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‘Jesus Is the Way,’ Kathy Lee Gifford’s New TV Series Highlights Faith Conversations

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‘Jesus Is the Way,’ Kathy Lee Gifford’s New TV Series Highlights Faith Conversations

The success of Kathie Lee Gifford’s new book, “The Jesus I Know,” has sparked a new television series on Fox Nation about the same subject.

The new series, also called “The Jesus I Know,” features Gifford interviewing well-known people about their personal faith. So far, Gifford has interviewed Kristin Chenoweth, Pattie Mallette, Chuck Harmony, Claude Kelly, Janice Dean, and Jimmy Wayne.

Gifford’s book, The Jesus I Know: Honest Conversations and Diverse Opinions about Who He Is, was released in November and included interviews with 25 individuals.

The new TV series is available exclusively on Fox Nation, a streaming service.

In an interview with Fox Across America With Jimmy Failla, Gifford emphasized that the series does not focus on her personal faith.

“I’ve already done probably three books on that,” she said.

Instead, the series is about the “Jesus they know.”

Her agent gave her the idea for the series.

“He said, ‘Kathie, you know, in the last few books that we’ve done together, my favorite parts of the conversations you’ve had with people [are] about your faith and their faith,’ whether it’s Craig Ferguson, when you’re on a movie set in the Highlands of Scotland, in my movie, Then Came You, or it’s Al Pacino, sitting in my garden, and we’re playing a game, or it’s Kevin Costner, who calls me one day to help me out with a project. That’s been my world, “she told Failla. “… That’s just where my stories come from. “

Gifford told Failla that she’s “been a follower of Jesus” since she was 12.

“There has been a calling on my life, but it was not to Africa, and it was not to China. It was not to all the missionary places that people went to back then in the 1800s when I was born,” she said, laughing. “And I knew it was going to be the field of entertainment.

“I believe that Jesus is the way to eternal life because Jesus said, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one comes unto the Father but through Me.’ So I believe Jesus when He says that, but I also know that if we’re going to try to get to the Father, I want Jesus at the gate because He’s the one that saw my heart from day one. And [He] knows when I do things that don’t please, and that fall short of His glory – and [He] loves me anyway. ”

SOURCE: CHRISTIAN HEADLINES

Lviv Christians Pray for Peace as Russia Strikes Area with Missiles, Killing at Least 7 in City Once Regarded as ‘Safe Haven’

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Lviv Christians Pray for Peace as Russia Strikes Area with Missiles, Killing at Least 7 in City Once Regarded as ‘Safe Haven’

LVIV, Ukraine- At least seven people were reportedly killed and 11 injured on Monday, when Russian forces launched several missiles, striking the city’s landmark train depot and a tire repair shop not far from the city.

For the first 54 days of the war, Lviv had been considered a relatively safe haven for residents and refugees alike, but several missile attacks were reported over the weekend. On Monday, the start of Holy Week here in Ukraine, Lviv saw its first fatalities of the war with Russia. 

Christians Pray For Peace

Lviv is home to some of the most beautiful churches in the world, and nearly a hundred are located throughout the city. Most of the buildings were shut down during the Soviet era, but the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 triggered a resurgence of the Christian faith, and its churches, including the magnificent Greek Catholic Church of St. Andrew.  

On Sunday, the week before Easter here, churches were packed with Christians praying that just as Jesus defeated death on a cross, Ukraine will also see the victory. 

“We have this Christian tradition that Christ is risen and Ukraine will be risen too,” said Helena, a 30-year-resident of Lviv. “We strongly believe the enemy will fall down and we will have the victory.”

Although restaurants and shops are open, many of the city’s magnificent churches are boarded up and priceless statues remain heavily wrapped up and cushioned in case the worst happens. 

Arsen Kotenee, a father and long-time resident of Lviv told CBN News he’s not afraid.  

“Actually, I’m not scared because I understand my life belongs to Christ,” Kotenee said. 

“So, you’re not leaving?” CBN News asked him. 

“I’m not supposed to leave,” he replied. “My wife stays with me too. I have two children. We are trusting God.”

Russia Will Be Defeated

There was a standing-room-only crowd at Spring of Life Church in Lviv on Sunday, where people are praying around the clock for their country.  

