April 2004 Christian News Headlines
1 Apr 2004
FCC Officials Chastise Broadcasters -- and Agency's Own Lax Enforcement of Standards
(AgapePress) - The nation's radio and television broadcasters heard from the FCC on Wednesday that if they leave it up to the government to set strict standards for broadcast decency, they won't like the results. One FCC commissioner told them he's ready to lower the boom so they will take the indecency laws more seriously.
1 Apr 2004
University Finds Nothing Corny About 'Offensive' Editorial Cartoon
(AgapePress) - Southwest Missouri State University is once again being accused of stifling free speech on campus. The controversy involves a cartoon meant to poke fun at a common Thanksgiving tradition.
1 Apr 2004
Author: 2,000 Years Later, Christ Still Influencing People and Nations
(AgapePress) - A Christian author says the significance and impact of Christ is not limited to the Church.
1 Apr 2004
'Pro-Choice' Clergywoman Claims God Often Wills Abortion
(AgapePress) - Many conservatives may be surprised to learn that, in the battle over abortion, the vast majority of religious denominations and their clergy support the pro-abortion side.
1 Apr 2004
School Shelves Pro-Homosexual Children's Book; Now Restricted to Adults
(AgapePress) - A controversial book about two princes getting married is no longer accessible to students at one North Carolina elementary school.
1 Apr 2004
Dallas Gathering Launches New Ten Commandments Rally Series
(AgapePress) - Final preparations are being made for the first in a new series of Ten Commandments rallies that will take place around the U.S., giving thousands of concerned Christians the chance to show support for the public display and acknowledgement of God's laws.
1 Apr 2004
It's MTV ... What Did We Expect?
(AgapePress) - Despite its vulgarity, the recent Super Bowl half-time show, which climaxed with a stunt that revealed singer Janet Jackson's right breast, may have been a wake-up call for American families and a boon for the cause of decency on TV.
2 Apr 2004
THE HEART OF SPORTS - Leaving It Out on the Field for God
(AgapePress) - There are few things sadder than wasted ability. And often it seems the most gifted among us are also the most adept at squandering their talent.
2 Apr 2004
Make Sure Your Investment Decision-Making Is 'Inside-Out'
(AgapePress) - One of the more contra-intuitive propositions that I regularly put forth in my monthly newsletter is the idea that your investing decisions can usually be made with little regard for what's currently going on in the investment markets. Let me explain why this is true.
2 Apr 2004
Children's Author: Use Time with Toddlers to Teach Values
(AgapePress) - "When I grow up I want to be like Justin's daddy," says little Nathan. "He's a race car driver."
2 Apr 2004
Former Jerusalem Official Says Israel Must Keep Building Security Fence
(AgapePress) - Former police chief of Jerusalem Aryeh Amit says while the Israeli government does not like the idea of erecting a security fence to keep Palestinian terrorists out, it is a necessary tool to protect his country's citizens.
2 Apr 2004
ECUSA Bishops Widening Rift, Anglican Theologian Says
(AgapePress) - A conservative Anglican theologian says the Episcopal Church USA's House of Bishops could have helped heal the rift in the denomination, but instead has chosen to make things considerably worse.
2 Apr 2004
Ministry Provides China's Persecuted Christians With Teaching Materials For Youth
(AgapePress) - An international ministry to the persecuted Church has a goal of providing one million pieces of Christian children's literature to China this year.
2 Apr 2004
Like the UMC, Presbyterian Church (USA) Haggles Over Lesbian Pastor's Status
(AgapePress) - A conservative pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA) is commending an attorney for filing disciplinary charges against an openly homosexual female minister in California.
2 Apr 2004
'Unborn Victims' Bill Now Law; Another Pro-Life Victory
(AgapePress) - On Thursday, President Bush signed into law the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, making it a separate crime to harm or kill an unborn child during an assault on the mother. While most pro-lifers are hailing the new law and the recognition it brings to children still in the womb, at least one major pro-life advocacy group is saddened that it won't prevent even one abortion.
5 Apr 2004
COMMENTARY - 'The Right Frame of Mind' - Decrying the Left's Double Standard
(AgapePress) - It's not uncommon for controversial issues to be discussed in Elyse Crystall's "Literature and Cultural Diversity" class at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Recently, when the discussion turned to why straight men often feel threatened by gay men, Tim Mertes, a conservative Christian, spoke out against homosexuality, saying it was "impure," "dirty," and "disgusting." Unfortunately, after class some students complained about Mertes's remarks, Crystall was prompted to zip off an e-mail to class members, warning she wouldn't "tolerate any racist, sexist and/or heterosexist comments in my class." She added the language Mertes used was "hate speech," "violent," and an example of "white heterosexual Christian male" privilege.
5 Apr 2004
Ollie North Fears Terror Attack on U.S. Soil Imminent
(AgapePress) - One of America's foremost military pundits says he fears terrorists were clearly emboldened by what happened in the recent Spanish elections. Consequently, he believes the United States is the next logical target for a major terrorist hit.
5 Apr 2004
Believe It or Not: Mexico Sending Aid to Los Angeles School District
(AgapePress) - A conservative group is concerned about a new partnership between the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Mexican government aimed at improving educational achievement among Latino students.
5 Apr 2004
AARP Mag: A Little Porn's a Good Thing
(AgapePress) - An American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) magazine reader seeking advice on whether she should be concerned that her husband is viewing pornography online was told she should not be concerned.
5 Apr 2004
Campus Judicial Group Passes Protective Free Speech Measure
(AgapePress) - The nation's largest professional association of campus judicial administrators has passed a significant resolution on campus free speech.
