Wednesdays with Britt Nicole: Touring with buddy Brandon Health (Part 2 in a series)

NASHVILLE (WordNews.org) Nov. 2, 2011 – Christian recording artist Britt Nicole has been touring with fellow singer/songwriter Brandon Heath since Oct. 6. Tomorrow, another town, another state. This time, Dothan, Ala. At Ridgecrest Baptist Church.

2 days set aside for International Day of Prayer

(WordNew.org) Nov. 1, 2011 -- The International Day of Prayer will actually be held on two days this year.

Sunday, Nov. 13 is the official day designated the International Day of Prayer. However, the day will be celebrated on Nov. 6 in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

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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Send it to wordnewsnow@yahoo.com

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."

Fridays with ... Casting Crowns -- Part 4

'God, help us'
ATLANTA (W.) March 14, 2008 -- Casting Crowns bassist Chris Huffman admits that on the road, it's critical to find time with God.
You'd expect that from a member of Christian music's top band.
But he said it is tough to find time when the band is on the road.
"We all try to have some personal time with God every day. Whether it’s just a few, 15, 20 minutes praying to God, reading the Bible, then praying, just spending some time telling God who He is and praising Him for everything He does," Huffman said.
It has its challenges, however.
"A lot of times we get hectic, very busy on the road. When you try to keep to the schedule, it's really hard to make time. But that's what really matters most, making the time to do that."
The band also has time together to pray and do devotions.
"Even if we don’t have our individual times, we pretty consistently have a band Bible study before we go and play the concert that night," Huffman said. "A lot of guys, they listen to a real upbeat song to get them excited, ready to play. For us, we're on our knees, praying, saying, 'God, help us. We're gonna mess this up right away if you don't do something.' We know full well if we try to be rock stars it's going to go bad pretty quick. We've witnessed that many times, where we get a little ahead of ourselves. We hve many stories of serious mess ups on stage. It’s all just for good laugh now, just a reminder of Who’s in cotnrol."

Judge rules in favor of ministry

MILLERSVILLE, Tenn. (W.) March 11, 2008 -- The United States District Court for Middle Tennessee ruled that the city of Millersville, Tenn. violated the constitutional rights of Layman Lessons when it threatened application of a "pending zoning ordinance" as a means of blocking the ministry's use of a commercially zoned property, a Christian law firm said. "The court rejected the city's contention that, as long as it had a pending ordinance that addressed Layman Lessons' intended use of this property, it could indefinitely delay acting on the ministry's application," said Larry Crain, a senior attorney with the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) and lead attorney for the plaintiff. "In essence, the court ruled that 'justice delayed is justice denied.'" When Layman Lessons, a Christian ministry, formed to aid the homeless and destitute, it faced problems after it applied for a use permit for a commercially zoned property in Millersville, a town 17 miles north of Nashville: The city planner issued a letter rejecting the application due to a then-pending ordinance that, if passed, would have limited all religious and nonprofit uses on any commercial lot in the city. That, in essence would have resulted in Layman Lessons' application being placed on indefinite hold. Judge Thomas A. Wiseman, Jr. concluded that through these maneuverings the city denied Layman Lessons its constitutional rights, violating the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). As a further hurdle to the ministry's use of the land, the city imposed a so-called "buffer strip" requirement on the property, ACLJ said. Such strips, which require an expensive privacy fence to be constructed around the property, had heretofore only been required when a commercial property abutted a residential property. The Layman Lessons' property was surrounded on all sides by commercially zoned properties. The city of Millersville had argued that it could not be held liable under RLUIPA for the actions of employees who were not part of the top echelon of policymakers. Judge Thomas A. Wiseman, Jr. rejected this argument ruling that the actions of the city planner and city manager constituted a violation of RLUIPA. The city will be responsible for a portion of Plaintiff's legal fees. "Judge Wiseman's ruling confirms that Tennessee is still a place where the rights of the 'Davids' cannot be casually usurped by the "Goliaths" of this world," said Crain.

Fridays with ... Casting Crowns -- Part 3

"Learn to be teachable"

ATLANTA (W.) March 7, 2008 -- Chris Huffman isn't usually the guy people think of when they think of Christian music's top band Casting Crowns.
That distinction goes to the front man, Mark Hall.
Huffman is the man behind the scenes, the bassist.
"Most bassists in bands, they're usually the quiet guy in the band," Huffman said (pictured to the far right). "That's definitely me. Unless you get me going on something, I don't say a whole lot."
But there's more to the silence than meets the ears.
"It's not that I don't want to talk," he said. Huffman recounted a typical occurrence that happens when the band prays or has devotions before a concert.
"Sometimes, the good things are said and there's nothing I can add to it," Huffman said. "A lot of times the words are taken out of my mouth and I can't really improve on it."
Huffman said recently he's had a chance to connect with other bassists. He taught a class full of bassists when his church hosted a worship band conference.
"I just leveled with the guys," Huffman said. "You may get down at playing bass because ... you don't hear many bass solos. It's more of a background instrument. But at the same time, it's a lead instrument in that it holds the music together. I try to at least encourage any bass player I meet to just keep pressing on and always learn to be teachable. That was one of the first things someone told me when I was first learning to play bass--learn to be teachable and you'll always learn something new."
He said even when he taught the class of bassist he learned something.
"They taught me a lot," Huffman said. "Even sometimes the teacher can end up being a student."

New Israel bomb shelters inaugurated

SHLOMI, Israel (W.) March 6, 2008 -- Nine Israeli communities now have 1,690 working bomb shelters thanks to a Chicago-based nonprofit organization.

