WASHINGTON (RNS) — A majority of U.S. cities participating in a recent survey have seen an increase in the number of requests for emergency food assistance, the U.S. Conference of Mayors reports. The Washington-based conference recently issued its annual Hunger…
College students’ spiritual interests increase; worship attendance drops
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Though college students' attendance at worship services declines, their interest in spiritual matters grows during their time on campus, a new UCLA study shows. UCLA's Higher Education Re-search Institute compared the views of students who were…
High-tech audio Bibles bring Scriptures to life, users say
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (RNS) — Often when Mike Sheppard listens to the stories of the Crucifixion or Mary's discovery of the empty tomb, he gets so distracted he almost forgets he's behind the wheel. “There are points in the New Testament…
Prayer heals honest Brit’s legs but cannot cure bureaucracy with no ‘miracle’ button
LONDON (RNS) — A British pastor's wife who claims the power of prayer cured her injuries was told her incapacity benefits could not be stopped because the government's computers didn't have a “miracle” button. As a result, June Clarke of…
Looking back at 2007: Quiet year, but signs of change in the air
WASHINGTON (RNS) — History books are full of dates that mark seminal events: 1517, when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door and launched the Protestant Reformation; or 1973, when the Supreme Court legalized abortion. But boldface…
Religion writers name evangelicals in election as last year’s top story
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The nation's religion writers considered political grappling of evangelicals for a GOP presidential candidate the top religion story of 2007. Members of the Religion Newswriters Association named their Top 10 list of religion stories for the year….
Churches push Advent Conspiracy to teach real giving
PORTLAND, Ore. (RNS)—The Christmas contradiction gives Pastor Rick McKinley a headache. Americans will spend about $475 billion this year on gifts, decorations and parties that many won't even remember next year. They will run themselves ragged—shopping, wrapping and celebrating. And…
For some, happy holidays means no gifts
AUSTIN, Texas (RNS)—Scrap the gift lists. Trash the wrapping paper. Blow off the mall. That's the mind-set of Americans who can't stomach exchanging holiday presents. They aren't grinches or scrooges. They just reject what they consider the wastefulness and stress…
GodTube offers Christian alternative to YouTube
DALLAS (RNS)—Chris Wyatt and the Internet have something going. In the late '90s, the young television producer helped start Communities.com, the world's first social networking website. The site exploded into the Internet's largest pre-MySpace network. Now, less than a decade…
Does ‘Compass’ point kids in the wrong direction?
NEW YORK (RNS)—The holiday season means it's time for another Hollywood wintry blockbuster with a cast of talking animals, witches and an earnest child to point the way to truth and justice. But some Christians who applauded the Christian allegory…
Conservative Christians show growing acceptance of divorce
WASHINGTON (RNS)—When Pentecostal power couple Randy and Paula White recently announced they were headed to divorce court, the most remarkable part of the reaction was that there wasn't much reaction at all among their supporters. For increasing numbers of clergy,…
Groups say hunger stats, food prices up
WASHINGTON (RNS)—While millions of Americans stock their kitchens for holiday feasts, many groups are concerned about people who will go hungry during the festive season—and in the weeks and months to come. Inflation has made food more expensive, making it…