5 Apr 2004
LifeWay Consults Culture Experts to Quash Critics' Quarrels with VBS Curriculum
(AgapePress) - A spokesman for LifeWay Christian Resources says this year's vacation Bible school program has received a few complaints about the theme of the teaching materials. This year's theme is "LifeWay's Far Out Far East Rickshaw Rally: Racing to the Son."
5 Apr 2004
Catholic College in PA Challenged for its Apparent Pro-Homosexual Stance
(AgapePress) - The head of a Pennsylvania traditional values group is calling on a Catholic college to uphold the biblical truth about homosexuality.
5 Apr 2004
Speakers Urge Dallas Ten Commandments Rally Crowd to Action
(AgapePress) - This past weekend the president of a ministry that seeks to call America back to its godly heritage was in Dallas, Texas, along with other prominent speakers, for a rally to defend religious liberty. Saturday's four-hour Ten Commandments rally drew thousands of concerned Christians to the Dallas County Convention Center for speeches, music, and seminars, all aimed at equipping Christian activists for the culture war.
6 Apr 2004
Expert Says Latest U.S. Military Operation in Iraq Will Roust Insurgents
(AgapePress) - Operation Vigilant Response is under way in the troubled Iraqi city of Fallujah, Iraq. Hundreds of American troops have surrounded the city in response to last week's killing and mutilation of four American contractors. More than 1,200 American troops will be working with thousands of Iraqi police to cordon the city and slowly seek out the killers of the Americans.
6 Apr 2004
ABC's Latest 'Jesus' Special Denigrates Christianity, Groups Say
(AgapePress) - This likely comes as no surprise to most believers, but the mainstream media's presentation of Christianity is seldom offered in a positive light. The "left" or "liberal" view of the faith tends to be given more credibility and the "conservative" interpretation often gets short shrift. Interestingly, the ABC network -- which offered up another biased "Jesus" special on Monday night -- admits to such bias.
6 Apr 2004
U.S. Congressman Has High Hopes for Iraqi Government
(AgapePress) - A Mississippi congressman who recently returned from a fact-finding trip to Iraq says he believes that country can become a viable democracy, even though it has declared itself an Islamic state.
6 Apr 2004
Educ. Sec. Touts Increased Funding for Advanced Placement Courses
(AgapePress) - The Bush Administration wants to make more advanced placement (AP) courses available for disadvantaged and low-income students.
6 Apr 2004
Evangelism Expert Says Soul Winning Begins with Ten Commandments
(AgapePress) - A southern California evangelist says when it comes to witnessing, Christians need to follow Christ's example -- starting not with God's love, but with God's law.
6 Apr 2004
Keyes: Courts Perpetuate 'Separation' Lie -- and Americans Are Buying It
(AgapePress) - Lawsuits and disputes over public display of God's law -- the Ten Commandments -- have been widespread across the country, complainants arguing that such displays on public property constitute endorsement of religion, a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution -- sometimes referred to as the issue of "separation of Church and State." Activist courts in America have demonstrated by their recent rulings a prevalent anti-Christian bias in such cases.
6 Apr 2004
Polly Awards Reveal Higher Learning's Lower Moments
(AgapePress) - A campus watchdog group has unveiled its annual Campus Outrage Awards for the worst abuses of tax dollars, the egregious instances of political correctness, and the most blatant suppressions of free speech to be found at U.S. educational institutions.
7 Apr 2004
Proposed Bill Lets Local Police In on Enforcing Immigration Law
(AgapePress) - A Colorado congressman says it's time to stop playing politics, pointing fingers, and passing the buck when it comes to addressing the illegal alien crisis. The Republican lawmaker wants to see state and local law enforcement agencies do more to help address the situation.
7 Apr 2004
Study Assesses Current Well-Being of America's Children
(AgapePress) - A family psychologist says a new study on the well-being of children affirms that kids in broken homes have a variety of problems.
7 Apr 2004
Intercessory Ministry Urges Prayer for U.S. Government Leaders
(AgapePress) - The founder of a Texas-based ministry is encouraging Christians to engage in intercessory prayer for those in positions of leadership in America.
7 Apr 2004
View of Foreign Law Worries Conservatives
(AgapePress) - The liberal majority on the U.S. Supreme Court appears to be pushing for a staggering shift in the way it makes its decisions, away from a sole reliance on the U.S. Constitution and towards other sources, such as legal thought originating in Europe.
7 Apr 2004
Constitution Restoration Act Will Curb Judicial Activism, Judge Moore Says
(AgapePress) - Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore says recent events such as the debate over homosexual marriage and the challenge to the Pledge of Allegiance show that the United States needs to return to the true God worshipped by the nation's founders.
7 Apr 2004
Evolution Website Encourages Promotion of 'Religious Darwinism'
(AgapePress) - A Seattle-based think tank is expressing outrage over an effort to promote "religious Darwinism" in public schools.
7 Apr 2004
Judge Favors Christian Fired for Refusing Company's Pro-Homosexual Policy
(AgapePress) - A Christian legal group says a court victory for a Colorado man fired by AT&T could set a precedent for the rights of Christian employees in the workplace.
8 Apr 2004
Jewish-Christian Unity at Easter
(AgapePress) - A few weeks ago I wrote an article describing Ronald Reagan's views on Jesus Christ and the crucifixion. While most of the response was positive, I did receive some negative e-mail. One writer complained that I rekindled the same "divisive" issues that split many Jews and Christians over Mel Gibson's film. And yet, insisted my e-mailer, "Reagan was very tolerant of Jews. Why don't you focus on that?"
8 Apr 2004
Holman Offers New Bible to Build Readers' Faith, Reaffirm Scripture's Authority
(AgapePress) - The first major English translation of the Bible in this generation will soon be available. The Holman Christian Standard Bible, the first major rendition of God's Word in English in 30 years, will be released April 15.
