Five months post former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, the perpetrators of the bombing of Two Saints Church, Alexandria, last New Year’s Eve remain unknown–and the government seems to stall its investigation.

The suspects who were arrested shortly after the bombing have been released, and there is a prohibition against publishing information about the bombing that continues to be in force since January, even after Mubarak stepped down the following month.

On New Year’s Eve, a bomb was lobbed onto the front lawn of Two Saints Church, a landmark cathedral, while a service was ongoing. Some 25 died, and 100 were injured. (See http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2011/01/egyptian-coptic-church-bomb-kills-21-wounds-79-14956/).

Speculation contends there may be links between the bombing of the church, and threats that were sent to the Coptic Church eight hours before the blast. Murmurs abound that the Salafists and the State Security collaborated in the bombings.

“[The] majority of Copts believe … the Salafists in collaboration with State Security carried out the bombings of the Alexandria Church,” activist Edward Fahmy told AINA.

Heightening suspicions that State Security was complicit is the fact that the security personnel and officers who were assigned to the church were not at their posts when the blast occurred.

Joseph Malak, attorney for the Coptic cathedral, said in a press conference at the Church of St. Mark in Alexandria that they have filed a case requesting that former interior minister Habib al-Adli is questioned about the incident.

They also asked in their lawsuit that reasons be disclosed as to why the suspects were released, and seek cancellation of the ban on publication about the bomb blast, which had been imposed since January.

The lawsuit also seeks to require that the investigations are completed by the Ministers of Justice and Interior, and that the perpetrators are sentenced as quickly as possible.

Malak said in the press conference that the lawsuit names the president of the Council of Ministers, the Attorney General and the Interior Minister. It demands the reopening of the case.

For some time, a long list of affidavits had been submitted to these government officials, and relatives of the victims have expressed willingness to testify. However, the government has not responded.

In the press conference which took place at the church’s Egyptian Center for Development Studies and Human Rights last Sunday, Malak said, “We will demand the Attorney General to take determined action to complete the investigation into the case and to speed up detection of the perpetrators and bring them to trial,” AINA reported.

Appeal to media

Also present at the press conference was the pastor of Two Saints Church, Father Makkar Fawzi, who appealed to media for help. “You are our last resort, we have talked with many officials without any answer.”

Rev. Abraham Emil of St. Mark Church said at the press conference that the government of Egypt has the capability to find the perpetrators, adding that the families of the victims are Egyptians, too. “They have the same rights as victims of the Revolution.”

John Stott, 90, a key figure in the resurgence of 20^th century British evangelism, died on July 27, 2011, from complications of old age.

Stott, who was ill for many weeks, died in the presence of family and close friends while listening to Handel’s Messiah. He was a lifelong bachelor who played a pioneer role in refashioning evangelicalism in the 20th century.

He authored the bestseller, Basic Christianity, which was translated into some 60 languages. Of 40 books that he wrote, others are Issues Facing Christians Today (1984), and The Contemporary Christian (1992).

He was committed to “[relating] the ancient Word to the modern world,” Baptist Press said. Stott is a founder of the Lausanne Covenant.

Stott, who graduated with highest honors in Cambridge in French and theology, is known for his special gift for grasping the meaning of the Bible and explaining the scriptures clearly to all types of people.

From the start he was passionate about evangelism, and even in University ran Scripture Union camps during the holidays which were strongly evangelistic in nature.

In 1945 he was ordained in the Church of England, and became rector in 1950 even as the church was damaged by the war. He distinguished himself as a Bible teacher and expositor, and built a reputation as an evangelist.

In 1950 evangelicalism had little influence in the Christian world, but Stott spurred its growth globally. In his church, All Souls, he led many to Jesus Christ and taught church members how to evangelize.

All Souls, an inner city church, had a mix of indigent and wealthy church members. Stott unified both sides through evangelism. In time he became a popular speaker at Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship evangelistic campaigns in many British universities, especially Oxford and Cambridge; and later, North America and the Commonwealth.

Stott fostered organizations that encouraged young evangelical priests, and organized many evangelical conferences. His skill in clearly explaining the Bible with great depth was a tool in his success.

Stott was passionate about the Bible and how it could shape life. Through his works, a generation gained renewed faith from Scripture. He showed that simple Christianity could appeal to everyone, and transformed British evangelism into a major movement.

