A week with Mark Schultz: How it all began

 NASHVILLE (WordNews.org) Dec. 12, 2011 – Mark Schultz’s songs are filled with stories.
But the Platinum recording artist known for such songs as “He Is” and “I Am” sort of eased into the whole story-telling song approach.
“Where it started for me was when I came to Nashville I got a job as a youth director at a church,” he says. “I didn’t mean to. It just happened. I lost a bet with a youth minister and ended up going on a retreat with a bunch of kids and got duct taped to a bed and, you know, stayed with the kids until they graduated from college.”

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Macy’s dressing room policy focus of Fox Sunday program

NEW YORK (WordNews.org) Dec. 10, 2011 — Macy’s policy to allow cross dressers to change in the dressing room of their choice is the subject of Fox News’ Sunday program, America’s News HQ at 1 p.m.
Matt Staver of the Liberty Counsel will be among the guests.
Staver said that some Macy’s customers are outraged by the department store’s policy and are cutting up their Macy’s credit cards and refusing to shop at the store until the policy is changed. The policy came to light when Macy’s worker Natalie Johnson saw a man entering a women’s fitting room in her department area in a San Antonio, Texas, Macy’s.
Johnson, who will also be on the Fox show, told the man he could not change in the women’s room. Liberty said the man, who was wearing black lipstick, became upset and began swearing and warning Johnson about Macy’s lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender-friendly policy.

To read more

A week with Erica Lane: Life lessons and 'finding the beauty and joy of Christ'

NASHVILLE (WordNews.org) Dec. 9, 2011 – Erica Lane pretty much succeed the things most important to her—school and music.
“I’ve excelled in high school. I succeeded in college. There were things that opened my eyes at a time in my life but overall it was a pretty good life,” the Christian recording artist said.
What opened her eyes also “defines the direction I take in music.”
It was her sophomore year at Texas Tech University. To that point, Lane had few worries and had been cruising on a pretty smooth path.

To read more click here

A week with Erica Lane: How 'A Merry Little Christmas' came about

NASHVILLE (WordNews.org) Dec. 5, 2011 -- Erica Lane tells how her first Christmas album sort of evolved out of necessity.
"The album came about last year. We did a live Christmas concert in Nashville. I had an orchestra and choir backing me," the Christian recording artist recalled. "The original plan was to record and make a live Christmas album out of that concert night. And then I ended up getting really sick that night."
To find out what happened next, click here.

Macy's fires workers for preventing cross-dresser from using women's dressing room

 SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (WordNews.org) Dec. 5, 2011 – A law firm announced today that Macy’s fired one of its workers for preventing a male cross-dresser from changing in the women’s dressing room.
Liberty Counsel said the woman, Natalie Johnson, refused “to violate her religious beliefs by permitting a young man from entering the women’s dressing room.”
A call to Macy’s was not immediately returned.
Johnson said saw a young man walk out of the women’s fitting room. She told him that he could not go back in because it was for women only.
Liberty Counsel said the cross-dressing young man claimed that he is a “female.” Johnson said that he was wearing make-up and girl’s clothing, “but clearly he was a male.”

To read more

Forced abortion opponent reported still alive

LINYI, CHINA (WordNews.org) Dec. 3, 2011 --  Forced abortion opponent Chen Guancheng is still alive, despite previous reports that he had died under house arrest, Women's Rights Without Frontiers said.
"Now his mother is allowed to go outside to buy food although escorted by three guards, and his health also is getting better," a source told Women's Rights Without Frontiers.
The source said Guancheng had been treated better recently.
"Chen's situation was exposed and got huge public attention," the source said. One campaign that brought considerable visibility to Chen's plight was the flow of concerned citizens attempting to visit him for his 40th birthday on Nov. 12. Many of these citizens were beaten and detained, according to Women's Rights Without Frontiers.

 In addition, the "Chen Sunglasses Freedom" campaigns inside and outside of China have raised the visibility of his case. These campaigns post photos of people wearing sunglasses in support of Chen. The source stated, "I think it's great. I think it's very helpful for people all over the world to show they care about Chen through the Sunglasses campaigns. I think it's very important to show support inside and outside the country – we can work together." These campaigns, spearheaded by Women's Rights Without Frontiers and Dark Glasses Portrait, can be found at www.womensrightswithoutfrontiers.org/index.php?nav=chen-guangcheng and ichenguangcheng.blogspot.com/.