8 Apr 2004
Conservative Princeton Students Want Minority Viewpoint Welcomed on Campus
(AgapePress) - A conservative student at Princeton University is fighting political and ideological bias on the Ivy League campus. Junior Evan Baehr has started the Princeton University chapter of Students for Academic Freedom, a national group founded by Republican activist David Horowitz.
8 Apr 2004
Senator Believes Welfare Reform Bill Will Create, Bolster Two-Parent Families
(AgapePress) - The Welfare Reform Re-Authorization Act could be a lifesaver for many of America's young people that are stuck in low-income, single-parent families.
8 Apr 2004
Conservative Anglican Leader Says ECUSA's 'Blessing' Rite Not Scriptural
(AgapePress) - A conservative Anglican leader is denouncing the Episcopal Church USA's plan for a same-sex "blessing" rite.
8 Apr 2004
Parents Protest Keeping Pro-Homosexual Book on School Shelf
(AgapePress) - A Christian couple in Wilmington, North Carolina, is urging other parents to speak out against inappropriate books in public school libraries.
8 Apr 2004
California Lawmakers Initiate New Effort to Legislate Homosexual Marriage
(AgapePress) - California State Assemblyman Mark Leno, a Democrat from San Francisco, has put together a coalition of 20 State Assembly members to challenge the present wording of California law that defines traditional marriage. His proposal would eliminate the words "a man and a woman" from the law and replace it with "persons" in the state charter defining marriage.
8 Apr 2004
Global Hotspots Mark Unrelenting Christian Persecution Worldwide
(AgapePress) - For many Christians around the world, religious persecution is a way of life, even during "Holy Week," a time when believers commemorate their faith in God's salvation and power. And in many areas, political tensions, economic change, and interfaith conflict are threatening to disrupt what ought to be season of celebration.
12 Apr 2004
COMMENTARY - 'The Right Frame of Mind' - The Gospel for Skeptics
(AgapePress) - Nearly everyone understands the difference between a believer and a skeptic, but I'm not sure everyone knows the difference between an honest skeptic and a dishonest one.
12 Apr 2004
Alabama Pastor: Society's Truth Must Be God-Centered
(AgapePress) - An Alabama pastor says it's time for churches in America to focus on the truth of God's Word in order to have an impact on society.
12 Apr 2004
Indiana-Based Ministry Reaches Out to South Africa's AIDS Orphans
(AgapePress) - An Indianapolis-based ministry is trying to make a positive impact on the lives of AIDS orphans living in South Africa, where the deadly epidemic has left 10 million orphans in its wake.
12 Apr 2004
Berkeley Conservatives Counter Steep Liberal Slant on Infamous Campus
(AgapePress) - Ever wonder what it's like to be a prominent conservative student leader at the country's most notoriously liberal university? The chairman of the College Republicans (CR) at the University of California-Berkeley can answer that question.
12 Apr 2004
U.S. Senate Liberals Resist Welfare Reform Bill
(AgapePress) - President George W. Bush is pushing for the reauthorization of the Welfare Reform Bill because he has made it the key to accomplishing several of his goals. However, Senate Democrats are opposed to the measure and, to prevent its passage, have reverted to using the same weapon they have used to block the confirmation of pro-life federal judges -- the filibuster.
12 Apr 2004
'Stealth Movement' in Churches Criticized as a 'Dumbed Down' Gospel
(AgapePress) - The head of an Oregon-based Christian ministry is raising concerns about a new phenomenon being embraced by Evangelical churches across the U.S. and overseas.
12 Apr 2004
Actor Says God Provides All Believers Need to Overcome 'Witness Intimidation'
(AgapePress) - A well-known actor is encouraging Christians to discover the excitement of sharing their faith with nonbelievers.
12 Apr 2004
CNN Accused of Fabricating Controversy in Missouri Evolution Story
(AgapePress) - CNN is being asked to recant a story about a bill in the Missouri legislature that would allow teachers to be fired for not teaching alternatives to the theory of evolution, such as the Intelligent Design theory.
13 Apr 2004
THE HEART OF SPORTS - Sportsmanship Defined
(AgapePress) - Can someone define the word "sportsmanship" for me? Because amid the cacophony of trash-talking, whining and celebratory chest-thumping, I've just about forgotten.
13 Apr 2004
'Bible Answer Man' Shares Responses to Most Popular Questions
(AgapePress) - A noted Christian radio personality is trying to help believers become better equipped when it comes to biblical truth, and to have a better understanding of God's Word and its relevance for today.
13 Apr 2004
Phony Campus Diversity Movement Subject of Prof's Exposé
(AgapePress) - A conservative columnist and university professor has released a new book exposing the political correctness and anti-Christian bigotry he's encountered while teaching at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington.
13 Apr 2004
Pro-Family Group Condemns Helen Keller Foundation's Partnership with Porn Merchants
(AgapePress) - The American Family Association (AFA) is blasting the Helen Keller Foundation for its partnership with a pornography merchant for profit. The pro-family group is outraged that the foundation inspired by and dedicated to the legacy of one of America's most beloved advocates for the disabled has aligned itself with Movie Gallery, America's leading pornographic video retail outlet.
13 Apr 2004
Sponsor of Federal Marriage Amendment Faces Challenge in Colorado Primary
(AgapePress) - A conservative member of Congress is being challenged in Colorado's Republican primary because she is such a strong supporter of the Federal Marriage Amendment.
