Hoping to strengthen a community of Christian filmmakers interested in bringing about a positive change in the types of movies coming out of Hollywood, more than 100 film industry experts are expected to attend the third annual San Diego Christian Film Festival this weekend, said a lead organizer of the event.

"It makes sense if we can just bring everybody together and share and help, and really raise the bar of the quality of film," said Chad Stewart, who is on the board of directors for the festival and the managing director of a production company based in Del Mar, Calif.

Stewart told The Christian Post that the films the festival features and the kind of movies he helps produce are not necessarily labeled under the Christian film genre, but are made by Christian filmmakers with the intent of producing movies that are of high standard and not in opposition to Biblical values. more >>

The Rev. Robert H. Schuller testified at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court on Wednesday in Los Angeles against his former ministry, the Crystal Cathedral megachurch, claiming that it owes him millions of dollars.

The 86-year-old former church leader appeared to be confused at some of the questioning, The Orange County Register noted, and mistakenly identified himself as the chairman of Crystal Cathedral Ministries – although he and his wife, Arvella, cut all ties with the church earlier this year. Together they founded Crystal Cathedral Ministries in 1955, which grew to be one of the largest Christian sanctuaries in California. But in 2010 the couple filed for bankruptcy.

His testimony, on which he was questioned by an opposition lawyer, lasted two hours. Schuller tried to convince the judge that although he had never objected to Crystal Cathedral using his books and other works for their ministry, they were still his property and the church should not have been receiving royalties from them. more >>

Lauren Chandler is the wife of Matt Chandler, the pastor of The Village Church in Texas, and a mother of three. She is also a passionate songwriter and worship singer who released a six-song album this past summer.

Many came to know the Chandlers for their faith after doctors found a malignant tumor in Matt's brain in 2009. Together the family has persevered through brain scans, surgeries and chemotherapy.

Lauren spoke with The Christian Post during the Defined by God conference for pastors' wives this past weekend in San Diego, California, including about her husband's brain tumor, miscarriages, and her new album. The following are excerpts from the interview. more >>

A former member of the militant Black Panthers who now pastors a megachurch in Sacramento, Calif., has received aggressive criticism, including death threats, for his support of biblical values that are more in line with the Republicans' party platform, according to a local news station. The pastor told a Fox News affiliate recently that he will not be voting for President Barack Obama.

"I accepted Christ in my life. My relationship with Him means more to me then the Democratic party, Independent, Republican, black or white," Dr. Phillip Goudeaux, who leads Calvary Christian Center told FOX40.

Goudeaux, whose church has 20,000 members, was not available for comment. The Christian Post wanted to confirm the death threats, but the church is closed on Mondays. more >>

SAN DIEGO – Renewal Ministries Executive Vice President Jani Ortlund urged wives at the Defined by God conference not to begrudge their biblical role as a helper to their husbands.

The title of helper is first bestowed to Eve in Genesis 2:18, which reads "The Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.'"

While some shun the term as one of inferiority and weakness, Ortlund revealed that the "helper" title actually denotes power. more >>

SAN DIEGO – Ministry can be an incredibly lonesome job and pastors' wives are especially vulnerable, said Lori Wilhite, founder of the online Christian women forum Leading and Loving It.

"One of the things that's like this great golden nugget of advice that gets thrown around at seminaries, it gets thrown around at Bible colleges and some pastors' wives circles is that you and I, because [we] are in ministry, cannot have friends," Wilhite told attendees at the Defined by God conference.

Wilhite charged that not only is this "golden nugget" false, but it also plays into the devil's plans. more >>