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12/19/2005

Humanitarian Aid Tops 2005 Religion Stories in Christianity Today List

CAROL STREAM, Il., Dec. 19 /Christian Wire Service/ -- Evangelicals' activist efforts moved from the courts to the streets this year, as humanitarian relief efforts dominated religion news in Christianity Today magazine's annual list of top ten stories.

"While most of the attention was on evangelicalism as a political or economic power bloc, the movement's real energies this year were in aid and relief work," says Ted Olsen, news director and online managing editor of Christianity Today. "If you want to see how evangelicals used their size, look at how churches and ministries changed lives in the Gulf Coast and Southeast Asia. The culture wars pale in comparison to the ‘armies of compassion.'

"And with Billy Graham ending his crusade ministry, we're seeing a change in a major area of evangelistic activism, too," Olsen says.

Olsen and other Christianity Today editors and writers compiled the list. They are available for interviews. The complete top ten list can be accessed online at http://ChristianityToday.com/ct/2006/001/8.18.html. Copies of the magazine are also available upon request.

Christianity Today's Top Ten religion news stories are:

1. Hurricane Katrina pounds Gulf Coast and the evangelical church helps with aid.

2. Tsunami spurs massive relief effort for Southeast Asia.

3. Benedict XVI succeeds John Paul II as Pope.

4. Terri Schiavo dies, inciting conflict over end-of-life decisions and evangelical politics.

5. Supreme Court vacancies trigger debate, as many Christian conservatives rally for "strict constructionists" to fill openings.

6. Evangelicals target global poverty, joining with rock stars to lobby G-8.

7. Media spotlight religion, bringing reporters into churches and promising more religion coverage.

8. Billy Graham leads the final crusade of his ministry in New York City.

9. Stem-cell research worries many, with evangelical opinion generally divided.

10. Narnia hits theaters and Hollywood seeks Christian viewers – and dollars.

Christianity Today International, co-founded in 1956 by Billy Graham, is the publisher of 13 print publications, including Christianity Today magazine, online church leadership resources, and a variety of websites offering exclusive news and resources from a Christian perspective.