Young Christians Say They Have Faith in Politics But Less Faith In Politicians

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Young Christians Say They Have Faith in Politics But Less Faith In Politicians

The Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT) of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church asked Christian young people about their attitudes to voting and politics. The young people were clear – they cared about politics, their faith had a major impact on how they voted – but they didn’t think their voices were heard or have faith that politicians would deliver positive change.

The online survey was conducted in preparation for the JPIT conference, ‘Love Your Neighbour: Think, Pray, Vote’, where Archbishop Justin Welby will be the keynote speaker. The aim of the conference is to enthuse and equip Christians to be active in the run up to the general election. The Churches believe that the online survey shows that while many young people care deeply there is a need to heed their concerns about the political process.

In the UK voter turnout amongst 18 to 23 year olds is extremely low. Research carried out by YouGov in April this year indicated that of the 3.3 million young people entitled to vote for the first time in next year’s general election, 7 May 2015, more than 2 million of them will not be voting.

Andrew Weston, Fellowship of the United Reformed Youth Moderator Elect, said: “It is a great shame that so many young people lack belief in the political system, fearing that their voices will be ignored.”

The young Christians asked by the Churches said they would be more likely to vote if politicians engage directly with them. They also said that they are not given sufficient information with regards to policies and key issues, and that one way of overcoming this could also be through better political education in schools.

“It is vitally important that young people take the opportunity to have their say next May,” Andrew continued, adding: “I’m really looking forward to the upcoming JPIT conference ‘Love Your Neighbour: Think, Pray, Vote’… To have a space for young Christians to engage with key issues, including poverty, climate change and international affairs, in the context of their faith and the upcoming General Election is so valuable.”

Tickets are available for Under 25s to attend the ‘Love your neighbour: Think, Pray, Vote’ conference, and workshops will cover issues that the survey revealed matter most to the young people – including poverty and social justice.

Rachel Allison, who co-ordinated the survey and worked with JPIT to help the team improve how churches talk about social justice to young people, said: “There are important questions to be asked about how politicians can engage with a seemingly untapped generation who could have a massive impact on the result of the election and the future of society.”

Megan Thomas, Methodist Youth President, said: “There are many issues facing our country today that specifically impact on children and young people. We live in a country where housing is unaffordable, child poverty is on the increase and where there are constant financial challenges in education.”

“Young people are passionate about politics and care about the key issues in our country, but it is important that we have all the facts. When voting we want to know that our voice will be heard and that our vote can make a difference. If you want to find out ways in which you can speak to politicians and how your vote can make a difference, don’t miss the ‘Love Your Neighbour: Think, Pray, Vote’ conference.”

Source and Original Content by Ekklesia

Christians In Egypt Feel Safer Under New Regime

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Christians In Egypt Feel Safer Under New Regime

While problems still exist, Christians in Egypt feel “much safer” under the presidency of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, a former military officer who played a key role in the coup that ousted Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood in July 2013, a Catholic official said.

“The mood has improved considerably. The security situation is getting better. There is greater stability,” Father Rafik Greiche, press officer for the Egyptian bishops’ conference, told Aid to the Church in Need Oct. 21.

“Christians feel a lot safer. They are going to church without feeling threatened as they did under President Morsi … In all, a more peaceful atmosphere is being created.”

A 2011 revolution, part of the Arab Spring, had overthrown Hosni Mubarak, a military officer who had been Egypt’s president since 1981. The following year Morsi, of the Islamist movement the Muslim Brotherhood, became the first democratically elected Egyptian president.

“Under the Muslim Brotherhood Molotov cocktails were hurled at churches or graffiti was sprayed on the walls,” Fr. Greiche recounted.

On July 3, 2013, Egypt’s military ousted Morsi, and in August began a crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood. Violence then spread across the country, with Islamists killing hundreds of people from August to October. Churches were vandalized, burned, and looted, as were the homes and businesses of Christians.

In January, the interim government approved a new constitution, and then el-Sisi won elections in May, which were boycotted by the Muslim Brotherhood as well as other political groups.

Three journalists from Al Jazeera have been imprisoned in the country since December 2013, accused of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood and of spreading false news; the three have an appeals hearing scheduled for Jan. 1, 2015.

“The number of acts of aggression has fallen to a low level, a minimum,” Fr. Greiche explained. “Sometimes there are still inter-religious tensions in some villages. It still happens that jihadists abduct Christian girls. But the situation has nevertheless improved considerably. The problems that exist are only a fraction of those that Christians experienced under Morsi… Read More

Source and Original Content by CNA

Stage Production Company CEO Goes on the Road to Share Christian Faith

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Stage Production Company CEO Goes on the Road to Share Christian Faith

On one side of 34-year-old Anthony Dever’s stage production company are clients like Guns N’ Roses, Alice in Chains, and Dixie Chicks. On the other side of the company, named DPS Inc, are renowned Christian worship music teams such as Jesus Culture and Hillsong.

