Supreme Court inaction means roadside crosses must come down

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WordNews.org) Oct. 31, 2011 - The U.S. Supreme Court has decided not to hear Davenport v. American Atheist, which means 14 crosses bearing the names of fallen Utah state troopers will have to be taken down.

The roadside crosses are located in Utah, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Wyoming.

Iraqi Christians donate $2M parcel to build church

KURDISTAN, Iraq (WordNews.org) Oct. 30, 2011 – Christians here have donated two acres worth about $2 million to build a church, seminary, medical clinic and school, according to the ministry Barnabas Fund.

The first phase of the Grace Baptist Cultural Centre, to be built in the town of Simele, will be completed in 2012, according to Barnabas Fund.

Jaci Velasquez's newest single climbs the charts

NEW YORK (WordNews.org) Oct 29, 2011) — Jaci Velasquez’s newest album “Diamond” isn’t due out until Feb. 7, 2012.

But a single on that album, “Give Them Jesus,” is already the most added song at Christian AC Radio in the first two weeks of its release, with more than 500,000 impressions, the singer said.

Thursdays with Brandon Heath: Sound Checks and stories (Part 1 in a series)

NASHVILLE (WordNews.org) Oct. 27, 2011 — Two hours before a concert, Brandon Heath comes out with just a guitar to entertain a smaller crowd.
It’s called Sound Check.
“I meet with the people and bring out my guitar and say, ‘Hey, what song do you want to here?’ and then I’ll tell them the story behind the song.”
And there’s always a story.
Brandon is known for his storytelling songs.
Like the No. 1 hit “I’m Not Who I Was” on his first album on the Reunion label, “Don’t Get Comfortable.”
Brandon’s got a collection of wins already under his belt, including winning Dove’s New Artist of the Year and other Dove Awards for Song of the Year.
Brandon’s not just about telling stories.
“I like to hear their personal stories and their take on the songs.”

True Love Waits co-founder Hester retiring

NASHVILLE (WordNews.org) Sept. 20, 2011 -- Jimmy Hester will retire after 26 years with the ministry, LifeWay Christian Resources, which spawned True Love Waits.
His last day at the ministry will be Sept. 30
For more

Rallies set for pro-life priest

AMARILLO, Texas (WordNews.org) Sept. 14. 2011 --Groups are mobilizing to show support for a pro-life priest that has been disciplined by his diocese.
The Center For Bio-Ethical Reform (CBR) announced plans to start of informational pickets in the vicinities of Catholic facilities and activities in the Diocese of Amarillo, Texas, to urge parishioners to respectfully ask Bishop Patrick Zurek to allow Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests For Life, to resume full-time anti-abortion ministry.
Picketers will represent a coalition of anti-abortion organizations.

Prayer at Ground Zero

NEW YORK CITY (WordNews.org) Sept. 9, 2011 -- A prayer vigil is scheduled for tomorrow at Ground Zero, the site of the terrorist attacks nearly a decade ago.

This marks the only public prayer service at Ground Zero during the Sept. 11 10th anniversary weekend, organizers said.

'Personhood amendment' to be on Miss. ballot

JEFFERSON CITY, Miss. (WordNews.org) Sept. 8, 2011 -- A personhood amendment opposed by Planned Parenthood will appear on a state ballot in Missouri, a ministry announced today.
The Mississippi Personhood Amendment was told today that Planned Parenthood's motion to remove the amendment
had been denied.

Christian sports show launches

NASHVILLE (WordNews.org) Sept. 7, 2011 -- The first episode of Stand Firm kicks off tomorrow, featuring former NFL coach Tony Dungy.
Stand Firm is a webcast produced by LifeWayMen. It will air at noon central time.
Stand Firm at noon Central, Sept. 8, 2011.
In the premier episode of Stand Firm, LifeWay co-hosts Jason Ellerbrook and Scott Mills interview Super Bowl-winning coach and NBC Sunday Night Football analyst Dungy, who will talk about family life, his books and his passion for ministry.
Oh yeah, and his pick for the 2012 Super Bowl.(Click here for more).

Do you have a story?

Word News is looking for stories about Christian ministries, ministers, missionaries that are doing things that often get overlooked. Know someone who might make a good story? Pass on details to info@wordnews.org and pass this on. Word News is a ministry aimed at helping get the word out about what Christians are doing worldwide.

Ministry names new president

DALLAS (WordNews.org) Sept. 6, 2011 -- EvanTell, an evangelistic ministry, announced its board has named a new president.
Andy Coticchio, EvanTell's chief operating officer, will also assume the role of president.
Larry Moyer, EvanTell's founder, had served as president and CEO. He will retain the CEO title.
The nonprofit said the move positions the ministry for future growth.
Andy Cotlicchio brings over three decades of management experience and a wealth of knowledge in managing operations and overseeing finances," said Taylor Gardner, chairman of the board.
Moyer said he will continue speaking and writing and will focus on the company's strategy. he founded the ministry in 1973.
David Souther was also promoted to senior ministry director as well as retaining international responsibilities.
"I am grateful to God for Andy and David and their skills, experience and giftedness," Moyer said. "These two along with our entire team will be used of God to continue to grow the impact EvanTell has had. What has happened is just the beginning of what we are convinced an awesome God is going to do."

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Is there a revival going on in New York City?

Is there a revival going on in NYC?

NEW YORK CITY (WordNews.org) Sept. 5, 2011 -- A new study shows church attendance has risen from a low of 31 percent in 1999 to 46 percent.

