News
Delegates to the fifth World Congress of Families concluded their gathering this past week with the release of a declaration affirming that “the future of nations rests on families that are spiritually grounded.”“Representing families and organizations from over 60 nations, we delegates … affirm Article 16, par. 3, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, agreeing that ‘the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society, and is entitled to protection by society and the State,’” stated the “Amsterdam Declaration” that was adopted following the conclusion of the WCF’s Aug. 10-12 gathering in the Netherlands.Read more of this…
Prayer Movement Expanding Across U.S. CampusesTim Collier and Dayn Lukes serve as Campus America Co-coordinators for the state of Wisconsin. They, along with Anell Daniels, the Wisconsin Prayer Network Coordinator, are searching for catalytic young people and intercessors for each of Wisconsin’s four-year colleges and universities to coordinate a minimum of 72 hours of united prayer on their own campuses in 2010.
GAITHERSBURG, Md.—The Rev. Sarah Scherschligt walks behind her Prince of Peace Lutheran Church to the spot where she feels “closer to God.” Surrounded by a chicken-wire fence and marked by a sign that reads “Fruitful Fields,” is her church’s new vegetable garden. Growing there are tomatoes ready to be picked for the local food kitchen, basil that a member may use in some home cooking, green beans that can be eaten right off the stalk. Read more of this story.
Megachurches have become one-stop centers, with food courts, sports leagues, and automotive repair shops alongside concert-caliber praise bands and strong preachers.Next up: seminaries.Mars Hill Church, the Seattle megachurch of high-profile pastor Mark Driscoll, will launch the Resurgence Training Center this fall. Dubbed "Re:Train," the degree-granting graduate program is part of a strategy for preparing leaders to plant 1,000 churches.At the same time, popular pastor John Piper’s Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis—which has had a pastor-training institute for 11 years—will start offering master’s degrees as Bethlehem College and Seminary.Read more of this story.LOCAL ANGLE:Some Madison churches also offer advanced theological training. HighPoint…
Dr. David Cook’s book, Golf’s Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links of Utopia, has inspired thousands and is being used in men’s groups at churches all around the country. It’s a story about the character "Johnny" who finds a new putting style at a golf course in a small town called Utopia, Texas.David Cook has been to Madison a number of times and has friends here in Madison, WI. His book was recently picked up by Zondervan and is being republished. The website for the book (www.linksofutopia.com) was recently redesigneb here in Madison, WI and USA Today has also…
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — One in eight background checks conducted on volunteers or prospective employees through LifeWay Christian Resources found a criminal history that might have kept an individual from working or volunteering at a church, the Southern Baptist Convention publishing house reported Aug. 4.Read more of this story.
(UNDATED) The nation’s largest Lutheran denomination will consider lifting its ban on gay and lesbian clergy who are in lifelong, monogamous relationships as it gathers this month for a churchwide meeting. More than 1,000 delegates will debate church policy Aug. 17-23 at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s biennial General Assembly in Minneapolis. Read more of this story. Lutheran CORE (Coalition for Reform) is a coalition of individuals, congregations, and reform movements in the ELCA. – More information here.
Madison area residents have the opportunity on August 27th-29th to be trained as crisis responders, and to learn how to bring God’s presence in the wake of tragedy and disaster. Crisis Response International (CRI) is an outreach that recognizes that God’s love, hope and mercy is needed most after disaster strikes. And who better to deliver the Good News than God’s people.
WHITTIER, CALIFORNIA (ANS) — At the end of last year, one of the most generous members of Willow Creek Community Church pulled Pastor Bill Hybels aside and told him he just lost his job, was close to losing his home, and would not be able to make his annual gift to the church – traditionally in the six-figure range.Whipsawed by declining revenue and growing needs for assistance within the church, Hybels and his team faced hard choices. Read more of this story.
LAKE PROVIDENCE, La. — The Rev. Michael Owens says nothing compares with dunking someone toward salvation. Owens, the pastor at New Hope Baptist Church in this small church-crowded hamlet in northeast Louisiana, recently joined a dozen other pastors in leading outdoor baptisms in Lake Providence. They baptized 40 white-robed children, ages 4 to 15, plus three adults who waded in unannounced.Read more of this story.