Prayer News | Where Christians Pray Through the News

Prayer List: Covid-19 Global Menace

Cases of Covid-19, the Wuhan Coronoavirus, have been reported in more than 200 nations and more than 80,000 people have died. – Stats from Wikipedia

Orders to stay at home are preventing normal funeral services for the victims. Some families and friends of the deceased are experiencing deep depression.

Severe economic problems are also on the horizon for the unemployed.

Prayer List

  • Pray for the Holy Spirit to comfort the families and friends of people that have died from Covid-19.
  • Pray for a rapid recovery for those who are sick.
  • Pray for safety for doctors, nurses and family members caring for the sick.
  • Pray for financial needs to be met for people financially struggling after losing a job or receiving fewer work hours.
  • Pray for the spiritual needs of people to also be met.
  • Pray for opportunities to share God’s love and hope to people that are depressed from these circumstances.

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Assemblies of God News

  • newFoundation Helps Small Churches Make Big Impacts
    The Kaleo Foundation provides food, toys, clothing, and much more to help small churches reach their communities for Christ.
    - 12 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 2:00pm -
  • newReversing Abortion
    Lisa Searle oversees the Abortion Pill Rescue Network, which enables women to change their mind about ending their pregnancy.
    - 13 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 1:00pm -
  • Healthy Churches, Healthy Communities
    New directors equip South Texas District congregations to look outward.
    - 2 days ago 27 Oct 20, 1:00pm -
  • COVID Brings No Break in Religious Persecution
    Despite a raging pandemic, the Church is still under attack as these prayer requests by persecuted churches from around the world reveal.
    - 2 days ago 26 Oct 20, 4:00pm -
  • Mountaintop Project Hope
    Flagstaff Native American church makes repeated supply trips to help Navajo communities during prolonged pandemic lockdown.
    - 3 days ago 26 Oct 20, 1:00pm -

Baptist Press

    Bible Gateway

    • newHow to Live the Bible — What Is Holiness?
      This is the one-hundred-twenty-eighth lesson in author and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ How to Live the Bible series. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email here. The idea that we need […]The post How to Live the Bible — What Is Holiness? appeared first on Bible Gateway Blog.
      - 12 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 1:52pm -
    • newPray for Persecuted Christians
      [See books in the Bible Gateway Store on the subject of Christian persecution] Join with Christians around the world in praying for our brothers and sisters who are persecuted for believing Jesus Christ is their savior. Christians will observe the International Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (#IDOP) on November 1, 8, & 15, […]The post Pray for Persecuted Christians appeared first on Bible Gateway Blog.
      - 15 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 10:43am -
    • How and Why to Pray the Scriptures for Your Children: An Interview with Jodie Berndt
      How can using the Bible to shape your desires and requests open the door to God’s provision to free us from worry and fear in our parenting? How can you pray the Bible for developing your children’s faith, character, safety, relationships, and their future? Bible Gateway interviewed Jodie Berndt (@jodieberndt), author of Praying the Scriptures […]The post How and Why to Pray the Scriptures for Your Children: An Interview with Jodie Berndt appeared first on Bible Gateway Blog.
      - 2 days ago 27 Oct 20, 9:02am -
    • You’re Invited to Join the Free Overcomer Online Bible Study with Dr. David Jeremiah
      Start Your Journey to Overcome Your Challenges! The Overcomer Online Bible Study is the free 7-week video Bible study you can do on your own or with friends, family, and your own small group. We’re living in difficult times. Do you feel like society is ripping apart at the seams? Do you feel like your […]The post You’re Invited to Join the Free Overcomer Online Bible Study with Dr. David Jeremiah appeared first on Bible Gateway Blog.
      - 3 days ago 26 Oct 20, 12:13pm -
    • Recapture the Wonder of God-With-Us This Advent Season
      By Scott Erickson I. Love. Holidays. I’m always up for a celebration! And the crème de la crème for me is Christmas. It is by far my favorite time of year. But a few years ago, as the twinkly lights and evergreens came out, as they always do, I found myself increasingly ambivalent about the […]The post Recapture the Wonder of God-With-Us This Advent Season appeared first on Bible Gateway Blog.
      - 3 days ago 26 Oct 20, 10:18am -

