On April 1, Samaritan’s Purse — the humanitarian arm of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association — descended on New York City to set up an emergency field hospital, where they have served at least 130 patients stricken with COVID-19. Despite the organization’s good work in Central Park, a handful of loud critics have bemoaned the group’s Christian principles, with one New York-based commentator penning an article about the outfit’s “history of bigotry.”

The term “radical” applies to the ambitious candidacy of John Klar in the Green Mountain State. Klar is a conservative pastor challenging the secular status quo in the most anti-Christian state in America. His adversary is incumbent Governor Phil Scott, who rankled many in 2019 when he proudly signed the most pro-abortion law ever passed in our nation.

European Theological Seminary, a Church of God-affiliated institution located in Kniebis, Germany, has announced the offering of online courses for free. The announcement comes from ETS President Stephen Darnell.

Faith-based humanitarian group Gospel for Asia (GFA World, www.gfa.org) is helping to sustain desperate families pushed to the brink of starvation as South Asia battles the deadly coronavirus.

The Association of Christian Schools is pleased to announce the appointment of Philip Scott as the ministry’s new Senior Counsel for Policy & Advocacy in Washington, D.C.

Cleveland, TN–Lee University has received approval to launch its first College of Arts and Sciences Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in the fall of 2020. The degree will be in marriage and family therapy in the graduate counseling division of behavioral and social sciences (BEHSC). The approval comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) in time for fall enrollment to begin. The Helen DeVos College of Education is also adding a Doctor of Education (EdD) program this fall.

In coordination with the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and child welfare workers across the country, CarePortal, an online platform that connects the needs of children and families in crisis with local churches and community members willing to help, is launching a COVID-19 Disaster Relief platform. Through this new initiative, local churches across the nation will soon be able to serve at-risk children and families suffering from COVID-19 related crises in their local communities.

COVID-19 has caused many states to cancel Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and Celebration for Recovery meetings to prevent the spread of the disease. People in recovery depend on those meetings for sobriety and without them, they are at a greater risk for relapse. To combat this risk, www.TrinityRecoveryCoaching.org is offering online Christian recovery counseling and coaching.

Sevierville, TN—Smoky Mountain Children’s Home Executive Director Dr. Walt Mauldin has announced the City of Sevierville has officially presented SMCH with a Certificate of Occupancy for its newest construction project. The building will be named the Residential Life Office, and a dedication will be announced for later this summer.