Moldovan Orphans Minister God’s Grace to Kids
Constanza, 22, spent most of her childhood in an orphanage where the walls where covered in black mold. Though the … Read More
Christian Street Sweepers Abused in Pakistan
The often unseen or unrecognized abuses suffered by Christians at Pakistan’s lowest level of society—street sweepers—have come into sharp focus this year.
While one Christian sanitation worker in Lahore has been suspended and criminal charges filed against him for objecting to discrimination against fellow workers, another was killed the same month for not tending to a shopkeeper’s command fast enough.
Anayat Masih Sahotra, who has worked as a street sweeper for Lahore’s Solid Waste Management department for 24 years, said he is facing baseless charges of forgery and fraud from his employers because of his work as a labor leader for area sweepers, who are nearly all Christians. He was suspended and accused of the crimes on May 14 after he asked SWM Managing Director Wasim Ajmal Chaudhry to fulfill a promise to make 400 Christian workers regular employees with full benefits, he said.
Porn Dangers Subject of Month-Long Awareness Campaign
Be Aware: Porn Harms. That’s the message Morality in Media wants you to get loud and clear during its four-week … Read More
Eritrea Imprisons 35 Christians for Worshipping
Open Doors says Eritrean military officials have rounded up another group of evangelical Christians this week.
Authorities arrested 35 believers on Sunday, on suspicion of gathering for worship in Assab, a port city. The group, which included 17 women, was taken to the Adi-Nefase military camp near Assab, a notoriously harsh detention center.
Open Doors also reports that 25 Christian students from Mai-Nefhi Educational Institution (roughly 12 miles southwest of Asmara) have been released on bail in order to sit for their final exams. They may have been part of a group of students arrested at the beginning of June for “unpatriotic behavior.” Sources in the country expect the students to be taken back into custody as soon as their exams have been completed.
Social Networkers Welcome Graham to Kenya
Will Graham is getting quite a welcome in Kenya.
Moments after arriving in Nakuru with his wife, Kendra, he was greeted with a parade through the city’s downtown quarters.
“Just arrived in Nakuru! What a reception,” Graham posted on his Twitter account, @TellaGraham. “I’ve never had a reception like that before.”
The grandson of Billy Graham and son of Franklin Graham will be preaching three nights at the Will Graham Celebration of Peace Nakuru from Friday to Sunday at Githma (Mama Scrape Grounds). All events are free.
Wednesday’s downtown parade was just a taste of the excitement that is brewing in Kenya, where Billy Graham preached at two crusades in Nairobi (1960, 1976) and Kisumu (1960).
Should Churches Offer Teens Career Counseling?
What do today’s teens aspire to become after graduation, and how does the input from pastors and church leaders influence … Read More
Casey Anthony Sentenced to Four Years
Chief Judge Belvin Perry sentenced Casey Anthony to four years in prison on Thursday morning. Anthony must also pay $4,000 in fines for lying to law enforcement officials, according to ABC News.
Anthony was found not guilty of first degree murder and manslaughter in the case of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee’s death on Tuesday.
Caylee was last seen on June 16, 2008. Anthony never called the police. And Caylee’s grandmother, Cindy Anthony, waited a month to notify law enforcement.
Iranian Pastor Convicted of Apostasy
An appeal by an Iranian pastor convicted of apostasy has failed. According to Todd Nettleton with Voice of the Martyrs, … Read More
Will God’s Wrath Fall on Casey Anthony?
Casey Anthony was found not guilty of murdering her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee. But the debate continues in the court of public opinion.
One Florida man was so enraged by the verdict, he launched a Facebook page called “Boycott Casey Anthony” to get his message out. Less than a day later, there are nearly 6,000 fans, demonstrating the passion that people across the U.S. have about this headline-making case.
Noteworthy are the views of God’s judgment, hell and grace. Some on the page are pronouncing shame on the jury for the decision. And most are suggesting that Anthony go to the place Rob Bell doesn’t believe exists—hell. God (and Anthony) knows if she was involved in her daughter’s death. Even if she was, Jesus can forgive her if she repents. But that’s not the sentiment many online are taking.