Barna Group said its survey includes those attending all types of religious services, but the vast majority attend Protestant and Catholic churches.
Bible reading is up in the New York market during the same period, from 29 percent to 35 percent, and those who say they have an active faith (praying reading the Bible and attending church) rose from 17 percent to 24 percent.

Visit Word News to read more

30 days on $30

The number of students asking Christ into their hearts through the witness of InterVarsity staff and students has risen 30 percent in the past five years, the ministry said.
“Most of our 866 InterVarsity chapters across the country are engaged in a variety of new student outreach activities at the beginning of the fall semester, in order to meet incoming students,” said InterVarsity president Alec Hill.

Supreme Court rules Mojave Desert cross can stay

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WordNews.org) April 29, 2010 -- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 Wednesday that an 8-foot cross once on display in the Majave Desert in California can return to its location.

The cross a 75-year-old National World War I Memorial.
Click here for the rest of the story.

NCAA yanks pro-family ad

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (W.) March 2, 2010 -- An online advertisement by Focus on the Family featuring a father holding his young son has been yanked from the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Web site, according to the American Family Federation.

To read more, visit http://www.wordnews.org.

'Adopt a Liberal' trading cards introduced by Christian law firm

WASHINGTON, D.C. (W.) March 1, 2010 -- A Christian law firm has introduced a set of trading cards similar to baseball cards.

But instead of getting batting averages and pitching stats, users will see the leaders view on certain issues and also ways to remind people how they can pray for these leaders, Liberty Counsel said.

Click here for more.

Word News update

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Christian activists to protest university's honoring of Margaret Sanger

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (W.) March 20, 2008 -- Activists are scheduled to gather tonight outside of the Dodd Auditorium on the campus of the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, to protest against the racism and bigotry of Margaret Sanger.

The school is featuring a lecture series that includes a focus Margaret Sanger's life. Sanger is the founder of Planned Parenthood.

The protests plan on praying outside the school and holding up signs featuring some of Sanger's quotes, including:

"We don't want the word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population."

"Eugenics is the most adequate and thorough avenue to the solution of racial, political and social problems."

"The mass of Negroes, particularly in the South, still breed carelessly and disastrously." -- From Sanger's "Negro Project"

Kaitlin Clare, the project director for the Christian Defense Coalition, said: "It is a shame and a disgrace that the University of Mary Washington, an institution that was once only for women, that is named for a great women in American history, and prides itself on teaching and empowering women today, would honor Margaret Sanger, an avowed racist and bigot. Ms. Sanger's racist views have created a legacy of pain and hurt for women and other minorities."

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, added: "Over the past few days, America has had to confront the ugliness of racism and bigotry. The overwhelming lesson learned is, that on every level racism must be condemned and repudiated. That is why it is so troubling for the University of Mary Washington to feature such an avowed racist and bigot as Margaret Sanger as part of their 'Great Lives Lecture Series.'

"The founder of Planned Parenthood was determined to reduce the number of African-Americans through her 'Negro Project.' She believed in eugenics which was the same philosophy that Adolf Hitler embraced in supporting the killing of six million Jews. We will be out praying and holding signs as a public witness against racism and injustice."

Christian bookstore raided

CAIRO, Egypt (W.) March 19, 2008 -- A Christian bookstore was raided by police in Cairo last week, according to Advocates for the Persecuted.
Jan Fletcher, executive director of Advocates For The Persecuted, is now urging Christians around the world to contact Egyptian consulates to express concern about a police raid.
Egyptian police arrested Shenouda Armia Bakhait midday Saturday, March 15, confiscating books, compact discs, and issues of a newspaper read by Christians in Egypt.
He was released Sunday night after posting bail.
David Joseph, president of Advocates For The Persecuted, said eight undercover policemen stormed into the Nile Christian Book Shop.
"They spent two hours searching everything in the bookstore," he said. "Mr. Shenouda was interrogated for more than five hours."
The Nile Christian Book Shop opened in 2006 in a location that first housed a bookstore in 1890.
"We posted a suggested letter we'd like to see sent to Egyptian consulates on our website at www.advocatesforthepersecuted.org," said Fletcher. "Sending this letter is an important step Americans and Canadians can take to present a clear message to Egypt's government that the sizable population of Christians in Egypt, estimated to comprise 8 to 10 percent of the population, should have the right to distribute and obtain Christian literature."

Calif. bill called anti-marriage

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (W.) March 17, 2008 -- A California bill that would give people living together many of the same rights married people have is being criticized by the Campaign for Children and Families (CCF).

The bill ensures that unwed parents remain unmarried, CCF said.
State Sen. Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) sponsored the bill that CCF said would allow cohabitating men and women to receive every marriage right and all marriage benefits that married husbands and wives receive under California law. Under SB 1066, more than 300 spousal rights – which CCF said are meant to bond together a husband and wife in the law – would go to unmarried couples. The bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 11. Last year, the same bill failed to pass the Legislature.

"SB 1066 rewards unwed parents for not getting married," said Campaign for Children and Families President Randy Thomasson. "This foolish bill promotes cohabitation just as government welfare programs subsidized illegitimacy. SB 1066 ensures that unwed parents remain uncommitted. Why get married if you can get the legal rights and benefits of marriage without saying 'I do?' And what about the kids, who research shows do much worse in unmarried environments? SB 1066 is bad public policy. It's blind to the evidence that marriage is 1000 percent more stable than shacking up."

Campaign for Children and Families is urging Californians to call their state senator, state assemblymember, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to urge SB 1066's defeat.

"If unmarried couples want stability and security, they should get married," said Thomasson, "and the legal rights of marriage will accompany their good decision. The evidence shows that marriage is much more healthy, secure, and long-lasting than is shacking up for men, women, and the children they often produce."