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Faith, Ministry

New Documentary THE FATHERLESS EPIDEMIC Highlights Importance of Mentorship in Combating Nationwide Issue

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Available Free on YouTube Beginning March 31

FLORENCE, Ala., /Christian Newswire/ — Approximately 18 million children in the United States live without a biological, step or adoptive father present in the home. The Alliance for Ending the Fatherless Epidemic is not only on a mission to eliminate fatherlessness by providing resources and grants but is also announcing the debut of its new documentary, THE FATHERLESS EPIDEMIC. Available for free on YouTube beginning Friday, March 31st at 5 p.m. CT, the film highlights mentorship as a solution to the nationwide issue of fatherlessness, challenging churches and ministries to stand in the gap.

“The 21st-century version of a widow is the single mom, and the orphan is a fatherless kid,” said Executive Director and Founder of The Alliance for Ending the Fatherless Epidemic Eric Swithin. “It’s time for churches to raise men to be intentional about identifying the fatherless in their communities and doing something about it.”

Watch the trailer for THE FATHERLESS EPIDEMIC here.

THE FATHERLESS EPIDEMIC strives to encourage viewers that the epidemic can be solved and we can present the love of God to youth in desperate need of a Godly father figure.

“The key to erasing the fatherless epidemic is through mentorship,” said Swithin. “We are thrilled to provide this documentary as a resource to many ministries to highlight the intense need for men to step up.”

THE FATHERLESS EPIDEMIC is a short documentary addressing the most pressing issue in America, fatherlessness. While everyone attempts to solve our societal ills by treating symptoms, the church is being called to fight the issue at its roots. The solution to curing the epidemic is not to outsource it to the government but to mobilize the church and wage war against the enemy decimating our homes.

Go to fatherlessepidemic.movie to download resources and to receive updates on how to watch THE FATHERLESS EPIDEMIC for free beginning Friday, March 31 at 5 p.m. CT and follow on YouTube at @FatherlessEpidemic.

For more information on how to support The Alliance for Ending the Fatherless Epidemic, visit http://www.fatherlessepidemic.org/ and follow on social media at @TheFatherlessEpidemic.

About The Alliance for Ending the Fatherless Epidemic
THE ALLIANCE is a network of Christ-centered ministries across the United States who are committed to ending the fatherless epidemic through mentorship by sharing resources, ideas, best practices and wisdom, which facilitates faster growth and more efficiency for the sake of bringing glory to God. For more information visit fatherlessepidemic.org.

About Abba Heart Films
ABBA HEART FILMS was born out of a desire to reach as many people with the Gospel as possible. We seek to inspire true discipleship and to educate and encourage the Church to engage in God’s mission! To learn more visit abbaheartfilms.com.

SOURCE: EPIC

Ministry

Good Friday in the Gardens, A Free Community Event

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Miami Gardens, FL – The Fountain Church under the leadership of Pastor Wayne Lomax, will host Good Friday in the Gardens on April 7, 2023, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex Amphitheater located at 3000 NW 199th Street in Miami Gardens.

We invite you to come out and enjoy a night with family and friends and enjoy a variety of musical genres, including Jazz, Hip-Hop, R&B, and Gospel. This free live concert features the Florida Memorial University Royalty Jazz Band, Queen K, Tyler Watts, Courtney Mickens, and The Fountain Praise Team. Again, bring your entire family and enjoy the food trucks, bounces houses, Easter egg hunt, and some good old fashion fun and fellowship.

The Fountain Church is located in Miami Gardens at 4601 NW 167th Street, Miami Gardens, FL 33055. Our mission is “Growing and Serving Others”.

For information, please contact Wendy Jackson wjackson@thefountain.net or (786) 830-4081 or visit —www.thefountain.net/events.

Ministry

OneHope Reaches 2 Billion Children and Youth with God’s Word

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POMPANO BEACH, Fla./Christian Newswire/ — OneHope, an international Christian ministry, has crossed the threshold of sharing God’s Word with two billion children since 1987.

To commemorate this incredible milestone, Bob Hoskins, OneHope’s founder, traveled to El Salvador, where OneHope’s programs launched in 1987. Watch the live recording of this special moment here. 

The vision of OneHope was born when Hoskins received a vision of Satan attacking the children of the world. “For days, I was weeping for what I saw–millions of children being slaughtered–and prayed, ‘Lord, what am I seeing and what should I do?'” Bob said. “And the Lord said, ‘The only thing that will save them is truth, and the truth is in My Word. Take My Word to the children of the world and do it through leaders.” 