    Christian Headlines

    Christian Newswire

    • newInstitute on Religious Life Launches 40 Days of Prayer
      NEWS PROVIDED BYInstitute on Religious LifeOct. 28, 2020LIBERTYVILLE, Ill., Oct. 28, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Institute on Religious Life is pleased to announce that over 40 religious communities who are Affiliate Members of the IRL are participating in "40 Days of Prayer." Join these holy, joyful, religious priests, brothers, and sisters in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament for the friends and benefactors of the IRL, for our Church and for our nation from October 30th Dece Source: Institute on Religious Life
      - 3 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 10:44pm -
    • newOperation Rescue Announces Endorsements in the Most Important Election of Our Lifetimes
      NEWS PROVIDED BYOperation RescueOct. 28, 2020 WICHITA, Kan., Oct. 28, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- Operation Rescue is a national pro-life organization that seeks to build an abortion-free America. We research and document abortion abuses and understand abortion's evils reflected in the massive loss of innocent human lives, and the negative impacts it has on women, families, communities, and our nation as a whole.Public policies on the state and federal level can dramatically affect the number Source: Operation Rescue
      - 7 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 7:20pm -
    • newFederal Election Commission, and UN, Complaint Against Twitter Filed by Public Advocate
      NEWS PROVIDED BYPublic Advocate Oct. 28, 2020WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- Eugene Delgaudio (pictured above), president of Public Advocate of the United States, Inc. formally submitted a legal complaint with evidence to the Federal Elections Commission yesterday, October 27, 2020, against Twitter, Inc. and CEO Jack Dorsey.Delgaudio is also asking the United Nation's General Secretary António Guterres to use his mandate powers to send observers from member nations Source: Public Advocate
      - 8 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 6:22pm -
    • newThe Need to Claim AOC Catholic
      NEWS PROVIDED BYCatholic League for Religious and Civil RightsOct. 28, 2020NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on the need to claim AOC as Catholic: There isn't much left of the Catholic Left these days. Jealous of the success that EWTN has had for decadesthere is no TV station run by Catholic dissidentsand outclassed by Catholic conservative writers and speakers, there is a pressing need for them to find a public Source: Catholic League
      - 9 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 4:57pm -
    • Christian Community Credit Union Partners with 49 Financial to Offer Revolutionary Financial Planning Services to Members
      Blair Korschun, Christian Community Credit Union CEO (top), and Travis Penfield, 49 Financial Founder and CEO (bottom) share a virtual thumbs-up to celebrate the Credit Union's partnership with 49 Financial to offer financial planning services to members of Christian Community Credit Union. NEWS PROVIDED BYChristian Community Credit UnionOct. 27, 2020SAN DIMAS, Calif., Oct. 27, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- After a competitive process and rigorous evaluation, Christian Community Cred Source: Christian Community Credit Union
      - 1 day ago 28 Oct 20, 12:26am -

