Veronica Olson Neffinger

About the author

Veronica Olson Neffinger

Veronica Olson Neffinger is a Content Editor for Salem Web Network. When she is not writing or editing articles, you can find her listening to baseball games, enjoying the outdoors, reading, or engaged in some form of home or garden care. She lives in Richmond, VA with her husband and two young sons. 

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Articles by Veronica Olson Neffinger

8 Ways to Honor Those Who Served This Memorial Day

8 Ways to Honor Those Who Served This Memorial Day

May 20, 2026

Memorial Day is fast approaching. Are you looking for ways to do more this year to honor those who sacrificed to preserve and protect the freedoms we enjoy? Memorial Day is a day to honor and commemorate the ultimate sacrifice that so many brave men and women have made, so it is certainly a day to pay our respects to these individuals.

Memorial Day is also a day to honor the families of these veterans who are in our communities. There are so many ways to give back even just a little bit of what these veterans have sacrificed for us, and below are just a few ideas to get you started. We thank the Lord for our vets and their families and hope that they will feel honored, appreciated, and loved this Memorial Day.

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Memorial Day Prayer Guide: Remembering the Fallen with Faith, Gratitude, and Purpose
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Memorial Day Prayer Guide: Remembering the Fallen with Faith, Gratitude, and Purpose

May 18, 2026

Memorial Day invites us to pause, remember, and honor the brave men and women who gave their lives to protect the freedoms we enjoy. For Christians, this day is also a sacred opportunity to reflect on sacrifice, gratitude, service, and loving your neighbor. This guide highlights five Christian heroes and offers meaningful ways believers can honor Memorial Day with reverence and prayer.

Inside, you’ll find practical ideas for showing appreciation to veterans and their familiesthoughtful reflections on the connection between faith and sacrifice, and a BONUS 5-day prayer journal with prompts to help you pray for veterans, military families, and those grieving the loss of loved ones. Whether you are looking for ways to serve, remember, or simply pause in gratitude, this guide will help you approach Memorial Day with a heart rooted in faith and thankfulness.

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Download this Memorial Day prayer guide below and discover meaningful ways to remember the fallen, honor veterans and their families, and pray with gratitude, faith, and purpose.

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5 Psalms for When You’re Facing Sleepless Nights

5 Psalms for When You’re Facing Sleepless Nights

April 10, 2025

When I was first beginning to read the Bible seriously as a teenager, I developed the habit of reading a Psalm before bed each night. I faithfully worked my way through the entire book—all 150 of them—and then I started back at the beginning and read them again. I went through the book of Psalms this way several times.

The Psalms are where many turn for comfort, encouragement, hope, and simply to read about others who faced challenges, dark times, and truly the full gamut of human emotions. They are mirrors for us and comfort us when we feel alone or discouraged.

It makes perfect sense, then, that we could also turn to the Psalms when we’re facing sleepless nights. Here are five Psalms that will bring you comfort, whether you’re lying in bed with another night of insomnia, up rocking and feeding a little one, or awake in the wee hours due to grief, anxiety, work, or simply restlessness.

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5 Christian Leaders' Responses to Natural Disasters
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5 Christian Leaders' Responses to Natural Disasters

September 28, 2022

Every year, the world is faced with a slew of natural disasters that, in many cases, claim the lives of hundreds. As Christians, these kinds of events can threaten to shake our faith. How are we to interpret them? Is God angry at the world? Is He trying to teach us something? Is He punishing us? These five Christian leaders offer some insight into how to view natural disasters from a biblical perspective. Hopefully, these quotes will strengthen your faith and encourage you that God is in control no matter what.

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Why Is a Thriving Church So Important? 10 Christian Leaders Explain
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Why Is a Thriving Church So Important? 10 Christian Leaders Explain

April 8, 2022

The church has been a central part of the Christian faith since New Testament times. We are even said to be living in the "Church Age." Today, there is such a wide spectrum of church types, denominations, and ways of conducting a worship service and leading a congregation. The health of the global Church is more important now than ever, and while innovative approaches to church outreach may be helpful, it's of utmost importance to have God's Word, prayer, and clear preaching of the Gospel as central to a church's mission. These 10 Christian leaders, from past and present, offer insight into marks of a healthy church and warning signs that a church is going down the wrong path. Is your church being faithful to the Great Commission and offering Gospel-centered worship each week?

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8 Presidents Who Looked to God for Guidance

8 Presidents Who Looked to God for Guidance

February 16, 2018

America has now had 47 presidencies in its history. Most of these men have been at least nominally Christian, and none have declared themselves atheists. Each President's Day, many Americans think back to the leaders we have had throughout the past few centuries since the country's founding. A few presidents particularly stand out for their Christian faith and how they relied on God in times of personal and national crisis. It may be inspiring to read how these men knew that while they themselves had a great deal of power, they too knew who the ultimate authority was and knew they could only succeed in their responsibilities through His guidance.

Here are eight presidents who are particularly noteworthy examples of men of character and faith.

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These 13 Christian Leaders Went Home to be with the Lord in 2017

These 13 Christian Leaders Went Home to be with the Lord in 2017

December 27, 2017

A number of influential Christian figures finished the work God gave them to do and went home to be with the Lord this year. These men and women were authors, evangelists, pastors, teachers, and involved in ministries of all types. They represent an incredible cross-section of who God chooses to be a part of His Kingdom and to bring others into that Kingdom. We can draw much inspiration and encouragement from learning about their lives, but we can also look at their lives as reminders that without Christ, we are lost, but with Him, we can do all things for which He will equip us. We hope that you benefit from reading through this list of 13 influential Christians who faithfully lived out their callings and are now at rest.

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What Is the Biblical Significance of the Upcoming Solar Eclipse? 8 Christian Leaders Explain

What Is the Biblical Significance of the Upcoming Solar Eclipse? 8 Christian Leaders Explain

August 14, 2017

Editor's Note: This article was originally published in 2017, but is being found by readers in advance of the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse, such that it has made it into our Most Popular articles on CrosswalkHeadlines.

On August 21, a total solar eclipse will be visible across the U.S. Hundreds of viewing parties for this amazing and rare astronomical phenomenon have been scheduled from coast to coast, but many Christian leaders believe this event is more than an incredible scientific occurrence. Many believe it is a prophetic sign that we are living in the end times and that Christ's return is imminent. Many of these leaders point to Scripture passages, particularly in Revelation, which talk about the end of the age and the signs to look out for. Here is what 10 Christian leaders had to say about this total solar eclipse. What do you think? Is this event truly a sign of the end times? Are you planning on viewing it?

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8 Ways You Can be Ready for Jesus' Return
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8 Ways You Can be Ready for Jesus' Return

June 21, 2017

When Jesus left this earth, He promised that He would return one day and take us to live with Him in His heavenly Kingdom. We are living now in the Church Age, and regardless of what you believe about specific eschatology of the end times, all Christians can agree that Christ is coming back and we are called to be ready and walking the straight and narrow path so that He may tell us "well done, good and faithful, servant" on that glorious day when we meet Him face to face.

Here are eight things you can do as you seek to cultivate a life centered on Christ, eagerly awaiting His return.

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