National Religious Ministries Announce Legal Challenge to Biden Administration’s National Vaccine Mandate

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National Religious Ministries Announce Legal Challenge to Biden Administration’s National Vaccine Mandate

First Liberty Institute, on behalf of three prominent national religious ministries – Daystar Television Network, the American Family Association, and Answers in Genesis – announced that it will petition the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Sixth Circuits to review the Biden administration’s federal vaccine mandate for employers with over 100 employees.

“As religious ministries our clients cannot in good conscience force their own employees to violate their deeply held beliefs regarding vaccines,” said David Hacker, Director of Litigation at First Liberty Institute. “The federal government has no authority to compel employers to violate the personal health care decisions of their employees. The Biden administration’s order is the latest example of its disdain for both our Constitution and the sincerely held religious beliefs of millions of Americans.”

Daystar Television Network is an international, faith-based network “dedicated to spreading the Gospel 24 hours a day, seven days a week”; America Family Association is one of the largest pro-family organizations in the country; Answers in Genesis is a world-class, Christ-centered, family attraction, with physical properties—one a full-scale replica of Noah’s Ark—located in northern Kentucky. Each organization has over 100 employees, making them subject to the new vaccine mandate.

In September, President Biden directed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) to promulgate a federal “emergency temporary standard” (ETS) requiring all private businesses with 100 or more employees to ensure that every employee is vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus or presents a negative test result on a weekly basis or face potential fines. According to federal law, an ETS can be issued only when doing so is “necessary” to protect employees against “grave danger” from exposure to “substances or agents determined to be toxic or physically harmful or from new hazards.” An ETS is temporary and expires after six months, after which the agency is required to issue a permanent rule that complies with the lengthy regulatory process.

About First Liberty Institute
First Liberty Institute is a non-profit public interest law firm and the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.

 

New Tongues of Fire Channel for Evangelicals Debuts on YouTube

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New Tongues of Fire Channel for Evangelicals Debuts on YouTube

Bishop Veronica Akuabia Anusionwu is proud to announce the launching of her Tongues of Fire channel on YouTube. The channel will serve as a 24/7 prayer line for the world’s Christians to come and pray, Bishop Anusionwu said, and will offer healing prayers, praying in tongues and other Christian activities.

The bishop who already hosts the London-based Breaking the Bounds of Human Infertility TV show on the Faith World YouTube channel, said, “I am very excited about this. Tongues of Fire will allow people to receive help when they need it and listen to the Gospel being preached around the clock. I believe lives will be saved through the teaching and receiving of the Good News.”

The idea for the channel came to her during the pandemic and was inspired by God, who asked her to lead her prayer group in a two-year, nonstop intercession prayer for the nations of the world and the families that inhabit them. Anusionwu picked up the story: “Meanwhile I had all these prayer videos on my computer and asked the Lord what I could do with them. He said, ‘Build an online 24/7 TV channel and upload them there.’ So, this is how this vision came about. This is a labour of love and I am so glad God has called me to do this.”

About Bishop Veronica Akuabia Anusionwu

Touching lives and bringing healing to the nations of the world is the life mission of Veronica Akuabia Anusionwu who is a coach and founder of The Lord’s Word on Healing Christian Centre. She is also well-known for working with couples who are struggling to conceive. A majority of the couples she has coached are happy parents today; their testimonials can be found at www.lwhhealingcentre.com. She has authored more than 50 books on fertility, healing, childbirth and relationships.

SOURCE : Veronica Akuabia Anusionwu

Escaping to the Presence of God

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Escaping to the Presence of God

We escape to our refuge in God, Hohnberger says.  Jim Hohnberger achieved the American dream.

A successful insurance agent, Hohnberger had a house, cars, vacations, and a beautiful wife and family. He also had interminable stress.

In his book Escape to God, Hohnberger tells the story of how he escaped from a life soaked with stress and devoid of God into a God-filled, unselfish life in a wilderness home. He escaped the trap of looking for blessings in the physical realm and found far more blessing in a life of less money and fewer things, discovering along the way that “everything in our lives is safe when we are committed to God, and nothing really is when we aren’t.”

Jim Hohnberger and his wife and children relocated to a house in the wilderness not far from Glacier National Park. Their lifestyle doesn’t sound easy: Splitting logs to fuel the wood stove, drawing water from a creek that froze over in the winter, no cellphone service, no landline service, no Internet, dependence on a generator and batteries for power.

But what an adventure—to trust and depend completely on God! The Hohnbergers found their path to independence from so many of the things we all believe we need in the modern world, cars, computers, smartphones, TVs, and never ending news. Most of us feel paralyzed when we lose power after a storm or when the Internet is down. Our connections to our families and friends depend on social media instead of sitting down tête-à-tête and engaging in a meaningful conversation.

