LAKE FOREST, CALIF. – A growing movement among Christians to combat a global orphan crisis should not just be a passing fad, an evangelical pastor insisted during the opening session of a two-day summit. Instead, caring for orphans should reflect the heart of God as shown in the Bible.

"Sometimes we can be faddish about justice issues, where it becomes the 'in' thing to do," said Crawford Loritts, the senior pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in Roswell, Ga. "We need to see how profoundly, deeply rooted this (orphan care issue) is in the very heart of God. The Gospel is about justice, and justice is rooted in the Gospel. You cannot speak about the Bible without speaking about justice.

"The heart of God is a heart of inclusion. It's all about bringing people together. People were meant to be a part of something that's inclusive. People were meant to belong," Loritts explained. more >>

A Texas movie theater has refused to run an ad by a local atheist organization, prompting some to consider a lawsuit against the business.

Angelika Film Center of Plano initially agreed to run an ad by Dallas-Fort Worth Coalition of Reason, but on the day before it was scheduled to run, the movie theater's leaders changed their mind.

Zachary Moore, coordinator of the DFWCR, told The Christian Post that his organization first attempted to advertise with another theater, the Movie Tavern in Arlington. more >>

Calvary Chapel movement founder Chuck Smith is considering his options for treatment of cancer in his lungs after doctors who initially recommended surgery are now against the procedure after air capacity test results were unfavorable.

Smith's tumor in his lungs had been reduced in size after undergoing radiation and chemotherapy treatment that began earlier this year, but it remains a health concern.

His daughter, Janette Smith Manderson, who has been giving regular updates on her father by posting on a Facebook prayer group page, began her most recent report by stating, "God is good! When Dad had the lung capacity test last Friday, the doctors felt that he should not have surgery, as it could possibly make breathing a bit harder." more >>

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. – Author Kay Warren delivered a sermon on choosing joy at the Crystal Cathedral during two Sunday worship services that were taped for the Garden Grove church's "Hour of Power" TV broadcast.

The wife of Saddleback Church founding Pastor Rick Warren adapted her message from her recently released book, Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isn't Enough.

Warren told the congregation about her own struggles to find joy even when the Bible clearly states a Christian's life should be full of joy. more >>

Growing negative reaction to the BBC's plan to broadcast one of its Radio 5 Live shows from an abortion clinic is coming from pro-life groups in the United States as well as Europe.

During the two-hour live show hosted by Victoria Derbyshire, women who have chosen to have an abortion and some clinic staff members will be interviewed, according to The Independent, a London-based paper.

The show's location has yet to be announced and critics say the show is basically "free advertising" for pro-abortion groups. more >>

Megachurch pastor Billy Hybels' first five years of establishing a church in a Chicago suburb was one of the hardest experiences in his life, he told Christian leaders at the Exponential conference.

"I did a lot of scrambling. In the first five years it was like 25, 100-yard dashes a day," Hybels told those attending the second day of the three-day church planting conference at First Baptist Church Orlando.

Hybels, 60, founded Willow Creek Community Church 37 years ago. He led services at Palatine's Willow Creek Theater before the church moved six years later to its current location in South Barrington, Ill. more >>