Author: Gordon Govier

O’FALLON, MO. — The spotlight shone on the Rev. Mike Schreiner on Sunday as he preached about who goes to heaven and how earthly relationships will translate in the hereafter.Off to Schreiner’s right, the steady glow of dozens of cell phones lit up the section where the teens of Morning Star Church sat listening to the sermon, thumbs furiously working little keyboards.Read more of this story.

Defying a federal tax law they consider unjust, 33 ministers across the country will take to their pulpits this Sunday and publicly endorse a candidate for president. They plan to then send copies of their sermons to the Internal Revenue Service, hoping to provoke a challenge to a law that bars religious organizations and other nonprofits that accept tax-deductible contributions from involvement in partisan political campaigns.Rev. Luke Emrich of New Life Church, a small evangelical church in West Bend, Wis., demurred when asked which candidate he planned to endorse on Sunday.Read more of this story. More coverage: Pastors Launch Challenge -…

NEWS RELEASEMiddleton Outreach Ministry is saddened to announce the resignation of Dietrich Gruen, its Executive Director since 1997. His planned departure follows an eleven-year tenure, during which the organization grew nine-fold in revenues and significantly increased its program offerings directed towards helping "neighbors in need" in Middleton and Madison’s west side.

It is official: According to the National Endowment for the Arts, the Oneida Hymn Singers are "national living treasures." The singers, members of the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin, perform Christian hymns a cappella in the Oneida language. Read more of this story.

NEWS RELEASEMadison, WI – Starting today, September 24, 2008, Madison area pro-life advocates are joining with people of faith, conscience, and good will, from over 170 cities across the nation for the second 40 Days for Life campaign. 40 Days for Life is a nationwide pro-life campaign that focuses on 40 days of constant prayer and fasting, 40 days of peaceful vigil and witness at abortion facilities, and 40 days of grassroots educational outreach to work towards ending the tragedy of abortion.

Starting early last Sunday morning, the turmoil in New York’s financial markets triggered a spiritual response among Christian leaders reminiscent of the response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Cell phone text messages quickly spread calls to prayer.Read more of this story. More stories: Chaplains aid Wall Street workers Some in suits turn to religion

The Christian blogosphere has been set abuzz since CCM veteran Ray Boltz made public his struggle with and eventual acceptance of his homosexual desires.Read more of this story.

What if something as catastrophic as Ike affected your city? Many of the preparedness and recovery processes (short-term and long-term) can be in place well before a crisis hits your town. Simply put, this is a time for the Church to “be there” for others. All of the Christian relief agencies need your help; please donate or participate with one that also dispels spiritual "food." Read more of this report. WORLD VISION ASSISTING CHURCHES IN HARDEST HIT AREAS

Barack Obama’s campaign enlisted evangelical author Donald Miller on a tour through battleground states called "Barack Obama: Faith, Family and Values Tour," a campaign official told Christianity Today. Miller, Pepperdine University professor Doug Kmiec, and former Indiana Congressman pro-life Democrat Tim Roemer will speak to groups in community centers and gyms before taking questions. They plan to talk about where Obama and his running mate Joe Biden stand on issues like poverty and abortion. The tour will begin next week and will last for about a month in states like Colorado, Indiana, North Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Florida,…

A new survey of the USA’s religious beliefs and practices finds 55% of all adults — including one in five of those who say they have no religion — believe they have been protected from harm by a guardian angel.Read more of this story.