Stott came to know Billy Graham when the latter first came to England in 1946 and through the years their friendship grew and was pivotal to the founding of the Lausanne Covenant in 1974.

Stott chaired the drafting committee and is recognized as its chief architect. That year, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association convened an International Congress on World Evangelization in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The congress was significant in showing that churches around the world can work together. It also helped leaders to recognize that social concern and preaching the gospel could not be done separately.

Stott said, “The Great Commission neither explains, nor exhausts, nor supersedes the Great Commandment. What it does is to add to the command of neighbor-love and neighbor-service a new and urgent Christian dimension. If we truly love our neighbor, we shall without doubt tell him the Good News of Jesus. But equally, if we truly love our neighbor, we shall not stop there,” Christianity Today reported.

“[Stott] imparted to many a love for the global church and imparted a passion for biblical fidelity and a love for the Savior,” Benjamin Homan, president of John Stott Ministries, told Christianity Today.

A spokesman for Billy Graham told Christianity Today, “The evangelical world has lost one of its greatest spokesmen, and I have lost one of my close personal friends and advisers. I look forward to seeing him again when I go to heaven.”

R. Albert Mohler Jr., president, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary told Baptist Press, “You cannot explain English-speaking evangelicalism in the 20^th century without crucial reference to the massive influence of John Stott.

Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church told BP, “I flew to the U.K.recently just to pray for him and sit by his bed. What a giant! [He was] one of my closest mentors.”

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Zondervan, the world’s leading publisher of the Bible and other Christian books, purchased recently through its Zonderkidz division, The Beginner’s Bible.

The Beginner’s Bible, originally published by Mission City Press, has been among the top 10 bestsellers of Christian children’s books for the last 20 years. It has stood out for its unique artwork and simple storybook-telling style, and is today considered a classic.

The Beginner’s Bible is geared to children age six and younger. It presents Bible stories in a way that is both entertaining and educational, and is widely considered to be a pioneer in this category.

Robust product line

Zondervan has had since 1997 a distribution agreement with Mission City Press. In 2004 Zondervan became the exclusive publisher of the book through Zonderkidz.

Zonderkidz has since then fully revised and updated the text and illustrations of The Beginner’s Bible. It also added a robust product line including various Bible storybooks, devotionals, children’s books, Bible covers, audio products, I Can Read Bible stories and others.

To date, all editions of The Beginner’s Bible (now available worldwide in over 20 languages) have cumulatively sold six million copies. The entire product line (including storybooks, audio products, et. al.) has sold over 18 million units.

“Zondervan has enjoyed a great partnership with Mission City Press as both organizations have long shared a common vision to bring God’s Word to life to the youngest generation,” Scott Macdonald, President and CEO of Zondervan, said.

“We are honored that Mission City Press trusts us to carry forward this wonderful brand, and we intend to continue to enhance and develop it to impact more young hearts for Christ,” Macdonald said.

Tim Lyles, President of Mission City Press said, “There are times when a highly successful past turns out to be just the warm-up for an even more astounding future.  We feel that way about The Beginner’s Bible.”

Lyles added, “[The Beginner’s Bible’s] amazing legacy as a No. 1 bestseller for over 20 years was preparation for the best that is yet to come. There is no better company than Zondervan, our longtime publishing partner, to take [this] brand to new heights.”

Zonderkidz has produced over 55 products for The Beginner’s Bible brand, including an interactive website with games and teaching resources. Zondervan is also planning new products for the brand including:

• The Beginner’s Bible: Kid-Sized Devotions for children to use daily.
• The Beginner’s Bible Book of Prayers, which includes a Bible verse and a biblical character per prayer.
• Heroes of the Bible, from the I Can Read series. Hardcover editions will also have an audio CD.

For the eighth consecutive week, authorities of Beijing arrested members of the Christian Shouwang church for showing up for Sunday service in an open air venue last May 29.

Authorities in Beijing arrested 22 members of Shouwang church, which has been trying to hold worship services outdoors after it was evicted from a facility it was renting and not allowed to inhabit a building that it paid for, according to the Baptist Press.

The number of arrests would probably have been much higher, but most of the 1,000-strong members of the church had been placed under house arrest. Of those arrested, 21 were set free at midnight, and the last one was released the following day, BP
said.

In a statement, the church said, “After eight outdoor worship services, we may feel tired and may sometimes unconsciously become lax in our spirits and actions. Therefore, in this continuing fight, we need all the more to pray for our alertness, support each other, encourage each other and press forward with the extra strength and power given by the Lord,” BP reported.

