Plans are afoot for a Christian evangelical center to be built in lower Manhattan in response to the Cordoba Initiative’s Ground Zero Mosque.

Ground Zero Cross at the World Trade Center site--constructed from the rubble of the buildings./Hey Paul

The 911/Christian Center is a $1 million dollar project that is being undertaken by Bill Keller, a Florida televangelist who runs LivePrayer.com, an evangelical site with 2.4 million subscribers.

Keller told DNAinfo.com, “If they can put a mosque near Ground Zero, we should be able to put a Christian center near Ground Zero and give people a choice.”

Keller said the center will be near Ground Zero and include a 9/11 prayer room, classrooms, offices and a 300-seat area.

The 911/Christian Center will not be as lush as the Cordoba House, the mosque to which Keller refers.

Cordoba House, which is a joint project of the American Society for Muslim Advancement and the Cordoba Initiative, will be a 13-story mosque and community center, and will require the demolition of an existing 152-year-old building.

Keller said that the 9/11 Christian Center wants to present an alternative to Islam, not to confront it.

“My whole thing is to get into the marketplace and not battle Islam for souls but battle Satan for souls,” he said according to Charisma.  “Rather than a [protest] event we’re going to have an ongoing work of God right there because the Bible says you combat the darkness with the light.”

It is slated to open by January with the goal of bringing more people to Jesus Christ. In the interim there will be weekly services at the Embassy Suites hotel starting Sept. 5, DNAinfo.com reported.

Millions of Christians are using iPods, iPhones, Androids, BlackBerry phones and other types of handheld technology for spiritual purposes.

iPhone--Photo credit Wikipedia/Wikimedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license.

With an iPod Touch, one can download a number of faith based apps including the St. James Bible (or other translations), a prayer list request organizer, or Questions to God, according to appolicious.

Some people have their iPod or iPhone in hand even before getting out of bed, so they can pray or look up Saint A Day. Other times they may read Psalms, Catholic News Service says.

Software developers are making hundreds of applications available that can translate in different languages or even decode ancient texts, or sound the alarm to remind one to pray, KansasCity.com says.

Industry observers see potential growth in this niche projecting some $25 billion by 2015, KansasCity.com says. Overall, users of handhelds are expected to reach one billion worldwide by 2014, Catholic News Service says.

Nuns and devout Catholics can now say the rosary on their own, anywhere, with a handheld–tapping an audio by the Daughters of St. Paul and with some 18 pictures to depict the mysteries of the rosary, Catholic News Service says.

A theology professor uses apps to translate ancient biblical writings. It can also be used to study the Hebrew language. There are also apps for academic lectures and scholarly work, KansasCity.com says.

Daniel Johnson, president of Wisconsin Lutheran College says, “There’s not been a time in the history of man when it’s been as convenient to focus on one’s relationship with the Lord,” KansasCity.com says.

Many churches and denominations are pondering ways by which the technology can be used to reach the young and to spread the gospel. Worshippers in churches, synagogues and mosques often use handhelds, KansasCity.com said.

One woman noted that when she used to read the Bible in a coffee shop after work, people would notice and strangers would approach her. With her handheld she can do the same thing in a coffee shop, and nobody takes note, KansasCity.com says.

In one sense that is a good thing in that there is more privacy. On the other hand, she has less opportunity to share the gospel with seekers, or to meet new Christians who approach her because they see what she is doing, KansasCity.com says.

Salem Web Network has acquired GodTube.com and tangle.com, affirming its leadership in Christian content online, as well as in radio and publishing.

Salem Web Network is part of Salem Communications Corporation, a leader in U.S. radio broadcasting, online content and media focused on Christian and family content, Market Watch said.

SCC owns 96 radio stations, with 58 of them in 22 of the top 25 markets. They also own Salem Radio Network which syndicates programming to some 2,000 radio stations; and Salem Media Representatives, a nationwide media advertising sales company, Market Watch said.

Salem Web Network provides conservative Christian content.  Under its wing are Christianity.com, Crosswalk.com, OnePlace.com, Hot Air.com and BibleStudyTools.com, Market Watch said.

With the acquisition of GodTube.com and tangle.com, SCC will command the largest Christian online video sharing network and the largest Christian social network with some 1 million visitors monthly, and some 800,000 registered users, MarketWatch said.

GodTube.com and tangle.com together provide a social network connecting Christians, videos, music by leading Christian musical artists, bible reading online, and a Prayer Wall where people can upload their prayer requests, Christian Post said.

Tom Perrault, senior vice president of Salem Web Network called both brands pioneers, and said “…we have plans to aggressively grow both over the next several years,” Christian Post said.

Rick Killingsworth, the network’s executive vice president of New Media, said the sites will provide professional quality videos for users, which as of now is a niche that can be exploited in network content, Christian Post said.

Killingsworth said, “This acquisition gives us the leadership position overnight, while also opening up significant new multi-media advertising opportunities,” Christian Post said.

