U.S. House Passes 'Hate Crimes' Bill

The bill broadens the definition of hate crimes to include violence provoked by bias against sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

In a 237-180 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill that broadens the definition of hate crimes to include violence provoked by bias against sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. The bill, called the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 [H.R. 1592], will allow federal law enforcement officials to help prosecute sex- and gender-biased crimes at the local level. Similar legislation is now working its way through the U.S. Senate. Conservative critics strongly oppose the legislation, saying such laws threaten the free speech of religious leaders who publicly denounce homosexuality. In a report to Congress, Glen Lavy, senior counsel at the Alliance Defense Fund, stated, “H.R. 1592 would criminalize thoughts, feelings and beliefs.” Conservatives use as an example the pastor in Sweden who, under the country’s “hate crimes” law, received a one-month jail sentence in 2005 for denouncing homosexuality from his pulpit. President Bush has indicated he would veto the bill. Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which traditionally champions free speech rights, has come out in strong support of H.R. 1592, claiming a problem in a portion of the bill that it thought would “chill constitutionally protected speech” had been sufficiently revised.

Hispanic Populations Growing the Charismatic Church

Hispanics are changing American religion with their unique combination of Catholicism and Pentecostal beliefs.

A recent study by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found that Hispanics are changing American religion with their unique combination of Catholicism and Pentecostal beliefs. A third of all Catholics in the U.S. are Hispanic and more than half identify themselves as charismatic. Only one-eighth of non-Hispanics identify themselves as charismatic. Many Catholic Hispanics still believe in traditional Catholic teachings, but some also say they have experienced divine healings and direct revelation from God. “This is introducing a new way to worship, a new way of being the church,” Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Forum, told ABC News. “You could call it bringing the fiesta spirit into the Catholic Church.” The survey found that some Hispanics are leaving Catholic churches completely and joining evangelical churches. The report from the survey said that the No. 1 reason for these conversions was to experience a direct and personal relationship with God that could not be obtained in traditional Mass services. Researchers suspect that as the Hispanic population, which is the fastest-growing minority, continues to grow in this country the charismatic and Pentecostal movements will grow as well.

Christians Debate Atheist on ABC

Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron will debate two atheists May 9 at 1 p.m. EST on ABC’s Web site and it will be taped for Nightline.

Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron, co-hosts of the Christian television show Way of the Master, will debate two atheists May 9 at 1 p.m. EST on ABC’s Web site and it will be taped for Nightline. The co-hosts said they plan to prove God’s existence scientifically without mentioning the Bible or faith. “I am amazed at how many people think that God’s existence is a matter of faith,” Comfort said. “It’s not, and I will prove it at the debate once and for all.” Comfort and Cameron approached ABC for this debate after the news organization aired a piece in January about “The Blasphemy Challenge,” which resulted in hundreds of people posting videos of themselves renouncing the existence of the Holy Spirit on the video site YouTube. Held in New York City and hosted by Martin Bashir, Comfort and Cameron will debate the two originators of the Blasphemy Challenge. Cameron, a child star from the sitcom Growing Pains and once a self-proclaimed atheist, said he plans to debunk the idea of evolution, which is the main argument atheists use to deny the existence of God. “Evolution is unscientific,” Cameron said. “In reality, it is blind faith that’s preached with religious zeal as the gospel truth. I’m embarrassed to admit that I was once a naive believer in the theory.”

President Gives Prayer Requests for the National Day of Prayer

On May 3 many gathered through out the nation to pray for America.

President George W. Bush has declared May 3 the National Day of Prayer, calling on America to pray especially for the families affected by the shootings at Virginia Tech and also for military personnel overseas and their families back home. “A prayerful spirit has always been an important part of our national character, and it is a force that has guided the American people, given us strength and sustained us in moments of joy and in times of challenge,” the president said. “On this National Day of Prayer, we acknowledge God’s grace and ask for His continued guidance in the life of our nation.” The president also encouraged Americans to participate in local prayer events. The National Prayer Day’s Web site .org indicates participation in numerous prayer events across the nation, from 12-hour prayer vigils in Texas to prayer breakfasts in Maine. The site encourages people to join an online prayer rally dedicated to repentance and cleansing. “If we are to seek the Lord's forgiveness and blessing upon our nation, we must begin with personal repentance,” the site stated. The first national day of prayer began in 1775 when the first Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom as America was formed. The National Day of Prayer was not official however until 1952 when the U.S. Congress approved an annual prayer day to occur the first Thursday of May. It is customary for the president and state governors to sign a proclamation to show their support for the Day of Prayer. This year every state has signed a prayer proclamation.