Life in the 2020s, Hohnberger says, has become all about accumulating things that just clutter up our lies. Hohnberger believes that it isn’t wrong to have possessions, “but if things have usurped the throne in our hearts, they must be dethroned.” When we get rid of the things that we keep for false security, that we have allowed to replace or reduce the presence of God in our lives, we aren’t really depriving ourselves. He writes “We eliminate things in our lives that are good, even things that are better, so we can possess what is best!”

God is the Best, Hohnberger says. We surrender ourselves to God’s Best when we simplify our lives. Jim Hohnberger tells the story of how his life echoed Paul’s lament, “That which I would not, that do I do.” He relates the inner struggle of how entrenched he was in carnal things, and how, when he overcame those urges, he encountered unexpected blessings.

God gave us the freedom to choose, Hohnberger says, and we can find the freedom to choose Him. Simplifying our lives makes us aware of the presence of God. It isn’t necessary to be perfect. It’s just necessary to be surrendered. We escape to our refuge in God, Hohnberger says, by making a habit of surrendering our choices to Him. When we give up the right to manage ourselves, we are truly His.

New BOOK : Precious in the Sight of the Lord – by Vivan Lynn

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New BOOK : Precious in the Sight of the Lord – by Vivan Lynn

Precious in the Sight of the Lord; A Collection of Matthew Henry’s Reflections on Death, Dying, and the Christian Experience.”

Book Description:

The book is an unexhausted collection of reflections on death and dying by one of the most trusted and beloved theologians of all times, Matthew Henry. Every reflection expounds on a particular scripture verse, or verses, which relate to dying and death. All of Matthew Henry’s reflections provide scholarly scriptural support and offer scriptural cross-references.

This short collection, one hundred and fifty-three pages in all, is presented in a devotional format. However, instead of searching an index for related reflections scattered throughout the book, Matthew Henry’s related reflections are grouped into seven chapters; The Entrance of Death, Because He Lives, A Dying Jesus, As We Come Dying, The Road We Travel, Returning Our Dust, and Our Inheritance.

The book will be a valued resource to lay ministers, bible teachers, students of religion, and grief counsellors.

Available to buy on AMAZON, click here

Precious in the Sight of the Lord - by Vivan Lynn - The Christian Mail

Excerpt of a Book

To everything, there is a season, and a time to every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted (Ecclesiastes 3:2 NRSV).

 “There is a time to be born and a time to die. These are determined by the divine counsel, and as we are born, so must we die at the time appointed (Acts 17:26). … But, as there is a time to be born and a time to die, so there will be a time to rise again, a set time when those that lie in the grave shall be remembered.” Taken from Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Ecclesiastes 3:1-10, 2.1.

Precious in the Sight of the Lord, is a collection of Matthew Henry’s reflections on what the scriptures speak to each Christian concerning their death and dying season. Matthew Henry gives a solid scriptural foundation for hope and comfort to those who are dying, facing a loved one’s death, or who desire clear and faithful information concerning a Christian’s death and dying season. A trusted scholarly theologian, Matthew Henry’s reflections expound on a particular scripture verse or verses related to death and dying. He provides scriptural support for every reflection and offers cross-references for the reader’s further review.

The collection’s table of content provides not only a listing of the chapters but also a brief description of the chapter’s theme with a relevant short quote. Precious in the Sight of the Lord - by Vivan Lynn - The Christian Mail

Chapter 1: The Entrance of Death. Why did death enter the world? Matthew Henry analyzes the creation of man and explains man’s spiritual and physical makeup. He shows us why death entered the world.

Chapter 2: Because He Lives. What does it mean to die as a member of the Christian body of faith? Matthew Henry speaks to the Christian’s transformation from spiritual death to spiritual life, the certainty of the resurrection of the saints based on Christ’s resurrection, and the separation of the soul from the body at death.

Chapter 3: A Dying Jesus. Is there a spiritual model for the individual Christian’s dying journey and death? Matthew Henry illuminates the divinely chosen activities and words of Jesus during his dying season.

Chapter 4: As We Come Dying. How did the Bible’s greats, beloveds, and patriarchs respond in their dying seasons? Matthew Henry expounds on activities patriarchs participated in during their dying season. Are these patterns we should adopt in our dying seasons?

Chapter 5: The Road We Travel. Matthew Henry speaks to us of the concerns of Christians dying by the way of old age and those dying by the way of sickness.

Chapter 6: Returning Our Dust. The chapter sets forth some of the patriarchs’ burials.

Chapter 7: Our Inheritance. Matthew Henry presents Christ as the first of our inheritance. He gives a scriptural foundation for our inheriting of heaven.

