Unspeakable Desperation Minnesotans at center of Haitian disaster—and relief efforts With each passing day, the images coming out of Haiti don’t get any better. The estimated number of fatalities continues to rise, and many who survived the 7.0 earthquake on Jan. 12 are left with nothing—no family, no homes, nothing to go back to. Rarely do we witness catastrophes that virtually ruin entire cities, regions and even countries. FULL STORY Photo:A mother and her 6-year-old daughter share their stories of loss and heartache with Haitian Jean Junior Cineas in a makeshift camp in Pétionville, Haiti. In the wake of the Jan. 12 earthquake, Junior visits with displaced Haitians to offer hope and encouragement in Jesus Christ. BP. (related story below)
Voodoo priest's son leads Haitians to Christ On a hot afternoon in a crowded, makeshift camp in Port-au-Prince, Jean Junior Cineas sits under a tarp suspended by a broomstick. He shares his faith with five Haitians left homeless after the Jan. 12 earthquake rocked their island nation. Soon, all five pray to receive Christ as their Savior. FULL STORY Bebo Norman sells prized guitar for thousands for disaster relief in Haiti Christian artist Bebo Norman raised more than $51,000 for relief efforts in Haiti after putting one of his personal guitars, a hand-made Everett Laurel Guitar, up for auction with all funds are going directly to Compassion International for Haiti. FULL STORY
U.S. Christian organizations continuing disaster relief to Haiti Christian organizations are mobilizing to assess disaster relief needs.(Features list of organizations) FULL STORY
Man overcomes alcohol and prison to serve as example for others People addicted to alcohol or drugs often lose their jobs, homes and families. They may begin a downward spiral leading to crime or even death. However, most of those receiving Jesus Christ demonstrate transformed lives permitting them to help others trapped in the same situations that had held them captive. FULL STORY
The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls—and what it means
From March 12 to October 24, the Science Museum of Minnesota will host The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit, putting on display some of the earliest known biblical writings. In an interview with the Minnesota Christian Chronicle, Dr. Michael Wise talks about the importance of the Scrolls and how they came to be discovered. FULL STORY
Bible Bee crowns winners from pool of 17,400 contestants 12 from Minnesota made finals Hundreds of hungry contestants and their giddy families waited with hungry tummies for the National Bible Bee awards banquet late last year. But with dinner practically digested, the crowd waited two extra hours before seeing the hardware in the hands of its rightful owners. FULL STORY
Thousands gather to ‘March for Life’
With unseasonably warm weather for the third week in January, 6,000 people gathered on the Minnesota Capitol steps to “march for life.” FULL STORY
Church brings teen challenges to big screen Church leaders said the response wasn’t scripted, but even before their new film “To Save a Life” premiered on Jan. 21—in advance of its nationwide release in about 450 theaters the following day—thousands of teens and adults had already been touched. FULL STORY Israel — Walking in the steps of Jesus Journey through Israel by following the day-by-day account, and photos describing the unique land which is the crossroads of ancient and modern civilizations. FULL STORY
Christian musicians ‘Come Together’ to benefit Haiti More than 50 musicians gathered Jan. 27 to lend their voices in a new song titled “Come Together Now” that will help raise money for Haitian relief efforts. FULL STORY Music Notes Audio Adrenaline, Third Day seek help for Haiti The magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit the nation of Haiti caused widespread damage as far away as the town of Jacmel on the South Coast, where the Hands and Feet Project is located. The orphanage, which was founded by the members of Audio Adrenaline and run by Mark Stuart’s parents, suffered some cracks in their walls, but withstood the quake and aftershocks. MORE MUSIC NEWS Book Reviews Local authors give us ‘hope’ and tell us how to follow Jesus FULL STORY
PERSECUTION WATCH
Violent death of girl in Pakistan spurs push for justice A daring protest and a high-profile funeral for a 12-year-old Christian girl who died from torture and malnourishment has cast a rare spotlight on abuse of the Christian poor in Pakistan. FULL STORY North Korea top persecutor of Christians—again North Korea and Iran, among the most notorious and restrictive regimes in the world, top the Open Doors 2010 World Watch List of 50 countries that are the worst persecutors of Christians. FULL STORY
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COMMENTARY
We should never tire of working for justice A few weeks ago, I attended my first “March for Life” event as editor of the Minnesota Christian Chronicle. It was wonderful and encouraging to see so many people—6,000 of them—rally in support of life. Young and old attended the event and gave their voices in support of God’s most incredible—and eternal—gift…life. FULL COMMENTARY
Scott
Noble
It’s about the cost One day when Jesus was teaching in the Temple, He paused and watched some rich people “putting their gifts into the temple treasury.” Then he observed “a poor widow” who “put in two very small copper coins.” FULL COMMENTARY
Greg
Boyd
School system agrees to curb Gideons The Nashville-area Wilson County school system in Tennessee has agreed to ban Bible distributions on school grounds during school hours after the American Civil Liberties Union threatened a lawsuit. The controversy arose after the principal of Carroll-Oakland Elementary School in Lebanon introduced students to representatives of the Nashville-based Gideons International and told a story about the time she received her first Bible. FULL STORY Pastors name Graham most influential living preacher; John Piper named in top ten He has preached the gospel to more than 200 million people in 185 lands and, at 91, still maintains that his one purpose in life is "to help people find a personal relationship with God, which, I believe, comes through knowing Christ." Billy Graham, whose crusade in Los Angeles in 1949 vaulted him into the public square, is far and away the top living preacher that has most influenced Protestant pastors. FULL STORY eHarmony pressured to add same-sex partners to main site A California court settlement is forcing eHarmony to eliminate its separation of its heterosexual and homosexual dating sites and to make them more friendly to people who seek homosexual matches. eHarmony maintains a separate Web site, Compatible Partners, for gays and lesbians as a result of a previous lawsuit. FULL STORY