Following are a handful of responses from the Boycott Casey Anthony page that highlight people’s religious views in the wake of what they see as a travesty of justice. The responses are shocking, but not from a worldly point of view that leaves little room for grace:
Will God’s Wrath Fall on Casey Anthony?
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AP Images/Red Huber, Pool, File |
Casey Anthony was found not guilty of murdering her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee. But the debate continues in the court of public opinion.
One Florida man was so enraged by the verdict, he launched a Facebook page called “Boycott Casey Anthony” to get his message out. Less than a day later, there are nearly 6,000 fans, demonstrating the passion that people across the U.S. have about this headline-making case.
Noteworthy are the views of God’s judgment, hell and grace. Some on the page are pronouncing shame on the jury for the decision. And most are suggesting that Anthony go to the place Rob Bell doesn’t believe exists —hell. God (and Anthony) knows if she was involved in her daughter’s death. Even if she was, Jesus can forgive her if she repents. But that’s not the sentiment many online are taking.
Following are a handful of responses from the Boycott Casey Anthony page that highlight people’s religious views in the wake of what they see as a travesty of justice. The responses are shocking, but not from a worldly point of view that leaves little room for grace:
Casey Anthony Verdict Sparks Missing Child Law Petition
Although Casey Anthony was found not guilty of first degree murder and manslaughter in the case of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee’s death, controversy continues to swirl around the fact that she never notified law enforcement the toddler was missing.
But Caylee’s death may not be in vain. The Anthony case has inspired a viral petition campaign to support “Caylee’s Law,” legislation that would make a parent’s failure to notify law enforcement of a child’s disappearance a felony.
As the facts of the case detail, Caylee was last seen on June 16, 2008. Anthony never called the police. And Caylee’s grandmother, Cindy Anthony, waited a month to notify law enforcement.
COGIC Charities to Visit Japan, Donate $100,000 to Relief Efforts
Months after a record-breaking earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan, missionaries are still dedicated to aiding in relief efforts. COGIC Charities, … Read More
What is the ‘Invisible Church?’
It may take months—even years—for the impact of Festival de Esperanza to fully develop in the Los Angeles area.
But almost 10 days after the first Spanish-speaking event in the United States was held by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, ripples are still being felt after hundreds of decisions were made in each of three different services.
“It was quite an experience that a lot of people are still talking about,” Festival Director Galo Vasquez said from Los Angeles this morning. “People are very humbled with that experience.
“The leaders have made the comment that they are sensing something unique has happened here.”
Unique to say the least.
Crystal Cathedral Denies Ousting Schuller
Despite Monday’s reports that Robert H. Schuller was ousted from the board of Crystal Cathedral Ministries, a church spokesman denies the claim.
“He [Robert H. Schuller] was not voted off the board,” John Charles, the Garden Grove, Calif., church spokesman told the Los Angeles Times. “He is still board chairman emeritus.”
Instead, the megachurch claims the board opted to change the 84-year-old founder’s position. A day after Schuller’s son, Robert Anthony Schuller, claimed his father was ousted because he wanted to enlarge the board, the church released a statement.
Pastor’s Father Beaten Unconscious in Extremist Attack
Hindu extremists in Pratapgarh, Rajasthan have threatened to kill a pastor after beating his family and violating an agreement to stop attacking them, the pastor said.
Pastor Shantilal Ninama of Believers Church told Compass that the Hindu extremists beat his 65-year-old father until he fell unconscious in one of the attacks last month.
On the evening of June 8, after agreeing to do no further harm to Pastor Ninama and his family in exchange for him dropping police charges he’d filed over a previous attack, the enraged Hindu extremists stormed into his home and began beating and stoning his father, sister, wife and three children, he said. As he sought police help, his father fell unconscious and his wife and two of his children ran out into the darkness. Another daughter hid beneath a bed, and his sister escaped and hid in a valley.
