By J. Lee Grady

This week I interviewed two people who were raised from the dead during an evangelistic meeting in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

During the early morning hours of February 18, 2008, another strong line of thunderstorms spawned a tornado that touched down in the Prattville, AL area. More than 200 homes and business received damage or was completely destroyed. Thankfully, only minor injuries have been reported and no fatalities.

It’s not just giving that suffers when the economy slows. New donor acquisition also takes a hit. A recent report from the Association of Fundraising Professionals shows new donor acquisition has fallen 6.7 percent since 2005.

NASHVILLE, TN. – The Gospel Music Association (GMA) announced its nominees for the 39th Annual Dove Awards. Among the finalists is SpiritSound Music Group’s HE IS GREAT, nominated for Choral Collection of the Year.

“We started the listening program for the second time on Jan. 6,” said Pastor Bryan Hackett from Edgewood Believers Fellowship. “Our last day of listening is Valentine’s Day, so we are looking at this project as if we’re reading our ‘Letter of Love from Dad’,” he said.

Full time Church of God Police Chaplain, Terry Wigley, was asked, “What is an average day for a police chaplain really like?” His reply was, “There are no average days. Every day is filled with new challenges and opportunities for ministry. Challenges are those events that demand my undivided attention and most often a quick response. Opportunities are those times that I can make a difference in someone’s life.”

Northeast Winterfest 2008 is being held Friday February 15 through Sunday February 17, 2008 in Rochester, NY at the Riverside Convention Center.

China Aid today released its annual persecution report to an anticipatory audience. According to the report, 2007 saw an increase in overall persecution since last year.

In 2007, the known religious cases in which house churches were persecuted by the government covered 18 provinces and one municipality directly under the jurisdiction of the Central Government and there were 60 cases of persecution, up 30.4% from that of 2006. The total number of people persecuted was 788, up 18.5% from that of the year before. The total number of people arrested and detained is 693, up 6.6% from that of the year before. 16 people were sentenced to imprisonment, down 5.9% from that of the year before.

Imagine what it’s like to be a wheelchair-bound child. Now, meet Josiah, who will enlighten you and teach you about empathy, dignity and the power of a positive attitude.