Dever, a devout Christian, has no problem explaining that his company serves two worlds.

“I call it a 50-50 split. We have our regular company, which is our base company, DPS Inc, and we also have our DPS House of Worship part,” Dever told The Christian Post on the eve of providing the staging for a Hillsong event this week in Los Angeles that includes filming for the worship music giant’s upcoming movie.

Photo: Christian Post
Photo: Christian Post

Although the marketing strategies are different for each “department,” Dever says, the company has grown over the last decade on both sides of the spiritual spectrum and is considered one of the leading stage production companies in Los Angeles.

To help give an inside look at the faith-based side of the company, Dever is producing a three-part documentary about their staging for the worship band Jesus Culture. The first episode of “On the Road with Jesus Culture” is already released on YouTube (SEE VIDEO BELOW). He plans to do more of the on-the-road style documentaries, which play remarkably well as a kind of backstage reality TV show. But Dever will tell you that the videos are more about the production process of the event with an appeal to industry professionals despite having a “reality” feel to it.

stage-production 1

Dever and DPS say the goal of the film was to capture real-time the preparation, production, media and talent it takes to create a live show worship experience for Jesus Culture’s “A Night of Ministry and Worship” at the Hollywood Palladium on March 9th, 2014.

“We really didn’t know what it was going to actually turn out to be,” said Dever, who attends Southern California-based Saddleback Church, led by Pastor Rick Warren. “Honestly, we just decided to shoot a behind-the-scenes type documentary and see which way the Lord wanted to take this… Read More

Source and Original Content by ” target=”_blank”>Christian Post

Gay Christian Raises Money to Pay $150,000 Fine For Bakers That Refused to Make Lesbian Wedding Cake

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Gay Christian Raises Money to Pay $150,000 Fine For Bakers That Refused to Make Lesbian Wedding Cake

A self-identified gay evangelical Christian is helping bakery owners Aaron and Melissa Klein raise money to pay $150,000 in fines after the couple refused to make a cake for a lesbian wedding.

The Kleins refused to bake a the wedding cake for the same-sex wedding in September 2013. This year, the Christian couple was charged with violating the civil rights of lesbian couple Rachel Cryer and Laurel Bowman with a penalty of $150,000 in fines reports The Christian Post.

Matt Stolhandske, who is on the board of Evangelicals for Marriage Equality said he felt compelled to help the couple, despite their different viewpoints on marriage.

Stolhandske said, “As a gay man, I should hate Melissa and Aaron Klein…But I don’t hate the Kleins.”

He continued, “The Kleins say the $150,000 fee will bankrupt her family. I’m raising money to help offset that cost. I’ll send whatever we raise along to the Klein family with a message of love and peace. I don’t want them to suffer.”

“But I am also pleading with them and other Christians to stop using the name of Jesus to explain to the LGBT community why we don’t deserve access to the civil rights afforded to heterosexuals through the legal institution of marriage.”

Stolhandske’s campaign has raised over $3,500 since it was launched.

Source and Original Content by Christian Headlines

Daughter’s Of Asia Bibi Speak On Violent Treatment By Accusers

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Daughter’s Of Asia Bibi Speak On Violent Treatment By Accusers

The two young daughters of Asia Bibi, the Pakistani Christian sentenced to death for blasphemy, have spoken about their own violent treatment at the hands of their mother’s accusers.

Esham was just 9 years old when she was warned by friends that her mother was being attacked in the field where she worked as a berry picker.

“I rushed to the spot and found that she was being abused and tortured by men. They had even torn her clothes,” Esham, now 14, told the MailOnline.

After running home and returning with a new dress for her mother, Esham says the men began torturing her, too. They used offensive slurs and dragged the two women into the village. “We were both crying but there was nobody to listen to us,” she recalls.

The police arrived and told Esham to find her father, but he was too “terrified” to come, and by the time she returned, her mother had already been arrested and taken away.

Also speaking to the Mail, Bibi’s husband, Ashiq Masih, said he is ashamed of his actions that day, but “I do not think it could have helped her or our family if I had tried to save her”.

“I might also have ended up in jail as a blasphemy-accused and there would be no one to help my daughters,” he said.

Masih has denounced the behaviour of his wife’s accusers, and says they even abused his now 15-year-old daughter Esha, who has special needs. “They became so cruel. They didn’t even spare my daughters and tortured them.”

