Did Nike Reject Stephen Curry for Wanting Bible Verse on Sneaker?

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Did Nike Reject Stephen Curry for Wanting Bible Verse on Sneaker?

Stephen Curry REUTERS/Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Christian Post Report – Stephen Curry during the first half of the Warriors’ regular season game against the Wolves.

Over the past couple weeks, a rumor has been circulating on social media that NBA star and devout Christian Stephen Curry was rejected by Nike for wanting a Bible verse on a sneaker.

Assorted sites have claimed that the Golden State Warriors point guard was rejected by Nike because he wanted to have Philippians 4:13 written on his sneakers.

“Nike wasn’t happy that Curry used a sharpie to write a Bible verse on his shoes. So, he broke that contract and went with a company that was open to his faith,” claims the site Conservative Angle.

“Curry created quite the stir when he broke his deal with Nike to partner with UA, but it was for an excellent cause. He wanted to incorporate his faith into his footwear so he could promote a powerful message instead of just another empty product,” asserted the site faithit.

NikeREUTERS/LUCY NICHOLSONNike shoes are displayed at a Niketown store in Beverly Hills, California, March 16, 2010.

Michael Brown, radio personality, author, and contributor to The Christian Post, commented on the claim in a recent column.

“Curry is an openly committed Christian and the best player in basketball this year, and he before he had a sneaker contract with Under Armour, Nike passed up on him twice,” wrote Brown.

“I have read articles speculating on why Nike chose not to sign him, but we do know that before he signed with Under Armour, he made clear that he wanted to put Phil 4:13 on the tongue of the sneaker with the underside reading, ‘I can do all things.'”

Brown expressed caution, however, noting that sites “have claimed that this was another factor in Nike’s decision not to match Under Armour’s offer, but I have not been able to verify that.”

“If you can find any verifiable information about this, please post it in the comments section,” Brown added, saying he would not be surprised if it were true.

However, the online fact-checking site Snopes noted that there was a strong absence of evidence regarding the claim that Curry and Nike did not make a deal because of religious expression.

“Neither Curry nor Nike said that the deal fell through because of his religious beliefs, nor did Curry claim that Nike would not let him put Bible verses on his shoes,” noted Snopes.

“We could find no articles that stated religion was a motivating factor for Curry’s deal with either Nike or Under Armour, and these rumors appear to have sprung wholly from one person’s Facebook page.”

The page in question, according to Snopes, was that of Ronnie Magtibay who posted the claim to Facebook on Feb. 18 and had his statements shared more than 170,000 times.

Brian Betschart of the online fashion magazine Sneakerfiles.com also denounced the claim that Nike rejected Curry over his desire to put a Bible verse on a sneaker.

“His contract with the Swoosh was set to expire and according to reports, was offered less than $2.5 million a year from Nike. Under Armour, mainly known throughout the Football world offered Curry less than $4 Million a year (actual amount is unknown). Curry gave Nike a second chance to match Under Amour’s offer, who declined,” wrote Betschart.

“At this time, Curry wasn’t the player he is today and Nike was unsure he would be able to sell shoes. Under Armour took a chance and won.”

Source : Christian Post

‘The Voice’ Winner Jordan Smith Brings ‘Great Is Thy Faithfulness’ to NRB

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‘The Voice’ Winner Jordan Smith Brings ‘Great Is Thy Faithfulness’ to NRB

Jordan Smith (Photo: Screengrab/YouTube/The Voice)

Christian Post Report – Jordan Smith, season 9 winner of “The Voice,” sings “Mary, Did You Know?”

The recent winner of NBC’s hit show “The Voice,” Jordan Smith, stunned the crowd at the National Religious Broadcasters’ annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee, with his powerful rendition of “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”

Smith was introduced by actress and producer Roma Downey, who was there representing her company Lightworkers Media. Smith performed the beloved hymn during the event’s opening session on Tuesday night and referred to the song as being “very dear” to his heart.

NRB Christian media convention is a multi-day event that is meant to connect, equip, and edify thousands of Christian communicators – from broadcasters to producers, writers to publishers, managers to pastors, artists to consultants.

The 22-year-old singer fit right in as he has publicly stated his mission is to be a positive impact with his music. “I want to keep doing music that inspires people; that’s such a part of what I did on the show, and I’m all about music that provokes emotions,” he told Yahoo! Music in a past interview. “I want to make music that people connect with. I think there are songs out there that when you hear them, they bring you back to a certain place. I want to make music like that. I think I’ve learned on the show just how powerful music can be when it comes from your heart and means something to you.”

