‘Full House’ Spin-Off Heading to Netflix, New Series ‘Turns House Over’ to Candace Cameron Bure

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‘Full House’ Spin-Off Heading to Netflix, New Series ‘Turns House Over’ to Candace Cameron Bure
Candace Cameron Bure (Photo: Reuters/Phil McCarten)

Actress Candace Cameron Bure (L) attends the 2012 Hollywood Christmas Parade in Los Angeles November 25, 2012.

Christian Post Report – “Full House” fans are rejoicing over the confirmed news of a sequel series, “Fuller House,” that will reunite original cast members including Candace Cameron Bure.

The new spin-off series will air on Netflix over 20 years after “Full House” first debuted on ABC in 1987. The hit comedy series ran for eight seasons, but next year, “Fuller House” will see Cameron Bure reprise her role as D.J. Tanner opposite of John Stamos back in the role of Uncle Jesse.

“The rumors are TRUE! The Full House sequel #FullerHouse is coming to @Netflix,” Cameron Bure wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. “Not sure is that was the best or worst kept secret.”

In his own confirmation of “Fuller House,” Stamos explained that the reboot was years in the making while on live television earlier this week.

“We’ve been working on this for many, many years,” he said while on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on Monday. “We wanted to give credit to the legacy. Netflix came around and said let’s do 13 episodes.”

Furthermore, Stamos previewed “Fuller House,” revealing that the series will center on Cameron Bure.

“It starts sort of as a reunion and then spins off, like a spin-off,” said the actor. “And so you have Candace and Jodie [Sweetin] and Andrea Barber – Kimmy Gibbler, and Candace has three boys and its sort of a reversal, we turn the house over to her.”

Netflix, which ordered 13 episodes of the new comedy, announced that “Fuller House” will also star “Full House” veterans Jodie Sweetin (Stephanie Tanner) and Andrea Barber (Kimmy Gibbler). However, Netflix did not confirm the returns of Bob Saget, Dave Coulier, Lori Loughlin or the Olsen twins.

Meanwhile, Cameron Bure recently competed on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” and appears on Hallmark’s original series “A Bone to Pick: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery.” The actress has also penned books “Reshaping It All” and “Balancing It All”

One day before confirming reports about “Fuller House,” the actress referred to her Christian faith while encouraging her nearly 400K Twitter followers to “plug into prayer.”

“Good Morning!! Start your day off right by giving it over to God,” she wrote on Monday. “Plug into prayer!”

Watch Stamos’ “Jimmy Kimmel Live” interview here.

Source : Christian Post

Gospel Star Tina Campbell to Collaborate With the Legendary Stevie Wonder on Her Debut Album

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Gospel Star Tina Campbell to Collaborate With the Legendary Stevie Wonder on Her Debut Album
Tina Campbel (Photo: AMC Networks)

Mary Mary’s Tina Campbell

Christian Post Report – Tina Campbell is readying her solo debut with some help from a legendary singer, Stevie Wonder.

Campbell, one half of the gospel music duo Mary Mary, has been vocal about releasing her solo material after her sister and fellow group member Erica Campbell found success doing so. Tina previously announced that she would release her forthcoming book, I Need a Day To Pray, and album It’s Personal next month.

She recently took to Instagram to let people know about a big named feature that would appear on her album. With a limited staff of the singer and her husband Teddy Campbell, Tina glorified God for the opportunity to work with the well known musician.

“So I’m putting out a solo record a book & promoting a kick off to my tour (an eve w/tina c), all within the next month, w/a staff of me my hubby the Father the Son & the Holy Ghost, and GOD decides to surprise me w/the gift of Stevie Wonder singing a duet with me TONIGHT for my 1st record,” Tina wrote. “Aint God alright?!? (singin) IM FOLLOWING JESUS EVERYDAY TO REACH MY DESTINY!!!!” (SIC)

The singer could not contain her excitement in another social media message where she had to let the world know that such a renowned singer-songwriter and multi instrumentalist in his own right was singing her song.

“YALL STEVIE THEE LEGENDARY WONDER IS IN THIS STUDIO SINGING A SONG THAT I WROTE FOR MY OWN ALBUM,”Tina wrote. “HOW ABOUT THAT!!!! #speechless #favor #aintthelordalright.” (SIC)

Last November, the Mary Mary gospel singer created a special night where she previewed her upcoming book, solo music and testimony at her church for An Evening With Tina Campbell. She previously spoke to The Christian Post about her decision to do so.

