Friday, September 21, 2012

October Baby Trailer: Available Now on DVD/Blu-Ray


Unconditional Theatrical Trailer

Unconditional Theatrical Trailer from Harbinger Media Partners on Vimeo.

Thousands of Libyans march against Islamists

"Rescue Benghazi day" demonstration calls on gov't to disband armed groups; smaller counter-protest held denouncing US.

Libyans take to streets against violence Photo: REUTERS/Esam Al-Fetori BENGHAZI - Thousands of Libyans marched in Benghazi on Friday in support of democracy and against the Islamist militias that Washington blames for an attack on the US consulate last week that killed four Americans including the ambassador.
The "Rescue Benghazi day" demonstration called for the government to disband armed groups that have refused to give up their weapons since the NATO-backed revolution that toppled Muammar Gaddafi last year.

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Getting Americans Back to Work: White House, Job Clubs and Churches Join Forces


4,000-6,000 Job Clubs and Career Ministries Invited to Join National Career Ministry Collaboration and Conference
WASHINGTON, Sept, 21, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- With 150 million Americans in the workforce facing crossroads in their careers multiple times a year, wouldn't it be great if we could:
  • Help them to discover and unleash their potential
     
  • Teach them simple job search and career exploration process and skills
     
  • Connect them directly to employers and real jobs
     
  • Provide them encouragement, support and positive stimulation
Crossroads Career will combine forces with technology company NeedsMet and the U.S. Department of Labor's Job Clubs Community of Practice to extend invitations to 4,000-6,000 job clubs and career ministries across the country to join Crossroads Career Network -- starting with yesterday's announcement at the White House Forum on "Job Clubs and Career Ministries On the Front Lines of Getting Americans Back to Work." Job clubs and career ministries wanting more information should visit www.crossroadscareer.org/ministries.
"It am very exciting at the new opportunities facing Crossroads Career Network -- first the 'high-tech/high touch' partnership with an excellent and complimentary faith-based technology company, and then our relationship with the USDOL Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships," says Brian Ray, Founder of Crossroads Career Network.

Tim Krauss, Founder of NeedsMet agrees, "Being able to make such a positive difference at a time when people are hurting the most makes this opportunity with Crossroads Career and the USDOL more important than ever."

Brian Ray added, "At Crossroads Career Network, a national community of churches providing faith-based, job search and career transition resources, we have equipped over 250 churches with over 1000 ministry team members to help over nearly 30,000 people to hear and follow God's calling, explore careers and search for jobs. Serving 80+ locations in 20 states, we now find ourselves at our own crossroads:
  • Partnering with a technology company who will supply all of our technology needs and best-in-class customizable career search tools and job board -- Job Connection.
     
  • Providing free, faith-based career resources to any established:  
    • Church or ministry
    • School or college, and
    • Christian counselor, coaching or consulting practice
       
  • Hosting national career ministry conference open to all U.S. job clubs and career ministries"
    • October 19-20 at Eastside Baptist Church in Atlanta
    • Spiritual growth, leadership development, ministry training
    • Speakers include Deputy Director USDOL Faith Based Center and Author of "Employed for Life."
About NeedsMet
NeedsMet focuses on creating and developing innovative technology solutions that empower organizations to support their membership, produce operational efficiency and expand their influence in the community. NeedsMet is the creator of Job Connection, Stuff Connection, ChristianJobWire.com and Bible Study Connection.

For more information, visit
www.needsmet.org.
About Crossroads Career Network
Crossroads Career Network is a national, non-profit Christian ministry of member churches dedicated to providing online career, ministry and employer resources through faith-based materials. Its current career groups and resources are sponsored by 80+ member churches in 20 states.

Visit Crossroads Career Network at
www.crossroadscareer.org.

Christian Newswire

Victory Against Planned Parenthood that Failed to Report Incest and Rape of Minor


Life Legal Defense Foundation Supported Victim in Ohio
CINCINNATI, Sept. 21, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- A child abuse victim has settled with Planned Parenthood, after a lawsuit included multiple charges such as failure to report incestuous statutory rape and sexual abuse of a minor by her father. The case, Denise Fairbanks v. Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region et al., filed by Denise Fairbanks in the Hamilton County Ohio Court of Common Pleas on May 7, 2007, named Planned Parenthood, Southwest Ohio Region, in failing to report the abuse committed by her father.

