Britain’s black majority churches have responded with compassion to the Haitian people following the devastation and suffering caused by the earthquake that struck the island on January 12, 2010.
The New Testament Church of God has put an appeal out to all their churches to collect donations, which will then be sent to their international headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee. The money will then be sent to the head of COG Caribbean region so that it can used to help suffering Haitians.
COG has several churches in Haiti, many of which were destroyed on the earthquake. Their Overseer in the region Dr Elysee Joseph lost his life during the earthquake when the car he was driving was hit by a wall.
The New Testament Assembly in Tooting launched an appeal for funds the Sunday after the earthquake and are collecting clothes, food and medical supplies. Money collected will be donated to Christian Aid, the collectables will be shipped over to Haiti.
Pastor Rick Warren is the Senior Pastor Megachurch Saddleback in California and the author of the best selling book, The Purpose Driven Life. Last Wednesday Rick Warren posted a blog on the church’s website appealing to his congregants for $900,000 as there was a shortfall in the offering. The blog was as follows:
“Dear Saddleback Family,
THIS IS AN URGENT LETTER unlike any I’ve written in 30 years. Please read all of it and get back to me in the next 48 hours. I have thrilling news to share with you below but first some seriously bad news:
With 10% of our church family out of work due to the recession, our expenses in caring for our community in 2009 rose dramatically while our income stagnated. Still, with wise management, we’ve stayed close to our budget all year. Then… this last weekend the bottom dropped out. On the last weekend of 2009, our total offerings were less than half of what we normally receive – leaving us $900,000 in the red for the year, unless you help make up the difference today and tomorrow.
The Vatican will review security procedures after a woman jumped a barrier and rushed at Pope Benedict XVI for the second time in two years, this time managing to knock him down before being pulled away by guards, the Vatican spokesman said Friday.
Benedict, 82, wasn’t hurt and delivered his traditional Christmas Day greetings in 65 languages from the loggia overlooking St. Peter’s Square. While a bit unsteady at first, he also delivered a short speech about the world’s trouble spots without problem.
The incident in St. Peter’s Basilica raised fresh questions about security for the pontiff, however, after officials said the woman involved had jumped the barrier at the 2008 Midnight Mass in a failed bid to get to the pope. She even wore the same red-hooded sweat shirt.
In this world of busy schedules and never-ending obligations, our lives leave little time for reflection upon the bigger issues… Like God. To help make sure He is not forgotten, Luddite Creative LLC introduces BiblicalMail.com.
BiblicalMail.com, the first, exclusive email-based daily bible, allows people the opportunity to read the Bible in small, manageable portions via email. Unlike other “scripture of the day” emails, BiblicalMail sends daily emails of the entire bible in order at intervals of the user’s choosing. BiblicalMail.com is free, simple to sign up, and easy to opt-out. It allows the user to set the time, frequency, and length of readings in addition to giving the user the option to receive the Old or the New Testaments.
BiblicalMail.com, a pet project of founder and CEO of Luddite Creative LLC, Matthew Harp, was designed to help spread the Gospel to those whose, those who had not been prior-exposed to the bible or whose daily lives distracted them from Bible study.
The initial reaction to BiblicalMail has been quite favorable, averaging about 500 hits per day within the first week of operation. Future plans of extension are already in the works, including providing content in multiple languages, adding scripture analysis by renowned theologians, and the option to read the Bible in different versions.
www.biblicalmail.com
Excelsis Fine Fragrances of San Rafael, California announced today that its flagship fragrance, The Pope’s Cologne, will soon be available in the United Kingdom.
The first shipment is now on its way to Cenacle Catholic Books and Gifts. Cenacle provides an extensive selection of Roman Catholic liturgical supplies, gift items and books which it ships worldwide via its website.
The Pope’s Cologne is an aristocratic, Old World cologne made from the private formula of Pope Pius IX (1792-1878). It has been described as “a fresh, new fragrance from the past with notes of violet and citrus.”
It is offered in a handsome two ounce, embossed flacon with a fine mist pump spray and gift-worthy carton. Sold worldwide, it has been featured on The CBS Sun.
Cenacle House is located in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, WN8 6SR, UK. Its owners are Moray and Catherine Ness.
A public memorial service to honor evangelist Oral Roberts, founder of Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association (OREA) and Oral Roberts University (ORU), who died has been scheduled for Monday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. at the Mabee Center on the campus of ORU, 7777 South Lewis, at the corner of 81st St. and Lewis Ave., Tulsa.
The Roberts family has invited the public to join them in honoring the life and memory of their beloved father and grandfather. They recognize he is a great part of the Tulsa community, and many who have been impacted by his ministry will want to pay their respects at this event.
