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Andy Stanley preaches to an estimated 33,000 people every Sunday at North Point Ministries' five metro-Atlanta campuses. | Photo courtesy of North Point MinistriesChristians should quit erecting Ten Commandments displays and should instead consider making monuments dedicated to the Sermon on the Mount, popular pastor Andy Stanley said.In a column published by Relevant Magazine, the North Point Community Church pastor argued that the Ten Commandments are “the old covenant” and no longer apply to believers."[I]f we’re going to create a monument to stand as a testament to our faith, shouldn’t it at least be a monument of something that actually...

Pastor John Gray, who leads his own church in Greenville, South Carolina, and still preaches at Lakewood Church in Houston, is responding to people who criticized him for the lavish anniversary gift he gave to his wife for their eighth wedding anniversary on Dec.11. In a video captured by R&B singer and actor Tyrese, Gray surprises his wife Aventer with a Lamborghini Urus. According to the Kelley Blue Book, the 2019 luxury SUV starts at $200,000.

FULL TITLE: Megachurch daycare volunteer caught on video molesting a three-year-old boy 'sexually assaulted at least THIRTEEN other children' A South Carolina church daycare volunteer charged with molesting a three-year-old boy is now being accused of sexually assaulting at least 13 other children. The bombshell allegations were laid bare in a lawsuit that was filed on Wednesday against 28-year-old Jacop Robert Lee Hazlett and the North Charleston NewSpring Church. Hazlett supervised the care of three- to five-year-olds at the megachurch. His arrest affidavit says a security camera recording showed him performing oral sex on the toddler in a bathroom on...

With the release of her new book, "The Most Beautiful Thing I've Seen" Grammy nominated artist Lisa Gungor goes deep on family, church, and being pushed out of the world she knew so well.

What should the role of Christians in politics be? More people than ever are asking that question. Christians cannot pretend they can transcend politics and simply “preach the Gospel.” Those who avoid all political discussions and engagement are essentially casting a vote for the social status quo. (Skip) Nevertheless, while believers can register under a party affiliation and be active in politics, they should not identify the Christian church or faith with a political party as the only Christian one. (Skip) One is that it gives those considering the Christian faith the strong impression that to be converted, they need...

Despite the fact that God expresses His love for the righteous throughout the Old Testament – Jew and gentile alike – in a new book, one of America’s biggest mega-pastors claims the Hebrew Scriptures portray Him as “unapproachable,” living behind a curtain with love reserved only “for His covenant people,” suggesting He is a different deity than the one portrayed in the New Testament. It’s the latest shocking suggestion from Andy Stanley, whose suburban Atlanta congregation exceed 34,000 attendees and a national following. He writes in “Irresistible: Reclaiming the New that Jesus Unleashed on the World,” released last week, that...

Despite the fact that God expresses His love for the righteous throughout the Old Testament – Jew and gentile alike – in a new book, one of America’s biggest mega-pastors claims the Hebrew Scriptures portray Him as “unapproachable,” living behind a curtain with love reserved only “for His covenant people,” suggesting He is a different deity than the one portrayed in the New Testament. It’s the latest shocking suggestion from Andy Stanley, whose suburban Atlanta congregation exceed 34,000 attendees and a national following. He writes in “Irresistible: Reclaiming the New that Jesus Unleashed on the World,” released last week, that...

Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois reportedly paid $3.5 million in lawsuits over the sex abuse of two developmentally disabled boys. The evangelical megachurch, which recently saw its entire elders board resign over unrelated accusations that former lead pastor Bill Hybels sexually abused women, made the payments in the lawsuits over several years, court records obtained by The Chicago Tribune show. One payment of $1.75 million was apparently made in February, while another one of $1.5 million was made last year. Former Willow Creek volunteer Robert Sobczak Jr., now 24, pled guilty in 2014 of abusing an 8-year-old with special...

In the summer of 2008, Bill Hybels stood in front of thousands of pastors and other church leaders gathered at Willow Creek Community Church and admitted his megachurch had failed. “We made a mistake,” he told the crowd gathered for the 2008 Global Leadership Summit (GLS). A detailed Willow study had found that the church had helped many people find new faith in Jesus, but had failed to teach them how to practice the spiritual disciplines needed to grow their faith. He vowed the megachurch would do be better in the future. Ten years later, Willow Creek’s leaders confessed even...

North Point Community Church Senior Pastor Andy Stanley recently explained to popular radio host and Messianic Jewish author Michael Brown why he's quit using the term "the Bible says." In an episode of Brown's podcast "Line of Fire" that aired Monday afternoon, Stanley explained why, although he considers the Good Book inerrant, the term "the Bible says" doesn't work with those he's trying to evangelize. "Once upon a time that was very effective in our country. Those days are long gone. But unfortunately, church leaders still want to leverage 'the Bible says,' which is great for people who take the...