Currently, trends indicate some 33 billion video views, as opposed to 15 billion searches monthly, with U.S. consumers watching videos online at an average 12.71 hours monthly, Market Watch said.

The story of 17-year-old Christian (formerly Muslim) convert Fathima Rifqa Bary is far from over according to the Orlando Sentinel, as she is getting surgery for cancer and will need several rounds of chemotherapy afterwards.

Rifqa Bary

Last year Bary converted to Christianity, then fled to Florida because she was afraid her parents or people from their mosque would kill her.

Now she is back in Ohio due to a court order, but lives with a foster family.

Even as her parents continue the court battle over how she should be raised, Bary has had two surgeries for cancer, and will undergo a third operation on Thursday, the Orlando Sentinel said.

While she was in the hospital, Bary’s estranged Muslim parents Mohamed and Aysha Bary were allowed to go to her hospital room without her permission, according to OneNewsNow.

“I don’t know if it was her attorney, her case worker, [but] somebody made the decision to bring her parents into the room to see her without her permission,” said Jamal Jivanjee, director of the Florida-based ministry, Illuminate, “and that caused her a lot of emotional turmoil and stress, and she objected to that and they had to get them out of there,” according to OneNewsNow.

In August last year Bary said, “If I had stayed in Ohio, I wouldn’t be alive. In 150 generations in my family, no one has known Jesus.  I am the first — imagine the honor in killing me,” FoxNews.com reported.

Bary fled to Florida on a bus last July after her parents learned that she was baptized in early 2009 without their knowledge. Weeks later, using cell phone and computer records, police tracked her to the home of Rev. Blake Lorenz, pastor of the Orlando-based Global Revolution Church, and his wife Beverly.  An Orange-Osceola judge ordered Bary back to Ohio in October last year, according to FoxNews.com.

Bary suffers from an aggressive form of uterine cancer.  Her doctors initially considered a complete hysterectomy, but are hoping that won’t be necessary.  The full extent of her condition will be known after her operation on Thursday, FoxNews.com said.

Fathima said that she would like to continue to stay with her foster family in Columbus.  She turns 18 on August 10 and as an adult, her court battles with her father should end, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

However, when she turns 18 she will lose her health care and may face problems with her immigration status for being in the United States illegally.  She may be deported back to Sri Lanka, FoxNews.com said.

Jivanjee said, “We’re praying that somehow she’ll be granted asylum.”  He added that with Bary’s immigration status still up in the air, and the prospect of extensive medical treatment, she is obviously scared right now, OneNewsNow reported.

Even as evangelical Christian Rep. Mark Souder, R-Indiana submitted his resignation letters already, his 19 staff members will continue to work as normal.

Mark_Souder

According to FOX news, Souder submitted his resignation letters to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, and Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels  on Thursday.

An evangelical Christian, Souder resigned over an extramarital affair he had with a staffer with whom he made a video touting the benefits of abstinence education.

However, even in his absence his 19 staffers will continue to work as they normally do. They will be supervised by the clerk of the House until a replacement is selected in a special election this year, according to FortWayne.com.

According to FortWayne.com, at least half a dozen times in a year, a House member may die or resign, sometimes in scandal and other times to run for another office.  However a backup procedure referred to as a caretaker provision exists so the office can continue its normal functions.

Under this provision, no one can cast a vote on the House floor or ask a question in a committee meeting.  Any administrative work that would require an elected official’s signature will be handled by someone from the clerk’s office, FortWayne.com said.

Other functions will include inquiries from constituents which may range from people with sewer system issues who don’t know where to call, or navigating constituents on how to deal with federal agencies.  They may also referee misunderstandings that may arise between a constituent and a federal agency, FortWayne.com said.

Souder, 59, was known for his outspoken views on religion.  In a news conference at his Fort Wayne office, he apologized for his actions, and expressed regret for hurting those he loves and for letting his friends down.

He had an affair with Tracey Jackson, who had been working for Souder since 2004, according to the Associated Press.

After a 2008 hearing on abstinence-only education, Jackson recorded a video interview with Souder in which the congressman said the only fully reliable way young people can protect themselves from pregnancy and STDs is by “abstaining from sex until in a committed, faithful relationship,”  according to the AP.

Potential replacements for Souder include State Sen. Marlin Stutzman, a tea party favorite who finished second in the GOP primary for the U.S. Senate two weeks ago.  Other possibilities are two Republicans Souder defeated in the primary — Bob Thomas and Phil Troyer — as well as state Rep. Randy Borror of Fort Wayne and Fort Wayne City Councilwoman Liz Brown, the AP said.

According to the AP, Souder’s resignation follows that of Democratic Rep. Eric Massa of New York in March amid an investigation into whether he sexually harassed male staffers and admissions of extramarital affairs by South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and Nevada Sen. John Ensign — both Republicans who have held onto their offices.

Catholics came in full force at Saint Peter’s Square Sunday in a show of support for Pope Benedict XVI amid sex clerical abuse scandals rocking the church, VOANews.com reported.