The arrests of Shouwang church members is as follows: “More than 160 were arrested the first week…about 50 were arrested the second week, approximately 40 on the third week, about 30 on the fourth week, 13 the fifth week, 20 the sixth week and 25 the seventh week,” the BP said.

Petition

A petition that was submitted on May 10 and signed by 17 pastors of house churches in different cities in China aired its support for Shouwang and asked the National People’s Congress to act on the issue, the China Aid Association website said.

The petition requested the NPC to investigate the Shouwang incidents, review the Regulations on Religious Affairs and enact a law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Freedom of Religious Beliefs, the CAA website reported.

Defamation campaign

The Chinese government has responded by implementing a defamation campaign against Shouwang church. Rev. Bob Fu, CAA president said on its website, “Last week, the director of the State Administration for Religious Affairs of the State Council convened a nationwide meeting of leaders of Three-Self churches from 15 provinces and municipalities.”

Fu said on the CAA website that the government was telling the Three-Self churches “not to heed Shouwang Church’s own statement of faith and [was] repeatedly slandering Shouwang Church. One can see that the authorities are getting ready for a  large-scale defamation campaign against Shouwang Church.”

After the May 10 petition was submitted by house churches, authorities began to use words such as “anti-cult” in reference to its actions against Shouwang. Fu added that detained church members, when interrogated, were told that Shouwang is a cult and that they were brainwashed, the CAA website said.

Fu believes this indicates the Chinese government will try to destroy Shouwang’s reputation to isolate it from other house churches. The government will say Shouwang is not representative of Christianity, the CAA website reported.

Mainstream Catholic church

However, the Chinese government may have a difficult time doing this. Recently, a joint declaration signed by 500 international church leaders was signed in support of Shouwang, the CAA website said. Signatories included Chuck Colson and the president of Advocates International, which is the largest Christian lawyers organization in the world.

It will also be difficult to misrepresent Shouwang because the church is part of the mainstream Catholic church with Shouwang members in mainstream churches in Canada and the U.S., the CAA website said.

For the sixth Sunday in a row, China’s Christian Shouwang Church members went to service in the open air. And for the sixth time, Chinese authorities arrested a number of parishioners for doing so.

Some 20 church members were arrested this time. Boxun.com, a Chinese-language website, posted a video last Sunday which showed Shouwang congregants being shuttled into two buses that parked near the open air venue where they were supposed to worship, Baptist Press said.

The video also showed marked and unmarked police cars parked around the open air site, according to Baptist Press.

So far, hundreds of church members have been picked up, while others have been placed under house arrest. Church members and leaders’ movements are restricted and confined, Baptist Press reported.

A statement from Shouwang said, “Many more believers and church leaders have lost their personal freedom because of being restricted to their homes on Sundays or the other days of the week by local police, neighborhood committee workers or residential security guards.”

Furthermore, some 30 Christian families from Shouwang were evicted from their homes. The Shouwang statement said they “were given just a few days to move out of their rental homes for no other reason than that they were members of Shouwang Church; in the short-term, they have no fixed abode, and they are getting by, by shuttling among the homes of various brothers and sisters in the church.”

More than 10 church members lost their jobs when the Chinese government exerted pressure on their employers to do so, according to Baptist Press.

Standoff

The standoff began earlier this year when the Chinese government, dismayed by the growth of the church in Beijing, exerted pressure so that the church would not be able to continue to worship in its usual indoor facility, Baptist Press said.

The reason given: Shouwang is not registered with the government. Despite this, for the last six weeks church members have congregated outdoors to pray in a public square in Beijing, according to Baptist Press.

The first week that they did this, some 160 church members were arrested. More arrests have been made with each succeeding Sunday. Last Sunday, the sixth week of the standoff, 20 more church members were detained, Baptist Press said.

Must be registered

In China, churches are required to register with the Three-Self Patriotic Movement in order to be legal. However, registered legal churches are not allowed to evangelize, cannot baptize children and teenagers, and cannot have a Sunday School among other restrictions, Baptist Press said.

Shouwang, which was founded in the 1990s, filed an application for registration in 2006, but in 2009 the application was rejected and since then the church has been continually harassed by the government, Assist News Service said.

More harm than good

Gordon C. Chang, an author and lawyer, wrote in World Affairs Journal that China may be doing more harm than good in its latest crackdown on Christian house churches, according to ANS.

