The unlikely pair linked up after 680 undocumented immigrants were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Mississippi earlier this month in what was the largest single-state immigration raid in US history.

Dawn McCall, the dancer, and Rev Adam Ericksen from Clackamas United Church of Christ discussed the “Our Kids Charity Campaign” in a Facebook video using the hashtag #SinnersandSaints.

McCall, also known as Blu Dawn said: “As an atheist, I know it seems super weird that strippers would do anything with the church for any reason, however, this is Portland and we keep it weird.”

Rev Ericksen said in response to McCall: “And I think it’s awesome.”

The pair said they were “pretty devastated” by children being separated from their parents so they decided to link up and start the campaign.

They are raising money by selling t-shirts and postcards with designs created by McCalls former colleague.

All of the proceeds from sales will go to Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance.

In addition to the campaign, Rev Ericksen has encouraged his congregation to donate while McCall will host charity events with other sex industry workers.

The pastor recently preached a sermon entitled “Strippers Will Lead Us Into the Kingdom: Fighting for Our Kids in Mississippi.”

The caption under the video of the sermon said:…

Rev Andy Kelso, 71, trained as an actor and was then a vicar for 25 years and a sports chaplain, before feeling like God had called him to be Elvis impersonator, but he has now decided that too must end.

He has been going around churches performing since 2011, trying to attract people who wouldn’t normally go into a church.

Speaking on Premier’s News Hour, Rev Kelso said: “I retired from vicaring in 2009 and I was chaplain to was the Warriors Rugby Club but we moved out to the countryside and every day I would walk the dogs in the woods and fields and pray ‘Lord, is there anything else you want me to do? Please make it clear’ and I prayed for 15 months for the same prayer. Nothing. Until one day, God just spoke to my heart. I couldn’t believe it. He just said ‘Take Elvis to the churches’. I went ‘what?!'”

Rev Kelso explained how his act is distinctly Christian, saying: “Elvis was obviously he was a great singer but he loved his gospel music and I found that so many Elvis tribute acts don’t really touch on his gospel songs very much, if at all. So, I was going to make sure obviously, that I sang a lot of those.”

The church he left had a big stage and hosted his first concert in the winter of 2011, to which 250 people came, “I was absolutely petrified” he said.

He went on to sing at churches across the UK, enjoying the fact he was bringing something different to…

It comes as new research from The British Ecological Society has found visiting a green space can promote good mental health.

The study revealed that spending time outdoors gives people the same rise in happiness as the arrival of Christmas.

Director of public health for Hertfordshire and Christian, Jim McMannus, says that spending time outside has huge benefits for both our mental and spiritual health.

Speaking to Premier he said: “Being in green space can help people feel calm, deal with stress and help reduce your blood pressure and even help with climate change.”

“The connection with the natural environment, and being away from technology, helps us to relax.

“But there’s also something about being in God’s creation and putting into perspective who we are as human beings in relation to the rest of creation.”

Speaking of his own experience McManus said being outside helps him to pray and reflect on God and said that churches have a great opportunity to bring their worship and service outside of the confines of the building.

McManus works with the Church Times and the Conservation Foundation to promote the use of church gardens and green spaces to benefit the public and said the possibilities are endless.

“Churches could create quiet gardens for reflection or gardens to give people volunteer space and employment or projects for people who just need space to combat…

Fifty-one young people died when the pleasure boat Marchioness collided with a dredger and sank in central London in the early hours of August 20 1989.

Survivors and families of the victims joined a procession from Southwark Cathedral to Bankside, next to the site of the accident, where a short service was held by the Bishop of Southwark.

The names of those who died were read out and petals were thrown into the water.

Boats from the Royal National Lifeboat Institute, the fire and rescue service and Port of London Authority gathered on the river for the crews to pay their respects.

Most of those on board the Marchioness were high flyers from the finance and fashion worlds.

Odette Penwarden, 72, of east London, spoke about how she survived the sinking.

“The dancing was in full swing when all of a sudden the boat lurched,” she recalled.

“The boat started to tip over. Water came rushing in and knocked me off my feet. It was like going inside a washing machine.

“I could feel myself losing consciousness, but I had an image of my mother and I decided I needed to get myself out.”

Ms Penwarden managed to escape through a broken window and was rescued by a police boat.

She added: “It took a couple of days for me to realise how many people had died, and that I had been so lucky to have survived.”

Andrew Dennis, 54, of north London, attended the service to remember his brother…

Creator, Barry King from Amesbury has spent six and a half years building the West Front of the cathedral and has now taken his creation to be displayed at Salisbury’s Guild Hall, via Salisbury Cathedral to pose for a photo with the model in front of the real building.

Barry said it will “take another 15 years to complete” the model of the whole cathedral and he is hoping to break a world record of the biggest matchstick model ever made when he completes it.

Barry said he started the project as a way of “challenging himself” and to “create some artwork to be remembered for.”

So far Barry has spent 400 – 500 hours of work on the unlit matchstick creation on top of his full time job.

When finished it will measure 15ft by 9ft and it is expected to be made up of six million matchsticks.

 

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Alfrery Líctor Cruz Canseco was in the pulpit of the Fraternidad Cristiana Church in the municipality of Tlalixtac de Cabrera on Sunday when he was shot at point-blank range.

According to Christian human rights organisation CSW, his attacker attempted to escape, but was prevented from doing so by members of the congregation and was handed over to the authorities.

Pastor Cruz Canseco is reported to have died from his injuries on the way to hospital.

The motive for the killing is unknown but follows a series of violent attacks against religious leaders in the country, including the disappearance of Pastor Aarón Méndez Ruiz on 3rd August.

CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said: “The fact that he was targeted while in the pulpit is particularly shocking. We also remain concerned for the wellbeing of Pastor Méndez Ruiz and urge the Mexican government to spare no effort in ensuring his safe return, investigating all of these crimes and prosecuting those responsible.”

The charity has called for the Mexican government to develop strategies to support all religious leaders who are under threat as “many criminal groups view church leaders and their influence as a threat to their power.”

Thomas added: “The government must recognise the role that religious leaders play, not only as leaders of their churches, but also as voices for peace, justice and integrity, and human…