The people amassed in tens of thousands early in the morning, many carrying large banners declaring solidarity, as families and children shouted slogans of support.  The crowd was composed of   dozens of lay movements and voluntary associations who organized this meeting to back the pope, according to VOANews.com.

Such large crowds as this are often reserved for holiday Masses and canonizations, rather than for Pope Benedict’s brief weekly prayer.  However, the church was also marking the World Day for Social Communications, VOANews.com said.

The pope had just returned from Fatima, Portugal where Catholics believe the Virgin Mary appeared to three children.  In that trip the pope expressed once again the church stand in the belief that human life begins upon conception, and that marriage is indissoluble and should be between a man and a woman, according to Metroweekly.

The pope said these initiatives, along with others, form “..essential elements in the building of the civilization of love.  He added that it fits closely with “…the message of Our Lady which resounds in this place:  Penance, prayer and forgiveness aimed at the conversion of hearts,’ Metroweekly said.

The show of support also follows several actions the pope had done including meeting with victims of clerical sexual abuse in Malta, accepting the resignation of several bishops, visiting the Shroud of Turin and now, visiting Fatima in Portugal.

The pope thanked the crowd for their warmth, trust and presence in such large numbers.  He said their strong showing reflected their closeness to the Church, the pope and priests, VOANews.com reported.

The pope also said the true enemy to combat is spiritual sin, which, he said, sometimes also infects members of the Church, VOANews.com reported.

Atheist lawyer Michael Newdow said recently that he will appeal a court decision that called his bid to halt prayers and the words “so help me God” in presidential inaugurations “moot,” according to the Huffington Post.

“We will be petitioning for a rehearing,” said Newdow, who represented himself and other atheists in the case.

The May 7 ruling, issued by Judge Janice Rogers Brown of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said the issues are “Not a live controversy that can avail itself of the judicial powers of the federal courts,” the Huffington Post reported.

The appeals court said the plaintiffs lack standing to pursue an injunction against individuals who are invited to deliver the presidential oath, and those who lead a prayer.

However, the appeals court said relief could be sought in legislation, as they have the power to do so, according to Law.Com.

In a concurring opinion Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh said neither “so help me God” in a presidential oath nor the inaugural prayers could be considered proselytizing or exploitative.

He said they were deeply rooted in the nation’s history and tradition, according to Law.com.

The decision also said the plaintiffs do not have standing to challenge the 2013 and 2017 inaugurations.

In her decision Brown wrote, “The named defendants are powerless to direct, say no to, or otherwise stop the future president if he wishes to have his ceremony contain the offending elements,” according to Law.com.

Move over YouTube. Step aside Break.com. GodTube, the world’s largest and most popular Christian video-sharing and social networking platform on the Web, has risen from the ashes and is back with a whole new look.

After the site’s original launch back in 2007, over 2.7 million users have flocked to GodTube every month to upload, share and watch the latest in Christian music, sermon and inspirational videos from around the world.

And now, after the successful launch of Tangle.com in 2009 (formerly GodTube), the site has returned under its original moniker, much to the approval of millions of users and fans, at www.godtube.com. Users may now visit Tangle, separate from GodTube, at www.tangle.com.

A media release by A Larry Ross Communications reports that, since its return to the web, GodTube has already “realized more than 400,000 unique visitors, indicating the viral community’s excitement,” according to ChristianToday.com.

Trey Bowles, CEO of Big Jump Media (parent company to both Tangle and GodTube), said “There is a great amount of brand loyalty to GodTube.com from the visitors to the site and we plan to grow the site offering and continue to provide a place online for Christians to come find, view and share encouraging and inspirational content across the Internet.”

Bowles also added, “After three years of building online media communities for the Christian marketplace, we have learned how to measurably identify ways to better serve our target audience and continue to expand our growth into the Christian community.”

The new GodTube boasts a fresh, bold and professionally appealing homepage, along with several new video categories, including comedy, cute, inspiration, music, news and even sports. Upon visiting the site, users will be instantly greeted with the featured video of the day and options to share it via their social networking communities such as Facebook, Twitter, Digg and StumbleUpon.com. And, as always, there is an option to e-mail the video to a friend.

As far as faith-based video networking and sharing goes, it just doesn’t get any better than this.

GodTube CEOs and administrators also plan to incorporate several new features in the future, including user video uploading options and a content flagging system to “help ensure a safe environment for the entire community.” And rumor has it users will even be able to create and manage their GodTube account via Facebook.

“We recognized the unfiltered and unmonitored content available on other sites and we wanted to provide an atmosphere where families can feel safer about their viewing choices,” said Bowles.

“We will continue to focus on providing tools and distribution opportunities that will unite the body of Christ online through both the largest social networking platform in the world, tange.com, and the world’s most popular Christian video sharing site, GodTube.com.”

You can check out GodTube’s new look and sign up for an account at www.godtube.com.