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Revolutionizing how churches use PowerPoint?

ASHLAND, Ore. (WordNews.org) Dec. 2, 2011 -- ExaltNow revolutionizes how churches use PowerPoint in worship.
That's how Sharefaith.com began their news release highlighting its new product. Sharefaith, a church media company, recently aunched a PowerPoint plugin "that is likely to revolutionize the way churches uses PowerPoint in their worship service."The product went on sale this month.
"The ExaltNow worship software plugin for PowerPoint combines text over video for seamless slide transitions, and offers full integration to a church's existing CCLI song select database," the company said. "Creating and planning a worship service within MS PowerPoint has never been this easy."
Sharefaith conducted a survey this month of 10,000 churches and found that 89 percent of congregations rely on PowerPoint as their premier projection software during their church service.

To read more

AdoptionJourney.com launched to encourage couples considering adoption

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WordNews.org) Dec. 1, 2011 — Three national organizations have partnered together to help couples interested in adoption.
The Adoption Journey Project has launched a new website, www.AdoptionJourney.com. It is a collaborative effort between Bethany Christian Services, Lifesong for Orphans and Lifeline Children’s Services.

“The vast majority of resources being published by adoption agencies and supporting organizations are for families that are either close to or have committed to the adoption process already,” said Marc Andreas, vice president of marketing at Bethany Christian Services, the largest adoption agency in the country.

“We recognize that couples just starting to think about adoption have completely different perspectives and needs regarding the discernment process for adoption in their lives. This project will provide tangible resources to help support them and the beginning of their own adoption journey.”

Click here for more

Wednesdays with Britt Nicole: 'Let's hang out with God for a little bit' (Part 6 of 6)

NASHVILLE (WordNews.org) Nov. 30, 2011 – “There’s some cool opportunities that are coming up,” Christian music artist Britt Nicole blurts out.
Then, she adds cautiously, “Something I don’t know if I can share yet.”
A hint?
“There’s other people they’re putting together.”
Britt is currently touring with Brandon Heath’s “Leaving Eden” tour. She talks about what she would like to do one day.
“There’s a lot. So many things I would love to do,” she says. “Ultimately, I want to reach people.”
She talk about the frustration she gets sometimes in the midst of completing a performance.
“A lot of times on tour we have this hour-long or two hour-long show and people are almost at the breaking point where God is about to do something in their life,” Britt says, “and you’re like, ‘Ok, good night, see you next year.’ It’s like, ‘Wait!’ God was moving and they were about to have a break through in their life.’ I see that a lot. For me that kind of breaks my heart.”
She knows what she would like to do at those moments.

To find out, click here

Billy Graham hospitalized

ASHEVILLE,N.C. (WordNews.org) Nov. 30, 2011  — Evangelist Billy Graham has been hospitalized at Mission Hospital in Asheville, N.C., near his home in Montreat, for evaluation and treatment of his lungs.

A spokesperson said Graham was alert, smiling and waving to staff as he was admitted.

Mr. Graham’s personal physician, Lucian Rice, described Graham’s condition as stable. The pulmonologist treating Mr. Graham, Mark Hellreich, M.D., said that Mr. Graham is being tested for possible pneumonia.

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First virtual Christmas choir being assembled. Seriously

MORRISTOWN, N.J. (WordNews.org) Nov. 29, 2011 -- Imagine choir practice where you never have to leave home.
That’s the plan devised by Liquid Church of New Jersey. Liquid Church is inviting people from around the world to participate via webcams and YouTube in the first ever Christmas Virtual Choir for Christmas Eve services.
“Whether they’re soldiers in the Middle East, moms in Estonia or students in Phoenix, Arizona, the church will leverage technology to synchronize individual singers into a unified choir rendition of Silent Night,” the church announced.

“We’re creating a unique experience for singers across the globe to come together as one voice this Christmas,” said Tim Lucas, lead Pastor of the New Jersey-based Christian church.

To read more

Religious freedom in China at lowest point since Tiananmen Square crackdown

BRUSSELS, Belgium (WordNews.org) Nov. 28, 2011 — Religious freedom is nonexistent in China, ChinaAid founder and president Bob Fu will be telling the European Parliament on Wednesday. Fu said human rights and religious freedom in China have deteriorated to its lowest point since the period after the crackdown on the 1989 Tiananmen Square student-led pro-democracy demonstration.