    Christian Post

    Christian Research Network

    • new‘The Biden Five’: The Definitive Breakdown of One of America’s Most Corrupt Families
      “The Bidens…are unprecedented in the extent and scope of the corruption, because I’ve been doing this for a long time. I’ve exposed Republicans and Democrats. The most that I’ve ever seen up to this point was a Republican senator from … Continue reading →
      - 7 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 7:37pm -
    • newCompromised Evangelicals Misuse, Misinterpret, and Mangle Bible to Defend Open Borders!
      I heard one of the great evangelists of the last generation say, “Do right though the stars fall from Heaven.” The illegal aliens have not done right. They resolutely broke our laws and crashed our gates, and forced themselves in … Continue reading →
      - 8 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 6:01pm -
    • newIf Trump Wins…
      If Trump wins on November 3, you’re going to see a lot of evangelical leaders recalibrate themselves in a panic because they misjudged the cultural winds. They will seek to jump back on the conservative bandwagon, and again posture themselves … Continue reading →
      - 10 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 4:27pm -
    • new‘Plausible deniability’: Tony Bobulinski claims Biden family shrugged off concerns about risk to 2020 bid
      (Adam Shaw & Brook Singman – Fox News) Tony Bobulinski, a former business associate of Hunter Biden, claimed in an interview Tuesday that the Biden family shrugged off concerns that Joe Biden’s alleged ties to his son’s business deals could put a future presidential … Continue reading →
      - 11 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 2:51pm -
    • newOn the Road to Emmaus
      1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, … Continue reading →
      - 22 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 4:34am -

    Christian Sentinel

    • ‘Doing the Stuff:’ An Encounter with John Wimber
      John Wimber had the audience stand up. He told everyone to remain silent and pray. He put both hands together holding them straight out in front of him toward the audience, with eyes closed. It appeared he was using his arms as a divining rod... A very loud rap, rap, rap sound intermittently sounded all over the auditorium. Fear gripped me as I prayed for the Lord’s protection. The post ‘Doing the Stuff:’ An Encounter with John Wimber appeared first on The Christian Sentinel.
      - 21 days ago 7 Oct 20, 7:07pm -
    • Come Together Right Now Over Trump? by Jackie Alnor, The Christian Sentinel
      Pastor Jack looks like the odd man out in Paula’s White House Faith Initiative. He has a different view of Bible prophecy than the core of the group. He preaches the soon rapture of the ChurchThe post Come Together Right Now Over Trump? by Jackie Alnor, The Christian Sentinel appeared first on The Christian Sentinel.
      - 87 days ago 2 Aug 20, 6:51pm -
    • Excerpt from the Berean Call, originally published, October 1991
      How negligent it would be not to warn the sheep of poisoned pastures and false shepherds who promote lies in the name of truth.The post Excerpt from the Berean Call, originally published, October 1991 appeared first on The Christian Sentinel.
      - 90 days ago 30 Jul 20, 3:52pm -
    • Wrestling with Alligators, Prophets and Theologians — A review of the biography of the founder of The New Apostolic Reformation – by Jackie Alnor
      The only place in Scripture where we see anyone sitting on seven mountains is in the 17th chapter of Revelation – the Mother of Harlots: a prophetic peek into the future of what Wagner’s group, the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), is evolving into when it unites with its fellow false religionists. The post Wrestling with Alligators, Prophets and Theologians — A review of the biography of the founder of The New Apostolic Reformation – by Jackie Alnor appeared first on The Christian Sentinel.
      - 94 days ago 27 Jul 20, 3:44am -
    • Parable: When the Cow Said Meow
      Once upon a time there was a creative cow that said, “Meow!” The farmer’s cat was confused. What could this mean? So the cat looked…The post Parable: When the Cow Said Meow appeared first on The Christian Sentinel.
      - 99 days ago 22 Jul 20, 2:47am -

