» Christian World News

Persecution In India – Francis Chan

Wayne Thomas — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 18:58:23 +0000

Filed under: Christian World News, The Walk Tagged: Christianity, Deepwaterwalk, Francis Chan, Persecution in India

A Home In Haiti

Wayne Thomas — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:51:45 +0000

This copy is straight from the home page of ahomeinhaiti.org.

Shelter from the Rain… NOW!

In just a few days, it will begin to rain regularly in Haiti. Could you imagine living outside, permanently, in the rain, with nothing but cloth sheets held up by sticks to protect you? Currently, this is set to be the very harsh reality for over 700,000 Haitian men, women, and children who still have nothing to protect them from the elements.When you purchase waterproof tents or donate cash directly, it will provide an immediate home in Haiti for people that so desperately need it. These tents are Phase 1 of our long-term project, but are not debatable or optional.

Yes -homes of wood and stone and steel are needed. We are working on that RIGHT NOW, but while we work, we must ensure that we ACT to provide shelter from the impending rainy season that begins in March and hurricane season that begins in June. Our tents are flown & shipped weekly to Haiti through trusted partners and are distributed directly by experienced professionals on the ground.

Thank you for being the solution! Let’s get to work!

Filed under: Christian World News Tagged: ahouseinhaiti.org

The Haiti Earthquake Disaster

Wayne Thomas — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:54:50 +0000

I just want to direct you to a friend’s blog who has researched several ways you can help in the Haiti disaster relief, if you feel led to do so.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” – Matthew 5:4

Follow your hearts! Follow the link below!

JENNICLAYVILLE.COM

Posted in Christian World News, Fellow Worship Bloggers, The Deep, The Walk Tagged: Deepwaterwalk, Haiti, Haiti Relief, How Can I Help Haiti?, jenniclayville.com

Hillsong United set for ’09 U.S. Tour!

Wayne Thomas — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 23:58:15 +0000

Hillsong United, one of the world’s most popular worship bands, will
“encounter” the United States in 2009 during their most extensive
visit to America to date.

Their American journey starts with the 2009 Hillsong United Encounter
event April 17-18 in Miami and will also include a worship tour in May
and June and a final Encounter event in Los Angeles in August.

Produced by Integrity Live Events, Hillsong United Encounter will be
held April 17-18 – at the Miami Bank United Center on the University
of Miami campus in Coral Cables, Fla. The event features two days of
speaker presentations, teaching and concerts. The conference will
focus on the subjects of worship and justice and equipping young
people to bring both to their local communities.

If you would like to read the rest of this article, please follow the link below.
Spiritweet.

Posted in Christian World News, Music, Worship, Worship Events, worship leading Tagged: Deepwaterwalk, Hillsong, Hillsong United, U.S. Tour, Worship

Mike Guglielmucchi Interview On Australian TV

Wayne Thomas — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 05:46:38 +0000

Preacher Michael Guglielmucci faked terminal illness

Wayne Thomas — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:42:28 +0000

I’m deeply saddened to report that a hoax has been exposed in the Christian church. Preacher Michael Guglielmucci, who I have blogged about here, and who wrote the tremendous song “Healer” while allegedly suffering through terminal cancer, has admitted that he faked his terminal illness. This must be shaking the foundation at Hillsong Church and Planetshakers, where he ministered.

I’m praying for Mr. Guglielmucci and his family as he seeks counseling for this. But I’m hurting for all of the terminally ill people who were so inspired by his story, and who are now having to deal with this unfortunate reality. Of course, I’m happy he isn’t dying of cancer. But he has now hurt thousands of people with this lie.
Here is the news story – Click Here

Anglican Head Compared ‘Faithful’ Gay Relationships to Marriage

Wayne Thomas — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 18:08:40 +0000

By Jennifer Gold

Christian Today Reporter

Thu, Aug. 07 2008 12:35 PM EDT

LONDON – The spotlight is back on Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams today after letters emerged in which the spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion says gay relationships could “reflect the love of God” in a way comparable to marriage, according to media reports.

Williams allegedly affirmed his liberal position on homosexuality in a leaked exchange of letters between 2000 and 2001 with Deborah Pitt, an evangelical living in his former archdiocese in south Wales.