13 Apr 2004
Marriage Defender Says Homosexual Push Could Destroy Traditional Marriage
(AgapePress) - William Murray, the chairman of the Religious Freedom Coalition, warns of the dangers of legalizing same-sex marriage in the United States. He says Scandinavia has had nearly a decade of legal homosexual marriage, and it has nearly destroyed the institution of marriage altogether.
13 Apr 2004
Ministry Hopes Improved India-Pakistan Relations Bode Well for Persecuted Church
(AgapePress) - An international organization dedicated to the persecuted Church is encouraged by the apparent recent thaw in relations between India and Pakistan, which have been historic rivals since Pakistan gained independence from India.
13 Apr 2004
Film Company Debut Packed with Emotion, Drama, Political and Moral Issues
(AgapePress) - A young woman in China gives birth to her first child, a beautiful daughter named Chu Lee. But the very act itself puts both mother and daughter at risk.
14 Apr 2004
Nation Needs Leader with Consistency and Commitment, Says Col. North
(AgapePress) - A high-profile military expert says there is no comparison between President Bush and Senator John Kerry when it comes to leadership during the war on terror.
14 Apr 2004
Missionaries' TBN Show Documents Reality, Effectiveness of Gospel
(AgapePress) - Missionaries from a television reality series are continuing their three-year journey to spread the gospel around the globe.
14 Apr 2004
Education Expert Says Jury Still Out on Retention v. Social Promotion
(AgapePress) - Some researchers are questioning the benefits of holding back youngsters who are struggling in school. Two new studies prepared by the consortium on Chicago School Research find there was little long-term benefit for elementary students that were forced to repeat the third grade.
14 Apr 2004
Thomas Nelson Releases New Magazine-Style Bible for Teen Boys
(AgapePress) - A new Bible for youth designed to look like a magazine for teenage boys is now on the shelves.
14 Apr 2004
Researcher/Educator Blasts GLSEN's 'Balanced' Material on Homosexual Unions
(AgapePress) - A sexual orientation researcher is denouncing new high school curriculum from the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) dealing with same-sex "marriage."
14 Apr 2004
New Survey Reveals Evangelical America's Diversity
(AgapePress) - A March 2004 poll for Religion & Ethics Newsweekly and U.S. News & World Report indicates that Evangelical Christians in America agree on some important issues that help to bind them as a unified constituency. But the survey also reveals that, although U.S. Evangelicals have gained a secure footing in mainstream America over the years, they are not completely comfortable with their society and are much more diverse than that society often perceives them to be.
14 Apr 2004
Hostile Territory: University Conservatives Take Stronger Stand on Campus, Liberal Intolerance Increases
(AgapePress) - Conservatism, once believed to be quashed in the land of academia, has been steadily making a comeback on college campuses across the United States. But not without a fight.
15 Apr 2004
Catholicism's Trojan Horse
(AgapePress) - "O wretched men," lamented Cassandra, the Trojan seeress blessed with the power of prophecy but cursed with lack of credibility, "why rage you possessed, dragging this unfriendly horse, hasting to your last night and the end of the war and the sleep that knows no waking?" The last days of Troy must have been days of anguish for good ol' Cassandra, for Cassandra knew that Troy was doomed, had the power to thwart its demise, but all the while her prophetic pleas fell on deaf ears. In came the Trojan horse, and the rest, so they say, is history.
15 Apr 2004
Amidst Violence, Ministry Demonstrates Christ's Love, Reaches Out to Iraqi People
(AgapePress) - Recent kidnappings and attacks by terrorists have not kept workers from one ministry out of Iraq.
15 Apr 2004
Univ. of Maryland Drops Charges Against Cheney's Hecklers; Student Still Wants Apology
(AgapePress) - A University of Maryland student is criticizing the school's handling of a free speech incident on campus involving Lynne Cheney, wife of vice President Dick Cheney.
15 Apr 2004
GOP Congresswoman Backs Fellow Colorado Conservative for U.S. Senate
(AgapePress) - A Republican congressional representative from Colorado is saying that she will continue to support a fellow conservative for the U.S. Senate, despite the entry of beer baron Peter Coors into the race.
15 Apr 2004
Research Shows School Choice Boosts Student Achievement
(AgapePress) - A new study by a Harvard economics professor indicates that large U.S. cities would be wise to model their school voucher programs after Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Researcher Caroline Hoxby's study looks at the achievement of children in public schools there before and after 1998, the advent of the city's school choice program.
15 Apr 2004
Chaplain's New Book Describes Miraculous Marine Battle in Iraq
(AgapePress) - An active-duty Navy chaplain hopes his new book will convince readers that God performed miracles in Iraq during the momentous days leading to the fall of Baghdad.
15 Apr 2004
AOG Pastor: 'Slain in the Spirit' Backed by Scripture
(AgapePress) - An official with the Assemblies of God denomination in Louisiana says a well-known Christian author is misguided when he discounts the practice of being "slain in the spirit."
15 Apr 2004
Malevolent Bargains: Slavery Continues in the Form of Forced Prostitution
(AgapePress) - "I realized that slavery was still alive," said John Miller, Director of the U.S. State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. He was telling World magazine about the arrest of men who trafficked in sex slaves.
16 Apr 2004
THE HEART OF SPORTS - Journalistic Integrity Gets Scooped
(AgapePress) - I believe some of my colleagues need to stop fooling themselves -- they're fooling no one else -- and admit what they're practicing isn't journalism. Taking the lead of the entertainment media, sports writers and their publications -- not to mention sports broadcasters and their stations -- too often aren't focusing on what happened, but what might have happened, or what may happen soon. It's not journalism. It's gossip.
16 Apr 2004
Gospel-Based Film Puts Christ's Passion in Context
(AgapePress) - Mel Gibson's movie, The Passion of the Christ, continues to be a box office favorite. However, another movie about the life of Christ is seeing its own audience widen as well.
