Leadership

Texas minister Joel Osteen, well known for his uplifting messages and trademark smile, was hit with some tough theological questions in a recent interview with a New York City reporter right on the stoop outside of her Brooklyn apartment.

"You are arguably the most famous preacher on the planet," "Talk Stoop" host Cat Greenleaf said to Osteen, who shrugged at the assertion. Greenleaf went on to add that, despite his fame and leadership of Lakewood Church in Houston, the Best Life now author has never undertaken seminary studies.

"Now, most people, if they have a congregation of 45,000 or more, a seating area of 16,000, they might want to go to seminary to brush up on some stuff. But not you," Greenleaf said bluntly. more >>

Calls have apparently been increasing for Zachery Tims' former wife, Riva Tims, to return to the Florida megachurch they founded together 15 years ago to fill the gap left by Tims, who passed away last month.

In a post published on her official Facebook page Monday, Riva Tims addressed questions from members of New Destiny Christian Center (NDCC) who wanted to know if their former first lady would be returning to fill the position her ex-husband left behind.

"In response to so many of your inquiries... I have gotten an overwhelming response from my New Destiny Family to come home and/or at least minister to them," Riva Tims wrote. "However, I have not been contacted by NDCC staff to return or to assist in the transition. I will continue to pray and cover NDCC, that the vision Zack and I birthed will continue! Thanks for all of your love and prayers." more >>

A representative with the New York Chief Medical Examiner's office told The Christian Post Tuesday that the much-anticipated toxicology results for Zachery Tims should be available this week.

The test results, expected to be available on Sept. 28 or 29, are crucial for determining the cause of death for the Florida minister who was found dead in his room at the W. Hotel in Times Square on Aug. 12.

Senior pastor of New Destiny Christian Church (NDCC) in Apopka, Fla., Tims was in New York for a speaking engagement. more >>

Rob Bell ignited a firestorm in the evangelical community with his book, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, which questions whether the Bible actually teaches that there is a literal and eternal hell. Now, the controversial Mars Hill Bible Church pastor has a companion study guide for those who "want to go deeper" and "take the next step."

Bell, who announced this week his resignation as pastor from the Michgan church he founded 12 years ago, and HarperCollins Publishers (under its HarperOne imprint) will have the Love Wins study companion available for purchase beginning Nov. 15.

HarperCollins, which describes Bell's March 2011 Love Wins title as "one of the most important books since the Bible," describes the companion study guide as offering: more >>

Rob Bell, pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Michigan, stood before his 7,000-member congregation Sunday to discuss his departure from the ministry he founded more than 12 years ago.

Telling Mars Hill Bible Church members that they would "be fine," Bell spent much of his half-hour sermon discussing the new calling he felt had been placed on his life to "share God's love" in new ways, according to ABC 13.

That new calling for his life involves moving his family to Los Angeles within the year to undertake several projects, which include penning more books and undertaking speaking engagements, such as his "Fit to Smash Ice Tour" in Canada and the U.S. more >>

Fans and congregants of Rob Bell and Mars Hill Bible Church caused the ministry's website to crash Thursday night, as news of the Love Wins author's resignation started to spread.

Mars Hill explained on its official Facebook page: "Hey guys, sorry the website has crashed from all the traffic. We are working to get it back up. In the meantime, here is the info that is on our news page..."

The post went on to show the same statement listed on the Grandville, Mich., church's website. more >>