News
Five years ago Ridley Usherwood’s global career track brought him to Madison, when he took a job with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship to work on the Urbana Student Missions Convention. Now he’s settled even further into the community by taking a pastoral position at High Point Church. MC interviewed the Rev. Dr. Usherwood on his illustrious career and his goals in his newest assignment.
CommentaryThere’s been a lot of talk about the tantalizing announcement of Thomas Pynchon’s new novel, “Against the Day,” coming later this month. But let me draw attention to a throwaway line from the one-page excerpt in the publisher’s catalog that may have escaped your notice. “It’s O.K, we’re open-minded,” says the leader of a gang interrupted in the midst of a robbery; “couple boys in the outfit are evangelicals.” Read more.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–More than two-thirds of formerly churched adults are open to the idea of attending church regularly again, according to LifeWay Research. In the summer of 2006, the new research arm of LifeWay Christian Resources conducted a survey of 469 formerly churched adults to better understand why they stopped attending church and what it would take to bring them back. The “formerly churched” are defined as those who regularly attended a Protestant church as an adult in the past but no longer do so. Read more.
(AgapePress) – Christians in the United States are being encouraged to join in a corporate prayer effort for believers worldwide who face persecution.Sunday, November 12, is the annual International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Christians in America are asked to pray for more than 200 million believers who suffer for the faith in Christ. Pastors are being encouraged to incorporate sermons about the persecuted Church into their Sunday services. Read more.Pray for the Persecuted Church at Madison’s House of Prayer for All Nations.
MADISON — A Catholic group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison sued school officials on Thursday, claiming their policies discriminate against religious groups who want to qualify for student fees.The UW Roman Catholic Foundation filed suit in federal court in Madison against members of the UW System Board of Regents and four UW-Madison officials. Read more.
The passionate, sometimes rhythmic, language-like patter that pours forth from religious people who “speak in tongues” reflects a state of mental possession, many of them say. Now they have some neuroscience to back them up. Read more.
The production begins with a Cece Winans song:"Fill my cup, Lord. I lift it up, Lord.Come and quench this thirsting in my soul."The table resembles the Last Supper, but coffee cups, not wine goblets, are raised in reverence. The vignette lasts less than one minute, and it is Mother Mary, not Jesus Christ, who is placed at the center of it all. Read more.
Tuesday’s success prompts look at no-fault provision Fresh from their successful fight to ban same-sex marriage in the state constitution, supporters are now ready to turn to what they see as the next biggest threat to the institution of marriage: Wisconsin’s no-fault divorce law. Read more.
News ReleaseMarriage Protection Amendment passes state-wide referendumMADISON — In response to Tuesday’s elections results, where Wisconsin voters passed a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the exclusive union of one man and one woman, Vote Yes for Marriage president, Julaine Appling, said, “Tuesday, November 7, 2006, stands as yet another landmark for traditional marriage. The people of the great state of Wisconsin have reaffirmed the importance of one-man/one-woman marriage in our society. Wisconsin is now one of the latest states in our country that has proudly stood up and publicly declared that traditional marriage is best for our state, best…
(AgapePress) – A spokesman for America’s largest conservative women’s public policy group says among the key determiners of political races across the U.S. will be the "married moms" contingent — women voters looking to protect the interests of their children and families.Concerned Women for America’s Dr. Janice Crouse believes this demographic group will once again play a pivotal role in voting results on November 7, just as they do each election cycle. And she believes it is vital that conservative candidates and political strategists pay attention to this often overlooked bloc. Read more.