ACTRESS JENNIFER GARNER RETURNS TO HER CHILDHOOD FAITH

Actress Jennifer Garner has said that her recent movie has led her to return to her childhood faith.

Charisma News reports that Garner recently appeared with Pastor T.D. Jakes at Jakes’ church where she spoke about the renewal of her faith and how it has impacted her family.

Garner talked about how, in Hollywood, faith is not often discussed, and if you are a person of faith, you are put on the outskirts. But faith shouldn’t be merely a political thing, Garner said.

While filming the Christian movie Miracles from Heaven in which she plays Christy Beam, the

RELIGIOUS BROADCASTERS TAKE A PEEK AT MUSEUM OF THE BIBLE COLLECTION

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) The nation’s best-known county clerk paused between some cuneiform tablets and a 17th-century triptych of the Virgin and Child to wonder at the biblical antiquities surrounding her.

Kim Davis, the Rowan County, Ky., clerk who grabbed national headlines after she refused to issue same-sex marriage licenses, was among the hundreds of visitors who passed through a preview of the Museum of the Bible collection, opened for the first time Wednesday (Feb. 24), at the National Religious Broadcasters International Christian Media Convention, running through Friday in

ISIS RELEASES 43 CAPTIVES, LAST OF THOSE TAKEN HOSTAGE ONE YEAR AGO

The Islamic State has released 43 Assyrian Christians, the last in a group of hostages captured almost exactly one year ago.

 "No hostages remain and any reports quoting other figures to the contrary are unsubstantiated," the Assyrian Church of the East Relief Organisation (ACERO) said today.

"ACERO wishes to extend its unreserved thanks

JUSTIN BIEBER SAYS WITHOUT GOD, HE WOULD BE A 'TERRIBLE' PERSON

Pop superstar Justin Bieber said that his relationship with God helps him from being a “terrible” person.

In an interview with GQ Magazine this month, the singer stated, "I feel like that's why I have a relationship with Him, because I need it. I suck by myself. Like, when I'm by myself and I feel like I have nothing to lean on? Terrible, Terrible person."

"If I was doing this on my own, I would constantly be doing things that are, I mean, I still am doing things that are stupid, but. … It just gives me some sort of hope and something to grasp onto," Bieber continued. "A feeling of security, and a feeling of being wanted, and a feeling of being desired, and I feel like we can only get so much of that from a human."

According to The Christian Post, in the interview Bieber said

BIBLE THE ONLY THING UNTOUCHED BY FLAMES IN VEHICLE CRASH

A serious vehicle crash took place on Tennessee State Route 385 Eastbound and Ridgeway Road. The driver was pulled from the burning vehicle and everything else inside was burned up, except for a Bible on the vehicle’s front seat which police found completely unscathed.

Fox 13 reports that the crash occurred on Sunday afternoon when a car sideswiped the jeep which caused the jeep to spin out of control on the side of the road.

Eugene McNiel who was driving on 385 and saw the crash, rushed to the scene and, with help from others, pulled the driver out of the jeep to

AL QAEDA FREES MISSIONARY IN BURKINA FASO BUT DETAINED HER HUSBAND

An Al Qaeda group in Burkina Faso has released an Australian missionary who was kidnapped.

According to ChristianToday.com, the missionary’s husband is still in captivity.

The Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb released a video announcing Jocelyn Elliot’s release. Her husband is surgeon Dr. Ken Elliot.

"The primary motive behind their kidnapping was an attempt to [gain] release of our captives who sit behind bars and suffer the pain of

NEW TREATMENT COULD HELP UNBORN BABIES WITH DOWN SYNDROME

Within a decade, parents may be able to find treatment for their unborn children with Down syndrome. NBC reports that Carol Tamminga and colleagues at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas (UTSW) plan to start in March a study in which unborn children with Down syndrome will receive Prozac, an anti-depressant, beginning as early as 18 weeks gestation, until they are 2 years old. Studies show mice that would have been born with cognitive impairment functioned normally when given Prozac. Those effects continued into adulthood.

While many children have been safely exposed to antidepressants in the womb, such exposure is not without risk. Investigators have

KIRK FRANKLIN DEFENDS COLLABORATION WITH KANYE WEST; “HE IS MY BROTHER”

Gospel musician Kirk Franklin is receiving backlash from fans after collaborating with rapper Kanye

West on his new album “The Life of Pablo.” The album contains explicit language throughout, though West claims the title refers to the apostle Paul.

According to Relevant Magazine, Franklin defended his decision to work with West via Facebook.

Franklin wrote, “Kanye is not me. I am not him. He is my brother I am proud to do life with. No

WOMAN SUES CHURCH AFTER FAILING TO RECEIVE PROMISED MONEY FOR KEEPING QUIET ABOUT AFFAIR WITH PASTOR

A woman who allegedly had an affair with a pastor of a Florida megachurch is suing the church for failing to pay her the money they promised to pay her to keep quiet about the affair.

