Blog Archives - LHF Ministries

Multi-Faith Network Letter Calls on United States to Strengthen Policies on Freedom of Religion or Belief

6/27/2013

The US-based International Religious Freedom (IRF) Roundtable, a multi-faith network of organizations and individuals advocating for freedom of religion or belief, will publish a letter today calling on the US government to further protect and promote international religious freedom.

The letter will be published following today’s second annual IRF event on Capitol Hill, co-hosted by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), and expresses the IRF Roundtable's concern “regarding the current state of international religious freedom (IRF), which is one of deepening crisis.” It includes recommendations “on how the United States can strengthen its IRF policy such that freedom of religion, conscience, and belief—the foundation of human dignity—is protected and promoted, resulting in reduced persecution and repression, as well as greater security and stability worldwide.”

Supreme Court Delivers Wins for Gay Marriage Movement

6/27/2013

The Supreme Court on Wednesday handed a significant victory to gay rights advocates by recognizing that married gay men and women are eligible for federal benefits and paving the way for same-sex marriage in California.

The court, however, fell short of a landmark ruling endorsing a fundamental right for gay people to marry.

The two cases, both decided on 5-4 votes, concerned the constitutionality of a key part of a federal law, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), that denied benefits to same-sex married couples and a California state law enacted in 2008, called Proposition 8, that banned gay marriage.

Knights of Columbus Assists with Flood Relief in Western Canada

6/27/2013

In the aftermath of the massive mid-June flooding that caused the evacuation of more than 100,000 people in Alberta and surrounding provinces, the Knights of Columbus has already sent $10,000 to relief efforts in the affected area and has established a relief fund for those communities impacted by the disaster.

"The people of Western Canada are in our thoughts and prayers, and we look forward to helping them rebuild their homes and their lives," said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson.

Church Scraps Sunday Morning Service for Community Outreach

6/26/2013

While many churches have gone to one Sunday service a week, Calvary Temple (Assemblies of God) in San Diego has joined the ranks, but in reverse: the congregation has stopped its morning service in favor of meeting Sunday evenings. Sunday mornings are now focused on neighborhood ministry.

Every Sunday morning, Calvary Temple's street is taken over by a large open-air market, which draws thousands of people and over the years has expanded to flow directly in front of the church building, barring parking access. As members of the church wanted to pray the market away, Pastor Jack Sampier recognized an opportunity to show Christ's love to their neighbors.

Islamists Distribute Leaflets Inciting Against Christian Figures in Assiut

6/26/2013

Gamaat Islamiyya and the Salafi Building and Development Party distributed leaflets inciting against a number of public figures and symbols of the Egyptian Church, in Assiut Governorate, accusing them of insulting Islam.

The leaflets claimed that a number of political Egyptian figures repeatedly insulted Islam in statements and speeches. It accused activist George Isaac of saying, “June 30 will be the end of Islam”, Bishop Moussa of saying, “Wake up from your dream of Islamic caliphate” and political activist Hazem Abdel Azim of stating, “We will vanquish political Islam in Egypt.”

CSW Welcomes Parliamentary Groups Calls for Stronger Action to Protect Religious Freedom

6/25/2013

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) welcomes a new report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on International Religious Freedom, which calls on the government to redouble its efforts to ensure that people around the world are free to follow the religion or belief of their choice

The report has been written by prominent academics from leading UK universities and draws on testimony delivered to MPs and Peers by representatives from a range of organizations, including CSW, as well as leading Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Sikh and Hindu groups.

The chairman of the Parliamentary Group, Baroness Berridge, calls for the UK to use its influence to further the protection of religious freedom worldwide, which can help to bolster stability in some of the most dangerous places in the world and ultimately protect national security.

Rick Warren: The Most Overlooked Key to a Growing Church

6/25/2013

I believe the most overlooked key to growing a church is this: We must love unbelievers the way Jesus did. Without His passion for the lost, we will be unwilling to make the sacrifices necessary to reach them.

Jesus loved lost people. He loved spending time with them. He went to their parties. From the Gospels, it is obvious that Jesus enjoyed being with seekers far more than being with religious leaders. He was called the “friend of sinners” (Luke 7:34). How many people would call your church that?

Human Sex-Trafficking Filmmaker Turns to Kickstarter in $100K Fundraiser

6/25/2013

The connection between pornography and the growing business of human sex trafficking is undeniable, yet many may not be aware of it. Film producer Guy Noland is making a concerted effort to raise the public awareness.

Noland, of the Salvation Army Vision Network, is producing a feature-length documentary titled Hard Corps in an attempt to expose the façade that pornography is a “harmless pastime for consenting adults.” His goal is to uncover the truth about how pornography truly leads to addiction, infidelity, prostitution and, eventually, sex trafficking.

US State Department Acknowledges China's Sex-Trade Caused by Their One-Child Policy -- Says Nothing

6/24/2013

The US State Department yesterday released its yearly, "Trafficking in Persons Report." China received an automatic downgrade to the lowest ranking, Tier 3, for being a destination country for sex-trafficking. The State Department acknowledged the one-child policy as the "key source of demand" for sex-trafficking and forced prostitution within the country, but remained silent regarding the abolition of the harmful policy in its list of policy recommendations for China.

The one-child policy came into effect in 1979 in an attempt to stabilize the country's population. Now, a generation later, the policy has caused sex-selective abortion and infanticide within the country on a gargantuan scale. Due to the policy, there are currently 37,000,000 more males than females in China -- that's about the entire population of California.

Istanbul Pastor Shows Hope to Protesters

6/24/2013

While protesters and police furiously clash in Istanbul, a pastor there is quietly continuing his ministry.

Nicholas lives and works in Taksim, the epicenter of the increasingly violent encounters of recent days in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city. In the most recent clashes, tear gas invaded Nicholas' home, forcing his children to abandon their bedrooms and sleep in the living room where it was bearable.

Despite the turmoil, Nicholas said he and his family are not afraid. He is concerned about the uncertainty of the future of Turkey but believes it is a blessing to lead a church so close to the action.