Christianity Today’s cover story is calling it “The Not-for-Profit Surge” reporting that even in tough times, some religious charities are thriving.

The Associated Press reports:
Churches stood empty Sunday in heavily Roman Catholic Mexico City after services were canceled, and health workers screened airports and bus stations for people sickened by a new strain of swine flu that experts fear could become a global epidemic.

Nearly half of American adults change faiths at least once in their lives, usually before the age of 24, according to a new study:
“Americans change religious affiliation early and often,” says the survey, released Monday by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life. Called Faith in Flux, the report finds that 44 [...]

Nearly seven months after defying a prohibition on endorsing candidates from the pulpit, 33 churches across the country are still waiting to learn whether the Internal Revenue Service will take action against them.
The Associated Press reports:
the goal of “Pulpit Freedom Sunday” was to trigger a legal fight and ultimately overturn regulations that prevent places of [...]

In advance of their weekend sold-out appearance at Yankee Stadium, Pastors Joel and Victoria Osteen talk to CBS about their message of hope during tough economic times.
“We just feel very blessed to be here, very humbled and just rewarded,” Joel observed. “The Yankees have been good to us, and it seems like it’s a time [...]

Facing the global economic crisis, Prime Minister Gordon Brown calls on religious leaders to help develop a “shared moral sense” to govern markets and the economy.  He spoke of the need to conquer fear with faith.
In a speech at St Paul’s Cathedral, the Prime Minister drew on religious doctrine in a highly-personal address which warned [...]

New survey shows Americans turning to churches big and small for financial in addition to spiritual support.
The survey, by LifeWay Research, a Christian polling firm based in Nashville, finds that 40% of pastors say they have church members out of work, and 37% say their church has increased spending to help the needy. (The survey [...]

Former Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee this weekend introduces a fundraising network to help churches during these lean times. The Christian Values Network is being touted as a vehicle to help generate funds for churches and faith-based charities.
Christian Values Network is a free service that allows members to shop online at nearly 900 popular internet retailers who in [...]

1. Offering a dose of escape and a dash of hope, Christian fiction is selling strong during this time of economic adversity. Christian nonfiction is not doing as well:
Karen Ball, executive editor at Southern Baptist-owned B&H Publishing Group, said that people are looking for a way to escape from the bad news of layoffs and [...]

Tallahassee legislators are considering repealing the sales tax exemption on religious items as they grapple with an expected $5-6 billion state budget deficit for the 2009-2010 budget year. The House Finance and Tax Council heard testimony this week. Urging the tax exemption stand for the sale of religious items, including Bibles, Florida Baptist Convention legislative consultant Bill Bunkley says [...]