“I figured I would create the model or create the event, create what God gave me to give to the world and we’ll just see what He does with it. I mean, I really wanted to share with people what He’s done,” Tina previously told CP. “When people go through devastating scenarios in their lives they go through a great transformation. Sometimes I’m singing that, sometimes I’m saying that, sometimes I’m praying and confessing that.”

Source : Christian Post

Manny Pacquiao Fights for ‘God’ and ‘His Country;’ Boxer Talks Mayweather Match, Sinful Past and Bringing Change to the Philippines (Exclusive)

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Manny Pacquiao Fights for ‘God’ and ‘His Country;’ Boxer Talks Mayweather Match, Sinful Past and Bringing Change to the Philippines (Exclusive)
Floyd Mayweathe Jr. and Manny Pacquiao (Photo: Reuters/File)

Boxing icons Floyd Mayweathe Jr. and Manny Pacquiao present during the press conference for “the biggest fight in boxing history” held in downtown Las Vegas.

Christian Post Report – After their gloves touch, the bell rings and the dust settles on May 2, the world may be able to end the debate surrounding Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather Jr. being the best boxer of their era. Yet, Pacquiao is fighting for so much more than bragging rights or the largest payout any pugilist has ever seen.

The 36-year-old Filipino politician is fighting the good fight of faith, that is outlined in 1 Timothy 6:12. When all is said and done and the bout between he and Mayweather reaches its last round, Pacquiao told The Christian Post he hopes people recognize that he did his best even if his back was against the ropes.

“I want to please the Lord, my family, and my fans with this fight,” Pacquiao told The Christian Post. “I want them to know I fought for God and my country, to bring them honor and glory.”

Even though he may wear his Christian faith on his sleeve, Pacquiao has no problem strapping on his boxing gloves as someone who has been fighting professionally since the age of 16. By 2010, a buzz began heavily circulating about Pacquiao and Mayweather Jr. facing one another in the ring after both bested big names including Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Juan Manuel Márquez.

Since 2007, Pacquiao and Mayweather have been the only two fighters to be voted by ESPN fans as Best Fighter at the ESPY Awards. While Mayweather has received the honor six times since 2007, Pacquiao has been the one fighter that interrupted a potentially perfect seven year reign after winning in 2009 and 2011.

With an unblemished record, 47 fighters have fallen at the hands of Mayweather. Still, Pacquiao has been recognized by sports pundits and fans as someone who could potentially mar Mayweather’s perfect record by handing him his first loss.

For five years, fans heard countless excuses for why the two biggest names in boxing would not face one another in the ring. Now that the fight has been officially scheduled, it is hard to ignore the magnitude of this fight and what it could mean for the careers of both men and the history of boxing.

While the Filipino fighter will not readily admit that he is doing a great deal to mentally separate this fight from others in terms of preparation, he told The Christian Post that he is giving the fight extra attention.

“I prepare mentally the same as I do with all of my other fights,” Pacquiao told CP. “I think I’m training for this fight with a little more focus,” Pacquiao told The Christian Post. “Spiritually, I pray for myself and also for my opponent.”

To simply label Pacquiao as a boxer would be a disservice to the Evangelical Christian athlete who once moonlighted as a basketball player in the semi-professional basketball league, Liga Pilipinas, released two albums as a singer and has been a dedicated politician in his country.

Pacquiao has been working tirelessly to bring change to the Philippines and was elected to the Philippine House of Representatives at the age of 32. Yahoo! Sports recently dubbed the fanfare taking place in the country as “Pacmania” as shirts, postage stamps, dolls and other paraphenelia are circulating the fighter’s homeland.

His documentary is playing in various Filipino movie theaters as the building of his church, school and community center in General Santos City is being constructed. In the way Pacquiao’s fellow countrymen have hope that he will be victorious in the “fight of the century” the husband and father has a vision for his people.

“I want to provide opportunities for my fellow countrymen that will improve their situations. As a politician, I want to help create jobs so that I can bring them out of their poverty,” Pacquiao revealed to CP. “I want to give them hope. Boxing has been my passion, but public service is my calling.”

The boxer wants to use the platform that his passion provides to be a champion of his faith, regardless of the outcome of his fights.

“I think every Christian athlete should be open about their relationship with the Lord, as well as every believer. That is what the Bible commands,” Pacquiao told CP. “When I am vocal to others about my faith and my hope of eternal life, it helps those fans of mine and those who watch me to know they can also have a hope.”

People familiar with Pacquiao have heard him speak about his Christian faith in countless interviews since 2012, but the athlete will readily admit that he once let his success get the best of him. He had issues with drinking, gambling and being a womanizer, Pacquiao previously told ESPN.

He opened up about the reason he decided to change his life and really pursue Christ.

