Charisma News

 A newly formed ministry coalition believes it’s time for urban churches in the U.S. to envision a needy world beyond … Read More

In a historic first, seven leaders from the underground church in China received doctor of ministry seminary degrees recently from The King’s University in Los Angeles. Founder Jack Hayford said he believes the school “was raised up for this time.”

While a few degrees have been granted to Chinese students from seminaries in Singapore, this was the first time an American university has awarded doctorates in ministry to Chinese students. Faculty from The King’s University traveled back and forth to China and taught through translators.

The leaders are a part of what some call the “Third Church,” a name often used to describe the Chinese underground church in urban areas. Historically, the country’s underground church has been hidden mainly in the rural areas, away from the communist government’s power bases. The registered, state-approved Three-Self Church accounts for about half the estimated 140 million Chinese believers.

She’s in. And she says she’s a bold choice. She’s Rep. Michele Bachmann, a Christian voice with a Lutheran background—and she could be the answer to Mormon candidate Mitt Romney. Charismatics have also taken note of her degree from the Coburn School of Law at Oral Roberts University.

Bachmann grew up a Democrat and worked for Jimmy Carter’s election in 1976, but switched parties after seeing Carter’s big budget plans.

“I remember [my grandmother’s] prophetic admonition to my father that the Great Society wouldn’t work because it wouldn’t be my father’s generation who paid for it, but rather my brother, David, and me,” she says. “Now that prediction has come true, and neither my Democrat father nor my Republican grandmother would have condoned this spending and debt.”

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association presented a humanitarian award to Cindy Trimm, founder of Trimm International, author and former senator. BGEA … Read More

“The state of California is on the verge of financial collapse. The last thing we need is to make an … Read More

Mitt Romney is running for president, but how comfortable are Americans with a Mormon as Commander in Chief compared to other … Read More

Despite persecution, three more respected Christian leaders have signed on as co-chairpersons of the Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s The Response: a call to prayer for a nation in crisis prayer event on Aug. 6.

Penny Nance, president and CEO of Concerned Women for America; Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council; and Frank Wright, president of the National Religious Broadcasters, have been appointed to serve. Previously announced co-chairpersons include Dr. James Dobson and his wife, Shirley, Rev. Sammy Rodriquez, Dr. Tony Evans and Dr. Richard Land.

Campus Crusade for Christ in the U.S. is changing its name to Cru. The new name will be adopted in early 2012. The U.S. ministry hopes the new name will overcome existing barriers and perceptions inherent in the original name.

“From the beginning, Bill (Bright) was open to changing our name. He never felt it was set in stone. In fact, he actually considered changing the name 20 or 25 years ago,” says Vonette Bright, who co-founded Campus Crusade for Christ with her husband. “We want to remove any obstacle to people hearing about the most important person who ever lived—Jesus Christ.”

The new name and identity was unveiled to 5,000 staff Tuesday who were gathered at the ministry’s biennial U.S. staff conference in Ft. Collins, Colo. The news was met with enthusiasm and excitement.

In the week preceding the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Christians across the country will be strategically positioned outside high schools near mosques with known terrorism links. They will hand out literature that tells students “the truth about Islam and Muhammad and their violent, oppressive policies towards non-Muslims.”

“Like all patriotic Americans we cherish our liberties and our God-given rights and are committed to defending these principles,” says Steve Klein of Concerned Citizens for the First Amendment.

“Fourteen hundred violent years of history prove that Islam is incompatible with America. Muslims believe they are superior and arrogantly reject our Christian principles of equality, minority rights and equal justice,” Klein adds. “We are going to the schools to protect students—and especially our young women—from the oppression Islam threatens to impose.”