Author: Gordon Govier

Marc Maillefer (pron. MY-fair), new senior pastor at Door Creek Church, sat down for a conversation with MC News Editor Gordon Govier to help introduce him to his new congregation as well as to the Madison community. Q: How much did you know about Madison before you took this job?MM: I’ve jokingly said that our knowledge of Madison was always driving by. My wife is from the Twin Cities and we’ve been living in Chicago; well I’ve lived there all my life. So I didn’t know a whole lot about Madison. I remember pulling off I-90 one time and driving…

NEWS RELEASECENTURY CITY, Calif. (September 20, 2006) – As the leading supplier of high quality entertainment product for the faith-based marketplace, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (TCFHE) unveils FOXFAITH, a new branded distribution label to house its growing portfolio of faith-based programming. Established for Christian retailers and churches/ministry organizations as a collection of inspirational films they can recommend and promote among their congregations, this new consumer and retail brand will be comprised of filmed entertainment with a clear Christian message or based on material by a Christian author. FOXFAITH will be a home entertainment distribution label as well as the…

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA (ANS) — At least 300 gathered at the 8th annual Media Fellowship International brunch to honor two-time Academy Award winner Al Kasha and hear the producer of “American Idol” share about his faith journey.“I’m excited to see what God can do with the people in this room,” Pastor Bob Reith, founder of Media Fellowship International (MFI) told entertainment industry insiders gathered at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Almost 20 years ago, Reith launched MFI in Seattle after a rock and roll DJ challenged him to start a Bible study for his friends. Today, MFI ministers to entertainment professionals…

President Bush said that he senses a "Third Awakening" of religious devotion in the United States that has coincided with the nation’s struggle with international terrorists, a war that he depicted as "a confrontation between good and evil." Read more.

Recall the political storms in the United States over lifting bans on opening stores on Sundays – the so-called "blue laws." Christian ministers would point to Moses’ fourth commandment: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." Owners of mom-and-pop retail shops would plead to keep a legal "day of rest" that prevented big stores from luring away business by staying open on Sundays. But growing numbers of women worked outside the home and found it difficult to shop during the week. States hoped Sunday store hours would boost tax revenues. Today, the battle is largely over. In most parts…

Town of Brookfield – Elmbrook Church, one of the region’s first megachurches, is launching a year’s celebration of its 50th anniversary with jubilee events and a cutting-edge Web site that could be a national model for linking people to ministries and faith messages. Read more.

Islam History Professor Moshe Sharon of Hebrew University told a counter-terrorism conference Thursday, "There is no possibility of peace between Israel and the Palestinians whatsoever – ever.” Read more.

CommentaryWhat is the fastest growing religion in America? Could it be conservative protestants with their evangelical zeal? Perhaps the Mormons, who send their well-scrubbed young people on year-long mission trips as a "rite of passage" into adulthood? Maybe it’s a denomination that is following the latest "fad" — an Emergent, or Willow Creek, or "seeker" church.

ANNOUNCEMENTThis summer we experimented with a concept that took our former Prayer Internship students and other trusted praying friends out to pray for local churches and ministries. We called them Ignition Teams. We believe prayer can release the blessings of God. And that’s what these Ignition Teams do. They go out to turn on blessings from God in answer to prayer. This is one of the most visible ways we can be a “gift” to the body of Christ in our city.We want to let you know that we are now re-launching these teams.

News Release (MADISON, WI) – Members of 10 Madison area churches are working together to build a home for the Xiong Family and will be part of the Apostles Build II for Habitat for Humanity of Dane County (HFHDC). Groundbreaking for the Xiong Family will be held on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 10 a.m. at 9 Kanazawa Circle in the Twin Oaks Subdivision on Madison’s Southeast side.