Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Churches of Staten Island Outshine Federal Relief Efforts
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y., Nov. 12, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Evangelical congregations on storm-damaged Staten Island are outshining federal agencies in the arduous task of helping residents recover from the devastating effects of super storm Sandy. Almost immediately after the weather abated, Staten Island evangelical clergy organized and began deploying aid. The same response from federal agencies took days and are still woefully inadequate to the recovery effort.
The Reverend Tim Mercaldo and his father, the Reverend Dr. Dan Mercaldo, pastors of Church at the Gateway, one of the largest evangelical churches on Staten Island, have transformed their church's facility into a major hub for equipment, volunteers, and supplies being marshaled in the aftermath of the storm.
"It's astounding what the Mercaldos and their congregation have accomplished in such a short period of time," said the Reverend Dr. Rob Schenck, chairman of the Evangelical Church Alliance, who last week toured the most heavily affected areas of Staten Island with Tim Mercaldo. "Church at the Gateway has done more with its very limited resources than the federal agencies have done with billion-dollar budgets. This one church has been absolutely heroic."
While truckloads of donated food, water, and winter clothing are offloaded into Gateway's yet unfinished sanctuary, dozens of volunteer workers from around the country are sleeping in Sunday school rooms and being fed out of the church's commercial kitchen. Outside in the church's parking lot, heavy equipment and RVs jockey for position. Tim Mercaldo tools around the island daily in a church pickup transporting urgently needed items to distribution centers set up at other evangelical churches.
"This is way too big of a job for the churches of Staten Island to do alone," Rev. Mercaldo said. "More and more churches around the country are getting on board with help and its' all needed. The federal agencies are doing what they can, but it's falling to the churches to do the heavy stuff. Churches were the first on the scene and are now doing most of the work."
Church at the Gateway is asking for churches to partner with them in a race against time because of threatening winter weather. Financial contributions can be made online at www.churchatthegateway.org or by mail to Church at the Gateway, Sandy Relief, 200 Boscombe Ave., Staten Island, NY 10309.
Christian Newswire
Author and Missionary Gayla Congdon to Speak at the International Conference on Missions, Releases Book
CINCINNATI,
Nov. 13, 2012
/Christian Newswire/ -- Gayla Cooper Congdon (photo) and her
husband, Scott Congdon, committed their lives over 30 years ago to
serving the impoverished after confronting the deep spiritual and
physical needs found in Mexican orphanages. Since then, the ministry
they founded, Amor Ministries, has sent nearly 9,000 volunteers each
year to serve the poorest of the poor through house-building projects.
Gayla will bring this lifelong passion for global ministry and the
life-altering impact of a single act of service to attendees of The
Common Ground women's gathering, November 17 at 3:00 pm, during the 2012
International Conference on Missions (ICOM).
Christian Newswire
Most who have experienced short-term
missions can relate to both the spiritual high that occurs during the
trip and how quickly it fades after returning home. Gayla will share
principles from her upcoming book, "Disrupted: Cultivating a
Mission-Focused Life," releasing January 2013 (Standard Publishing),
that help mission trip participants not only prepare for and fully
experience the trip, but also learn how to live with a changed mission
mindset every day that follows.
"Just as a mission experience disrupts
the day-to-day flow of your normal life for a week or two, the best way
to keep the spiritual transformation alive is to intentionally disrupt
your days long after the trip is over," explains Gayla. "Many people are
surprised to find just how much mission opportunity is right in front
of them all the time."
In addition to sharing the benefits of a
life disrupted by service with ICOM attendees, Gayla will be leading a
workshop entitled "Building Missional Families: Helping Parents Develop a
Missions Heart in the Lives of Their Children" at upcoming CPC
conferences in Orlando and San Diego. She will also be introducing her
book and life-changing tips on missional living at Hope International
University in Fullerton, CA on January 24, 2013, and in San Diego on
February 10, 2013.
