Indiana

The Assemblies of God launched an aggressive church planting initiative that will bring Sunday worship services to popular hangouts in the next two years.

MX9 is a new campaign in which the Pentecostals will double their current church plant rate aiming for 1,000 new churches by 2009. And already, 610 church starts have been pledged.

"MX9 will be a great catalyst to help us move forward in our calling as Christians to fulfill the Great Commission," said U.S. Missions Executive Director Alton Garrison, who was elected last week at the General Council. more >>

The world is upside down in moral degradation and the church to turn it right side up is an authentic Pentecostal church, according to the head of the Assemblies of God.

Thomas E. Trask is retiring from his post as general superintendent of the largest Pentecostal denomination in the nation. But before he steps down this year, he made an emotional plea to tens of thousands of "brothers and sisters" not to let a "spineless" Christianity enter the Assemblies of God.

"Many churches in America today [are] offering ... new religion that guarantees no hell, requires no holiness," Trask said Wednesday night in his farewell sermon at the Assemblies of God’s 52nd General Council in Indianapolis. "It is a limp, spineless Christianity that does not confront sin for fear of being judgmental. It is an impotent gospel that tells people everything is okay." more >>

Thousands of Pentecostal youth from around the country are "Experiencing the Dream" at Indy '07, a National Youth Convention at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

Students have united this week for the youth event of the Assemblies of God – the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world – to launch a major campus evangelism initiative called Dreaming 2015.

"Indy07 is our launching pad for the greatest student evangelism thrust of our lifetime," said Jay Mooney, national Youth Ministries director. "The vision is to reach 1 million American teenagers and have them grafted into a local church by the end of 2015." more >>

The nation's largest Pentecostal group has issued a special prayer call in the days leading up to key leadership change.

Prayers are being urged across the 2.8 million-member denomination for Sunday just before delegates head into its biennial General Council meeting where they will vote on a new head.

"We are asking churches across the nation to devote a concerted time of prayer this Sunday, August 5, for God's will to be accomplished in these key posts of ministry in our Fellowship," said John Maempa, director of the National Prayer Center, according to the Assemblies of God News Service. more >>

Super Bowl Champion Coach Tony Dungy can add yet another success to his list of accolades as his book has already debuted at the No. 2 spot on the New York Times bestsellers list among the hardcover, nonfiction books.

Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, & Priorities of a Winning Life, the biographical book written about the Indianapolis Colts coach, also moved up to No. 4 on Publisher Weekly’s hardcover, nonfiction category this week and No. 35 in USA Today’s “Top 150” for July 19.

Dungy, who is also the first African-American coach to win the Super Bowl, just finished up a nine-day coast-to-coast media tour to promote the memoir that included visits to New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Indianapolis, and Tampa. The tour, which made its mark with eight completely “sold out” book-signings, culminated with a visit to “The Late Show with David Letterman” on July 24. more >>

More than 4,400 youth who picked up hope last week have been urged to share their hope with teen mothers, the hungry, and the rest of the world.

The Presbyterian Youth Triennium concluded Sunday with thousands cheering for God after five days of worship, drama and inspiring messages.

"[W]hen you go back home and give Christ's hope to people, the world is going to be blessed," closing worship preacher Perryn Rice told the participating students at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., according to the Presbyterian News Service. more >>