The bomb shelters were officially dedicated this week, with a ceremony attended by Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak (pictured on left) and International Fellowship of Christians and Jews founder and President Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein.
During the ceremony, Barak and Eckstein toured one of the newly rehabilitated shelters in the area and also presented the shelters' keys to each of the town's mayors.

The project began last year and cost $10 million. It involved upgrading shelters located in privately owned residential buildings, providing protection for thousands of people.

"Given the escalating threats of war and terrorism against Israel, the completion of these shelters could not have come at a better time," Eckstein said." I'm heartened to know that thanks to our donors who gave so generously to fund this critical project, residents of northern Israel will have safe places to take refuge in the event of attack."

Barak commended the fellowship for its work.

"Although we hope there won't be a need for the residents to use these shelters, their lives are now more secure," he said. "On behalf of the State of Israel, the Ministry of Defense and the citizens of Israel, I want to thank Rabbi Eckstein and IFCJ for the security they are bringing to Israel."

70 house church leaders, 3 minors detained in China

SHANGQIU CITY, China (W.) March 4, 2008 -- China Aid Association has reported the arrest of 70 Christians in China who were attending Bible training last month.

China Aid said 250 people were present at the Bible training when more than 20 police officers entered the home of Xue Weimin. Police arrested 80 of the people present but released 10 people. Those being detained are being charged with "making use of a cult to violate law enforcement." Of the 70 being detained 50 (39 women, 11 men) are being held in prison.

China Aid also reported that three minors were being detained in Xinyuan County, Xinjian Province.

UN closes sessions non-government organizations

NEW YORK (W.) March 3, 2008 -- The United Nations announced Monday that all negotiating sessions on the draft document to come out of the 2008 Commission on the Status of Women would be closed to NGO (non- government organization) representatives, Concerned Women for America said.
CWA said while closed sessions are not unusual as the negotiations "heat up" towards the end, closing sessions at the beginning of the drafting process "is unprecedented ."
Janice Crouse, CWA's director and senior fellow, said the "lack of openness is creating a storm of protest among the NGOs who are here at the UN from round the world for the expressed purpose of influencing the outcome of the resolutions that will be finalized at this session of the Commission on the Status of Women." Some think the UN is "railroading pet programs" through the sessions.
Crouse said the concern is that without NGO input "the agreements will represent the leftist UN positions without any counterbalance from the conservative NGOs. The leftist NGOs will agree with the U.N. positions; it is the conservatives that are being blocked."

Barna study says "unchurched" more complicated to define

Survey suggests definition of church changing

VENTURA, Calif. (W.) March 3, 2008 -- A new Barna Group study says the definition of church is changing in America.

Barna says with Americans pursuing a growing number of "church" options, some of the traditional measures of church health also are being redefined. Barna says popular measures such as the percentage of people who are "unchurched" - based on attendance at a conventional church service - are now out of date.

Why? Because there's an emergency of new forms of faith communities, such as house churches, marketplace ministries and cyberchurches, which Barna says must be figured into the mix. The study says as a result of these new forms of church, calculating the percentage of Americans who can be counted as "unchurched" is more complicated.

The fact that millions of people are now involved in multiple faith communities - for instance, attending a conventional church one week, a house church the next, and interacting with an online faith community in-between - has rendered the standard measures of "churched" and "unchurched" much less precise, Barna says.

According to Barna, one way of examining people's participation in faith communities is by exploring how they practice their corporate faith engagement. Unveiling a new measurement model, Barna identified the following five segments: Unattached, who don't attend a conventional church, which represents 23 percent of adult Americans; Intermittents, who are "under-churched," meaning they they've gone to church periodically in the past year but not necessarily during the past month. They represent about15 percent of adult Americans; Homebodies, those people who don't go to a conventional church but attend house church. They represent about 3 percent of adult Americans; Blenders, those who experiment between traditional churches and other forms of faith communities. They also represent about 3 percent of adult Americans; and Conventionals are those who go to traditional, congregational-style local church. They represent 56 percent of American adults.

The Barna study found an increase in ministry crossover in the U.S. According to the study, one out of five adults had been involved in two or more types of churches: a conventional church, a house church, a real-time ministry event online, etc.

Here's a glimpse at what Barna found:

Among adults who were churched (either conventionally or alternatively) 15 percent had experienced the presence of God or expressed their faith in God through a faith-oriented website within the past month. Half as many (7 percent) said they had such an experience through a real-time event on the Internet;

One out of every eight churched adults (13 percent) said they had experienced the presence of God or expressed their faith in God through a ministry that met in the marketplace during the past month;

Twice as many churched people (28 percent) said they had experienced the presence of God or expressed their faith in God through their involvement with a special ministry event (such as a worship concert or community service activity).

A majority of the public claimed to have experienced the presence of God or expressed their faith in God through some form of interaction with religious television or radio programs.

The study also found, that compared to regular churchgoers, the Unattached are:

more likely to feel stressed out

less likely to be concerned about the moral condition of the nation

much less likely to believe that they are making a positive difference in the world

less optimistic about the future

far less likely to believe that the Bible is totally accurate in its principles

substantially more likely to believe that Satan and the Holy Spirit are symbolic figures, but are not real

more likely to believe that Jesus Christ sinned while He was on earth

much more likely to believe that the holy literature of the major faiths all teach the same principles even though they use different stories

less likely to believe that a person can be under demonic influence

more likely to describe their sociopolitical views as "mostly liberal" than "mostly conservative."

However, six out of 10 adults in the Unattached category (59 percent) consider themselves to be Christian. Barna said even more surprising was the revelation that 17 percent of the Unattached label themselves born again Christians - defined as people who have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that they consider to be very important in their life, and who believe that they will experience Heaven after they die because they have confessed their sins and accepted Christ as their savior.