"Gayla Congdon, one of the leading
practitioners in the short-term missions movement, understands the
essential role of discipling short-term missionaries for long-term
impact. Her spiritual discernment combined with her missional expertise
makes her the ideal person to write a devotional to help participants
make the most of their short-term experience for a lifetime," says David
Livermore, author of "Serving With Eyes Wide Open."
Congdon's new book, "Disrupted: Cultivating a Mission-Focused Life" will be available for purchase in January 2013 at www.standardpub.com, www.Amazon.com, or anywhere Christian books are sold. Proceeds from the sale of the book will be going to Project Hope (www.amor.org/give/projecthope
About the Author: Gayla Cooper
Congdon is the co-founder and Chief Spiritual Officer of Amor
Ministries, a missions agency based in San Diego, CA. Gayla has been a
finalist for the San Diego Business Journal's "Women Who Mean Business"
Award in 2000 and 2001. She was recently featured on the nationally
syndicated Hugh Hewitt radio show, has served as a commencement speaker
for Hope International University, led workshops at the National
Missionary Convention and the Christian Leadership Alliance Conference,
and speaks to churches, women's groups, and at youth conferences on a
number of topics all over the world throughout the year. For more
information, visit www.amor.org.
About Standard Publishing: Standard
Publishing serves churches worldwide and is recognized as a leader in
true-to-the-Bible resources that educate, encourage, and enrich adults,
youth, and children. The company is based in Cincinnati, Ohio. For more
information, visit www.standardpublishing.com or call 1-800-543-1353 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-543-1353 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
Christian Newswire
Family Research Council Webcast to Highlight Religious Persecution Worldwide
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Family Research Council (FRC) will host a live webcast tomorrow highlighting threats to religious liberty around the world. The webcast, entitled "The Cry of the Martyrs: The Threat to Religious Liberty Around the World," will be co-sponsored by The Voice of the Martyrs. Speakers will discuss the ongoing and growing assaults on religious liberty occurring throughout the world today.
WHO: Tony Perkins, President, Family Research Council
Todd Nettleton, Director of Media Development, The Voice of the Martyrs
Thomas F. Farr, Ph.D., Director of the Religious Freedom Project, Berkeley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs
Dr. Hormoz Shariat, Founder, Iran Alive Ministries
Emmanuel Ogebe, Nigerian Christian Attorney
WHAT: Live Webcast: "The Cry of the Martyrs: The Threat to Religious Liberty Around the World"
WHEN: 12 p.m. Eastern, Wednesday, November 14
WHERE: Online: www.frc.org/eventregistration/
Christian Newswire
Operation Compassion Sends Over 1 Million Pounds of Relief to Sandy Survivors
CLEVELAND, Tenn., Nov. 13, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Serving the victims of Superstorm Sandy, Operation Compassion is delivering critical assistance to 6 states and 19 disaster sites. While the weather phenomenon was developing and news reports forecast the ominous potential of Hurricane Sandy, Operation Compassion began to pre-stage a response gathering resources and making calls. Within 24 hours of landfall, semi-truckloads were on their way carrying food and aid to the Northeastern United States.
While the immediate response was prepared, the ongoing response would be expanded in the coming days. Operation Compassion has delivered or has in route, 30 semi-truckloads and 4 box-truckloads of critical relief goods and products. They are delivering truckloads of blankets, clothes, shoes, bottled water, hygiene items, folding cots, lanterns, coolers and food. In addition, they have 10 semi-truckloads staged and prepared for re-supply of the 19 disaster sites. All total, that is more than 1.3 million pounds of products made available to the people suffering from the devastation of Sandy.
The response is not limited to their disaster sites alone; in addition, Operation Compassion is supplying goods to cooking units and shelters housing those homeless from the storm as well as essential volunteers. Countless workers are doing their best to help the survivors cope.