Chang, author of The Coming Collapse in China, told ANS, “The Communist Party is, once again, creating determined foes from ordinary folk who previously had no reason to oppose it.”

He compared the situation to that of Jiang Zemin, a former supremo in China, who 10 years ago drove the Falun Gong (a sect of the qi gong) underground. Chang told ANS, “The roundup comes in the midst of a national campaign against Christianity and the regime’s latest crackdown against dissent, its most comprehensive in years.”

Chang told ANS, “The most important aspect of the Shouwang story is that, despite repeated prosecution, its congregants have continued to defy Beijing’s officials. In fact, few have given up their church or their faith in the face of persistent harassment. Official persecution of Shouwang has, if anything, appeared to stiffen the will of its believers.”

Petition

Recently, 15 pastors of other house churches sent a petition on behalf of Shouwang to China’s leading legislator, Wu Bangguo, saying that the actions against the church conflict with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of which China is a cosignatory, Baptist Press said.

The statement also said the actions go against China’s Constitution which guarantees, “the rights to liberty of religious faith,” adding that the case of Shouwang is “not an individual, isolated episode that happens to a single church, but rather a typical phenomenon in respect of the conflict between state and church,” Baptist Press reported.

Chang told ANS, “Estimates put the number of Protestants in underground Chinese churches at 40 million. Add in the number of Catholics, Buddhists, Muslims, and others praying surreptitiously, and the one-party state may have taken on too many adversaries at one time. But communists always overreach. They are doing that now.”

A recently-held summit for North American Native people held in Springdale, Ark. became an opportunity for dialogue, understanding and a deeper appreciation of the relevance of the gospel in their setting.

The North American Native People’s Summit was organized by the Southern Baptist Fellowship of Native American Christians, with the intent to bring together Natives and non-natives who are in ministry, according to the Baptist Press.

However, the summit also became an opportunity to give Native American Christians a voice, lend inspiration and encouragement; and to bridge understanding and learning in sharing the gospel among Native peoples, the BP reported.

Some 200 people attended the conference, most of them Native peoples. But non-Natives also came because of their interest in this ministry. The delegates hailed from 31 states and four Canadian provinces. They converged at Cross Church in Ark. For the two-day event that was held late April this year.

Stan Albright, one of the 13-member team that planned the event said told BP, “This is the first time Native peoples have had a setting in which they were free to speak their minds.  And what’s on their minds is their desire to lead their people to the Lord.” Albright is also director of missions for the Baptist Convention of New Mexico.

There were three keynote speakers at the summit, namely Henry Blackaby and his son Richard Blackaby (both recognized for their concern for Native peoples), and Ronnie Floyd, pastor of Cross Church, which plans to plant 50 new churches within three years.

Doug Sarver, who heads Cross Church’s global missions said, “I don’t know anything about reaching Native Americans—yet. Is it okay to say ‘yet’? Maybe the Lord will lead us to connect with you.” Some 2,000 volunteers have signed up with Cross Church for short-term mission trips next year, BP said.

Gateway people

Mark Custalow, a Native from Virginia said that he believes God wants Native Christians to be gateway people to other Natives. He said, “God wants to use us to be a gateway people, to be a blessing to all those who call this nation home,” the BP reported. He shared his experience using “story circles,” to spread the gospel with bible stories.

Alan Dial, a strategist for starting Native churches in Anchorage, Alaska said, “I think we really needed to do this conference. I don’t think Southern Baptists as a whole grasp the breadth of lostness. Native people have needed a voice to tell that story to their Southern Baptist brothers and sisters…. If we’re not praying for each other, we’ve already given up the fight,” the BP reported.

Eugene Baker, pastor of Native American Totah Baptist Church in Farmington, N.M. told BP, “On one end [before the summit] they were saying one thing, that we’d get opportunities to meet people and help people, and when we get here, we learn we are our own resources. That goes along with what I’ve been thinking. The Lord gives me a vision ahead of meetings like these — we just had one in Oklahoma City and then in Albuquerque — and the meetings give me assurance I’m on the right track.”

Testimony

During the summit there was a testimony by Bez Bull Shows of Crow Agency, Mont., of Set Free ministry which ministers to people afflicted with drug and alcohol abuse. Bull Shows said, “I went home for a visit and started rounding up people from the res. Now we have prayer circles and meetings in several homes.”