"The numbers consistently point out that those who live without a regular face-to-face faith connection tend to be relatively isolated from the mainstream of society, tend to be non-committal in institutional and personal relationships, and typically revel in their independence," said George Barna, who runs the Barna Group. "Attempting to get them involved in the life of a church is a real challenge. The best chance of getting them to a church is when someone they know and trust invites them, offers to accompany them, and there is reason to believe that the church event will address one of the issues or needs they are struggling with at that moment."

Fridays with ... Casting Crowns -- Part 2

Praising God in the Storm
ATLANTA (W.) Feb. 29, 2008 -- One of the perks of ministry is hearing stories about how God has used you.
Chris Huffman, bassist with Christian music's top band, Casting Crowns, said band members get a lot of feedback.
"We get e-mails all the time," Huffman said, "about either a moment someone had listening to one of our songs or somebody having a rough time and God used our song to lift them up."
Sometimes, the songs come out of that feedback.
Huffman tells the story of the Edwards family from Raleigh, N.C. One of their daughters, Erin, loved Casting Crowns and had put together a dance routine to Casting Crowns' "Here I Go Again." She danced in front of her church and she danced before her friends at school.
The family sent a videotape of Erin's dance to Casting Crowns and the band immediately connected with the Edwards. But soon after the dance, doctors discovered Erin had cancerous tumors in her lung.
"Some days it was good and other days it couldn’t be worse," Huffman said. "Through all that stuff the mom was obviously going through the emotions any family would go through. But at the same time, you could still sense her worship of God. The song 'Praise You in the Storm' came out of that testimony. Mark told her before she passed a way ... She never got to hear the song before she passed on. She’s obviously got nothing to worry about now."

The song includes the chorus:

I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

Huffman said that song has connected with people.
"We have a thing on our website where we ask people to send us e-mails of any sort of how God has used [us], especially relating to that song. We’re actually working at compiling a book of all the letters and things we've gotten to give to Erin’s mom. What we think is used for bad, God still uses for good."

MLK's niece to talk about abortion's impact on Civil Rights

WASHINGTON, D.C. (W.) Feb. 28, 2008 -- Dr. Alveda King, pastoral associate of Priests for Life and niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is expected to participate today in events celebrating Black History Month and examining the role abortion has played in the African American community.

"As Black History Month comes to a close and we move forward, we cannot forget the devastating impact abortion on demand has had and continues to have on African-Americans," said King. "Abortion has wiped out one out of four blacks in the United States. That's 15 million Americans who have been denied the most fundamental civil right, the right to life."

King will join other leaders for prayer vigils at abortion facilities, a press conference at the Family Research Council, and an afternoon Capitol Hill reception at the Cannon House Office Building.

Indy Coach Dungy inducted in Society of World Changers

MARION, Ind. (W.) Feb. 27, 2008 -- Tony Dungy, head coach of the 2007 Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts, has been inducted into Wesleyan University's Society of World Changers and received an honorary degree from the school.

After his induction Wednesday, Dungy told students that his parents, who were both educators, instilled in him three important lessons: "They told me, 'Whatever path you take, do it with gusto and fire, representing the Lord; treat everyone you come across with respect; and, wherever you settle down, make your neighborhood a better place to live.'"

Dungy is only the fifth inductee into the Society of World Changers, which Indiana Wesleyan University launched to honor exemplary individuals who are impacting their professions with a vibrant religious faith.

In his first NFL head coaching stint, Dungy led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to four playoff appearances in six seasons and became the winningest head coach in Tampa Bay history. In 2002 he was named head coach of Indianapolis, where he began a streak of six consecutive double-digit victory seasons and playoff berths, including the Super Bowl XLI championship.

Dungy also is the author of "Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices and Priorities of a Winning Life," which has been on The New York Times best seller list since the book was released last July.

Dungy's appearance at IWU was arranged by All Pro Dad, a program sponsored by Family First, a Tampa, Florida-based not-for-profit organization, which Dungy helped launch while coaching Tampa Bay.

Dungy was given an honorary doctorate of humane letters during yesterday's ceremony. A life size bronze bust of Dungy was also unveiled and will join those of other World Changer inductees in the rotunda of the University's Jackson Library.

NYC seminary appoints first woman president in its 172-year history

NEW YORK (W.) Feb. 27 – For the first time in Union Theological Seminary's 172-year history, it will have a woman at the helm.

Serene Jones has been selected to become the 16th president Union Theological Seminary in New York. Jones starts on July 1. She replaces Joseph Hough Jr., who is retiring after 9 years as president of the non-denominational seminary.

Jones is a professor of Theology at Yale Divinity school. She serves as chair and faculty member of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies at Yale University. She's also held faculty appointments at Yale Law School and in the Department of African American Studies and Religious Studies.

"Dr. Jones's exceptional leadership style and distinguished scholarship make her the ideal person to lead this vibrant theological institution, which has been home to notable scholars Reinhold Niebuhr, Paul Tillich, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer," said David Callard, chairman of the seminary's board. "With Dr. Jones's vision and commitment, Union is positioned not only to continue its role as a leading institution of theological education but also to be a strong voice at a time when religion, with all its pluralistic manifestations, has become an increasingly powerful and divisive issue."

Jones expressed her hope and vision for the school as it moves into the next chapter of its life and mission.

"In the intellectual Christian world, Union Theological Seminary has long held a preeminent position shaping not only American religious life but its cultural and political values as well. At the present historical moment, in North America and globally, Union stands ready to assume this role with renewed vigor, intellectual acuity and abiding faith," Jones said.