“I realized the way of sin was leading me in the wrong direction, not only in this life, but eternally. I realized I had a need,” Pacquiao told CP. “I came to the point where I realized that need was the Lord Jesus Christ. I put my faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

That faith is what has carried Pacquiao through gut wrenching defeats like those that occurred at the hands of Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012.

“As a Christian, some of my greatest times of growth are in the times of defeat,” he told CP. “I take great comfort from my faith.”

Win or lose, Pacquiao said he is thankful to all of his supporters and those who have been praying for him. Although he is not anticipating a loss to Mayweather on May 2, the politician and boxer with a record of 57-5-2 and 38 KOs knows that the outcome of “the fight of the century” will not determine the change he hopes to make in the world.

“I love my boxing, but I realize now that is not what my life is all about. I just want to encourage all those who are a Christian, to share their salvation experience to others,” Pacquiao told CP. “I think that we could make an impact in this world. I’m not sure yet if I’m going to retire in 2016, but the legacy that I want to leave is to be a role model and an inspiration, not only the boxing fans, but to everyone around the world.”

Source : Christian Post

Siruis XM DJ Is Helping Christians Find the Church Best Suited for Them With Innovative Let’s Pray Together Website

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Siruis XM DJ Is Helping Christians Find the Church Best Suited for Them With Innovative Let’s Pray Together Website
Meta (Photo: Facebook)

Meta Washington is an on-air personality for Kirk Franklin’s Praise on Sirius XM Satellite Radio in New York City. She is also the founder of letspraytogether.org

Christian Post Report – Finding the right church can often be a time consuming and somewhat challenging experience but one devoted Christian says she has created a new, innovative way for believers to find what they’re looking for quickly and easily.

Meta Washington, host of Kirk Franklin’s Praise on Sirius XM Satellite Radio in New York City, launched her website letspraytogether.org in 2013 as “as a labor of love to help bring Christians together nationwide.” Since then, a growing number of congregants and church leaders around the country have been using the free service to connect with other devotees and expand their congregations.

Users can find their ideal church by simply entering information such as city, state, denomination and even preferred congregation size into the website. Pastors can directly list their church on the site by submitting an online form and Washington recently sat down with The Christian Post to share the idea behind Lets Pray Together.

Let’s Pray Together: Q & A

The Christian Post: What inspired you to create Let’s Pray Together?

Meta Washington: Well, it started from an on-air segment that I had created a while back. It was created because I had a listener that contacted me to ask if I had known of any churches in the DC area and I said ‘well, I don’t personally but let me put it out there for the listeners’ and when I did, they had so many responses and people were really so enthusiastic about sharing their church information. What I decided at that point was the best way to handle it was to create a website where it would be a database for people to be able to search; either church seekers could look on there … or you could have churches and ministries who wanted to list themselves. It really worked out because most churches only get the opportunity to open their doors for membership once a week but with LPT its available anytime day or night.

A lot of people when they’re looking for a church, it’s kind of like a stone throw in the dark. You go to a new town, you try this church and you try that church but when you say specifically ‘hey, I’m looking for a protestant church that has this type of congregation and this style of preaching’ and you’re very specific about it and then you have somebody respond and say ‘hey, that fits my church and if they decide to come and visit they can see me personally.’ So I’ve had instances where listeners have literally gone to visit a church and kind of met up with the person who made the recommendation. [They] were instantly welcomed when they got there. I mean its difficult sometimes … even though it’s a church and it’s supposed to be welcoming for everyone, it’s human tendency that people kind of click with people they already know well.

I’ve had a pastor that reached out and said ‘hey listen one of my members is relocating and I wanted to know if you could help them find a church when they get to their new home state. I’ve had a lot of parents with kids going off to college … who have reached out and said ‘hey we want our kids to continue going to church even while they’re away. Can you make some recommendations of churches in their town while they’re there. It’s a network that is a win-win for all.

CP: What has been the general response?

MW: Overwhelming. Originally when you listen to channels for inspirational music, you get music, you get talk, its very rare that you find someone using a platform to make a network within the people themselves. And because I have a national platform I have a unique opportunity in which to tie people in to each other on many different levels. So people see the effort going into bringing kingdom people together.

CP: In your opinion, how much research should go into finding the right church?

MW: I think overall, it kind of cuts down the legwork that people have to do. When you move, in addition to trying to settle yourself in a new city, it’s the going from church to church (and you only have an opportunity to go to one church basically per weekend) so it could be months before you find a good match. Whereas if you put it out there for people exactly what you’re looking for (ie: youth ministry, family church)…its a unique opportunity to be able to do your research in advance.

CP: What are your hopes for LPT going forward?

