Nearly 70 percent of people worldwide are mobile phone users and a whopping 86 percent of millennials have a smart phone.  Yet, according to the recent Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, only a small fraction attend religious services or see church attendance as a definer of their faith and spirituality.   At the same time, the majority believe in God and think about the meaning and purpose of life at least once a week.

To tap into and engage them in an innovative, accessible way, Churchome, the Seattle and Los Angeles-based mega-church led by Pastors Judah and Chelsea Smith, has partnered with the pioneering mobile technology company Seventh Spark to create and launch Churchome Global, a free app-based platform that offers users 24/7/365 access to the Churchome community and programming, including community prayer, pastor-led groups, meaningful and topical conversations with other users, growth classes, charity opportunities, interactive church broadcasts, daily inspirational messages, and more.

“Churchome Global not only changes where and when users can experience church community, but how and why,” said Judah Smith. “In today’s transient, global society, there are entire segments of the population who just cannot attend a physical church because they travel for work, move around, are in the military, are disabled, and in the case of millennials, are simply not going to church on a regular basis.  And because we live in a tech-driven world, we can leverage innovative tools that create unique ways to bring people together and spread the Good News.”

Chelsea Smith echoed these thoughts, adding that, “The idea behind Churchome Global, and our community in general, is that every woman, man, boy and girl – every age, every race – will find a home in God, a home where they belong and a community that functions as a family, but one that is not confined to a brick and mortar building of four walls.” 

The Churchome Global app, which is available now on both the iOS and Android platforms, offers daily content from the Churchome pastoral team, live chats, weekly messages, worship services, prayer, inspirational positivity messages, Bible study, community activism and volunteering opportunities, group meet-ups based on areas of mutual interest, topical conversations and more, in an easy-to-navigate, welcoming way. 

Among the app’s special features are Daily Spark, a daily dose of inspiration using messages from Judah and Chelsea, Bible passages, music; Connect, which encourages users to join others locally or through a digital group or gathering based on mutual interest;and Uplift, which enables users to support local and global causes that uplift and respond to the real needs of real people in real time. This month, Churchome launched a crowd-sourced Uplift campaign called Everyday Heroes, a program in which users can highlight friends, neighbors and others who are making a real and significant impact to improve lives in their communities (this will run through mid-March).

Churchome “communities” include She, focused on encouraging, empowering and inspiring women; Churchome College, which enables students at colleges around the world to engage in conversations, ask questions and connect with each other; and ChurchKids, which is geared to help parents make the story of Jesus fun for the entire family and includes weekly sermons just to share with their kids.  Most importantly, users can also form their own groups based on shared interests and will soon be able to come together digitally to watch weekly church services on Sundays and Tuesdays.

“We are, at once, a global church but also a small church doing big things,” Judah Smith explained, noting that in Churchome’s beta phase, more than 600 groups in 80 cities were already formed. “We want everyone to feel that they’re a part of our community and to find the acceptance, friendship and family they’re seeking.  The overarching goal it to make the connection between God and people really simple.” 

Marissa Bell, Co-Founder and CEO, The Seventh Spark Company, believes that “Churchome Global is a revolutionary way for Churchome to empower people to foster their relationship with the church community and integrate faith into their everyday lives. As opposed to using other social platforms, Churchome is able to own the experience and manage their community according to their terms, while also keeping an intimate pulse on the changing needs of its members. That is powerful.”

To learn more about Churchome Global and download the app, visit here.

George Frey/Getty Images

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints more commonly known as “Mormon” church recently announced that it will be removing the word “Mormon” from the iconic choir’s name as the church continues what is being called “correction”. The leaders of the religious group announced that the choir will now be known as the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, 

In August, church president Russell M. Nelson, 94, requested people stop using “Mormon” or “LDS” as substitutes for the religion’s full name. The only acceptable shorthand, he said at the time, is “Latter-day Saints.”

Pastor Greg Laurie holds up his Bible to those in attendance at Socal Harvest at Angel Stadium August 17 2018

Pastor Greg Laurie delivered a message in defense of the Bible during the first night of an annual three-day revival in California from Angel Stadium following widespread media coverage of billboards for the event being removed due to backlash. Pastor Laurie was unapologetic about what the Bible means to those of the Christian faith and made it clear that the message of Jesus is life-changing and is meant for everyone.

Socal Harvest is celebrating its 29th year this weekend of bringing Christian music and the message of Jesus Christ to California. The event is free for those in attendance with opportunities to support charities like Compassion International or purchase merchandise if they choose. However, there is no obligation to contribute financially in any way to attend the annual event.

Watch Greg Laurie’s message below:

Listen to Pastor Greg Laurie’s powerful message from AT&T Stadium in Texas where he shares eternal hope with those in attendance and around the world.

The dynamic, multi-cultural youth ministry of Planetshakers Church, Planetboom, releases “Jesus Over Everything” June 1 with global distribution by Venture3 Media. The single will be available through iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Google Play and more digital and streaming outlets internationally.

Pioneering the next generation of Planetshakers music, Planetboom Band is passionate about encountering God, seeking His presence and working to change the culture around them through relevant music. Comprised of young musicians, songwriters and vocalists, the band leads praise and worship every week as the ministry exists to see young people empowered to win their generation.