    Christian Today

    • Why I Read the Old Testament with Spiritual Seekers
      Together, we discover Deuteronomy's Good News.I first met “Carmen” and her husband after church one morning in midsummer. Raised in Spain, Carmen had been baptized as an infant and had a nominally religious background. She’d recently moved to Canada and, after a series of events, including the death of a friend named Grace and an early morning Google search, she found Grace Toronto Church—and arrived the first time wearing her pajamas.Carmen kept coming back, week after expectant week, growing more eager to read and understand the Bible for herself. Her bursting curiosity and acute spiritual hunger struck me when she and her family came over for lunch several weeks later. In late August, I asked Carmen to join me and two other women in studying the Bible.The book we studied together? Deuteronomy.A Very Good Place to StartIn the early years of our marriage, my husband, Ryan, and I often led evangelistic Bible studies with colleagues and neighbors. We’d read and discuss Scripture passages, usually from the Gospels, sharing observations and fielding questions. I can assure you that we never offered to study Deuteronomy with our spiritually seeking friends.It can be tempting to feel like the Old Testament is something to be embarrassed about, with its purported misogyny, accounts of genocide, and sexually repressive rules. Deuteronomy (and some other Old Testament books) might be likened to the eccentric uncle you hope will miss this year’s Thanksgiving dinner. Yes, your odd uncle is a part of the family, but it might be safer to introduce him to your boyfriend once there’s a ring on your finger.No doubt, there are challenges in reading Deuteronomy with a spiritual seeker—and I worried about all of them. Deuteronomy gives ...Continue reading...
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    • Meet the Evangelicals Who Won’t Vote for Trump, Biden, or Anybody at All
      They’re not apathetic. Convicted nonvoters think Christian citizenship calls for a different kind of engagement.Despite their opposing views of who should win the upcoming election, Republicans and Democrats share a sense of urgency over the 2020 presidential race. Both parties would have voters believe that this is “the most important election of their lifetimes” and they have a responsibility to vote in the right candidate.It’s always awkward to be a nonvoting Christian during campaign season, and this year, nonvoters really feel the pressure. The enthusiasm over the 2020 presidential election, combined with increased voting options due to the pandemic, has already led to record-setting early voting numbers. Nonvoting is assumed to be a decision made out of resignation, apathy, or lack of concern for the country.While some religious traditions abstain from voting because they do not take part in politics at all (think Jehovah’s Witnesses) or because they separate themselves from broader society (the Amish), evangelical nonvoters say they can be politically engaged beyond the ballot box.“I’m still involved with changing things, but I didn’t want to do that in the name of a political party,” said Natasha Kennedy, an evangelical in Washington State who has never voted in a US election and doesn’t plan to this year.Instead, she pushes back against both parties and advocates for Christ’s kingdom without any allegiance to a political platform.Her position dates back to when she turned 18. As she considered entering the mission field, Kennedy decided she would demonstrate her devotion to Christ and his kingdom by not voting in US elections.Like many Christian nonvoters before her, she saw the act of casting a ballot as a sign of approval for a political power structure that in ...Continue reading...
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    • Karen Swallow Prior: Voting for Neither
      Author and Professor Karen Swallow Prior on voting third-party in the upcoming election.Candidates for office should be evaluated based on what they want to accomplish and how they will do it. On this basis, I cannot vote for either Biden or Trump.While I am not a single-issue voter, the protection of human life and dignity tops my hierarchy of political concerns. Neither Trump nor Biden addresses these matters consistently, holistically, or satisfactorily.For me, as well as for many other Americans, abortion is a social justice issue. In aiming to increase abortion access and funding locally, nationally, and globally, Biden and the Democratic Party’s position is so extreme that it is out of step with the majority of Americans, even most who are pro-choice. Some will assert that the decline of abortion rates which followed a peak in the 1980s is the direct result of Democratic policies and that, therefore, laws regulating abortion are not the most significant factor in its reduction. Perhaps this is so. However, the most important function of the law is to protect human life, dignity, and rights. Tragically, U.S. law has failed to do this too often throughout history (and even today). But such failures are all the more reason to ensure that this primary purpose is fulfilled. Just as racism, for example, must be fought in hearts and laws, so, too, human lives must be guarded by both. Conversely, while refusing to elect a racist won’t in itself end racism, it sure does help. Likewise, abortion will not be reduced by electing one who champions it. I will eliminate for consideration a candidate who does not support this basic function of the law.President Trump, on the other hand, switched from being pro-choice to pro-life while running for president in 2016. Even so, his record on abortion since then ...Continue reading...