According to media reports, Williams asserts in the letters his belief that parts of the Bible relating to homosexuality were addressed “to heterosexuals looking for sexual variety in their experience” rather than gay people in a relationship.

“I concluded that an active sexual relationship between two people of the same sex might therefore reflect the love of God in a way comparable to marriage, if and only if it had about it the same character of absolute covenanted faithfulness,” one letter was quoted as saying.

As a theologian, Williams is liberal on the issue of homosexuality but adopts a more conservative position as leader of the Anglican Communion, which officially regards homosexuality as incompatible with Scripture.

The archbishop’s comments come just days after the conclusion of the once-in-a-decade Lambeth Conference, which reaffirmed the Anglican Communion’s official line on homosexuality.

Bishops at the conference, which ended on Sunday, called for an immediate halt to same-sex consecrations and blessings, and the suspension of cross-border interventions.

Williams said at the end of the conference that the Anglican Communion would be in “grave peril” if member churches failed to observe the moratorium.

The 77-million member Anglican Communion has been wracked with division, particularly since the 2003 consecration of openly gay bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. More than 200 conservative bishops boycotted the Lambeth Conference in protest of the presence of pro-gay bishops, including some of those involved in the consecration of Robinson. They held their own meeting, the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), in Jerusalem in June.

In his strongest public acknowledgement of GAFCON to date, Williams had said he would look for ways to “build bridges” with bishops in the movement, who include Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola, Ugandan Archbishop Henry Orombi, Sydney Archbishop Peter Jensen, and a number of UK bishops, including the Bishop of Rochester, the Rt. Rev Michael Nazir-Ali.

Williams said he would send out a pastoral letter to each of the GAFCON bishops as a first step, but added that the bridge-building process would need some “teasing out” in the coming months.

Link To Original Source

PCUSA Assembly Approves Deleting Gay Clergy Ban

Wayne Thomas — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:09:58 +0000

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s highest governing body voted Friday in favor of a proposal that would allow for the ordination of non-celibate gays and lesbians.

The 218th General Assembly, meeting in San Jose, Calif., this week, voted 380-325 to send the overture – that would delete the requirement that clergy live in “fidelity within the covenant of marriage between and a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness” – to the denomination’s 173 presbyteries for approval.

Adding to the blow to conservatives, the Assembly also adopted a supplementary authoritative interpretation of the PC(USA) constitution that would allow gay and lesbian candidates for ordination to conscientiously object the current “fidelity and chastity” standard and the local ordaining body to discern whether the declared objection is disqualifying.

After decades of debate on gay clergy, commissioners and delegates at the meeting continued to argue on both sides, but the debate this year was shorter than in previous years, according to the Presbyterian news service from the General Assembly.

Approving the proposal of amending the PC(USA)’s constitution would “destabilize the denomination, obliterate trust and reduce funding for the church. Don’t send a shock wave through the church,” said the Rev. William Stepp of Tropical Florida Presbytery, who opposed the drop on the gay clergy ban.

The PC(USA) “needs a continuing strong witness to biblical standards for sexuality,” he added, according to the news service.

But with discussion on ordination standards having gone on for 30 years, the Rev. Susan Fisher of Pacific Presbytery felt “compelled” to advance the amendment to the presbyteries to “let the wider church decide if now is the time” to change the standards.

The Rev. Dan Holloway of Providence Presbytery, who moderated the Assembly Committee on Church Orders and Ministries that brought the recommendation to the Assembly, stressed that the Assembly’s vote has not changed the denomination’s constitution. But with heated debates expected across the denomination as presbyteries decide whether to approve the proposed amendment – a process that could take up to a year – Holloway urged for “gracious and loving and welcoming” conversations “since we are not all of one mind.”

Pleading for unity, outgoing General Assembly Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick said, “There are people who are gay and lesbian who long passionately to be included. There are others who believe strongly, not that they don’t love them, but that standards must be upheld. What is essential is the spirit of unity as we go forward to a new stage in the process.”

Also on Friday, the Assembly approved a new authoritative interpretation of the Book of Order – which contains Rules of Discipline for the PC(USA) – declaring that interpretive statements related to sexual standards for ordination that predate the adoption of the “fidelity and chastity” requirement in 1996 “have no further force or effect,” as reported by the Assembly news service.