MW: Well I’d like to see the continued growth of the churches and ministries signing up. Of course I want it to continue to be a resource for people who are looking for a church nationwide …Right now I’m in the midst of a new initiative for LPT which we’ll probably release later this month and it’s called Joyful Noise. Most people know me for my work in radio and what Joyful Noise is. I have a video portion that is on the website and I’m opening it up to indie artists and musicians and singers because Sirius XM is not a platform for independent artists and most mainstream radio stations are not. You can’t just call up and say ‘hey I’ve got a CD who do I submit my music to?’ So what I’m doing now is creating a network for independent artists to be connected with those who are interested in signing them and playing their music or representing them.

CP: Can you tell me a little about the idea behind ‘Church Of The Week?’

MW: I pull from the website a ‘church of the week’ and it’s an incentive for churches to have the unique opportunity to get on a national platform and be represented. It really is an incentive for others to hear their churches being recognized for a day and having all of the different activities that are being featured at people’s churches being represented and celebrated for a day to make others say ‘hey I need to make sure I’m signed up.’

For more information on Let’s Pray Together CLICK HERE

Source : Christian Post

ISIS’ Rise in Iraq Masterminded by Former Saddam Hussein Intelligence Officer, Recently Published Caliphate ‘Blueprint’ Documents Reveal

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ISIS’ Rise in Iraq Masterminded by Former Saddam Hussein Intelligence Officer, Recently Published Caliphate ‘Blueprint’ Documents Reveal
ISIS (Photo: Reuters)

Militant Islamist fighters take part in a military parade along the streets of Syria’s northern Raqqa province, June 30, 2014. The fighters held the parade to celebrate their declaration of an Islamic “caliphate” after the group captured territory in neighbouring Iraq, a monitoring service said. The Islamic State, an al-Qaeda offshoot previously known as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, posted pictures online on Sunday of people waving black flags from cars and holding guns in the air, the SITE monitoring service said.

Christian Post Report – The rise of the barbaric Islamic State terrorist group was masterminded by one of Saddam Hussein’s former military intelligence officers, who planned for years to help the terrorist group conquer Iraqi and Syrian territories, blueprint documents uncovered by the German magazine Der Spiegel have revealed.

In a recently published report titled “The Terror Strategist: Secret Files Reveal the Structure of Islamic State,” the news outlet reported that it obtained 31 pages of documents, through negotiations with Syrian rebels, that have been deemed to be “blueprint” materials detailing how the rise of ISIS in Iraq and Syria was orchestrated.

The report adds that the obtained handwritten notes and charts were composed by Samir al-Khlifawi.

Khlifawi, who is also known by the name Haji Bakr, was a colonel in Saddam Hussein’s air force intelligence service.

“Even his best-known pseudonym, Haji Bakr, wasn’t widely known. But that was precisely part of the plan. The former colonel in the intelligence service of Saddam Hussein’s air defense force had been secretly pulling the strings at IS for years,” according to the report. “Former members of the group had repeatedly mentioned him as one of its leading figures. Still, it was never clear what exactly his role was.”

The documents, which were discovered by Syrian rebels after Bakr’s death early last year, reveal what his role in the rise of ISIS was and how the militant group was able to systematically take over parts of Syria and then parts of Iraq.

“But when the architect of the Islamic State died, he left something behind that he had intended to keep strictly confidential: the blueprint for this state,” the report asserts.

“For the first time, the Haji Bakr documents now make it possible to reach conclusions on how the IS leadership is organized and what role former officials in the government of ex-dictator Saddam Hussein play in it. Above all, however, they show how the takeover in northern Syria was planned, making the group’s later advances into Iraq possible in the first place.”

The report further notes that Bakr’s plans outlined personal duties and other responsibilities that were necessary for the group to successfully execute its takeovers in individual towns.

“What Bakr put on paper, page by page, with carefully outlined boxes for individual responsibilities, was nothing less than a blueprint for a takeover,” the Spiegel article added. “In addition, months of research undertaken by Spiegel in Syria, as well as other newly discovered records, exclusive to Spiegel, show that Haji Bakr’s instructions were carried out meticulously.”

According to Spiegel, Bakr began devising a plan to help conquer swaths of Syria in late 2012. After Bakr began living in a town just outside of Aleppo called Tal Rifaat in 2013, hundreds of ISIS fighters were stationed there and that is where the first ISIS stronghold was established.

“It was there that the ‘Lord of the Shadows,’ as some called him, sketched out the structure of the Islamic State, all the way down to the local level, compiled lists relating to the gradual infiltration of villages and determined who would oversee whom,” the report continues. “It was not a manifesto of faith, but a technically precise plan for an ‘Islamic Intelligence State’ — a caliphate run by an organization that resembled East Germany’s notorious Stasi domestic intelligence agency.”