Available to buy on AMAZON, click here

 

Chris Tomlin & UNITED Announce Mega Co-Headline “Tomlin UNITED” Tour

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Chris Tomlin & UNITED Announce Mega Co-Headline “Tomlin UNITED” Tour

Premier Productions announces multi-platinum selling, multi-award-winning artists Chris Tomlin and UNITED will co-headline their long-awaited 2022 “Tomlin UNITED” Tour, set to kick off at the Greensboro Coliseum on February 9th, 2022. Anticipated to be the biggest Christian music concert of the year, the Tomlin UNITED Tour will welcome thousands of fans each night to worship together and experience songs that have shaped modern faith today. Sponsored by illumiNations, the live worship experience includes 33 dates across the U.S., making stops in major markets including Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Miami and two shows in the New York area before ending in Duluth, GA on April 13. Tickets for the Tomlin UNITED Tour will go on sale to the public beginning October 22, 2021.

“We really believe this tour is going to be something unforgettable,” said Chris Tomlin and Joel Houston (UNITED). “We’ve been trying to do something like this for a long time and we have a real sense of trust in the fact that this is the right time. This is the moment for what God has been planning and in that, we think the timing has everything to do with the people joining us each night.”

After an 18-month delay, the “Tomlin UNITED” Tour aims to not only bring the church back together but also bring faith back to the center of our conversations. Expected to be an experience unlike any other, the tour offers friends, family, and strangers the opportunity to worship together again after what has been a long season of isolation.

On their collective desire for the tour, Tomlin and Houston said, “At the heart of it, we want people to leave with the understanding that there is a greater hope in this world. This is a critical moment in time for people to be reminded that there is a true and living hope, and that’s Jesus. That is what we proclaim with these nights.”

Tomlin and UNITED are offering fans an exclusive pre-sale opportunity that provides advanced access to premium seats, exclusive access to rewards, and a chance to win the official grand prize: a flyaway package for two to attend the Los Angeles concert with the ultimate backstage experience. Other winners will receive VIP tickets for an exclusive tour experience. For more information on pre-sale access and a social media contest, visit: www.TomlinUNITED.com.

Tomlin and Houston further added, “Our prayer is that these nights of worship would be like coming home moments for people, people who have found themselves far from God. That they would experience something that feels like an anchor, a real moment where the spirit of God can do what only the spirit of God can do in people’s lives.”

For additional information and tickets to experience the Tomlin UNITED Tour, please visit www.TomlinUNITED.com.

Tomlin UNITED Tour Dates:

