Headlines

CLA features public policy updates

Christian Leadership Alliance (CLA) in January 2010 began featuring online public policy updates provided by the Institutional Religious Freedom Alliance (IRFA). CLA provides these via its bi-weekly national electronic newsletter and on the homepage of its national website, ChristianLeadershipAlliance.org.

The updates offer information on key executive, judicial, and legislative branch policies and decisions that may impact faith-based nonprofits. The updates are provided by Stanley Carlson-Thies, founder and president of IRFA. Carlson-Thies has worked since the early 1990s on public policy affecting faith-based organizations. He was a founding member of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in 2001.

Purpose Driven Connection goes online

Rick Warren's recently launched magazine, the Purpose Driven Connection, discontinued its print version after only four issues. The Purpose Driven Connection, a joint venture between Warren and the Reader's Digest Association (RDA) that includes the magazine as well as a social network and various online resources, will continue to offer new content online. When the partnership was first announced, RDA described it as one of the publishing company's "most important and far-reaching ventures ever."

"Our biggest discovery was learning that people prefer reading our content online rather than in print, because it is more convenient and accessible," Warren said in a statement. "And, from our viewpoint, an online magazine allows us to minister to people internationally; provide more content and features than we could fit in a print magazine; create interaction and two-way dialogue; and offer it for free."

YouthWorks! acquires Youth Specialties

In December YouthWorks! Inc. completed the acquisition of Youth Specialties (YS) from Zon-dervan, who retained the YS publishing arm. Zondervan acquired YS, which trains and equips youth pastors and youth ministry workers worldwide through seminars, conventions, and print and online resources, in 2006.

"Both YouthWorks and Youth Specialties were founded to serve the church by serving youth," said YouthWorks founder and president Paul Bertelson. "We are excited about the complementary aspects each offers and believe the acquisition will enhance both ministries."YouthWorks was founded in 1994 as a youth missions ministry. YS will join what has grown into a family of ministries that includesYouthWorks Missions, SportsLife Camps, GreaterWorks, YouthWorks Foundation, and Recharge.

The move came in the wake of other big changes at YS. In July the company released Tic Long, who oversaw all YS events and served with the ministry for over 30 years, and in October longtime YS president Mark Oestreicher was let go from his position.

C. S. Lewis College to open in 2012

The C. S. Lewis Foundation announced plans to create a 217-acre, fully accredited Christian institution of Great Books and Visual and Performing Arts in Northfield, Massachusetts, dedicated to the Oxford academic and apologist. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., known for its Christian philanthropy, purchased the land for $100,000 from Northfield Mount Hermon, a school founded by Dwight L. Moody in 1879. Hobby Lobby will own the land and spend $5 million renovating buildings while the foundation runs the college. The school is expected to welcome 100 students into its first class in 2012.

Concern expressed over AIDS funding levels

The 2010 federal budget increased funding for programs like the President's Emergency Plan for aids Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria by 3.6 percent over last year's numbers, but leaders of Christian organizations that fight AIDS worry that government support may be slowing.

"Technically, it is not flatlining, but given the very considerable growth over the past five years, the AIDS advocates are considering this to be flatlining," said Ray Martin, executive director of Christian Connections for International Health.

The World Health Organization estimates that faith-based organi-zations deliver 30 to 70 percent of the health care in developing countries. They account for roughly a quarter of groups that have received PEPFAR grants.