Occult crime cop Rimer passes away  01.25.2012

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA - Donald Rimer, 65, passed away from stroke complications on Saturday, January 21, 2012. He served 34 years on the Virginia Beach Police Department, but is best known for his expertise in "occult crime." Rimer, a member of the Methodist church, began to examine crime incidents with occult connections in the 1980s, coinciding with the "Satanic Panic" phenomenon. Rimer gave seminar talks warning against Goth culture, role-playing games, heavy metal music, and Afro-Atlantic religions. Rimer leaves behind his wife of 45 years, two children, a brother, a granddaughter and several nieces and nephews. See his obituary here. (Religion Dispatches)

Founding member of the Gospel Coalition resigns  01.24.2012

James MacDonald announced his resignation as a Council member of The Gospel Coalition January 24 on his personal blog. There, in a post entitled, "Why I Resigned from the Gospel Coalition," MacDonald states, "I have very different views on how to relate to the broader church and how the gospel must impact every relationship." MacDonald was a founding member of the Gospel Coalition, "A fellowship of evangelical churches deeply committed to renewing our faith in the gospel of Christ and to reforming our ministry practices to conform fully to the Scriptures." Tim Keller and D.A. Carson, other prominent founders, are still Council members. (The Gospel Coalition)

Canadian's game of hockey helps world  01.20.2012

Sudbury, ON - Hockey is more than entertainment to some Canadians. Amanda Stillar sees the game as an opportunity to save lives. Stillar organized the Hockey with Heart four-on-four tournament as a fundraising project for World Vision.

"I travelled to Peru two years ago and worked in a day care in an elementary school and I saw firsthand how little these people have," says Stillar. She is only 23 years old, and grew up playing hockey.

She saw the sport as a way to bring the community together for a common cause. Participants in the tournament (now in its second year) raised $4,700 for the organization. (Sudbury Northern Life)

PEI school won't stop Gideon bibles  01.19.2012

Charlottetown, P.E.I. - An angry father at L.M. Montgomery Elementary school in Prince Edward Island issued a complaint after learning that the Gideon Society would be handing out Bibles to all students, unless an opt-out form was signed. But one complaint will not change the school's 46 year policy of allowing the Gideon Society to distribute the books to students, according to superintendent Ricky Hood. Hood calls the distribution a service, and states that it is not taking away from instruction time. Similar debates have been going on in certain school districts across Canada. Last year, a school board in Waterloo banned the same distribution practice. (Toronto Sun)

Coldest Night of the Year walking alongside homeless  01.18.2012

OAKVILLE, ON - An innovative fundraiser called The Coldest Night of the Year (also known as the WALK) hits the streets of Oakville on February 25. Put on by Kerr Street Ministries, the WALK is "a non-competitive 2, 5 and 10 km winter-walk fundraiser supporting select Canadian charities that serve the hungry, homeless and hurting in cities and communities across Canada." The project hopes to raise $25,000. 250 walkers and volunteers are expected to participate. To register to walk, start a team, to give online or volunteer, go to www.coldestnightoftheyear.org.

Compassion Canada named a Best Christian Workplace for 2012  01.13.2012

LONDON, ON - Compassion Canada is the only Canadian organization to make the list of Best Christian Workplaces for 2012.

The awards are given by Best Christian Workplaces Institute (BCWI), based on annual employee surveys. Each survey ranks categories including job satisfaction, management, and pay and benefits.

Compassion Canada, which "works with over 5,000 churches in 26 nations to bring care to more than one million children and families," employs 87 people. Employees valued its mission as the most important part of their satisfaction.

"Our vision is to be the standard of excellence for child development globally," says Compassion Canada's President and CEO, Barry Slauenwhite. (News Release)

Oxford introduces theological Master's program  01.10.2012

OXFORD - The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (based out of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, England) has added a two-year theological Master's program. The program, which will combine teaching and research, has already booked renowned lecturers such as Alister McGrath, John Lennox, Michael Ramsden, Amy Orr-Ewing, Ravi Zacharias and Os Guinness. According to the website, "The OCCA Master's programme takes a holistic approach to development where, alongside academic study, students are given the chance to develop their preaching skills and to join members of staff on missions." (Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics)

Winnipeg Christmas kettle campaign breaks record  01.10.2012

WINNIPEG, MB - The Salvation Army reports that this year's Winnipeg-area donations total more than $368,000, a new record (surpassing last year's total by $26,000). The money was raised in kettles, online (with personal iKettles) and by using QR codes. Kettle workers provided more than 6,300 hours of service during the campaign. The Salvation Army estimates the money will be able to help 5,000 families and 15,000 children. (The Salvation Army)

Rob Bell bids farewell to Mars Hill  01.10.2012

GRANDVILLE, MI—On Sunday, January 8, magachurch pastor Rob Bell (author of Love Wins and video series NOOMA) officially bid farewell to his congregation at Mars Hill Bible Church. Bell founded Mars Hill in 1999; the building (a converted shopping mall) now attracts over 10,000 churchgoers every week. Bell leaves the church for Los Angeles, where he will work on an autobiographical ABC television drama with "Lost" producer Carlton Cuse. He also plans to write and continue on his speaking tour circuit.

"I feel like I'm just getting started, like I'm a rookie, a freshman, a newb," Bell told the congregation in his last sermon. "I feel like the world is big and wide and open." (Religious News Service)

Outspoken atheist Hitchens passes away  12.16.2011

Houston, TX - Outspoken atheist Christopher Hitchens has passed away from pneumonia at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, after year-long battle with esophageal cancer. Hitchens rose to popular fame with his 2007 book, "God is Not Great." He was a longstanding critic of violence and sexual abuse associated with religion, and participated in a series of debates on the subject with former British PM Tony Blair. He is survived by his second wife, author Carol Blue, and three children. (The Associated Press)

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