Ohio

Runaway Christian convert Fathima Rifqa Bary was back in her home state of Ohio as of Tuesday after three months of living in Florida, where she had a highly publicized court battle against her Muslim parents.

Florida has officially ended its emergency jurisdiction of Bary, who was turned over to the care of Ohio’s Children Services. The 17-year-old girl, who said her father threatened to kill her for converting to Christianity, will not be immediately returned to her family home. Ohio’s Franklin County Children Services is expected to place her in a foster home.

Since August, Bary has been involved in a legal battle with her parents, who are trying to regain custody of her. more >>

A Christian fellowship group that was denied registration from Wright State University in Ohio because of its faith-based policies has now been granted recognition by campus officials – for now that is.

Representatives of Campus Bible Fellowship received an e-mail Monday evening from the university's director of student activities that they would be reinstated for the remainder of the school year.

"It told us that that CBF was reinstated – that we could meet and schedule rooms and that all rights and privileges are restored for rest of school year," Gary Holtz, who oversees the chapter, told The Christian Post. more >>

A Christian fellowship group that has been on the Wright State University campus for over 30 years was denied registration as a student group this year for its faith-based policies.

Representatives of Campus Bible Fellowship, which ministers to students at secular colleges, reported that they were turned down by school officials earlier this year when they tried to re-register the group.

The Office of Student Activities at the Ohio-based university named two reasons for the denial, according to CBF representatives. more >>

Scores of youth ministers and workers have gathered in Columbus, Ohio, for this year’s National Youth Ministry Conference (NYMC) with the intent to connect, to learn, and to worship.

The annual conference, put together by Simply Youth Ministry and Group Publishing, Inc., officially kicks off Friday with the opening general session at 7 p.m. and closes Monday before noon.

“We’ve pooled our ideas and hearts together to create a conference with some distinctive from deeper learning tracks, affinity groups, experiential worship experiences, and programming for spouses,” says Doug Fields, founder of Simply Youth Ministry. “[W]hen it comes down to it, it’s really indescribable.” more >>

Can the Great Commission be fulfilled in our lifetimes?

That was the big question at the heart of a recent session at the North American Call2All Congress in Dayton, Ohio.

“Absolutely," responded Steve Douglass, president of Campus Crusade for Christ International, reiterating a message he delivered one year earlier. more >>