Another pastor, Jimmy Anderson of Many Springs Baptist Church in Holdenville, Okla., said that missionaries on the reservations have a strong impact on people, and many of those whom they have reached out to on the reservation are leaders today.

Anderson, who has worked in Native ministry since 1956 said, “The early missionaries got the Gospel out and churches started on a scriptural basis. They helped get the churches organized,” the Baptist Press reported.

Anderson told the Baptist Press, “This summit was worthwhile and really needed. One thing we need is a burden to see the scope of the need among our own people. We’ve heard it before but I think we need to keep hearing it.”

Participants agreed that the summit has established a new, fresh start in Native American ministry. As a result, the Southern Baptist Fellowship of Native American Christians decided to have a succeeding event on June 13, at 10 a.m. to noon as one of the activities during the Fellowships annual meeting at the Phoenix Convention Center. All are invited, the BP said.

Democratic Rep. Daphne Campbell said recently at a press conference in Florida that she is demanding a public apology from fellow Democratic Rep. Scott Randolph and House Minority leader Ron Saunders for alleged bullying and chauvinist attacks after she supported a pro-life bill.

Randolph denied the accusations, while some House Democrats said the accusations are exaggerated. A Florida Channel video was shown in Randolph’s defense. However, in the video Randolph is seen talking to Campbell, but the camera then cuts away. Later, Randolph is seen walking away, Times/Herald Tallahassee reported.

Rep. Geraldine Thompson, in Randolph’s defense, said “If there would have been very loud and aggressive behavior, I would have heard it,” according to the Times/Herald Tallahassee. Randolph did admit that he threw some of Campbell’s papers and pen in the trash can, which he said were on his desk, the Times/Herald Tallahassee said.

Pam Olsen of the International House of Prayer in Tallahassee said in the press conference that she witnessed the event from the gallery and saw firsthand “the intimidation from leaders of [Campbell’s] party,” and saw Campbell being spoken to in a way that was “traumatic.” Olsen’s statement is at 8:55 on  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS8q3DwRTWg.

A number of House Democrats told media members that they support Campbell, and added that the party must move on together as a group, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Campbell, a Florida State House Representative, said during the press briefing, “I am a Democrat and I am proud to be a Democrat and no Democrat should be treated like this,” according to the Orlando Sentinel.

The incident, which occurred in the freshman rep’s first legislative session, was caused when the Ultrasound Bill was up for debate. Campbell, who works as a nurse and is married with five children, passionately supported the bill which necessitates
ultrasounds before abortions, Charisma News said.

In supporting the bill Campbell quoted the book of Ezekiel and cited the biblical commandment, “Thou shalt not kill.” At this, Republicans in the Florida House gave her a standing ovation, Charisma News reported.

After the vote Randolph, whose assigned seat is next to hers, threw papers on her desk, tossed her pen in the trash, called her a traitor and said he would find someone to take her place in 2012, the Times/Herald Tallahassee said.

Campbell said, “I was the victim of an altercation by my fellow state representative, Scott Randolph. Several items were thrown in my face, foul language was used against me, and I was insulted and ridiculed in front of all my colleagues. I was called a ‘traitor’ and was told that I was going to be kicked out of office next year,” Charisma News reported.

Randolph’s supporters include Equality Florida and Planned Parenthood, according to Charisma news. Campbell has the backing of several Christian leaders who support a number of abortion-related bills that are before the Legislature, the Orland Sentinel said.

Randolph told Campbell, “You are a traitor. … I swear, you will not be re-elected. I will get an opponent,” to which Campbell replied, “You have no right. God put me here,” according to Charisma News.

Bill Warren of the Florida Family Policy Council said he personally witnessed the entire incident. He told LifeSiteNews, “Democrats are now harassing [Campbell] with needless questions on all of her bills and attempting to defeat even simple, noncontroversial bills.”

John Stemberger, president of Florida Family Policy Council told LifeSiteNews, “I spoke to Rep. Daphne Campbell by phone and personally thanked her and told her she is to be applauded for standing alone within her party in support of the weakest and most vulnerable members of society– the unborn.”

Christian churches are responding to the needs of people in southeastern states that were hit by what is considered to be the deadliest attack of multiple tornadoes in 40 years, leaving some 300 dead.

The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Samaritan’s Purse, the Alabama Baptist Convention and the Red Cross are assessing the damage wrought by some 137 tornadoes that swept through Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee and Virginia.