Operation Compassion continues to expand disaster relief efforts while maintaining and re-supplying those already established. Throughout the disaster relief process, Operation Compassion is always looking to better its response and increase its reach to more victims. Utilizing their strategic networks, Operation Compassion is expanding the scope of recovery efforts into new areas of destruction. They are asking the public to get involved and make a cash donation via their website ( operationcompassion.org) and help them bring assistance to those in desperate need.
Operation Compassion is a nonprofit 501(c)3 relief organization with domestic and international service to the poor. Operation Compassion is committed to mobilizing individuals and community groups to provide food and basic necessities to the poor and needy in the United States and around the world. With ongoing service in 38 states and 26 countries, Operation Compassion is honored as one of the most efficient charities in America by forbes.com.
Christian Newswire
Move Over Black Friday and Cyber Monday; 'Giving Tuesday' Calls Americans to 'Give as Good as They Get'
World Vision encourages Americans to take part by volunteering virtually
SEATTLE,
Nov. 12, 2012
/Christian Newswire/ -- Giving Tuesday began with a simple
thought: we designate Thanksgiving as a day for gratitude and Black
Friday and Cyber Monday as two days for getting deals. Wouldn't it be
great to have a day for giving back? As a Giving Tuesday partner, World Vision,
is challenging Americans to take part in this new national movement on
the Tuesday after Thanksgiving by showing they can give as good as they
get.
To help those affected by Superstorm Sandy during the week of November 26th, any gift of food, clothing or school supplies for children in the U.S. given through World Vision's Gift Catalog (www.worldvisiongifts.org) will be designated for the Christian humanitarian agency's Sandy relief efforts. World Vision relief teams have been distributing much-needed supplies in some of the most vulnerable communities hit by this devastating storm on the East Coast.
"Giving Tuesday is intended to open the holiday season on a philanthropic note and put heart back into the holidays." says Sarah Renusch, World Vision's Gift Catalog Director. "World Vision is encouraging Americans to dedicate this day to getting back to the true meaning of the holidays. It is about community not commercialism, giving not receiving."
There are many ways to participate in Giving Tuesday:
- Volunteer Virtually: Not everyone is able to take off work to physically volunteer, but you can volunteer virtually by donating food kits online through World Vision. Each 'kit' contains enough food to feed a family of five for one day ($16 per kit). During the week of Giving Tuesday (November 26 - December 2nd) food kits, clothing and school supplies in the U.S. given through World Vision's Gift Catalog will be donated to those in need impacted by Superstorm Sandy.
- Give a Meaningful Gift: Share the spirit of Giving Tuesday by giving a gift that can change a life. World Vision's Gift Catalog has hundreds of gifts such as goats, fresh water wells, and life-saving medicines that can be given in the name of a family member, teacher, co-worker or child and help one of more than 825,000 people around the world who benefit from gift catalog items. Gifts range in price from $16 to $39,000, and there are more than 250 items online to choose from. After purchasing a Gift Catalog item, the person whose name the gift was given in, can receive a special card describing the gift and its impact.
- Teach Generosity: Giving Tuesday is a great opportunity for parents, grandparents, and teachers to help children understand the importance of generosity and giving to others. World Vision's Gift Catalog can be a helpful educational tool. The Pendleton family, of Colorado, adopted their son from Kazakhstan. When he saw the Mongolian Ger in the catalog, he immediately wanted to buy one for people in his homeland. "I didn't know how to explain to a 10-year-old that $1,862 is a lot of money, so I didn't," said mom Amy. "And sure enough, he raised it all!"
To learn more about World Vision's Gift Catalog visit www.worldvisiongifts.org or call (888) 511-6511. This year marks the 17th annual edition of the catalog. Since 1996 the catalog's popularity as a gift-giving alternative has grown with more than 160,000 purchases last year raising over $33 million that helped more than 825,000 people around the world.
World Vision is one of over 750 organizations taking part in Giving Tuesday to find out more go to www.givingtuesday.org.
About World Vision
World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. We serve the world's poor, regardless of a person's religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, visit www.worldvision.org.
