Christian Post Report – 1

(Photo: Twitter/Fellowship Church)

Pastor Ed Young Jr. of Fellowship Church hosts Good Friday services at Klyde Warren Park in Dallas, Texas, March 25, 20Christian Post Report – 16.

(Photo: Twitter/Fellowship Church)

Pastor Ed Young Jr. of Fellowship Church hosts Good Friday services at Klyde Warren Park in Dallas, Texas, March 25, 20Christian Post Report – 16.

(Photo: Twitter/Fellowship Church)

(Photo: Courtesy of NewSpring Church)Perry Noble is the founding and senior pastor of NewSpring Church in Anderson, S.C.

Christian Post Report – Pastor Perry Noble of NewSpring Church in South Carolina says he would choose to play AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” before his Easter service again, like he did in 2009 in a controversial move, except this time he would make it better.

Noble, who oversees a weekly attendance of 32,000, wrote on his blog this week that his decision to play the popular AC/DC song seven years ago garnered criticism from some of his congregants, but he felt that the ultimate effect of the song was positive.

If he were to do it again, Noble says he would choose to do a “mash-up” of AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” and another hit, “Hells Bells.”

Noble clarifies that despite the criticism he received from some regarding his unorthodox opening to Easter services, he felt the approach ultimately turned people to Christ.

“Yes, I’m serious!” Noble says of his desire to play two hell-related songs at Easter.

“We literally had a guy tell us that he decided to give his life to Christ in the service as ‘Highway to Hell’ was being played – that he felt the Lord speak to him and say, ‘That’s the road you are on, and you need to give your life to Me!'” Noble exclaimed.

“Just think how much better it could have been!!” the megachurch pastor added, reiterating his church’s goal to bring more people to Christ every Sunday.

“We are committed to doing whatever it takes to bring people far from God into a relationship with Jesus, and I believe we are going to see over 500 people pray to receive Christ this weekend!!” the megachurch pastor said.

Noble adds in his blog post that he was astounded in 2009 when his decision to play the song received criticism.

“Honestly, I did not know it was going to create the controversy that it did. Our intention in using the song was to create a moment for unchurched people to let their guard down,” Noble wrote.

The pastor posted a blog entry shortly after his “Highway to Hell” service on April 12, 2009, saying his “mind [was] still spinning” from the weekend’s events.

“I honestly feel that this weekends services were the most amazing services we’ve ever had since NewSpring Church was started in the fall of 1999,” Noble wrote, saying that in one weekend, his congregation saw between 325 and 350 people give their lives to Christ.

“I am seriously tired of the church screwing around with the Gospel and pretending that hell isn’t real!” the megachurch pastor continued, adding that he saw that year’s Easter worship service as a “move of God.”

“I’ve honestly never been a part of something like what happened today […] and it’s only the beginning,” Noble continued. “THAT is one of the problems with church today […] we’ve became [sic] ‘normal’ when the call of Christ on our lives is to change the world — ‘normal’ people can’t do that!”

In the 2009 post, Noble also spoke to all of those who disapproved of his preaching style, saying “weekends like this make it all worth it. All of the criticism […] all of the ‘go to hell’ looks my family and I get when we are out and about […] all of the emails and bloggers that don’t like what we do […] it’s ALL worth it!!!”

The popular pastor added that despite the criticism, he feels his “Highway to Hell” service achieved its mission.

“Hell is going to be less crowded! People crossed over from death to life. The way a community is changed is by the church preaching AND living the Gospel […] and I believe we are going to continue to see Jesus do the unexplainable and undeniable […] and we, His church, will continue to become unstoppable!” Noble wrote.

(Photo: Reuters/Suzanne Plunkett)
Christian Post Report – Pedestrians pass by a lending shop in northeast London October 3, 2013.

An Alabama church says it will be paying over $41,000 in debt for 48 families and individuals, including both members and non-members of its congregation.

The Worship Center Christian Church, located in Birmingham, Alabama, has a program that seeks to help those in debt due to payday loans, a type of short-term loan that can carry high interest rates and other associated fees.

The generous initiative was spearheaded by Pastor Vanable H. Moody, who told The Christian Post that the purpose of the initiative is to be the “hands and feet of Jesus” for those in need.