Marcos, El Salvador

In 1987, Hoskins sent letters to major leaders in South America and was invited by the minister of education of El Salvador to give Scripture to every student in the nation. El Libro de Vida, the Spanish version of the Book of Hope, was created to share the Gospel with the children in El Salvador in an engaging and contextualized way. This was the beginning of OneHope.

“Since the beginning, all that God has asked of us is to keep a pure heart and clean hands,” Hoskins explained. “God has given us the privilege of stewarding this ministry, and through His faithfulness, we’ve seen His Word transform young people and their communities worldwide.”

OneHope’s programs present a biblical message of hope to children and youth through age, language, and culturally specific print, film, and digital media. In the past few years, OneHope has embarked on digital innovation, giving youth around the world easier access to Scripture. By partnering with YouVersion, OneHope created Kids Bible Experience and the Bible App for Kids, which has been downloaded more than 75 million times worldwide.

“OneHope’s digital programs are changing how the next generation discovers the grand narrative of the Bible. Also, through OneHope’s digital programs, we are able to reach children and youth in hard-to-reach places,” said Bobby Gruenewald, YouVersion founder and member of OneHope’s board of directors.

“My dad’s original vision is still–and always has been–the guiding force of our mission,” said Rob Hoskins, OneHope’s president. “In the midst of victories and milestones such as this, we strive to maintain the same humility and purity that have always been the cornerstone of our ministry. We also know the work is not done until we reach every single child with God’s Word, so we continue to pray for more partners to adopt the vision and join us in this mission.”

For more information about OneHope, visit https://onehope.net.

Ministry

Celebrating Revival & the Next Generation at AzusaFest 23

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LOS ANGELES /Christian Newswire/ — Azusa Street Mission & Historical Society announces the 117th  anniversary of William Seymour traveling to Los Angeles on Feb 22nd, 1906, the Azusa Revival, April 9, 1906 and the winners of the coveted William J. Seymour award. This year’s William J. Seymour National Award winner is Bishop Ed Smith, founder of Nehemiah Project LA. Nehemiah Project LA is a faith-based initiative that works to build greater awareness of the challenges faced by our nation’s at-risk and transitioning foster youth.  Bishop Ed Smith stated “We are helping former foster youth ESCAPE CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS WITH SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, TO build A brighter future  with the support of a ‘forever family.’ Indeed, this is God’s love extended!”

The William J. Seymour International Award will be presented to Bishop Bill Hamon, founder of Christian International Ministries. Dr. Bill Hamon, a prophet for sixty years, is respected by church leaders around the world as the senior leader of the prophetic/apostolic company. God is raising up in these last days. CI is comprised of over 900 ministers in the USA and 3000 globally!

The awards will be presented during the annual AzusaFest celebration on Saturday, April 15th near the footprint of the original mission. The theme for this year’s celebration, is “Do you believe in miracles?: Bridging the Generations (Psalms 105: 4-5).” All services are free and open to the public.

Apostles Fred and Wilma Berry, founders of the Azusa Street Mission & Historical Society, have awarded pastors and leaders the William J. Seymour Award since 2006. Prior recipients of the award have been: Bishop Charles E. Blake, the COGIC presiding Bishop, USA; Pastor Sunday Adelaja, from Kyiv, Ukraine; Dr. Patricia Bailey-Jones, USA; Apostle John Eckhardt, USA; Dr. Myles Munroe from Nassau, Bahamas; Apostle Sam Korankye Ankrah from Accra, Ghana; Pastor Jabes de Alencar, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Al Hollingsworth of Boss the Movement, USA; Lou Engle of TheCall, USA; Pastor TD. Jakes of the Potters House, USA; Pastor Bonnie Chadva, USA; Pastor Robert Kayanja of Miracle Center in Kampala, Uganda; Dr. Mel Robeck of Fuller Theological Seminary, USA; Pastor W.M. Dwight McKissic, Sr. of Cornerstone Baptist Church, USA; Apostle Ron Hill of Love and Unity Church, USA; Sean Feucht of Let Us Worship, USA; and Dr. Robert Fisher of Spiritual Renewal Ministries, USA.

The original Azusa Street Revival began in 1906 and was the catalyst that started the Pentecostal Movement. Currently, it is estimated that over 800 million Pentecostals in the United States, Latin America, Africa, and Asia can trace their religious origins to the Azusa Street Revival and Bishop William J. Seymour. Apostle Wilma Berry carries on the history of Azusa Street as an international representative through the Azusa Street Mission & Historical Society. Apostle Fred Berry transitioned to heaven on November 16, 2021. The organization’s mission is to carry the flame of Azusa Street to the next generation throughout the world’s nations. For more details on Azusafest 2023, please visit www.azusafest.com or call 323.692.7268.