Christian Newswire
Friday, November 9, 2012
'Mommy porn' caution underscored at seminary
FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) -- In light of the increasing prevalence of
pornography and erotica such as the bestselling "50 Shades of Grey,"
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary hosted a closed-door
women-only panel discussion of the issue and its devastating effect on
marriages and ministries.
The panel included June Hunt, founder of Hope for the Heart counseling and discipleship ministry; author and speaker Susie Hawkins; and Mindy May, a biblical counselor whose work includes victims of sex trafficking. The trio set forth candid answers to questions from moderator Terri Stovall, SWBTS dean of women's programs, and from some of the 100 female students and student wives in attendance.
Culture has changed significantly in areas dealing with sexual sin, and the change is not a positive one, the panelists said. May, a Southwestern Ph.D. student, noted, for example, that teenagers are more sexualized than ever before, accepting activities such as "sexting" as commonplace.
Pornography has infiltrated the church in alarming numbers, Hawkins said, noting, "It absolutely is impacting ministry families. … [I]t would shock all of us in knowing how many ministry people are involved with pornography."
With the exploding popularity of 50 Shades of Grey, it has become apparent that pornography is no longer just marketed to men. Hunt said the book is widely considered "mommy porn," appealing to the suburban soccer mom who can read it privately on her e-reader, imagining herself in the situations described in the book -- effectively replacing her husband with the fiction book character.
The content of the book, Hunt said, goes beyond explicit descriptions of sexual scenes into bondage, dominance and sadomasochism -- behavior that demeans females and plants irrevocable images in the brain that can never be removed. It also casts human trafficking as acceptable, Hunt said.
May, speaking of her work with teenagers who have been sexually trafficked, said, "These are girls who have been taken into literal bondage, and so there are huge implications there. If we're adopting this as 'okay' or as 'entertainment,' we are in for a world of devastation as far as the sexuality in our culture today."
Disturbingly, many women who read such books as 50 Shades of Grey consider it harmless and even helpful. "It is surprising how many Christian women will read this book and say, 'It spices up my marriage,'" Hawkins said. "That is going to put you on a road that is not going to bring fulfillment. You're introducing a third party, so to speak, into your marriage bed, and according to 1 Corinthians 6 and 7, that is to prostitute. …
READ MORE
The panel included June Hunt, founder of Hope for the Heart counseling and discipleship ministry; author and speaker Susie Hawkins; and Mindy May, a biblical counselor whose work includes victims of sex trafficking. The trio set forth candid answers to questions from moderator Terri Stovall, SWBTS dean of women's programs, and from some of the 100 female students and student wives in attendance.
Culture has changed significantly in areas dealing with sexual sin, and the change is not a positive one, the panelists said. May, a Southwestern Ph.D. student, noted, for example, that teenagers are more sexualized than ever before, accepting activities such as "sexting" as commonplace.
Pornography has infiltrated the church in alarming numbers, Hawkins said, noting, "It absolutely is impacting ministry families. … [I]t would shock all of us in knowing how many ministry people are involved with pornography."
With the exploding popularity of 50 Shades of Grey, it has become apparent that pornography is no longer just marketed to men. Hunt said the book is widely considered "mommy porn," appealing to the suburban soccer mom who can read it privately on her e-reader, imagining herself in the situations described in the book -- effectively replacing her husband with the fiction book character.
The content of the book, Hunt said, goes beyond explicit descriptions of sexual scenes into bondage, dominance and sadomasochism -- behavior that demeans females and plants irrevocable images in the brain that can never be removed. It also casts human trafficking as acceptable, Hunt said.
May, speaking of her work with teenagers who have been sexually trafficked, said, "These are girls who have been taken into literal bondage, and so there are huge implications there. If we're adopting this as 'okay' or as 'entertainment,' we are in for a world of devastation as far as the sexuality in our culture today."
