Religion news in brief

Pope prays in Arabic, for Arabs in new outreach for Mideast Christians during general audience
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI has delivered a prayer in Arabic during his weekly general audience in a new effort by the Vatican to show support for Christians in the Middle East.
A priest read a summary of the pope’s remarks on Wednesday in Arabic. The pope then delivered his own brief greeting in Arabic: “The pope prays for all the Arabic-speaking people. God bless you all.”
The Vatican said it was adding Arabic to the six other languages, aside from the original Italian, typically spoken during the general audience, to remind Catholics to pray for peace in the Middle East.
Khalid Hussain, a Pakistani-born Muslim tourist visiting St. Peter’s Square, praised the initiative, saying “I think it will bring a lot of audience into what the pope is saying.”
Suburban Kansas City church started by former pastor of financially troubled megachurch folds
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — The suburban Kansas City church that a pastor started after losing his megachurch to foreclosure has folded.
The Kansas City Star reports that the Rev. Jerry Johnston’s New Day Church Kansas City held its last service Sept. 30. The church met in Olathe schools after last year’s closure of the First Family Church in Overland Park. The megachurch once was described as among the fasting-growing in the country.
But members began leaving in 2007 because of financial accountability concerns. Last year, the church was foreclosed upon after its lender alleged it owed more than $14 million in mortgage payments and other costs.
Johnston doesn’t appear to be leaving the ministry. In recent months, he’s been a guest on the religious television program “100 Huntley Street.”

Published in The Messenger 10.11.12

Print