Relief

The U.S. Department of Labor is giving out $20 million to organizations that place former prisoners on the path to redemption by giving them jobs.

The U.S. Department of Labor expects to award 17 prisoner rehabilitation programs across the country $1.21 million apiece for helping employ former criminal offenders, The Associated Press reported. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced the decision at a community event in Newport News, Va., yesterday.

"This money coming from the government is great," said Garland Hunt, president of Prison Fellowship, a Christian prison ministry. "It is $20 million well spent. The healing of these former inmates is critical to our nation. The cycle of crime needs to be stopped." more >>

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" is giving a new home to a Knoxville, Tenn., family famous for helping their community's single-mother households.

The ABC reality TV series surprised Daniel and Mandy Watson yesterday with the announcement that their home will appear on a future episode guest starring actress Jenny McCarthy. The couple founded Knoxville's The Restoration House in 2005, and have supported the city's single-mother families through non-profit work ever since.

The Watson's house has deteriorated, however, and as repair bills have built up, "Extreme Makeover" entered to save the day. The show plans on giving the Watsons and their three adopted children a new home by next Tuesday while they're whisked away to a vacation in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Fla. By the time they're back, the show will have built them a new dwelling free of debt and disrepair. more >>

Water Missions International has launched its "Water Sunday" project, which encourages churches from across the United States to educate their congregations about the 884 million people around the world lacking access to clean water – and the 1.4 million children who die each year as a result of this crisis.

The project will also seek to inspire churches to host a fundraiser one Sunday in March, which is also the same month as World Water Day on March 22. Funds raised will be used to aid communities around the world by building water treatment systems that will clean their water and make it safe.

Kevin Herr, the Church Engagement coordinator at Water Missions, shared in a phone interview with The Christian Post how the organization got started and the mission that drives it forward. more >>

At least 19 people were killed as a powerful cyclone tore across the eastern coastline of India on Friday.

The storm, named Cyclone Thane, slammed into the coastline of India’s Tamil Nadu state with winds as fast as 78 mph.

As a result of the dangerous storm, ports and schools in the area were forced to shut down and fishermen have been warned to stay indoors and not go out to sea. Roads have been flooding across the region and travel has been compromised in some areas due to downed trees. more >>

A young girl swept away by the devastating 2004 tsunami has been found alive and has been reunited with her family in Indonesia.

The girl known as Wati, now 15, was swept away from her mother’s arms during the Dec. 26, 2004 tsunami.

Her mother, Yusniar, was trying to move her three children to safety when the 8-year-old girl slipped out of her arms and disappeared into the ravaging tsunami waters. more >>

Heartline Ministries, a U.S.-based ministry working to be the “hands and feet of Christ” in Haiti, has been awarded a first-place $50,000 grant through an online and social media-driven contest.

The SoulCare Project and The Resonate Group launched the Web-based initiative called “Giving of Life” six months ago. Ministries with a 501c3 status could not only apply for financial grants, but also have their ministry made known to a whole new audience via social media.

The top 50 finalists were selected in early November by the votes they amassed from their entry displayed on the Giving of Life website. Viewers at GivingofLife.com could read about the more than 200 ministries, vote on their favorites, and tell others about their vote on Facebook and Twitter. more >>