“Out of this next-generation movement comes a unique praise and worship expression,” says Planetboom Youth Pastor Andy Harrison. “Merging styles and musical genres, and complete with a spoken-word piece, ‘Jesus Over Everything,’ is an anointed and powerful declaration on behalf of young people all over the world.”

“With teenagers facing increasing pressures and temptations, boundaryless sexualization and social media bullying, this is a bold statement,” adds Josh Ham, Planetboom’s Creative Director, Assistant Producer. “In the midst of every alternative, we choose Jesus over everything.”

The new song follows two singles released from Planetboom Band over the past year, “New Levels” and “Praise of Problems,” which have collectively received over 1.4 million views on YouTube alone.

With more new music slated to release this year, all the latest Planetboom Band news and updates can be found at www.planetshakers.com/planetboom, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

Candace Cameron Bure is one of the most recognizable women of faith working in the Hollywood entertainment industry. Star of both the 80s sitcom “Full House” as well as its more modern sequel “Fuller House,” Bure is known for sharing her bold, faith-filled viewpoint on talk shows such as “The View.”

Now, she is on a quest to reintroduce kindness into the public discourse and has put forward her favorite segments of biblical inspiration in a new video for Bible Gateway.

“I want to share with you just a few of the many verses in the Bible that talk about kindness — and it brings me such joy. I’m just loving it and I can’t get enough of it,” Candace said at the start of the short video. Then, she turned to the scriptures.

Bure’s first pick was 2 Corinthians 12:9:

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

The “Fuller House” star explained how she often feels overwhelmed and weak, and that this verse reminded her to lean wholly on Jesus Christ.

“There are so many days I feel so weak and knowing that all I need is God’s kindness helps me get through my day,” she said of this powerful passage.

“I love that. I could just ingest that all day long.”

Her second selection was Ephesians 4:32:

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

In a cutthroat and often highly superficial entertainment industry, it is so refreshing to see a celebrity such as Bure place such high value on showing Christ-like kindness to everyone she meets.

Bure laughed, saying that often wants to post the words of this verse “on everyone’s forehead.”

“Be kind to each other!” she implored. We forgive, she noted, “because God forgave all of us.”

The actress’s third pick was Galatians 5:22-26, which is all about the “the fruit of the Spirit.”

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited,provoking and envying each other.”

H/T Faithwire

The worship anthem ‘Jesus Messiah’ which was originally made popular by Chris Tomlin gets a southern makeover in this powerful cover by the Gaither Vocal Band. Watch the video below and make sure to share this one with your friends!

Photo taken in Las Vegas on 01/31/18.

Expressing concerns over the album title, leading national retail chain Walmart has refused to carry chart-topping rock band STRYPER’s upcoming 10th studio album, God Damn Evil — available April 20, 2018. Several Christian retail chains have also objected to the title and declined to carry God Damn Evil in their stores.

“We’re disappointed,” says STRYPER frontman Michael Sweet. “Stryper has always been about making people think outside the box. Our new album title God Damn Evil is a statement that’s needed in our society. We’ve seen evil rise to new levels and this title is simply a prayer request asking God to damn or condemn all the evil around us. Many chains have joined us in making such a statement. Walmart unfortunately has not. The odd thing is of all the chains out there we assumed Walmart would be one to understand exactly what our point and purpose is. Unfortunately not. Although we respect their decision and what’s done is done, it’s frustrating to see something that’s meant for good get misinterpreted and misunderstood.”

Rocking since 1984, STRYPER is responsible for such classic ’80s metal albums as Soldiers Under Command, To Hell with the Devil and In God We Trust. In fact, STRYPER is the first band (and the only Christian band) to ever have two songs in MTV’s Top 10 simultaneously with their hits “Free” and “Honestly.” After a sabbatical for much of the 1990’s, STRYPER returned strong in the early 21st century. To date, the Dove Award-winning and GRAMMY-nominated band has sold over 10 million records worldwide.

God Damn Evil is the follow-up to STRYPER’s ninth studio album, Fallen (Frontiers Music SRL), which released in 2015 and debuted at the top of the Billboard rock charts. 2016’s 30th Anniversary To Hell With The Devil Tour saw record crowds and featured the band’s largest sound and lighting production in nearly two decades.

Actor and TV host Mario Lopez is currently on a tour of Israel, visiting various holy sites and reconnecting with his Christian faith. The father-of-two recently stopped at the Sea of Galilee to explore the very area where Jesus walked on water, the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, and the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus is thought to have delivered his famed “Sermon on the Mount.”

But perhaps the most significant moment of his trip so far came when the “Extra” host decided to get baptized at the very location where Christ himself was submerged by John the Baptist, as described in Matthew 3:13-17.

Lopez was led into the river by the two priests, before being asked, “Do you believe in Jesus Christ?” and “Do you intend to serve him all your life?”

“Yes, I do,” Lopez declared, as an assembled crowd of Romanian tourists began to sing “I have decided to follow Jesus” on the river bank.

The priests then dunked him under the water:

Got baptized in the same river Jesus did…#JordanRiver #Jesus #JohnTheBaptist pic.twitter.com/WIuPtqEk9b

— Mario Lopez (@MarioLopezExtra) March 22, 2018

Source: Faithwire