“We felt led to eradicate that debt because we want to give people a fresh start and help them get out of that hole,” the pastor told CP, adding that his church has often been dedicated to charitable causes, including visits to local prisons, feeding the homeless, and coat giveaway events.

“We just had a desire – and this is really what our church is about – we want to demonstrate the love of Christ in very tangible ways. We always look for opportunities [to do this],” Moody said.

The initiative started in February, when the pastor began teaching a series on financial management.

Moody says that statistics show a lot of people have resolutions and goals related to better financial management, including the ability to save more, spend money wiser, or have a smarter financial plan in general.

“We had a teaching series around [finances] and one of the messages was living debt fee. In that message I began dealing with the pain that debt really causes for people who are under the burden of debt,” Moody told CP, noting that “[debt] hinders your quality of life in a variety of ways.”

“I also began to explain to people how often debt becomes a trap, particularly when you get into predatory lenders,” Moody added.

The pastor told CP that he was especially moved when the members of his church were able to donate the $41,000 needed for the families struggling with debt, saying “our church just overwhelmingly responded.”

Those receiving the debt help will be required to take financial counseling, the church said in a press release.

Alabama’s House Financial Services Committee recently approved a bill that would lower the charge amount required of payday loan customers.

According to Al.com, customers in the state could previously be required to pay fees of $17.50 per $100 borrowed, with the deadline for paying back the loan being two weeks.

The new bill puts a cap of $15 per $100 borrowed and extends the deadline to pay the money back to 30 days, Al.com adds.

Stephen Stetson, an analyst for Alabama Arise, an advocacy group for low-income residents, told the media outlet that the new legislation is a much-needed regulation of certain loan types in the state.

“It’s needed reform. It’s not what we want, but this is the best shot at reform of payday lending in the House,” Stetson said.

Moody added to CP that he believes there “absolutely” needs to be more regulation for payday loan companies.

Christian Post Report – Christians should be encouraged to “come as [they] are” this Easter season, Pastor Rick Warren wrote in a devotional post this week.

Warren, who oversees Saddleback Church in Southern California, wrote on Tuesday that some Christians may have the misconception that they need to “clean up [their] act” before they can present themselves to Jesus.

The megachurch pastor says that while Christians may think they need to do this, in fact the opposite is true.
“The truth is, God doesn’t expect us to clean up our act before we approach him. The death and Resurrection of Jesus is God’s statement on that. Jesus spread out his arms and said, ‘I love you this much. Now, just come as you are,'” Warren says, adding that, as Psalm 57:3 notes, God’s death on the cross proved his unconditional love for us.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/pastor-rick-warren-come-as-you-are-this-easter-weekend-159892/#chJFT2YPQQ4Zl25h.99

Christian Post Report – 1

(Photo: Reuters/Christian Hartmann)

A cross is seen in front of the old stock exchange building at a street memorial to victims of Tuesday’s bombings in Brussels, Belgium, March 24, 20Christian Post Report – 16.

(Photo: Reuters/Christian Hartmann)

People observe a minute of silence at a street memorial to victims of Tuesdays’s bombings in Brussels, Belgium, March 24, 20Christian Post Report – 16.

Christian Post Report – In order to address the growing momentum of this harmful, gender-bending, pseudo-scientific quackery, a number of America’s leading medical experts on the subject have finally weighed in. “The American College of Pediatricians urges educators and legislators to reject all policies that condition children to accept as normal a life of chemical and surgical impersonation of the opposite sex. Facts — not ideology — determine reality,” they warn.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/gender-identity-pushing-transgender-conditioning-on-confused-children-is-child-abuse-159657/#xkFWJZ00wPHkJwhd.99

(Photo: Reuters/Steve Marcus)
Christian Post Report – Singer Seal performs during the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada, December 20, 2015.

British singer/songwriter Seal may have made his acting debut this past week in FOX’s musical about Christ’s last days on Earth, “The Passion: Live,” but the Grammy Award-winning vocalist says he really isn’t all that religious.

In a recent interview with NPR, Seal said he went to a “Church of England School” as a child and described his upbringing as being in a typical English family where his parents “kind of” instilled religious values.

