A well-known conservative values organization is advising Christians against joining the AARP, a nonprofit dedicated to the needs of retired people, arguing that the interest group caters to the "homosexual agenda."

Buddy Smith, executive vice president of the American Family Association, self-described Christian, pro-family nonprofit, said in a recent interview that he believes part of AARP's membership fees and profits are used to promote the legalization of same-sex marriage on a federal level, as well as same-sex couple adoption.

Smith warned retired Christians ages 50 and over who are planning to become a member of the AARP. more >>

A United Methodist not-for-profit publication that traces its roots back to the 19th century announced that they will be closing down by the end of the month.

UMR Communications and its main publication the United Methodist Reporter will stop operation, its final 26 employees out of work by Friday, May 31.

Sam Hodges, managing editor for the Reporter, told The Christian Post that the leading reason for the closure was a lack of financial resources. more >>

National Religious Broadcasters President & CEO Dr. Frank Wright asked members of Congress investigating the IRS over its alleged inappropriate scrutiny of conservative and faith-based groups to focus on First Amendment protection for such organizations.

"As Congress investigates these incidents at the IRS, and others that may surface in the days ahead, I ask that you emphasize the First Amendment rights of non-profit religious organizations and churches, which gives them constitutional authority to operate free from government entanglement," wrote Wright in a letter sent to House Speaker John Boehner and other Congressional leaders, including House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.

"Pernicious targeting of faith-based organizations by any state actor must not be tolerated," Wright added. "These IRS cases before the nation today appear to be just such entangling, oppressive, and constitutionally unsound situations that must be protected against." more >>

The Faith & Freedom Coalition has announced that real estate mogul Donald Trump will be speaking at the upcoming "Road to Majority" conference, a three-day conference in Washington, D.C., which will feature evangelical and conservative speakers in an attempt to educate Republicans on how to gain more votes in future elections.

Trump will be joining rising conservative stars such as Florida Senator Marco Rubio (unconfirmed), Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, among others, in speaking at the fourth annual conference, which will take place June 13 to 15 at the J.W. Marriott Hotel.

According to an advance press release provided to the U.S. New & World Report's Washington Whispers blog, the Faith & Freedom Coalition, which was founded by political activist Ralph Reed, decided to invite Trump to speak at the June event due to his business prowess. more >>

R&B singer Maxwell, controversial rapper The Game and Australian band Hillsong United are among some of the big names that have signed up for the new social platform borne from the mind of HopeMob founder and CEO Shaun King.

"It's really different than anything else that exists now," King told CP via phone last week, speaking from Catalyst West, a four-day networking event for leaders, thinkers and influencers.

"It's a little bit of a social network, maybe similar to Twitter or Instagram. But it has much deeper tools that allow people of influence from all genres, be it in the church or out of the church, be it artists, musicians, comedians, photographers – anybody who has really devoted supporters could really benefit from the platform, so we're really excited about it." more >>

Eugene Cho, lead pastor of Quest Church in Seattle and co-founder of international anti-poverty movement One Day's Wages, takes his message of generosity and justice to Willow Creek Community Church's Celebration of Hope 2013 this weekend. Pastor Cho shared with The Christian Post his message for the Illinois megachurch, his hopes for ODW and why he believes Christians are compelled by their faith to practice both righteousness and justice.

Cho and his wife, Minhee, and their children founded One Day's Wages over three years ago after the Washington pastor came back convicted from witnessing the challenges faced by impoverished communities in Burma. They felt a need to act and sought God for guidance. The response Cho and his family received, however, was not at all what they were expecting. But they obeyed, took up the challenge and sacrificed a year of their family income to launch a movement that has since inspired people and organizations all over the world to join the fight to eradicate extreme global poverty. One Day's Wages and its partners have managed to award grants that are helping to provide necessities like electricity to the maternity ward at a South Sudan hospital, HIV treatment for children in Togo and nutritional support and education for malnourished children and expectant mothers living in rural Guatemala.

Pastor Cho told CP that he hopes his message inspires two things this weekend among those who gather to hear him and others speak at Willow Creek Community Church. more >>