Search

The article discusses the evangelical Pentecostal church, which, while the fastest growing denomination in the U.S., is losing younger adherents. An exception is the Ark of Salvation for the New Millennium, a Harlem-based church that has attracted a devoted core of teenagers. Pastor Danilo Florian performs congregational baptisms in the Delaware River.

This article describes how Danilo Florian heard the call from God as he prayed that his daughter would survive a near-death battle with encephalitis. While praying, Danilo says he heard a voice demand that he do business with him. Since that time he has given up a jewelry business and has devoted his time as pastor of the Pentecostal church, Ark of Salvation in New York City. After working all day, Florian spends the rest of his time running church services and helping his parishioners.

The article discusses the role of African American pastors in social justice. It mentions the reputation of Bishop Charles E. Blake, the pastor of the West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles, California, his role in presiding over a Pentecostal denomination of around six million members worldwide, and the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the assassination of one of the most famous preacher-activist, Doctor Martin Luther King Jr.

The article looks at political attitudes in advance of the South Carolina primary in the 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign, reporting on the political disagreements among members of the Redemption Church, a large Pentecostal church in Greenville, South Carolina, which it notes has a multiracial congregation. It offers comments from the church's pastor, Ron Carpenter Jr., on the pattern of black members mainly supporting Democrats and white members mainly supporting Republicans.

The article reports on the gathering of some 600 worshipers of the Pentecostal megachurch Aliento de Vida at the Central Park in New York City. It states that the gathering was headed by pastor Victor Tiburcio and his wife Hattie, and featured performance from evangelical Christian figure Luis Palau. It also notes that the six-hour event was highlighted with multidenominational and multiethnic flavor of evangelical Christianity.

The article looks at the state of churches in Liberia following the end of the country's Ebola outbreak. It is suggested that fear and doubt caused by the disease, as well as the role of churches in its spread, have caused a crisis of faith in Liberia. Details on attempts by church members to heal Ebola patients are presented. Particular focus is given to Pentecostal churches, which often denied the reality of the disease.

The article provides information on Hillsong, an Australian Pentecostal megachurch that is gaining popularity worldwide among young Christians in large cities in part due to the success of its Christian contemporary music recording label. Details are included on Hillsong founders Brian Houston and Bobbie Houston, noting their anti-abortion and anti-homosexuality views. Criticism of Hillsong, claiming it minimizes the Gospel and theology to capitalize on trends, is also covered.

The article profiles Praise Movement Ministries, a Pentecostal church in Harlem, New York. The church regularly uses dance as part of its religious services, encouraging its members to dance as a way of praising God, a form of worship that has been used since biblical times, though it fell out of favor until a recent revival.

The article presents a look at the church the Ark of Salvation in Harlem, New York. The author comments on the beginning of the small Pentecostal church, which found a home for its congregation due to efforts by Danilo Florian, a factory worker and pastor. Included are quotes from Florian and a description of Pentecostalism.

Discusses why Latin America and Africa represent a new factor in Pope John Paul II's succession. Growth of the Roman Catholic Church over the past century; Observation that Latin America has the highest concentration of Roman Catholics in the world; Role of the cardinals in choosing a successor to Pope John Paul II; Outlook for selection of a pope from the developing world; Possible successors, including Cardinal Cláudio Hummes of São Paulo, Brazil; Challenges to the Catholic Church in Africa and Latin America, primarily from the Pentecostal wave that has drawn millions; Background on the stagnation and declining church attendance in Europe and the United States; How John Paul's conservative message has transformed the church in Africa and Latin America. INSET: Over the Past Century, The Church Shifted Southward.

At a black Pentecostal church in Raleigh, N.C., the Rev. Patrick Wooden entered the sanctuary on Sunday to a standing ovation, exulting that God's ''high hand'' had led voters last week to pass a statewide amendment banning same-sex marriage. He took to the pulpit and denounced President Obama for taking a stand ''in support of sin,'' and ''in opposition to the biblical model of marriage.'' A thousand miles away, at a predominantly white, Lutheran church in Madison, Wis., where a rainbow banner greets churchgoers arriving for services, the Rev. Susan Schneider preached that gay men and lesbians were included when Jesus commanded his followers to love one another: ''Knocking down the walls is what Jesus was after.'' [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

