Luis Palau: Mass evangelism still works

Fifty years into proclaiming the Gospel, evangelist Luis Palau has not slowed down in telling the world who Jesus Christ is.

It may be a bit traditional or just plain simple, but he strongly believes that "the more we preach, the more the Gospel spreads".

At 75, the Argentina-born preacher continues the tradition of mass evangelism that he picked up from Billy Graham. And like Graham, he has had to face critics who doubt his method of preaching.

Luis Palau celebrates 50 years of ministry this year.

Andrew Palau preaches love in Uganda despite terrorist threats

More than 80,000 people turned out to hear Andrew Palau preach in Kampala over the weekend in spite of heavy security and fears of another terrorist attack.

The two-day Love Kampala Festival went ahead at the city’s Kololo Airstrip even after the local authorities ramped up security in the wake of another terrorist threat.

Just one week before the festival, a Somalian man was arrested on suspicion of terrorism onboard a Uganda-bound flight that was also carrying seven members of Palau’s team. The latest threat comes after a fatal attack on Kampala in July, when the al-Qaeda-linked Somalian terrorist group al-Shabab set off two bombs in the capital, killing 76 people.

Andrew Palau preached the Gospel to more than 80,000 people in Kampala, despite security concerns.

Are we just too afraid to ask people to church?

As more than 600,000 people across the United Kingdom are being invited to special church services for Back to Church Sunday this weekend, one of the founders of this movement is on a mission to mobilise long-term church growth.

Michael Harvey, who first helped to launch Back to Church Sunday back in 2004 in Manchester, England, has spent the last year travelling across the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, preparing churches to invite their friends back to church by running seminars called "The 12 Steps to Becoming an Inviting Church".

Harvey explains how he came up with this teaching series.

Bollywood producers announce new movie on Jesus Christ

The Indian film industry is to shoot a movie on the life of Jesus Christ for the first time.

Produced by Aditya Productions, the movie is believed to be India's highest budget movie at an estimated cost of $30 million.

Shooting will begin in the Holy Land in October under the direction of veteran Bollywood film-maker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao.

The film will depict the story of Jesus Christ from his birth until his death and resurrection and will be released in English and three Indian languages in 2011.

Christians seek Pakistan debt cancellation

group of South Asian Christians in Britain is pressing for the cancellation of Pakistan’s international debts as the recovery from this summer’s devastating floods looks set to run into years.

The South Asian Forum of the Evangelical Alliance warns that life-saving relief efforts for some 20 million flood victims could be jeopardised if the Pakistani government is forced to send almost a third of its annual budget revenues to foreign creditors.

Pakistani families displaced by flood live in a camp setup for displaced people in Thatta, Pakistan on Thursday Sept. 16, 2010

Ban on Converting Others Proposed in Nepal

NEW DELHI (Compass Direct News) – A legislative panel in Nepal has proposed retaining a ban on converting others in the country’s new constitution.

Parliament has yet to decide on the proposal, but Christian leaders said they fear it is likely to be approved given that Nepal’s largest political party, led by former Maoist rebels, sympathizes with the deposed king’s wishes for such a ban. The country is forging a new constitution as part of its transition from a Hindu monarchy to a democracy.

Bishop Narayan Sharma of the Believers Church said he expects approval of the ban as recommended by the Committee on Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles (CFRDP). A Sept. 13 report by the Religious Liberty Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance said a preliminary draft the CFRDP presented to Nepal’s Parliament penalizes activities aimed at encouraging others to convert, though it does not punish individuals for converting.

Iran Arrests 9 Christians for Evangelism, Reports State Media

Iran has arrested nine Christians on the charge of evangelism, according to a report picked up by a Persian language Christian news agency Tuesday.

Seven Christian Iranians were accused of cooperating with two foreigners who were supported by “Christian-Zionist organizations,” reported the Farsi Christian News Network based on a state news program that aired Sept. 10 on the Fars News Agency. The Fars News Agency is connected to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, a branch of Iran’s military.

