World Relief is

the compassion and benevolence arm of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). "We're not the mouth of the NAE, but we are its arms and legs," said Don Golden, the group's senior vice president of church engagement.

"In down economic times, charities complain about money, but a lack of money is a symptom, not a cause," said Bob Shank, one of the founders of the Barnabas Group, a network of business leaders who help Christian ministries. "The cause of the problem is more often a lack of creativity and collaborators. That's where we can help."

A quiet revolution has taken place over the past 30 years in corporate America. Driven by such groups as the pro-gay Human Rights Campaign and the pro-abortion Planned Parenthood, large corporations such as JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America have become major funders of liberal social action. And since 1973's Roe v. Wade decision, more and more healthcare companies are directly involved in the abortion industry.

Legend has it that P.T. Barnum once said, "There is a sucker born every minute."

If that's true, it's possible that Harvey Dockstader Jr. is out to find them all-from prison, and using pastors and "church" leaders to find his marks.

Yogi Berra might call it a case of "déjà vu all over again."

A Christian television ministry in suburban Charlotte, N.C., grows quickly-in just five years-from less than $30 million in annual income to nearly $70 million. The ministry embarks on a $100 million building project. Then come accusations of excess and abuse of donor funds.

This is not a description of Jim and Tammy Bakker's PTL Network, which closed 20 years ago. It describes The Inspiration Networks.

President Obama says he's looking for creative, "outside-the-box" thinking on health care. But the reform plans that have the greatest likelihood of passing put at risk a Christian alternative to insurance that is now being used by more than 100,000 people in the United States.

The elections of Barack Obama as president of the United States and of Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister of Israel are widely seen as defining moments in U.S.-Israeli relations since both took office earlier this year. But defining what? At a minimum, their taking office seems to be defining a new interest in Christian groups working in Israel.