Christian Today reports that Arlene Miranda filed the lawsuit against Orlando Baptist Church, claiming that the church failed to pay her the $3,000 it agreed to pay her for keeping quiet about her affair with the church’s pastor, Dave Janney.

Miranda stated that she is going public with the affair and the lawsuit not because she wants the money, but because she is convicted about her sin.

"I committed a sin. The Holy Spirit really, really convicted me and I wanted to come clean,” she said.

THROUGH THE 40 DAYS LIFE CAMPAIGN, 35 LIVES OF UNBORN BABIES HAS BEEN SAVED

The 40 Days for Life campaign recently reported that 35 unborn babies have been saved through the efforts of pro-life volunteers.

The volunteers go to local abortion clinics and offer information and prayer for the women going into the clinic, intending to get abortions.

LifeNews.com reports that, through the campaign, 35 mothers decided at the last moment to save their child’s life.

One story comes from Michelle in Montgomery, Alabama. Michelle reports that a volunteer spoke to a woman as she walked into the abortion clinic, giving the woman information about her child and

MICHAEL W. SMITH SHARES HIS TESTIMONY AND DISCUSSES NEW ALBUM

Popular Christian singer and songwriter Michael W. Smith recently shared details of his testimony and discussed his new album “Hymns II: Shine on Us” while appearing on The Church Boys podcast.

Smith said that he became a Christian at the age of 10.

“I remember sitting with all my friends and just something happened. It was like an epiphany,” Smith said. “A light bulb went off. Jesus really is who he said he was.”

However, Smith fell away from the faith some years later, and developed a drug problem.

I lost my way,” he said. “Still, to this day, I can’t believe I did

ILLEGAL TRADE IN BODY PARTS THREATENS AFRICANS WITH ALBINISM

Melissa Stanford is 14 years old and dreams of becoming a lawyer. The sixth-grade student lives at a residential school run by the Our Lady of Kilimanjaro Sisters in northern Tanzania, where she is at the top of her class and helps the sisters take care of the younger students, some of whom have physical disabilities. She is quiet and polite with strangers and compassionate with the younger children.

TEENAGE GIRL REFUSES TO CARRY OUT BOKO HARAM BOMBING

A teenage girl who was kidnapped by Boko Haram militants and forced to carry out a suicide mission has escaped her captors, aborted the mission, and is sharing what she knows of the militants’ plans.

The Guardian reports that the teenage girl was strapped with a suicide vest and instructed to detonate it in the midst of the Dikwa refugee camp in northeast Nigeria.

The girl, though fearing her captors, also feared

FOOD FOR THOUGHT BEFORE YOU TAKE THE LEAP

YOUR CHOICE BEFORE MARRIAGE

We all make choices daily, we basically choose from so many options practically on all our day to day activities- for instance what food to eat, clothes to wear, where to go or where not to go, who to make our friend e.t.c. We can only be given suggestions or advises on these decisions but whatever our choices are, we made them, nobody make the choice for us, therefore we are responsible for our choices.

Meanwhile, the choice in contention here, is more serious and difficult to undo. It about making an everlasting decision on man or woman with whom you will spend the rest of your life on earth. Out of many, you are to choose someone intimate whom you can't hid any matter from, whom you will relate with everyday of your life. You will agree with me that is quiet a very serious issue which requires serious consideration. Therefore before you make

OBAMA AT PRAYER BREAKFAST; "JESUS IS A GOOD CURE FOR FEAR"

In his last National Prayer Breakfast speech while in office, President Obama gave an introspective talk about how his faith overcomes his fears.

“For me, and I know for so many of you, faith is the great cure for fear,” Obama said at the Washington Hilton event Thursday (Feb. 4). “Jesus is a good cure for fear.”

Obama’s speech to several thousand mostly evangelical listeners came a day after he spoke at a Baltimore mosque and gave a history lesson on Muslim Americans’ contributions to the country.

The National Prayer Breakfast, held for the 64th time, is chaired each year by members of Congress who meet weekly for prayer when Congress is in session. It draws politicians, diplomats and prominent evangelical Christian leaders.

Speaking slowly at times as he talked about how he is

RICK SANTORUM ENDS PRESIDENTIAL BID ENDORSES MARCO RUBIO

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum has announced that he is dropping out of the presidential race after receiving only one percent of the vote in the Iowa caucuses.

Fox News reports that Santorum discussed the decision with his wife, Karen, and they ultimately decided that it would be best to suspend the campaign and put their efforts into supporting a candidate who had a greater chance of winning the Republican nomination.