The Kentucky resident recently made “Voice” history by landing 4 songs in the Top 10 with his first full-length album, Jordan Smith: The Complete Season 9 Collection. He became the first artist to replace himself at No. 1 on the Billboard chart.

Smith has credited his musical accomplishments to the training he received while a student at Lee University. In addition to the Lee Singers, Smith was director of Second Edition, a six-voice ensemble with a band, and he was also an active member of the worship team that led campus chapel services.

The young singer first performed his powerful rendition of “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” on episode 19 of Season 9 of “The Voice.” Just as in the historic television performance, Smith performed at NRB, sitting in front of the piano hitting the keys and singing the resounding words of the chorus.

“Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; all I have needed thy hand hath provided; great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!” Smith emotionally sung out.

“Great Is Thy Faithfulness” is a hymn from the early 20th century written by Thomas O. Chisholm with music by William M. Runyan. In modern times, it was popularized by trio vocal group Selah until Smith’s version skyrocketed it to the top of the charts.

The song reclaimed a position on the music charts, topping the iTunes chart, beating out Adele’s “Hello,” Justin Bieber’s “Sorry,” and Drake’s “Hotline Bling” as soon as he showcased it on “The Voice.” Since that moment, Christian music lovers everywhere have supported him.

Listen to his NRB performance of the song below.

Source : Christian Post

NFL Player Torrey Smith Calls on Prayer Warriors for Wife in Midst of Pregnancy Complications

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NFL Player Torrey Smith Calls on Prayer Warriors for Wife in Midst of Pregnancy Complications

<b>Christian Post Report</b> – 49ers Wide Receiver Torrey Smith with his wife, Chanel.” title=”<b>Christian Post Report</b> – 49ers Wide Receiver Torrey Smith with his wife, Chanel.” name=”png” src=”http://images.christianpost.com/full/94512/49ers-wide-receiver-torrey-smith-with-his-wife-chanel.png” class=”imgPhoto” width=”550″ height=”450″ /> <small class=(Photo: Instagram/Torrey Smith)

Christian Post Report – 49ers Wide Receiver Torrey Smith with his wife, Chanel.

Christian NFL player Torrey Smith opens up about his wife’s pregnancy complications in a blog post titled Prayers Up that he wrote on Monday.

Smith, a wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers, detailed his family’s health scare, explaining that the recent experience and the strength of his wife encouraged him to share his news with the public.

The professional athlete shares that following routine testing for his wife’s second pregnancy, doctors discovered that she had a 1 in 25 chance of giving birth to a child with Trisomy 18, a genetic abnormality caused by an extra 18th chromosome.

As Smith explains on his blog, the condition can result in developmental delays and death for the infant, as well as endangering the health of the mother.

After receiving a phone call from his wife’s doctor, Smith says that he and his family were faced with an extremely difficult decision: to carry a child with Trisomy 18 and risk the infant’s death before or during birth.

“It was easily the hardest conversation I’ve ever been a part of. What do you do? Do you go forward knowing the outcome will be a miscarriage or death shortly after birth all while putting your life in danger? Or do you terminate the pregnancy?” Smith asks. “Anyone who knows me knows how I feel about abortions. I think that it should only happen in extreme situations … not because a couple was negligent in practicing safe sex.”

Although the circumstance is proving to be a very trying time for Smith and his wife, Chanel, the professional athlete explains that it also shows him the strength and courage of his “queen.”

“My wife is fearless waiting for the final test results. I never knew my admiration for her could grow any more than it did the day she gave birth to Torrey. My queen is the ____! She has been working hard trying to manage our charity basketball game, foundation, teaching little Torrey and working on her master’s degree. She is special!” Smith exclaims, referencing the couple’s first child, Torrey.

Ultimately, the couple received happy news, learning after subsequent testing that their baby did not in fact have Trisomy 18.

Smith clarifies that he and his family are not out of the woods yet, as there could still be another, unidentified issue with the pregnancy given the abnormal testing results.

“Truth be told, we have no clue what’s going on with our child. It could be absolutely nothing. I do know that we are ready for whatever may come and my wife is leading the way. The prayer warriors have been working for us and we appreciate it,” Smith adds.

