One faith-based leader who met with President Barack Obama and Governor Rick Perry in Dallas Wednesday says the private meeting with local officials and faith leaders was productive in homing in on solutions that will meet the state's most immediate needs in dealing with the border crisis.

Despite appeals from members of his own party to accept Perry's invitation to tour the U.S.-Mexico border where the humanitarian and national security crisis is unfolding, Obama declined, opting instead to meet in Dallas before attending one of three Democratic fundraisers in the state.

"The purpose of the meeting was to find solutions in dealing with the border crisis in Texas," Chris Liebrum, director of disaster recovery for the Texas Baptist Convention told The Christian Post Wednesday night. more >>

The World Health Organization has said that "drastic action" is needed to stop the spread of the deadliest and largest outbreak of the Ebola virus in history, which has killed at least 467 people across West Africa since March.

CNN reported on Wednesday that African ministers and health experts are meeting in Ghana to try and coordinate efforts to stop the spread of the virus, which can kill up to 90 percent of those infected.

"One, [this is] the first time in West Africa that we have such an outbreak," said Dr. Peter Piot, who first discovered the Ebola virus in the 1970s. "Secondly, it is the first time that three countries are involved. And thirdly it's the first time that we have outbreaks in capitals, in capital cities." more >>

Christian relief group Samaritan's Purse and other humanitarian organizations have sent emergency medical teams to West Africa to deal with a major outbreak of the Ebola virus, which has claimed 390 lives so far, making it the deadliest in recorded history.

"This is one of the most deadly diseases in the world, and it must be contained as quickly as possible," said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse. "We're sending a team of highly skilled doctors and nurses, and we want to do all we can to help bring this outbreak under control."

The World Health Organization has said that at least 600 cases and 390 deaths have been reported in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, since the outbreak started in March. Up until now, no single outbreak had claimed more than 300 lives. more >>

Americans are increasingly giving more to charity, but less of that money is going to the church, according to a newly released report.

An annual research report released Tuesday by the Giving USA Foundation and the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy found that Americans are increasing their donations to charities.

For the year 2013, Americans gave approximately $335 billion to charity, which represented an increase of 3 percent when adjusted for inflation. more >>

WASHINGTON – A proponent of abstinence education has stated that the term "war on women" is being used to attack sexual risk avoidance education.

Valerie Huber, president and CEO of the National Abstinence Education Association, spoke at a Family Research Council event Wednesday on the issue titled, "Collateral damage in the 'war on women' debate: Sexual risk avoidance education caught in the crosshairs." 

In an interview with The Christian Post, Huber explained why she and her nonpartisan organization felt an obligation to address the war on women phrase. more >>

WASHINGTON – A group of about 150 Christian clergy, leaders, and Congressmen have signed a pledge to support persecuted Christians in the Middle East.

Meant as a stance of solidarity with Christians in Syria, Iraq, and Egypt, the pledge was entered into the congressional record by Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) and Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Calif.).

"Now facing an existential threat to their presence in the lands where Christianity has its roots, the Churches in the Middle East fear they have been largely ignored by their coreligionists in the West," reads the pledge in part. more >>