News
Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan, a man at the epicenter of forces shaking the world Anglican Communion and its affiliated U.S. Episcopal Church, got a standing ovation from about 75 people in Waukesha County this week as he said that a new North American church was arising for traditionalists opposed to same-sex blessings and gay, partnered bishops.Read more of this story.
COMMENTARYATLANTA (BP)–In every generation wars are neither desired nor welcomed. We are devastatingly reminded again and again that pain, death and destruction are always left in their wake. And yet, throughout our nation’s history from the very beginning of its birth wars have been necessary to fight for, secure and maintain the precious freedoms endowed by God that all of us share. And it is not for our freedoms alone that we continue to fight, but for the freedom of those around the world as well.Read more of this commentary.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — It seemed like an almost literal answer to their prayers. When two New Zealand pilots ran out of fuel in a microlight airplane they offered prayers and were able to make an emergency landing in a field — coming to rest right next to a sign reading, "Jesus is Lord."Read more of this story.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — A West Virginia woman was being transferred to the Cleveland Clinic after walking the line between life and death. Doctors are calling Val Thomas a medical miracle. They said they can’t explain how she is alive.Read more of this story.
Eleven years ago, Lisa Thompson prayed for a passion, a cause she could champion. Formerly an office manager for a private investigator and an English teacher in China, Lisa was looking for her life’s calling.Today Lisa, 37, serves as The Salvation Army’s Liaison for the Abolition of Sex Trafficking. Read more of this story.
Recent polls have shown Americans are losing confidence in religious institutions, but at the same time, an interest in spirituality has been on the rise. In search of new alternatives to houses of worship, a growing number are moving from pews to Internet portals to find God in cyberspace.Read more of this story.
NEW ORLEANS (BP)–When ABC network television’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition producers brainstormed about the 2008 season finale, their thoughts turned to New Orleans.Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is a television program in which a family — in this case, the Noah’s Ark Missionary Baptist Church family — receives a new or renovated home at no cost. This is the first church building to receive Extreme Makeover’s attention.Read more of this story.
When it was formally introduced last August, GodTube was the fastest-growing Web site, as rated by comScore, attracting 1.7 million unique visitors for the month. The traffic remains about the same today. “People thirst for more than just a once-a-week relationship with the Lord and Savior,” said Jason Illian, Big Jump Media’s chief strategy officer. “They desire something that they can live out 24/7.”Read more of this story.
After modeling a seeker-sensitive approach to church growth for three decades, Willow Creek Community Church now plans to gear its weekend services toward mature believers seeking to grow in their faith.Read more of this story.
Problem: Most churched high school students do not make it through college with their faith intactThe faith disconnect that occurs when Christian high school students make the transition to college or career (Lifeway Research’s survey from August 2007 shows the dropout rate at 70 percent) is not necessarily something that students plan. The problem is usually that students do not have a mature faith that they will continue to nurture when they are away from the influence of their parents.Read more of this story.More on this topic: "Raised in the Church" – The Stamford Advocate