgent. A 2024 Barna study found that only 14% of married parents exhibit all four markers of a truly resilient family, including shared values, healthy communication, and emotional connection. Separate research from Barna and Communio found that nearly three-quarters of American churches lack a substantive marriage ministry. XO Marriage exists to fill that gap with truth, clarity and tools rooted in God’s design for marriage.

“From the beginning, this ministry has been about helping people experience the kind of marriage God designed,” says Evans. As a pastor and XO Marriage Board member for over two decades, Jimmy Witcher carries “both the conviction and the clarity to lead XO Marriage into the future, continuing to reach couples and churches with truth that transforms marriages.”

With Jimmy Witcher stepping into the President role, XO Marriage is building on that foundation to expand its reach. Central to this next phase is a continued commitment to making biblically grounded marriage resources available to anyone, anywhere. “XO Marriage exists to help couples experience the kind of marriage God designed, not just survive it,” said Witcher. “Our focus is simple: reach more people, equip more churches, and provide real tools that help marriages thrive for generations.”

XO Marriage is expanding its digital platform to offer at no-cost, structured online courses covering communication, conflict resolution, intimacy, finances, and more. These self-paced courses are designed for real-life application, ensuring couples are not just informed, but equipped to experience lasting change. 

For couples ready to go deeper, XO Marriage offers a full ecosystem of support to invest in, including books rooted in Scripture and lived experience, learning webinars that deliver focused and practical insight, Marriage Intensives designed for meaningful breakthrough in a short period of time, and Vision Retreats that help couples step away from the noise and build a shared future together.

What sets XO Marriage apart is its focus on addressing the root beliefs that shape a marriage, not just surface-level behaviors. Rather than simply managing conflict, XO equips couples to understand what is actually driving it, creating space for real, lasting transformation.

As XO Marriage continues to grow, it remains committed to serving both everyday couples and church leaders as a trusted resource for building strong, lasting marriages that reflect God’s design.

To access courses and resources at no cost, or to support the XO Marriage Ministry, visit  XOMarriage.com. 

About XO Marriage
XO Marriage exists to help couples thrive through biblical truth, practical tools, and a community of support. Funded entirely by donor generosity, XO Marriage offers no-cost online courses alongside books, learning webinars, marriage intensives, vision retreats, and church partnership Rooted in the belief that marriage is a covenant designed by God to work, XO Marriage equips couples to understand what’s driving conflict and build marriages that thrive for generations.

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Contact:
Ashli Bock
130 Agency
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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/2026/06/16/xo-marriage-now-offers-online-courses-available-at-no-cost-to-couples-and-churches-worldwide/