Kotenee said during a recent time of prayer, God gave him some good news for Ukraine.

“I just started praying in my spirit and I received this word Russia will be defeated, Russia will be defeated,” he said. “When you hear all the dangers, don’t be in panic, pray like a shield, when you pray, lift up your hands, so that’s what we are doing. When we hear all the bad news, all the rockets. Yes, we get a lot of rockets in our city Lviv too. But praise God, we are doing OK.”

SOURCE: CBN NEWSSOURCE: CBN NEWS

Manchester pub becomes church on Sunday mornings

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Manchester pub becomes church on Sunday mornings

People in Manchester can now attend church at a pub. 

The Mosely Arms in Bolton has become the venue for an informal alternative to traditional weekly worship.

“We just want local people who are often completely off church to encounter Jesus, and for the church to grow with those people, and for local leadership to be developed,” the Rev. Ben Woodfield, the vicar of New Life Church, told Premier.

The ‘New Life’ initiative is part of the Antioch Network, a Church of England church planting network that works primarily within the Diocese of Manchester.

Run by Rev Woodfield and his colleague Revd John Brett, the network aims to plant at least 16 churches by 2026. 

New Life Church is itself a plant of another church plant located in a council estate three miles away on the other side of Bolton.

“Generally we don’t meet in traditional church buildings, we find those third spaces in the community and the reason we do that is accessibility. 

“We’re going for people who are third, fourth generation unchurched. That’s who we’re wanting to reach. So we just found that neutral spaces are a little easier for people to walk through the door,” Rev Woodfield continued. 

Rev Woodfield and his team came up with the pub idea while prayer walking around the area. 

“We were walking past the Mosely Arms and Joe, a member of our team just said, why don’t go and chat to Bernie, the landlady of the pub, this is a great place for church. 

“Bernie was out sweeping the front, and as we approached her she said: ‘Everybody in!’. We all pile into this pub, and she said, ‘It’s yours on a Sunday morning, come and use it. You can have it for free’.”

The project was launched in March and has already seen growth in church membership. 

SOURCE: PREMIER CHRISTIAN NEWS

Texas megachurch helps hundreds of Ukrainian refugees relocate, raises thousands for relief

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Texas megachurch helps hundreds of Ukrainian refugees relocate, raises thousands for relief

A multisite megachurch based in Texas has helped hundreds of Ukrainian refugees relocate amid the Russian invasion, working with ministry partners in the Eastern European nation.

Gateway Church, which has nine locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area plus dozens of other smaller meeting groups in the United States, has helped around 400 Ukrainian refugees relocate.

Lawrence Swicegood, spokesperson for Gateway, told The Christian Post on Tuesday that the church is also in the process of helping relocate hundreds more refugees.

Swicegood contended that Gateway has been able to help out because of relationships with several congregations located in Ukraine that predate the outbreak of the war.

“Now, we are leveraging those long-established relationships to immediately focus on humanitarian relief and relocation efforts within Ukraine and in neighboring countries throughout Europe,” he said.

“This includes providing shelter, food, water, medical supplies and numerous daily supplies.  We have engaged a larger network of churches and partners to collectively assist over a thousand families and individuals in dire need.”

Gateway has also allocated approximately $500,000 from the church’s outreach budget for financial aid, which was added to Gateway members donating around $526,000 in the last few weeks.

“So, collectively, over $1 million has been sent to assist the thousands of people in need. We will continue to raise money for this important relief and relocation effort,” added Swicegood.

Swicegood told CP that he hopes Gateway’s efforts show that “God loves and has not forgotten about the people of Ukraine.” He stressed that churches, in general, are “called to be a light in a dark world because Jesus came to a fallen world to give His live for all mankind.”

“We believe as Christians that we should be proactive in helping people in their time of need,” he said. “War has devastated so many, but it has not crushed the spirit and hope of Ukrainian people.”

In February, Russian forces invaded Ukraine, with Russian President Vladimir Putin claiming that he was defending the newly proclaimed independence of predominantly ethnic Russian communities in the eastern part of the country.

Since then, millions of Ukrainians have fled their homes as Russian forces attack various cities, reportedly committing various war crimes during their military operations.

