Republican National Convention (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus joined some influential black voters and community leaders at the Christian Cultural Center megachurch in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Monday to learn how the Republican Party can win their trust and perhaps even their vote the next time around.

The session, which one party official said "went really well," forms part of what Priebus told reporters is the GOP's most recent push to create a "national effort, in a granular community way, in building up both the brand of the Republican Party and making us more successful in the ballot box." The meeting comes just ahead of the release of an official post-mortem report on the GOP's performance in the 2012 presidential elections slated for next Monday, March 18.

New York State GOP chairman, Ed Cox, who attended the closed-door meeting, told The Christian Post in an interview on Wednesday that about 20 prominent black Republicans and community leaders joined Priebus at the sprawling 37,000-member church headed by Pastor A.R. Bernard. more >>

Evangelist Benny Hinn, who on March 3 remarried his wife Suzanne before a thousand people in Orlando, Fla., is releasing a DVD of the ceremony and planning a "life-changing" tour retracing the footsteps of the Apostle Paul in Italy and Greece.

The long-awaited remarriage of the controversial pastor was followed by many of his supporters from around the world, and Hinn is now offering a $25 DVD of the ceremony called "A Story of Love and Restoration" on his website.

The ceremony, which was held at Orlando's Holy Land Experience and conducted by Dr. Jack Hayford and evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, is being described as "flawless, beautiful, and heavenly," and "a glorious day of restoration." more >>

Long Hollow Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tenn., revealed that its senior pastor, David Landrith, has been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer and is calling on the Christian community to hold him and his family up in prayer.

"We want to provide you with some information about Pastor David's health," executive leaders shared with the Long Hollow Church community in an online letter Friday. "David has been diagnosed with an extremely rare and aggressive form of cancer known as colorectal melanoma. The cancer is still in stage one and there is no evidence that it has spread at this point."

"On Thursday, February 28, David had a colonoscopy after a previous exam revealed some abnormalities. The next day he had outpatient surgery to remove the spot that had concerned his doctor. Tests were ordered and on Tuesday, March 5, the results of a biopsy revealed the cancer. Additional tests were conducted the next day and the full extent of his condition was revealed at a consultation on Thursday, March 7. David is pursuing all available treatment options." more >>

Rob Bell, who recently left the Mars Hill Bible Church congregation he founded over a decade ago due to his controversial Love Wins book, is returning to its pulpit this weekend in place of Teaching Pastor Kent Dobson to preach on the Lenten theme of sloth.

Bell's name is listed as the "teacher" for the March 10 service on Mars Hill Bible Church's Sunday schedule, with Troy Hatfield listed as the worship leader. Bell, who will be visiting Michigan as part of a book tour for his new title, What We Talk About When We Talk About God, is expected to preach at the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services. The subject of his sermon, sloth, is number four in a seven-part Lenten series titled "The Seven Deadly Sins."

Someone working the front desk at the Grandville church confirmed in a phone call with The Christian Post Thursday that Bell would indeed be a guest speaker this coming Sunday. The person was unable to say what kind of turnout is expected for the services and whether Bell would discuss his new book. more >>

Pastor Joel Osteen, who leads Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, celebrated his 50th birthday on Tuesday with an onslaught of kind mentions from both fans and fellow religious leaders.

The pastor's wife and co-pastor at Lakewood Church, Victoria Osteen, took to Twitter to wish her husband of 26 years a happy birthday, writing: "Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband!"

Osteen's sister and associate pastor at Lakewood Church Lisa Comes also wished her brother a happy birthday via Twitter, writing: "Happy birthday to my amazing brother Joel Osteen with our awesome brother Paul Osteen," adding a photo of the three Osteen siblings standing together. more >>

Televangelist Benny Hinn and his wife Suzanne remarried on Sunday at the Holyland Experience in Orlando, Fla. in front of a thousand people.

"Thank you for praying for Suzanne and me! It is because of your prayers, intercession and love, that we are where we are today," Pastor Hinn said on his Facebook page, thanking well-wishers.

The Examiner reported that the ceremony was open to the congregation and spectators, drawing close to a thousand people who showed up to give their well-wishes to the formerly divorced couple. more >>