WASHINGTON – Pastor Bill Hybels told hundreds of fellow evangelicals gathered in Washington, D.C., Wednesday that he was praying a "Philippians 4-style" prayer to advocate for immigration reform.

"How should we pray?" asked Hybels, senior pastor at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill. Should his prayer be a "cover thou's backside" type of prayer, a "do what we tell You to do" prayer, or a Philippians 4 type of prayer?

The service, at Church of the Reformation just a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, was part of an all-day event, billed as the "Evangelical Day of Prayer and Action for Immigration Reform," organized by the Evangelical Immigration Table that also included meetings with members of Congress. The worship music was led by OneVoice Gospel Choir of Cedarville University, Cedarville, Ohio. more >>

Pastor Creflo Dollar, who leads the nondenominational World Changers Church International based in College Park, Ga., remained on the Billboard's Gospel Albums chart for eight consecutive weeks, which Arrow Records described as a "landmark accomplishment."

S.E.R.M.O.N.S. SONGS Volume I peaked at #16 on the Gospel Albums chart, but has remained strong for eight weeks since its release earlier this year.

"My goal is to provide a unique experience for listeners to help empower their spiritual walk with Christ," Dollar explained about the goal of the CD. Arrow Records is planning S.E.R.M.O.N.S. SONGS, Volume II to be released this year. The different volumes will each focus on a specific theme affecting people's lives today, according to Praise Atlanta. more >>

Popular megachurch pastor Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church in Texas is preparing for a major "Night of Hope" event in Miami, which organizers say will be streamed live and reach hundreds of thousands of people, offering a highly interactive social media experience.

"We're excited to be working with Joel Osteen Ministries for the fourth consecutive year on this very important event," said Brian Boyd, chief executive officer of Media Connect Partners (MCP), which is working alongside Joel Osteen Ministries for the April 20th event at the 37,000-seat Marlins Park in Miami.

"It is, truly, a 360-degree interactive event connecting the online audience with the Osteens and the crowd in the stadium. You're there no matter where you are." more >>

Beloved gospel singer George Beverly Shea, 104, of Montreat, N.C., soloist of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, died Tuesday evening following a brief illness.

Graham's senior by ten years, Shea was a mainstay as the worship singer with a deep voice, who preceding the famous evangelist in song for every crusade for 60 years.

"Bev was one of the most humble, gracious men I have ever known and one of my closest friends," said Graham in a statement released by the BGEA. "I loved him as a brother. My prayer for his wife, Karlene, and his children, Ron and Elaine, is that God will strengthen them during this time." more >>

The White House announced Tuesday afternoon that President Barack Obama will be attending an interfaith vigil to honor the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings on Thursday in Boston, Mass.

The president will reportedly cancel his scheduled Thursday meetings in Washington, D.C., as well as his scheduled talk at the University of Kansas on Friday morning, in order to speak to the family members of those killed in Monday's bombings, as well as the survivors at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross at 11 a.m. on Thursday.

Obama's plans to speak at the interfaith service were confirmed Tuesday by the White House and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick during a press conference in Boston. more >>

The Gospel music divisions of Motown and EMI record companies are merging together, The Christian Post learned in an exclusive interview with Pastor Touré Roberts of One Church International in Los Angeles. Although an official announcement was still pending at press time, Robert's church plans to host a concert event featuring artists from both labels Tuesday evening.

"It's awesome to get two big entertainment companies in music who are taking their Gospel divisions and bringing them together," Roberts told CP. "First of all, that's huge. It communicates that just from a corporate perspective the desire for Gospel music and the sense of profitability from labels. There's going to be a lot of resource, backing up music that we all believe in – it's God centered.

"I think it's an exciting time for music and people, and in particular, Gospel artists," he said. more >>