Numerous churches across the U.S. have been among those offering aid, including raising funds and supplies to provide to Ukrainian refugees.

Last month, for example, the Ukrainian Pentecostal Church of Nicholasville, Kentucky, raised around $145,000 at a bake sale to purchase supplies for those displaced by the conflict.

Victor Selepina, organizer of the UPC bake sale, told CP in an earlier interview that he “never anticipated to have so many people come out and to raise that amount of money.”

“Our community has been absolutely wonderful,” said Selepina. “We’ve been very, very, very blessed with a community that we live in, and also the opportunities that this country has given us at one point that we can now organize such events.”

SOURCE: THE CHRISTIAN POST

Masters Champion Scottie Scheffler: I Golf Because ‘I’m Trying to Glorify God’

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Masters Champion Scottie Scheffler: I Golf Because ‘I’m Trying to Glorify God’

The 2022 Masters champion is a 25-year-old Texan who says he golfs to “glorify God” and who credits prayer for giving him peace on an anxious weekend.

Scottie Scheffler won his first Masters tournament Sunday with a dominant final round, ending the four-day event at 10-under-par and edging second-place Rory McIlroy by three strokes.

It was his first major championship but his fourth overall in less than two months. In March, he became the world’s No. 1 golfer in the Official World Golf Rankings at a record pace, with a mere 42 days passing from his first victory to being ranked in the top spot. The previous record, held at the time by Tiger Woods, was 252 days.

Asked during a Sunday news conference what drives him, Scheffler pointed to his faith.

“The reason why I play golf is because I’m trying to glorify God and all that He’s done in my life,” Scheffler told media members. “And so for me, my identity isn’t a golf score.”

But on Sunday morning, Scheffler was nervous.

“I cried like a baby this morning. I was so stressed out,” said Scheffler, who lives in Texas and golfed at the University of Texas. “I didn’t know what to do.”

Scheffler said he told his wife, “I don’t think I’m ready for this.” His wife offered faith-centric words of encouragement.

Scheffler’s wife, he said, told him that God is in control of his life.

“The Lord is leading me, and if today is my time, then it’s my time,” he said, referencing his outlook on Sunday morning. And if, you know, I shot 82 today, you know somehow I was going to use it for His glory. … All I’m trying to do is glorify God. And that’s why I’m here. And that’s why I’m in this position. And so, for me, it’s not about a golf score.

Asked if his faith gives him peace on the golf course, Scheffler said it does.

“Every day when we go out there, Meredith always prays for peace, because that’s how I want to feel when I’m out there on the golf course,” he said. “I want to feel at peace, have fun, and just feel His presence. That’s her prayer every day. That’s my prayer. And I really felt that today. I felt at peace. “

SOURCE: CHRISTIAN HEADLINES

Christians in Bangladesh want Easter to be declared a national holiday

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Christians in Bangladesh want Easter to be declared a national holiday

A Christian organisation is urging the government to declare Easter as a public holiday. 

The Bangladesh Christian Association (BCA) is urging the government to make this change and to ask authorities not to allow educational institutions to hold examinations on Easter Sunday. 

Within Bangladesh, Christians form a tiny minority, less than half a percent, of the 160 million people in the Muslim-majority country. 

Of an estimated 600,000 Christians, the majority (about 400,000) are Catholics.

BCA secretary Hemanta Corraya told Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA): “We have been campaigning for a public holiday on Easter Sunday for almost two decades, but there has been no response from the government. 

“In the future, we will take more people to the streets to ask for this holiday.

“We want to demonstrate in the streets for our rights like a holiday at Easter, but we need assistance from the Church. 

“If clergymen join with us, it would be easy to fulfil our demand.” 

BCA President Nirmol Rozario said in a statement: “Easter Sunday is one of the major religious festivals of the Christian community all over the world. 

“The day is an optional holiday in the official calendar but we have heard that some educational institutions will conduct exams on that day. 

“Our demand is for students to be given leave to observe the holiday.” 