Jones has published 37 articles and book chapters since 1991. She is the author of Feminist Theory and Theology: Cartographies of Grace (2000) and Calvin and the Rhetoric of Piety (1995). She co-edited Feminist and Womanist Essays in Reformed Dogmatics (2006), Constructive Theology: A Contemporary Engagement with Classical Themes (2005), Liberating Eschatology: Essays in Honor of Letty Russell (1999), and Setting the Table: Women in Theological Conversation (1995).

Jones earned her M.Div. from Yale Divinity School (1985) as well as her Ph.D. in theology from Yale University (1991). She holds a B.A. from the University of Oklahoma (1981) and is an ordained minister in both the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ.

Union Theological Seminary was founded in 1836. It describes itself as "an independent, ecumenical graduate school of theology with the mission to educate men and women for ministries in the Christian faith, service in contemporary society, and study of the great issues of our time."

Churches to hold 'Web Focus' day on April 27

WHEATON, Ill. (W.) Feb. 26, 2008 -- A worldwide 'Web evangelism focus day' has been scheduled to help Christian ministries maximize their use of the Internet.

April 27 has been designated Internet Evangelism Day. Churches can download free materials from the Internet Evangelism Day website, enabling them to create a short presentation within their activities on that day. A PowerPoint, video clips, drama scripts, music and handouts can be used to create a customized program lasting from one minute to 50 minutes. That information is available at www.internetevangelismday.com .

The emphasis of the day is that Web evangelism is for everyone, not just the "technically gifted," organizers said.

"There are many ways to share your faith online, without any technical background at all," said IE Day Coordinator Tony Whittaker.

Christian leaders are also enthusiastic: "I am glad to commend Internet Evangelism Day," said Dr. John Stott.

Churches can start planning their focus day now. More information: InternetEvangelismDay.com

Internet Evangelism Day is also a year-round resource about online outreach. It explains many ways that Christians can share the good news, including through church websites. Churches often find it difficult to create a site that will engage with outsiders in their area.

"How can our church website help us reach out into our community?"

A new online tool has been released by IE Day, which provides churches with a free 15-page evaluation report. Users assess their own website by answering 55 simple questions in the tool questionnaire. Their customized report is immediately displayed online, ready to print or save. Its recommendations are tailored with specific practical suggestions, based on the questions that were ticked. View the evaluation tool here: InternetEvangelismDay.com/design

A church site which has been prioritized for non- Christian visitors can be remarkably effective in reaching the community. "Week in, week out, more visitors turn up at our church on a Sunday because of the website, than anything else," writes one growing church in London UK.

The tool also provides the parable 'A Tale of Two Golf Clubs' (which is available to republish) to illustrate the principles of effective church websites: www.InternetEvangelismday.com/golf

"This checklist is an invaluable tool to identify critical areas for improvement. Every church should study this regularly and act on it," said Gary McClure, LifeWay Ministries.

Dozens of Chinese Christians detained; S. Korean minister missing

XILINHAOTE CITY, Inner Mongolia (W.) Feb. 25, 2008 -- The president of the Inner Mongolia Branch of the Chinese House church Alliance , Wang Dawei, was detained along with more than 40 co-workers last week, according to China Aid.
China Aid said the leaders were in their third day of Bible study when more than 100 police officers from the State Security Bureau and members of the Religious Affairs bureua disrupted the meeting and detained the ministers.
Police officials also confiscated the offering collection and more than 30 boxes of Bibles and other Christian literature, China Aid said. Security Bureua members then searched Dawei's personal residence.
The leader of the meeting, a South Korean minister, was also detained during the incident, his whereabouts remain unknown, China Aid said.
The intensity of persecution amongst members of the Chinese House Church Alliance continues to increase as the Beijing Olympics draw near, China Aid said.

Fridays with ... Casting Crowns

The Message

ATLANTA (W.) Feb. 22, 2008 -- "Casting Crowns" is the hottest Christian concert ticket in town these days, securing six Dove nominations and their latest album, "The Altar and the Door" going Gold in 10 days.
Chris Huffman admits, he was just glad to have some new songs to play when the album came out last summer. The Alter followed the successful debut album "Casting Crowns" and "Lifesong."
WordNews.org had an exclusive with bassist Huffman who gives some insight into what its like to be in the band everyone's talking about.
"We're excited to have some new songs to play," Huffman said. "When the traveling kind of wears you out, that the only time when we get a little tired of the songs."
Huffman continues: "but even then it's just the music part. Even in those times when we're tired the message is kind of slapping us in the face, reminding us who we're playing for."
It's the difference between being a musician and a Christian musician.
"Every musician has a desire to play in front of people or be able to share their talents with people around them," Huffman said. "But it’s definitely a good reminder to us, no matter how tired we can be, it reminds us to keep our heads straight and why we get to tour."

Check in next Friday for the next installment of Fridays with ... Casting Crowns.