02/09/2022

Greensboro, NC

Greensboro Coliseum

02/11/2022

Washington, DC

Capital One Arena

02/12/2022

Boston, MA

TD Garden

02/14/2022

Philadelphia, PA

Wells Fargo Center

02/15/2022

Brooklyn, NY

Barclays Center

02/17/2022

Indianapolis, IN

Gainbridge Fieldhouse

02/18/2022

Columbus, OH

Nationwide Arena

02/19/2022

Chicago, IL

United Center

02/22/2022

Toronto, ON

Scotiabank Arena

02/23/2022

Pittsburgh, PA

PPG Paints Arena

02/25/2022

Kansas City, MO

T-Mobile Center

02/26/2022

Minneapolis, MN

Target Center

02/28/2022

St. Louis, MO

Enterprise Center

03/01/2022

Grand Rapids, MI

Van Andel Arena

03/03/2022

Rochester, NY

Blue Cross Arena

03/04/2022

Hershey, PA

Giant Center

03/05/2022

Newark, NJ

Prudential Center

03/22/2022

Portland, OR

MODA Center

03/23/2022

Vancouver, BC

Rogers Arena

03/24/2022

Seattle, WA

Climate Pledge Arena

03/26/2022

Salt Lake City, UT

Vivint Arena

03/28/2022

San Francisco, CA

Chase Center

03/29/2022

San Diego, CA

Pechanga Arena

03/30/2022

Phoenix, AZ

Footprint Center

03/31/2022

Las Vegas, NV

T-Mobile Arena

04/02/2022

Los Angeles, CA

Banc of California Stadium

04/05/2022

San Antonio, TX

AT&T Center

04/06/2022

Dallas, TX

American Airlines Center

04/07/2022

Houston, TX

Toyota Center

04/09/2022

Orlando, FL

Amway Center

04/11/2022

Miami, FL

FTX Arena

04/12/2022

Tampa, FL

Amalie Arena

04/13/2022

Duluth, GA

Gas South Arena

About Chris Tomlin
It is estimated that 20-30 million people across the world sing one of Chris’ songs every week in church services in nearly every language. TIME magazine heralded him as the “most often sung artist in the world” as his music has inspired and uplifted an entire generation of believers. Along the way, Chris has scored 17 #1 one singles at radio, placed 29 top ten hits (more than any other Christian artist), sold more than nine million albums with 4.5 Billion career global streams, earned a Grammy, three Billboard Music Awards, 26 Dove Awards, became a two-time BMI Songwriter of the Year honoree and an ASCAP Songwriter of the Year. In 2016, he was named one of only four artists ever to receive the Sound Exchange Digital Radio Award for over 1 Billion digital radio streams, alongside Justin Timberlake, Pitbull and Garth Brooks. Chris is also the first Christian artist to reach the Billion streams threshold on Pandora and was presented with their BILLIONAIRE award. On the heels of the success of Chris’ #1 debuting album Chris Tomlin & Friends, which currently has over 150 million global streams, included his second longest running #1 song “Who You Are To Me,” featuring Lady A, Chris and UNITED have come together for what is expected to be the biggest Christian tour of the decade. As one of the most successful Christian touring artists today, Chris Tomlin has sold-out venues everywhere including New York City’s Madison Square Garden, Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, Red Rocks in Denver and more.

About UNITED
UNITED is a multi-award-winning, platinum-selling artist whose chart successes (repeatedly no. 1 on Billboard’s Christian charts and up to #5 on Billboard 200) are only bested by the millions of lives they’ve impacted across the globe. Reporting over 50 million people singing from the Hillsong catalogue songs every Sunday, the modest band born from a youth ministry out of Hillsong Church in Australia, touts a reach of over 10 million across all major social network platforms to date, including 2.1 billion minutes garnered from YouTube viewers. Comprised of an evolving, eclectic mix of musicians and songwriters, the band is led by Joel Houston and Taya, names that have become synonymous with Christian radio, dominating airwaves with every new release. Their last four studio albums have each topped the USA Christian chart, with “Zion” and “Empires” charting no. 1 (“Zion” recently also went Gold in the US); “Oceans,” written by Houston and band member Matt Crocker recently went triple platinum in the States, counting 200+ million streams and reigning on top of the Christian songs chart for a record 54 weeks.

In studio, on tour or at home, UNITED is committed to writing songs that speak truth, create a unique sound and connect people everywhere with God, evident by the success they’ve seen globally. With over 50 countries and six continents visited, UNITED continues to sell out arenas and stadiums around the world, including sold-out nights at the Forum, STAPLES Center and The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, The Toyota Center, Oracle Arena, Air Canada Arena, American Airlines Arena (Miami and Dallas), and Red Rocks to scratch the surface. UNITED functions from the deep understanding that everything they do is an expression of a really extraordinary God doing what only He can do, through really ordinary people.

About Premier Productions
Founded in 1996, Premier Productions has sold over 20 million tickets to patrons. Premier has been a Top 20 global promoter and has produced more than 2,000 concerts and events in the past five years. Pollstar named Premier the #1 faith and family independent promoter in the last 10 years. Producing events that move the soul both nationally and internationally, Premier is proud to have helped raise more than $271 million to improve the lives of children and communities in 100+ countries worldwide. Whether it’s a large multi-day festival, sold-out concert or intimate conference, Premier seeks to positively impact the lives of every attendee, so they leave encouraged, happy and hopeful. Premier is currently promoting acts including Hillsong UNITED, Dude Perfect, Lauren Daigle, Hillsong Worship, Baby Shark, Casting Crowns, Chris Tomlin, Sadie Robertson, Elevation Worship, Kari Jobe Bethel Music and many more.

About illumiNations
IllumiNations is a collective impact alliance of 10 of the leading Bible translation agencies and their resource partners working together to eradicate Bible poverty in this generation. Of the 7,000 languages spoken around the world today, approximately 3,800 have little or no access to Scripture. IllumiNations is working to change this by making God’s Word accessible to all people by 2033. IllumiNations is inviting people around the world to take illumiNations Twelve Verse Challenge. We have the opportunity to be the generation that could be the first people, in the history of the world, to see nobody trapped in the darkness of Bible poverty.  Please visit illuminations.bible/12VC.

HI RES ART HERE

MEDIA CONTACTS

Tomlin UNITED Tour

Jessie Schmidt for Chris Tomlin

Rogers & Cowan PMK

Schmidt Relations

[email protected]

[email protected]

Braxton Yeoman – Idaho Top Business Consultant Credits Jesus Christ For All Blessings

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Braxton Yeoman – Idaho Top Business Consultant Credits Jesus Christ For All Blessings

Braxton Yeoman gives the Credits to Jesus Christ

In troubling times, it is more important now than ever to remember and recognize the people, organizations, and communities around us who selflessly work to bring light and goodwill to others. Subsequently, the team at Success Financial Team, along with nationally recognized business consultant Braxton Yeoman, would like to proudly and fervently support Calvary Boise. 

