MC News
Although largely unreported by the mainstream media, a decision announced two and a half ago weeks ago in Washington has ignited a call to action here in Madison and in religious communities across the country. The decision: confirmation of a federal mandate that all private health plans must include coverage for all FDA-approved contraception, including abortion-inducing drugs, as well as sterilization and similiar services. What it means is that some religious organizations will be forced to violate their religious beliefs. As Madison Diocese Bishop Robert Morlino stated in a letter that was read in local Catholic congregations a week ago,…
Once again Faith Community Bible Church, at the corner of Park and Regent Street will open their facility 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from Ash Wednesday to Palm Sunday. Since 2008 UW Campus leaders have hosted a prayer room during lent called the Badger Prayer Room. Students built and ran the room, making sure the time slots were covered so that prayers for the Lord to bring HIs glory and salvation to the UW campus would be offered 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Last September, David Johnson called Jeff Plake, the campus pastor at Evangel University. It wasn’t like Johnson, a 2010 Evangel graduate from Mayville, Wisconsin, to call out of the blue, but he had some big news. Johnson, a first lieutenant in the Army, had earned command of his own platoon. And he was going to Afghanistan. “He said, ‘I’m excited and a little terrified,’ ” Plake said. On Wednesday, Johnson was killed in Afghanistan, after deploying in December.
Shawano, WI – Liberty Counsel is representing the Wegner family after school officials at Shawano High School censored and punished Brandon Wegner, a 15-year-old, for writing an op-ed article explaining the Biblical view of homosexuality and supporting natural mother-father adoption. Liberty Counsel sent a letter to the school demanding it apologize for its unconstitutional and irrational censorship and humiliation of Brandon.
“Joyful Noise,” the new movie starring Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton about a struggling church choir, has been pummeled by critics. Reuters news service was especially harsh (“Jesus wept”), but others were equally unkind. Rolling Stone called it a “bucket of ‘Glee’-goes-gospel cornpone.” The New York Times said it seems to unfold in “a lower echelon of musical comedy hell.” Could it really be that bad? I asked members of the gospel choir from Faith Community Baptist Church on Madison’s South Side to see it with me.
Abundant Life Christian School (ALCS) and High Point Christian School (HPCS) are joining together into one school to offer a new wrinkle in Christian education to Madison area families. ALCS is located at 4901 E. Buckeye Road on Madison’s east side, and is a ministry of City Church. HPCS is located at 7702 Old Sauk Road on Madison’s west side, and is a ministry of High Point Church. Members of the two congregations were informed of the consolidation, as it’s being called, last month. ALCS currently has an enrollment of 209 students, which is significantly smaller than previous years where it has topped 500. Meanwhile…
Madison West High School graduate Cyrus Nowrasteh is reported to be collaborating with novelist Anne Rice to bring to the silver screen her novel, Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, a story of the boyhood of Jesus Christ. Nowrasteh is known for controversial productions: The Day Reagan Was Shot on Showtime was accused of liberal bias by conservatives and his ABC/Disney miniseries The Path to 9/11 was attacked for conservative bias. His 2008 drama The Stoning of Soraya M was widely acclaimed and it was that production that got the attention of Anne Rice.
The Perspectives course is returning to Madison for the first time since 2006. Beginning this coming Sunday evening, area residents have the opportunity to take a 16-week course that connects the local church, their local worshipping community, with the global church, the worldwide Christian movement that is charged with The Great Commission of spreading the gospel message. “This is the best overall course in missions you could take,” said David Lippiatt, who is coordinating the class. “It’s a great tool for discerning some of the things that God has placed on your heart.” David himself first took the class in 2003,…
They doubt it’s been done before, perhaps for good reason. The Rev. Nic Gibson says it “could be a disaster.” The Rev. Harold Rayford calls it potentially “messy.” The two ministers — from starkly different churches — plan to bring their congregations together for a joint service, where they’ll preach together, volleying back and forth in a tag-team approach. They will do this next Sunday, on Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.