According to the report, the Christians were accused of proselytizing – which is illegal in Iran – outside of the Northwest city of Hamedan. The term “Christian Zionists” is often used by the Iranian government to refer to evangelical Christians and does not imply any relationship with Israel or Zionists.

S. Korean Pastor Indicted After Trip to N. Korea

A South Korean pastor was indicted Thursday on the charge of violating South Korea’s National Security Law after returning from an unauthorized trip to North Korea.

The Rev. Han Sang-ryol allegedly met with top officials and secret agents during his 70-day stay in the communist north and praised Kim Jong-il’s regime while denouncing South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, reported the Seoul-based Yonhap news agency. He was also charged of leading anti-U.S. protests in 2006 under the guidance of North Korean spies.

Han was arrested Aug. 20 after returning to the South.

South Korea forbids its citizens from making unauthorized trips to the north and supporting Pyongyang’s repressive regime. Han, a pro-unification activist, could face up to seven years in prison if convicted of violating the security law.

South Korean religious activist Rev. Han Sang Ryol speaks at a press ..

Luis Palau: Youth Need Clear Gospel Confrontation

It may be a bit traditional or just plain simple, but he strongly believes that "the more we preach, the more the Gospel spreads."

At 75, the Argentina-born preacher continues the tradition of mass evangelism that he picked up from Billy Graham. And like Graham, he has met doubts and resistance over his preaching method.

"I remember when Billy Graham was starting out, I was present at a conference he gave in London. And somebody said 'well, mass evangelism doesn’t work.' And he (Graham) threw his head back and laughed and said that’s been said since the beginning of history that it doesn’t work," Palau recalled to the The Christian Post on Wednesday.

Fifty years into proclaiming the Gospel, evangelist Luis Palau has not slowed down in telling the world who Jesus Christ is. It may be a bit traditional or just plain simple, but he strongly believes that "the more we preach, the more the Gospel spreads."

Universal Orlando Hosts 2010 Christian Music Fest

Universal Studios Orlando Resort's popular "Rock The Universe" Christian music festival returns September 10 and 11 with one of the most exciting celebrations of Christian music in the nation.

Fourteen soul-stirring rock acts will take the stage at the resort, located just north of Orlando, Fla., for a weekend filled with music, inspirational stories from celebrity speakers, and the opportunity to enjoy the most thrilling theme park attractions at Universal Studios Florida.

Christians Urged, Equipped to Pray During Islam's Holy Month

As Muslims around the world marked the start of Ramadan on Wednesday, Christians were urged to make a deliberate effort to learn about, pray for, and reach out to Muslim neighbors across the street and around the world during Islam’s holiest month.

For the next 30 days, Muslims around the world will fast, pray, give to charity, and put more effort into following the teachings of Islam. From dawn to dusk, Muslims will try to abstain from food, drink, and sexual intercourse. They will also try to overcome emotions such as anger, envy, greed, lust, sarcasm, and gossip in their effort for self-control.

A Lebanese Muslim woman, shops for decorations in preparation for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday Aug. 9, 2010. Muslims traditionally decorate their homes, shops and streets for the holy month of Ramadan. Muslims throughout the world will be celebrating the holy fasting month of Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, refraining from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from sunrise to sunset.

Billy Graham, Christian Artists Get Youths Excited for Christ

Evangelist Franklin Graham concluded his monthlong Rock the River evangelistic tour on Saturday with more than 8,000 youths in Western Canada.

The Edmonton event saw 332 decisions for Christ.

"There's nothing more refreshing and amazing as you're sitting on stage after you play your set and see kids come down," said Jason Dunn, lead vocalist of the Christian pop/punk band Hawk Nelson. "They're coming to the front and they're giving their lives to Christ. That's an amazing thing. It'll never get old. I get chills just thinking about it."