Calvary Boise is a local church based in Boise, Idaho that was founded in 1981. It was established to humbly know more about Jesus, study His scriptures and work, and spread His words. Braxton has been a supporter and attendant of this church for many years and credits the work they do as well as the teachings of Jesus for his success. The power of prayer is a truly underrated force that leads to a better world for those that engage in it under the guidance of Jesus. While being no stranger to hard work, Braxton attributes a considerable portion of his success to his faith. He believes that this faith and hard work go hand in hand and that it would have been impossible to succeed without a balance of both in his life. 

“’For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’” — Jeremiah 29:11

Asides from one’s work that is so important for living a fulfilling life, the importance of community has been experiencing a kind of recession. It is easy to get swept up in the day-to-day rigors or get distracted by fleeting pleasures. Commitments to Jesus and the Church can then be pushed off by those who consider themselves “too busy” but this is a grave error to achieve a fulfilling life. Instead, priority towards one’s community, devotion to faith, and love for family are the granite pillars which can lead to a satisfying and well-lived life that results in everlasting afterlife. 

Calvary Boise understands this and goes beyond its capacity to watch over the community it exists in as well as all of God’s children. They host local outreach programs such as the Food Pantry initiative which helps those in the community struggling with food insecurity. Those in need can visit the Church throughout the week to get food and spiritual guidance from one of the knowledgeable pastors. They also understand many of the modern problems people face and have specific programs to help with addiction recovery, which aims for long-term treatment that uses Bible studies and the development of practical skills for coping with struggles with addiction. And in acknowledgement of the many global problems, Calvary Boise accepts refugees and encourages them to be a part of the community and come to know the love of Jesus through Bible study, worship, fellowship, and food. It is a truly great Church that seeks to help people from all walks of life and accepting all that come to its doors. 

However, charitable organizations like Calvary Boise can only provide the wide variety of services to the community if other more fortunate members of the community can step forward and contribute. Without the support of donors and other benefactors for resources and financial support, Calvary Boise could not continue doing the great work it is doing. This is why Braxton Yeoman and the rest of the team at Success Financial urge others to contribute in any way possible. While it is indeed true that God helps those who help themselves, we must help pay it forward by turning around and helping our fellow brothers and sisters get a hand during their times of struggle. To help with this, Braxton asks and encourages every client he works with to support a charity organization of some kind in order to give back in their own way. Jesus has given us all the duty of helping one another up during hard times and this is the only way to achieve a lasting and shared prosperity. 

As their success has grown, Braxton Yeoman and Success Financial Team were recently featured by Stanford University’s blog. In regard to his personal experience, Braxton remembers constant reminders from his family and Church to give back as he became more successful. He realized if he were to keep his success to himself and forget the role of faith in his life, he would be turning his back on the very essence of what brought him success in the first place. A teaching of Jesus is that all must give as they are able and this is something to always keep in mind. Braxton’s final message to us was “Helping each other is more important now than ever, and if my actions can inspire just one more person to do the same, then I did my job.” We tend to agree with him, and encourage others to join him in their efforts. 

To support Calvary Boise or learn more about the organization, please visit: https://www.calvaryboise.com. 

National Trust Will Award Over Two Million Dollars in Grants to 15 Historically Significant Congregations Across the U.S.

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National Trust Will Award Over Two Million Dollars in Grants to 15 Historically Significant Congregations Across the U.S.

The National Fund for Sacred Places, a program managed by Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is pleased to announce that 15 historic congregations across the United States have been selected to join this prestigious program. Each congregation is receiving a grant of up to $250,0000 to support its project and will be able to work with consultants at the Fund to ensure a successful outcome.

The National Fund for Sacred Places is a unique and highly competitive program that supports congregations with buildings that have historical significance and architectural character and that play an essential role in meeting the larger social, economic, and spiritual needs of the communities they serve. During these uncertain and turbulent times, both large and small congregations are being challenged to care for and share their historic buildings in new ways that benefit both members and their larger communities. The Fund recognizes their contributions and seeks to support their efforts.

“The 15 sacred places selected to join our Fund this year are more than beautiful houses of worship. They are irreplaceable civic assets that provide invaluable resources to their communities, sharing space for everything from COVID-19 vaccinations to nutritional food programs and child care programs,” said Bob Jaeger, President of Partners for Sacred Places. “I am so pleased that we have tailored programs that preserve and uplift civic assets to improve communities and enrich lives. Over the next few years, the team at Partners for Sacred Places will work closely and collaboratively with the National Trust for Historic Preservation to help awardees to renovate their buildings so they can grow their ministries and thrive for many years to come.”