The family is now too afraid to return to their home village for fear of retribution. “I have restricted my movement. I am afraid of being recognised as Asia’s husband in public,” Masih said.

“I have almost stopped communicating with Muslims. I am afraid they could recognise me. Just imagine how tough it will be for my wife to live in prison… Read More

Source and Original Content by Christian Today

Ex-Porn Star Recounts Experience With Jesus That Changed Her

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Ex-Porn Star Recounts Experience With Jesus That Changed Her

A former lesbian porn star in Great Britain shared her testimony in a recent interview with news site Barcroft TV.

Teresa Carey left the adult industry in 2009 after having sex with over 100 women on camera and appeared in major adult titles like Playboy. Both she and her husband, Scott, claim the dramatic change in their life came after they saw Jesus face-to-face in a “religious epiphany.”

“A vision came over us both,” Teresa explained. “I think the reason it happened to us both together, is so that years down the line I can think back and realize, ‘Ok, I’m not crazy because it happened to my husband as well.'”

Scott, who married Teresa in 2012, said the vision only lasted three or four minutes but was life-changing.

“When we came back we were absolutely overcome… overcome with emotion,” he told Barcroft TV’s cameras. “We looked at each other and the tears were just streaming down our face, but we couldn’t say anything.”

“It shook us to the core,” Teresa added.

As a young woman, Teresa had slowly drifted into starring in pornographic films—starting as a portrait model, then a nude model—but it was not difficult for her to leave the industry cold turkey. The 36-year-old said she was increasingly uncomfortable with her line of work.

“It was more to do with me inside,” she shared. “It was a slow process of me, feeling it inside my own heart of, ‘What am I doing?'”

When she dedicated her life to Christ, however, Carey said she felt no judgment from the Lord.

“I didn’t get any sense of condemnation from [Jesus], that all came from myself and from other people,” she said. “I now realise that being a porn star was not what God wanted me to be doing, but He didn’t condemn me for it.

“It’s was more ‘When you’re ready, you can come with Me.’

“It was really a testament to my faith that I thought ‘I’m going to have to cut this out and I have faith that God is going to lead me into something better.'”

Carey is now expecting a child and travels to colleges and churches as part of her “Porn Again Christian” ministry.

“People are really positive, talking to me afterwards,” she said of her speaking engagements. “That’s what I’m always telling people – if Jesus could come to me, a woman who was working in the porn industry, which most people around me would think was a pretty low thing to be doing, then he can come to anybody.

“If he didn’t condemn me for what I was doing, then he’s not going to condemn you.”

Source and Original Content By Christian Today

Low Cost Airline Launches Transatlantic Flights From London To The US For £99

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Low Cost Airline Launches Transatlantic Flights From London To The US For £99

WOW Air has today announced the launch of one-way flights from London to the USA for less than £100, making transatlantic travel that more affordable.
Thrifty travellers can fly to either Boston or Washington D.C. from as little as £99 beginning in April 2015.
The flights, aboard Airbus A321s and Airbus 320s for those plane spotters out there, will take off from London Gatwick and stop in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik before passengers continue across the pond.

Skúli Mogensen, CEO of WOW air, has thrown down the gauntlet to his aviation competition with these new cheap fares.
Speaking about today’s announcement, he said: “This is just the beginning of our plans to transform low-cost transatlantic flights.

“Not only are we providing flights to the USA for less than a standard London to Edinburgh train ticket, we’re opening the market to a whole new market of travellers who might previously not have been able to afford transatlantic travel.
The low-cost airline market is scrambling to offer cheap flights to North America and I’m happy that we’ll be amongst the first to do so and at a price point that will no doubt cause our rivals to re-evaluate their plans.”

The news comes just months after the launch of Norwegian Air’s budget transatlantic flights from London to New York, Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale in July 2014, which heralded a new age in low-cost travel.

For many seasoned travellers there is a big difference between hopping on a cramped low-cost flight for two hours to Barcelona for the weekend and an eight and a half hour long haul without so much as a free Bloody Mary.

At the moment, WOW Air charges passengers £22 to check a bag and like other low-cost airlines you have to pay for any food and drink you wish to enjoy, which might cause a few rumbling tummies while crossing the Atlantic.
But a good deal is a good deal and the consensus from the initial Norwegian Air passengers has overwhelmingly been: if the price is right, why not?

The first £99 WOW Air flights go on sale today – will you be taking your chances? Let us know on Twitter.

S0urce and Original Content Yahoo News

Despite Fighting Church Persists With Libya Mission

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Despite Fighting Church Persists With Libya Mission

Catholic clergy in eastern Libya vowed to continue ministering to local Church members despite an upsurge in fighting around the provincial capital of Benghazi.