The report further explains that Bakr’s blueprints were executed with great accuracy and would always begin with the group recruiting followers, militants and spies locally by opening up Islamic missionary centers, or “Dawah” offices.

“Of those who came to listen to lectures and attend courses on Islamic life, one or two men were selected and instructed to spy on their village and obtain a wide range of information,” the report adds.

The selected spies would gather information about ISIS’ target towns. They were responsible for gathering information about the powerful families in the area and their sources of income, names and sizes of rebel brigades in the area, the names of the brigade leaders, the different religious schools in the area, the names of the imams and what they preached in their sermons.

In each area that ISIS took over, the report states that Bakr planned for there to be an emir who was in charge of supervising the murders, abductions, and communication and encryption. There was also an emir appointed to supervise the other emirs to ensure that they were doing their duties correctly.

In 2010, Bakr and other former Iraqi intelligence officers made Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, a radicalized Muslim cleric, the group’s emir. Since ISIS’ rise, Baghdadi has become notoriously known as the group’s leader or caliph.

Even though Bakr had devised the plan for the takeover, he could not be the religious face that the group needed to attract recruits on religious grounds, since he was more of a military mind.

“There is a simple reason why there is no mention in Bakr’s writings of prophecies relating to the establishment of an Islamic State allegedly ordained by God: He believed that fanatical religious convictions alone were not enough to achieve victory,” the report states. “But he did believe that the faith of others could be exploited.”

Source : Christian Post

‘The Messengers’ Review: Series Plays Into End Times Fears, Engages Audiences of All Religious Backgrounds

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  • The Messengers
    (Photo: Courtesy of Grace Hill Media)
    “The Messengers” premieres on The CW on April 17, 2015.

Based on the Book of Revelation but intended for both secular and Christian audiences, “The Messengers” premiered on The CW on Friday, April 17, offering a promising start for five characters who suddenly die as a result of a comet striking the earth.

Christian Post Report – Described by executive producer Trey Callaway as being a series about faith rather than religion, “The Messengers” introduces five characters of diverse backgrounds who come back to life as angels, whether they believe it yet or not. In line with The CW’s affinity for superheroes and the supernatural, the five angels gain special powers and are returned to earth in order to battle evil during the Armageddon.

Each character boasts believable and relatable flaws that range across a single mother, a bullied teen, a televangelist, a NASA scientist and an undercover agent. Since only two characters overlap in the pilot, the audience is left wondering how each angel will connect with one another and what challenges lay ahead during a time of terror and chaos.

The well-rounded cast of characters further benefits from consisting of mostly unfamiliar faces, such as Sofia Black- D’Elia (“Gossip Girls”), Shantel VanSanten (“One Tree Hill”) and British actor Jon Fletcher (“The Good Wife”). Although many of the cast members have already made their television debuts, “The Messengers” offers a broad platform for each of the rising stars whose performances on the series proves their acting chops.

In a clever casting move, “The Messengers” also stars Diogo Morgado, the actor best known as the “Hot Jesus” in 2012’s the “Bible” series. This time, however, the Portuguese actor takes on the role of a Satan-like villain “The Man,” demonstrating worthy versatility and range by bringing the same patient, knowing smile from his portrayal of Jesus to “The Messengers.” Furthermore, Morgado’s link to the “Bible” series adds a layer of welcomed complexity to “The Man” while also boosting the faith-based theme of “The Messengers.” The actor makes his arresting debut on the new series after “The Man” arrives on earth via meteorite covered in ash and flames.

Going hand-in-hand with the network’s attraction to the paranormal, “The Messengers” features high-quality computer-generated imagery and other notable special effects, including the moment the blazing meteorite streaks across the sky and strikes the earth. Similar to The CW’s “Supernatural” and “The Vampire Diaries,” “The Messengers” also reveals clean, appealing cinematography, despite the plain backgrounds and unremarkable settings.

Ultimately, “The Messengers” taps into the basic fear of the End Times that any audience, religious or not, can understand. The series depicts a true-to-life world where death and destruction brings out both the best and the worst in people, and survival hinges on adaptability and the willingness to cooperate with each other.

Friday nights are slow for television, and the pilot for the new series garnered a mere 1.18 million viewers during the premiere, according to Deadline. Nevertheless, “The Messengers” provides family-friendly entertainment that is rooted in the Bible. The series airs on The CW Fridays at 9 p.m. ET.