16 Apr 2004
College Students Focus on the Lost During 'Jesus Week' Observance
(AgapePress) - Christian students at the University of Oklahoma have been placing a special emphasis on prayer and evangelism this week. Hundreds of students have been taking part in "Jesus Week" on the OU campus.
16 Apr 2004
Prime-Time Show Makes Pitch for Stay-At-Home Moms
(AgapePress) - It's pretty rare for a prime-time drama series to promote traditional family values, even in a minor way, but the April 11 episode of Doc on PAX scores two home runs for the family. In reality, the hit series never has fit the mold of the typical TV drama.
16 Apr 2004
Postmodern Kids Spiritually At Risk, Family Expert Says
(AgapePress) - A child and family psychologist is concerned about the declining spiritual state of America's youth. A recent study by Duke University and the Foundation for Child Development found that the emotional and spiritual well-being of children in the U.S. has not improved since the 1980s.
16 Apr 2004
Vietnamese Christians Face Persecution During Holiday Protest
(AgapePress) - A protest against religious oppression turned lethal over Easter weekend for hundreds of believers in Vietnam's central highlands, where a crackdown on ethnic Christians by the Communist government of Vietnam has reportedly left hundreds dead.
16 Apr 2004
Program Founder Promotes Released Time Through Local Crusades
(AgapePress) - A Christian outreach program that was started by a Tennessee pastor in 1990 to share the gospel with students in one public school is now being implemented throughout the United States.
16 Apr 2004
Justice or Judgment? Do Abortion, Religious Apathy, Sexual Perversion Mark Beginning of the End for America?
(AgapePress) - More than 2,500 years ago, a lonely prophet watched as the nation of Judah spiraled downward into the depths of spiritual and physical depravity. His heart broken and his soul wretched, Habakkuk mourned:
19 Apr 2004
Educ. Expert Suggests Remedial Medium Between Retention, Social Promotion
(AgapePress) - Opponents of "social promotion" claim the practice gives children the message that effort and achievement do not count and often mistakenly leads parents to believe their children are prepared for college. Nevertheless, an education reform advocate says moving a failing public school student to the next grade is warranted in some cases.
19 Apr 2004
Eritrea's Christian Church Grows Despite Persecution
(AgapePress) - Christians in an East African country are asking for prayers from believers around the world as they face increased persecution.
19 Apr 2004
Ministry Determined to Build Christian Leaders for a Democratic Iraq
(AgapePress) - A lack of Christian leadership is hindering Iraqi believers from planting much-needed churches in that nation. That's where an Atlanta-based ministry is stepping in, in an attempt to make a difference for Christ in the predominantly Muslim nation.
19 Apr 2004
Mennonite School Defends Policy After Firing Homosexual Professor
(AgapePress) - The president of Eastern Mennonite University has met with students to discuss the firing of one professor for living a homosexual lifestyle and the resignation of another in protest.
19 Apr 2004
Poll on Same-Sex Marriage Skewed by Self-Identified 'Evangelicals'
(AgapePress) - Some pro-family leaders are questioning the credibility of a recent poll that indicated many Evangelicals do not support a constitutional amendment to protect traditional marriage. The problem appears to be the definition of who's an "Evangelical."
19 Apr 2004
Mass. Governor Wants to Oppose Same-Sex Marriage Before SJC
(AgapePress) - Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has filed emergency legislation in an effort to press the state's Supreme Judicial Court for a stay of its homosexual marriage decision.
19 Apr 2004
Dobson Emphatically Endorses Pro-Family Republican in Penn. Senate Primary
(AgapePress) - Pennsylvania's four-term senator, Arlen Specter, is facing a tough challenge in next week's Republican primary. Why? Some observers says it is because his opponent, U.S. Congressman Pat Toomey, has a strong pro-life, pro-family voting history that resonates with conservatives in The Keystone State. And Specter's chance for a fifth term in Congress may have taken another hit, now that a nationally-known pro-family spokesman has publicly endorsed Toomey.
19 Apr 2004
Poll Finds Music Piracy Rampant Among Believing Teens
(AgapePress) - A new survey done by Christian pollster George Barna for the Gospel Music Association (GMA) finds a disturbing trend among Christian teens. Not only are teen believers stealing Christian music through Internet downloads and CD-burnings, but they are doing it at the same rate that non-Christians are pirating secular music.
20 Apr 2004
COMMENTARY - 'The Right Frame of Mind' - What Is Your Ancestry?
(AgapePress) - Recently, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry said he believes that people are born gay. In an interview for MTV viewers, Kerry declared, "I think it's entirely who you are from birth, personally. Some people might choose, but I think it's who you are .... I have a friend who was married for many years and then the marriage dissolved and he came out and he announced that he was gay, and he lived this life of tension and great difficulty ... and I don't think that's a kind of choice .... It's in your system. It's in your genes." Kerry then added Americans "have a right to be who they are" and that "we are all God's children."
20 Apr 2004
New Book Compares Bush, FDR, Pre-election Politics
(AgapePress) - The co-author of a new book about the Bush family says things are quite different today than they were 60 years ago, when Franklin Roosevelt faced a re-election challenge from Republican Thomas Dewey.
20 Apr 2004
GSA Club in Nevada High School Sanctions Dangerous Lifestyle, Activist Says
(AgapePress) - A Nevada pro-family activist is voicing opposition to the formation of a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) club at another Reno high school.
20 Apr 2004
Book Explores Christian Faith's Effects on Soldiers, Booming Iraqi Church
(AgapePress) - A Christian journalist says believers are making an impact in war-torn Iraq.