The Life Legal Defense Foundation (LLDF) supported Denise, who had been sexually abused by her father from the time she was 13. When she became pregnant at age 16, her father took her to Planned Parenthood for an abortion. Although she informed the abortion clinic staff that she was being forced to have sex, they chose not to comply with mandatory reporting procedures. The Planned Parenthood staff did not inform local law enforcement, nor did they make any further inquiries into Fairbanks' paternal abuse. After the abortion, Fairbanks was returned to the same abusive situation, where she remained for another year-and-a-half. More than a year later, her father was apprehended through a report filed by Denise's basketball coach, and sent to jail.

"This is just one of multiple cases that have demonstrated Planned Parenthood's willingness to cover for sex offenders," said Dana Cody, Executive Director of the Life Legal Defense Foundation. Cody was referring to another example, the case of Roe v. Planned Parenthood from the same Hamilton County Court, which was resolved last year. "What this young woman went through as a young teenager is horrifying enough," added Cody. "She was forcibly raped, impregnated, forced to have an abortion, and then sent back for more abuse -- a tragedy that Planned Parenthood could have prevented by simply complying with the law."

After her lawsuit against Planned Parenthood was resolved, Denise Fairbanks remarked that it had been a long and difficult battle. "I am so grateful to Life Legal Defense Foundation for sticking by me throughout this ordeal. I would have never been able to fight this battle for over seven years."

Attorney Brian Hurley, from the law firm of Crabbe, Brown & James LLP, who represented Ms. Fairbanks, stated only that the lawsuit had been resolved and dismissed. But LLDF observed several favorable outcomes as a result of the resolution of Fairbanks' lawsuit against Planned Parenthood. Among the outcomes they noted were:
  • A confirmation that in Ohio, all abortion providers must obtain the written consent of at least one of a minor's parents before an abortion can be performed on a minor.

  • An amendment to Ohio law establishing that minors who are victims of sexual abuse have the right to bring claims in civil actions against those individuals who breach their duty to report the abuse.

  • An amendment to Ohio law establishing that minors who are victims of sexual abuse have the right to seek punitive damages in civil actions to punish individuals and entities who breach their duty to report the abuse.

  • The finding by a nationally renowned, pro-choice psychologist that girls and women who have had abortions can, and often do, suffer from long-term and serious psychological problems as a result of abortions, something which Planned Parenthood continues to adamantly deny.

  • A confirmation that under Ohio law, girls and young women whose "informed consent" rights have been violated by abortion providers may seek injunctive relief in civil actions to prevent the abortion providers from violating those rights of other girls and women.
"Of course, we'd rather see Planned Parenthood hit with huge court-ordered fines and lose business licenses over this kind of reprehensible behavior," said Cody, "but any progress toward championing the girls and women that abortion providers exploit is helpful." She also noted the irony of Planned Parenthood touting child sexual abuse awareness workshops via the Web, even while being accused of continual cover-up of the sexual abuse of a minor. "Ms. Fairbanks' case, like others before it, has demonstrated a disturbing trend in Planned Parenthood practice, a continued disregard for the health and well-being of women and children," Cody added.

About the Life Legal Defense Foundation Life Legal Defense Foundation was established in 1989, and is a nonprofit organization composed of attorneys and other concerned citizens, committed to giving helpless and innocent human beings of any age, and their advocates, a trained and committed voice in the courtrooms of our nation. LLDF provided assistance in Ms. Fairbanks case. For more information about the Life Legal Defense Foundation, visit www.lldf.org.

Christian Newswire

Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Launches School of Evangelism Online Training


Intensive School of Evangelism Online Curriculum the First Course Available as Part of New Billy Graham Online Evangelism Training Ministry
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 20, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) recently launched an intensive 12-part online training course titled School of Evangelism Online. The course draws from more than 60 years of evangelistic outreach to impart practical information and strategies for reaching the world with the Gospel, and is the first title available under the banner of the BGEA's new training ministry titled Billy Graham Online Evangelism Training.