–Felicia Mann

Feedback

My Turn

I have been amazed at the letters to the editor that are against speaking out about politics (Feedback, March). Maybe I missed an article, but I can’t remember ever reading where Charisma told someone whom to vote for. I don’t understand why Christians would be offended by information about political candidates.

Yes, some voters may do their homework before it’s time to vote, but the majority of people I speak to during election time don’t have a clue about what the candidates stand for. I praise God that you are not afraid to tell the truth about people running for office and political parties. I wish more pastors would encourage their congregations to hold special prayer meetings leading up to election time.

And I want to say thank you for Stephen Strang’s column (Last Word, March). He revealed facts about people who have declared their candidacy, and he called for the church to go to war in prayer for our nation and future elections.

What I want to say is this: Wake up, church! Shake the slumber off. It’s high time we humble ourselves and pray and repent for our apathy. We need all the information we can get and all the prayers we can pray before the next election.

Charisma, keep up the good work on calling us to pray and vote. Our freedom is not free. It cost a lot of people their lives so we could have our religious freedoms. People in other nations wish they had what we have, and if we don’t wake up we’re going to lose it.
Jesten Peters
Brandon, Florida

We Need Revival

I thought the flames of revival in the United States had all but died down until I read your story about Bill Johnson’s church in California (“Ignite the Fire” by C. Hope Flinchbaugh, March). I wish churches would catch fire and recommit to spreading the gospel in their communities and across the nation. Let’s put aside our personal agendas and seek God’s face like never before.
B.L. Johnson
Akron, Ohio

Thanks for the article on Bill Johnson. Last year a Spirit-filled Christian counselor recommended Johnson’s book The Supernatural Power of the Transformed Mind. I am amazed at the revelation God has given Pastor Bill and the leaders of Bethel Church. I pray more articles like this will appear in Charisma.
Jane Paoli
Southold, New York

The Prosperity Debate

Thank you for publishing David Ravenhill’s article about manipulative tactics used in fundraising (Prophetic Edge, March). His column was an excellent word in due season.

If only more people would confront this type of false teaching on prosperity. However, although I enjoy Charisma, it is somewhat confusing to read this powerful article and then see an advocate of the erroneous doctrine he exposes in an advertisement in the same magazine.
Chris Barhorst
Greenville, Ohio

All the emphasis of some ministries on opulence, personal excess and extravagance is wrong, just as much as the poverty emphasis of a bygone era was wrong. Whatever happened to being reasonable? Why does someone in a ministry need to make so much more money than the average recipients of their ministry? They don’t.
Jonathan Nighthorse
Bremerton, Washington

David Ravenhill’s article is unfair to the whole of Scripture. He is reacting to what he perceives to be error, but apparently he ignores some plain teaching. Luke 6:38 teaches that we can determine our level of prosperity by our giving. I’ve proven that in my own life.
Rev. John Ponder
Munster, Indiana

God and Your Diet

I was appalled by your recent cover story on health (“God’s Secret for Divine Health” by Don Colbert, M.D.; January). In essence Colbert is saying that we must be thin, beautiful and fit for God’s work and love. This is pure Babylonian thinking.
It matters not what we look like. The Holy Spirit in us draws people to hear the good news. I am ashamed of Colbert’s message.
Tammy Duncan
Havre de Grace, Maryland

I’ve been a health nut since 1961 and am happy to see healthy diet promoted everywhere. It’s long overdue. But for some people there could be a subtle shift from the brokenness that comes from dependence on the Holy Spirit to the external happiness that comes from obsession with health. I’ve experienced both enough to know I’ll take brokenness.
Victor Dodzweit
Cocoa, Florida

A pastor from Texas wrote to Charisma and said that people are obsessing over health and diet. But he did not address the fact that many Christians are overweight and die early.

