Urbana 09, one of the country’s largest student missions conferences, expects more than 20,000 people from every state and many nations next month at its 22nd triennial event in St. Louis.

More than 150,000 people have so far signed the Manhattan Declaration, just a week after the document was unveiled.

A former imperial wizard of the Ku Klux Klan is now an ordained minister in one of the nation’s largest African-American denominations.

ATLANTA, Dec. 3 — Gospel Music Channel (www.gospelmusicchannel.com) will present the world television premiere of Chris Tomlin Christmas on Sat., Dec. 5 at 9:00 pm (ET/PT). This exclusive new Christmas concert, filmed in GMC’s Atlanta studios, is part of a month of world premiere Christmas specials, series and holiday programming on GMC, “America’s Christmas Channel.”

The New York state Senate rejected a bill Wednesday that would have legalized same-sex marriage.

The Spirit of Innovation scholarship was recently established at Lee University as a result of a $10,000 gift from Wacker Chemical Corporation. Two students have been awarded the scholarship for the 2009-2010 school year, and two more will be selected for the 2010-2011 school year.

India ― Last week, 50 audio Scripture listening units were stolen in Northeast India.

Dylan’s holiday album a bust, but others catch the Christmas spirit.

FORT WORTH, Texas –It could have been just another evening meal at Samaritan House. Another church group dishing up the usual potluck fare in the cafeteria. They haul the food in and set up. Plop the servings on plates with pleasant but tense smiles. Then a quick clean-up and out the door again.

But this group from Alsbury Baptist Church was anything but typical to Joe and Julia, longtime residents at the home on Fort Worth’s south side for people living with HIV/AIDS or other special needs.