Anti-abortion Ob/Gyns feel threatened for their beliefs

Anti-abortion obstetricians and gynecologists say they are being threatened for their beliefs.
The group cited a November 2007 opinion by American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology's (ACOG) Ethics Committee titled "The Limits of Conscientious Refusal in Reproductive Medicine."
The opinion warns Ob/Gyn doctors that their practice pattern can be considered "unethical" by ACOG standards if they do not either do abortions, or refer patients desiring an abortion to an abortion provider.
The opinion suggests anti-abortion doctors should locate their office in proximity to an abortion provider, for the convenience of such patients.
The American Board of Ob/Gyn published its revised standards for doctors seeking recertification in January 2008 which are tied to ACOG Ethics compliance.
Anti-abortion Ob/Gyns called the move "a raw power play to cripple, and ultimately eliminate from practice, those doctors who hold a conscience conviction on the sanctity of human life, and refuse to have a part in doing, or referring for, the elective, deliberate taking of an unborn human life."
The American Association of ProLife Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG) said it objects strenuously to this attempt, by a professional medical organization (ACOG), using "ethics violations" and "denial of recertification" as a battering ram, to force pro-life doctors into pro-choice compliance."
APPLOG issued a position statement earlier this month, concluding: "... it seems that the (ACOG) Ethics Committee does not understand the strength and depth of a conscience conviction against the elective, deliberate taking of an unborn human life. This is not a negotiable issue for those who hold this conviction. The United States Supreme Court allowed elective abortion to be a legal right. The U.S. Supreme Court is not an infallible moral guide for a person's conscience, as evidenced by a previous similar egregious ruling."
The group pointed, as an example, to the 7-2 court majority that concluded that Africans are "beings of an inferior order" than the white race, and slaves are property devoid of all rights of legal redress for grievances.
"The U.S. Supreme court got it wrong in 1887, and they made the same mistake in 1973 in Roe vs. Wade: Unborn children are fully human, and are entitled to the same right to life as the rest of society," AAPLOG said.

Anti-abortion protests planned outside Democratic National Convention

DENVER (W.) Feb. 20, 2008 -- Plans are being made for peaceful anti-abortion protests outside the Democratic National Convention this August.

The planned protesters and their legal team are scheduled to meet with Denver's Attorney David Fine today.

Prior to that meeting, the Christian Defense Coalition and the Survivors, an anti-abortion group, will be holding a news conference in Denver. The convention is scheduled for Aug. 25-28.

At issue, the Christian Defense Coalition said, is the city's decision to remove 14 downtown city parks from the list of public venues in which groups may peacefully assemble. The coalition said the city has refused to accept applications from the pro-life groups seeking to conduct peaceful First Amendment activities at these parks.

The groups followed the normal park application process for the City of Denver by attempting to apply for permits on Nov. 1, the coalition said. They were told that their name would be put on list and they would be contacted when a permit process was put in place. After nearly 4 months of waiting, there is still no plan in place and no indication when one will be put in place, the coalition said.

If the groups cannot reach an agreement with the City of Denver at this meeting, they will file a federal lawsuit tomorrow.

"As advocates for the pre-born, it is the responsibility of the Survivors to defend our right to free speech," said Danielle Versluys, Survivors' director of special events. "Peaceful prayer and witness in the public square are essential to our fight for justice in America, and we cannot let our rights be trampled at the expense of the children scheduled to die from abortion."

If President, Alan Keyes would turn to UN for help in Iraq

ALBANY, N.Y. (W.) Aug. 2, 2007 -- Former presidential candidate Alan Keyes said the United States turned to the United Nations at the wrong time -- before the war in Iraq -- and never returned when it should have, to help establish a stable government.

Keyes isn't running for president -- officially -- though there is an effort among supports to draft him to run. Keyes said he'd make his decision by the end of the year. But if he was president, he'd do things differently.

The former presidential candidate, author and speaker said in an interview with WordNews.org said if he were president he'd redefine the objectives.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

County reverses decision to prevent distribution of religious flyers

ORLANDO, Fla. (W.) Aug. 2, 2007 -- Orange County officials decided Shirley Snyder can distribute religious flyers in public parks. That decision follows a lawsuit filed by Liberty Counsel.

Snyder had been stopped at Cypress Grove Park where she was passing out tracts about Jesus and a flyer announcing a church service.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Four Christian publishing house employees slain

MALATYA, Turkey (W.) April 19, 2007 -- Four employees at Zirve, a prominent publisher and distributor of Bibles in Turkey were killed Wednesday.

Three of the victims -- including the owner of the publishing house --had their throats slit. The fourth victim died after jumping from a third floor window in an attempt to flee from the killers, according to the Institute of Religion and Public Policy.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Supreme Court upholds ban on partial birth abortion

WASHINGTON, D.C. (W.) April 19, 2007 -- The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a ban on partial birth abortion yesterday by a narrow 5-4 margin.

The decision won praise from pro-life groups and a sense of urgency for abortion rights supporters. Planned Parenthood put a "breaking news" section over its regular home page with a "donate" button. The National Organization for Women concluded that 2008 -- when President Bush leaves office --can't come soon enough. Two of Bush's appointees played a key role in having the abortion procedure banned.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Virginia Tech massacre: Mourning after

BLACKBURG, Va. (W.) April 18, 2007 -- President Bush arrived on Virginia Tech campus yesterday and took on another role, one he has played several times during his presidency -- Comforter in Chief.

"Laura and I have come to Blacksburg today with hearts full of sorrow," he said during a convocation following the the deadliest campus massacre in U.S. history.
"This is a day of mourning for the Virginia Tech community -- and it is a day of sadness for our entire nation."

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Anti-spanking bill advances

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (W.) April 18, 2007– A California bill that would ban some forms of spanking has passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee.

The bill would make it illegal to spank with an item such as a paddle.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Ministries respond to Virginia Tech massacre

BLACKSBURG, Va. (W.) April 17 -- Ministries are mobilizing on the Virginia Tech campus in the aftermath of what is the bloodiest day on an American college campus.

A gunman killed 32 people yesterday before killing himself.

Alec Hill, president of the college ministry InterVarsity said the campus fellowship met for prayer following news of the rampage.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Embryonic stem cell passes Senate; Veto promised

WASHINGTON, D.C. (W.) April 13, 2007 -- The U.S. Senate has passed a bill that would reduce restrictions on federally funded stem cell research, 63-34, but President Bush has promised another veto.

"Scientists believe that stem cells have the potential for medical breakthroughs in treating debilitating medical diseases and disorders," Bush said. "However, the advancement of science and medicine need not conflict with the ethical imperative to protect every human life."