The “fidelity and chastity” requirement had replaced language prohibiting non-celibate gays and lesbians from ministry.

Courtesy of christianpost.com

Steven Curtis Chapman’s daughter killed in accident

Wayne Thomas — Fri, 23 May 2008 02:46:12 +0000

by Terry DeBoer | The Grand Rapids Press

Thursday May 22, 2008, 4:53 PM

Tucker PhotographyThe Chapman family: From left, Will Franklin, Maria, Steven, Shaohannah, Mary Beth, Stevey Joy, Caleb and Emily Chapman.

West Michigan Christian music fans are expressing their sympathy for Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman after the death of his 5-year-old daughter in an accident Wednesday in the family’s driveway.

“We opened up the phone lines and people called in and wanted to pray right over the air,” said Troy West, morning show co-host on contemporary Christian music radio station WJQK-FM (99).

Maria Sue Chapman was struck by a car driven by one of her teenage brothers, according to authorities in Franklin, Tenn., who added they believe no charges will result from what they termed “a tragic accident.”

The child died 10 days after her fifth birthday. Chapman’s manager, Jim Houser, also noted in a Web site posting the family had been hours away from hosting a high school graduation party for their son Caleb when the accident occurred.

Maria was the youngest of three Chinese girls the family had adopted, two of them through the the Nashville, Tenn., office of Bethany Christian Services. Chapman and his wife, Mary Beth, also have three biological children — two teenage sons and a 21-year-old daughter.

“They are loving and wonderful parents and a great family — they must be devastated,” said Brian De Vos, manager of Michigan operations for Bethany Christian Services. “He’s been such an advocate for adoption — I know their commitment to kids.”

DeVos has known the Chapmans for eight years and worked with them on Shaohannah’s Hope, a foundation the couple named for one of their adopted daughters and established to help families through the often expensive adoption process.

During Chapman’s most recent concert tour — which included a stop at Sunshine Community Church last September — the singer raised $340,000 for the foundation. While here, he awarded a grant of about $3,000 to a local family for adoption expenses.

He also has raised funds for construction of an orphanage in China for special-needs children who likely will never be adopted.

Chapman, 45, has sold more than 10 million albums, has had dozens of No. 1 Christian radio hits, and has won more than 50 Dove Awards — exceeding any other individual artist.

Yet he would much rather talk about his family or his work with adoptions and orphans.

“I have sung a lot of his songs,” said local Christian singer Marty Miller, of Belmont, posting comments on an area Christian musicians’ Web site. “Please be in prayer for the family.”

Chapman’s current hit song on Christian radio is “Cinderella,” a ballad about precious times spent together by father and daughter. It was inspired by a real family moment.

Courtesy of The Grand Rapids Press

Missionaries Risk Exposure to Bow and Arrows and Poisonous Venoms

Wayne Thomas — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:51:56 +0000

Missionaries with Segadores (Reapers) in Peru recently learned of a hidden tribe of people who have never been reached by anyone from the outside world, much less Christians bringing the gospel. But in order to reach them, they must travel in areas where they put themselves at risk to venomous snake and spider bites – or where they might be shot at with bow and arrows. The ministry is preparing for this dangerous mission this year. A mission team is planning a trip through miles and miles of dense tropical forest and precarious boat rides down unfamiliar rivers – in hopes of finding this unreached people group hidden deep in the jungle. Since poisonous snakes and spiders pose a constant threat, especially in these outlying areas where there are no medical facilities, the ministry is looking for a way to protect the missionaries.

The ministry has a prototype of an electrical device that is proven to neutralize poisonous venom, but needs help in perfecting the instrument. Please pray that they will find someone who is able to help them work out these details and also be instrumental in getting it manufactured.

Vest-like shields, also designed by the ministry leader, are being developed. They are looking for the right lightweight protective material to insert into the vest. They will be worn once the missionaries think they are near an area of danger from arrows.

After they are able to make contact, they will employ special strategies for winning their trust. Christian Aid is praying with the native missionaries that all these details for the trip, the equipment, as well as the extra training needs will be provided for by enthusiastic Christians hearing about this venture. Pray that the full armor of God will prevail against the spiritual assaults of the enemy during this mission trip.

Support missionaries of Segadores reaching this hidden tribe in Peru.