A Montana ranch that operates on behalf of disadvantaged children is entangled in a legal dispute over whether it can benefit from a certain regulation exemption regarding religious nonprofits.

Ranch for Kids, based in Eureka near the Canadian border, seeks to be freed from state oversight on the condition that they are part of a religious nonprofit.

Joyce Sterkel, owner of Ranch for Kids, told The Christian Post that "about governmental administrative regulations." more >>

A historic church in Massachusetts will be auctioning off one of their two hymn books that date from the 17th century.

Old South Church in Boston, a 300-plus year-old progressive congregation belonging to the United Church of Christ, voted Sunday to sell off one of their Bay Psalm Books, which were published in 1640.

The Board of Trustees for Old South will be auctioning off the Book and 19 colonial era silver items to help fund improvements to their present building as well as aid their nonprofit efforts. more >>

Standing in contrast to the commercialism and consumerism that grips retailers and Americans during the holiday season, the national #GivingTuesday initiative hopes to inspire a season of selflessness and generosity amid Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

"We were thinking from the beginning – Black Friday, Cyber Monday – we have two days that are good for the economy. What about adding a day that's good for the soul?" shared Henry Tims, Deputy Executive Director of the historic 92nd Street Y (92Y) in New York City, with The Christian Post.

Spearheaded by 92Y and the United Nations Foundation, #GivingTuesday has attracted more than 1,000 partners in all 50 states – including nonprofits, small businesses, church groups and major retailers – in joining hands to help make Nov. 27 "a day of generosity that will impact millions of people," according to a press statement. more >>

One of the largest rescue missions in the U.S. has already served 3,100 people living on the streets of Los Angeles Thanksgiving dinner last Saturday. Its staff plans to serve hundreds more today at its shelter where an average of 800 people sleep every night. The scene is being repeated all week at the more than 300 Union Rescue Missions for the hundreds and sometimes thousands of homeless throughout the country.

However, perhaps nowhere is the homeless population more evident than when the multitudes are seen in long lines during the week at various homeless shelters who stage their biggest Thanksgiving events on days other than Thursday.

The Union Rescue Mission says that homelessness is devastating communities across the nation, but nowhere as much as in Los Angeles. "The City of Angels is now called 'The Homeless Capital of America,'" says the Christian-based organization. more >>

NEW YORK – As various groups and parishes serve the thousands of poor and hungry on Thanksgiving Day, The Bowery Mission, one of the oldest and largest faith-based charities in New York, is reminding the public that people need more than food on their way to a full and wholesome recovery.

The Bowery Mission first opened its doors in 1879, and has grown to become one of New York's largest charities, providing food, shelter, showers, clothing, medical care, and residential recovery programs to the homeless and hurting, all free of charge. This Thanksgiving Day, the nonprofit organization will be staffed by over 700 volunteers, who will serve over 5,000 meals on Thursday alone. The Christian Post paid a visit on Monday to The Bowery's main building in Lower Manhattan, where staff and volunteers were busy preparing for what they describe as the biggest week of the year.

James Winans, Chief Development Officer at The Bowery, gave CP a tour of the main building, which is five storeys high and includes a roof with a garden growing all sorts of produce – one that luckily remained mostly undamaged from Hurricane Sandy in late October, one of the most devastating storms to hit the Tri-state region in recorded history. more >>

NEW YORK – The Bowery Mission, one of the oldest and largest charity organizations in New York City, has opened a newly-renovated transitional home for formerly homeless women in Harlem this week, providing them further security as they get back on their feet.

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly were present at the unveiling of The Bowery Mission Women's Center in Harlem Tuesday, as was James Winans, the Chief Development Officer at The Bowery Mission. Winans told The Christian Post that by opening this women's center, the Christian organization seeks to provide women with "one of the practical things that they need."

"We have eight newly renovated apartments for our graduates to live in," he explained, noting that The Bowery Mission has been serving the homeless for 133 years. The Women's Center is currently the only faith-based residential recovery program for homeless women in Manhattan, he said. more >>