"Megachurches as a whole are significantly better than other congregations at holding together multiracial, multiethnic congregations," said Scott Thumma, an expert on megachurches and a professor at Hartford Seminary in Connecticut. "It's absolutely clear." A study by Thumma and the Leadership Network, a Dallas group that works with pioneering churches, found that minorities make up 20 percent or more of worshippers in nearly one-third of the nation's 1,200 megachurches. To read this entire article, click here. Do you agree or disagree with their findings?

This year the Oscars decided to Go Green. The Academy, Oscar producers and the entire production team endeavored to select supplies and services with a sensitivity toward reducing the threats we face from global warming, species extinction, deforestation, toxic waste, and hazardous chemicals in our water and food. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, a non-partisan environmental and advocacy organization, it is easy (and often cost effective) to make simple changes to reduce your ecological footprint. For more ideas on how you can Go Green, click here.

Billy Graham is the most widely known religious leader among U.S. adults; Pat Robertson has the highest negative rating among the eleven religious leaders tested. Overall, born again adults are indistinct in their ratings of public figures when compared to adults who are not followers of Jesus. Want to know more about how Americans, and especially Christians, perceive the reigning cultural icons? Check out the main story on the Barna website.

LifeWay Research conducted a survey among people age 18 to 34 that discovered a major factor causing young adults to leave the church is the church's inability to minister to them in their transition stage. Jim Johnston of LifeWay Christian Resources identifies four needs among young adults: 1. Relationship "It just so happens that this generation's biggest need is relationship. The church ought to be the author and purveyor of the best, deepest, most loving friendships around." 2. Biblical Community "The lost and the saved in this age group are looking for just what the church can provide in Biblical community. They want absolute truth but they embrace the struggle of finding it themselves. They don't want it to be spoon-fed to them." 3. Social Action Young adults gravitate to churches that are making an impact. This age group is embracing service, social action and missions. They will embrace the church with a cause as well." 4. Genuine Church "They want to embrace church, but only the genuine, earth-shaking, Christ-powered New Testament church. For some churches, that's going to mean changing methodology - but not the message of the Bible." Do young adults find it difficult to make friendships and find community at your church? If so, they will likely go elsewhere to fill the void.

The Church of England has announced that it will officially perform the "U2-charist" in a special Holy Communion service that will be held in May. The event will have an emphasis on the Millennium Development Goals, which focus on finding a solution to world poverty. During the performance of a U2 cover band, images of poverty and drought will be displayed for the 500-member congregation. Click here to read the article.