The emergence of a “forgotten plague” in America has called attention to one of the most feared diseases in history — the ancient scourge of leprosy.

Mario Mendoza, Jr., a Church of God minister who is executive director of Youth for Christ in central Oregon, set a new world record for running a 50K marathon on a treadmill at the Madras High School in Oregon. In 2:59:03 record time, Mario beat the old record by 46 seconds.

“The Pacific Conference of Churches welcomes you on board our ecumenical canoe, as we sail and voyage together beyond the fringing reefs and rocks of the many issues that affect us here in the Pacific and globally, and set sail with our eyes firmly fixed on the island of hope,” said Rev. Dr James Baghwan, Pacific Conference of Churches general secretary as he welcomed participants of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace to Fiji, on 20 January.

People of faith are celebrating this week, and none more than the teachers of nearly 5,000 Good News Clubs in the nation’s public schools. On National Religious Freedom Day, January 16, President Trump signed new guidance rules to protect, among other things, freedom of prayer in public schools. He was surrounded by students who have suffered discrimination and even persecution.

Cleveland, TN—Church of God General Overseer Timothy M. Hill revealed what will be the theme for the International General Assembly of the Church of God later this summer.

Evangelist Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., submits the following in honor of the national holiday honoring her uncle:

Save the Storks announced today that its new interactive devotional is now live on one of the largest Bible apps available– YouVersion.

Cleveland, TN–State and regional overseers will be meeting in session next week at the International Offices for a “summit,” which will conclude on Tuesday morning in a combined session with the International Executive Council, and the Administrative Ministries Council (AMC).

Family Research Council applauds President Trump’s announcement today that his administration will protect religious organizations and reinforce the freedom of public school students across the country to pray and express their religious beliefs. Local education agencies receiving federal education funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) must certify in writing to its state educational agency that “it has no policy that prevents, or otherwise denies participation in, constitutionally protected prayer in public schools as detailed in this updated guidance.” The administration also issued nine proposed rules that protect religious organizations from being discriminated against by the federal government.