Overeating and bad health go hand in hand. I applaud Charisma for doing the special issue on health. It was timely because Americans are eating their way to an early grave.
Dottie Pimental
Lexington, South Carolina

The Texas pastor who complained about Dr. Don Colbert’s article should go back to the Bible before he claims others are spreading heresy. Good health is a biblical concept.

We at Genesis HealthCare encourage Christians to eat right, exercise and humbly submit their wills to God. We do not “worship our bodies at the altar of a healthy diet” but rather love God and center our lives around Christ.

My experience tells me that it is much easier to cry “heresy” than it is to put down the hot dog and French fries and go lift some weights. God bless Colbert and his exceptional ministry.
Michael Mangold
West Bend, Wisconsin

No More Dirty Laundry

I work in a cardiology office that receives Charisma. As much as I would love to put a magazine in the waiting room that has spiritual benefit, I cannot. Do you realize that by airing the church’s dirty laundry, you actually turn people away from the church?
Your recent article about the Paul Cain scandal comes to mind. I agree with what was said, but I don’t think it’s something to air in public.
Jason Whittington
San Francisco, California

The Pro-Gay ‘Gospel’

I agree with J. Lee Grady concerning Jay Bakker’s erroneous views on homosexuality (Fire in My Bones, February). If more people would read the Bible they’d realize that God sees this behavior as an abomination. We need to pray for homosexuals to wake up and see God loves them but that they need to change their ways.
Melissa Blighton
Anderson, South Carolina

Amen to J. Lee Grady’s simple rebuke of the “gay-affirming gospel.” I was brought up Episcopalian, and I pastored a Disciples of Christ church. Both denominations, sadly, have become a stench in God’s nostrils concerning homosexual sin—at least among the national leaders. I stand with Grady in combating apostasy and running with open arms to receive the lost.
Derek Fullerton
Colorado Springs, Colorado

I was sexually abused for two years and initiated into pornography for the next 38 years. I met Jesus and He delivered me from the lies. My prayers go out to Jay Bakker, who is in error according to the Word of God.
Rev. John R. Thompson
Clearwater, Florida

Jesus defined sin as lack of love. What is so unloving about homosexuality?
Fred Conwell
San Ysidro, California

I love reading Grady’s columns, but this one on Jay Bakker disturbs me. Isn’t he shutting out gays and building walls? Some of the people you see as sinful are on fire for the Lord and are making a difference in the world.
Norine Guy
Hinsdale, Illinois

I take offense at the way Grady’s column gave the impression that the Church of God of Prophecy is in favor of homosexuality. The article was open-ended and needs attention, lest people who read it and hear of our church think we support Jay Bakker’s beliefs.
Mary Pearson
Bunker Hill, Indiana

Editor’s clarification: Grady’s column stated that Troy Perry, the founder of a gay denomination, was affiliated at one time with the Church of God of Prophecy (COGOP), before Perry adopted a gay-affirming theology. Perry has no connection to COGOP today. COGOP adheres to sound, biblical teaching about morality and does not in any way endorse homosexual behavior.

Thank you for being bold enough to address topics that must be addressed. The “gay-affirming gospel” is no gospel.
Bishop Frank Dupree
Bloomfield, New Jersey

Vibes

Getting in God’s Face
By Dutch Sheets, Regal,
softcover, 144 pages, $.

“A lack of endurance is one of the greatest causes of defeat, especially when it comes to prayer,” says Dutch Sheets in his book Getting in God’s Face: How Prayer Really Works. Written for Christian youth, this book provides solid answers for those hard questions about prayer such as “Is prayer really necessary if God can do what He wants anyway?” and “I thought God wanted to save [my non-Christian friends]. Then why do I feel as though I’m trying to talk Him into it?” Each chapter ends with thought-provoking, introspective questions in a section titled “Things That Make Ya Go Hmm … .” A “Discussion Leader’s Guide” at the end of the book is great for small-group interaction. Sheets, a Colorado-based pastor and veteran intercessor, uses a fun, story-telling teaching style to offer students what many adults wish they had at that age—an understanding of how prayer works and how to pray effectively.
Jevon Bolden

BOOKS

Static
By Ron Martoia, Tyndale House Publishers,
softcover, 275 pages, $.