SOURCE: PREMIER CHRISTIAN NEWS

Notorious Wrestler Gets Emotional While Sharing How His Wife Aided in Restoring His Relationship With Jesus

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Notorious Wrestler Gets Emotional While Sharing How His Wife Aided in Restoring His Relationship With Jesus

Mark Calaway is one of the most notorious World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc (WWE) wrestlers in the history of the professional wrestling promotion. For thirty years, Calaway has been known to fans as The Undertaker.

The night before WrestleMania 38, the 57-year-old Calaway addressed thousands of screaming fans in Dallas’ American Airlines Center during his WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

“Tonight I am going to take you behind the curtain to meet the man under the black hat,” he said.

An emotional Calaway gave what some have called the greatest WWE Hall of Fame induction speech ever. The thousands in attendance thanked their beloved WWE superstar with a standing ovation and a serenade of “Thank You Taker,” “Undertaker,” and “You Deserve It” chants for over five minutes.

During Calaway’s nearly 45-minute speech, he thanked the fans, his parents, fellow wrestlers, and WWE management while imparting what he called three “mental signature moves” he lives by—in the hopes that one or all three would be a help someone in the audience.

Calaway told the crowd perception is reality, that respect and loyalty go a long way, and to never be content. But most powerful moment came when he talked about his family and the impact his wife had on his relationship with Jesus.

The father of four talked about his 9-year-old daughter who was in attendance, sitting next to her mother, Michelle McCool. “Sweet Kaia Faith,” the large, tenderhearted wrestler said, “you are blessed with so many gifts. You have a beautiful heart, a love of God, athleticism, humor—I asked her what she wanted me to tell the world about you? Without skipping a beat she goes, ‘I don’t care what the world thinks about me, daddy.’”

Calaway looked at his daughter and called her “baby girl” while telling her that he hopes that never changes, because “you’re perfect just the way you are.”

“To my beautiful wife, Michelle,” Calaway said as he held back tears, “she is my rock. She is the foundation our family is built on. You made me want to be a better man and a husband just when I’m near you.”

McCool is also a former WWE wrestler. When she first joined the organization, she wanted nothing to do with The Undertaker. “There [were] two people she didn’t want to meet,” Calaway said. “Kane and The Undertaker. I think with Kane, it was because he is so big and scary. Now me on the other hand—I think it was the long hair, the tattoos, and somewhat bad reputation. She would come to find out that Kane was probably the nicest man that she’s ever met, and she married me.” Calaway joked that after a long, exhausting chase, she “finally had to say yes.”

SOURCE: BY CHURCH LEADERS

Maverick City Makes Grammy History as 1st Christian Group Performer in 20 Years: ‘Thank You Jesus’

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Maverick City Makes Grammy History as 1st Christian Group Performer in 20 Years: ‘Thank You Jesus’

Maverick City Music made history Sunday night by winning its first Grammy and also becoming the first Christian or Gospel group in 20 years to perform live on the broadcast.

The group won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for Old Church Basement, a live LP recorded with Elevation Worship. The group also received nominations for Best Gospel Performance/Song (Wait on You), Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song (Jireh) and Best Gospel Album (Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition).

Maverick City Music’s performance of Jireh during Sunday’s broadcast on CBS attracted plenty of new fans, if social media is any indication. A news release called it the “first time in over 20 years that a Gospel or Christian artist has been televised at the ceremony.” The last such performance was in 2002.

“THANK YOU JESUS!” the group’s Twitter account said after the Grammy win. “Everything we do belongs to God! We’re so honored to be a part of what He is doing in the Kingdom! Thank you to YOU, our community, our family for the love and support. This wouldn’t be possible without you! ”

Maverick City Music’s Chandler Moore accepted the award on stage at the Grammys, with members of the two groups – Maverick City and Elevation Worship – standing behind him.

“We just want to thank God,” he said before adding that the group was created “for those who are marginalized, unheard [and] rejected in this space to be heard.”

“All of us on this stage represent that,” he said.

Plenty of fans on social media enjoyed the performance, even if it was – as some noted – cut short and spanned less than one minute.

“Actually have tears in my eyes looking at the videos of @MavCityMusic at the #GRAMMYs,” one person tweeted. “Praising and worshipping Jesus on the rooftop above the Vegas lights.”