“But they weren’t overtly religious and I didn’t grow up staunch Catholic or anything like that,” he told NPR. Seal believes in God and said he doesn’t subscribe to the conventional images often portrayed by pop culture. “I don’t necessarily think he’s a grey-haired man with a beard, but I think of God as more of an energy, a divine energy.”

“The Passion: Live,” FOX’s latest live musical, became Seal’s acting debut event.

In the musical, which put a contemporary spin on the centuries-old story of Christ’s last days on Earth, Seal portrayed Pontius Pilate, a prefect of the ancient Roman province of Judaea who ultimately became synonymous with the trial and crucifixion of Jesus.

In a mix of live stage performances and pre-recorded scenes, the musical depicted Jesus’ trial, The Last Supper, Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection as crowds followed an illuminated 20-foot cross that advanced through the streets of New Orleans’ French Quarter throughout the broadcast, arriving to the stage at the appointed time.

In his first acting role, the Brit rendered a touching live performances of Tina Turner’s “We Don’t Need Another Hero,” in his signature tenor voice, and “Mad World” by Tears for Fears. The music is what attracted Seal to the role.

“It was the songs that actually drew me to take on the part, because I love that song ‘Mad World,'” he said. “And so they kind of lulled me into a false sense of security by saying, ‘Oh, you’ll sing this song. By the way, there’s a little bit of acting involved, too.'”

The musical’s host and narrator, Tyler Perry, appreciated the show’s modern twist. “What I love about this show is that the death and resurrection is being told in modern day times so a lot of people can understand it, and understand that this really happened,” Perry told The Christian Post just days ahead of the live broadcast.

Follow me on Twitter: @kevindonporter

Christian Post Report – 1

(Photo: Reuters/Christian Hartmann)

Belgian flags seen at a street memorial service near the old stock exchange in Brussels following Tuesday’s bomb attacks in Brussels, Belgium, March 23, 20Christian Post Report – 16.

(Photo: Reuters/Vincent Kessler)

A man reacts at a street memorial following Tuesday’s bomb attacks in Brussels, Belgium, March 23, 20Christian Post Report – 16.

(Photo: Reuters/Vincent Kessler)

(Photo: Javier Torres Studios)
Christian Post Report – Rich Wilkerson Jr., leader of Miami-based The Vous ministry, preaches during The Heart Revolution Conference in San Diego, Calif.

Pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr. explains why he chose mainstream rapper Kanye West to design the cover of his overtly Christian book, in a recent interview with Rapzilla.com.

(Photo: Instagram/richwilkersonjr)Florida pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr. married Kim Kardashian and Kanye West on May 24, 2014.

Wilkerson’s first book, Sandcastle Kings: Meeting Jesus In a Spiritually Bankrupt World, hit shelves on Nov. 10, 2015. In his book, the young pastor explains why all the material success in the world will not make someone happy or fill the void in one’s heart.

Known around the world as the pastor who conducted the wedding ceremony for Kanye West and his wife, Kim Kardashian, Wilkerson took his celebrity friendship a bit further by asking the “Jesus Walks” emcee to illustrate his cover.

“I think the content of the book is what I believe to be life changing – the greatest message in the world, which is the gospel. it’s not my message, it’s Christ’s message and we’re just carriers of it but because the content is so rich, I wanted to make sure the cover had some sort of pull in. I wanted it to be great,” Wilkerson said to Rapzilla.

“The church throughout history has always called upon some of the world’s greatest artists in their time period whether they were believers, non-believers, whether they agree with their message or not,” he continued. “And I just feel like for 2016, Kanye West, whether you like him, love him, hate him, it wasn’t about endorsing his lifestyle, he’s a very influential artist.”

West has publicly stated that he trusts Wilkerson to advise him. The controversial rapper said that Wilkerson encouraged him to use a mock Jesus during his Yeezus Tour.

“He (Kanye West) happens to be someone who does love Jesus and I just said, ‘Man would you design the cover of the book?'” the minister told Rapzilla.

Wilkerson explained that he used the cover with West’s design to appeal to people that would never consider reading a book about Jesus. The Tacoma, Washington native revealed that many people have in fact picked up the book because of the book’s cover.

Wilkerson reportedly first met West after the rapper attended one of his church services in 2012. According to People, the Vous Church in downtown Miami became a safe haven for Kim and Kanye.