Fu and several other ChinaAid witnesses were invited by the European Parliament to testify at its hearing on “The human rights situation in China” at the parliament building in Brussels, Belgium.

To read more

Ministry partners with inmates to help amputees

Nashville (WordNews.org) Nov. 27, 2011 — Two Nashville-based organizations have formed a unique partnership and are are teaming up to help amputees in developing countries.
Standing With Hope, a nonprofit faith based corporation providing artificial limbs to amputees in the West African country of Ghana, will now work with Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) to launch a work program for inmates to disassemble donated used prosthetic limbs and recycle key components needed for fabricating new legs for amputees overseas.

To read more

Universities join in 40-day prayer for Penn State

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WordNews.org) Nov. 25, 2011 -- A 40-day prayer series focused on the Penn State scandal has been launched and students and faculty from other universities are encouraged to join the effort.
The online prayer series was created by CS Heinz, a writer.
"Universities that Penn State normally competes with in sports and academia are signing up to pray for Penn State," Heinz said. "Our need for something and someone greater than ourselves is uniting us in this dark hour. I think that's why many people are turning to prayer."
In addition to students and faculty at Penn State, people from universities such as Ohio State, University of Virginia, Clemson, and University of Oklahoma and joined in.
The email series called "40 Days of Prayer for PSU," is designed to help people pray for the crisis at Penn State including the alleged victims, their families, and abuse survivors. It is available at www.PrayPSU.org.

To read more

Thursdays with Brandon Heath: On other artists (Part 5 of 5)

NASHVILLE (WordNews.org) Nov. 24, 2011 – Christian music artists Brandon Heath and Britt Nicole have been touring together since October, opening for Brandon’s “Leaving Eden” tour.
Brandon said having Britt on tour, an old-time friend, brings a different dimension to his concerts. Mainly, a slightly different fan base.
“As a young female artist, she brings little girls and that wouldn’t be my audience,” Brandon says. “I feel like we both bring a very valuable audience to each other. It’s cool to see her in her ministry and do what she does. I think we complement each other well.”
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Wednesdays with Britt Nicole: 'A great journey so far' (Part 5 in a series)

Britt Nicole

 NASHVILLE (WordNews.org) Nov. 23, 2011 – When we last left Britt Nicole, she was in a conversation with God.
She wanted to go to college in Nashville, but He wanted her to return to her small town in North Carolina.
“There’s nothing for me to do here,” she remembers complaining. “But as soon as I surrendered to God and said, ‘I’m not going to take my path, I’m going to take Yours,’ doors began to open for me as far as my music"


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Is 180 film blackballed by billboard companies?

LOS ANGELES (WordNews.org) Nov. 22, 2011 --  A sign of the times?
Ray Comfort, head of The Way of the Master ministries and the creator of the film “180” which has gone viral, says three of the largest billboard companies in southern California have declined to allow him to advertising the film using their billboards.
Other companies that were approached haven’t returned calls.
Meanwhile, Comfort said, these same companies advertise “atheists’ mockery of god and the Bible, promote strip clubs and porn conventions.”
Comfort, who is Jewish, said one of the billboard companies is owned by a Jewish person who was upset that the 180 film compares abortion in America to the Holocaust.

To read more

Erica Lane's 'A Merry Little Christmas'

NASHVILLE (WordNews.org) Nov. 21, 2011 — If you’ve already started listening to Christmas music, here’s a new one to try out: Erica Lane’s “A Merry Little Christmas.” Lane is a classically trained singer/songwriter. She’s a former Miss Houston. She’s been in a family-friendly reality TV series. And now, her third album.
This six-song Christmas album includes classics like “Silent Night” and “Jingle Bells” as well as “Angels in the Snow,” which was recorded for a film.
“I originally wrote ‘Angels in the Snow’ for a movie called ‘A Christmas Snow,’ but it has evolved into much more than a song for film,” she said. “People approach me every time I sing it and share their memories and stories of lost loved ones, relating themselves to the message of the song."
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Santa is in, Jesus is out at SC cancer center

CHARLSESTON, S.C. (WordNews.org) Nov. 19, 2011  – A cancer treatment center in Charleston, S.C., has reversed its decision to not display Santa Claus on its property.Now, a Christian law firm, Liberty Counsel, is urging The Hollings Cancer Center to reverse its ban on the Nativity scene and other religious Christmas symbols.
Liberty Counsel sent a letter to a cancer treatment center, demanding the change.
Liberty said The Hollings Cancer Center is a state-funded institution.
"They reversed the decision and let Santa Claus sneak in, but for now baby Jesus is still out in the cold," the legal organization said.

