Church Robbery Spree

A crime bulletin is out for two young white males believed to be behind more than 50 church robberies across the Midwest. The thieves have stolen money for the poor, gift cards for seminary students, musical instruments, and much more from churches in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana.

Megachurch Pastor Fired

An Indiana megachurch has fired its pastor for committing "a sin that has caused him to forfeit his right to be our pastor." The First Baptist Church of Hammond says police are investigating former pastor Jack Schapp and his involvement with a teenager associated with Hyles Anderson College, which is run by the church. She was allegedly 16 years old when she became involved with Schapp. First Baptist has 15,000 members and claims to have the nation's largest Sunday school. Here's a video report from a Chicago TV station.

Church bans interracial relationships

CNN interviews a member of a church who's church has voted to ban interracial marriages.

Dobson in Politics

James Dobson is endorsing Dan Coats candidacy for a seat in the US Senate in radio ads. The Focus on the Family founder has been friends with the Indianan Republican for a long time. Dobson stresses that his endorsement is personal and not on behalf of any organization. Coats hoping to take the slot being vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Evan Bayh. Meanwhile, Texas Congressman Ron Paul is backing Coats’s main challenger, John Hostettler. The primary will be held May 4th and the winner faces Democrat Brad Ellsworth in November.

Church Burglaries

A half dozen churches in the Winchester, Indiana area have been burglarized in the last two months. This morning, someone stole equipment from the New Lisbon Church of Christ and the Jericho Church. Burglaries took place in December at South Salem Church of Christ, in January at the Pleasant Hill Church and earlier this month at the Trinity Lutheran Church and the Community Fellowship Church.

Star Spangled Ban

An Indiana college is lifting its ban on the national anthem after more than a century. The Star Spangled Banner was forbidden at Goshen College which is associated with the Mennonite Church. Goshen College will begin playing an instrumental version of the national anthem before some sporting events. Some at the school complain it puts love for county above love for God. Some 900 people have joined the Facebook group Against Goshen College Playing National Anthem. Mennonites are pacifists and have historically avoided the song because its lyrics describe using war and military might to defend the country. But nearly half of the student body is not Mennonite.

Church Cancells Travel Plans

Church group was to visit sister church in Haiti next week. WRTV in Indianapolis reports.

Church Reinacts Thanksgiving

WTHI-TV in Terre Haute, Indiana reenacted the first Thanksgiving.

Robber Stops to Pray

An armed robber stopped to pray with a store clerk for nearly 10 minutes in Indianapolis on Monday. The crime took place at Advance America, a check cashing business. Even though the man fleed with a cell phone and $20 after the prayer, he turned himself in to police the next day. The man told the clerk he had a two-year-old child to support and wanted prayer about overcoming his hardships.

Mercy Me Fatal Accident

MercyMe was involved in the fatal crash in Fort Wayne, Indiana early today when a car turned into the path of the group's tour bus as the bus was going through a green light. No one on MercyMe's bus was injured. But two people in the car were killed. The driver was an 18-year-old pregnant woman who is now in critical condition and has lost her child. The contemporary Christian music group, best known for the song I Can Only Imagine, cancelled its sold-out concert set for this evening at Six Flags St Louis. It has been rescheduled for September 5th.

Atheist Ad Settlement

Ad for an atheist group will go up on city buses in Bloomington, Indiana. They were turned down at first by the Bloomington Public Transportation Corporation. But the Indiana Atheist Bus Campaign sued. The groups have come to an agreement out-of-court that lets the ads go on buses at the rate of other advertisers and will pay for all the ACLU legal expenses in the case. The ads include slogans like In the Beginning Man Created God and You can be good without God.

H1N1 Prompts Changes

WLFI in West Lafayette, Indiana reports on how swine flu is affecting services.

Atheist Bus Message

Public buses around the South Bend, Indiana area will soon sport ads promoting atheism. The banners are sponsored by the Indiana Atheist Group and say You can be good without God. City officials in Bloomington, Indiana turned down the same ads but the ACLU filed a lawsuit. Similar ads are already running on more than two dozen buses in Chicago that read, In the beginning, man created God.

Moment of Silence Outlawed

WTHI-TV in Terre Haute has a story on Inidiana's "moment of silence".

Church Gives Shoes

WISH-TV in Indianapolis has the story of a Church giving shoes for kids.

Gift Certificates for Abortion

The Indiana branch of Planned Parenthood is offering gift certificates on its website for services – including abortion. The organization says only 5% women come into their clinics come for abortion. But the Office for Pro-Life Ministry for the Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis is outraged. The director says "It's offensive because Christmas is about the celebration of human life."

Church Fire

An Indianapolis church vows to continue its ministry despite a devestating fire. WISH-TV has the story:

Licence Plate Rejected

Elizabeth Ferris is suing the state of Indiana after officials refused to renew her personalized license plate. It says Be God's. The Cambridge City woman has has had the message on her license plate for eight years.

Church Sign Offends Passersby

WANE-TV in Fort Wayne, Indiana has the story of a controversial sign in front of a local church.

Pastor Injured during Sermon

An Indiana pastor injured himself during a sermon – with a dirt bike. Jeff Harlow, who pastors Crossroads Community Church in Kokomo, brought the bike for a illustration of unity. Only he wound up breaking his wrist when he lost control of it. He drove the motorcycle off the platform and into the empty front row pew.