In addition to the new book, Wilkerson and his wife, DawnCheré, are currently the stars of Oxygen Network’s reality show, “Rich in Faith.” The show is produced by E’s Giuliana Rancic and Jason Kennedy.

Wilkerson has a diverse congregation in Miami through his young adult ministry, The Rendezvous (nicknamed “the Vous church”). With over 4,000 attendees, the pastor tackles tough issues, giving clear advice on everything from racism to drugs and sex, and doesn’t shy away from preaching about sin and repentance.

For more information about Wilkerson visit www.thevous.com

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(Photo: Reuters/Bazuki Muhammad)
Christian Post Report – Christians attend Sunday Mass to celebrate Malaysia Day at a church in Tambunan, Malaysia, September 16, 2012.

A court in Malaysia issued a landmark ruling Wednesday allowing a Muslim man who was converted to Islam by his parents at the age of 10, to officially renounce Islam and legally embrace Christianity, according to a local news outlet.

The Borneo Post Online, the largest English news site in Borneo, reports that Justice Yew Jen Kie of the Kuching High Court has allowed 41-year-old Rooney Rebit, formerly known as Azmi Mohamad Azam Shah, to be identified as a Christian.

In making his decision, Yew cited Article 11 of the Malaysian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion.

“It is within his constitutional rights to exercise freedom of religion,” the judge said in the ruling.

The ruling comes after Rebit applied for a judicial review to allow him to obtain legal recognition that he is a Christian, not a Muslim.

Yew issued multiple injunctions in the matter.

(Photo: Reuters/Bazuki Muhammad)A Bible in Malay language, “Bible, Good News”, is pictured at a church in Kuala Lumpur, March 30, 2011. Rising Christian anger in mainly Muslim Malaysia over the government’s handling of a case involving seized Bibles could complicate Prime Minister Najib Razak’s bid to win back the support of minorities ahead of an early general election.

The judge ordered the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department and the Sarawak Islamic Council to issue a letter signifying Rebit’s release from Islam.

Additionally, she ordered the state government to ensure that Rebit’s identification card and government records at the nation’s registry show that he is a Christian and for his name to be legally changed to Rooney Anak Rebit.

Rebit, who is a part of the Bidayuh ethnicity, was forced to convert to Islam as a child after his parents converted from Christianity.

Since it was never Rebit’s choice to embrace Islam, Yew stated that Rebit can’t be considered a person who officially professed Islam. Additionally, the judge pointed out that Rebit was baptised as a Christian in 1999, when he was able to make a mature decision about his faith.

Before submitting an application to the court, the state government refused to change his religious preference on his identification and government records without an order obtained from an Islamic court, even though the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department and the Sarawak Islamic Council agreed to issue a letter of no objection to his conversion.

Although Rebit was granted his request to be recognized as a Christian, Lina Joy was not as fortunate in 2007 when her appeal to a Malaysian federal court to have her official religion changed on her identification card was struck down.

As apostasy laws in Malaysia are handled by state governments, each state has the freedom to apply the law as they see fit when residents renounce the Muslim faith.

Last May, the State Assembly of Kelantan considered a bill that would have allowed the death penalty to be given to anyone who is accused of abandoning Islam.

The legislation states that anyone who was accused of abandoning Islam would be spared execution of he or she repents and re-embraces Islam.

Follow Samuel Smith on Twitter: @IamSamSmith

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Through the Eyes of a Lion: Facing Impossible Pain, Finding Incredible Power
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Sandcastle Kings: Meeting Jesus in a Spiritually Bankrupt World $8.30

Live Love Lead: Your Best Is Yet to Come! $8.59

It’s Not What You Think: Why Christianity Is About So Much More Than Going to Heaven When You Die $7.85

Through the Eyes of a Lion: Facing Impossible Pain, Finding Incredible Power $7.92

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Sandcastle Kings: Meeting Jesus in a Spiritually Bankrupt World
$8.30

Live Love Lead: Your Best Is Yet to Come!
$8.59

It’s Not What You Think: Why Christianity Is About So Much More Than Going to Heaven When You Die
$7.85

Through the Eyes of a Lion: Facing Impossible Pain, Finding Incredible Power
$7.92