Maryland

LANDOVER, Md. – The evangelical movement is at a “head-snapping” generational change with younger evangelicals “revolting” against the tone of the Christian Right, says a prominent religious scholar.

Across the nation, young evangelicals are naming Rick Warren or Bono as their role model for social engagement, rather than a Christian Right leader, says Michael Gerson, senior research fellow in the Center on Faith & International Affairs at the Institute for Global Engagement.

Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forrest, Calif., is known for mobilizing evangelical churches in the battle against HIV/AID in Africa, while U2 frontman Bono is one of the world’s leading anti-poverty activists. more >>

LANDOVER, Md. – Stop trying to control your life, said the 62nd Chaplain of the U.S. Senate to a room full of the nation’s top evangelical leaders.

After initially joking that he wanted to give a more optimistic message but was prompted by the Holy Spirit to do otherwise, Chaplain Barry Black dived into a message on how leaders should respond to the dark days for the opening session of the 2009 Evangelical Leaders Forum Thursday evening.

Christian leaders, though in a position to lead others, are themselves weak and don’t know what to pray for many times, said Black. He offered two prescriptions to the evangelical leaders struggling with difficult situations. more >>

Student senators at the University of Maryland who voted to eliminate the invocation during commencement say they plan to hold a protest early next month of the president's recent decision to reinstate the prayer.

Kevin Tervala, a student senator who voted against keeping the graduation prayer, a long-standing university tradition, said that while he respects religion he doesn't believe it has a place at a ceremony intended to celebrate students' accomplishments.

"The protest is going to showcase the religious diversity and spirit of individualism we have on this campus," said Tervala in an article published Monday by The Diamondback, the university's student newspaper. more >>

Award-winning Christian band newsboys will kick off their "Join The Tribe" tour on Friday and among the groups that will be joining them as they trek across the country is Christian rock band DecembeRadio.

“The Join the Tribe tour is going to be a blast,” exclaimed Josh Reedy, lead singer and bass player for DecembeRadio. “It's really cool for us to be a part of a tour with a band that we grew up watching. I know it will be a night of great music, energy and ministry.”

Kicking off Friday in Fredrick, Md., the tour will introduce fans to new music from newsboys' upcoming fifteenth studio release, which hits stores May 5, including the album’s title track and debut single "In The Hands Of God.” more >>

CUMBERLAND, Md. (AP) - Can we all just get along?

That question ran quietly through my mind as I prepared to lead a dozen workmates on a four-day bicycle ride along the C&O Canal from Cumberland in western Maryland to Washington.

Prickly personalities weren't the concern. The big gap in biking experience was. more >>