The producers of the hit TV miniseries "The Bible" have released a statement calling recent claims that they intentionally made the devil character look like President Barack Obama "utter nonsense."

Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, the husband-and-wife executive producer team behind The History Channel miniseries, released the statement Monday amid many claims that the miniseries' depiction of Satan and Obama looked alike.

"The actor who played Satan, Mehdi Ouzaani, is a highly acclaimed Moroccan actor. He has previously played parts in several Biblical epics – including Satanic characters – long before Barack Obama was elected as our President," said Burnett and Downey. more >>

A memorial service for longtime National Religious Broadcasters board member Dr. Alex Leonovich is planned for Emmanuel Baptist Church in Manville, N.J., on Saturday. Leonovich, who was the director of Slavic Missionary Service, "went to be with the Lord" on Wednesday after nearly seven decades of missionary, pastoral, and evangelistic work, NRB stated.

"Alex was a giant among the NRB faithful. He never lost sight of his calling and never lost his love for NRB," said NRB President & CEO Dr. Frank Wright.

SMS, an organization dedicated to reaching Slavic people for Christ, stated, "Alex not only preached with his words, but even more so with his actions. Alex would always tell you that he is ready to be with the Lord at any time, and God truly helped Alex to fulfill his ultimate desire: 'When it's time for the Lord to take me home, I want to go with my boots still on!'" more >>

Evangelist Greg Laurie and his congregation plan to celebrate a milestone observance this coming weekend (March 16,17) in honor of four decades of ministry led by the Harvest church and crusades leader.

"Looking back," says Laurie, whose church is based in Riverside, Calif., "I can see God's hand at work from the very beginning. It has always been a part of God's plan for us to know Him and make Him known."

As the church observes its 40th anniversary with "ReEnvision Weekend," it plans to look ahead at what the future may hold. more >>

Noted televangelist Pat Robertson has claimed that a prayer he made recently on the air was answered for one of his viewers.

A couple weeks ago on an episode of the long-running program "The 700 Club," the founder and chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Network prayed that a given member of his viewing audience would receive a much needed million dollars.

On the Monday episode for "The 700 Club," Robertson spoke of the million-dollar prayer succeeding, as someone identified only as "a businessman" apparently got a check for that amount. more >>

The History Channel's "The Bible" miniseries continues to draw praises for its record television ratings and for increasing interest in the Bible, with the Rev. Franklin Graham being the latest to pay tribute to the positive influence the show is having on viewers.

"The Bible Series ... will likely cause a viewer to want to open the pages of Scripture to see the realities of Almighty God's plan for the human race," Graham said on the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website.

Graham acknowledged that some story lines on the show are interpreted differently, but said that "the truth is that in all things the Lord Jesus Christ is seen lifted up before the world and glorified as the King of kings." more >>

Christian apologist Alex McFarland says that in order for America to survive there needs to be a revival of Christianity. He plans to host a spiritual town hall meeting tonight (Tuesday evening) in Charlotte, N.C., to address the position that a Christian worldview in America needs to be re-established.

"We encourage people everywhere to get serious about prayer, get serious about living out their Christian faith because I personally believe that to save America, to preserve our Constitution, we have to again in this culture reassert and proclaim and even defend the Christian worldview," McFarland recently told The Christian Post. more >>