A young Potter's House Fort Worth church volunteer said she quit her role at the church Sunday after she was handcuffed, assaulted and physically removed from the church during a dispute with an elder, that was partially captured on video, about her appearing on the church's stage. In the recording of the incident, Audrey Stevenson, the 22-year-old former volunteer who attended the church led by Patrick E. Winfield II, is heard having a discussion with the church elder, identified as Rhonda Lewis, backstage. "So I want to be clear. On the stage, you are not allowed to do anything on...

Megachurch Pastor Creflo Dollar recently told his congregation not to throw shade at rapper-turned-gospel performer Snoop Dogg. The California-based godfather of rap and actor recently released “Bible of Love” through his All the Time Entertainment, in association with RCA Inspiration. The “Gin and Juice” and “Drop It Like It’s Hot” rapper said he was inspired by his grandmother and pulls in some heavyweight gospel talent like the Clark Sisters and Rance Allen. Dollar, pastor of World Changers Church International, said the church should focus on grace and not past behavior. He was preaching on the “Spirit of Grace.”

Bill Hybels, founder and senior pastor of the multi-campus Willow Creek Community Church, has denied multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, including a consensual affair with a married woman, who retracted her claims. Investigations commissioned by the church also could not substantiate the allegations. In an extensive investigation of the allegations published by the Chicago Tribune on Thursday night, former members of the church, including those who resigned from high-level leadership positions, argue that the church's investigations have been deficient. The Tribune report also alleges a pattern of behavior against Hybels that includes suggestive comments, extended hugs, an unwanted kiss, and...

Until today, perhaps the most national news-worthy thing Bill Hybels has done is announce his eventual retirement from being the lead pastor Willow Creek Church, a transition which he has planned meticulously. That all changed, though, when the Chicago Tribune published a story about allegations of sexual misconduct leveled at Hybels by prominent current and former leaders at Willow Creek. Hybels has said he believes those making the claims against him have “colluded” against him in an effort to discredit his ministry. According to the Tribune, which conducted an investigation into the allegations, the claims of misconduct are numerous. “The...

MEMPHIS — A pastor accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in Texas 20 years ago resigned from his ministerial post Tuesday at a Memphis megachurch. Andy Savage, teaching pastor at Highpoint Church and part of the church's senior leadership team, follows a leave of absence and lengthy investigation by Scott Fredricks, a Fort Worth lawyer whose specialties include assisting churches with child-abuse investigations. Savage's fall culminates more than two months of accusations and soul-searching over a case that became symbolic of the #churchtoo offshoot of the #metoo movement. While the investigation found no other instances of abuse, "the leadership...

<p>Bethel Church, a controversial megachurch in Redding, California, is now under fire in Christian circles for allegedly promoting New Age occultism in the use of "Destiny Cards," which critics have likened to tarot cards.</p> <p>Leaders of the 9,000-member congregation have been accused of working with a Melbourne, Australia-based group known as Christ Alignment, a group that claims to have worked with many churches in that country to do readings.</p>

A progressive evangelical pastor whose 2015 pro-gay marriage announcement led to a steep decline in his church's membership now says that he believes he should have given his church more input on the announcement than he did. Pastor Stan Mitchell, founder and head of the Nashville area-based GracePointe Church, garnered national headlines in early 2015 when he said that his church would support and recognize gay marriages. Since the announcement, GracePointe has seen a steep decline in worship attendance, membership and financial giving. In an interview with The Christian Post on Thursday, Mitchell explained that he felt his position of...

Joel Osteen is the pastor of one of the largest mega-churches in the country which happens to be located in Houston. Sunday morning the church posted a message on Facebook which said, “Dear Houstonians! Lakewood Church is inaccessible due to severe flooding! We want to help make sure you are safe. Please see the list below for safe shelters around our city, and please share this with those in need!” This was followed by a list of multiple shelters in the area.That led to a flood of criticism on social media that the church was, in effect, turning people...

On Sunday, as Hurricane Harvey began to crush parts of Texas, Joel Osteen, pastor of Houston megachurch Lakewood, tweeted that his church was “inaccessible due to severe flooding,” and then let his Twitter followers know that they could go to an area shelter should they need help. Followers who were near the church then took video and photos of the “severe flooding” to show that the roads and entrance to the church were actually accessible. Those on Twitter then began bashing the pastor, who quickly blocked those on social media who called him out. Lakewood church staff began posting photos...

Televangelist Joel Osteen cancelled services at his Houston megachurch Sunday and has yet to reopen its doors — despite the fact that thousands of flooded-out residents are desperately seeking shelter. The perpetually smiling pastor told followers on Twitter on Monday to lean on their faith. “Jesus promises us peace that passes understanding,” he wrote. “That’s peace when it doesn’t make sense.” But Osteen’s comforting words didn’t sit well with critics, who want to know why the doors to his 16,800-seat arena at his Lakewood Church near downtown Houston are closed. “You have taken so much money away from your people...