“God wouldn’t put us in a situation that we couldn’t handle. We have been drawing strength from him and those around us. Now we are praying that our little fighter continues to grow and we can meet him. I’m praying for life, not for his health. A disability doesn’t make you unhealthy; it just means you may have different challenges. We all have challenges, and we are ready for ours that will soon come. Prayers Up for Kameron!”

Source : Christian Post

Archaeology Discovery: 93-Mile Wall in Jordan Dates Back to Pre-Roman Times

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Archaeology Discovery: 93-Mile Wall in Jordan Dates Back to Pre-Roman Times

Pope John Paul II (Photo: Reuters/Pool/Arturo Mari)

Christian Post Report – Pope John Paul II stands on top of Mount Nebo, Jordan, March 20, 2000, where tradition says Moses first glimpsed the Promised Land.

Archaeologists in Jordan have announced that a mysterious 230 km (93 mile) wall discovered in Jordan likely dates back to the pre-Roman era.

The wall, named Khatt Shebib by locals, was originally discovered by plane in 1948, but archaeologists are just now beginning to study its construction and intricate details.

Recent photos taken by the Aerial Photographic Archive for Archaeology in the Middle East have revealed that the large wall actually consists of individual walls branching off into their own routes.

Other parts of the wall have double structures running parallel to each other, implying that they served an extra protection purpose.

David Kennedy, a researcher from the University of Western Australia who is overseeing the wall’s excavation, told Haaretz that aerial photography has played an important role in learning more about the ancient structure and dating it to pre-Roman times.

“Mapping it on the ground would be a huge exercise in view of its length, and in places it has been destroyed, so old aerial photographs are especially useful,” Kennedy told the media outlet.

As Haaretz reports, there have been numerous theories as to why the wall was built in the first place. Initially, researchers suggested that the structure was made as a defense fortress, but more recent studies have debunked this theory, arguing that the rugged terrain surrounding the wall would not make it an optimal area to protect in the first place.

Kennedy told Haaretz that he believes the wall was used as a border of some sort, possibly for farming or herding.

“I think the best explanation is that it was a demarcation of some kind, between a region of farming and that of herding,” Kennedy said, adding that the wall could have even served as a marker for where farming was possible in the otherwise barren landscape.

Aerial imaging of the wall also proves beneficial, as much of the structure is in disrepair, Kennedy wrote in an archaeology journal earlier in February along with Rebecca Banks, a research assistant at Oxford University.

“If we add the spurs and stretches of parallel wall, the total [wall length] may be about 150 km (93 miles),” Kennedy wrote in the Zeitschrift für Orient-Archäologie journal, as reported by LiveScience, adding that “even in [the wall’s] original state, it cannot have been much more than a meter (3.3 feet) high and perhaps half a meter (1.6 feet) wide.”

Kennedy added to LiveScience that along with serving as a demarcation, the wall likely served as a place of shelter for traveling hunters.

“Some [parts of the wall] may have been places of refuge — a secure place to overnight. Others may have been [used] as watch posts. Some, perhaps, [were] places in which hunters could hide until browsing fauna was close enough to try and bring down,” the archaeologist said.

According to The Examiner, Kennedy has studied another mysterious structure in Jordan, known as the “Big Circles” that measure 1,000 feet across.

The structures, which are man-made, were discovered in the 1920’s but have since been studied by Kennedy and his team. Their purpose and the date of their build remain undetermined.

Source : Christian Post

‘Allah Ordered Me’ to Behead 4-Year-Old Girl, Muslim Nanny Says

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‘Allah Ordered Me’ to Behead 4-Year-Old Girl, Muslim Nanny Says

Gulchekhra Bobokulova (Photo: Reuters)

Christian Post Report – Gulchekhra Bobokulova, a nanny form Uzbekistan, is accused of beheading a child in Moscow on February 29, 2016.

A Muslim nanny from Uzbekistan who earlier this week beheaded a 4-year-old girl in Moscow has said that “Allah ordered” her to commit the murder.

BBC News reported that 38-year-old mother of three Gulchekhra Bobokulova admitted her guilt before reporters on the way to a Moscow court, though she is also being evaluated for mental problems.

Bobokulova is suspected of waiting until the parents of the little girl left their flat in the Russian capital before she killed and then beheaded the young child. Video footage later depicted the nanny walking around a metro station with the severed head in her hands, before she was arrested by police.

