Faith News Network

Over 1,600 Christians around the country are on tap to gather for a National Religious Liberties Conference, Freedom 2015, November 6th-7th at the Iowa Events Center. The conference speakers and attendees will celebrate the freedoms God has bestowed on our country, encourage those who have been persecuted or those who may experience persecution in the future and develop strategies for defending religious liberties for Christian business owners, teachers, evangelists, chaplains, employees and churches. The conference is sponsored by over a dozen evangelical organizations including American Family Association, Liberty Institute, Samaritan Ministries and Generations.

Cleveland, Tenn.–Last week the Awakening America Alliance gathered pastors, pastor’s spouses, and regional denominational leaders at WinShape Retreat Center for a time of prayer, strategic interaction, training, and commissioning. A new Awakening America initiative, The Helper: A Genesis 2:18 Ministry hosted the retreat for training and equipping pastor’s wives to become covenant group leaders in their areas.

“God carries us when we cannot walk,” Evangelist Nick Vujicic told a standing-room-only audience Tuesday night in the ballroom of the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City. Born with Tetra-amelia syndrome—leaving him without arms and legs—Vujicic motivated the attendees of the ninth World Congress of Families with experiences that have taught him that there is “value in every human life.”

Last year was the worst year for persecuted Christians in contemporary history; beatings, rapes, kidnappings and killings all increased. Unfortunately, the situation appears to have worsened in 2015. Even Christian-majority countries are seeing increases in discrimination, exclusion and violence. The advancement of the Islamic State group and totalitarian governments like North Korea has contributed to the rise in persecution. To let persecuted Christians know they are not forgotten and to educate Americans about persecution, Open Doors USA is turning to technology to reach into homes and churches across the nation via the ministry’s second live webcast.

Last year was the worst year for persecuted Christians in contemporary history; beatings, rapes, kidnappings and killings all increased. Unfortunately, the situation appears to have worsened in 2015. Even Christian-majority countries are seeing increases in discrimination, exclusion and violence. The advancement of the Islamic State group and totalitarian governments like North Korea has contributed to the rise in persecution. To let persecuted Christians know they are not forgotten and to educate Americans about persecution, Open Doors USA is turning to technology to reach into homes and churches across the nation via the ministry’s second live webcast.

The faith-based football drama WOODLAWN entered rarified air in its opening weekend, earning an accolade from audiences bestowed on only a handful of films each year.