A Church of God Hispanic congregation in New York state was destroyed by fire last month as the church was celebrating Pastor Appreciation Day.

A coalition of Protestant and Catholic organizations has reached an agreement with the Italian government to provide travel and integration services for refugees from North Africa and the Middle East. The government will provide humanitarian visas to ensure the right to take up residence; the visas will not allow passage to other countries in the European Union. Christian agencies will furnish airline tickets to Italy as well as accommodation, assistance with asylum procedures, educational opportunities and Italian language courses.

Tulsa, Okla.—Oral Roberts University (ORU) has announced the launch of a two-week Chinese Leadership Institute to be held, February 7-20, 2016, on the Tulsa campus. The new institute is designed to provide Chinese business leaders with the opportunity to study in the United States and to gain a better understanding of American corporate and ministry practices, leadership and culture. Upon completion of the program, participants will earn a certificate from the University’s new training division—ORU Quest.

In 1995, God began to speak to a young leader in Hyderabad, India, named Satish Kumar, telling him that he would have a very large church, but nothing materialized for the next 10 years.

In its December board meeting, the Church of God USA Missions Board reaffirmed the 3G Outreach Initiative to continue through the year 2016. The twelve-month calendar year program focuses on the Three Great Statements of Jesus: The Great Commitment (Prayer), the Great Commandment (Care), and the Great Commission (Share). It is a month-by-month list of suggestions for the implementation of each of these 3Gs by the local pastor and congregation.

On the first Christmas, the shepherds in Bethlehem learned that Jesus’ birth was a cause for celebration. The angel said in Luke 2:10: “For I bring you good news of great joy, which will be to all people.” It’s too bad Christmas cheer is in low supply these days. I don’t know if it’s due to the mudslinging in this presidential campaign or the warmer-than-usual December, but people in general are angrier, more fearful and more negative than I can ever remember.

Washington state high school football coach suspended for praying on the 50-yard-line after games filed a federal employment discrimination complaint on Tuesday against the district in a case that has fueled the debate in the United States over freedom of – and from – religion in school sports.

I’ve written extensively about protecting the family in ministry. Here’s how you can help to avoid damaging any child growing up in the ministry world.

Lee University student Jordan Smith was named the winner of ‘The Voice’ Season 9 on Tuesday, Dec. 15, after Monday night performances of “Mary, Did You Know,” “Climb Every Mountain,” and “God Only Knows” on the hit NBC reality TV singing competition show.