Religion Today Summaries – October 6, 2005
Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world. In today's edition:
America’s Oldest Tract Publisher Finds Missing Link In Evangelism: "Light Up The Night!"
Court Says Michigan Right To Stop Support To Faith-Based Teen Facility
Churches Play Major Role In Film Release
Military Headstones And Religious Symbols
America’s Oldest Tract Publisher Finds Missing Link In Evangelism: "Light Up The Night!"
Religion News Service
The American Tract Society Announces Worldwide Ministry Launch Aimed at October Fall Festivals and Halloween Evangelism Outreach Dallas, Texas October 5th, 2005. In what is being called the most aggressive evangelistic thrust in Christian History the American Tract Society is equipping evangelists of all sizes to “Light Up The Night” with the Gospel message of Jesus Christ on the streets, at the doors, and in the church fall festivals at Halloween and throughout the fall season! "In the wake of Hurricane Katrina and Rita tens of thousands are asking why and how a loving God could allow this to happen to them," said Dan Southern, President of ATS. "We want to use every opportunity to help people examine for themselves the truths of the gospel in the Bible. Fall Festivals and Halloween evangelism can help mobilize churches to providing messages of hope and encouragement with our tracts." "ATS is providing tracts, candy, toys, as well as, free internet games and resources to be read and enjoyed by recipients of the tracts. And we are giving away relevant resources for churches and individuals if they go to the website, www.light-up-the-night.org and download them for their own use," ATS Spokesperson, Donna Skell stated. For more information go to www.atstracts.org.
Court Says Michigan Right To Stop Support To Faith-Based Teen Facility
Jim Brown, Agape Press
A federal judge has ruled that the state of Michigan was justified in ending its contract with a faith-based rehab facility for troubled teenagers. That decision, says a Christian attorney, delivers a major blow to the ministry that provides help and hope to young people and their families. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan has ruled that the state can continue its refusal to place troubled teens at the "Teen Ranch" treatment facility in Marlette. The state argues that "faith-specific tenets" incorporated into Teen Ranch programs violate the so-called separation of church and state. But Gary McCaleb, an attorney for Teen Ranch, believes the state is engaging in religious discrimination. "At this point I think it's very unfortunate. It's been a hard time for the ministry," McCalem says. "And while this lawsuit has dragged on for two years, despite our best efforts, a lot of teenagers have not been helped. A lot of folks who are hurting and should have been able to get Teen Ranch's help have gone by the wayside." McCaleb shares that because of the cut in funding from the state, Teen Ranch has had to "seriously cut back" the services it provides -- and the state's actions, he asserts, have relegated faith-based organizations to "second-class status." Teen Ranch, he adds, is likely to appeal the ruling.
Churches Play Major Role In Film Release
Baptist Press
In an effort to show Hollywood that evangelicals are a vital part of their potential audience, the producers of the latest end times film are enlisting churches instead of movie theaters to premier "Left Behind: World at War" Oct. 21. "When Left Behind: World at War opens this October it will do so through an entirely new distribution system that will not only challenge fundamental Hollywood rules but also provide churches with an enormous opportunity for outreach into their local communities," the Christian-themed film company Cloud Ten Pictures said in a statement. "This film will be the first ever to open in churches, not theaters, across the nation." The film also will be shown in prisons beginning Nov. 18, Peter Lalonde, CEO of Cloud Ten Pictures, told Baptist Press. "In the '70s and '80s, before the days of VHS, 16MM church film nights were one of the greatest ways that churches could introduce non-believers to their church," Lalonde said in a news release. "We want to revive that outreach." Churches still have time to purchase the license to show the latest Left Behind film and may learn more by visiting www.leftbehind-worldatwar.com/churchtheatricalrelease. In addition, by visiting the website people can locate the nearest church that will be showing the film.
Military Headstones And Religious Symbols
Agape Press
Christian, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist veterans are allowed to have their religious symbols engraved on military headstones. So a Seattle-area Navy veteran thinks he should be allowed to have the symbol of his Wiccan faith on his marker when he goes. But the Defense Department does not allow the pentacle, a five-pointed star in a circle, on markers in national cemeteries. The Defense Department recognized Wiccans in 1996, but the National Cemetery Association of the Veterans Affairs Department has not authorized the symbol. A spokeswoman says the VA would add the words "Wiccan" or "pentacle" to a headstone but not the symbol. She says policies are being updated and Wiccans will be able to suggest changes.
Originally published October 05, 2005.