20 Apr 2004
ACLU Focuses Crosshairs on Louisiana Schools for Religious Activities
(AgapePress) - The American Civil Liberties Union is suing public school officials in Louisiana for sponsoring religious activities. But one Christian attorney warns of the ACLU's motives, saying they are just another attempt to erase Christianity from all areas of the public square.
20 Apr 2004
Jailed Christian Pastor's Injuries Suggest Abuse by South China Officials
(AgapePress) - The imprisoned leader of the South China Church told relatives during a recent prison visit that he fears for his life.
20 Apr 2004
Students, Parents Urged to Ready for Pro-Homosexual Observance in U.S. Schools
(AgapePress) - A conservative columnist and student at Hillsdale College in Michigan is urging students to loudly resist tomorrow's pro-homosexual "Day of Silence" in schools across the U.S.
21 Apr 2004
Judicial Watch on 9-11 Commission's Findings: Been There, Said That
(AgapePress) - The 9-11 Commission hearings have revealed problems with the lack of information sharing within the intelligence community -- in particular, problems inside the FBI's Counter-terrorism Division. One group in the nation's capital says it has been trying to point that out for years.
21 Apr 2004
Silent Pro-Life Protesters Denied Permit to Counter Pro-Abortion Rally in WDC
(AgapePress) - The National Park Service is refusing to give some pro-life groups permission to hold a sidewalk protest this Sunday when pro-abortion forces gather for a march in Washington, DC.
21 Apr 2004
Novel Tackles Thorny Issues -- Cloning, Abortion, Stem-Cell Research
(AgapePress) - Select a few unique and colorful characters -- perhaps a young illegal immigrant; a poor, idealistic, inexperienced lawyer; a flashy, worldly (and very experienced) legal assistant; a liberal, street-preaching law school prof; a childless doctor who's dying of AIDS; and a radical feminist. Sprinkle in a few sticky socio-political/moral issues -- maybe cloning, abortion and stem-cell research. Stir all ingredients together well, and you've got the explosive mix for Irreparable Harm, a masterful suspense tale from novelist Randy Singer.
21 Apr 2004
Second-Grader's Dad Peeved Over Controversial Children's Book in Public Library
(AgapePress) - A Christian dad in Indiana wants a controversial book promoting homosexual "marriage" removed from the children's section of his local library.
21 Apr 2004
Oregon Judge Puts Kibosh on Homosexual 'Marriage' Licenses
(AgapePress) - An Oregon county has been ordered to stop issuing marriage license to homosexual couples. Multnomah County, which encompasses Portland, had been the only place in the U.S. for weeks where same-sex couples could obtain the licenses.
21 Apr 2004
Same-Sex 'Marriage' on Fast Track in California, in Limbo in Massachusetts
(AgapePress) - The State of California has taken a major step toward legalizing homosexual "marriage."
22 Apr 2004
High Stakes in the Specter-Toomey Race
(AgapePress) - On Tuesday, Pennsylvania Republicans like myself will cast a ballot for either long-time senator Arlen Specter or three-term congressman Pat Toomey. The winner will secure the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate and take on the Democratic nominee in November. Specter is probably the Senate's most liberal Republican, representing the old Northeast/Rockefeller-wing of the GOP. Toomey is a conservative, in the mold of the Reagan wing that today dominates the party.
22 Apr 2004
Military Dads Have an Advocate in Radio's Glenn Sacks
(AgapePress) - A columnist and Los Angeles radio talk-show host says military service costs some men their children. He says a federal act dealing with members of the armed forces needs to be amended to address family law problems that can arise when a serviceman is overseas.
22 Apr 2004
Seminary Prof Contests Biblical Revisionism Found in 'Da Vinci Code'
(AgapePress) - A Christian professor is on a mission to refute what he says are many errors in the best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code.
22 Apr 2004
Award-Winning Author: A Christian Novel is a 400-Page Tract
(AgapePress) - AFA Journal editor Randall Murphree interviewed novelist Randy Singer after his second legal thriller, Irreparable Harm, was released in 2003. It is up for a Christy Award for the year's best Christian fiction (to be announced in June). Directed Verdict, Singer's first title, won the Christy for best suspense novel of 2002. His third, Dying Declaration, will be released by WaterBrook in May. Singer is vice president of the North American Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention.
22 Apr 2004
Detroit Suburb Expected to Allow Muslim Prayer Calls on Loudspeakers
(AgapePress) - A Michigan woman says as a Christian, she is offended that the city council in her small community is poised to approve an ordinance that would allow local mosques to broadcast calls for prayer over loudspeakers.
22 Apr 2004
In China: Church's Neighbors Come to Believers' Defense, Get Jail Time in Return
(AgapePress) - Officials of the Communist Chinese government are continuing their crackdown on unregistered Christian churches.
22 Apr 2004
Calif. School District Stands Firm on Discrimination Policy, Abides by State Law
(AgapePress) - A California school district has ignored an order from the state to redefine the word "gender" in its nondiscrimination policy and to provide special protections for transsexuals.
23 Apr 2004
THE HEART OF SPORTS - Perishable Wreaths
(AgapePress) - There is something inherent in winning that is really quite depressing. A couple of things, actually. One is the fruitless endeavor by the winner to draw some permanent fulfilling joy from victory, which is perhaps exacerbated by the second trait: the temporal nature of winning.
23 Apr 2004
'Cheapskate' Author Offers Rich Advice for Couples
(AgapePress) - A Christian author says with God's help -- and with time -- couples can take care of the present, clean up the past, and prepare for a successful, debt-free future.
23 Apr 2004
Growing Church Challenges, Overcomes Zoning Restrictions
(AgapePress) - A California city has agree to adopt church-friendly zoning codes. The move came after one church challenged those codes and emerged a winner.