“The National Trust for Historic Preservation is proud to support the community landmarks and historic treasures represented by the 15 congregations joining the Fund this year,” said Paul Edmondson, President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “These places, which include the oldest Protestant church in continuous use in the State of Idaho, a cornerstone of Reconstruction Era history in South Carolina, a Mexican-American landmark in El Paso, and our country’s Washington National Cathedral, illuminate the rich diversity of our American heritage and provide essential resources and services to their communities, particularly in these difficult times.”

In its sixth year, The National Fund for Sacred Places has been made possible thanks to the generosity of Lilly Endowment Inc. The Fund and its supporters are working together to increase America’s awareness of the value, resiliency, and vital contributions congregations offer daily.

The National Fund participants for the 2021-22 program year are:

  • Amana Church Society (Middle Amana, IA)
  • Arch Street United Methodist Church (Philadelphia, PA)
  • Calvary United Methodist Church (Philadelphia, PA)
  • First Christian Church (Columbus, IN)
  • First Indian Presbyterian Church (Kamiah, ID)
  • First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA)
  • Grace Episcopal Church (Newton Corner, MA)
  • Let Freedom Ring Foundation/First Baptist Church (Williamsburg, VA)
  • Mount Zion UMC (Washington DC)
  • Sacred Heart Parish (El Paso, TX)
  • St. Stephen United Methodist Church (Mesquite, TX)
  • St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church (Brooklyn, NY)
  • St. John’s Lafayette Square (Washington, DC)
  • Tabernacle Baptist Church (Beaufort, SC)
  • Washington National Cathedral (Washington, DC)

Please visit the National Fund for Sacred Places’ website to learn more about the program, participants, and the value of sacred places in communities across the country.  www.fundforsacredplaces.org

About Partners for Sacred Places

Partners for Sacred Places helps congregations and others with a stake in older religious properties make the most of them as civic assets that serve the broader community. www.sacredplaces.org/

About the National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded nonprofit organization, protects significant places representing our diverse cultural experience by taking direct action and inspiring broad public support. www.savingplaces.org

About Lilly Endowment Inc.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is a national private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J. K. Lilly Sr. and sons Eli and J.K. Jr. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education, and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. The principal aim of the Endowment’s grantmaking in religion is to deepen and enrich the lives of American Christians, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen the pastoral and lay leadership of Christian communities. The Endowment also seeks to improve public understanding of diverse religious traditions by supporting fair and accurate portrayals of the role religion plays in the United States and across the globe. www.lillyendowment.org

 

How to make Healthy Green Rice

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How to make Healthy Green Rice

There is white rice, and brown rice, even black rice…Now I present Green Rice!

I love colours in my food…! I can’t get enough of cooking and eating colourful food. There is actually a benefit to eating colourful foods, I mean naturally colourful foods, not foods with added artificial colouring.

Coloured food contain a lot of nutritional benefits especially minerals, vitamins and anti-ageing compounds. For me personally, the mere mention that an ingredient contains high levels of anti-oxidants is enough to make me hunt it down and cook it….. I want to delay this ageing process as long as practicable… (hehehe)

For sometime now, I have been experimenting with ways of creating a rice dish similar to jollof rice but instead of having the bright orange colour typical of jollof rice, I wanted to create a green equivalent. So I used lots of green peppers instead of red hoping to help achieve my aim but…it was not to be. The experiment failed…!

Then I discovered a post from a fellow blogger Africanbites.com, which featured a green looking rice….A further search on Google led me to some Mexican type recipes for making green rice. I was really excited to put my own spin on things.

I was not too keen to use some of the ingredients used in those green rice recipes so I did some swapping/alterations/omission of sort. But the crucial ingredient was spinach which is responsible for the green colour. So I went to work, swapping the spinach with some other vegetables such as kale and pumpkin leaves (ugwu). I came up with two versions. One recipe was basic and the other required a little extra pre sautéing of the vegetables first before adding.

Never Eat White Rice Again…!
That fruits and vegetables are beneficial to health cannot be over emphasised. We need to eat a lot more of them regularly, so finding ways to make this happen is of great importance to me.

We all have our different ways of eating vegetables. The general idea is to eat them as close to raw as possible, because this way we stand to gain the most nutritional benefits.

In recent times, the idea of making smoothies with raw vegetables (kale, spinach, etc) have become so popular but I personally, as do so many others, find some of the smoothies unpalatable… and often requiring the addition of other stuff such as sweeteners to make them more palatable.

Green Rice – made by adding ugwu/spinach smoothie
to rice at the last stage of cooking.