“I don’t care if it was 20 seconds or 20 hours, seeing @MavCityMusic performing #Jireh live at the #GRAMMYs is a HUGE win,” another person tweeted. “The Lord is moving, even when we think he’s not.”

SOURCE: CHRISTIAN HEADLINES

Church leaders and Christian charities are urging people to pray for Ukraine this weekend

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Church leaders and Christian charities are urging people to pray for Ukraine this weekend

This weekend, churches and Christians from across the UK and Ireland are encouraged to come together in an act of witness to pray for the people of Ukraine and for an end to the conflict.

Tomorrow at 2pm Church Leaders will lead a large crowd in an act of witness outside the Ukrainian embassy in London. 

The act of witness will include speeches from church leaders such as the Chair of Christian Aid and former Archbishop of York, John Sentamu.

Christian Aid-Chief Executive Patrick Watt spoke to Premier and said what you can expect to see this weekend: “On Saturday evening, we’ll be projecting a message, we pray for Ukraine, on the side of Westminster Abbey, on the on the front of Methodist Central Hall in Westminster. 

“Then on the Sunday, we’ll be encouraging Christians up and down the country to come together in prayer at 2pm, for peace in Ukraine, and to pray together.

“A prayer has also been put together in partnership with the Russian Orthodox Church here in Britain.

“With their father, Stephen Platt, from the Russian Orthodox Church in Oxford, who’s been very supportive of the call for peace in Ukraine. 

“We’re delighted to have the backing of church leaders from across the different churches and we think this will be a really powerful moment to unify for peace, up and down this country.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury as well as the Archbishop of York has also set aside this Sunday as a day of prayer. 

On Thursday, both Archbishops issued a pastoral letter to the clergy and people of the Church of England, calling on them to pray for peace in Ukraine.  

They wrote: “This attack is an act of evil, imperilling as it does the relative peace and security that Europe has enjoyed for so long.

“The attack by one nation on a free, democratic country has rightly provoked outrage, sanctions, and condemnation.  

“We lament with the people of Ukraine, and we pray for the innocent, the frightened and those who have lost loved ones, homes, and family.  

“We continue to call for a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian forces as well as wide-ranging efforts to ensure peace, stability and security.”

The Church of England is also supporting a call from Pope Francis for a Global Day of Prayer and fasting next week on Ash Wednesday.

SOURCE: PREMIER CHRISTIAN NEWS

Christian MP who shared biblical beliefs on marriage and sexuality wins free speech case

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Christian MP who shared biblical beliefs on marriage and sexuality wins free speech case

A Finnish court has thrown out the charges against a Christian MP and a bishop who publicly shared their Bible-based beliefs on marriage and sexuality.

Päivi Räsänen, a former Minister of the Interior, and Bishop Juhana Pohjola stood trial last month on hate speech charges.

They were prosecuted despite the police concluding that no crime had been committed.

During the trial, the prosecution argued that using the word “sin” could be “derogatory” and “harmful”, and claimed that it was not challenging religious views but “the expression of these views”. 

The prosecution said: “The Bible isn’t on trial here, but Räsänen’s words are… The apostle Paul isn’t on trial here, but Räsänen is,” the prosecution said. 

In a case closely followed around the world, the Helsinki District Court dismissed the charges on Wednesday. 

“It is not for the district court to interpret biblical concepts,” the judgment said. 

The prosecution has been ordered by the court to pay over 60,000 EUR in legal costs. It has seven days to appeal the ruling. 

Speaking after her victory, Räsänen said, “I am so grateful the court recognized the threat to free speech and ruled in our favour.

“I feel a weight has been lifted off my shoulders after being acquitted.

“Although I am grateful for having had this chance to stand up for freedom of speech, I hope that this ruling will help prevent others from having to go through the same ordeal.” 

Räsänen and Pohjala were supported by ADF International. Its executive director, Paul Coleman, has welcomed the verdict. 

“This is an important decision, which upholds the fundamental right to freedom of speech in Finland,” he said.

“In a free society, everyone should be allowed to share their beliefs without fear of censorship. This is the foundation of every free and democratic society.

“Criminalizing speech through so-called ‘hate-speech’ laws shuts down important public debates and poses a grave threat to our democracies.” 

SOURCE: CHRISTIAN TODAY

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