23 Apr 2004
Univ. Prez: Media Reports on Red Cross Ban 'Overstated'
(AgapePress) - The president of Western Oregon University is dismissing press reports that claimed the school was close to barring the Red Cross from conducting blood drives on campus.
23 Apr 2004
Award-Winning Author: A Christian Novel is a 400-Page Tract
(AgapePress) - AFA Journal editor Randall Murphree interviewed novelist Randy Singer after his second legal thriller, Irreparable Harm, was released in 2003. It is up for a Christy Award for the year's best Christian fiction (to be announced in June). Directed Verdict, Singer's first title, won the Christy for best suspense novel of 2002. His third, Dying Declaration, will be released by WaterBrook in May. Singer is vice president of the North American Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention.
23 Apr 2004
Captain Marvel -- The Running Pastor
(AgapePress) - "When I cross the finish line, I want to know that I could not run one step faster."
23 Apr 2004
Pro-Life Teachers Lobby Against Their Union's Support for Abortion
"We aren't trying to make the NEA pro-life. We just think they have no business in the abortion business." (Connie Bancroft, Exec. Director, Teachers Saving Children)
23 Apr 2004
Mainline Denominations Among Endorsers of Sunday's Pro-Abortion March
(AgapePress) - Sunday's pro-abortion "March for Women's Lives" may not generate the huge crowds its organizers and the mainstream media are predicting. Several pro-life groups are saying that's because support for abortion is on the decline. Perhaps someone should share that information with several mainline denominations who are aligned with the abortion-rights movement.
26 Apr 2004
Students Urged to Proudly Wear Their Pro-Life Message on Tuesday
(AgapePress) - Thousands of America's public school students will be voicing their support on Tuesday for the sanctity of human life.
26 Apr 2004
DREAM Act Could Evolve Into Educational Nightmare, Says Immigration Reformer
(AgapePress) - An immigration reform group is criticizing a bill in the U.S. Senate that would allow illegal aliens who graduate from high school to gain legal residency and receive tuition breaks at public colleges and universities in their home state.
26 Apr 2004
Nation Watches Penn. Primary That Pits Moderate Specter vs. Conservative Toomey
(AgapePress) - There's a lot of attention being paid to a GOP Senate primary in Pennsylvania on Tuesday. Many are anxious to see whether voters will stick with the liberal incumbent -- or go with the challenger, who represents conservative, pro-family values.
26 Apr 2004
Humor, Drama, Moral Depth in Perfect Proportions
(AgapePress) - Novelist Randy Singer was once witnessing to his waiter in an Atlanta restaurant, offering him a gospel tract. In an exclusive interview Singer recalled their conversation:
26 Apr 2004
FMA Languishing in Committee; Calls Go Out for Christians to Act
(AgapePress) - Christian activists are being asked to contact their congressional representatives in an effort to keep alive a proposed Federal Marriage Amendment that would define marriage as between one man and one woman.
26 Apr 2004
Viacom, Others Petition FCC to Relent on Obscenity Ruling
(AgapePress) - A pro-family activist says some big broadcasting companies, who just weeks ago had promised to "clean up" the nation's airwaves, are now welshing on their promises.
26 Apr 2004
Choosing Death Over Life, Abortion Advocates Rally in Nation's Capitol
(AgapePress) - Media reports differ as to how many people were in Washington, DC, on Sunday to participate in the pro-abortion "March for Women's Lives." But no one disputes why they were there: to demonstrate their belief that a woman's "right" to choose an abortion takes precedence over the life of an innocent, unborn child.
27 Apr 2004
COMMENTARY - 'The Right Frame of Mind' - Church Discipline: An Ignored Truth
(AgapePress) - Last week Cardinal Francis Arinze, a high-ranking Vatican official said in a news conference in Rome that Catholic pro-abortion politicians should not be served communion. Arinze, a Nigerian who has been mentioned as the Pope's possible successor, refused to comment directly on whether presidential candidate John Kerry should be excommunicated. But the inference was clear and the cardinal left no doubt concerning Kerry and his pro-abortion politics, saying, "If they should not receive, then they should not be given.”
27 Apr 2004
Denial, Complacency Cited as Biggest Threats to School Safety
(AgapePress) - A school security expert says although there has been significant in school safety since the Columbine shootings five years ago, there's still some glaring gaps in security and emergency preparedness as well as in prevention measures.
27 Apr 2004
In Their Own Words, Homosexual Activists Out to 'Debunk' Marriage, 'Transform' Family
(AgapePress) - Several Christian-based law firms are intervening in three New York lawsuits in an effort to defend traditional marriage.
27 Apr 2004
Prayer Complaints Bring Ruling on Nebraska School Athletics
(AgapePress) - Events sponsored by the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) should not begin with prayer -- even if they take place at private Christian schools. That's what the Association is telling Nebraska schools.
27 Apr 2004
Think I'll Read It Again
(AgapePress) - Most of us probably agree that the Bible merits being read again and again. There are also a number of Christian classics which deserve at least a second or third reading. Books that convicted us so much we couldn't sleep at night. Books that moved us to tears with our first reading. Books that challenged us to raise the bar on our own faith journey. Books that encouraged us to move closer to Jesus.
27 Apr 2004
Hamtramck's Islamic 'Call to Prayer' Up for Vote Tuesday Night
(AgapePress) - A small Michigan community located completely within the confines of Detroit is expected to give final passage tonight to an ordinance that would allow mosques to broadcast Islamic calls for prayer over loudspeakers. But some local residents are hoping to derail the ordinance.
27 Apr 2004
Christian GM Employee Taking Automaker to Court
(AgapePress) - One of the world's largest automakers is being sued because it refused a request from a Christian employee to start an affinity group.
