The case of Chen Guangcheng, the blind Chinese dissident who captured the world's attention with his escape from house arrest, is seen as a victory for human rights and many have praised the self-taught lawyer who challenged China's one-child policy, calling him a hero who worked for a noble cause.

The Pennsylvania Pastors' Network, a Bible-based group of clergy and church liaisons who describe themselves as a non-partisan organization encouraging "informed Christian thinking about contemporary social issues," said in a statement Monday that Chen's work on behalf of women and unborn children should be honored.

"Chen Guangcheng, who defended Chinese women from the crime of forced abortion, is finally free and for that we ultimately thank our Lord Jesus Christ. Chen is a tremendous human rights leader whose cause is to end China's One Child Policy and forced abortion. Chen and his wife, Yuan Weijing, and their children, have endured treatment that most of us will never know in our lifetimes, but Chen suffered for the cause of the unborn and the lives of the women and families in China," Colin Hanna, president of the network, said in a statement. "For this he is honored and is a living example to those in America, demonstrating how to act on our convictions to the very end." more >>

Christian organizations and Good Samaritans around the world are joining together this week as part of an awareness and fundraising campaign that hopes to impact the lives of over a billion people globally.

The campaign, known as Live Below the Line (LBL), is an initiative begun by the Global Poverty Project and has since morphed into an international effort in which people from all over the world – from Nigeria to Haiti – live in solidarity with the world's 1.4 billion people who live below the World Bank's definition of the extreme poverty line.

Participants of LBL live off of $1.50 a day – the equivalent of extreme poverty – from May 7-11 to experience firsthand the challenges people who live in destitute poverty face on a daily basis. more >>

A California megachurch is hoping to gather 16 tons of food during the month of May for its annual drive to benefit a local food bank.

The Rock Church of San Diego, with an attendance exceeding 12,000, has pledged to donate 32,500 pounds of food to the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. Miles McPherson, pastor of The Rock Church, told The Christian Post that this was the third year that his church was involved in the food drive.

"This initiative is part of the Rock's community outreach campaign, bringing people together to address human needs and transform lives in San Diego and the world," said McPherson. more >>

The Voice of the Martyrs' president released a statement Wednesday acknowledging the apparent suicide of the nonprofit's late executive director, Walter Thomas "Tom" White, amid allegations that he had molested a young girl. Authorities have also shared with The Christian Post details in the case against White, who left behind a wife and two children.

James E. Dau shared on VOM's website in a letter echoing a previous statement from the Oklahoma organization, that learning of White's death was difficult and prompted many questions among those involved with the Christian persecution ministry.

"No day in the history of my work at VOM has been more difficult than Wednesday, April 18th. That morning, we learned that Tom had taken his own life. Like everyone on our team, and probably like you, my first question was, 'Why?'" writes Dau, who is also The Voice of the Martyr's CEO. more >>

In the past, the church has not been a major player in the fight against malaria, but World Vision, along with Christian leaders and churches across the U.S., is working to unite the faith community in its war against the disease responsible for the deaths of millions of children.

Malaria is a completely preventable disease that can be caused by a single mosquito bite, yet its impact on Africa has been enormous.

Malaria is estimated to take the life of a child on the African continent every 60 seconds and remains the leading cause of death for children under the age of five, but a simple bed net – costing $6 dollars – can prevent children from succumbing to the deadly disease. When properly supplied, the insecticide -treated bed nets have proven to significantly reduce the spread of malaria. more >>

Homeless activists and food-giveaway ministries are planning to fight an ordinance passed by the Houston City Council last week that requires prior permission before any group or individual could distribute food to five or more people on public property.

The law is supported by the city's mayor, Annise Parker, and requires anyone who is giving away food to first get a permit from the owner of the public property where the distribution takes place.

The law will be effective July 1 and when implemented will impose a $500 fine, an amount that was lowered from the originally suggested $2,000 tag, to anyone in violation. Homeless activists from Texas have begun a petition to strike down the ordinance in the coming November election. more >>