8 P.M. (Lifetime) THE PREGNANCY PROJECT (2012) In this film based on real events, Alex Vega, above, plays Gaby Rodriguez, an 18-year-old high school student from Washington State who pretended to be pregnant to explore the prejudices and presumptions surrounding teenage pregnancy. Judy Reyes plays Gaby's mother, who went along with the experiment. A discussion guide, links to resources and an excerpt from Ms. Rodriguez's book can be found online at mylifetime.com. 10:30 A.M. (13) RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY Kim Lawton reports from Florida on the divisions among evangelical Christians over which Republican presidential candidate to support. Lucky Severson looks at the Yoido Full Gospel Church, a Pentecostal church in Seoul, South Korea, that has thousands of worshippers, grants prominent positions to women and tells members that if they give to God, they will be rewarded with prosperity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight men were arrested on Wednesday in Malaysia in connection with the firebombing of a Pentecostal church last month, one in a series of attacks that has targeted a dozen Christian churches, the police said. The attacks followed a recent court ruling that struck down a government ban on the use of Allah to mean God in Malay-language Christian scriptures in this predominantly Muslim nation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Focuses on religion as a rising force in the world, with the exception of Western Europe. Religious revivals in former Communist countries, China, South and Central America and the U.S.; Significance of this rising religiosity; Views of religion experts; Possibility of a rising backlash against violent fundamentalism of any faith; How the world's fastest growing religion is the Pentecostal wing of Christianity; Background on Christian fundamentalism in the U.S.; Contradictory trends in fundamentalism; Outlook for religious clashes.

Examines how African churches are attracting increasing numbers of white worshipers in the U.S. Impact of the growth of African immigrant churches on religious worship in New York City; Increased visibility of the churches in their neighborhoods; Background on the churches, some of which were founded by white missionaries; Why the movement is drawing the interest of scholars of religion; Perception of African churches as a bridge between the races; The rapid expansion of Pentecostal and evangelical Christianity; Worship styles; How these churches create a cultural refuge.

Reports that the Reverend Maurice Gordon of the Lovingway United Pentecostal Church in Denver, Colorado has removed his sign that read "Jews Killed the Lord Jesus" to a sign offering an apology that read "I am deeply sorry for offending the Jewish people, whom I love. Brother Gordon." Statements by the United Pentecostal Church International about the sign; Gordon's statement about the film "The Passion of the Christ".

Examines Pentecostalism in Nigeria and worldwide. Reasons why worshipers are drawn to evangelical services; How the growth of Christianity in the developing world is changing the practice of Christian faith and other religions; Schisms between the old Christians and the newer ones; Background on the spread of the Christian population; History of Pentecostalism; Success of Pentecostal movements in Africa; The Pentecostal church in Brazil; Implications of the Christian resurgence for some urban Muslim professionals in Nigeria.

Focuses on the cafeteria at the United House of Prayer for All People, a Pentecostal church in New York City.

Addresses the problems facing bilingual services at Hispanic Pentecostal churches. Reasons why attendance at many bilingual Pentecostal churches in the New York City metropolitan area since more young people insist on speaking English, despite maintaining an intense relationship with Hispanic culture; Efforts of many bilingual churches to reverse the reason they were founded in the 1950's, when large groups of people were arriving from Puerto Rico and eager to find religious services in their own language.

Discusses how Pentecostal churches are gaining followers in Africa. Example of the Winners' Church in Otta, Nigeria; Influence of U.S. evangelists on the men who lead these churches; Criticism of traditional religious leaders and Nigerians; Background on the growth of Pentecostal churches; The church's message of prosperity; Comments of Reverend Chris Okotie, who founded the Household of God church, and others.

Reports that the Pentecostal church, Tabernacle of Prayer for All People in Jamaica in Queens County, New York is designated as landmark on May 25, 1999 by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Remarks from Reverend Johnnie Washington, the church's pastor in 1977; Architectural significance of the church; Other structures that were designated as landmarks.

Discusses the Pentecostal revival at the Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola, Florida. The belief by thousands that God resides at the Brownsville Assembly; The snowballing of a typical, temporary revival on Father's Day 1995 into what appears to be the largest and longest-running Pentecostal revival in America in almost a century; Number of people that are in attendance at the Pensacola Outpouring, as it is known; The other Pentecostal revival that attracted attention.