Footage also showed the woman shouting phrases like “Allahu Akbar” (God is great) and “I am a terrorist.” She later told reporters she was “ordered by Allah” to carry out the crime.

Other things she was apparently heard saying included “I hate democracy. I’m a terrorist. I’m your suicide bomber. … I’m going to die in a second” and “The end of the world is coming in a second. … I’m your death,” teleSUR reported.

Police have said that the woman also threatened to blow herself up after they asked her for identity documents.

Russian investigators are searching to see if anyone else was involved in the crime, but so far they are not treating it as a terrorism case.

Prosecutors said they believe Bobokulova had been “incited” to commit the crime, but did not say by who.

The woman had been working for the parents of the little girl for 18 months, and though she had a valid residency permit for Russia, she had no work permit.

Russian journalist Polina Nikolskaya, who witnessed the scene, told Reuters: “I was on my way to the metro station from home. She was standing near the metro entrance and caught my attention because she was screaming Allahu Akbar. I saw that she had a bloodied head in her arms but I thought it was not real. People in the crowd said it was real.”

Other reports in local media have said that the nanny was under the influence of unidentified drugs when she was walking the streets and yelling with the severed head.

Moscow residents have meanwhile been leaving toys and flowers at the Oktyabrskoye Polye metro station in honor of the girl, as well as outside the flat where she was murdered.

Source : Christian Post

Selena Gomez Performs at Hillsong Church Concert; Says Relationship With God Is Greater Than Anything

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Selena Gomez Performs at Hillsong Church Concert; Says Relationship With God Is Greater Than Anything

Selena Gomez REUTERS / Luke MacGregor

Christian Post Report – Actress Selena Gomez arrives for the “Louis Vuitton Series 3” Exhibition gala opening in London, Britain September 20, 2015.

While the mainstream media has typically focused on Selena Gomez’s romantic relationships, the singer is expressing the importance of a relationship with God.

The 23-year-old singer took part in Hillsong Church’s Young & Free Revival Concert in Los Angeles, California last week, where she sang her song “Nobody.” She let those in attendance know that she was there to glorify God.

“Tonight is more than a concert, it’s more than Hillsong, it’s more than me coming on stage, singing a song for you,” she told the audience, according to E! reports. “It’s about a relationship that is greater than anything, guaranteed.”

In a Twitter question-and-answer session last year, one fan asked the 23-year-old singer what the song “Nobody” was about.

“God,” Gomez answered simply. “Nobody is about Him.”

Gomez is a regular attendee of some of the Hillsong church branches across the U.S. She previously spoke to Breathecast about her favorite worship music coming from Hillsong United, the church’s worship music band.

One of the band’s singer-songwriters Brooke Fraser happens to be one of Gomez’s favorites. Fraser has written popular songs like “Hosanna” and “Soon” for the band.

“I love Brooke Fraser. She’s my favorite and I have the pleasure of knowing her and she’s incredible,” Gomez said. “I’ve always loved her music.”

Gomez also spoke about her love for Hillsong United as a whole.

“I love all of their worship, I’m a sucker for all of it,” she said.

While Gomez is a Christian, she has starred in movies like “Hotel Transylvania” that centers around the theme of monsters and vampires. She acknowledges to Breathecast that other Christians may not agree with her being part of this kind of movie, but she stands by her decision.

“Now for me I respect people (and) whatever boundaries they set for themselves. So I’m more lenient towards that. I am Christian, so I understand,” she said. “For me it’s just ultimately about what it is.”

The former Disney star has also been outspoken about her faith on social media in the past. Last year, the singer made sure to tell the world how great her pastors are.

“Proof that my pastors are cool,” the singer wrote on Facebook last year. “Words can’t describe how incredible they are. So grateful!”

Source : Christian Post

Voice of the Martyrs Launches ‘I Am N’ Campaign to Raise Awareness About Persecuted Christians Worldwide

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Voice of the Martyrs Launches ‘I Am N’ Campaign to Raise Awareness About Persecuted Christians Worldwide

Voice of the Martyrs (Photo: Twitter/Voice of the Martyrs/I Am N)

Christian Post Report – I Am N is a campaign launched by Voice of the Martyrs designed to help raise awareness of persecuted Christians.