Many authors take controversial stands only to attract readers to their work. Then there are authors such as Ron Martoia who is sparking debate by simply separating urban myths from the purity of God’s message. In Static: Tune Out the ‘Christian’ Noise and Experience the Real Message of Jesus, Martoia demonstrates that what is often coming out of the mouths and lives of the average Christian is simply mingled noise to those not intimately involved in the traditional church. Martoia has incredible insight into the cultural backgrounds of both the Old and the New Testaments, which helps us to understand what was truly meant by certain biblical words, phrases and stories. He then takes the core meaning of what was intended by the author of the Scriptures and converts it to today’s vocabulary. This intriguing book will force readers to examine their thinking and allow them to grow in biblical truth.
Rob Duford

A Match Made in Heaven
By Zev Chafets, HarperCollins,
hardcover, 240 pages, $.

American evangelicals remain strong supporters of Israel. That would seem to be great news for American Jews. But in A Match Made in Heaven, Jewish journalist Zev Chafets investigates the mistrust the American Jewish establishment has for the evangelicals’ motivations. Although Christians maintain their support for Israel and Jews is based on God’s declaring them His Chosen People and His promise to “bless those who bless Israel,” Jews are wary that evangelicals ultimately want to convert them. Chafets’ evenhanded analysis covers a variety of issues, both political and spiritual, that divide the two groups, and provides insight into the reasoning of both sides. He also discusses the Israeli perspective of the American government’s support over the years. Chafets concludes that “evangelical Christians are not the enemy” and that Jews should welcome their support and develop more positive attitudes toward them.
Jeff Friend

Created for Influence
By William L. Ford III, Chosen,
softcover, 224 pages, $.

American society has developed a “victim mentality,” and even Christians can feel as if they have little control over what happens to them or their nation. But in Created for Influence, William L. Ford III explains that Christians should be people of influence, exerting power through prayer and faith over their own lives, their cities and their nations. Ford gives abundant examples of how God has used people from all walks of life throughout history to make significant changes in society through their godly influence and steadfast integrity. He notes that Christian influence needs to become active in such areas as overcoming racism, improving work environments and turning America back in the right direction. His powerful testimony gives insight into his crusade to end abortions. With God’s power and favor, Christians are not helpless victims. They are people who can positively influence the world.
Jeff Friend

By Love Transformed
By R.T. Kendall, Charisma House,
hardcover, 382 pages, $.

R.T. Kendall, who served as pastor of Westminster Chapel in London for 25 years, is a well-known international speaker and teacher and has written more than 40 books. By Love Transformed is a collection of 365 daily readings excerpted from Kendall’s books, including Total Forgiveness, The Thorn in the Flesh, A Vision of Jesus, All’s Well That Ends Well, When God Shows Up and others. Each entry includes a Scripture verse that coordinates with the daily message and indicates which book inspired the reading. These devotionals were handpicked to offer readers encouragement to face everyday life situations and to challenge them to go to the next level spiritually.
Leigh Devore

MUSIC

All the Lovely Losers
By Jason Gray, Centricity Records.

On his major label debut, Jason Gray proves a talented and vulnerable newcomer, serving up a solid first offering, All the Lovely Losers. Using his struggles with chronic stuttering and a broken home life as a backdrop for his full-disclosure style songwriting, Gray consistently delivers pop-infused folk tunes that bridge genres and break musical boundaries. On opener “Blessed Be,” Gray’s mellow, rock-tinged voice and melodic song style pair up for a memorable and thought-provoking hook that is bound to stay with you long after the first listen. The second track, “Sing Through Me,” takes the listeners on an acoustical journey of heartfelt lyrics and solid rhythmic nuances. On the love-inspired “Grace,” a pleasant nod to Gray’s vulnerability in songwriting, he sings “I’ll never be good enough for her,” and one can’t help but feel his sincerity through the purity of his vocals. Other highlights come from the impressive guest collaborators, such as PFR’s Joel Hanson, Andrew Peterson, Waterdeep’s Lori Chafer, and Sara Groves, who joins forces with Gray on the CD climax “The Cut” to deliver a double punch of passion and power. Gray is sure to succeed with his simple formula of honesty and good music.
Elisabeth Burns

Complete
By LaShun Pace, EMI Gospel.

