Pastors across the U.S. and around the globe are affirming The Preacher’s Pledge- -a declaration of the centrality of the Bible in preaching and sermon preparation. More than 5,000 preachers have now taken The Pledge, with many more affirming it every day.

By Tim Burdashaw, Operation Compassion

On January 26th, 2009 one of the worst ice storms in recent history blasted the central part of the country. Ice, as thick as two inches, provided a blanket over power lines, trees and roadways making travel nearly impossible from northeast Arkansas to the Northeast. Kentucky, Ohio and extreme northern Tennessee received the nastiest of the weather. Utility companies expect power to be out in these areas for up to two weeks.

CHESAPEAKE, VA — It doesn’t always have to cost thousands of dollars to reach the lost for Christ. Not according to international evangelist the Rev. Gene Strickland who recently stated, “all that God requires is availability and obedience.” Evangelism International is a fairly new crusade ministry, headed by Rev. Strickland, but already seeing worldwide ministry opportunities.

TULSA, Okla.– Board Chair Mart Green and the Oral Roberts University Board of Trustees announced today the election of Dr. Mark Rutland as the next president of ORU.

CLEVELAND, Tenn. — The International World Missions leadership team is sponsoring three Local Missions Representative (LMR) Seminars in the state of Texas the first week of March. The LMR seminar is a meeting with our local church missions representatives and other missions-minded individuals, in which missions leaders explain the many ministries of World Missions and how the department functions.

Sky Angel, a national provider of faith-based and family-friendly television and radio programming, is pleased to announce their participation as an exhibitor at the 2009 NRB Convention and Exposition scheduled for February 7-10, 2009 at the Gaylord Opryland Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn.

The International Department of Youth and Christian Education, along with Pathway Press, announces the 2008 winner of the annual Teacher of the Year award. This year’s winner is Shirley Sapp, Bay Harbour Church of God in Brunswick,Georgia.

Christianity Today International (CTI) announced today that it is redirecting its teen publishing efforts away from Ignite Your Faith magazine (formerly Campus Life) and fully to its Campus Life College Guides and website ( www.ChristianCollegeGuide.net). According to CTI editor-in-chief and CEO Harold Smith, “This was much more than a strategic publishing move; we want to clearly signal CTI’s continuing commitment to Christian higher education and to the development of tomorrow’s pastors, church leaders, and culture- makers.

The 2009 Business Women’s Symposium will “release and empower women to understand how their unique created purpose enables them to powerfully impact their workplace relationships by connecting them with their own passion and spirituality.” We believe this is the first conference to provide a specific comprehensive focus for Christian women in business that moves beyond “typical” women’s issues.