In an effort to raise awareness of persecuted Christians around the world, Voice of the Martyrs, a nonprofit that’s provided practical and spiritual help for persecuted believers since the 1960s, launched the I Am N campaign Tuesday.

I Am N kicked off with 24 hours of prayer for persecuted Christians, and a social media push that shared images of those who are suffering around the globe — all in an effort to help citizens of the world realize that Christian persecution isn’t simply something that happens “over there,” and to give the suffering a face by associating the names and faces of real people.

“When Christians learn about their brothers and sisters around the world, they’re inspired by that to stand with them … ” said Jason Peters, associate vice president of connection for VOM, to The Christian Post Tuesday. “We are their voice.”

Peters practices what he preaches, traveling the world to see and hear the stories of persecuted Christians and to provide assistance however he and VOM can. He knows firsthand that seeing the faces of those who are suffering only deepens a sense of connection and compassion for them, and raises an awareness that followers of Christ are one body. Peters illustrates that point with the analogy that an injury to a finger doesn’t affect the finger alone, but the body as a whole shares in the suffering.

“If you’re a follower of Christ, you’re my brother. It doesn’t matter if we know each other or not because we’re in the same family,” he told CP.

The I Am N campaign not only raises awareness of Christian persecution via social media, but VOM’s ministry partners Integrity Music and David C. Cook also offer an I Am N album, which acts as a soundtrack for the movement and features artists like Sons & Daughters, The Brilliance, Israel and New Breed, Lincoln Brewster, New Life Worship, WorshipMob, Rend Collective, and new artist Greg Sykes, to name a few. There’s also an I Am N book and curriculum available.

The movement has already raised $5 million and all net proceeds from the sale of I Am N resources go directly to help Christians facing Islamic extremists, according to the campaign’s website.

Voice of the Martyrs(Photo: Twitter/Voice of the Martyrs/I Am N)Christian Post Report – I Am N is a campaign launched by Voice of the Martyrs designed to help raise awareness of persecuted Christians.

In addition to helping to raise awareness of Christian persecution by retweeting @VOM_USA or @VOMC’s evocative images, interested individuals can support the cause by visiting VOM’s website and purchasing an Action Pack to be distributed to Pakistan, Iraq or Sudan, or they can make a monetary donation.

Individuals can also make a contribution that requires no money at all through Adopt a Frontline Worker. “There’s no money [involved]. … We tell you their story and we give you their picture … and you pray for them. It’s that simple.”

The name I Am N thumbs its nose in the face of the so-called Islamic State. In the terror group’s efforts to gain recruits and eradicate Christians, IS militants travel throughout villages on a witch hunt for followers of Christ. Homes and businesses identified as Christian are marked with the Arabic letter “N,” which is short for Nazarene — a follower of Jesus of “Nazareth.” The Christians are forced to leave the village, convert to Islam, or die. Therefore, I Am N is a bold proclamation of one’s unwavering stand for Christ.

Founded in 1967 by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, who himself was imprisoned for 14 years in Communist Romania for his belief in Christ, Voice of the Martyrs wants persecuted Christians worldwide to know that their brothers and sisters in Christ stand with them.

The organization operates based on Hebrews 13:3: “Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.”

To learn how you can join the I Am N movement, or help in any way you can, go to i-am-n.com, or visit persecution.com.

Email me: [email protected]
Follow me on Twitter: @kevindonporter

Source : Christian Post

Did Candace Cameron Bure Lower Christian Standards for ‘Fuller House’?

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Did Candace Cameron Bure Lower Christian Standards for ‘Fuller House’?

Candace Cameron Bure (Photo: Instagram/CandacecBure)

Christian Post Report – Andrea Barber, Jodie Sweetin, and Candace Cameron Bure pose on the set of “Fuller House”, 2016.

“Fuller House” made its season one debut on Netflix Feb 26. with 13 episodes that reunited most of the original “Full House” cast. The sitcom spin-off is receiving a lot of heat from evangelicals who were hoping Candace Cameron Bure’s Christian values would keep the show family-friendly.

“Fuller house” is centered around Bure’s character, DJ Tanner, who is a recently widowed mother of three boys. Her sister Stephanie offers to move in and help her raise her sons, and Kimmy, her best friend, also moves in with her teenage daughter Romona.

The 13 short episodes take viewers on a ride of family, motherhood, the party life and dating.

