(RNS) — Amy Lester has followed Jesus for decades, but her keen appreciation for his sacrifice on the cross came only recently when she started eating like the prophet Daniel. During Lent, which starts Feb. 13, the 40-year-old mother of…
Christmas at Bluefield features community orchestra in two performances
BLUEFIELD, Va. — More than 130 singers from three Bluefield College voice ensembles and six local church choirs, along with 25 instrumentalists in BC’s Community Orchestra combined to perform the season’s most “amazing,” “moving” and “inspiring” Christmas production, Dec. 1…
On Grammy weekend, Christian music industry bounces back, thanks to strong sales
ATLANTA (RNS) — Christian recording artist TobyMac’s blend of rap, hip-hop, rock and soul raced up the charts last year and shattered many stereotypes along the way. “Toby blows everybody’s perception of what Christian or gospel music is because Toby…
Christian music bounces back
ATLANTA (RNS) — Christian recording artist TobyMac’s blend of rap, hip-hop, rock and soul raced up the charts last year and shattered many stereotypes along the way. “Toby blows everybody’s perception of what Christian or gospel music is because Toby…
Fasting like an Old Testament prophet
(RNS) — Amy Lester has followed Jesus for decades, but her keen appreciation for his sacrifice on the cross came only recently when she started eating like the prophet Daniel. During Lent, which starts Feb. 13, the 40-year-old mother of…
New front in abortion culture wars
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Standing before the throngs at the March for Life on Jan. 25, Ryan Bomberger admitted that he was the poster child for one of the most difficult aspects of the abortion debate: his mother had been raped….
Baptist church sign draws attention in Manhattan
(ABP) — “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.” Thus read the sign recently in front of Madison Avenue Baptist Church, a New York City congregation whose pastor is all about convincing folks not…
Africa rises, China falls on 2013 evaluation of Christian persecution
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The persecution of Christians “vastly rose” in 2012 as radical Islamists consolidated power in Africa, according to Open Doors, a Christian missionary organization that publishes an annual list of offending nations. Increasing threats to African Christians can…
Student ministry leader Louie Giglio to pray at inauguration
(ABP) — A Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary graduate, whose student ministry at Baylor University exploded into the Passion Movement encountering millions of students and young adults, will deliver the benediction at President Obama’s inaugural swearing-in ceremony Jan. 21. The Presidential…
NATIONAL BRIEFS
Church of England rejects female bishops. Many of the 470 members of the Church of England’s three-tiered General Synod—bishops, clergy and laity—were stunned when the House of Laity couldn’t garner a two-thirds majority in favor of women bishops. The vote…
GuideStone continues opposition to contraceptive regulations
DALLAS — GuideStone Financial Services, a manager of pension funds for many Baptist church employees in the Mid-Atlantic, announced Feb. 4 it continues to oppose contraceptive regulations. On Tuesday, Feb. 5, just four days after the administration released the healthcare…
How should churches view holiday-only visitors? Leaders try a variety of methods to stay in contact
Many churches roll out the red carpet for CEOs they expect to see just twice a year — Christmas and Easter Only worshippers. But others wonder, “If we treat CEOs like VIPs, why are they AWOL most of the time?”…