The Marriage Debate Through a Child's Eyes

By Jennifer A. Marshall , CP Op-Ed Contributor

March 25, 2013|2:50 pm

Earlier this month, 11-year-old Grace Evans appeared before a panel of Minnesota lawmakers considering a redefinition of marriage in that state. She testified to the significance of her mother and father and the different contributions each makes to her life.

Then she ended with a simple question: "Which parent do I not need, my mom, or my dad?"
It's a question proponents of same-sex marriage cannot answer.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/the-marriage-debate-through-a-childs-eyes-92600/#ZCuiLmfCYw8dPX5m.99

Churches Minister to Teens, Families by Offering Free Prom Dresses

By Jeff Schapiro , Christian Post Reporter

March 26, 2013|4:03 pm

High school prom can be an expensive endeavor for students and their parents, but some churches are trying to ease the financial burden by offering free gowns while also addressing some of the spiritual needs of the girls they are seeking to help.

Carol Crockett is one of the founders of Priceless Gowns, a ministry of First Baptist Church of Conroe, Texas, which had its sixth annual prom gown giveaway this past weekend. The ministry made approximately 580 dresses available for girls to choose from this year, and most of them were donated by individuals and local businesses.
"Our church has a huge atrium, and we transform it into a boutique," Crockett told The Christian Post on Tuesday. "And each girl is assigned a personal shopper that goes around with them, and they build a relationship."

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/churches-minister-to-teens-families-by-offering-free-prom-dresses-92688/#8RA3H6KFiocWoTH1.99

War on Faith?: Alabama Elementary School Bans the Word Easter

The war on Easter has begun! The principal of Heritage Elementary School in Madison, Alabama has banned the use of the word Easter in the school saying that it infringes on the rights of students.
Lydia Davenport explained the move, saying, “Kids love the bunny and we just try to make sure that we don’t say the ‘Easter Bunny’ so that we don’t infringe on the rights of others, because people relate the Easter bunny to religion.”

READ MORE at FOXNEWSINSIDER

CDC: 110,197,000 Venereal Infections in U.S.; Nation Creating New STIs Faster Than New Jobs or College Grads

(CNSNews.com) - According to new data released by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 19.7 million new venereal infections in the United States in 2008, bringing the total number of existing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the U.S. at that time to 110,197,000.
The 19.7 million new STIs in 2008 vastly outpaced the new jobs and college graduates created in the United States that year or any other year on record, according to government data. The competition was not close.
The STI study referenced by the CDC estimated that 50 percent of the new infections in 2008 occurred among people in the 15-to-24 age bracket. In fact, of the 19,738,800 total new STIs in the United States in 2008, 9,782,650 were among Americans in the 15-to-24 age bracket.

READ MORE at CNSNEWS

NASA: Only 'Prayer' Will Stop Asteroid Apocalypse

5 of the Rarest, Most Unique Bibles and Historic Artifacts in ‘The Bible’s’ Epic Exhibit

Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, producers of History Channel’s “The Bible,” have teamed up with Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment to premiere “The Bible Experience,” a gallery of fascinating biblical relics and rare artifacts. On Wednesday night, TheBlaze was on-hand at the exhibit’s New York City opening to be among the first to see this fascinating array of material.

A breathtaking companion to the hit television series about history’s most read, most popular and, arguably, most studied book, “The Bible Experience” includes items that were previously shown at the Vatican and that are rarely unveiled to the public.

READ MORE AT THE BLAZE

'People turned on Christians': Persecuted Iraqi minority reflects on life after Saddam

By Annabel Roberts, Correspondent, NBC News

LONDON -- Rana stepped out of church in Baghdad in December 2006 to find an envelope wedged against her car windshield. Inside was a bullet -- a message that meant she and her family were next on an assassin’s list.
They fled the city the next day, leaving behind a business, a home -- everything.
"I didn't like Saddam Hussein, but he didn't bother the Christians," said Rana, 29, after a church service in London. "He was a dictator. When he went, the gangs came from everywhere."

READ MORE AT NBC NEWS

Colton Dixon: A Messenger of God's Love

Child Abuse Tragedy Turns Grandmother into Advocate

Event - Blue Sunday April 28th

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas, March 18, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. The last Sunday of April is called Blue Sunday. This is the day when churches take time in their service to pray for the victims of child abuse and for those who rescue them.
According to the latest Child Maltreatment Report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 1570 children died from child abuse and over 3 million others were also confirmed victims of child abuse in 2011. One is too many.
In the process of rescuing her grandchildren, founder, Janet Magee, was drafted into the battle against child abuse. Faced with such overwhelming numbers of children reported as abused she recognized that the epidemic of child abuse needed the faith community's participation in order to heal.
What began with 20 churches praying has grown into a national effort with over 2.5 million people committed to pray annually. Our prayers matter. New ministries can be birthed, awareness raised, and healing will come when we pray.
Many state agencies across the country have embraced and promoted the day of prayer, a clear sign that the line between church and state doesn't apply when it comes to child abuse prevention. State agencies need what the church has to offer: people, resources and our prayers.
On Blue Sunday we are asking churches to take time during their service on to pray. It's free. Visit www.bluesunday.org for free resources and to register your church or ministry to pray.
It is imperative for the faith community to become leaders in child abuse prevention and relief efforts.
Churches are encouraged to pray for 3 things:

1. The children who are victims of child abuse
2. Those who rescue and serve abused children
3. Direction to become active participants in the fight to end child abuse

We pray because abused children shouldn't have to pray alone

Christian Newswire

Texas Cheerleaders Fight to Promote the God's Word

By David Brody

CBN News Chief Political Correspondent

Cheerleaders at an east Texas highschool are once again defending the right to display Bible verses at football games. Their bold stand has earned national attention and placed them right in the middle of a heated free speech battle.

In this small town of Kountze, Texas, there is overwhelming support for the hometown cheerleaders who simply believe if God is for them, no one can be against them.

Just one look at the banners the Kountze football players run through just before a big game tells you that the Kountze highschool cheerleaders are not typical teenage girls.

The cheerleaders began writing Bible verses on them last Fall.

"We're just all Christians and believe the Bible is from God and so if it's from God, why not?" one cheerleader said. "That's what we were thinking and it's a positive message and it's uplifting."

READ MORE AT CBN NEWS