A New York State church has opted to help raise funds for victims of shootings like the one that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut by having parents return violent video games and toys.

All Saints Church, a Roman Catholic parish in Syracuse, began the charity with the hope of curbing the influence of violent entertainment upon American children.

Father Fred Daley, priest at All Saints, told local media that he hoped that if parents began to return violent toys and stopped buying them, then companies would eventually stop selling them. more >>

Residents and workers in the city of Costa Mesa in Orange County, Calif., may be experiencing a brighter Christmas season this year thanks to a local church that decided to shower its community with gifts of love and service for 25 days.

This past week, 25 school principals and vice principals in the local school district were given tickets to attend concerts, sporting events, and gift certificates for such services as massages and spa treatments. Last week, among the "25 Days of Christmas" giving opportunities for volunteers at The Crossing Church, mail carriers and trash truck drivers were given baskets of cookies.

At sober living homes in the area this week, gift baskets were delivered along with invitations to have Christmas dinner with church members. On another day, drivers in the city were randomly given $25 gas cards. more >>

At least 283 people have lost their lives after a massive typhoon hit southern Philippines on Tuesday, generating 75 mph winds and gusts of up to 93 mph.

Typhoon Bopha continued to wreak havoc on beach resorts and dive spots on Palawan Island on Wednesday, although Reuters reported it was weakening as it moved to the west. The southern island of Mindanao sustained the heaviest damage, triggering landslides and flooding in mining towns, farms and along the coastal region.

"Entire families were washed away," Interior Minister Manuel Roxas said, sharing that another 300 people were missing. Search and rescue efforts have been hampered by destroyed roads and collapsed bridges. more >>

The Indian government is starting in January a new cash transfer program to help its poorest citizens, with the hopes of reducing wide-scale corruption and making sure those who need the resources the most get them.

"Direct cash transfers, which are now becoming possible through the innovative use of technology and the spread of modern banking across the country, open the doors for eliminating waste, cutting down leakages and targeting beneficiaries better," said Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The ambitious project is estimated to provide 40,000 rupees ($720 U.S. dollars) a year to poor households, which could make a big difference for a lot of people and help them get the food, animals and supplies they need to lift themselves out of poverty. The Wall Street Journal noted that the resources are expected to reach around 720 million people, and anyone who lives below or just above the national poverty line can qualify. more >>

As media outlets begin wrapping up their coverage of the destruction of Hurricane Sandy in the Staten Island, New York area, residents are just beginning to contemplate reconstruction from both a physical and spiritual perspective.

For Rich Schnur, a member of the Oasis Christian Center and father of two, the super storm which ravaged his Midland Beach neighborhood just one month ago was nothing less than a nightmare. The storm surge caused by Sandy's fierce winds ripped through his block, flooding both of his vehicles and reaching up to the first floor in his home making it uninhabitable for quite some time.

Schnur lost many of his possessions in the storm, including pictures of his children as babies and other irreplaceable items. But despite the hardship of loss and relocation, his hope has not dwindled during his clean-up and reconstruction 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 >>