An Ohio megachurch will give a free home to a lucky and needy family who attends its Sunday Easter service this year.

The Church on Strayer in Toledo, Ohio, says it is doing so because that is what Jesus would do in such tough economic times.

“The reason we tied it to Easter is that Jesus gave his life at Easter and we figured we should give at Easter,” said Pastor Tony Scott of The Church on Strayer, to The Toledo Blade. “We have always been a very generous church, and we are always giving to the community. To give a house was the most logical next step.” more >>

The Christian faith is not a mere collection of doctrines - a bag of truths. Christianity is a comprehensive truth claim that encompasses every aspect of revealed doctrine, but is centered in the gospel of Jesus Christ. And, as the apostolic preaching makes clear, the gospel is the priority.

The Apostle Paul affirms this priority when he writes to the Christians in Corinth. In the opening verses of 1 Corinthians 15, Paul sets out his case:

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you-unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. more >>

Around 15,000 Christians walked, many barefoot, for six hours in the streets of Mumbai, India, on Good Friday enacting Jesus’ walk to the Cross and condemning growing attacks on the minority community.

This 24th Annual Lenten Walking Pilgrimage was held especially to give hope to and express solidarity with the persecuted Christians, the event’s chief organizer Joseph Dias told The Christian Post.

The gathering comprised of Christians from evangelical as well as mainline Protestant churches “apart from the Catholics, who formed the majority,” said Dias, who leads the organization behind the rally, Christian Revival Oriented Social Service. more >>

Thousands of churches nationwide will be showing the "very graphic" film "Good Friday," made by Seattle-based Mars Hill Church, today in hopes that viewers will truly understand the sacrifice Jesus made in paying the price for the sins of humanity.

Although Mars Hill campuses already showed the film last year, this year marks the first time that other churches can download the 30-minute movie online for free and screen it as part of their Good Friday service. According to Mars Hill Church, more than 400,000 people will watch the "Good Friday" film today, which has been downloaded over 5,000 times by churches.

On the church's website whokilledgod.com, it warns that the film "is very graphic and not recommended for children under ten years of age." There are scenes where Jesus is covered in blood from head to foot and his body is pocked and pitted with lacerations. more >>

A study by a conservative media watchdog charges three major network television stations with bestowing a favorable bias on Earth Day while smearing Easter, Christians' holy day, with allegations of pedophilia.

The Media Research Center's Culture and Media Institute examined media reports during the 2010 Holy Week – March 28 through April 4 – and contrasted it with two weeks of Earth Day coverage. The study, "Holy Week: Media Worship Earth Day, Attack Easter," found that last year networks ABC, CBS and NBC's evening news shows mentioned "Easter" primarily in connection to the 2010 pedophilia scandals that swirled around the Vatican, using terms such as "scandal," "sexual abuse" and "crisis." By contrast, coverage of Earth Day received positive attention from the three broadcast media giants.

Highlighted examples include NBC News' discussion of sexual abuse allegations during the network's Easter Sunday coverage. more >>

Jesus’ head knocked against the cross as it fell back just under the sign that read King of the Jews. The blood collecting in his lungs bubbled out of his mouth. Gasping for air, He pushed down on His nailed feet, trying to lift His trembling body so that He could draw a breath. The crowd below taunted Him.

In three words, Jesus delivered His final Bible lesson. “It is finished!” he cried. But what can we learn from this final sermon; what exactly was Jesus finished doing? Jesus had finished fulfilling His role in the Father’s plan of salvation. Taking advantage of all the preparations made for Him, Jesus had accomplished His purpose of obeying God.

That is our goal too - and His desire for our lives. more >>