At first it’s cool to have foreign friends, enjoy nice meals together in fancy restaurants and go with them to beach resorts for a relaxing day out. There is also the delight of receiving and buying lovely things and learning to connect with new friends through the Internet—until one day you find yourself trapped. It is like an addiction; you don’t really like it but it’s too difficult to break free.

Alliance Defending Freedom has sent a letter to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association explaining why a wrestling official’s penalty against a high school wrestler who prayed for two seconds at the beginning of a match is unconstitutional. The letter asks the association to take steps to ensure that such constitutionally protected expressions of faith will be respected.

Looking for an inspired selection for your Christian book discussion group? Readers and reviewers alike are praising ‘The Good Thief,’ a compelling Christian novel by author Barry Connolly. The book tells the story of Dismas, the ‘Good Thief’ pardoned by Jesus and promised Paradise on Good Friday.

In 2004, when Orville Hagan served as assistant general overseer of the Church
of God, a significant General Assembly offering was dedicated for the purpose of supporting
church planting.

The inaugural advance screening of “The Triumph,” a new documentary slated for
release in theaters this spring, sold out its first showing at the Marcus Addison Cinema Theater
with well over two weeks to go.

Strong men are not intimidated by gifted women. If we want to reach the world for
Jesus, we must empower female leaders.

Christian music artist Carman Licciardello has been diagnosed with cancer.

The musician and evangelist wrote on his Facebook page Thursday morning: “I have delayed
writing this but those of you I call friends and supporters, who have prayed for me and this
ministry need to know about this new battle that lies ahead. One week ago I was diagnosed with
myeloma cancer. It is incurable and I’ve been given a 3- to 4-year window of time.”

The focus will be on the Church of God and ministry in Southeast Asia when the 2nd Harvest For South East Asia (HOSEA) Conference takes place in Siem Reap, Cambodia March 14 – 17, 2013.

The U.S. Census Bureau utilizing the 2011 Supplemental Poverty Measure reported that 49.7 million Americans or 16% of the population (28% Hispanic, 26% Black, 17% Asian, and 14 % White) now live below the poverty line, annual income of $22, 811 for a family of four as a result of the unemployment rate, house devaluations, and unprecedented foreclosures during the Great Recession. The Faith and Public Policy Institute will launch the Eradicate Poverty Webinar Series on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 9 AM (EST).