COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Dec. 16 /Christian Newswire/ — Flying more than 30 hours to get to Uganda and traveling another day on pothole- filled roads, a small team of IBS-STL staff and volunteers brought Bibles, reading glasses, and Bible training to rural northern Uganda. More than 160 pastors and church leaders traveled for days by foot and bicycle to attend the 14-hour-a-day conference.

Church of God departments and leaders have announced many events geared toward a variety of emphases to take place in 2009. Literally hundreds of activities are part of any given year’s slate of events for Church of God departments and ministries, as well as denomination-wide happenings. The following is only a partial list of some of the highlights. For more information on these events, please visit the Church of God Web site and click on the Directories tab to find Web sites of Church departments.

“Isn’t there something more for me to do with my life?” The world is full of people who feel stuck in jobs that they hate. Anyone who has dropped their kids off at a daycare center staffed by teachers who originally dreamed of becoming actresses, hair salon owners or doctors, or stood across from a grocery checker who clearly wanted to be anywhere but serving customers knows that the results aren’t pretty. Others have impressive careers that provide big incomes but leave them empty and unfulfilled at the end of each busy day.

Sky Angel, a national provider of faith-based and family-friendly television and radio programming, will broadcast a one-hour television special featuring highlights from the 2008 Golden Halo Award banquet recently held in Fort Myers, Fla. to honor Christian educators. The evening included entertainment from local Christian schools plus keynote speaker Tamra Nashman provided an uplifting and motivating talk for the audience of educators, business leaders, ministries and non-profit organizations.

STERLING, Va. — A mystery Santa Claus keeps delivering toys anonymously to a northern Virginia church.

(The following is a letter from Church of God Prayer Coordinator, Doug Small regarding information on a January Prayer emphasis in the Church of God):

Thank you for being a faithful supporter of Church of God Communications and Faith News, the official news source for the Church of God. At this time every year Faith News “signs off” for a couple of weeks to allow our families to celebrate the holiday season. Regular Faith News daily e-mails will resume on Monday, January 5, 2009. Should there be breaking news during this period, Faith News will resume to give appropriate coverage.

Sixty-five percent of all Christians say there are multiple paths to eternal life, ultimately rejecting the exclusivity of Christ teaching, according to the latest survey conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.

By Laura Galbraith, Chattanooga Times Free Press

Tenn State Rep. Kevin Brooks (left) and Col. Barry Melton, wing commander of the Tennessee Civil Air Patrol, both Church of God members, participate in wreath laying at the Chattanooga National Cemetery.

CHATTANOOGA–The Chattanooga National Cemetery was one of over 350 locations in the United States on Saturday that participated in Wreaths Across America, an annual ceremony that honors U.S. veterans.