Well known as a mem-ber of the groundbreaking The Anointed Pace Sisters, LaShun Pace comes from a family of powerhouse singers. Now a solo artist, she’s just released her seventh project, Complete. This live recording allows her to shine in her element. Having endured broken marriages, a lengthy illness and the sudden loss of her daughter, Pace knows suffering. But on cuts such as the lead single “All Things Working,” she declares that it all works for our good. She continues to go back to her church roots on songs such as “The Blood Completes It All” and “The Old Fashioned Church Medley.” A vocalist extraordinaire and the album’s principle songwriter, LaShun becomes transparent throughout the project’s 10 tracks. “Close to You,” preceded by a personal testimony, is a certain highlight. Although most cuts are traditional in nature, the title song borrows sounds from today’s contemporary gospel music. Few can deliver a gospel song like Pace. She’s known for putting her all into each song and Complete is no exception. Fans of her ministry will not be disappointed.
Andrea R. Williams

The Book of David: Vol. 1 The Transition
By Dave Hollister, Gospel City

Those well versed in the arena of R&B will know the name Dave Hollister as a former member of the multi-platinum selling group Blackstreet. Hollister, now a born-again Christian, delivers The Book of David: Vol. 1 The Transition, layered with thick funk, beat-banging bass lines and urban-influenced, innovative songwriting. Hollister’s first time out of the gospel gate begins with a prayer from a man with a repentant heart. An air of transparency and vulnerability catches the ear on beat one. Songs such as the gratitude-laden “Nothing But God,” a tight, slick track, and “Help Me,” another urban-heavy song, help Hollister take the musical style he’s known for and bring it into the confines of the church. “What Do You Do?,” the lead single, is certainly one of the strongest in this impressive collection. Other great cuts include the mellow “Reach Out to Me,” the reflective “I Let Heaven Down,” the beat-driven “Questions” and the smoothed-out “Pray (Til I Get An Answer).” Moving in a more traditional vein, he sings “The Potter,” an Andraé Crouch tune. He closes out the project spreading the funk thick with “No One” and relaxing it out with “Take Me Back.”
Andrea R. Williams

For more film or music reviews visit or charismamag
.com/tuned-in.

Fiction

FAITH-BUILDING

Over Her Head
By Shelley Bates,
FaithWords, softcover, 256 pages, $.

Can a mother believe her daughter, Anna, is capable of murder? Laurie Hale is put to this very test when one of Anna’s classmates is killed and evidence points to Anna and other teenagers. Laurie has to face her fears and learn to trust God, as He is the only one who can provide answers and reveal the truth.

CONTEMPORARY

Prints Charming
By Rebeca Seitz, WestBow Press,
softcover, 320 pages, $.

Like quilting bees of old, scrapbooking offers Jane Sandburg and three friends a chance to bond. Jane is getting over her divorce from her cheating husband—who wants to reconcile. Her buddies have their own trials—adoption, marital problems and more. The four crafters help one another as they try to make sense of their lives.

SUSPENSE

Finder’s Fee
By Alton Gansky, Zondervan,
softcover, 352 pages, $.

It’s up to Judith Find to save kidnapped Abel Palek, 8. If she calls the police, he will die and the kidnapper will reveal the businesswoman’s darkest secret. Judith joins stranger Luke Becker in the search for the boy, but both have to learn to trust each other. Through this rescue journey, Judith discovers a faith and life she never knew was possible.

Assemblies of God in Australia Relaxes Divorce Policy

The AG in Australia recently met to relax its divorce policy and to overturn its strict alcohol consumption guidelines.

At its 36th Bi-Annual National Conference held April 23-24, the Assemblies of God (AG) in Australia amended its Divorce, Marriage and Remarriage Policy to allow divorce on the grounds of proven domestic violence. An estimated 850 pastors and leaders representing some of the 1,130 AG churches across Australia voted on the new policy. Previously the AG in Australia allowed for divorce only on the grounds of adultery.

“This is an important and serious issue which affects many Australians,” said pastor Alun Davies, national vice president of the AG. “As a movement we need to bring biblical perspectives on contemporary issues, and ensure we are continually providing help and support in difficult situations. We value and are committed to upholding the marriage covenant, and we consider divorce a last resort.”

At the conference, the AG in Australia also introduced a Minister's Code of Conduct, which provides guidelines to churches and leaders on a range of moral and ethical issues. The new code allows AG pastors to consume alcohol. However it also urges extreme caution when drinking, and states that drunkenness and the use of illegal drugs is prohibited.

