Singer/actor Pat Boone funds Life Center to help Africa's Maasai people

LOS ANGELES, CA (Christian Newswire) -- American singer, actor and writer Pat Boone, known for his artistic talents as well as his Christian faith has partnered with international media network GOD TV and its relief and development arm, Angel Mission, to help reduce poverty in a needy village in Africa.

Loiborsoit in Tanzania, the home of a Maasai community, is the site of GOD TV/ Angel Mission's newest Life Center, a concept pioneered by Angel Mission. The facility will be named "The Pat Boone Family Life Center" and will serve the entire community with multiple services.

Each GOD TV/ Angel Mission Life Center is a comprehensive approach to helping alleviate poverty in a particular village and is modeled after the Millennium Villages Project by Dr. Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University, the United Nations Development Program and Millennium Promise. By making targeted investments in health, education, agriculture and infrastructure, it has been demonstrated that it is possible to escape the extreme poverty that traps millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa.

By Michael Ireland

VANCOUVER, BC (ANS) -- As the Winter Olympics are fast approaching, many Christians in B.C.'s Lower Mainland are anticipating some extraordinary opportunities, according to an article by Frank Stirk for www.canadianchristianity.com.

Stirk says that in Richmond, The Fridge -- a Youth For Christ (YFC) drop-in centre at Fraserview Mennonite Brethren Church -- is getting ready to accommodate 50 underprivileged and 'unchurched' teens from California.

Thanks to the generosity of two San Francisco-area doctors, who are underwriting the cost of the trip, that they -- along with their sponsors -- are able to come here for a week during the Olympics, Stirk says.

"We'll be transporting these kids to the events that they have tickets to, and having a time to build a relationship with them - and, through that process, hopefully show God's love," said Eric Enns, YFC's Richmond area director.

William J. Federer

ST. LOUIS, MO (American Minute) -- "Tippecanoe and Tyler too" was the campaign slogan of 9th President William Henry Harrison, born FEBRUARY 9, 1773. He was the first President to die in office, serving the shortest term of only 30 days. The son of Benjamin Harrison, signer the Declaration, and grandfather of Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President, William Henry Harrison was aide-de-camp to General "Mad Anthony" Wayne, who defeated the British and Indian forces at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. Harrison became Secretary of the Northwest Territory - 260,000 square miles from which was formed Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. He was the area's first delegate to Congress and in 1801 became Governor of the Indiana Territory. Harrison disrupted Chief Tecumseh's confederation at the Battle of Tippecanoe.

In his Inaugural Address, 1841, William Henry Harrison stated: "I deem the present occasion sufficiently important and solemn to justify me in expressing to my fellow citizens a profound reverence for the Christian religion, and a thorough conviction that sound morals, religious liberty, and a just sense of religious responsibility are essentially connected with all true and lasting happiness."

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Announcing a New Initiative February 7 to 14, 2010, National Marriage Week USA, to encourage marriage, reduce divorce rates, curtail poverty, and benefit children

NEW YORK, NY (Christian Newswire) -- National Marriage Week USA announces a new initiative for the week leading up to Valentine's Day 2010, and is putting forth a call to mobilize hundreds of organizations to plan and prepare for awareness and activities for February 7 to 14, 2010. The goal is to elevate national attention on the need to strengthen marriage and ways to do it, and initiate new efforts to reduce the divorce rate and build a stronger marriage culture which in turn helps curtail poverty and benefits children.

National Marriage Week has long been an organized celebration around the world (www.marriage-weekinternational.org) with large rallies, resolutions in Parliaments, concerted outreach for marriage education, and more. But not many folks know about it in the U.S. This week in 2010, a new initiative is being launched by National Marriage Week USA in an effort to build collaboration and focus uniquely on February 7 to 14 with coordination of national efforts at www.NationalMarriageWeekUSA.org.

At 101 years of age, George Beverly Shea is still serving the Lord

By Dan Wooding

MONTREAT, NC (ANS) -- It is hard to believe that George Beverly Shea has reached the grand old age of 101, but he has -- and he celebrated this amazing event on Monday, February 1, 2010 in Montreat, North Carolina, where he lives with his wife Karlene, and close to his dear friend, Billy Graham.

"Bev" Shea holds the record for singing to the most people in person because his wonderful bass-baritone has been a part of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Team for so many years.

He has been nominated for 10 Grammy Awards, won a Grammy in 1965, was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame by the Gospel Music Association in 1978, and in 1996 was also inducted into the National Religious Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

Some time back, I was interviewed Bev about his extraordinary life in which he has recorded over 70 albums of timeless songs and classic hymns. One of his latest at the time was a CD called "I'd Rather Have Jesus" (Word Records), which is a 20-song treasury celebrating his life and ministry.

