President Barack Obama pressed for greater religious freedom in China and offered prayers for U.S. prisoners in North Korea and Iran on Thursday during remarks at an annual prayer breakfast that highlighted his Christian faith.

In the first move of its kind, the Church of God International Executive Committee, meeting in January 2014, approved a proposal to create the designation of “USA Missionary” for persons commissioned for or engaged in unique missionary ministries within the United States of America. The Church of God USA Missions Board, in its December 2013 meeting, had earlier approved the recommendation, which came from the executive director and administrative coordinator.

Today’s Christian Woman (TCW), a Christianity Today publication, announced today its release of a free issue during the month of February. Available as an iPad edition or online at Today’s Christian Woman.com, February’s free issue, Holy Sexuality: Beyond Straight or Gay, is designed to engage readers in conversations about topics important to women, their families, faith, and culture.

With a view toward reaching youth beyond North America, Teen Mania—best known for its high-tech, high-energy, counter-culture youth rallies called “Acquire the Fire”—will be expanding its ministry focus to a more global ministry strategy.

Facebook reading is more popular than the Bible in the U.S. and Canada. What can you say about a nation that reads Facebook more than the Bible?

Dedication of a memorial marker honoring the first ministers of the Church of God outside the United States will highlight a weekend of events commemorating Black Ministries Celebration Week in Cleveland, Tennessee.

“Our happiest server.”

That’s how the Lincoln, Neb., Cracker Barrel hostess described Abigail Sailors to the pair of gentlemen a little after 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2. The men, who had originally requested to be served by the restaurant’s grumpiest server, were informed the restaurant didn’t have any “grumpy” servers. So, the hostess offered the men the opposite instead and seated them in Sailors’ area.

Christine Caine, founder of The A21 Campaign, an organization dedicated to fighting human trafficking, challenged Liberty University students to “live radical, revolutionary lives,” during Monday’s convocation. Her speech garnered a standing ovation.

When I was little, I couldn’t wait to sit down in front of my television set on Thursday evenings. With my bowl of popcorn nearby, I’d munch away and laugh at the antics of iconic TV characters, such as the educated and witty Huxtable family on The Cosby Show and the lovable political leanings of everyone’s favorite Republican, Alex P. Keaton, on Family Ties. It was funny, smart and, most of all, family friendly.