By Daniel Burke Religion News Service Washington – Fresh off the campaign trail, where he headed Sen. Hillary Clinton’s religious outreach, Burns Strider has founded a new firm to help other Democrats bridge the so-called “God gap.” Few are as well-placed as Strider to do that. Strider, a 41-year-old native of Grenada, Miss., led the…

By Ashly McGlone Religion News Service At St. Stephen Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., the 14,000-member congregation billed itself as a “seven-day-a-week” hub of activity, with choir practices, ministry meetings or small groups scheduled every night. Then Pastor Kevin Cosby noticed a drop-off — people simply couldn’t afford the gas to drive to several activities…

Associated Press – June 30, 2008 BEIJING – The Dalai Lama called for “tangible progress” in talks with China beginning Tuesday, as international pressure builds for the two sides to ease tensions following anti-government riots that rocked Tibet. The Tibetan spiritual leader’s envoys Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen will meet Chinese officials in Beijing for…

Associated Press – July 2, 2008 ALGIERS, Algeria – Two converts to Christianity were convicted Wednesday of illegally promoting their faith in Muslim Algeria and handed suspended sentences and fines, their lawyer said. Rachid Mohammed Seghir, 40, and Jammal Dahmani, 36, were sentenced for “distributing documents that aimed at weakening the faith of Muslims,” lawyer…

More from Beliefnet and our partners
More from Beliefnet and our partners