Jennifer LeClaire - Charisma News

The King’s University Discusses Crystal Cathedral Bid

U.S.

A large arts and crafts retailer known for its philanthropic support of Christian causes has offered to purchase the Crystal Cathedral Garden Grove, Calif., property for $47.5 million.

If the bid is successful, the Oklahoma-based Hobby Lobby would lease the property to The King’s University for a year and then donate it to the university. The King’s University is a Pentecostal/Charismatic Bible college and seminary of which Jack Hayford is founder.

“Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. offered the Crystal Cathedral Board of Directors $47.5 million to purchase the Crystal Cathedral property,” says Mart Green, the vice chairman of the board for the retailer and son of founder David Green. “Although Hobby Lobby believes its offer is adequate to pay in full all secured, priority and trade creditors, such an allocation of sale proceeds is not a closing condition. Our offer is in cash, which allows for creditors to be paid back as soon as a sale is completed.”

Study Proves Religious People Have More Joy

Culture

There may be a few atheists in foxholes, but a new study suggests that in societies under stress, those who are religious outnumber—and are happier than—their nonreligious counterparts.

Where peace and plenty are the norm, however, religious participation is lower and people are happier whether or not they are religious, the researchers found.

The study analyzed data from the 2005-2009 Gallup World Poll, a survey of people in more than 150 countries that included questions about religious affiliation, life satisfaction, respect, social support and positive and negative feelings. The researchers also looked at 2009 Gallup polling data from the U.S.

Netanyahu Urges Ambassadors to Oppose Unilateral Palestinian Move at U.N.

Politics

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday urged 19 visiting diplomats to oppose a drive by the Palestinians to win unilateral recognition of statehood at the United Nations without negotiating a peace agreement with Israel.

The delegation of 18 Washington-based ambassadors from four continents and one other senior diplomat met Netanyahu on day two of a five-day fact-finding mission to Israel and the West Bank organized by The Israel Project.

“I am going to ask you not to support this resolution,” Netanyahu told the group. He said the resolution, which Palestinian leaders are expected to bring to the United Nations General Assembly next month, could seriously damage the peace process and make future negotiations much more difficult.

30,000 Unite In Fasting, Prayer at The Response

U.S.

Despite protestors who traveled across Texas to picket what they viewed as a hate-based event—and despite the Unitarian church offering its alternative to the controversial event less than four miles away—more than 30,000 saints gathered in Houston’s Reliant Stadium on Saturday for The Response: a call to prayer for a nation in crisis prayer. And

Voodoo Priest Finds Christ in Haiti

World

Recently we told you about a grassroots effort to dedicate Haiti to Christ. According to those who participated, God moved.

Pastor Robert Ulysse, a minister in the northwest region of Haiti, says they prayed each day at a different crossroad in the region.

According to Ulysse, “After we closed the seventh crossroad event on Saturday, a Voodoo priest named Solivert Josep, came forward with his wife. They both declared that they wanted to renounce their Voodoo practices in favor of the ‘Living God.’ We filled three pickup trucks with Christians and drove to the Joseph’s home to remove and burn their Voodoo articles.”

The Response Prayer Rally Draws Huge Response

U.S.

After plenty of persecution—and even legal challenges—tens of thousands are gathering this morning for worship at Houston’s Reliance Stadium for Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s The Response: a call to prayer for a nation in crisis prayer. “Not yet 10 a.m. and well over 20,000 already worshipping at the Response! We officially start at 10. PTL!!”

Charisma Meets the Digital Age

Opinion

When I felt led to start a small church magazine, I barely knew what God had in store. That magazine released 36 years ago today, so I thought it was appropriate to reflect on what’s happened, and more importantly what is on the verge of happening as we move boldly into the digital world.

Many of you know Charisma started at a megachurch in central Florida. I was working full time as a newspaper reporter then. My, how the media world has changed! The staff found this in the archives: a black-and-white photo of me holding a copy of The Rock, a youth newspaper that I published before Charisma. They had me hold an iPad to show the contrast. Back then I could have never imagined today’s iPad! Yet I dreamed that maybe somehow we’d reach a million people. Do you know how many trees you’d have to cut down to print that many magazines?