So I figured that a good way to consume my ugwu/spinach smoothie might be to add to rice (just as the other recipes for green rice demands). So I decided to give it a try. The vegetable smoothie was added at the final stage of cooking the rice. This was so that the nutritional benefits of the vegetables would not diminish due to overcooking. Instead it would have raised the profile of my white rice…making it green, luscious looking and also bursting with all the nutrients of the vegetable.

I went on a spree adding kale, spinach and ugwu to my rice and even to my jollof rice! And the result; the taste is not affected at all, and my food has increased in its nutritional profile.

Check the recipe out.

What you need

  • Any of these fresh vegetables: kale, ugwu (pumpkin leaves), or spinach. For all my people in Nigeria, you can also use tete or soko, even though I have not tried it personally yet, but I trust it will also turn out right.
  • Coconut oil
  • Rice

What to do

  1. Pick the tender leaves of your vegetables and wash thoroughly to remove any traces of sand.
  2. Then place in a smoothie maker or blender, add some water and blend into a smoothie, just like you make a regular smoothie. The amount of vegetables you blend should be proportional to the amount of rice you would be adding it to. The more the better really…
  3. Do not add anything to the blend, no sugar no salt. Just water to aid blending.

Direct method:

  1. Cook your rice as usual and when you get to the last stage of cooking, add the smoothie and cover your pot tight. Allow the smoothie to steam through with the rice.
  2. Then stir in and add some salt to taste. The result should be a rich looking green rice. Done.
  3. Serve with stew as usual.

Sauté method:

  1. Heat some coconut oil in a sauce pan and add the smoothie. Stir well.
  2. At the last stage of cooking your rice, add the sautéed smoothie and cover your pot tight. Allow the smoothie to steam through with the rice.
  3. Then stir in and add some salt to taste.
  4. Serve with stew as usual.
Green Rice – made by sautéing ugwu/spinach smoothie
and adding to rice at the last stage of cooking.

 

Written by : Funke Koleosho

Grand Canyon University Provides Immersive Christian Higher Education Experience For Individuals With Moderate Intellectual Disabilites

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Grand Canyon University Provides Immersive Christian Higher Education Experience For Individuals With Moderate Intellectual Disabilites

Grand Canyon University and the Cardon family are teaming up to launch a new two-year non-degree program this fall that provides individuals with moderate intellectual disabilities an opportunity to experience life on a Christian college campus.

Inspired by Don and Kim Cardon, the L.O.P.E.S. (Learning Opportunities for Participation and Engagement in School) Academy at the Cardon Center will help individuals find their personal purpose through academic, social and job skills development for successful, independent living.

Going to college is a rite of passage for most young adults. It marks a time of transition into adulthood, gaining independence, developing friendships and learning important life skills. However, the opportunity to experience college can be non-existent for many, especially for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) and other learning challenges.

“GCU is the right fit for the L.O.P.E.S. Academy. Our daughter Emma, who has special needs, has the same aspirations as any other young adult and wants to feel part of a college community,” said Don Cardon of Cardon Development Group, who along with his wife Kim are providing the financial support necessary for the creation of the program. “We have great admiration for President Mueller, Mr. Colangelo and the University, as they share a mutual passion for faith-based innovation and are creating a safe learning environment where Emma’s talents won’t be limited.”

Each course in the L.O.P.E.S. Academy program is seven weeks, with participants taking two courses per 15-week semester (fall and spring). Each class meets twice a week for one hour. Specifically designed by GCU’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences, classes will include guest speakers and workshops that focus on finding personal purpose through academic, social and job skills development for successful, independent living. Participants will also gain the GCU college experience outside the classroom by diving deeper into social activities based on their individual interests and skills, including Chapel events, clubs, sporting events or just grabbing lunch with friends.

“Grand Canyon University is committed to making educational opportunities accessible to everyone,” said GCU President Brian Mueller. “The L.O.P.E.S. Academy will be successful because of our community culture on campus that embraces all students. It’s filled with Christ’s presence where students organically accept and support one another. They’re going to bring an element of solutions to the program as it grows in a society that often puts limits on students with IDDs.”

Each L.O.P.E.S. Academy participant will be teamed up with a L.O.P.E.S. Buddy – a GCU student mentor who will share in the participant’s university experience through lunch on campus, club meetings, sporting events, Chapel, CityServe volunteer opportunities, university events and other social activities. L.O.P.E.S. Buddies will commit to the L.O.P.E.S. Academy participant for the two-year program.

“This investment reflects our gratitude in God’s kindness to our family, as well as our specific desire to support and lift up Emma’s personal visions for her life, as well as many others into the future. To us, this is an investment into the gospel, as the University assists both the young and old how to integrate God’s calling into your life in practical ways,” said Don Cardon.

