New York

In an interview on the "TODAY" show Monday, singer/actress Jennifer Hudson shared that it is her faith in God that has helped her overcome the tragedies and challenges she has faced in her life. 

Appearing on "TODAY" to discuss her new memoir, I Got This: How I Changed My Ways and Lost What Weighed Me Down, Hudson revealed that she underwent a bit of a shock when she started gaining noteriety for her singing talent as well as her weight.

Speaking of her red carpet appearances during "American Idol" early in her career, the Grammy and Oscar winner said, "I didn't define myself that way so it was, like, it was a shocking moment for me. Actually when I started on the red carpet doing 'Idol,' I had already lost 60 pounds then. By then, I was, like, a size 12. This is every woman's size. The average size. I was, like, what are you talking about? Here it is again: image, image, image, image. To me, it's talent, talent, talent, talent. At least where I come from." more >>

Dimas Salaberrios, pastor of Infinity Church in the Bronx borough of New York City, led a protest Thursday, Jan. 5, outside the offices of the New York City Law Department over his ministry's eviction from the Bronx River Community Center, owned by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA).

Pastor Salaberrios claims that NYCHA was following in the footsteps of the NYC Board of Education, which served eviction notices to religious groups who use public school facilities after school hours for their ministries. The education department's move stems from the Supreme Court's refusal in December to review a lawsuit filed on behalf of the Bronx Household of Faith that challenged the Board of Education’s policy.

As a result, the Bronx Household of Faith congregation was told by the Board of Education that it had to quit the school auditorium it has been using as a worship space since 2002 by Feb. 12, 2012. Dozens of NYC churches have been affected by the Board of Ed's decision, which goes back to its victory in the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals. The appeals court had decided in June to uphold the board’s policy against religious activity in public school facilities. more >>

The New York City Police Department is currently investigating four fire attacks from Sunday night, the majority of which were targeted at Muslim places of worship.

The attacks happened successively on Sunday night in the Queens borough of New York City.

The first attack happened at 8 p.m., when a Molotov cocktail hit a Muslim-run bodega. The Molotov cocktails were comprised of a glass Starbucks bottle stuffed with rags and doused in flammable liquid, presumably gasoline or lighter fluid, according to police. more >>

A New York woman claims her boss made her choose between getting an abortion or losing her job, yet still ended up getting fired even after she terminated her pregnancy.

The ultimatum is at the heart of a lawsuit that Catherine Rizzo, a 25-year-old mother of two, has filed against the owner of Cooky's Deli in Bohemia, N.Y.

“The owner’s daughter pulled me in the office, and basically told me if I didn’t have an abortion, I wasn’t going to have a job,” Rizzo told The New York Post. more >>

Eight million people live in New York City. If 1 million of them gave a dollar this holiday season, they could change the plight of the homeless in their city forever.

Starting today and going through Dec. 31, Eric Briarley will stand at 46th Street between Broadway and 7th Avenue in Times Square every day from morning until midnight and ask millions of visitors and residents alike: “Do you have one dollar?”

Briarley is leading a “philanthropic social challenge” to see if one million people will give one dollar each to change the lives of homeless, poor, and hungry people in the nation’s most populous city. more >>

As Christmas approaches, a time to celebrate the spirit of Christ, Angel Tree ministry allows His light to shine through in the form of gift donations to children of incarcerated parents.

This prison fellowship program allows parents in prison to give their child a Christmas present through the help of mainly local church volunteers. Liberty Church in New York City has seen a tremendous outpouring of Good Will from its congregation towards this charity.

Shawna Sutherland told The Christian Post that a church member, who as a child was an Angel Tree recipient, is the inspiration behind their involvement with the ministry. more >>