Special parking and seating areas will be reserved for family members and invited guests, while general public parking will be in Lots B, C, D and E. Both North and South main entrances will be open for public access. Doors will open at 1p.m.
For those not able to attend the memorial service in person, it will be broadcast live on television on local channel 53 KGEB-TV, and on Golden Eagle Broadcasting carried on satellite and cable. Specific details are available online at www.goldeneagle.tv. The service will also be webcast live at the same address.
Arrangements have been made for the public to send condolences and reflect on Oral Roberts’ life online at www.oralroberts.com.
Women in Christian leadership are being invited by Tearfund to take part in a trip to Malawi next year (February 2010), to spend time with women affected by poverty and HIV.
The trip will include visits to local churches which are reaching out to people in their communities who are affected by HIV, as well as opportunities to stay with a family in a community overnight and shadow them during the day.
‘We know that poverty always disproportionately affects women, and that they are very involved in caring for others and in finding practical solutions to issues in their communities,’ says Yioula Taliadorou, Church Relationship Manager at Tearfund.
‘I know that the women who come on this trip will return challenged, humbled and inspired to share their passion for justice and tackling poverty with their families and churches.’
During the trip, there will be opportunities for the team to work alongside local families and churches and to pray with and for them, as part of Tearfund’s Connected Church programme which helps UK churches to partner with churches in the poorest parts of the world.
Scottish singer and songwriter Yvonne Lyon, who went to Cambodia with Tearfund on a similar trip earlier this year, said: ‘I fell in love with the way church does things. There was an emphasis on the spiritual and education combined. ‘For example, we met a teenage HIV support group and I saw groups of women and children in the village learning about health. I wasn’t expecting to see something so practical which was obviously restoring respect and dignity. I felt really proud and I believe in what Tearfund does.’
The trip runs from 22 February to 5 March and costs £850 plus flight costs.
For information call 0208 943 7868 or www.tearfund.org/News
Every hour for the past year the bells ring at Cathedral of Christ the King in North Phoenix, but those bells could soon be silenced.
“I still can’t figure out what law I have broken, but I was found guilty today in court,” said Bishop Rick Painter.
Painter was convicted of two counts of creating “an unreasonably loud, disturbing and unnecessary noise.”
“We’re expressing our religion we glorify God by the bells,” he said.
The City of Phoenix sent this statement to ABC 15:
“The City of Phoenix Prosecutor’s Office charged Rick Painter with 2 counts of a Phoenix City Code Violation of § 23-12 for creating “an unreasonably loud, disturbing and unnecessary noise.” The listed dates of violation are March 16, 2008 and March 26, 2008. The charges were a result of neighborhood complaints of the church bells ringing every half hour on the March 16th date of violation and hourly on the March 26th date of violation. At all times, the neighbors complained the bells were ringing at a high volume. Though the complaints list a single date, we do that for legal reasons, but the neighbors testified the ringing was ongoing and continues to this day.”
At Lighthouse Church of All Nations in Alsip, the congregation can get more than just prayer at the Sunday worship services.
If a lucky — or “blessed and highly favored” — churchgoer is in the right seat, they can also receive a cash prize.
At each of the three Sunday services, the Rev. Dan Willis pulls a number of one seat from a bag and the worshiper in that seat wins a cash prize. Two of the churchgoers win $250 and the third gets $500. The church gives away $1,000 each Sunday, Willis said.
The cash prize is part of Willis’ recent focus on helping his congregation pay bills and begin a debt-free life, he said.
“We’ve had soooo many of our people displaced from jobs, facing foreclosure,” he said. “When people’s faith was high, their debt was down. When their faith was down, their debt was high. I realized the two are connected.”
Willis concedes the cash prize is a gimmick to fill the pews. But he’s unapologetic about the plan, because it’s working. On a typical Sunday, his church draws about 1,600 people to its three Sunday services. But since the money giveaway started, about five weeks ago, the congregation has grown to about 2,500 each week, he said. The money for the giveaway comes from the church offering. Lighthouse is a non-denominational church.
“If I can get someone in here and teach them and give them money, that’s what I’m going to do,” he said.
Bishop Melvin and Rose Powell
It is with great sadness we report that one of the UK’s most esteemed Bishop, Melvin Powell co-founder of the New Testament Assembly Churches has succumbed to illness and died yesterday 4 November at 1.22pm in the afternoon.
Bishop Melvin Powell co-founded the New Testament Assembly (NTA) churches in the UK, starting from the early 1960’s. His ministerial partnership with co-founder Bishop Donald Bernard is often lauded as the most successful in UK Black Church history, lasting more than forty years.