Source : Christian Post

Jessa Duggar and Husband Ben Sewald, Announce Pregnancy; Child Will Be Born on First Wedding Anniversary

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Jessa Duggar and Husband Ben Sewald, Announce Pregnancy; Child Will Be Born on First Wedding Anniversary
Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald Instagram/ ben_seewald

Pregnancy rumors sparked when Ben Seewald posted this photo of him covering his wife Jessa Duggar’s stomach with his cowboy hat on Instagram.

Christian Post Report – Just months into their marriage, Christian reality star Jessa Duggar Seewald of TLC’s “19 Kids and Counting,” and her husband Ben Seewald have announced that they are expecting a child together and the baby is due on their first anniversary.

“We are so excited. The due date is November first, our wedding anniversary. We are looking forward to being parents,” Jessa confirmed to People magazine. “I am feeling pretty good. The morning sickness was different every day. It’s getting better, but I’m still hanging on to the heartburn. And I don’t have any super-serious food cravings.”

The couple married last November but refrained from their first kiss in front of the audience, choosing instead to share their first kiss in private. Jessa’s parents, Jim Bob and Michelle, gave the audience a kiss for show after the nuptials. The young couple later openly shared a kiss to appease their family and friends.

The kiss however was overshadowed by a bit of controversy after rumors surfaced online that the couple had engaged in sexual intercourse at the church where they were married. An online blogger alleged that Jessa’s sister Jinger had walked in on the couple the very a private moment.

“Multiple people were discussing that when Jinger opened the door to get Jess for the reception, she immediately closed the door with a look of shock on her face,” blogger Mary B posted on her website, My Life as a Stay at Home Wife and Mom. “I am not sure why they would not wait for the evening to pray and consummate God’s marriage.”

At first, Jessa did not respond to the allegations, but then took to Instagram to post a Bible verse in response.

“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17-21,” Jessa posted to Instagram.

Jessa revealed that she found out she was pregnant one Sunday morning before church when she decided to take a home pregnancy test and it came back positive. She said when she shared the news with Ben, they were both surprised and excited.

“I said, ‘Hey Ben, guess what? Yeah, you’re a dad.’ We couldn’t believe it,” said Jessa. “We are so excited. We have started talking baby names. It is one of those things that is so special, picking a name for a baby.”

The couple also still plans to adopt childen, something they talked about during their courtship. There is currently a two-year waiting period before they can even apply, but they are “making plans” to go through with their original plan.

“We are trying to take it one day at a time,” said Ben. “We pray every night that God helps us be good parents. We are getting advice from other parents.”

Those “other parents” include Ben’s brother and sister-in-law, Jill and Derick Dillard, who recently gave birth to their first child, a son named Israel David.

“19 Kids and Counting” airs Tuesday nights on TLC.

Source : Christian Post

Reinhard Bonnke, Evangelist Who Clashed With Muslims in Africa to Win Millions of Converts for Christ to Get Lifetime Award for Global Ministry

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Reinhard Bonnke, Evangelist Who Clashed With Muslims in Africa to Win Millions of Converts for Christ to Get Lifetime Award for Global Ministry
Reinhard Bonnke (Photo: Facebook)

Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, 75.

Christian Post Report – Reinhard Bonnke, a longtime and once hardline global evangelist who clashed with Muslims in Africa to win millions of converts for Christ on the continent, is set to get a Lifetime Global Impact award at the Global Congress of Empowered21 in Jerusalem for his trailblazing ministry next month.

Bonnke will be honored alongside other veteran evangelists Morris Cerullo, Jack Hayford, Marilyn Hickey, David Manise, and Vinson Synan at the 2015 Global Congress to be held May 20-25. Empowered21 seeks to push a “Global Spirit-empowered movement throughout the world by focusing on crucial issues facing the movement and connecting generations for intergenerational blessing and impartation,” according to the organization’s website. This is the first time the organization will hand out lifetime awards.

All have served the Lord in various avenues and were chosen because they are “Spirit-empowered ministry leaders who have made a huge impact in the world. They have also shown a desire to invest in the next generation or implement a ministry succession plan,” Diane Morrow, a spokeswoman for the Barnabas Agency told The Christian Post.

“Reinhard Bonnke has totally dedicated himself to soul-winning for 50 years now. He has a laser-sharp focus on winning souls. Through his ministry, Christ for All Nations, over 73 million people have made registered decisions to follow Jesus Christ. To be recognized and honored by the Christian community for this service is an honor for which we give the glory to God,” a Christ for All Nations spokeswoman told CP.

Bonnke founded Christ for All Nations, which has offices in the United Kingdom, Nigeria, South Africa, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, Canada and Germany. Since its founding 35 years ago, the organization has documented over 55 million people who’ve chosen to give their lives to Jesus Christ as of 2000.

