Iran's treatment of its Christian minority has come under fresh scrutiny in recent months with some harsh reports on the country's human rights record. MORE
PHOTO: Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani greets his wife Fatemah after his release from prison in September 2012. Nadarkhani family for World Watch Monitor.
"Yes" to worship New York City Council approves resolution that churches can rent from public schools
The New York City Council overwhelmingly passed a resolution May 22 calling on the state legislature to allow houses of worship to rent from public schools. The final vote tally was 38-11, with Council Speaker Christine Quinn—the top candidate for New York City mayor, who will control education policy if elected—voting against it. MORE
Boy Scouts of America vote to allow openly homosexual boys to participate in Scouting
In a move that will undoubtedly have sweeping implications for the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), the more than 1,400 delegates gathered in Grapevine, Texas, near Dallas, at the BSA’s national meeting Thursday passed a resolution that will allow homosexual boys to participate fully in its programs. MORE
State Department fails to designate world's worst violators of human rights
The U.S. State Department disappointed religious freedom advocates by again failing to designate in its latest annual report the world's worst violators of the human right. MORE
Supreme Court takes up major prayer case
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take up a prayer case that could have a major impact on the intersection between church and state and finally bring clarity to what is constitutionally allowed — such as the mention of "Jesus" — in prayers at government meetings. MORE
Transforming young hearts one girl at a time in Bangladesh
When Geri Hennerman began serving in Bangladesh nearly 10 years ago, she didn't anticipate being constantly overwhelmed by poverty and needs. MORE
Features…
'Harvest America' takes novel, mobile approach for promoting crusade When most farmers cultivate their fields they take to tractors and plows. The folks at Harvest America have taken to an 18-wheeler. MORE
International ministry reaches out to trafficking victims here, abroad For the past 18 years, Annie Dieselberg and her husband have lived in the red light district in Bangkok, where women and children are exploited by the worldwide sex industry. MORE
A life cut short continues reaching souls in Mozambique It was on the day the accident happened "when I accepted Christ," said Adriano Amade, a former Muslim in Mozambique. MORE
Wave witnesses Church @ the Beach makes a spiritual splash Bryan Bell never quite knows what to expect when it’s his turn to preach at Church @ the Beach. MORE
Perspective
Robert J. Morgan The 401st Prophet The recent assessment by the Barna Research Group that America is sliding into post-Christianity is no surprise. According to Barna’s study, each succeeding generation—Seniors, Boomers, Busters, Mosaics—exhibit a weaker Christian worldview than the preceding one, suggesting a less Christianized nation in the decades to come. MORE
Mark Larson Courtesy notice: Make a little extra effort to be kind, polite and civil How about a little courtesy? Is that too much to ask in our every day lives? Not long ago, treating others kindly and acting in a courteous way was the norm. We didn’t need reminders or any special training. We just did the right thing. Manners mattered. In today’s hyper-busy culture it appears that courtesy has mostly gone the way of dinosaurs and the horse and buggy days. MORE
John Stonestreet We hate to day we told you so: Same-Sex marriage and polygamy In a scene from Jurassic Park, Ian Malcolm, the mathematician skeptical about whether the park is a good idea, watches the T-Rex burst out of its enclosure and says, “I hate being right all the time.” Princeton Professor Robert George and other defenders of traditional marriage understand these sentiments. For years, they’ve warned that redefining marriage beyond the union of one man and one woman wouldn’t—indeed couldn’t—stop with same-sex unions. MORE
Music
Book
Persecution
Franklin lends name, influence to House of Blues Gospel Brunch
The Gospel Brunch, a mainstay of the House of Blues across the country, reinvented its program as the intimate music venue celebrates its 20th anniversary. With Franklin’s influence, the show is said to be “infused with the same kind of contemporary energy that made Franklin the biggest selling Gospel Music artist in the world.” MORE
Wife of slain pastor tells of peace and hope
Cindy Winters didn't set out to write a book. But as she journaled about her grief and pain after her husband Fred was killed in his Maryville, Ill., pulpit four years ago, she realized how healing the writing process could be. MORE
U.S. pastor in Iran released from solitary confinement
Saeed Abedini, the American pastor imprisoned in Iran for his faith, has been released from solitary confinement, "a direct result of the multitudes praying," his wife told the American Center for Law and Justice. MORE
