Have your kids caught the virus? It’s the most contagious and one of the most dangerous viruses a person can catch, and it is “heir-born.” Most of our culture has it. Are your kids negative and ungrateful? Sometimes, kids can be that way because they’re still children. But, many times they act ungrateful because they are very impressionable. It doesn’t take much to cave into the impressions that this culture perpetuates that more is better. They can catch it from the culture but they can also learn it from their parents. The virus of ingratitude is caught in homes where […]

HopeMongers recently announced the launch of a micro-giving community that empowers anyone with $10 to make a lasting difference in the lives of the world’s poor. The HopeMongers micro-giving community connects online donors with specific community projects around the world. Donors can give as little as $10 to individual projects such as drilling water wells, building schools or establishing orphan community care points. HopeMongers’ efficiency and breadth of projects is due to its broad-based volunteer network that has grown steadily over the last year. The organization passes the administrative savings directly to donors by charging nothing for its micro-giving services. […]

Some social analysts observe the United States in the past half-century has shifted from a Bedford Falls-like culture of small businesses and community-friendly financial institutions to a Pottersville-style nightmare of predatory lenders and seedy businesses that target the poor. And for American society in general, the result is anything but “a wonderful life.”  Some social analysts are calling for a renewal of a “thrift culture” in America. “We have created a debt culture,” David Blankenhorn, executive director of the Institute for American Values told the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission’s statewide conference earlier this year. Blankenhorn and some of his […]

The salmon were in full summer swing in Sitka, Alaska, and author Margaret Feinberg was busy caring for her aunt’s bed and breakfast giving her relative a much-needed break. While serving up scones along with the usual morning chit-chat with the guests, Feinberg asked a visitor from Oregon what line of work she was in. “I’m a shepherdess,” Lynne, the guest responded. “Uh…what?” Feinberg asked. “I have more than a dozen Shetland sheep that I breed and care for,” said the former executive. And so ensued the conversation that would lead Feinberg to pen “Scouting the Divine: My search for […]

Just Between Friends franchise seeks to glorify God and save South Florida families money Nov. 20–21 When friends Shannon Wilburn and Daven Tackett decided to host a glorified garage sale in their living room to sell gently used baby gear, they included friends that wanted to sell baby, maternity and children’s items, too. Each mom went away with a few extra bucks in their pockets and hopes to have another event real soon. The women saw a franchise opportunity in the making that night in 1997. Twelve years later, the Just Between Friends (JBF) franchise is a more than $4 […]

Many South Floridians were touched by Andrew and Daniele Vuksic as they reached out to people imprisoned behind bars, young children in foster care and single adults through ministries at Spanish River Church in Boca Raton. Now, the couple is working to conquer an entire country for Christ. Shortly after saying their wedding vows in 2007, the Vuksics waved goodbye to hundreds of friends and supporters in Florida and boarded a plane to Croatia with the Gospel message deeply planted in their hearts. Their Life, called Gospel on the Go, was created in an effort to share the love of […]

For Ariann and Eddy Denison, starting a dance studio was not a simple business venture; it was a way to give the community a place to get a taste of enduring Christian values. Their dance studio, The Studio in Davie, was birthed from Ariann’s childhood dream of opening a dance studio. She says she always wanted to be a role model to influence children in a positive way. So, she and her husband opened up The Studio on Sept. 13, 2007. The Studio offers ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, modern, hip hop, musical theater and advanced technique classes. Ariann brings a […]

Last month, I finally took the time to unsubscribe from a few e-mail lists that I had mistakenly signed up for. We all have them – those weekly or monthly e-mails that have no relevancy to our lives but just annoy us. I’m not talking about e-mails like The Good News monthly eUpdate that encourages, educates and entertains you. Those are good e-mails. As I scoured my inbox for specific e-mails that have no benefit to my career or spiritual life, I started to think about what kind of “junk mail” I could delete from my life. Wow, what a […]

His House Children’s Home offers shelter, counseling and faith-based education for abused and neglected children At His House Children’s Home, children in foster care are taken care of physically, emotionally, spiritually – and academically.  “We are the only foster and adoptive services agency that provides a private and faith-based education for at-risk children in South Florida,” says Sabrina Sosa, community relations coordinator for His House Children’s Home’s (HHCH). HHCH’s His House Academy offers a private school education using ABEKA curriculum to the children they care for, and now they’ve opened their doors to students in the community at large. The […]

A Boca Raton worship leader beat out thousands of entries to win the fourth season of “Gospel Dream” – a talent search competition similar to “American Idol” featured on the Gospel Music Channel. Tony LeBron’s stunning dual-language performances of Bruce Hornsby’s “The Way It Is” and “I Surrender All” catapulted him to the crown. “It’s so exciting, and it’s an honor,” says the gifted crooner and worship leader from Boca Raton Community Church (BRCC). “Personally, it’s a validation from God regarding His calling on my life to pursue music and Life .” LeBron, 32, was encouraged by friends to try […]