Tears fell amidst empty desks and rules of grammar chalk-written on the blackboard.   Candace Morris held back more as she spoke of the Salesian tradition of Northeast Catholic High School for Boys.

“We try to teach our students that you’re not expected to be everything; you’re only expected to be who you are and whoever Christ means for you to be,” said Morris, an English teacher at North …

Open Door Baptist Church, located at 1632 N. 26th St., celebrates its 60th anniversary.

In looking back at a century of service to Philadelphians, history shows that the Mann family profession began as one small and ambitious service. Yet by staying committed to a philosophy of providing the finest level of service available, the business has grown into …

They come in broken and addicted. Twelve months later, they leave as happy, productive members of society.  Teen Challenge, a faith-based rehabilitation program in Germantown, is providing a place where lives are completely turned around.  But there are no twelve steps to overcoming your addiction here.  In fact, little focus is placed on the addiction at all.  The source of the transformation is God and his Word.  And the men and women making their way through the program give testament that it really does work.

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The Word of God has never sounded so cool.

Meet Donte Holland, also known by his rapper name Beloved the Ghostwriter, gospel rapper from the Strawberry Mansion area of Philadelphia. Getting his start when he was 13 years old, Beloved has now solidified himself as a Christian rapper with lyrics based on the gospel. “Since I’ve started, my lyrics have always been that way, it’s what …

Addiction is in the news a lot these days.
While most of stories found in the local media tend to focus on their subjects due to celebrity or social status. Some are professional athletes or in Philadelphia their coach’s sons; others are musicians and entertainers. But most of the victims of addiction are found in neighborhoods like Ludlow, where the tales of anonymous struggle often remain untold.  
It is not hard to find signs of addiction in this city.  Abandoned housing, crime and homelessness–all of these issues have a direct correlation to the consequences of addiction.…

At the corner of Fifth and Nedro streets is St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. Like many among the plethora of churches in Olney, regardless of faith, St. Paul’s has an ornate and somewhat old structure that many people pass without giving a second thought. However, it is what goes on behind the doors of St. Paul’s that separates it from the rest. 

Here at St. Paul’s is the only …

It was 11:30 a.m. and people were waiting to to go inside Miller Memorial Baptist Church on North 22nd Street off Ridge Avenue. This isn’t uncommon for  a Thursday afternoon because this is when the church hosts the Share A Blessing Ministry. Created 14 years ago by Deaconess Sarah Lynch, the ministry serves lunch to the homeless and needy every Thursday …

You may see them walking around your neighborhood wearing sharp-looking suit jackets, spotless white shirts, with backpacks and nice slacks. You may also see them stray away from the sidewalks and up the front steps of your neighbors’ houses to spread the word. Regardless of whether or not you’re listening, know this: many others are. These young men are Mormon missionaries, sent out to spread the spiritual word of God.

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They come to learn, to play and to pray.

For the past 15 years, children and young adults from the Ludlow community and the surrounding area have gathered each and every Tuesday night at the Sixth Street Mennonite Church for a Bible study taught by volunteers and church leaders.
While the reasons for attending vary from youth to youth, there is one underlying theme that is stressed. They help the community by taking the kids and helping them have and learn about God and Jesus,” said Bible study participant Dante Ray.
The lessons the students learn go beyond just scripture, however. The …