Hawk Nelson was one of six bands that drew thousands of young people to Telus Field. Many more watched the summer concert and evangelistic event through live Web streaming.

Beck's 'Restoring Honor' Rally Draws Diverse Crowd

Hundreds of thousands of Americans came together in the National Mall in Washington, D.C. this weekend for Fox News talk show host Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally.

Former Gov. Sarah Palin, R-Alaska told the crowd it was time to restore America and Beck said this nation is turning back to God.

For all the controversy the rally stirred up in advance, in the end it turned out to be about exactly what it said it would be. Not politics and the Tea Party -- but about honor -- restoring it, teaching it and honoring those who live by its virtues.

Palin appeared and honored servicemen and women who have given so much and have also suffered for the country they so love.

"Though this rally is about restoring honor, for these men and women, honor was never lost," Palin said.

Beck said it's time for all Americans to become everyday heroes and people of virtue.

Flight etiquette for Evangelicals

Jonathan Mayne internationally acclaimed canoe and rowing commentator tells a story of sitting next to someone in his interview on the Australian Missionary News IPTV

The Sydney Morning Herald recently ran a travel story on the ‘dos’ and ‘don'ts’ of airline travel. Etiquette expert Anna Post wrote a set of rules one should follow to ensure a pleasant flight for yourself and your fellow passengers.

In her article, she asks such questions as, who owns the middle seat arm rests on an airplane, really? How do you break away from the marathon talker in seat 12E? And what do you do, if anything, about the angelic-looking child kicking the back of your seat?

Christian Leaders Admit Church Unity Still Long Way Off

Ecumenical, evangelical and Roman Catholic leaders have conceded that there are still many obstacles to unity in the body of Christ but stress they remain committed to the journey.

Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, international director of the World Evangelical Alliance, and the Most Rev. Brian Farrell, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, were speaking to journalists on Saturday at Edinburgh 2010, a major conference taking place this week to mark 100 years since the World Missionary Conference was held in the Scottish capital in 1910.

Bishop Farrell was the least optimistic about efforts towards unity.

Franklin Graham Closes 3rd Brazilian Festival with Over 25,000

American evangelist Franklin Graham concluded his third evangelistic festival in Brazil Saturday night, preaching to over 25,000 Brazilians in the city of Belo Horizonte.

Graham, who heads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, has preached twice before in South America’s largest country (and the world’s fifth largest) – the first about 18 years ago and the second about nine years ago.

Interview: Jerry Rankin on Spiritual Warfare, Missions

Jerry Rankin, the president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board, spokeabout his new book with missiologist Ed Stetzer called Spiritual Warfare and Missions

In the interview, Rankin explained what Satan’s most effective strategy is to stop the expansion of the Kingdom of God and why missions is not the ultimate goal of the church.

The following are excerpts from the interview.

U.S. evangelicals gather to pray for creation care-Evangelical leaders from several prominent organizations gathered on Capitol Hill Tuesday to pray, repent and sing about creation care.

Galen Carey, director of government affairs at the National Association of Evangelicals, prays at the first National Day of Prayer for Creation Care on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 in Washington, D.C

The afternoon rally at the Upper Senate Park was among several events that took place for the first-ever National Day of Prayer for Creation Care.

“We pray today especially for those who suffer because of our mistreatment of your world,” prayed Galen Carey, director of government affairs at the National Association of Evangelicals, on Tuesday.

“May we be your faithful servants and may we your people lead the way that others will see not only how to care for your good creation, but will come to know you as their loving creator through the witness of our lives and deeds,” he said.

Billy Graham 3rd generation family weeklong community events.

A weeklong community event called "Reality" has drawn Christian leaders and local churches together in an effort to reintroduce Jesus Christ to a country that has become increasingly secular.

"I heard many comments that this was one of the first times that they had all the local churches working together on a single evangelistic outreach," said Graham, according to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.