Although family focused, there is a lot of reference to alcohol and crude humor. Bure’s character is also eventually caught in a love triangle, which has the actress locking lips with multiple men quite often.

While perusing through Bure’s Facebook page, it’s evident that some of the actress’ fans are taken back by “Fuller House” and the heavy adult content.

“We were promised over and over again that this would be the ‘family friendly’ show that we loved in the original ‘Full House,'” one Facebook user wrote.

“‘Fuller House’ is disappointing. There were some good points, but sadly, they were overshadowed by the very ugly parts,” another added.

In episode 12 of the spin off, Stephanie and Kimmy deliberately share a girl-on-girl kiss, while earlier in the same episode DJ’s two love interest Matt and Steve also accidentally kiss each other. The same-sex affection has people up in arms.

“I waited a long time to watch this and I was so excited, but the gay/lesbian act scenes uh NO..the profanity used, and the lack of clothing on some were just a huge disappointment..If you’re going to state youre a Christian then you can’t live in a world of sin and act like it’s ok,” a comment on Bure’s social media read.

Someone else said, “Disappointed, only because I definitely can not watch it with my children. Clothing, drinking, it is just too much for us.”

Not everyone shared in the disappointment, however, with many celebrating the show and reminiscing about their childhood. These “Fuller House” fans also blasted the critical Christians for making everything in the show a big deal.

“I am not watching this show being judgmental and searching for DJ Tanner to be religious, I’m watching this for nostalgia, to see who the girls have become and watching a cast genuinely happy to reunite,” another commenter argued.

In the past, Bure has addressed critics who’ve bashed her for not being their idea of “Christian enough.”

“‘I’m too religious, I’m not Godly enough, I’m too thin now, I’m not very humble, I’ve had too much plastic surgery, My brother Kirk is a better Christian than me, I’m too worldly, I’m too conservative, I’m not modest enough, I’m a show-off.’ Those are just a few of the types of comments I get no matter what I share, what photo I post or what I say,” Bure said in a blog posted in 2014.

In the past, the California native delighted fans with her modest stance on “Dancing with the Stars” Season 18, after re-emerging back in the mainstream spotlight. “The View” co-host also regularly argues from a conservative standpoint on the hit ABC daytime talk show for which she regularly receives praises from her Christian fans.

Source : Christian Post

United Cry DC16 Calls on 30,000 Christian Leaders Go to Washington to Pray for America’s Future

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United Cry DC16 Calls on 30,000 Christian Leaders Go to Washington to Pray for America’s Future

Easter sunrise service (Photo: Reuters/Jim Bourg)

Christian Post Report – Participants in an Easter Sunday sunrise Christian religious service stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, April 5, 2015. Organizers said a record crowd estimated at 8,900 attended the annual service in its 37th year.

Prayer is essential to the life of a believer, and this spring United Cry DC16 is an event that hopes to inspire 30,000 believers to come together to pray for the well-being of the nation.

Just as there is strength in numbers, there is strength in those who come together to pray and seek Christ, as evidenced by Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

That biblical principle is one of the driving forces behind United Cry DC16, a gathering intended to move people to pray for America’s future.

“Our nation is in crisis right now,” said the event’s founder, Lewis Hogan, to The Christian Post. “But my answer to that crisis is that we’re not without hope. Joel 2 is our response to the state that we find ourselves in right now, and it begins with prayer.”

Hogan believes that many of the country’s negative circumstances can begin to turn around when the nation’s spiritual leaders come together in unity and prayer.

He went on to say, “Only a united Church can help heal a divided nation. There is hope for America and prayer can make a difference.”

United Cry DC16 is Hogan’s brainchild. He’s been planning the event since January 2014, and presented DC16 last week at the NRB International Media Christian Convention in Nashville. “The last two years have been a season of praying, strategizing, and organizing for this gathering,” he explained.

As a result, United Cry DC16 is issuing a siren call to pastors, priests, churches, Christian leaders and believers — near and far — to converge upon D.C.’s Lincoln Memorial on April 9 for a “historic, multiethnic, multigenerational” seven-hour gathering to pray for the nation, and to seek God’s “forgiveness, blessing and spiritual awakening in America, and declare [that] the United States is, ‘One Nation, Under God.'”

Many faith and thought leaders will be in attendance, including Anne Graham Lotz, George Wood, Pastor Jim Garlow, Samuel Rodriguez, Doug Stringer, and Bishop Harry Jackson, to name a few.