About Grand Canyon University:  Grand Canyon University was founded in 1949 and is Arizona’s premier private Christian university. GCU is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers 270 academic programs, emphases and certificates for both traditional undergraduate students and working professionals. The University’s curriculum emphasizes interaction with classmates, both in-person and online, and individual attention from instructors while fusing academic rigor with Christian values to help students find their purpose and become skilled, caring professionals. For more information, visit gcu.edu.

About Cardon Development Group: Cardon Development Group specializes in imaginative partnerships that enable local enrichment through transformative, highly energized real estate developments. Founded in 2002, the firm deploys an innovative approach to forging public-private partnerships, uniting the creativity of the private sector with the resources of public enterprise to bring seemingly impossible projects to life. For more information, visit cardondevelopment.com

SOURCE : Grand Canyon University

Wishpond Launches Zoom Integration

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Wishpond Launches Zoom Integration

Wishpond Technologies Ltd. (TSXV: WISH) (“Wishpond” or the “Company“), an emerging leader in digital marketing solutions that empower entrepreneurs and businesses to achieve success online, is pleased to announce the integration of Zoom with Wishpond Appointments, and the availability of the Wishpond Zoom App in the Zoom App Marketplace.  Wishpond Appointments now connects seamlessly with Zoom allowing Wishpond’s 3,000+ customers to easily create virtual meetings for their next business call, important customer meeting, or consultation.

“Zoom integration is an important addition to our Appointments product,” said Jordan Gutierrez, Wishpond’s Chief Operating Officer. “Entrepreneurs and business owners can now set up virtual sales calls, customer meetings, or consultations – all in one simple step. Zoom Meetings integration complements Wishpond’s 300+ other integrations including email, analytics, sales, payments, and other collaboration apps. We are very proud of our product development teams who continue to add new features and functionality to our all-in-one digital marketing platform.”

Zoom Meetings is available out of the box for all merchants using Wishpond Appointments. Using Wishpond Appointments is simple and easy, and in just a few steps any business can start offering online appointment booking from the drag and drop landing page editor. By integrating with Zoom, a virtual meeting is created within Wishpond Appointments at the time of appointment booking, with the meeting link shared in the configurable customer emails making it simple and easy to join every meeting booked through Wishpond landing pages. Wishpond Appointments allows merchants to easily offer Zoom Meetings in the appointment booking flow providing an improved user experience and decreasing the number of potential ‘no-shows’.

Wishpond customer Sharon Rottman, Founder of Shemesh Media and the popular ShemeshPhone product, commented, “Adding Appointments to Wishpond allows me to have appointment functionality integrated right into our Wishpond landing pages. The new addition of the Zoom Meeting feature is an improvement that will save us even more time.”

Zoom is the leading virtual meeting platform used by more than 200 million users worldwide. Integrating with Zoom’s secure, reliable video platform provides a seamless workflow and best in class industry solution for online meetings, with most merchants and customers already using Zoom today. The Zoom App Marketplace is an open and secure platform that allows third-party developers to build applications that leverage Zoom’s video-first unified communications platform that spans video, voice, content sharing, and chat across desktop, mobile and workspaces. The Wishpond Zoom App can be found in the Zoom App Marketplace at: https://bit.ly/3G8uEka

Wishpond Appointments can be accessed at: https://www.wishpond.com/appointments

 ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Ali Tajskandar
CEO and Director

About Wishpond Technologies Ltd.

Based out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Wishpond is a provider of marketing-focused online business solutions. Wishpond’s vision is to become the leading provider of digital marketing solutions that empower entrepreneurs to achieve success online. The Company offers an “all-in-one” marketing suite that provides companies with marketing, promotion, lead generation, and sales conversion capabilities from one integrated platform. Wishpond replaces entire marketing functions in an easy-to-use product, for a fraction of the cost. Wishpond serves over 3,000 customers who are primarily small-to-medium size businesses (SMBs) in a wide variety of industries. The Company has developed cutting-edge marketing technology solutions and continues to add new features and applications with great velocity. The Company employs a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) business model where substantially all the Company’s revenue is subscription-based recurring revenue which provides excellent revenue predictability and cash flow visibility. Wishpond is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker “WISH“, and on the OTCQB Venture Market under the ticker “WPNDF“. For further information, visit: www.wishpond.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements, which are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events, and therefore involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual events to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important factors including, but not limited to, the availability of funds, acceptance, integration, development and adoption of the Company’s products, competition, general market conditions and risks outlined in the Company’s publicly filed documents available on SEDAR could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation, except to the extent required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE : Wishpond Technologies Ltd.

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