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Christian leaders weigh in on Imus

WASHINGTON, D.C. (W.) April 11, 2007 -- MSNBC and CBS Radio have suspended cranky radio show Don Imus for two weeks for derogatory, racist comments he made about members of the Rutgers University women's basketball team.

Imus has since apologized for the comments.

Bishop T.D. Jakes of The Potter's House in Dallas reportedly called for Imus' ouster.

Day Gardner, president of the National Black Pro-Life Union, said he also was angry "that Imus actually thought this racial slur could be shrugged off as a joke."

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Calif. Homosexual Marriage Bill pass

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (W.) April 11, 2007 -- The California Legislature has passed a homosexual marriage bill along party lines that would allow "gender neural" marriage in the state.

Capitol Resources Institute said lawmakers "flouted the will of the people" by passing the measure, saying it contradicts Proposition 22, which says marriage is between one man and one woman.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Church anyone? Ministry looking for NYC church for debate with atheists

NEW YORK (W.) April 11, 2007 -- The head of Living Waters Publications is looking for a church in New York City, complete with stained glass windows, to debate atheists.

This week, Ray Comfort put out this plea to supporters:

" Many of you know that in January ABC aired a news story about two atheists who video-taped themselves blaspheming the Holy Spirit, and encouraged others to do so. Hundreds copied them," Comfort wrote. "I contacted the network and said that Kirk [Cameron, of "Growing Pains" fame] and I wanted to challenge the atheists to a debate. ABC loved the idea and so did the atheists. So the debate (Does God Exist?) will be in New York City and will be streamed LIVE on ABC's Web site early in May."

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Johnny Cash's Hendersonville home destroyed by fire

NASHVILLE (W.) April 11, 2007 -- The home of the late country music star Johnny Cash has been destroyed by fire.

The 13,000-square-foot house had been purchased by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees in 2006 and was being renovated. The fire broke out yesterday at about 2 p.m. CST.

Cash's sister issued a statement:

"Of course we are all in a state of shock," said Joanne Cash. "I feel that an era has passed."

To read more, visit WordNews.org

American Baptist Churches of RI picks leader

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (W.) April 9, 2007 -- The Rev. Dr. Liliana Da Valle has been elected executive minister of the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island, succeeding the Rev. Donald Rasmussen, who retired.

Da Valle has been serving as area minister for ABC of Massachusetts since 1997. An installation service will be held at Calvary Baptist Church, Providence on Sunday May 6.

In Boston, she worked with nearly 100 churches with diverse cultural and theological backgrounds.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Managing prayer

KATY, Texas (W.) April 9, 2007 -- Toby Dagenhart believes he has a way to help churches manage prayer requests.

It's called iPrayer.

It started when his church's the prayer team approached him to find a way to manage prayer requests. Dagenhart, a Web developer, said he couldn't find anything that could replace a prayer card and notebook system.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

On a Mission: Meet the Sawyer family

On a Mission
Meet the Sawyer family: Doug, Kathi, Kaitlen and Christina
Mission filed: International Student Ministry, Michigan.

Foreign missions done locally

TECUMSEH, Mich. (W.) April 6, 2007 -- Doug Sawyer was active in his church growing up.

But it wasn't until college that he really deepened his relationship with Jesus.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Alan Keyes: Part 1

ALBANY, N.Y. (W.) April 4, 2007 -- Alan Keyes sits in a hotel room. He's just finished his latest book which he expects to come out in September. Now he's waiting to give a speech to supporters of the crisis pregnancy center here.

Keyes' resume prevents him from being ignored. Harvard educated, he served in the Reagan administration, ran for president twice and most recently ran against Barack Obama for the Senate.

He's got an idea about what's wrong with America. And what could be done to change things. It has to do with faith and Christian leadership.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Keroack Resigns as chief of OPA, abstinence group says

WASHINGTON, D,C. (W.) April 2, 2007— An abstinence group has learned that the head of the Office of Population Affairs has resigned.

According to the Abstinence Clearinghouse, Dr. Eric Keroack, a proponent of abstinence education, has stepped down from his position as the head of the Office of Population Affairs (OPA). The governmental agency made no announcement on its Web site.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

New tool for welcoming people to neighborhood

VISTA, Calif. (W.) April 2, 2007 -- It's called WelcomeOne New Mover Outreach Program and its designed to turn new folks to the neighborhood into new members to the local church.

The program by church communication company Outreach Inc. is an automated turnkey program that targets new movers shortly after they relocate. The program creates customized over-sized postcards; provides the church with new mover contact follow-up data; and ensures design exclusivity within a three-mile radius.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Fridays with Relient K - No Agenda (Part II)

LOS ANGELES (W.) March 30, 2007 -- Christian pop punk band Relient K's album "Five Score and Seven Years Ago" is different from its previous four albums.

"It's a couple steps forward in the song writing, the musicianship is stepped up, production is better," bassist John Warne told WordNews.org. "I think just everything is to the next level." This is Warne's first full-length album with Relient K since joining the band two and a half years ago.

He quickly added: "The previous records were great."

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Women's group calls ERA "outdate icon"

WASHINGTON, D.C. (W.) March 28, 2007 -- The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) "is not only unnecessary; it would contradict laws and government positions that were championed by feminists to give preferences to women," a women's advocacy group said.

Concerned Women for America said it strongly opposes the ERA, calling it "an outdated yet harmful icon of radical feminism."

Children's Online Protection Act struck down

PHILADELPHIA (W.) March 26, 2007 -- The Federal District Court in Pennsylvania stuck down the Children's Online Protection Act (COPA) in the first challenge to the law Congress passed in 1998 to protect children from exposure to online pornography.

