With a few pastors falling and many churches dwindling or closing, many Christians are concerned about the state of the church. If you add to that “flaky” charismatics, doctrinal error, compromise and lax moral standards, it’s easy for someone like me, who observes trends in the church up close, to become cynical.

Thomas Harrison is the founder of Secret Church Shopper, a firm that travels to churches across the country to secretly evaluate worship experiences. (CBN News) You have no doubt heard of mystery shoppers who visit department stores and secretly evaluate customer service. Now, there is a new wrinkle to this old concept: Pastors are using it to improve people’s experiences at their churches.

Children who grew up in the “Home” forty plus years ago came together for their biennial reunion August 2-4, 2013.They are now adults from many different walks of life.

“You’re spinning out of control again / Your life feels like a sinking ship / You’re wondering how it came to this.”

A young girl’s family history in missions became a new calling helping trafficking victims in Italy after a grown-up Erika Tello, from the U.S., led a Transform 2012 outreach to trafficking victims.

Emergency Department professionals at Broward Health North (BHN) in Deerfield Beach, Fla. see more than 7,500 pediatric patients every year for all types of medical problems and injuries. Earlier this year, the hospital introduced Comfort Kits to help soothe anxious children who are being treated.

The fall 2013 issue of Engage, a journal for Church of God Ministries, has been released for viewing on www.cogengage.org.

On September 15 more than two million Americans will be focused on a national team event that has nothing to do with major league sports. Their goal: Getting folks back to church.

Act One — a premier training program for Christian screenwriters, producers, and executives announced today that it will be kicking off its new digital initiative during its alumni weekend on August 16 and 17 at Downtown Independent, 251 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90012.