Disturbingly, many women who read such books as 50 Shades of Grey consider it harmless and even helpful. "It is surprising how many Christian women will read this book and say, 'It spices up my marriage,'" Hawkins said. "That is going to put you on a road that is not going to bring fulfillment. You're introducing a third party, so to speak, into your marriage bed, and according to 1 Corinthians 6 and 7, that is to prostitute. …
READ MORE
Staten Island church takes long-term aim
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (BP) -- Back in the winter when New York City tried
to push churches out of public schools, Crossroads Church on Staten
Island didn't know God was moving them to a new location that later
would be right up the block from some of the most severe devastation
left by Hurricane Sandy.
"We see that as His providential hand, and we're just going with it," said Ray Parascando, pastor of the only Southern Baptist church on Staten Island.
Members of Crossroads were first on the scene in the neighborhood when morning broke after the hurricane cut a deadly path across the Northeast. Next door to the church, which meets in a theater on New Dorp Lane, is a pizza place owned by an Egyptian whom the church has been trying to lead to the Lord.
"He had some dough left over and we said, 'We'll buy you out. Make the pizzas,'" Parascando told Baptist Press. "We took 25 pizzas down and we were passing them out to folks, walking up and down the streets, handing out water."
READ MORE
"We see that as His providential hand, and we're just going with it," said Ray Parascando, pastor of the only Southern Baptist church on Staten Island.
Members of Crossroads were first on the scene in the neighborhood when morning broke after the hurricane cut a deadly path across the Northeast. Next door to the church, which meets in a theater on New Dorp Lane, is a pizza place owned by an Egyptian whom the church has been trying to lead to the Lord.
"He had some dough left over and we said, 'We'll buy you out. Make the pizzas,'" Parascando told Baptist Press. "We took 25 pizzas down and we were passing them out to folks, walking up and down the streets, handing out water."
READ MORE
How to share Christ with your Muslim friends
CORDOVA, Tenn. (BP) -- Muslims aren't just people "over there" in the
Middle East and parts of Asia. They live in major cities across the U.S.
and many smaller towns as well. More are arriving daily and the vast
majority want to live quiet lives making a living for their families.
To many Southern Baptists, evangelizing Muslims in this country may seem to be a daunting task best left to professional missionaries and skilled pastors. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Sharing
Christ with people who represent some of the rapidly growing faiths in
America (these include Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists) doesn't have to be
scary or complicated. Most people of another faith are quite open to
hearing about Christianity. Learning a few simple steps and having
conversations with adherents of other faiths about Christ actually is
quite simple.
Muslims throughout the world regard Christ as one of their prophets and turn to Him to save them from their sins. At the same time, the pervasiveness of Islam in the news and the seeming fervency of Muslims' beliefs unnecessarily strikes fear in the hearts of some Christians about talking to Muslims about Christ.
If we follow a few simple rules, we can find a bridge to talk with many Muslims about Christ. In my book, "How to Share Christ with Your Friends of Another Faith," I spell out steps that help build these bridges. None of the plans is complicated. Each provides a step-by-step blueprint of what to say.
With a Muslim friend, for example, consider these four steps toward sharing your faith:
1. Befriend a Muslim. A simple act of kindness such as bringing a small gift to a new Muslim neighbor can set the stage for the process of friendship.
2. Avoid the urge to be only a friend. Look for opportunities to bring God into your conversation for the purpose of letting your Muslim friend know you are a person of faith. For example, invite a friend out for coffee and then incorporate into the conversation something about how God recently has blessed you personally.
3. Look for "spiritual clues" that your new friend is interested in God. If the person mentions any desire to know God, you will know that God must be working in his or her heart. In preparation, read John 12:32 or 16:8 for proof that only God draws individuals to Himself.
4. Take the opportunity to share your faith even if clues don't present themselves. If you have invested in several visits with your Muslim friend, you have earned the right to share Christ.
