In a controversial new book, historian Steve Weidenkopf challenges the widespread notion that the Crusades were barbaric wars of greed and religious intolerance. The Glory of the Crusades replaces such persistent modern biases with a more factual and nuanced–yet no less compelling–vision of Christendom’s 600-year struggle to reclaim the Holy Land.

President Barack Obama’s speech at the 64th National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D. C. (February 5, 2015) has sparked considerable, but not unpredictable, controversy. For just one example, Franklin Graham, President and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, issued a strong response. Graham asserted that when people have used the name of Christ to do evil they were departing from the authentic teachings and example of Jesus but when people do evil in the name of Mohammed they are being true to his original teachings and example. Graham’s comments voiced objection to the perceived implications of President Obama’s assertion that religious violence is not exclusive to Islam but has also occurred in Christian history. Unlike his father, Billy Graham, who for decades worked with many presidents on both sides of the political aisle, Franklin Graham has shown a propensity to denounce publically those with whom he disagrees personally.

Dr. Philip Bonaparte, pastor of New Hope Church of God in Trenton, New Jersey, recently opened a free health center in Trenton. Bonaparte, former chief medical officer at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, sees patients free of charge and said, “I am focused on providing free care to those who don’t have health insurance or a regular source of care.”

Power International founder Joseph M. Foster is offering a new eight-week coaching and mastermind program designed to help ministers end decline in churches across the country.

Grow Your Church Strong (GYCS) will train pastors and church leaders to evaluate the current state of their churches and develop a strategy for growth.

“Church attendance is at an all-time low. Many churches are struggling to keep their doors open,” Foster said. “We developed GYCS to assist pastors and leaders with the strategies they need to develop a strong church—not just increase in number, but grow in every part of their organization.”

Foster said he was overwhelmed with inquiries from church leaders nationwide who were seeking solutions for strengthening their churches. He began to see the need for an Internet-based program capable of a further reach than he could provide.

“It has been absolutely impossible to work hands-on with everybody, so we developed a system that would allow us to work with pastors and leaders without overextending our organization,” Foster said. “[The program] is affordable for every church and has the resources we used to triple church attendance.”

In addition to solid resources and coaching, the GYCS provides a forum for pastors who want to connect with other church leaders.

“Most pastors are doing ministry alone,” Foster said. “I’m getting calls from pastors all the time about how lonely they feel.

“Your network is your net worth, and when you join GYCS you are instantly connected to an unlimited network. Imagine an environment where you can obtain financial growth strategies, get creative ideas for youth ministry, or even learn how to increase speaking engagements from other pastors and leaders.

For more information about GYCS, visit josephmfoster.org/gycs.
(Source: Christian Newswire)

The most comprehensive and authoritative tax guide for church leaders, the annual Church & Clergy Tax Guide, was published by Christianity Today in January. Important tax updates are written in easy-to-understand language and are on topics that include the Affordable Care Act and the American Taxpayer Relief Act.

Americans should boycott “Fifty Shades of Grey” on Valentine’s Day, say more than 60,000 signatories and a growing coalition of groups that accused NBC Universal of “using a romantic holiday to promote a movie about abuse and degradation.”

Almost 300 local church pastors and leaders from across the Great Lakes Region of the Church of God recently chose the location closest to their local church to gather with their peers for a time of united training and equipping for ministry.

A few years ago, people exploring caves outside Jerusalem came across the find of a lifetime: an ancient burial cave containing the remains of a crucified man. This find is only one in a series of finds that overturns a century-old scholarly consensus.

It’s that time of the year again, when we stand on the precipice of a new year and look forward to what is in store for us in 2015. Last year, I wrote 14 Things the Church Needs to Do in 2014, and many of them are still true for 2015.