Adrienne S. Gaines

A faith-based coalition is taking its push for a vote on gay marriage in Washington, D.C., to the Supreme Court.

The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) filed a cert petition Tuesday on behalf of members of the Stand4Marriage D.C. Coalition asking the Supreme Court to hear its case against the district's Board of Elections and Ethics.

The petition appeals a July decision by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, which ruled 5-4 that the city's Elections Board acted appropriately when it decided that a referendum on the definition of marriage would violate a human rights law barring initiatives that would authorize discrimination.

A Pentecostal pastor says his Texas congregation has grown stronger since a church member's son walked into a youth service last month and shot the youth pastor in the face.

"We did cry, we did weep, but our church is stronger," said Mauricio Elizondo, senior pastor of Walnut Park Asamblea de Dios church in Garland, a Dallas suburb. "Something crazy is happening here. Revival is breaking loose. People are coming more to prayer. People are loving more, reaching [out] more."

Youth pastor Eddie Contreras is expected to make a full recovery from injuries he sustained in his cheek, neck and left hand Sept. 24 when a gunman shot him in the church.

Photo: Youth pastor Eddie Contreras preaching before the Sept. 24 shooting.

Tens of thousands of African Christians are expected to gather this week to pray for a spiritual awakening—in the U.S.

Organizers expect the Africa Prays for America event to draw some 50,000 believers to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Saturday. The gathering, which runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., is hosted by the African Strategic Leadership Prayer Network (ASLPN), a coalition of African church leaders in the U.S. and abroad.

Christians will be fasting and praying Wednesday through Friday in the run up to the event.

Gospel singer Albertina Walker died Friday morning after battling emphysema. She was 81.

Hailed the "Queen of Gospel," Walker began singing in the choir of West Point Baptist Church in Chicago at the age of 4. In 1951, at age 22, she founded the Caravans, which helped launch the music careers of gospel legends such as Shirley Caesar, Inez Andrews, Dorothy Norwood and the Rev. James Cleveland.

Photo: AlbertinaWalker.com

Global Advance is announcing new leadership this week as the Dallas-based missions ministry marks its 20th anniversary.

Jonathan Shibley, son of founder David Shibley, was named president and CEO of the global leadership training organization during a commissioning ceremony Thursday night. Former President David Shibley will serve as chairman of the charismatic ministry, and continue to lead conferences internationally and mentor younger leaders.

A cross-section of Pentecostal and charismatic groups will be joining tens of millions of Christians worldwide Sunday in praying for the world's poor.

The Assemblies of God (AG), Church of God (Cleveland, Tenn.), Hillsong Church and Alpha International are among the dozens of ministries endorsing Micah 2010. Led by Britain-based Micah Challenge International, the campaign calls on Christians to pray and take action against extreme poverty.

After receiving thousands of calls and emails from viewers, DirecTV is keeping God TV in its lineup.

The California-based satellite TV provider planned to remove the Christian network beginning Friday when its four-year contract expired. To renew, God TV would have had to pay DirecTV's typical rate, which is significantly higher than the one brokered in 2006 by a ministry-owned media company.

Roughly 100 million people worldwide are expected to pray Sunday for the peace of Jerusalem.

Organizers say 300,000 churches in 175 nations—including underground congregations in China and the Middle East—will participate in the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem, which is considered the world's largest Israel-focused prayer event.

Eagles' Wings founder Robert Stearns, who is hosting the prayer day with Foursquare Church leader Jack Hayford, will lead a prayer event from the Tayelet Haas Promenade in Jerusalem. Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, Christian Broadcasting Network President Michael Little and Rabbi Shlomo Riskin of Efrat are scheduled to participate in the gathering, which will be broadcast on God TV.

Atlanta megachurch pastor Eddie Long said he plans to fight recent allegations that he coerced several young men into sexual relationships when they were teenagers.

"I want you to know, I am not a perfect man, but this thing I'm gonna fight," Long told his 25,000-member New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Sunday.

"And I want you to know one other thing," he added. "I feel like David against Goliath, but I have five rocks and I haven't thrown one yet."

Christians from around the world are gathering in Israel this week to show support for an undivided Jerusalem during the annual Feast of Tabernacles, which began Thursday.

The weeklong celebration hosted by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) also marks the organization's 30th anniversary, which is to be commemorated Friday with a reception at the Zionist organization's international headquarters.

Some 6,000 Christians from nearly 100 nations are expected to convene in Jerusalem throughout the week, generating roughly $15 million for the local economy.

Atlanta megachurch pastor Eddie Long said he categorically denies allegations that he coerced three young men into having sexual relationships with him when they were teenagers.

In a statement his attorney read on the Tom Joyner Morning Show Thursday, Long said "ugly charges" made against him and his 25,000-member New Birth Missionary Baptist Church are false.

"I have devoted my life to helping others, and these false allegations hurt me deeply, but my faith is strong and the truth will emerge," he said.