Wherever it goes, Portland, Ore.-based Medical Teams International (MTI) declares, "Hope is on the way."

In the United States, MTI is known for its fleet of Winnebagos-10 in all-that have been converted to mobile dental clinics. Around the world, the group is known for often being first on the scene at disasters and conflicts. Currently, MTI is working in Kenya, Cameroon, Uganda, and 30 other countries. And everywhere, MTI says its mission is the same: "Demonstrate the love of Christ to people affected by disaster, conflict and poverty around the world."

When shares of Wall Street powerhouse Bear Stearns lost over 90 percent of their value in one weekend, stock markets around the world shuddered.

So did some charities. About 1,000 of Bear Stearns' highly compensated senior managers have been required to give 4 percent of their substantial incomes to charity as a condition of employment. This unique policy has been in place since the 1970s, and in 2006 alone, Bear Stearns employees gave almost $50 million to mostly secular charities.

But what about Christian ministries? Will market jitters hurt them as well?

Warmer weather is not the only sign of spring. The roll-out of huge Convoy of Hope (COH) tractor-trailers means that a new season of giving is also underway.

A century ago, Theodore Roosevelt famously called the presidency a "bully pulpit." Today, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State argues that intermingling politics and religion produces pulpit bullies.

"Project Fair Play," an Americans United initiative, sent out letters to thousands of evangelical pastors in an attempt to "stop illegal church electioneering." But according to Jere Royall of the North Carolina Policy Council, the intimidating letters fail to let pastors know that most are doing less, not more, than the law allows.

When Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) started investigating the finances of televangelists last year, one of them-Atlanta-based Creflo Dollar-complained on Larry King Live that churches were exempt from federal financial disclosure requirements. He said that if Sen. Grassley wanted more information, he should "get a subpoena."

Others are looking for alternatives to subpoenas. The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) has recently started a new division to bring to churches the level of oversight the ECFA now brings to about 2,000 evangelical Christian ministries.

In the last three months, Tulsa-based Oral Roberts University (ORU) has undergone a financial and leadership transformation as dramatic as any healing ever claimed by its founder.

The military and political impact of the troop surge in Iraq is receiving ample coverage-but what about its effect on the spiritual lives of military families?

Suzann Mayfield, director of marketing and communications for Military Community Youth Ministries (MCYM), sees big changes: "More moms involved. More dual military families, with both parents deployed. . . . We haven't seen a situation like this, perhaps ever, for military families."