Teams from the Alabama Baptist Convention along with the Red Cross have been removing debris and are expecting to serve up to 60,000 meals daily. Jerry Butler, director of the Southern Baptist Association’s Alabama Disaster Relief Organization told Christian Press, “We’ll be here for as long as they need us.”

The BGRapid Response Team is working in collaboration with Samaritan’s Purse, both Christian relief organizations headed by Franklin Graham. They are addressing the emotional and spiritual needs of survivors in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham even as they are making damage reports and assessing needs, Christian Newswire said.

Preston Parrish, executive vice president of BGEA told Christian Newswire, “The swath of devastation that has ripped through the South and brought so much death and destruction is stunning. The overwhelming sense of loss — for those who lost their homes, and especially for those who lost loved ones — will be nearly unbearable for many. We want those suffering to know that Christ cares for them, that we are praying for them, and we will be standing beside them.”

Rising death toll

The death toll is continually rising as search and rescue teams mine the rubble. Last Wednesday some 137 tornados ripped through ‘Dixie Alley,’ (the pathway of destruction along the states earlier reported), according to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center in Okla., Christian Press said.

A number of churches were also damaged, including the 202-year-old United Methodist Church in Alabama where only a single pew was seen standing, Christian Press said.

Jake Fauble kept watch over the remains of Ford Chapel United Methodist Church in Harvest to keep looters out. He said there were no deaths as just before the storm passed through, a Mother’s Day Out day care program had ended and everybody left, Christian Press reported.

Fauble said, “Right now I’m just up here keeping an eye on the place to keep the looters out. I just hope that everyone else got out of this okay. I’m sorry to see all the devastation around here and all the homes that are ruined, but-as with the church-it can be rebuilt,” according to Christian Press.

North Carolina’s Samaritan’s Purse has sent crews to Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Cullman, Ala. It has also sent out Disaster Relief Units including emergency supplies and tools packed in a tractor-trailer for volunteers and staff, Christian Press said.

Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse and BGEA told Christian Press, “When people lose everything to a tornado, flood or hurricane, it is overwhelming. Even in a country like ours, we can’t just depend on the government to come in and fix everything. As Christians, we are called to help our neighbors in distress.”

Jack Monday, director of BGRapid Response Team told Christian Press, “We are going alongside Samaritan’s Purse and in doing so, together, we seem to meet the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of those directly affected.”

Christian leaders are raising questions as to whether it is right to use mixed martial arts as means to spread the gospel.

Adam Groza, a vice president of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in California, has strong feelings about the bloody sport, calling it “violence porn” in his column for the Baptist Press, according to The Christian Post.

Groza wrote in his column, “[V]iolence is not part of the plot, it is the attraction. Violence for violence’s sake, as opposed to instrumental or redeeming violence, desensitizes the viewer to the graphic horror of watching two people pummel each other for the sake of entertainment,” The Christian Post reported.

Dr. R. Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, however, wrote in his blog that MMA can be a vehicle to spread the gospel. He wrote, “[Some] churches are making a self-conscious effort to reach young men and boys with some kind of proof that Christianity is not a feminized and testosterone-free faith that appeals only to women.”

MMA is the first competitive fighting sport to combine a wide range of fighting styles including kickboxing, boxing, wrestling, jiujitsu, karate, taekwando and others. It was banned in the U.S. a decade ago, but in the last five years gained mainstream status and is regulated and legal in 42 states, The New York Times said.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is according to The New York Times the premier brand of MMA. It draws millions of viewers, and in 2009 the UFC was the top-earning pay-per-view event, The New York Times said.

A number of Christians are MMA professionals such as Diego Sanchez, Rich Franklin and UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. The New York Times estimated some 700 white evangelical churches in the U.S. have an MMA ministry.

The purpose is to draw men from the ages of 18 to 34 to church. Groups include Anointed Martial Arts in Temecula, Calif., which combines the gospel with martial arts through its program, ChristJitsu, The Christian Post said.

Gary Kruger, an instructor, told The Christian Post, “[W]e will expose the men to the physical techniques found in MMA, but more importantly use this teaching time as a way to expose the men to the reality that as Christians we are in a spiritual fight and called to fight the good fight of faith.”

Another group is Victory Christian Fellowship in State College, Penn., which includes MMA as part of its outreach. Dave Hatfield, an organizer of the group told The Christian post, “We use our MMA outreaches to tap into guys’ natural desire to conquer and compete and point them to their Creator and the fact He has plans for them to become not only beloved sons, but also warriors for Him.”