The event’s website, unitedcry.com, states: “Calling 30,000 pastors to gather and pray for America’s future,” and that number has special meaning.

“The figure 30,000 is significant for a variety of reasons,” Hogan told CP. “One, according to the theory of the tipping point, 1 percent of the square root of any population can bring great change. In addition, there are roughly 300,000 plus churches in America. We are believing 30,000 pastors as a tithe of the churches. Furthermore, 2 Samuel 6 tells of David bringing the ark of the covenant back into Judah. When he did this, he chose 30,000 choice leaders, according to 2 Samuel 6:1.” Hogan continued, “We are believing that as pastors and leaders gather in this place of unity and humility, they will be in a posture to ask God to bring His presence to America in a mighty way.”

The date of the event is also significant in that it pays homage to April 9, 1865, the end of the strife of the American Civil War battle of Appomattox Court House, Virginia. The location is appropriately situated on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and as President Lincoln once tried to unite a racially divided nation, one of the event’s main focuses will be repentance for racial division — and will be led by the daughter and niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Bernice and Alveda King, respectively.

Hogan said, “We are gathering, not to protest or complain about politics, but to honor our leaders and pastors by praying for them. We are coming with humble hearts and asking God to heal the spiritual condition of our nation.”

To learn even more about United Cry DC16 and its speakers, and to register for free, go to unitedcry.com.

Email me: [email protected]
Follow me on Twitter: @kevindonporter

Source : Christian Post

Tamera Mowry-Housley Prays Her Daughter Will Encourage Women

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Tamera Mowry-Housley Prays Her Daughter Will Encourage Women

Christian Post Report – (L-R) “The Real” co-hosts Adrienne Bailon, Loni Love, Tamera Mowry-Housley, Jeannie Mai and Tamar Braxton

Tamera Mowry-Housley has been vocal about how much of a blessing her daughter is, and now the actress and talk show host says she wants to raise her child to bless others.

Mowry-Housley, the 37-year-old co-host of “The Real” talk show, is praying her 8-month-old daughter Ariah can be a champion for other women.

“This little nugget is an answer to my prayer. I will raise her to be a girls’ girl,” she wrote in an intimate Instagram post. “In the sense that we woman CAN be each other’s rock. Too many times now a days women are in competition with one other; side-eying, trying to one-up.”

Mowry-Housley said she wants to see her daughter encourage other people.

“It’s discouraging and sad. I will raise this beauty to be an encourager,” she wrote. “To be a lover. To be a blessing and to always be there.”

The Christian actress and wife of Fox News correspondent Adam Housley, previously took to Instagram to prayerfully reflect about some of her parenting goals for 2016.

“Time flies by so fast in the midst of the blissful chaos of parenting.This year I’m learning to soak in every sweet moment and take a picture of it with my mind,” she wrote. “Lord, thank you for the lil blessings you’ve given to me. Help me raise them according to your word and your glory. I’m so grateful for them and the family you’ve given me.”

The actress knows firsthand just how much prayer can impact things in her daughter’s life and revealed that one of her prayers concerning the infant has already come true.

“You have to watch what you pray for!” Mowry-Housley told People. “Ariah’s a big girl, but I love the fatness. I love to show off her rolls and I dress her in rompers for summer. She has the chubbiest legs!”

Ariah was born at 2:54 p.m. on July 1, 2015 with a weight of 10 pounds, 2 ounces and 20.5 inches, according to People magazine. She joins her 2 ½-year-old brother, Aden John Tanner Housley. The actress and co-host has not held back from publicly gushing about the joys of her baby girl.

“Those first four weeks, it’s like Groundhog Day — changing diapers and they lay there like a big blob. The moment you get that smile back though, it’s just all worth it,” Mowry-Housley told PEOPLE. “It makes me feel good as a mom, it’s been so great.”

After naming their daughter, the Housleys realized they had given her a faith-based name.

“It wasn’t until after we had decided on Ariah Talea Housley that Adam and I learned the origin and meaning of both names — they couldn’t be more appropriate for a family like ours whose faith is so very strong,” Mowry-Housley previously wrote on her website. “Both Hebrew names, Ariah means Lion of God and Talea means one who resembles the morning dew of Heaven. We couldn’t have found names with a better meaning if we had tried.”

Source : Christian Post

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