Missionaries Arrested on Bogus Charges in India
Two Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries in India were arrested over the weekend. One was released later that same day, but the other remains behind bars.
Pastor Accused of Being Member of Rebel Group
Rahul Akkunj was arrested on Saturday and is charged with being a member of a well-known rebel group. Rahul is not part of the group. Rather, he is the pastor of a church in the village where he was arrested.
The allegations came after a fasting and prayer meeting Rahul led at his church. Several villagers who heard about the event were distressed, saying that if Rahul’s church continues to grow at the rate it has been, their traditional religion will be wiped out.
Italian Leaders Unite to Support Israel
As current threats develop in Israel, citizens of the Jewish State can expect support from Italian leaders.
Political leaders from the Italian Senate, along with representatives from civil society and faith communities, gathered in the Italian Senate building on Thursday to express their support for Israel in the midst of a new Gaza flotilla, a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state in September and other forms of delegitimization of the Jewish State.
“Our Western democracies will not prevail unless we re-embrace our Judeo-Christian heritage,” said Marcello Pera, former president of the Italian Senate, as he expressed the Italian sentiment well. “Our support for Israel should not be based on guilt, but rather on pride in our common roots and values.
Church Calls for Social Networking Accountability
While many people believe social networking websites are a positive step in reconnecting and staying in touch with friends, a church in Crestwood, Ky., is demanding its clergy to sign a “MySpace, Facebook and Website Disclosure Agreement.”
The Kentucky Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church is requiring its clergy members to “agree to allow the Kentucky Annual Conference to examine any and all MySpace, Facebook or other blog and website accounts.”
The agreement asks for a MySpace screen name and web address, as well as a Facebook user name. It also asks that the clergy member agree to add “the Kentucky Annual Conference as a friend on these sites.”
Jersey Man Double-Crossed for Displaying Faith
Double-crossed. That’s how you might describe a Christ follower in Livingston, N.J. who’s getting flack for displaying his faith in his own front yard.
The Township of Livingston is using a local ordinance against Patrick Racaniello to try to keep him from displaying crosses on his private property.
In April, Racaniello displayed a 31-by-19-inch wooden cross on a tree in his front yard to celebrate Lent. When an irate neighbor screamed objections about the cross at him and his family, Racaniello called the police.
Although the law should have been on his side, the call backfired on him. The police later ordered him to remove the cross because it was located on a tree within eight feet from the curb. Racaniello complied and instead built a 6-by-4-foot wooden cross and put it in his yard—nine feet from the curb.
Perry’s Prayer Event Leaders Respond to Critics
Texas Gov. Rick Perry isn’t the only one getting slammed for his Day of Prayer and Fasting. Some Christian leaders participating in The Response are also getting hammered—or at least questioned—about their participation.
Now, they are answering back.
The Houston Clergy Council, an interfaith coalition of religious leaders, is among the detractors. The group opposes The Response because it believes the prayer meeting violates separation of church and state. The group is also calling the event “non-inclusive” and protests the AFA’s involvement.
The Houston Clergy Council wrote on its website: “We ask that Rick Perry leave the ministry to us and refocus his energy on the work of governing our state.”
Persecuted Christian Recounts Holy Land Drama
“This is a holy land—you have no business being here.” “You’re a bad man.” “You are dirty.” “You are a demon.”
I wish I could say that when I heard these words, my first response was to love the six men who were walking, just feet behind me, spitting the insults. But indignation and anger were welling up inside, and the biblical injunctions to pray for and bless those who persecute you offered only momentary comfort.
The men following a friend and me in the Jerusalem suburb of Mevasseret Zion were supporters of Yad L’Achim, a far right-wing group of ultra-Orthodox Jews who oppose Christians in Israel. The group is known for the aggressive and often questionable tactics they use against people who follow Christ, whom they derisively call “missionaries.” The six men had all attended a protest outside the home of a Jewish couple the group had so identified.