Many who are not familiar with MMA are dismayed by the sport’s violence and the blood that is sometimes shed. However, advocates of MMA say that performing the sport involves a lifestyle of discipline required of every athlete.

The Christian Post refers to Todd Thomsen, who commented in an article about the topic published in Baptist Press Sports, “The MMA competitors usually congratulate and thank each other at the end of a match. Some of them are the best of friends outside the ring while they fight each other in the ring.”

James-Michael Smith, a bible teacher who trains in MMA and hopes someday to compete professionally wrote in The Examiner, “[T]the presentation of Jesus as a fighter, and Christianity as rough and tough, is simply not in line with the Gospel message.”

Smith noted that Jesus “fought” by turning the other cheek, especially during his crucifixion. “To deny or distance oneself from this reality of the Gospel–even though done with a desire to reach people with the message of Christ–is basically creating a Jesus in one’s own image…in this case, the image of a cage-fighter,” he wrote in The Examiner.

Still, Smith says that MMA is a sport that Christians can engage in. He writes, “There’s no need to re-image Jesus as a fighter in order to appeal to the MMA lover…just as there is no need to re-image Jesus as a football player in order to appeal to the Superbowl lover! Jesus is Jesus.”

It is the message of Jesus, in the end, that will have a lasting change in people’s lives, “even the most battle-hardened fighter’s heart,” Smith wrote in the Examiner.

The 42^nd Annual Gospel Music Association Dove Awards was held last Wednesday before a full-capacity Fox Theatre in Atlanta, and will be aired at 7 p.m. this Easter Sunday.

The Dove Awards, which was hosted by Sherri Shepherd of The View, honored the veterans of gospel music, even as it acknowledged the new crop of young talents, watchgmctv.com reported.

The top winner of the night was Francesca Battistelli, 25, who won Artist of the Year, Female Vocalist of the year (for the second time), and Pop/Contemporary song of the Year for Beautiful, Beautiful, watchgmctv.com said.

Battistelli told the audience, “This is amazing. I don’t know what to say. Thank you to the Lord. He’s the reason we’re all here. Thank you guys for supporting Christian music,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Another artist who won three Doves is singer/songwriter Chris August, who was Male Vocalist of the year, New Artist of the Year, and Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for No Far Away, watchgmctv.com said.

August said, “I literally can’t believe it. As a Christian, I’m humbled. You don’t look for awards. You just want to make music and serve Jesus, but as a person who has been working at music for many years, to finally have someone say ‘hey, you did a great job on something and here’s an award for it…’ that’s a pretty cool feeling,” Watchgmctv.com reported.

Jason Crabb also capped the night with three Dove Awards, as did Point of Grace, the AJC said. The Group of the Year Award went to NEEDTOBREATHE, the Baptist Press said.

Not bleeped

Shepherd, who hosted the show, told AJC that it will be a nice change for her to be able to praise God and not be bleeped. “I love the Lord. I truly, truly love the Lord and I love following Him,” the co-host of The View said.

Shepherd told AJC that she is a great fan of Christian music, favoring Mary Mary, Franklin and TobyMac. She also has a soft spot for Natalie Grant, whose song Held helped her survive the near death of her prematurely born son.

Shepherd told AJC, “Music can renew your faith and uplift you more than words can. This music has gotten me through some stuff. I can’t believe God is so good.”

Special honors

A special tribute was given to Sandi Patty for her lifetime achievements, through a rendition of her songs performed by Battistelli, Grant and Audrey Assad, Baptist Press said.

Patty said, “I was sitting there thinking there has been a lot of life lived since the beginning. I understand God’s grace and His forgiveness in a way that perhaps when I won my first Dove Award 30 years ago I didn’t understand,” Baptist Press reported.

Also highlighted during the show was Steven Curtis Chapman, who with wife Mary Beth has worked hard to promote adoption and orphan care. Curtis performed with Mac Powell of Third Day, and Mark Hall of Casting Crowns, singing Children of God, an adoption-themed song, Baptist Press said.

Another key performance during the program was that of Kenny Rogers who sang The Rock of Your Love together with Point of Grace, the Baptist Press reported.

Presenters include NFL stars Greg Jennings of the Green Bay Packers and Tim Tebow of the Denver Broncos. Tebow told AJC that meeting some of his favorite musicians was “definitely inspiring.”