"God has blessed the BGEA through the decades, and given us the opportunity to proclaim His love, forgiveness and hope to multiple generations," said BGEA Vice President Will Graham, who oversees online training. "As we've focused on this one singular mission, we've developed a wealth of information and practices that we are excited to offer to others who desire to make an impact in their community."

The course of study for School of Evangelism Online includes four separate courses, and each course contains three lessons. The four courses focus on 1) Preparation; 2) Proclamation; 3) Power; and 4) Preservation. Included in the curriculum are sermon messages from Billy Graham, introductions and details from Franklin and Will Graham, and videos from well-known Christian leaders such as John Stott, Ravi Zacharias, Ron Hutchcraft and Greg Laurie.

School of Evangelism Online will give participants practical strategies for proclamation evangelism, with an emphasis on evangelistic preaching and preparing their churches for follow-up with new believers.

"For years we have held Schools of Evangelism around the world, but we also recognize that many people don't always have the money or time that is required to travel a great distance and sit in a classroom for several days in a row," said Graham. "We're always seeking ways to utilize every effective means available to us to spread the Gospel. The Billy Graham Online Evangelism Training program helps us make the information more accessible and meets a great need for those who haven't been able to attend one of our previous schools."

The course is available online at www.BillyGrahamOnlineTraining.org. There is a cost of $99 for the 12 lessons. After enrolling, students will have 180 days to work through the course of study at their own pace. All required materials are furnished for the course, and no additional purchase of books or materials is needed.

About the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) proclaims the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout the world by every effective means available. From its headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., the BGEA directs a wide range of domestic and international ministries, including: large-scale festivals led by evangelists Franklin Graham and Will Graham; The Billy Graham Library; The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove, located outside of Asheville, N.C.; SearchforJesus.net, an Internet evangelism project reaching thousands of people for Christ online; and many others through print, television, telephone, radio and the Internet. For more information, please visit www.billygraham.org. Get news updates on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/BGEAnews.

Christian Newswire

Christian Business Owners Outline Their Advice for Entrepreneurs: ‘Pray to Get Guidance’

Owning a business is a rewarding, challenging and life-altering experience. In today’s economy, the difficulties are plentiful, but so are the success stories, as many brave entrepreneurs battle against the odds to make their dreams a robust and blooming reality. These issues become especially intriguing when these trailblazers launch faith-based ventures.
As you may know, The Marketplace by The Blaze features and promotes unique small businesses that are run by owners who face some of these profound issues — and joys. Scott Osborne of SentForHim.com and Mark Smith of Gifts Catholic, two of the faith-based businesses in the Marketplace, connected with TheBlaze this week to share their experiences building up their businesses. They also issued advice for Christian entrepreneurs who may be looking to follow in their footsteps.

THE SENTFORHIM.COM STORY
Osborne’s idea for SentForHim.com, an affordable and unique greeting card company, came five years ago after he and his wife noticed that the messages in greeting cards have turned, in many instances, negative. While walking in a card aisle at a local store, he recalled having to very-literally shield his children’s eyes from offensive messages.
“I remember thinking —  ’What happened to the old days when all the cards were family friendly?,” he said. “We thought, ‘Someone should do something about that.’”

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10 Seconds

AJARG Launches Bully Interventions


ORANGEBURG, S.C., Sept. 21, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- AJARG (A Journey Ahead Representing God) announced today the launch of its Bully Intervention Technology Group. BITG was created to provide victims of bullying with the most effective first line resource to interrupt continuing attacks along with facilitating appropriate counseling. The service is immediately available in South Carolina and will be available nationwide in early 2013. The division seeks to make the service available worldwide by the end of 2013.

Bully Interventions' Bully Support System (BSS) is a technologically advanced multi-platform application that significantly exceeds the performance of any bully intervention program in the world. The two key components of BSS the proprietary Therapeutic Short Messaging Service (TSMS) and a staff of highly trained bully counseling professionals.

TSMS, initially was developed for children with serious emotional disturbances from birth to age of majority and for children who have had diagnosable mental, behavioral, and/or emotional disorders.