The law requires that pornographic Web sites must require adult-access codes, personal identification, or credit cards as a means of age verification to access their web sites.

Philadelphia District Court Judge Lowell A. Reed, Jr. said there were other ways to keep kids from exposure to pornographic sites that were less restrictive.

Homosexuals less than 2% of population: Report

PHILADELPHIA (W.) March 26, 2007 -- In the largest random survey ever conducted on the topic, two researchers conclude that only 1.4 percent of adults are homosexual.

Analyzing a 2003 Canadian Community survey of 121,300 adults, Paul Cameron told the Eastern Psychological Association that 2 percent of 18-44 year olds, 1 percent of 50 year olds, and only a third of a percent of subjects 60+ considered themselves homosexual.

Fridays with Relient K - Practice and Leg Room (Part I)

LOS ANGELES (W.) March 23, 2007 -- There's a couple firsts with pop punk band Relient K's latest album, "Five Score and 7 Years."

It's the first album with new producer Howard Benson. And the first full-length album with bassist John Warne and Jon Schneck. (Lead vocalist Matt Thiessen, guitarist Matt Hoops and drummer Dave Douglas round up the lineup).

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Morality in Media facing money woes

NEW YORK (W.) March 22, 2007 -- An organization that has been taking on obscenity in the media says it is facing a financial crises after key funding was pulled.

"You can’t save the world if you can’t pay the bills," writes Christopher Manion, Morality in Media's vice president, in a letter to supporters. "It’s a sad truth. Many a fine project has disappeared into the dustbin of history because of a lack of funding. And now Morality In Media is facing a financial crisis."

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Unchurched, unchanged: Poll

VENTURA, Calif. (W.) March 21, 2007 -- The number of adult Americans not attending church has remained constant in the past 13 years, according to The Barna Group, which found 33 percent of adults don't attend any service.

Unchurched means the adults have not attended any religious service of any type in the past six months.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

ACLJ backing "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" student's free speech

WASHINGTON, D.C. (W.) March 20, 2007 -- The American Center for Law and Justice, a law group known for defending Christian causes, has filed a brief in support of the so-called "Bong Hits for Jesus" student.

The Supreme Court announced yesterday plans to take the case, which involves a student in Alaska being disciplined for displaying a banner reading "Bong Hits for Jesus" in front of television cameras as a runner holding the Olympic torch passed by. [A bong is used to smoke marijuana]. The banner was destroyed by a principal and the student was disciplined.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Christian group says "Ford dropping public support for homosexual agenda"

NEW YORK (W.) March 19, 2007 -- In a letter to supporters, the America Family Association says "It appears that Ford Motor Co., i response to AFA's boycott, is silently dropping public support for the homosexual agenda."

AFA said it has a list of reasons why it believes Ford has changed course. The auto manufacturer has stopped advertising in gay publications such as OUT and The Advocate and has stopped sponsoring the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Media Awards, which it sponsored for years.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Fridays with Kathy Troccoli - Part V - Starting over

NASHVILLE (W.) March 16, 2007 -- If you like Kathy Troccoli's music or been impacted by her ministry, thank a girl named Cindy.

It was Cindy who played a role in leading Troccoli to Christ one summer in Long Island.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Pace gets support from religious groups

WASHINGTON, D.C. (W.) March 15, 2007 -- Religious groups are holding a press conference today to support Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Pace told the Chicago Tribune that homosexuality was immoral just as adultery is immoral and should not be condoned by the military.

Several gay activist group quickly called for an apology. Pace responded by saying he regretted speaking about his personal views. But lawmakers have joined in the criticism of Pace. Sen. John Warner (R-Va.), former Navy secretary, said in an AP story: "I respectfully but strongly disagree wit the chairman's view that homosexuality is immoral." Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in an AP story that "personal opinion really doesn't have a place here."

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Christian group says "Ford dropping public support for homosexual agenda"

NEW YORK (W.) March 19, 2007 -- In a letter to supporters, the America Family Association says "It appears that Ford Motor Co., i response to AFA's boycott, is silently dropping public support for the homosexual agenda."

AFA said it has a list of reasons why it believes Ford has changed course. The auto manufacturer has stopped advertising in gay publications such as OUT and The Advocate and has stopped sponsoring the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Media Awards, which it sponsored for years.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

ACLJ backing "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" student's free speech

WASHINGTON, D.C. (W.) March 20, 2007 -- The American Center for Law and Justice, a law group known for defending Christian causes, has filed a brief in support of the so-called "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" student.

The Supreme Court announced yesterday plans to take the case, which involves a student in Alaska being disciplined for displaying a banner reading "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" in front of television cameras as a runner holding the Olympic torch passed by. [A bong is used to smoke marijuana]. The banner was destroyed by a principal and the student was disciplined.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

School tells kids to be mum on gay event: CWA

DEERFIELD, Ill. (W.) March 14, 2007 -- Students in Deerfield HIgh School who were required to attend a "Straight Gay Alliance Network" panel discussion were told to keep the event to themselves and not tell anyone -- including parents.

The required event, attended by freshman, involved a panel discussion led by gay and lesbian upperclassmen during a "freshman advisory" class which Concerned Women for America said secretively featured inappropriate discussions of a sexual nature in promotion of high-risk homosexual behaviors.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Domain .XXX a bad idea, promotes legalizing obscenity, groups say

NEW YORK (W.) March 13, 2007 – The U.S. Department of Commerce has received a letter from 33 groups opposing a revised proposal to create a .XXX domain for pornographic Web sites on the Internet, according to Morality in Media.

