World

Death Toll Climbs in Attack by Islamic Sect in Nigeria

Super User

With 12 Christians, including three pastors, confirmed killed in rioting ignited by an Islamic sect opposed to Western education, the Christian community in northern Nigeria’s Borno state is still counting its losses.

The rioting instigated by an Islamic extremist sect known as Boko Haram, which initially attacked police and government bases, left hundreds of people dead and large property losses. Islam’s strict Shariah law is already in force for Muslims in 12 northern states, but the sect is fighting to have it enforced more broadly in those states and to impose it throughout Nigeria.

U.S.

Earl Paulk’s Former Church Sold

Super User

The 51-acre campus of an Atlanta-area megachurch that used to be home to one the nation’s most influential charismatic congregations has been sold.

The Cathedral at Chapel Hill, founded by the late Earl Paulk Jr., was purchased by Greater Traveler’s Rest Baptist Church in Decatur, Ga., for $17.6 million, according to CNL Specialty Real Estate in Orlando, Fla., which brokered the deal that closed on Friday.


World

Authorities in Vietnam Raid, Threaten House Churches

Super User

Local authorities in Vietnam have balked at registering house churches, contributing to a recent uptick in sometimes violent harassment of congregations.

Four police officers and two government officials broke up the Sunday morning worship service of a house church in Tran Phu Commune in Hanoi on July 26, announcing that it was illegal to worship and teach religion. The police chief of Tran Phu Commune in greater Hanoi, Dang Dinh Toi, had ordered the raid.

World

Evangelist Says Revival Has Hit South Africa

Super User

Evangelist Rodney Howard-Browne says a revival has broken out in his native South Africa that has seen more than 138,000 people make decisions for Christ in the last 46 days.

“In 30 years now of ministry, I’ve never seen anything like this in my life,” said Howard-Browne, founder of A Revival Ministries International and pastor of The River Church in Tampa, Fla. “It’s not about a meeting and it’s not about me; it’s about the power of God. It’s about Jesus. I’m just here with a message and people are grabbing a hold of it.”

U.S.

George Wood Re-Elected to Lead AG, Woman Elected to Executive Presbytery

Super User

George O. Wood was re-elected general superintendent of the Assemblies of God (AG) today during the denomination’s biennial General Council meeting being held this week in Orlando, Fla.

Later in the day, the 3 million-member Pentecostal denomination elected a woman to the Executive Presbytery under a newly adopted resolution that calls for greater representation of women and pastors under the age of 40 on the denomination’s governing board of directors.

U.S.

Christians Rally to Defend Prayers in Jesus’ Name

Super User

A former military chaplain who battled the U.S. Navy over the right to pray in Jesus’ name is waging a similar fight in Lodi, Calif., where the City Council in May temporarily banned sectarian prayers before meetings.

Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt expects several hundred people-some from out of state-to join him tonight at 6 p.m. for a “Stand Up for Jesus” prayer rally protesting a city policy requiring all prayers to be “non-sectarian and non-denominational.”

Share