In late 2011, the parent company, EdStar Wireless Corporation, an AJARG, division influenced by a 2005 severe bullying attack on the CEO's daughter, began to explore ways that TSMS technology could possibly play a role in assisting victims of bullying.

The service and technology was created to provide a more pragmatic approach to bullying in U.S. schools. The fact is that bullying still remains a harsh reality, very often with life time consequences for many students, and has been under addressed by technology companies. This was quite disturbing to the CEO of the EdStar Wireless Corp.

As a result, the company began to explore plausible methods that could provide assistive technology to improve early intervention merged with high quality bully victim counseling. Due to the fact most school systems are already experiencing budgetary shortfalls, the service had to be developed to help districts lower expenses as well.

With the input of several school psychologist, a board certified psychiatrist and a former criminal court judge, a very unique service was developed that has shown extraordinary results in their internal clinical trials.

Perhaps the most significant aspect of the Bully Interventions service is that it allows bullying victims to report incidents without embarrassment, fear of exposure of reporting, breaches in confidentiality, low self esteem, or fear of reprisals from the bully.

The most phenomenal aspect of the service is that students utilize it without much apprehension due to the anonymous nature of reporting an incident and the ease at which an incident can be reported.

A brief overview of the service may be viewed at YouTube (2013 "Crying Alone"), www.bullyinterventions.org, or www.ajarg.com.


Christian Newswire

An Open Letter from a Former Muslim: Enough is Enough

OPINION, Sept. 20, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- The following is submitted by Majed El Shafie:

    My name is Majed El Shafie. I was arrested, tortured and sentenced to die in Egypt after converting from Islam to Christianity. I managed to escape and with the help of the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), I eventually settled in Canada from where I now fight for those persecuted around the world.

    We have seen the news reports in recent days of Muslims protesting throughout the world, killing the American ambassador and three other Americans in Libya, over a film they claim insults their prophet. The filmmaker is in hiding, flags have been burned and trampled, and though it may not have been reported on the major news networks, Bibles are being burned and vulnerable Christians are being attacked in countries half a world away.

    Many here in the West have been perplexed or alarmed by these events, especially after our soldiers risked their lives last year to support the people of Libya against Colonel Qaddafi's forces. The irony is thick in that Ambassador Stevens in particular was keen to help the Libyan people rebuild and he took an active role in supporting their efforts. As a result, I feel compelled to speak out.

    These protests are not spontaneous reactions to a film. These protests were planned by extremists far in advance to mark the anniversary of September 11th and the film is a convenient and cynical excuse to manipulate ordinary, uneducated Muslims to participate in these appalling expressions of hatred. Yet even if the protests were truly a response to the film, they would be just as inexcusable. Nothing justifies such barbarianism.

    Numerous movies, books and "works of art" are produced every day that are deeply offensive to Christians and Jews, making fun of our sacred symbols or even directly attacking our beliefs or us as people of faith. Yet we do not respond by killing diplomats or inciting bloody mass riots. We value every person's right to express points of view that differ from ours, views that may even be offensive, because we understand how important doing so is as a guarantor of our own rights and freedoms. As a result, we debate, write letters, issue press releases, argue, and even protest peacefully against such affronts, often agreeing to disagree but always knowing that the light of truth will triumph in the end over the dark shadows of ignorance and bigotry.

    I do not agree with every religion. But I have respect for all religions, their symbols, and their leading figures. I wish that the filmmakers had taken a more respectful tone if they wished to inspire serious debate about the issues around Islam -- but I stand firmly by their right to make any film they choose without death threats and murderous "protests" breaking out halfway around the world.

    Muslims and many world leaders would like us to believe that Islam is a religion of peace. Yet every time Muslim extremists raise their hands with impunity to lynch someone over claims of "blasphemy," every time they begin murderous riots because someone has "insulted" their prophet or religion by speaking the truth, they show the true face of Islam and prove the very claims they try to silence. The goal of the Muslim extremists is to frighten and intimidate us because they know that by taking away our freedom of expression they can control us. They use these tactics because, like the schoolyard bully, they can see that they work.

