Youth

A Texas school district refunded hundreds of dollars back to Child Evangelism Fellowship’s Good News Club after the Liberty Counsel discovered they were overcharging the organization with higher-than-normal fees.

The Midlothian Independent School District, accused of violating the First Amendment, agreed to give CEF a discounted rate for use of the school’s facilities after initially denying the group a fee waiver.

The Liberty Counsel pointed out that CEF should be entitled to lower fees because they met goals outlined in the Texas Education Code. School policy allowed any youth-oriented, character building groups like the Boy Scouts a waiver of facility fees, only charging them for use of utilities. more >>

A group of Christian children whose Sunday school was raided by Iranian authorities last Christmas have been subject to potential mental strain after the event and need international support, says the Hamgam Council of Iranian Churches.

The organization is encouraging churches in Iran and abroad to send cards of encouragement to the children, reported Mohabat News, an Iranian Christian News Agency.

Many of the children are reportedly experiencing a series of mental problems resulting from the brutal raid, which the Iranian authorities launched on their Assemblies of God-affiliated church on Dec. 23, 2011, during the church’s Christmas celebration event. The authorities reportedly detained everyone in the building, including children, who were attending Sunday school there. more >>

More than 40,000 university students inside the Georgia Dome stadium in Atlanta are trying to make an impact against human slavery, and after being nearly half way through the four-day Passion 2012 conference it’s hard to downplay the energized event.

Still, Passion founder Louie Giglio wanted those watching the event, which began Monday and ends Thursday, not to focus on the names of the top of the line Christian speakers, including Francis Chan, John Piper, and Beth Moore. Despite the conference opening to a set of worship songs that included dramatic stage lighting and pounding drums, Giglio insisted those in attendance were not at an “event.”

While clearly the worship music led by Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band, Matt Redman, Charlie Hall, Christy Nockels, and Kristian Stanfill is a highlight of the huge gathering, Giglio said there was one name even bigger. more >>

Two decades ago my former theology professor, Jonathan Smith, and I launched what would become Dare 2 Share Ministries. Although I was a church planter at the time I had the youth ministry itch. Having graduated from Colorado Christian University with a degree in youth ministry I wanted to do something to deeply impact teenagers across the nation. My dream was to do conferences across the nation that would train teenagers to share their faith. I thought I could do this while preaching and co-pastoring a church that was vibrant and growing.

I was wrong.

It took ten years for me to finally get the message from heavenly headquarters, but I finally got it. Soon after I resigned my post at Grace Church and focused exclusively on building and leading Dare 2 Share. The last ten years have been a time of explosive growth and tremendous trial for Dare 2 Share. Yes, we went from averaging a thousand attendees per event to well over four thousand but, no, it was not without a large helping of pain and suffering. more >>

While pornography has been proven to impact the sexual choices of teenagers, some changes have taken place within the industry to prevent its negative affects – with countries like Bangladesh imposing strict punishment against offenders.

Pornographic videos have proven to be troublesome for teenagers, who are five times more likely to take part in group-sex after watching the obscene footage, a Boston University School of Public Health study showed.

Dr. Kenneth Ryan, author of Finding Your Prince, spoke to The Christian Post about the impact of pornography on teenagers and mass culture. more >>

Over 42,000 university students from around the world will fill the Georgia Dome stadium in Atlanta Monday for the opening of the four-day Passion 2012 conference, whose speakers include Francis Chan, John Piper, Beth Moore and Louie Giglio.

“Sold Out,” says Passion 2012’s webpage, but requests for signing up are still pouring in on its Facebook page.

Along with popular speakers, lead worshippers will include Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band, Matt Redman, Charlie Hall, Christy Nockels, and Kristian Stanfill. more >>