With its combination name, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a mainline Protestant denomination that seeks to keep a balance between strong adherence to Bible teachings and affording broad freedoms to people to discern theological truth for themselves.

With its combination name, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a mainline Protestant denomination that seeks to keep a balance between strong adherence to Bible teachings and affording broad freedoms to people to discern theological truth for themselves.

Recently, I lost 85 pounds. Praise the Lord. My congregation prayed for me, and, by the grace of God, I feel much better physically. My blood pressure is better. My cholesterol is lower, and my knees and heels don’t hurt anymore.

Armenian Christians relish telling the story of how their ancient King Abgar is said to have sent a letter to Jesus Christ asking him to come to Edessa (modern-day Urfa in Turkey) and cure him of leprosy.

Remember when summer films were about Wookiees or Spider-Man? Or Bill Murray, sliming ghosts in a sarcastic way? On Friday, the long awaited film version of “The Da Vinci Code” — Dan Brown’s record-breaking bestselling novel that reveals a secretly married Jesus, hidden Christian bloodlines, a brutal Catholic goon squad and two millennia of cover-ups — hits East Valley cinemas.

This weekend marks the tenth anniversary of the so-called Phoenix Declaration.

The Christian year culminates in the coming week with Holy Week — a nearly nonstop series of sacred moments and traditions leading to Easter Sunday and the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Easter may be past, but Christians are reminded that Jesus appeared again and again to his disciples after, it is said, he rose from the dead. Then on the 40th day, he ascended into heaven with the promise to send forth the Holy Ghost, who arrived on the 50th day, or Pentecost, ushering in the start of a faith movement that would bear his name.

Mesa church opens ramp park: Velda Rose United Methodist Church, 5540 E. Main St., Mesa, has established a free ramp park for bikers, skateboarders, skaters and scooters.

The passing Tuesday of the Rev. Jerry Falwell, founder of the Moral Majority and Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., at age 73 coincides with what just might be the passing of the influence of the political movement that he helped launch.

Origin: Founded by Charles Taze Russell in Pittsburgh in 1972, who believed in the millennial reign of Jesus Christ.

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The filmmakers of "Left Behind: World at War" figured a little preaching to the choir would help market the Christian-themed thriller. They preceded the movie's DVD release Tuesday with screenings at about 3,200 churches across the United States and Canada, hoping to build word-of-mouth for the straight-to-video sequel in Kirk Cameron's series of films about Armageddon.

Immaculately dressed families poured into Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, many carrying food chests and almost all toting Bibles. For three days, they attentively sat as if the venue were a lecture hall. On command, they flipped through their Bibles to precise Scriptures. Poised male speakers slowly and boldly read the words and offered scriptural insights. Listeners carefully took notes — page after page of notes. It was a full Bible workout.

Cuyler Thompson completed his masterpiece 30 years ago last month. The 92-year-old Apache Junction man stood silently Wednesday in an empty church, gazing at an enormous wood-burned portrait of Jesus Christ and his disciples, which covered one wall of the chapel.

Find all the support group meetings, classes, prayer times and more around the East Valley.

TULSA, Okla. - The turning point for Jeff Walling came two decades ago at a church youth conference. He listened to 3,000 teens sing and praise God with a guitar accompaniment — and felt ashamed.

A Tempe pastor, working with national pollster George Gallup Jr., is the co-creator of a method to measure how Christians are faring in their faith journeys and what their spiritual strengths and deficiencies are.

Pastor Richard Wilson: Let’s commit ourselves to God's will and way in 2010.

December 9, 2004

A church celebrating 100 years in arid Mesa gathered Saturday for a centennial prayer breakfast, in which one of the chief desires on their hearts was bringing water to a barren land. Their prayers were not for the desert of Arizona, but Africa.

Her message for women may not be popular, but Christian conference speaker Linda Rogers says it’s biblically sound.

More than 1,300 delegates are expected next week at The Door Christian Center, 585 E. Frye Road, Chandler, for an international Bible conference on the theme "Endurance."