Click here to read more.

Thursdays with Brandon Heath: Staying grounded, 'Doing what I was born to do'

 NASHVILLE (WordNews.org) Nov. 17, 2011 – If you listen to Christian radio much, you don’t have to wait long for a Brandon Heath tune to come on.
Hits like “Give Me Your Eyes” and his current hit, “You Put the Light In Me,” get lots of airtime.
How’s a guy stay grounded?
“I have a men’s group of about four guys that I meet with,” he said.
Because Brandon tours mostly on weekends, “I get to be home with the fam over the week and then I’ve got a mentor that asks me a lot of tough questions sometimes. [And] I have a counselor,” he said. “So, I think that it’s pretty extraordinary, if I think about it. I have some pretty awesome people in my life. But I’ve made it a priority to have them. It’s important that they’re around.”

 To read more click here

Wednesdays with Britt Nicole: A conversation with God (Part 4 in a series)

NASHVILLE (WordNews.org) Nov. 16, 2011 – Christian music artist Britt Nicole began sensing God’s calling on her life when she was 16 years old.
“I remember sitting in youth group one night,” she recalls. “My aunt and uncle were my youth pastors. They asked us to write down our vision or dreams.”
Her dream?
“I remember writing on this little piece of paper that I wanted to reach a million [people] through music,” she says. “I wanted to reach people and touch people’s lives.”
Britt’s on track to do just that. She’s got three albums out: “Acoustic EP,” “Say It” and “Lost Get Found.”
But Britt’s plan and God’s were not exactly the same.

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C.S. Lewis' stepson to answer questions over Twitter

SAN FRANCISCO (WordNews.org) Nov. 15, 2011 — If you ever wanted to know what life was like living with the great Christian thinker C.S. Lewis, you now have a chance to find out. Publisher HarperOne, in collaboration with the estate of C. S. Lewis, announces the first-of-its kind event with Douglas Gresham, stepson of the celebrated author.

Click here to read more.

Former Borders prez to lead Christian Leadership Alliance

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. (WordNews.org)  Nov. 14, 2011 — Tami Heim, the former president of Borders, has been appointed president and CEO of Christian Leadership Alliance. She begins Jan. 1, 2012.

To read more:
 http://tinyurl.com/CLAHeim

Book calls on men to 'step up'

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (WordNews.org) Nov. 12, 2011 – “Will you be ready to step up?”
It’s a challenge Dennis Rainey, co-founder of FamilyLife, is giving to me these days.
“Men are in a battlefield,” he says. “Literal bullets may not be flying, but the need to bravely step up is quite real.”
It’s a battle for the young and old alike, Rainey says.
“Regardless of your age or stage in life, you are uniquely suited for a task God has in mind. There’s no question of that,” he says, “only a question of—Will you be ready and will you step up?”

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Wednesdays with Britt Nicole: No worries. Here to reach, love people (Part 3 in a series)

NASHVILLE (WordNews.org) Nov. 9, 2011 – Britt Nicole says she’s been given a lot of freedom as a Christian recording artist.

“I’ve been very blessed to be able to work with people that I love and that really support me and support my heart, what I feel called to do and really give me a lot of space creatively to be myself and not feel like I’m in a box and that I’ve got to do specific things.”

But she says she knows that’s not the case for everyone.

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Religious freedom group challenges Operation Christmas Child

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WordNews.org) Nov. 8, 2011 – The head of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation wants to stop the U.S. Air Force Academy from promoting Operation Christmas Child, according to the American Center for Law and Justice.
According to notices that went out to supporters Tuesday, the ACLJ said Mikey Weinstein, head of the foundation, complained about an email sent by students to fellow cadets encouraging them to “provide the joy of Christmas to impoverished children around the world.”

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.

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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."

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."