Bonnke’s decision to serve the world, particularly Africa, came while he was still a boy in Germany. He gave his life to Christ at the age of 9, after being convicted about sin. One year later he felt the need to spread the Gospel in Africa. “Night after night, I saw the entire African continent, washed in the blood of Jesus, country after country,” Bonnke said, according to his bio on Christ for All Nations.

But ministry in Africa has not been without peril for Bonnke. In 1991, after he tried to hold a gathering in Kano, Nigeria, Muslim extremists burned down Christian churches and killed several Christians and forced Bonnke out of the country for nine years.

Christ for All Nations (Photo: Facebook/Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke Official)

Christ for All Nations Gospel Crusade in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2014.

“‘Africa shall be saved.’ I heard God’s message so clearly. In response, my family moved from Lesotho to South Africa in 1974. But how was Africa going to be saved? Clueless, I sat with my head in my hands. As unknowns, we moved out into the unknown, with no prospects mapped out for us, hoping for further instruction from the Lord. And sure enough, God spoke again. I was to rent the National Stadium in Gaborone, Botswana, for a Gospel crusade,” Bonnke wrote in a piece for Ministry Today.

In 2000, he attempted to return to Nigeria but decided against visiting the northern reigion, which was primarily Muslim after the Islamic leaders known as the Council of Ulama issued death threats against him and members of his team. It wasn’t until 2001 that he finally returned at the request of elected president Olusegun Obasanjo and delivered a powerful message that led thousands to Christ.

“My full attention is on Africa,” Bonnke said at the time. “I have no message of hate. I do not attack any religion. I just preach Jesus.”

Rou Jarvis, a Southern Baptist missionary in Lagos, told Christianity Today that Bonnke was very bold with his message.

“He’s very confrontational with Islam, and that’s not good. If I’m going to win someone to Christ, I’m not going to tell them first that their faith is wrong,” said Jarvis.

Ann Buwalda, president of the Jubilee Campaign which promotes the human rights and religious liberty of ethnic and religious minorities around the world, told CP that Bonnke works much smarter now and he continues to win many souls for Christ.

“His impact has sometimes been provocative to Islamic extremist communities. I don’t think he’s been, for example, in northern Nigeria since riots were created, but outside of that, I would say that his crusades are well-known, and he has a large following of committed people who appreciate his ministry and his work throughout Africa. I am not aware in recent years that there have been any altercations surrounding his holding of crusades, so it seems to me that he is actually avoiding conflict areas,” said Buwalda.

Bonnke is often compared to famed evangelist Billy Graham for his work throughout Africa, and is described by pastor George Amu of the Good News Bible Church in Lagos as a “superstar.”

“Signs, miracles and wonders happen when he preaches,” said Amu.

Tom Osanjo, a reporter with UN-HABITAT agrees with Amu’s assessment of Bonnke.

Bonnke is “very big” in Kenya he told CP. Christ for All Nations held its last crusade in the country in 2013. And he has been a “frequent visitor to Kenya for many years. There has not been a public threat to his crusades because the anti-Christian movement among some Muslims is fairly recent,” said Osanjo, recalling various reported miracles that followed his crusades.

“Bonnke and his ministry have been known for miraculous healings and conversions. Most of his meetings see people testifying of being healed of HIV/AIDS, paralysis and all manners of sickness,” said Osanjo.

“The Bible instructs us to give honor to whom honor is due,” said William M. Wilson, president and global co-chair of Empowered21, said in a statement. “It is with great joy that we present awards to these forefathers of the Spirit-empowered movement. The collective ministries of these giants of the faith have transformed the lives of millions of people. We are deeply thankful for their legacies and invite all their friends from around the world to join us in Jerusalem to celebrate their contribution to God’s work.”

Source : Christian Post

John Travolta Defends Scientology, Urges Public to ‘Read a Book’ Before Judging Organization

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John Travolta Defends Scientology, Urges Public to ‘Read a Book’ Before Judging Organization
John Travolta (Photo: Reuters/Gus Ruelas)

Actor John Travolta arrives during the G’Day USA Black Tie Gala in Los Angeles, California, January 11, 2014.

Christian Post Report – Actor John Travolta staunchly defended the Church of Scientology and urged the public not to believe the claims made in a new HBO documentary, “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief” which features both him and fellow actor Tom Cruise.

The documentary alleges the religion broke up the marriage between Cruise and Nicole Kidman and keeps Travolta under its thumb.

