This year’s focus of the United Nations’ annual International Day of the Girl Child, emphasizing the need for better educational opportunities for girls under the theme “With Her: A Skilled GirlForce,” brings a spotlight to some of the quiet, ongoing work of GFA (Gospel for Asia, www.gfa.org).

Jerry and Ulli Lillard, overseer for the Church of God of the Czech Republic, finally received an approved building inspection for a new church in Prague which has been in process the past couple of years.

Elreta Dodds’ new book, “The Right to Be Christian in a Gay Rights America” (paperback) provides a biblical and constitutional defense against the persecution of Christians who do not support homosexuality and explains why their non-endorsement is a question of faith and religion, not of homophobia and bigotry. Dodds’ intent is not to castigate gays or inflame emotions, but rather to present a convincing argument as to why many Christians believe they cannot support the gay lifestyle.

Christian filmmaker Ray Comfort–whose award-winning movies have been seen by millions–decided not to release ten minutes of interview footage after being threatened with a lawsuit by famous magician and atheist Penn Jillette.

The Lee University annual tradition of Homecoming will have a centennial theme this year. The university anticipates more than 2,000 alumni and friends to be on campus for the much anticipated weekend of celebration.

One hundred years ago on November 6, 1918, the young life of a visionary missions mobilizer in the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) prematurely ended. The extraordinary missions influence L. Howard Juillerat was cut short by the global influenza pandemic of 1918. It is estimated that 70 million people worldwide died in that horrible plague. Those seventy million, and millions more of his generation, were carried constantly on his compassionate heart.

When Sarah Williams learns that the baby she is carrying will likely not survive birth, her world crashes down around her. Amidst the voices of well-meaning onlookers offering to pray for healing, the bittersweet companionship of a pregnant best friend, medical staff who question her decision, and the loving support of friends who respect it, Williams and her family learn to celebrate life while preparing for the birth and subsequent death of their youngest daughter, diagnosed with a lethal skeletal deformity.

Ron Hepperly, regional superintendent for the Church of God in the Southeast Asia Region, is also director of RIO Missions. Its vision and mission are “to go boldly in Christ where no one dares, to shine His light, to share His name, to meet the need, to help, to feed, to reach this world ‘til Kingdom come.”

Paul McCartney easily took the top spot on the Billboard 200 this week when his new album Egypt Station blew past 153,000 equivalent album units — a forceful 147,000 of which were traditional album sales. Eminem’s Kamikaze, now two weeks old, slotted in at Number Two with 136,000 units.