    What, then, are we to do when we see these events taking place? We must continue to speak the truth and never allow ourselves to be silenced. Freedom of expression is intimately linked with freedom of religion. Limiting freedom of expression is to limit freedom of religion. We must not allow these fundamental rights to be eroded in the misguided belief that somehow limiting our freedom of expression is to show respect to another religion. Respect is not forced -- it is earned. And in this the Muslim extremists have a lot of work to do.

    Enough is enough!

    Majed El Shafie
    President and Founder
    One Free World International
    www.onefreeworldinternational.org
Earlier this year, Destiny Image Films released the award-winning documentary "Freedom Fighter" (www.freedomfighterdvd.com), which documents El Shafie's work as he travels to Afghanistan and Pakistan seeking out those persecuted for their religious beliefs, and challenging their governments to change. The companion book, "Freedom Fighter: One Man's Fight for One Free World" (Destiny Image), was released on September 18, 2012. Majed El Shafie regularly testifies before the U.S. Congress and the Canadian Parliament and Senate, and he's a regular guest on Sun News, BBC, CBN, ACLJ's Jordan Sekulow Show and more. In July, he was awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Christian Newswire

Planned Parenthood Faces Complaints Over Incompetent Abortion Services


BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Sept. 21, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Operation Rescue has joined with CEC for Life and Alabama Physicians for Life in filing a complaint with the Alabama Department of Public Health against Planned Parenthood of Birmingham after a civil law suit revealed multiple violations at the clinic during a botched abortion that left a woman infertile.

In addition, Operation Rescue has filed a formal complaint against Planned Parenthood abortionist Aqua Don E. Umoren for incompetence and negligence for giving Roberta Clark an unwarranted abortion in 2010 while failing to realize that she suffered from an ectopic pregnancy.

"We are asking the Health Department to shut down this Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in the interest of public safety, just as they did for the dangerous New Women All Women earlier this year. We are also asking for the revocation of Umoran's medical license based on his incompetent treatment of Roberta Clark," said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue and Pro-Life Nation.

Clark filed suit last month against Planned Parenthood and Umoren alleging that a series of negligent acts led to a misdiagnosis of her ectopic pregnancy. Umoren and an unskilled clinic worker diagnosed Clark to have an 8.5 week intrauterine pregnancy based on an ultrasound that actually showed an empty womb. Umoren fraudulently noted in Clark's chart that his manual pelvic exam confirmed the 8.5 week intrauterine pregnancy. He proceeded with a suction abortion on Clark.

Umoren further ignored a pathology inspection of the tissue from Clark's abortion indicated no fetal remains were present and failed to notify her of the results. Clark was admitted to a hospital for emergency surgery 25 days later to remove a 13-week ectopic pregnancy that had painfully ruptured her fallopian tube.

The Clark incident took place while Planned Parenthood was under probation for failing to report child sex abuse, failing to comply with parental consent laws, and other violations. An ADPH inspection report released just months after Clark's botched abortion also discovered that Planned Parenthood failed to provide women with discharge instructions, which could have accounted for Clark not recognizing her life-threatening symptoms earlier.

The coalition of groups, represented by Life Legal Defense Foundation attorney Allison Aranda, successfully worked together to close another dangerous Birmingham abortion clinic, New Woman All Women, earlier this year.

"This is further evidence of Planned Parenthood's shoddy abortion practices that continue to endanger the lives and health of women around the country and is yet another reason why tax funding should be immediately stripped from them," said Newman.

Complaint to ADPH

Umoren Complaint Narrative

About Operation Rescue®
Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation and has become a strong voice for the pro-life movement in America. Operation Rescue is now headquartered in a former abortion clinic that it bought and closed in 2006. From there, Operation Rescue launches its innovative new strategies across the nation, exposing and closing abortion clinics through peaceful, legal means. Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to stop abortion and ultimately restore legal personhood to the pre-born in obedience to biblical mandates. Click here to support Operation Rescue.

About Pro-Life Nation
Pro-Life Nation is an initiative of Operation Rescue that offers a goal-oriented strategy to end abortion. For more visit ProLifeNation.org and read our new booklet that details our strategy.


Christian Newswire