NewsHail
26 May 2025
Father Moses McPherson is a priest in Texas. He is strong, has five children, and used to be a roofer. Now, he leads a Russian Orthodox Church in Georgetown, Texas.
He posts videos online. In them, he talks about being a strong man. He lifts weights while listening to heavy metal music. He tells men not to wear skinny jeans, cross their legs, use an iron, shape their eyebrows, or eat soup. He says these things are too feminine.
Many young men like his message. They go to his church. Some used to have no religion. One man, named Theodore, says he had a good job and a happy marriage, but still felt empty inside. He believes society is too hard on men. He says men are often told they are wrong for wanting to be leaders in their homes.
Father Moses’s church is growing fast. In 18 months, the number of people has tripled. In just six months, he helped 75 people get ready for baptism. Most of these people are men. They are in their 20s and 30s. Many of them now home-school their kids. They say they want their children to learn religion and avoid ideas like gender identity.
Father John Whiteford is another priest in Texas. He supports home-schooling too. He says it keeps children away from talk about things like transgenderism.
Russian Orthodoxy is small in the US. Only 1% of Americans follow it. But it is growing. A recent survey shows more men are joining. In 2007, 46% of Orthodox Christians were men. Now, it's 64%.
The Covid lockdowns helped this growth. People searched for deeper meaning. Professor Scott Kenworthy says his church in Cincinnati is now full. This is not just in Texas—it’s happening across the country.
Online videos and podcasts are a big part of this. Father Moses has many followers. When he posted about having his sixth child, 6,000 people liked it.
He teaches that people should either become a monk or get married. If you marry, he says not to use birth control and to have many children. He also says masturbation is weak and not manly.
Father Moses says Orthodoxy is not just for men—it is simply "normal." He says Western churches feel too emotional, like a Taylor Swift concert. He believes that is not for men.
Elissa Davis is a teacher in a Greek Orthodox church. She used to be a Protestant. She says some new people see the Russian church as very strict and manly. She finds that a little funny.
Buck Johnson is a firefighter and podcast host. He used to be an atheist. Now, he is Orthodox. He likes that the church stayed open during Covid. He also feels that Russia is shown badly in the media. He says many in America still think Russia is bad because of the Cold War.
Some Orthodox leaders in Russia support the war in Ukraine. Patriarch Kirill, the top church leader in Moscow, calls it a "holy war." Some American priests say his words have been twisted.
In Texas, Buck and others say they want a simpler life. They say no to fast pleasures and yes to family, community, and tradition. Buck believes Orthodoxy fits Texas well.