“We decided that we could be better advocates in supporting someone who shared those values and

5 WAYS TO SHOW LOVE TO OUR NEIGHBOUR

Our neighbours are the ones who lives near or next to us. Lets show love to them in the following ways:

1.  Seeking out for our neighbour: Lets be our neighours keeper, seek them, show love to them, be a friend and companion. No matter who our neighbours are, they are in our lives for a purpose, reach out to them and put smile on their faces.

2.  Be a blessing: Within our capacity lets bless people around us with our smile, good compliments, subtance, love, assitance even good advice when necessary. Lets be there for them.

3.  Be real: Sometimes we received gifts or honours because "it was the right thing to do" we can't

CHRISTIAN ‘UNTOUCHABLES’ PLANNING NATIONWIDE RALLY IN INDIA

Members of India’s lowest class, the dalits or "untouchables," are organizing rallies to protest their unfair treatment by the government.

The Christian Post reports that the dalits are protesting the unequal treatment the government gives them in regard to government benefits. The government offers benefits to those of the lowest caste mainly if they are Hindu. Those who identify as Christian or other faiths thus feel they are being discriminated against.

National Council of Dalit Christians adviser Ed Charles places the blame for this unfair system on India’s Congress and the ruling government party.

“[I]t is evident that the principle of unity in diversity and minority 

FRANCE BULLDOZES REFUGEES’ CHURCH AND MOSQUE

A church and mosque in France’s “jungle” camp for migrants and refugees have been destroyed, despite authorities’ reportedly promising not to demolish the places of worship.

Bulldozers moved into the camp in Calais, the departure point for ferries to Great Britain, on Monday (Feb. 1) and tore down the mosque, which reportedly drew up to 300 worshipers each day, and St. Michael’s Church, a makeshift chapel serving mainly Orthodox Ethiopian Christians.

Residents of the camp were given just a few minutes to collect their belongings before the demolition

AL SHABAAB KILLS CHRISTIANS IN RAID ON VILLAGE IN COASTAL KENYA

In a pre-dawn raid on a predominantly Christian area in coastal Kenya on Sunday (Jan. 31), Islamic extremist Al Shabaab rebels killed at least four Christians, beheading one of them, area sources said.

In the Kaisari area of Maporomoko village, near Pandanguo about 25 miles inland from the Indian Ocean town of Lamu, Al Shabaab rebels attacked from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., a wounded survivor at Mpeketoni Sub-County Hospital told Morning Star News.

The victim, a Christian from the Maporomoko-Bondeni area who was shot in his right hand, said there were five or six heavily-armed assailants who spoke Somali and were dressed in military

THREE EGYPTIAN CHRISTIAN STUDENTS ON TRIAL FOR INSULTING ISLAM

Three Egyptian Christian high school students are on trial for allegedly insulting Islam.

According to ABC News, the students appeared in a 30-second video, filmed by their teacher, in which one student appears to be kneeling to pray while reciting verses from the Quran, while the two other students stand behind him laughing. One student runs his hand under the praying student’s chin, as if beheading him.

The students will stand trial on Thursday. Their teacher was sentenced to three years in prison, also

26 DEAD IN A SUICIDE BOMB IN TWO TOWNS IN NIGERIA

Suicide attacks on two predominantly Christian communities in northeast Nigeria today and on Wednesday (Jan. 27) left at least 26 persons dead and dozens of others injured, sources said.

                       

At noon today a suicide bomber suspected to have been sent by the Islamic extremist Boko Haram group detonated explosives in a crowded market in Gombi, Adamawa state, killing at least eight people, sources said. Boko Haram, which seeks to impose sharia (Islamic law) throughout Nigeria, has continued to carry out terrorist attacks since losing territory to the Nigerian military last year.

“Some members of our church who escaped the attack in the market said they saw eight dead bodies,

TRUMP IS A 'LOSER' WITH GOP PROSTESTANT PASTORS

Donald Trump, who loves to call others “losers,” is a big one himself in a new survey of U.S. Protestant pastors.

When LifeWay Research, an evangelical polling group, asked Republican pastors in mid-January who their pick would be if they were voting that very day, Trump was named by only 5 percent.

                 

“Undecided” was the big winner with more than a third of GOP pastors (39 percent) in the survey. Indeed, 48 percent overall said they had no top choice in this “bizarre election season,” said LifeWay

TWO KEY WAYS TO MAKE YOUR MARRIAGE A DIFFERENCE

There are two important things for a successful marriage. These two are so crucial that without them it will be hard to have a harmonious marriage. When you get married there is common slogan everybody says “for better for worst” sincerely speaking as a Christian you cannot handle the worst part without the help of Holy Spirit. The better part can also be mismanaged if the present of Holy Spirit is not in your marriage. Therefore the first thing you need in your marriage as a Christian is the