Bishop Sylvester Magro, leader of the city’s Catholic community, told Catholic News Service: “Although things are quieter this week, the fighting hasn’t stopped. But most Catholics are relatively safe in their local workplaces.

“Like other local citizens, we’re not receiving help or protection from the authorities and the situation is too unclear to permit any normal life. But we’re continuing our prayers and Masses even though attendance has fallen and many people are now afraid to come to Church,” he said as militia commanded by a retired general attacked Islamist positions around the city.

Bishop Magro said Benghazi’s shops and markets remained well stocked with food and clothing, while there had been “no open hostilities” toward local Catholics.

However, a priest in al-Bayda said Catholic fears had been heightened by recent incidents, including a break-in at a Catholic chapel in Tobruk. “There’s been no frontal hostility or open bad will toward us, but some groups appear to want to intimidate us by stirring inter-religious resentments,” Franciscan Father Piotr Borkowski said.

The Polish priest said that it is difficult to determine what ordinary Muslims “really think and feel about” Catholics. “But most people just want to live peacefully and safely here, and there are still hopes the situation will calm down. We ourselves have always been careful never to provoke anyone by giving the impression we’re here to spread Christianity,” he told… Read More

Source and Original Content by Catholic Herald

Displaced Refugees, Central Theme at Middle East Consistory

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Displaced Refugees, Central Theme at Middle East Consistory

At Monday’s consistory on the Middle East, patriarchs gathered to discuss the threats facing local Christians, and focused on the key task of returning displaced families to their homes.

“We are suffering … we feel that we are isolated and that we are forgotten,” Louis Raphael I Sako, Chaldean Patriarch of Babylon, told CNA after the Oct. 20 consistory.

“I asked the Pope to send a message to Christians, to encourage them to stay home, to keep their hope, and maybe also to visit displaced families to encourage them to stay and not to leave their homes, and to have patience to persevere.”

The Syrian civil war has forced 3 million Syrians, of all religions, to become refugees, with an additional 6.5 million internally displaced. And in Iraq, since the rise of the Islamic State, there are more than 1.8 million internally displaced persons.

Cardinals and patriarchs from the Middle East, together with top officials of the Secretariat of State and interested dicasteries attended the consistory with Pope Francis at the Vatican… Read More

Source and Original Content by CNA

GodFather of British Rock Who Found God Dies At 72

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GodFather of British Rock Who Found God Dies At 72

Former glam rock star and committed Christian Alvin Stardust has died aged 72 after falling ill with prostate cancer.

Born Bernard Jewry in London’s East End in 1942, his hits included My Coo Ca Choo and Jealous Mind.

His trademark scowl led to Rolling Stone Keith Richards once described him as “the Godfather of British Rock ‘n’ Roll”. Top 10 hits in the 1980s included Pretend, I Won’t Run Away and and I Feel Like Buddy Holly – the latter named after one of his biggest influences, whom he once met at a gig in Doncaster.

His Christian conversion came in the late 1980s while he was married to actress Lisa Goddard, who said that it happened on a 40-minute train journey: “He was converted by a group of people in his carriage. At Waterloo, the cleaner found them on their knees praying. Alvin came home and said ‘I’ve found God’.” She said that tensions arising from his faith contributed to the marriage’s end.

He was interviewed about his faith by Aled Jones in July 2010 for the BBC Good Morning Sunday programme.

Stardust was the unsuspecting subject of a This Is Your Life ambush by Eamon Andrews in 1985. In the same year he co-hosted The Rock Gospel Show with Sheila Walsh, singing A Wonderful Time Up There.

As well as his singing career, he made acting appearances in Hollyoaks, The Grimleys and Doctors. He also appeared on stage in musicals includng Godspell, The Phantom of the Opera and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, in which he played the fearsome Child Catcher.

His manager Andy Davies paid tribute to the singer, saying: “Alvin and I had only started working together over the last couple of years because he and I believed that musically he still had a great deal to give and explore, and so we recorded an album that is a testament to an artist who gave his career to music.

“I may not have known him long but even in that short time he proved to be one of the most genuine and likeable men I’ve ever met. His passing is a huge and sad loss.”

The new album, Alvin, will be released at the beginning of November and is described as “a collection reflecting a maturing performer, at home with the nuances of that remarkable voice”.

He was married three times, first to Iris Caldwell, with whom he had two sons, Shaun and Adam, second to Lisa Goddard, with whom he had a daughter named Sophie and third to Julie Paton, with whom he had a daughter, Millie. He died at home surrounded by his family.

Source and Original Content by Christian Today

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