A humble man, a family man, a man of vision and purpose. A compassionate man – who it is said – still found the capacity to minister to people that came to see him during his final days.
A dignified statesman and giant of The Faith: Bishop Powell leaves an unblemished record and a lasting legacy of the work God called him to achieve.
Prayers and expressions of condolence to his wife, Mrs Rose Powell and family should be directed to the headquarters Church of NTA, Tooting, Beechcroft Road, London SW17 7BU Tel: 020 8672 9416. At the request of his family we were unable to report this until today.
* Jose Feliciano and the rectory where Rev Ed Hinds’ body was found.
A caretaker has been charged with the murder of a priest whose body was found in the rectory of his US church.
Jose Feliciano, 64, stabbed and slashed Rev Ed Hinds 32 times with a kitchen knife after the pair had an argument, according to prosecutors.
The 61-year-old pastor had been in his clerical robes when he was killed and Feliciano was one of two people who said they found the body, it is claimed.
The body was discovered at about 8am on Friday after Rev Hinds failed to attend Mass at St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Chatham, New Jersey. Feliciano, who had worked at the church for 17 years, was arrested the following day and also faces weapons charges.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert Bianchi said investigators found the priest’s mobile phone, bloody clothing and a bloody towel at Feliciano’s home in Easton, Pennsylvania.
The pastor had wounds on his upper torso, the back of his body and his head that were created by a kitchen knife, officials said. Rev Hinds also had defensive wounds on his hands and face, according to Mr Bianchi.
A post-mortem found the cause of death was severe trauma. Mr Bianchi told reporters: “Mr Feliciano had got into an argument with the pastor at approximately 5 pm the night before (Thursday night).
“It was during that altercation that the pastor was assaulted. “Mr Feliciano grabbed a knife inside of the rectory and inflicted the multiple stab wounds that led to the unfortunate demise of the pastor.”
CLICK HERE to READ MORE:huffingtonpost.com
Author Jesse Rice
A revolution is taking place, one profile at a time. Online social networks like Facebook and MySpace are connecting people like never before. With hundreds of millions of users, they’re creating almost limitless potential to redefine our personal worlds. It’s a movement that’s changing how we form relationships, perceive others, and shape our identity.
In his new book, The Church of Facebook (David C Cook, October 2009) author Jesse Rice takes a deeper look at the movement which, at its core, reflects our need for community. “Our longing for intimacy, connection, and a place to belong has never been a secret, but social networking offers us a new perspective on the way we engage our community,” Rice states. This new perspective raises new questions: How do these networks impact our relationships? In what ways are they shaping the way we think of ourselves? And how might this phenomenon subtly reflect a God who longs to connect with each one of us?
Bible 21 Conference
Rediscovering the relevance and transforming power of the Bible in the 21st Century
This conference will take place at Thomas Risley church on Saturday14th November 2009 and the keynote speaker is Derek Tidball. The bible is the “most bought, least read book”. We live in an age when an ever decreasing number of Christians in the UK read the bible. The church is also in serious decline. Is there a correlation between the two and has this most ancient of texts really got any relevance for 21st century life?
Bible 21
CLICK HERE FOR PDF thomasrisley.org/BIBLE_21_leaflet
Who should attend?
Anybody who believes that the bible is the central document of the Christian faith. This conference will help you to understand the relevance of its message, equip you to understand it for yourself, and enable you to communicate it more effectively to others in our post-modern culture.
Bishop T.D. Jakes presents Woman Thou Art Loosed!
The conference is back and stronger than ever!
‘Thankful Women’ October 15-17th 2009
Woman Thou Art Loosed, a powerful and popular symposium that addresses the specific spiritual and practical needs of women, is back and stronger than ever! Women you can’t afford to miss this life-changing conference that has drawn more than 500,000 women since its 1992 inception. If you’re a woman who has overcome any obstacle or you’re looking to transform your life, then Woman Thou Art Loosed is for you! Join Bishop Jakes, First Lady Serita Jakes and other phenomenal speakers for spirit-filled worship as women throughout the world unite to honor God and pay tribute to one another during this “Thankful Women” celebration.
The Potter’s House of Dallas, 6777 West Kiest Blvd, Dallas, TX75236
Hillsong Conference Europe 2009
7th – 10th October
Excel, London, United Kingdom
The Hillsong Conference is a gathering of “the generations”
Men, women and youth, whose passion is to make known and famous the God of their Salvation, and effectively communicate His Gospel to a searching, lost and dying humanity.
