North Carolina

A group of military atheists has announced that “Rock Beyond Belief,” an event initially planned for April, will now be held next spring as the Fort Bragg military base in North Carolina has finally agreed to host the festival featuring music, speeches and “godless” literature.

Modeled after and a reaction to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s “Rock the Fort” evangelistic event last year, the atheist festival will be held on March 31, 2012, “with the full support of” the military post, the event’s website says.

Sgt. Justin Griffith, the man behind the festival, says Fort Bragg commander Col. Stephen J. Sicinski has allowed the use of a centrally located parade field. “We’re extremely grateful to him for this opportunity,” he says. more >>

Mainstream Christian end times theology, subscribed to by many respected evangelical leaders, is wrong, said the president of the group behind the National Prophecy Conference.

At the opening session of the prophecy conference, held in Ridgecrest, N.C. earlier this month, Gary DeMar of American Vision laid out point after point why the popular dispensational premillennialism view is not supported by the Bible. He even called out by name several prominent evangelical leaders, who adhere to this school of thought, that have made wrong predictions.

“When I point this out to people, some people are irate,” said DeMar. “‘I can’t believe that you are critiquing these men of God.’” more >>

Summer movie series are for other churches. At Elevation Church in Matthews, N.C., a concert sermon series is more fitting to usher in summertime.

Young founding Pastor Steven Furtick, who leads the church of 8,000 attendees, will move his congregation into the second week of the Summer Concert Series this Sunday.

Last week, the church kicked off the new series with snow cones, popcorn, and outdoor activities before service to create a fun summer-themed atmosphere. Every week, the church plans to surprise attendees with activities that scream: summer is here. more >>

A new billboard making fun of Harold Camping's wrong prediction of the May 21 rapture went up Sunday in Greensboro, N.C., calling the situation "awkward."

Camping, president of Family Radio, said the rapture and Judgment Day would take place on May 21, 2011 at 6 p.m.

But humanity survived. more >>

Marti Sementelli’s Facebook bio says a lot about who she is in a limited number of words.

“Never give up no matter what anybody says or thinks.

“I am the only girl on the Birmingham Baseball Team. I have been playing baseball since i was 3 years old. I have been on the Women’s USA Team for the World Cup in Japan. I recently pitched my first no hitter in the Roy Hobbs tournament in Tuscon, Arizona.” more >>

Billy Graham has returned to his home in Montreat, N.C., after being treated for pneumonia at a hospital.

The 92-year-old evangelist was admitted to Mission Hospital in nearby Asheville last Wednesday after having difficulty breathing.

His physician, Dr. Lucian Rice, said he was delighted with the pace of Graham’s recovery. more >>