27 Apr 2004
'Sexuality' Among Top Issues for Methodists in Pittsburgh
(AgapePress) - United Methodists from across the world are converging on Pittsburgh for the start of the denomination's quadrennial General Conference. Nearly 1,000 delegates from the U.S. and foreign countries are arriving in the Steel City for the event which has been themed "Water Washed, Spirit Born."
28 Apr 2004
JESUS Film Celebrates 25 Years, Billions of Viewers
(AgapePress) - Christian films have become a hot property in the wake of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. The February release by Gibson has created arguably the biggest splash ever in the industry -- not just in the Christian film genre, but in Hollywood as a whole.
28 Apr 2004
Church 'Prospecting' Goes High-Tech
(AgapePress) - A Christian retailer is helping churches reach out into local communities with a new Internet-based tool.
28 Apr 2004
Author: Ministry, Church Changes -- If Handled Properly -- Can Glorify God
(AgapePress) - An author and president of a mission organization says most churches and ministries are resistant to change and often miss out on God's plan for their work. That's why he encourages Christian leaders and lay people to view change free from fear, resistance, or resentment.
28 Apr 2004
National Contest Gives Platform to Pro-Life Teens
(AgapePress) - In many states around the U.S., high school students are getting a chance to speak up for the unborn and others affected by sanctity-of-life issues as the teens participate in competitions designed to help them learn to voice their pro-life convictions.
28 Apr 2004
'Day of Silence' Sends Mixed Message to Kids, Says Pennsylvania Activist
(AgapePress) - The head of a Pennsylvania pro-family group is questioning the involvement of local public schools in a "Day of Silence" sponsored by a homosexual activist group.
28 Apr 2004
Virginia AG Laments Supreme Court Decision on VMI Prayer Case
(AgapePress) - The attorney general of Virginia is disappointed over the U.S. Supreme Court's decision this week not to consider reinstating mealtime prayers at state-funded Virginia Military Institute (VMI).
28 Apr 2004
Methodist 'Openness' Motto Queried -- Open to What?
(AgapePress) - United Methodists meeting in Pittsburgh appear deeply divided over whether their denomination's motto -- "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors" -- requires acceptance of behavior that the Bible calls sinful.
29 Apr 2004
Military Expert Says No Draft Necessary; Bush Should Call for Volunteers
(AgapePress) - A military readiness watchdog says despite recent suggestions by a Senate Foreign Relations Committee member, America has not yet reached the point where it is necessary to reinstate the draft.
29 Apr 2004
Author Blackaby Says Much-Needed Revival Starts With Repentance
(AgapePress) - A well-known Bible teacher and preacher says most Christians lack a true understanding of revival.
29 Apr 2004
Teen Punished for Speaking Against Homosexuality Wants Apology
(AgapePress) - A Christian student is asking his Boone, North Carolina, high school to apologize for censoring his opposition to a pro-homosexual event on campus.
29 Apr 2004
SBC Must Recapture Urgency of Salvation, Baptism, LifeWay's Leader Says
(AgapePress) - An official with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) says recent statistics show that the denomination has lost its focus.
29 Apr 2004
Resident Says City Leaders Ignored Public Comment on Islamic Call to Prayer
(AgapePress) - Long-time residents of a Michigan community are outraged over Tuesday night's unanimous decision by the city council to give final approval of an ordinance permitting area mosques to broadcast calls to prayer over loudspeakers.
29 Apr 2004
Pro-Life Senate Candidate Narrowly Defeated in Pennsylvania
(AgapePress) - Conservatives are expressing disappointment with the results of Tuesday's Republican primary in Pennsylvania. Despite his liberal voting record, Senator Arlen Specter beat out challenger Pat Toomey, who had the support of many pro-family people.
29 Apr 2004
Scholar Says Hate Crime Hoaxers Should Be Prosecuted
(AgapePress) - An author and researcher says nearly all hate crimes reported on college campuses end up being hoaxes. Two African-American students at San Francisco State University, a Latino student at Northwestern University, and a lesbian professor at Claremont College all recently staged fake "hate crimes" on campus.
30 Apr 2004
Eight Key Factors That Determine Your Long-Term Investing Results
(AgapePress) - Focus on what you can control rather than worry about what you can't.
30 Apr 2004
KS Senator Wants Momentum Kept Up On Indecency Crackdown
(AgapePress) - Some members of Congress are ready to help the Federal Communications Commission in its crackdown on indecent content in the entertainment industry.
30 Apr 2004
Academic Calls for Colleges to Curb Liberal Bias In Classrooms
(AgapePress) - A political science professor at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) says colleges are not doing enough to shield students from liberal bias in the classroom.
30 Apr 2004
College Columnist Canned for Controversial Comments
(AgapePress) - A columnist for a student newspaper at Oregon State University has been fired for writing an editorial on socioeconomic problems facing the black community.
30 Apr 2004
Mom Protests Middle School's Orlando Outing During 'Gay' Pride Week
(AgapePress) - A Florida parent is outraged that her son's public school has planned its sixth- and seventh-grade trip to Orlando during the city's "Gay Days Celebration."
30 Apr 2004
Conservatives to Rally Against 'Judicial Tyranny' in Jackson, TN
(AgapePress) - A conservative Christian activist says a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court is proof that many of this nation's judges are on a quest for a religion-free America.
30 Apr 2004
Law Firm Ready to Fight for Graduating Students' Free Speech
(AgapePress) - A Christian legal firm has kicked off what it calls the "Friend or Foe Graduation Campaign." Through it the organization hopes to encourage schools to respect graduating students' rights to free speech and religious expression.