By Dan Wooding

LAKE FOREST, CA (ANS) -- There are an overwhelming number of organizations involved in Haiti relief efforts, and some Christians may be confused about which ministries deserve their prayer and support.

"On www.Godreports.com we've chosen to feature some of the Christian organizations that have a well-established presence and track-record in Haiti," says Mark Ellis, founder of Godreports. "If a ministry is really making a difference on the ground, we want to get behind and support what they're doing," he says.

Some of the ministries featured on the Godreports homepage include Childcare Worldwide, Compassion International, Mission of Hope Haiti, and New Directions International.

The vision for the Godreports website began after Ellis visited two Wycliffe Bible translators on Mindanao in the Philippines in 2004. Ellis says that he was surprised by what he found.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Christian Newswire) -- Planned Parenthood's latest attempt to banish sidewalk counselors from in front of its clinic in San Mateo, California, appeared likely to go down in defeat after a judge made a preliminary ruling that the abortion business had failed to prove its case against long-time pro-life advocate Ross Foti.

Over five years ago, Mr. Foti entered into a mutually binding injunction with Planned Parenthood Golden Gate (PPGG), in order to put an end to years of legal wrangling over his rights at the clinic. Mr. Foti agreed to stay 15 feet from clinic property and to limit the number of his signs on the sidewalk in exchange for PPGG's agreement that its "escorts" would not block him or drown out his words.

PPGG was undoubtedly chagrined to find that, far from being discouraged, Mr. Foti redoubled his efforts and continued to appear several times a week at the clinic in order to picket, pray, and reach out to abortion- bound women. Moreover, over the years, other pro- lifers, including some 40 Days for Life participants, came to pray and counsel on the public sidewalk in front of the clinic.

Craig Sager

Psalm 119:9 (HCSB)

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.

Thought:

Gotta be honest, not sure why God took me here today for a devotional. Maybe a preliminary thought to what the day may bring and test me on my ability to live on God's Word. Sometimes we never know why we get put where we do in our day's travels, but just know that God has a purpose for it. If we live in accordance to what his Words tell us to live by, it can be interesting to see how your day unfolds. Maybe for you, too, in your opportunity that may come to share or live God's Word.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we are unsure as to where You may take us in our days; We put all control into Your hands. It becomes up to us to see where You are at in those moments. Then we get to share them with others to bring You the honor and glory of our days. Let us not lose that knowledge of Your way. Amen.
____________________________

Craig Sager writes devotionals to inspire people in their daily walk with God and open doors of understanding in how the Bible relates to each one of us. He lives with his wife and two sons in southwestern York County, PA.

Biblica responds to Haiti crisis with Scripture resources in French and Creole that guide earthquake survivors through healing process

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO (Christian Newswire) -- Relief organizations continue to bring much-needed water, food, and medical supplies to help more than 1 million Haitians displaced by the January 12 earthquake. But Haitians need more than material relief. They need the strength and comfort of God's Word to make sense of their shattered world.

Biblica is partnering with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, Compassion International, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, The Salvation Army, and TWR (formerly Trans World Radio) to provide Haitians with Scripture resources that give comfort and guidance in overcoming devastating crises. Biblica is also working with a coalition of Florida churches and civic groups including the Miami Baptist Association, and Christian Family Coalition of Miami through TentHaiti.com to provide Scripture resources that will accompany camping gear and first- aid supplies for Haitians. Our initiatives include:

William J. Federer

ST. LOUIS, MO (American Minute) -- The Boys Scouts of America was incorporated FEBRUARY 8, 1910. Sir Robert Baden-Powell began the movement in England two years prior. A hero of the South African Boer Wars, Sir Baden-Powell's troops were besieged 200 days by an overwhelming army, but his resourcefulness saved his men. The Boy Scouts are now the largest voluntary youth movement in the world, with membership over 25 million.

In the pamphlet "Scouting & Christianity" 1917, Baden-Powell wrote: "Scouting is nothing less than applied Christianity." The Scout Oath states: "On my honor, I will do my best: To do my duty to God and my country, and to obey the Scout Law, To help other people at all times. To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight." In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge addressed a gathering of Boy Scouts in New York: "The three fundamentals of scouthood are reverence for nature...reverence for law...and reverence for God.

It is hard to see how a great man can be an atheist. Doubters do not achieve." President Coolidge concluded: "No man realizes his full possibilities unless he has the deep conviction that life is eternally important, and that his work, well done, is part of an unending plan."

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