SOURCE Azusa Street Mission

Ministry, Music, Worship

‘Cascading River of Love:’ Uplifting Worship Song from John Pape Offers Hope and Encouragement to Worshipers

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(Christian Newswire) — Christian songwriter John Pape is thrilled to announce the release of his latest song, “Cascading River of Love,” a powerful and uplifting song created to bless and inspire worshipers everywhere. The song is currently available on all major streaming platforms.

With its memorable melodies and powerful lyrics, “Cascading River of Love” is the perfect addition to any worship playlist, designed to create a meaningful and uplifting experience for worshipers in the church. The song was written and produced by John Pape, with the goal of providing a song that inspires worshipers to draw closer to God.

Every song has its genesis in an idea. In this case, several verses in the Bible inspired “Cascading River of Love,” including Isaiah 43:12 which says “Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

The song starts by setting the stage for individuals who are in a spiritually dry place. It expresses the desire to be refreshed and renewed, and highlights that Jesus is the source of living water. The image of a cascading river that pours down paints a picture of the continuous spiritual filling that comes from God.

However, the song also reminds worshipers to examine their individual motives and desire to be purged of the dirt that dwells in their heart. Water not only refreshes but also has the power to clean. “Cascading River of Love” is a story of restoration, renewal, and refreshment by the love, mercy, and grace of God.

To help worship leaders learn the song “Cascading River of Love,” John Pape is also making available free learning resources to help worshipers learn and connect with the song. These resources include sheet music, chord charts, and instructional videos, all of which are currently available on the artist’s website.

“I am thrilled to be able to offer this song to worshipers everywhere,” says John Pape. “My hope is that this song will resonate with people and help to create a powerful and meaningful worship experience.”

John is a Christian musician who creates music as a form of worship and ministry. His lyrics align with biblical truth, offering encouragement, hope and inspiration to those in difficult times. John’s skills are evident in his songwriting process, and he has a passion for using his platform to share the gospel and lead others to a deeper relationship with God.

SOURCE Mediatunes Inc.

Business

241 Organizations Honored as ‘Certified Best Christian Workplaces’ in 2022

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(Christian Newswire) — Best Christian Workplaces (BCW) has recognized 241 faith-based organizations and Christian-owned businesses as Certified Best Christian Workplaces in 2022.

As many organizations continue to face challenges related to the ongoing shift from virtual and hybrid work environments, these workplaces demonstrate upstanding dedication to building and protecting a strong workplace and prioritizing healthy working relationships amongst teammates and managers. 

Says Jay Bransford, CEO, “Although many people report increased productivity when they have more flexibility with their work location, it can also bring with it some unique challenges. Thus, when Best Christian Workplaces provides actionable data and feedback from our employee engagement survey, leaders of organizations feel well-equipped to understand which aspects of their culture are being negatively affected and in what ways staff would like more support from their supervisors/managers.”

Faced with high inflation and low unemployment, this year’s survey results also highlight the squeeze many employers have also felt in the area of rising labor costs. The factors highlighted in the survey, specifically concerning compensation, have helped organizations determine how pay impacts their employee’s levels of engagement and motivation, and their likelihood to look for higher-paid work elsewhere.

“Approaches to compensation strategy can vary, but the most successful organizations are proactive and intentional,” explains Bransford. “In some cases, leaders simply identify a need to better communicate their pay philosophy and benefits programs. And in other cases, leaders have identified a need to re-assess the pay, benefits and/or career path opportunities offered.”

Now more than ever, employees have the ability to choose where they want to work and what they want their workplace to be like. As a result, employers who take the health of their workplaces seriously are at a significant strategic advantage. The 241 organizations honored today set the gold standard for excellence in employee engagement, and BCW is hopeful and expectant for the year to come.

“Imagine what would happen in our societies if Christian-led organizations decided to rise up and set the standard as the best, most effective places to work in the world,” says Bransford. “Not only would it mean that Christian-led workplaces would successfully attract and retain the best talent, but they would also be positively representing the nature and character of God in and through their workplace cultures. In doing so, they would bring more people to Christ. Now that’s something to be hopeful and expectant about in the year ahead!”

This year’s Certified Best Christian Workplaces list features organizations in the United States, Canada, Australia, Thailand, and Zambia, and includes a variety of faith-based nonprofits, churches, Christian schools, camps and conferences, and Christian-owned businesses. Validated by their own employees, certified organizations must meet the required scoring standard through BCW’s robust employee engagement survey.

For more information, visit Best Christian Workplaces online: workplaces.org.

World

Ukraine War Accelerates Orphan Crisis

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More than 600,000 war-impacted and unwanted children in orphanages across Ukraine, Russia, former Soviet Union

Christian Newswire/ — The war in Ukraine is accelerating an orphan crisis in the embattled nation and neighboring Russia, a U.S. mission agency says.

