8 killed, 40 wounded in Chicago weekend shootings
McDonald’s employee with Down Syndrome retires after 32 years
Christian US swimmer breaks Michael Phelps world record in 100-meter butterfly
Louisiana plans to subsidize dangerous, Communist-owned chemical plant
Trump thanks first responders as he signs 9/11 bill: ‘You inspire all of humanity’
Nearly half of millennials get money from their parents every month
Voice of Minnie Mouse, Russi Taylor, dies at 75
Refugees, immigrants mean big money for charities
By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor BALTIMORE, Md. (LBM) – While the crisis at the U.S. southern border and civil wars around the world have stretched thin governmental resources that provide shelter and other basics of humanitarian aid, faith groups, which are considered essential service providers both in this country and abroad, have seen their budgets boom with government grants and contracts. The most extreme example of this growth industry is the Catholic Relief Services, the humanitarian arm of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. In 10 years the organization has grown from receiving $361,186 in government contracts and grants within revenues of $599,258 (which included $126,822 in noncash donations) to $516.7 million in government grants and contracts (or more than 68 percent) of cash revenues of $755.9 million (with another nearly $282 million in noncash contributions). Sean Callahan, president of Catholic Relief Services, earned $497,416 in compensation for 2017- 2018, according to the group’s latest IRS Form 990, nearly as much as the entire budget from a decade earlier. The remaining 10 paid officers and executives for CRS received an average compensation of $209,288, while the other 6,895 employees … [Read more...]
Suburban renewed after recent rebuild
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – On Feb. 7, 2017, an EF-3 tornado ripped apart the worship center and education building of the Suburban Baptist Church in New Orleans. But in 2019, the congregation has experienced a spiritual rebirth marked by nine baptisms, coinciding with the final repairs to the facilities. “For the last two years I have been inwardly focused trying to rebuild what was destroyed by the tornado,” Pastor Jeffery Friend told the Baptist Message. “God sent a mighty army of volunteers from across the country to rebuild our church and I knew the least we can do was to fill our buildings again for Him. “People have been inviting others to worship services and the neighborhood has been curious about what was happening as teams came in to rebuild,” he continued. “Many folks have known our church’s facilities were destroyed by the tornado. They wanted to see what the progress looked like on the inside. We took advantage of their curiosity and have seen God work in great ways.” Suburban Baptist Church averaged 200 people in Sunday morning worship before the tornado reduced that number to 30. However, the congregation refused to disband and used the facilities at Gentilly Baptist … [Read more...]
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