READ MORE
To many Southern Baptists, evangelizing Muslims in this country may seem to be a daunting task best left to professional missionaries and skilled pastors. Nothing could be further from the truth.
| Jeff Brawner |
Muslims throughout the world regard Christ as one of their prophets and turn to Him to save them from their sins. At the same time, the pervasiveness of Islam in the news and the seeming fervency of Muslims' beliefs unnecessarily strikes fear in the hearts of some Christians about talking to Muslims about Christ.
If we follow a few simple rules, we can find a bridge to talk with many Muslims about Christ. In my book, "How to Share Christ with Your Friends of Another Faith," I spell out steps that help build these bridges. None of the plans is complicated. Each provides a step-by-step blueprint of what to say.
With a Muslim friend, for example, consider these four steps toward sharing your faith:
1. Befriend a Muslim. A simple act of kindness such as bringing a small gift to a new Muslim neighbor can set the stage for the process of friendship.
2. Avoid the urge to be only a friend. Look for opportunities to bring God into your conversation for the purpose of letting your Muslim friend know you are a person of faith. For example, invite a friend out for coffee and then incorporate into the conversation something about how God recently has blessed you personally.
3. Look for "spiritual clues" that your new friend is interested in God. If the person mentions any desire to know God, you will know that God must be working in his or her heart. In preparation, read John 12:32 or 16:8 for proof that only God draws individuals to Himself.
4. Take the opportunity to share your faith even if clues don't present themselves. If you have invested in several visits with your Muslim friend, you have earned the right to share Christ.
READ MORE
Study: Faith-Based IT Opportunities Will Be Worth $40 Billion by 2017
By Michael Gryboski , Christian Post Reporter
November 6, 2012|4:14 pm
A recent study by a technology research firm has concluded that in five years the value of information technology opportunities that are religiously based will be an estimated $40 billion.
Released in September by Stamford, Conn.-based Gartner Inc. and authored by Asheesh Raina and David M. Coyle, the study concluded that religion would heavily influence IT developments."The role of religion in generating new business
opportunities for the IT industry will continue to evolve and will
benefit from ongoing convergence of traditional and emerging trends,
with added support and findings from religion experts and sociologists,"
wrote Raina and Coyle."In the next four to five years, religion slowly but steadily will continue to drive and change the way IT is consumed today by generating a significant amount and variety of new IT opportunities and business models."
In an interview with The Economic Times, lead author Raina explained how religions would globally influence and contribute to IT developments and business.
"Religion has a great influence on high-growth regions such as Latin America, Africa, the Arab world and South Asia, thus compelling new entrants and incumbent IT providers to seek new opportunities with religious entities," said Raina.
Youth Group Hopes to Collect 20,000 Bibles to Help Pastors, Evangelists, and Missionaries
The fingerprints of those participating in a "huge" youth-led Bible
drive this holiday season will travel across the globe, according to the
Rev. Jason Woolford, executive director of Christian Resources
International.
A youth group of SonRise Church hopes to donate 20,000 Bibles by Dec. 20 to the Fowler-ville-based nonprofit.
"We just wanted to do something to get the name of God out there," said Jordan Belanger, 14, whom the Rev. Patrick Erck credits with the idea.
Erck, a youth and student pastor of the church, said the Bibles will be distributed by the nonprofit in Africa and India. They will be used by pastors, evangalists and missionaries who don't have access to such Christian support materials.
"We're reclaiming used literature, so it helps the environment while helping to boost literacy," Erck said.
READ MORE
A youth group of SonRise Church hopes to donate 20,000 Bibles by Dec. 20 to the Fowler-ville-based nonprofit.
"We just wanted to do something to get the name of God out there," said Jordan Belanger, 14, whom the Rev. Patrick Erck credits with the idea.
Erck, a youth and student pastor of the church, said the Bibles will be distributed by the nonprofit in Africa and India. They will be used by pastors, evangalists and missionaries who don't have access to such Christian support materials.
"We're reclaiming used literature, so it helps the environment while helping to boost literacy," Erck said.
READ MORE
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)