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The invitation… from Brian & Bobbie Houston
The days ahead belong to all of us, and as we faithfully gather again for the 2009 Hillsong Conference experience, God will add to us again through the strength and anointing of some of the world’s most innovative and successful leaders.
As many will testify, the Hillsong Conference platform exists to multiply, strengthen and champion what God is doing in your own individual life. Psalm Ninety exhorts us to number our days. Philippians One encourages that He who began a good work in us, is well able to complete it. Let’s respond and allow God to equip us again and again with hearts of wisdom and Godly tenacity, to accomplish all He has purposed across this planet called Earth.
New horizons and new opportunities demand fresh approach. We as a team have already strategised 2009 and are shaping a new, innovative and anointed conference that will, by God’s Grace serve you, your family, your community and nation better.
We love and believe in you. To God alone be the glory.
Brian & Bobbie Houston
It has been reported in the press…
The U.S. Secret Service is investigating an Arizona pastor who said he wants President Barack Obama dead in a recent sermon.
According to an ABC TV affiliate in Tempe, Arizona, Pastor Steven Anderson of the Faithful Word Baptist Church said he prays for the president to die.
Now Anderson, and members of his church who say they agree with their pastor, have toted guns to and from church because they say they’ve received death threats due to the controversial remarks.
On August 16th, Anderson delivered a sermon titled “Why I Hate Barack Obama.” In it, Anderson admitted he prays for the president’s death. The
Pastor Steven Anderson
following Sunday Anderson said: ”If you want to know how I’d like to see Obama die, I’d like him to die of natural causes,” according to witnesses, adding that “I don’t want him to be a martyr, we don’t need another holiday. I’d like to see him die, like Ted Kennedy, of brain cancer.”
While some members agree with the minister’s remarks, other residents protested outside the church during Sunday morning service.
“A man of the cloth wants to kill the president, how sick can you get,” asked a Tempe resident who picketed.
Anderson said despite the death threats, he has no plans to change his message.
“I’m not going to back down, I wouldn’t be worth my salt as a preacher if I let popularity determine what I preach,” Anderson told reporters.
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Watch Anderson make his comments about Obama roughly 13 minutes in…
On a seperate unrelated incident… (This happen before the Obama Sermon)
REVERSE PSYCHOLOGY?
A Michigan church is enlisting Satan in advertising campaign to increase attendance at services and spread the word. Metro South Church in the Detroit suburb of Trenton is posting signs saying the non-denominational Christian congregation “sucks” and “makes me sick.”
In turn, it has grabbed the attention of the local community and media outlets through the marketing campaign.
The ads are signed by Satan. Church leaders even created a website to explain why Satan hates the church.
“MetroSouthChurch.com Makes Me Sick” says one sign. “MetroSouthChurch.com Sucks,” says another.
The signs are plastered throughout the Detroit metropolitan area and lead viewers and passers-by to the website SatanHatesMetro.com.
In an interview with a local TV station youth Pastor Adam Dorband said the church is trying to reach out to people and cut through the “noise.” Dorband said Jesus “wants us to be creative and he wants us to … use whatever it takes to reach people,” according to the Associated Press.
Lead Pastor Jeremy Schossau said the campaign isn’t meant to offend anyone. He felt the Satan signs were clever and the campaign is not meant to be whimsical.
The recent murder of a church pastor has Oklahoma law enforcement issuing a warning to other church leaders in the surrounding area.
According to the Associated Press, the unexpected murder of 61 year old Carol Daniels in Christ Holy Sanctified Church has come around as a horrendous episode. The body of Carol Daniels was found Sunday where she was the pastor in Anadarko.
The police has announced $10000 reward for anyone who confirms the identity of the murderer.
The Oklahoma State Bureau Of Investigation’s spokeswoman told sources that the murderer had mischievously “staged” the body of Carol after killing her.
Though the police hasenough leads on the case there are no suspects yet, sources revealed. The autopsy results claimed that there were several “sharp force injuries” on Daniels’ body and the criminal was mercilessly nefarious in conducting such atrocities on the pastor’s body. Law enforcement declined to elaborate and have been tight-lipped about details of the crime or a possible motive.
Her son Alvin Daniels said…
Her son Alvin Daniels told CNN that “She was always joking with us and always taking care of us, even giving her last dollar even if she didn’t have it.” He said she was a good mother. There is no doubting that the gracious, self-righteous looking woman had a kind heart. Daneils, who lived about 50 miles southwest of the Andarko Church in Okhlahoma City reportedly traveled to the Church on Sundays “in case people came in to worship”.