In an interview on “Good Morning America” Monday however, Travolta who is one of the most well-known members of the Church of Scientology said critics could do well to learn more about his religion before making comments.

“Take time and read a book,” said Travolta. “You could read ‘A New Slant on Life’, you could read Dianetics. And if you really read it, you’ll understand it. But unless you do, you’ll speculate, and I think that’s a mistake.”

The documentary is based on the best-selling book ‘Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief’ by Lawrence Wright. Director Alex Gibney worked closely with Wright on the project, which sought to reveal the inner workings of the secretive organization that counts Travolta, Cruise, as well as Kirstie Alley among its elite members.

“To put in the film the fact that they [Cruise and Travolta] are abusing the power they have by not talking about the church or not even exploring the abuses I thought was absolutely necessary,” Gibney said at a Times Talk in March. “Otherwise, you have a lot of innocent people that are tumbling into the church on that account.”

Travolta has not seen the documentary and said he has no plans to do so. He stated however that the Church of Scientology has done a lot for him and his family.

“I’ve been so happy with my experience in the last 40 years … that I really don’t have anything to say that would shed light on (a documentary) so decidedly negative,” he told the Tampa Bay Times “I’ve been brought through storms that were insurmountable, and Scientology has been so beautiful for me that I can’t even imagine attacking it. Why would I even approach a negative perspective? That would be a crime to me, personally, to do that.”

One of those storms he said the church helped him through was the death of his 16-year-old son Jett in 2009.

“My family has done so well with it,” he said of the church. “It’s been a beautiful thing for me. I’ve saved lives with it and saved my own life several times. Through the loss of my son, it helped me every step of the way for two years solid, and here I am.”

Source : Christian Post

Billy Graham: God Says ‘No’ to Prayer Requests to Protect His Children From ‘Harm’

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Billy Graham: God Says ‘No’ to Prayer Requests to Protect His Children From ‘Harm’
Billy Graham (Photo: BGEA)

In one of his recently syndicated “My Answer” question-and-answer columns, world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham was asked why God sometimes says “no” to certain prayer requests even though He loves all of His children.

Christian Post Report – “Dear Billy Graham: I know God sometimes says ‘no’ when we ask for something in our prayers. But if He really loved us, wouldn’t He always answer our prayers with a ‘yes’?” the letter from a woman identified only by her initials of G.H. asked.

The 96-year-old Graham, the founder of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, compared God and His denial of certain prayer requests to a parent who says ‘no’ when their kids ask if they are allowed do something that is unsafe.

“Let me assure you that God does love us, and precisely because He loves us, He sometimes says ‘no’ to what we request in our prayers,” Graham wrote. “Let me explain it this way. Elsewhere in your letter, you mention that you and your husband have two children. Do you give them everything they ask for? Or if they want to do something you know is dangerous, do you let them do it anyway?”

“No, of course not, and the reason is because you love them and don’t want anything bad to happen to them,” Graham continued. “Part of your responsibility as a parent is to protect your children from harm even if it sometimes means saying ‘no.'”

Graham further explained that God is much like a protective mother or father and wants to keep His children away from harm. Although a person might not see the consequences of His desires while praying, God is all-knowing when it comes to what is best for His children, Graham stated.

“In a much greater way, God loves us and knows what is best for us — far more than we do. And because He wants to keep us from harm, He sometimes says ‘no,'” Graham asserted. “As I look back over my life, I know God sometimes said ‘no’ to things I asked him to do, and to be honest, I often was disappointed. … But later I realized God knew what He was doing, and by saying ‘no,’ He had kept me from harm.”

Graham tackled a similar question in one of his “My Answer” columns published around the end of March. He explained that when God has said no to a prayer request, the person should stop asking God to make that request a reality.

“But sometimes God answers our prayer with a definite no, and when that’s the case we shouldn’t keep begging him or demanding He give us a yes,” Graham stated. “How can you know if God has said no to your prayer? Begin by asking yourself why you’ve prayed this prayer. Are you honestly seeking God’s will in this situation, or are you only concerned about yourself and what will please you?”

“God hasn’t promised to answer every prayer we make,” Graham added. “He has promised only to answer those that are in line with His will. The Bible says, ‘This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us’ (1 John 5:14).”

Graham also wrote that prayer is “one of our greatest privileges,” but that doesn’t mean that it opens the door for God to fulfill everyone’s earthly requests.

“Prayer is one of our greatest privileges, and it’s possible because Jesus Christ has opened heaven’s door for us through His death and resurrection. But prayer isn’t just asking God to do anything we want,” Graham argued. “Begin by committing your life to Christ. Then make it your goal to seek His will in your prayers.”

Source : Christian Post

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