A Christian group in Philadelphia is fighting a city ban on feeding homeless people and has vowed that regardless of any fines, they will continue doing the work Christ sent his followers to do.

The city of Philadelphia had originally banned outside park feedings of homeless people, but a judge ruled late last week that the ban be lifted for 120 days – which gave Chosen 300 Ministries, a Christian charity working to help the poor, the opportunity to feed homeless people during the weekend. But Pastor Brian Jenkins, its founding pastor, says their efforts will continue regardless of whether the ban is put back in place.

"We're not going to move. My understanding that the penalty for holding outside meals is a $150 dollar fine – we will pay the fine. We will continue doing what we need to be doing. If we need to appeal the decision we will, but at this point our goal is to continue feeding the people," Jenkins said Wednesday in a phone interview with The Christian Post. "When we serve, we share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and we are also following the commandment of Christ by serving those in need. And doing it on the outside – because based on Scripture, 'Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled.'" more >>

The Association of Gospel Rescue Missions is partnering with Walt Disney Studios and Hanes to provide socks for the homeless. The drive will be held in conjunction with the release of "The Odd Life of Timothy Green," which premieres on August 15.

Homelessness is a significant problem in the United States, affecting nearly 3.5 million Americans. Approximately 1.35 million of those persons are children, which is why the AGRM and Disney Studios are working to raise awareness.

"Families will undoubtedly be warmed by the touching storyline of the movie, and 'neighbors' in need will certainly be touched by the warm socks that viewers donate," explained AGRM President John Ashmen. "Many of the infirmities that homeless people bear are actually born in their feet because of all the walking and standing they do." more >>

Simply passing the collection plate during Sunday services in order to help meet the budget was not good enough for the leaders of a small church in Mississippi.

So two years ago, the pastor and leaders of Traceway Baptist Church in Clinton began to pray about how to better serve their community. After two months of praying and fasting, they decided they needed to take all of their congregation's tithes and offerings and give it to those in need for an entire year.

"At the end of 2009 our leadership was praying and trying to figure out how we could better represent Jesus Christ in our community," Pastor John Richardson told The Christian Post. "Essentially, our prayer was 'God, what can we do so that when people look at us they will see you?' more >>

Christians need to do a better job of honoring God in their political activism, argues Amy Black, associate professor of political science at Wheaton College, in her new book, Honoring God in Red or Blue: Approaching Politics with Humility, Grace, and Reason.

The book could be used as a resource for small groups, or for Christians wishing to learn more about the U.S. political system and how to get involved in politics in a way that honors God. In an interview with The Christian Post, Black talks about the origins of her book, what she thinks about compromise in politics, and how Christians honoring God in their political activism could change American politics.

The following is an edited transcript of that interview: more >>

Walk into the aouli, or courtyard, of an Afghan woman and follow the little girl into the living room where the female host sits on the carpet waiting to have tea with her guest. You are that guest transported to that living room in faraway and foreign Afghanistan as Kate McCord's book In the Land of Blue Burqas sweeps you up and gently sets you down in rickety rickshaws next to an intimidating-looking man with a black-beard below his sneer, or a small living room with cotton floor mats where a gathering of women sit with small plates of candies, nuts, and raisins each within arms' reach as they share stories and laugh.

This is Afghanistan where people struggle against ever-present hardships, poverty, violence, gender discrimination, and anti-American indoctrination, but somehow opened their hearts and homes to a blond, blue-eyed, middle-aged unmarried American woman who learned the local Dari language, respectfully followed the dress code and culture, and shared about the love and teaching of Jesus Christ.

Kate McCord (protective pseudonym) recently spoke to The Christian Post about her five years in Afghanistan and the Afghan people, including common misperceptions – on both sides – the life of Afghan women, child marriage, and the underground Christian population. more >>

A Washington State pastor who has recently had open-heart surgery will be biking across the United States for the benefit of raising money for diapers.

Eric Shadle of Seventh-day Adventist Church in Richland will begin the 3,700 mile on Sunday, with the proceeds going to a local diaper bank.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Shadle explained that he was doing the bike trip during a planned sabbatical to "raise awareness about the need for diapers." more >>