The amended Divorce, Marriage and Remarriage Policy and the new Minister's Code of Conduct were the culmination of a comprehensive two-year consultation process, which received input from AG pastors around Australia. The conference marked the 70th year of the AG in Australia, the largest Pentecostal group in the nation.

Christian Bible Publishers Murdered in Turkey

Five Muslim men entered a Bible publishing office in Turkey and killed three Christian men, two of whom were former Muslims.

On April 18, five Muslim men entered a Bible publishing office in Turkey and killed three Christian men, two of whom were former Muslims. The 19- to 20-year-old attackers said they were motivated by “nationalist and religious feelings.” The men entered the Zirve publishing house, located in the southeastern province of Malatya, and tied Necati Aydin, 36; Ugur Yuksel, 32; and German citizen Tilmann Geske, 46, before stabbing them repeatedly and slitting their throats, Compass Direct news service reported. “They are attacking our religion,” read a note found in the pockets of all five men. “We did this for our country. We didn’t do this for ourselves. We did it for our religion. May this be a lesson to the enemies of religion.” In the last three years reports have surfaced that Turkish government officials have contributed to the hostility toward Christians in the region because they have openly criticized Christian missionaries’ activities. Many Christians, who number just 100,000 in a nation of 74 million, claim many in Turkey distrust Christianity. The publishing house’s general manager said the staff had been receiving death threats in recent months, Compass reported. Four of the Muslim men were charged with founding a terrorist organization and murder, and one man was charged with aiding a terrorist group, Reuters news service reported.

Women Claim China Government Forced Them to Abort

At least 40 women say they were forcibly taken to a hospital and given injections that induced labor.

A Christian human-rights advocacy group claims women in China’s Guangxi Province are being forced to abort their pregnancies in a crackdown of the nation’s family planning laws that allow couples to have only one child. China Aid Association reported that at least 40 women say they were forcibly taken to a hospital and given injections that induced labor. Wei Linrong, whose husband leads a house church in the province, said she was seven months pregnant with the couple’s second child when officials told her she must abort. She told China Aid that when she and her husband refused, officials forcibly took her to Youjiang District People’s Hospital of Baise City and performed an abortion. “The nurses dealt with the body like it was rubbish,” Wei told National Public Radio (NPR). “They wrapped it up in a black plastic bag and threw it in the trash.” He Caigan was nine months pregnant with her first child when she was given an abortion-inducing injection the following day, NPR reported. The 19-year-old said she was forced to abort because she was unmarried and not old enough to get married. Chinese officials said they were not aware of the forced abortions. But a family planning official in Baise who is surnamed Nong said this type of treatment would be illegal. And although many of the forced abortions occurred recently, he said an investigation had already taken place and no problems had been found. “We were very surprised to hear of these accusations, but our investigation concluded some individuals who were dissatisfied with our family planning policies were fabricating stories,” Nong told NPR. “These facts simply don't exist. We really love and care for women here.” China Aid reported that a woman in Shandong province who unintentionally became pregnant with her second child six months ago is also being pressured to abort.

Christian Choir to Raise Money on American Idol

The African Children’s Choir will be featured on American Idol's two-day special “Idol Gives Back.”

The African Children’s Choir will be featured on American Idol's two-day special “Idol Gives Back” scheduled to air April 24 and 25 at 8 p.m. The children's choir comprised of orphan African children is sponsored by a Christian relief and developmental humanitarian organization. Founded in 1984 , the choir travels around the world to raise money to help impoverished nations in Africa. “While we were in Uganda we gave a ride to another town to a very small boy and he sang all the way in the vehicle,” said founder Ray Barnett. “When I got back to Canada and people were not very interested in Uganda, I remembered this small boy. I thought, 'If we could take a group of these beautiful children to the West, it would surely raise money to help their country'.” Since its inception the choir has raised money from their ticketed concerts to educate children in Africa including themselves. Choir members travel with the choir for one year and then they are sent home where they are given education and scholarships for education beyond high school. Some of the members have gone on to receive education as doctors, lawyers and engineers. The choir also gives funds for emergency relief efforts to help feed, clothe and shelter Africa's neediest families. The American Idol “Idol Gives Back” show featuring a myriad of well-known musicians will raise money for both African an American charities.