The revised proposed .XXX domain, like the original proposal, is being proposed by ICM Registry, the company bidding to provide registry service for the Triple-X domain if it is created, Morality in Media said.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Fire destroys home of bestselling author; kills son-in-law

TUCKER, Ga. (W.) March 12, 2007 - A fire destroyed the home of author Cecil Murphey and killed Murphey's son-in-law.

Murphey, his wife, Shirley, and daughter Cecile escaped, but Cecile’s husband, Alan Hege, was trapped inside and died in the flames.

Family members said Hege’s body was cremated last week and a memorial service will be held later in the month. Fire officials said the fire was started downstairs by sparks from a scented candle Cecile had blown out.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Ministry urges churches to sponsor Silent Witness Week

NEW YORK (W.) March 9, 2007 -- Christ United Methodist Church in Memphis ordered 2,500 buttons. Swift Creek Baptist Church in Midlothian, Va., ordered 1,000 buttons.
American Family Association said some churches and individuals are starting to catch the vision of Silent Witness Week, which runs from April 1-8.

The association is asking churches to participate in the special week, observed during Holy Week.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Fridays with Kathy Troccoli -- Starting out (part III)

NASHVILLE (W.) March 9, 2007 -- When Kathy Troccoli started recording Christian music, at 22, she didn't know where her place in Christian music would be.

The industry, still in its infancy at the time, didn't quite know either. Now, 25 years later, with 17 No. 1 songs on the Christian radio charts, 19 Dove Award nominations, three Grammy nominations, five songs hitting the top 10 mainstream radio charts, it's fairly obvious.

"I'm not sure at the time, and it's nobody's fault, not even my own," she told WordNews.org. "I meet the Lord. I have such a radical falling in love, not knowing I didn't have Him. And here I am a club singer. What do you do with this torch singer. ... It was a process of finding myself."

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Former ACLU leader arrested on child porn charges

ARLINGTON, Va. (W.) March 7, 2007 -- The former president of the American Civil Liberties Union's Virginia chapter has been arrested by federal authorities on child pornography charges, Liberty Counsel said.

Charles Rust-Tierney, 51, was arrested in February by federal authorities and charged with receipt and possession of child pornography in violation of federal law, Liberty Counsel said. The criminal complaint by the U.S. Attorney's Office said for several years Rust-Tierney visited a Web site containing graphic child pornography, Liberty Counsel said.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Miller's "Preaching" book named Book of Year by Preaching Magazine

NASHVILLE (W.) March 7, 2007 -- Calvin Miller's new book "Preaching: The Art of Narrative Exposition" has been named 2007 Book of the Year by Preaching magazine.

The recognition is announced in the March-April 2007 issue of Preaching.

According to Preaching editor Michael Duduit, Miller's "Preaching" is, "an important contribution that will help any preacher explore new approaches to proclaiming biblical truth."

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Dozen students suspended for praying before school

VANCOUVER, Wash. (W.) March 6, 2007 - Two Heritage High School students here were suspended for 10 days for gathering to pray before the start of the school day.

The suspension has gotten the attention of Liberty Counsel, which is now providing legal assistance to the students who were suspended.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

The God Gap? How much is faith an issue with GOP, Dems

VENTURA, Calif. (W.) March 5, 2007 -- The Barna Group has researched the so-called "God-gap" between Republicans and Democrats and finds in many areas "the gap between the parties is not that large."

Barna examined 32 measures of religious commitment, belief and activity. The results found that Republicans still have an advantage in attracting born again Christian voters, but Democrats "are not as far behind on measures of Christian commitment as might be assumed."

To read more, visit WordNews.org

A Week with Cash

NASHVILLE (W.) Feb. 21, 2007 -- Watching the Academy Award-winning movie "Walk the Line" about her brother Johnny Cash was stinging to Joanne Cash, at points.

Like when her brother Jack dies in a gruesome mill accident.

Joanne was young at the time of the accident, but she remembers that as a 9-year-old, "I walked the aisle at church and shook hands with the preacher in hopes of being able to go to heaven and see Jack. But I walked away afraid that God didn't really want me. The fears of rejection grew even stronger around high school and I entered into a bad marriage shortly after I graduated."

Joanne sings about these experiences in her new album "Gospel," which was just released.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

Christian reality show set to air Jan. 26 on TBN

LOS ANGELES (W.) Jan. 25, 2007 -- A new reality show is in this mix, but this one's being billed as a Christian one and it's hosted by Brian Littrell of the “Backstreet Boys.”

Judges include Stryper lead singer Michael Sweet, Eddie DeGarmo of the band DeGarmo & Key who is now president of EMI GMC Publishing, and legendary gospel artist Andae Crouch.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

'The Nativity Story' Puts Christ Back into Christmas

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (W.) Nov. 21, 2006 -- Christ is being put back into Christmas, says movie critic Ted Baehr.

"With the release of 'The Nativity Story,' Hollywood is finally putting Jesus Christ back into Christmas," said Baehr, chairman of the Christian Film & Television Commission.

The film, set for release in 3,000 theaters on Dec. 1, has been called a prequel to "The Passion of the Christ," the blockbuster hit a couple years ago.

To read more, visit WordNews.org

After controversy, Toys for Tots to accept free Bible character dolls

LOS ANGELES (W.) Nov. 20, 2006 - The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program has changed its position and will now accept Jesus dolls and other dolls of other Biblical characters from one2believe.com.

One2believe said the about face came after overwhelming public outrage when the U. S. Marine Corps said it would not accept one2believe.com's donation of the free figures. When the decision to decline one2believe's donation became public, Toys for Tots was the subject of hundreds of television and radio news stories, the toy-maker said. Toys for Tots also received many emails and phone calls at their Quantico, Va. headquarters from people upset by their decision not to accept the dolls because of their religious nature.

To read more, visit WordNews.org