Children are being swept up in the turmoil in Ukraine and taken to overcrowded orphanages miles away across borders, often separated from family members desperately searching for them, says Illinois-based Slavic Gospel Association (SGA, www.sga.org).

“The kids don’t understand why this is happening to them,” said Eric Mock, a missionary with SGA that supports local evangelical churches ministering in Ukraine, Russia and other nations of the former Soviet Union.

The orphanages are often cold, depressing places where war-affected children, kids abandoned by drug-addicted and alcoholic parents, orphans, and other unwanted children cry themselves to sleep every night.

“The children assume there’s something wrong with them,” said Mock, who frequently visits some of the orphanages — facilities that house at least 600,000 children across Ukraine, Russia and the former Soviet Union. “They think they’re ugly, that they don’t matter, that no one loves them or wants them. They’re depressed, lonely and sometimes very angry.”

Intervening ‘Before It’s Too Late’
A staggering 84% of children in the orphanages will be there until they turn 18, when they’re released into the community and struggle to survive on their own. Studies reveal more than 8 out of 10 end up involved in crime, drugs, or prostitution, sometimes leading to suicide, said SGA president Michael Johnson.

“Only God can give them hope and turn their lives around before it’s too late,” Johnson said. “This is why it’s so crucial for local Christians to visit with children in the orphanages every week, showing them compassion and love, praying with them, telling them about Jesus, and reading Bible stories to them.”

Orphans Reborn
SGA launched Orphans Reborn in the year 2000 to support the efforts of local churches and “believers with a heart to show God’s love to these children and share the Gospel with them.”

Orphans Reborn brings hope to more than 14,000 orphans and abandoned children across Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Armenia. And it’s growing with support from churches and individuals in the U.S.

Local church volunteers — often braving dangerous, icy roads and temperatures 50 degrees below zero — visit the same orphanages week after week. “They look beyond their own comfort to bind up the broken hearts of children who are unloved and unwanted,” said Mock, who recently visited Ukraine.

‘Brought Joy To My Heart’
Sonya lives in an orphanage. Her father doesn’t have any time for her. Her mother is an alcoholic. The last time she saw her mom, “she just drank vodka,” Sonya said.

When Christians from a local Baptist church began visiting Sonya’s orphanage every week, she felt loved for the first time ever. “They told me about Jesus and said the Lord would take care of me,” Sonya said. “It brought joy to my heart.”

At another orphanage, church volunteer Luda took 10-year-old Vlad, a boy who’d been abandoned, under her wing. She takes Vlad to her home on the weekends, and now he calls her “Mom.”

“Every time I come to pick up Vlad, there are 12 other children looking at me with a questioning look that says, ‘What about me?'” Luda said. “God, if only I could, I would take them all to my place.”

Founded in 1934, Slavic Gospel Association (SGA, www.sga.org) helps “forgotten” orphans, widows and families in Ukraine, Russia, the former Soviet countries of Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Russian-speaking immigrants in Israel – caring for their physical needs and sharing the life-transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ. SGA supports an extensive grassroots network of local evangelical missionary pastors and churches in cities and rural villages across this vast region.

SOURCE Slavic Gospel Association

Books

New Book Gives Christians Certainty of God’s Guidance Beyond Sunday Morning

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In every generation, people face the challenges, questions, and concerns of the gospel message of the Christian faith. Using an easy to read, offbeat blend of humor and apologetics, Tony Carvalho provides clues, tidbits, and morsels – some easy to swallow, and some not so much – on how to stay connected to the Lord in the other 99% of life beyond Sunday morning.

Every Christian is in full-time ministry – whether they know it or not – and in a position to influence the lives of those around them for eternity. Beyond Sunday Morning sets some ground rules through numerous stories, insightful perspectives, and fun ways for Christians to recognize the Lord’s hand in their lives.

Readers will not only get past their miserable Mondays, but their weekly Christianity will get a complete revamp, and better yet, they will gain certainty of the Lord’s guidance beyond Sunday morning.

“Beyond Sunday Morning is a collection of wonderfully written essays that provides a path to spiritual enlightenment. Each essay will help you take a step forward in your faith and inspire you to run after Christ. Tony Carvalho is an incredible writer, storyteller, and apologist – not to mention an outstanding Christian Servant Leader. If you are desiring to better understand the goodness of God, look no further. Your heart will be encouraged and your soul will be fed ‘Beyond Sunday Morning!'” — Dr. Adam Wright, President of Dallas Baptist University

Beyond Sunday Morning is available in hardcover and Kindle format from Amazon.