April 2009 Newsletter
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Calif. Street Preacher to Keep Preaching
CBNNews.com - A California street preacher has won the right to continue sharing his faith with others in public. Preacher Kevin Borden will also receive a total of $1 in damages.
In addition, The Modesto Bee reported taxpayers will also pick up his legal expenses amounting to about $35,000, according to a settlement filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Fresno.
Street Preacher a Downtown Figure
Borden had been witnessing to people at the downtown Tenth Street Plaza for about three years. However, a theatre business in the area complained to the city about the minister. The city of Modesto then rented the Plaza in an effort to make it private property, essentially blocking Borden from preaching there.
Police then threatened to arrest him if preached on the premises. Borden sued the city for violating his constitutional rights. The city has now agreed to uphold his free-speech rights.
"He has every right to be in the public square, just like everyone else," said Alliance Defense Fund attorney Heather Hacker. The Christian legal group represented Borden in court.
The city has also said they will not keep Borden or any other resident from voicing their faith or concerns at the Tenth Street Plaza, not even on Saturday nights when pedestrian traffic is at it's highest.
In legal papers, Hacker said Borden is an evangelical Christian who believes he must follow a message Jesus gave to his disciples, found in the book of Mark: "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."
Most Americans Want Friend Invite to Church
CBNNews.com - More than half of Americans say they would attend church if invited by a friend or family member, according to the latest LifeWay Research survey.
Of those surveyed, 63 percent said they are willing to hear about a local church body through a family member. An invitation from a friend or neighbor would also be accepted by 56 percent of Americans.
Ken Weathersby, senior strategist for evangelization at the North American Mission Board, said the survey helps with ideas for evangelism.
"We want to help Christians discover what approaches work best in today's culture," he said. "It's not about changing the Gospel, but determining how best to share it."
The Lifeway's survey helped the Mission with learning the best forms of evangelism.
The Mission is launching a new campaign "God's Plan for Sharing" next year, with a goal to reach every person in North America with the gospel by 2020.
More than 15,000 adults were surveyed by LifeWay in December 2008.
Graham Draws Thousands in Struggling Uruguay
CBNNews.com - Just north of Argentina, the small country of Uruguay is the most secularized and atheist country in Latin America.
One of every four residents there suffer depression and many take refuge in drugs.
But in the capital, Montevideo, Uruguayans recently welcomed an opportunity to change.
Evangelist Franklin Graham drew 71,000 people to this stadium in month.
The three-day Festival of Hope broke attendance records for Christian events in Uruguay.
Some 700 churches helped organize the festival and the Graham Association reports more than 8,000 people made commitments to follow Christ.
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Ephesians 5:1
I can only imagine what it will be like
When I walk by your side
I can only imagine what my eyes will see
When your face is before me
I can only imagine
Surrounded by your glory; what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still?
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah; will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine. I can only imagine.