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    • The Bible Passes the Bechdel Test. It Also Goes Beyond It.
      After a data-driven study of women’s conversations in Scripture, here’s what I found.Recently, a friend asked on Twitter if the Bible passes the Bechdel-Wallace test. Although this question has been asked on the internet before, my friend’s tweet made me wonder if I could use my Bible programming skills to do a deeper data-drive analysis than what I found online. (One of the best iterations comes from a blogger priest named Paidiske.)If you’re not familiar with it, the Bechdel test “is a measure of the representation of women” in movies and books. It’s based on a comic by Alison Bechdel that suggests a work must contain a scene that meets three specific criteria: (1) at least two named women who (2) talk to each other (3) about something other than a man.The films in the Star Wars franchise can serve as an example of the test’s usefulness. The first Star Wars movie was praised for presenting a strong female character in Princess Leia. However, the only other named female character in the movie is Aunt Beru, but she and Leia never meet or talk, so the film fails the Bechdel test. By contrast, The Force Awakens (episode VII) includes a scene in which Rey and Maz Kanata discuss Rey’s destiny, which passes all three elements of the Bechdel test.The Bible certainly doesn’t need to pass the Bechdel test in order to be God’s Word. That would probably be a bad example of presentism. But the test can still be a useful way of reexamining the biblical stories and seeing God’s care for all image bearers.Part of my interest in this question comes from the fact that I like playing with Bible data. But the deeper reason is that I am married to an incredible woman whose depths I have only just begun to see over the last 15 years, and I am father to an indescribably ...Continue reading...
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    • From Persecuted to Polarized: What US Evangelicals Can Learn from Colombia
      In the Western Hemisphere’s longest armed conflict, suffering has often inspired evangelical solidarity. Now the body of Christ is succumbing to self-harm.For 70 years, Colombia has been a nation at war with itself.Marxist guerrillas, right-wing paramilitaries, drug cartels, and national police and military have ripped families limb from limb and scarred the national consciousness, running up a death toll of over 1 million souls and driving more than 8 million people from their homes—just in the past generation.In late 2016, for a brief moment, the international community thought that the violence might be nearing an end as a delegation from the FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) guerrillas signed peace accords with the government of then-President Juan Manuel Santos.Cameras flashed. Santos got a Nobel Peace Prize. And the killings continued.Year to date, there have already been 68 massacres in Colombia. Since the peace accords were signed in Havana, Cuba, more than 440 community leaders have been murdered. Many of these community leaders are themselves pastors, whose resistance of violence and advocacy in favor of dispossessed campesinos (rural farmers) put them in the crosshairs of armed groups.Their stories have begun to be told, most recently in “The Role of the Evangelicals in the Colombian Conflict,” a report submitted to the Colombian Truth Commission earlier this month. Nevertheless, this landmark report, which chronicles events from 1959 to 2016, is just the tip of the iceberg.About 1,800 years ago, the church father Tertullian pointed out how Christianity had flourished in spite of vicious imperial persecution, defiantly declaring, “We multiply when we are reaped by you: the blood of Christians is seed” (Tertullian, Apologeticus 50.13). Since the blood of believers has soaked Colombian soil, by Tertullian’s logic ...Continue reading...
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    Faith on Film (Video Podcast)

    Forum 18 News Service

    • BELARUS: Religious freedom survey, October 2020
      Before the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Belarus on 2 November, Forum 18 notes continuing violations of freedom of religion and belief and of interlinked freedoms. These have worsened amid widespread continuing protests against falsified results of the August 2020 presidential election, and against the regime's other serious violations of the human rights of the people it rules.
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    • RUSSIA: January 2019 - June 2020 prosecutions for not showing full official name - list
      98 prosecutions for not showing a full official name reached court between the beginning of January 2019 and the end of June 2020. These involved 76 registered religious organisations and 22 individuals. Most resulted in guilty verdicts and fines, and the largest increase in the number of prosecutions by religious community was of Muslims.
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    • RUSSIA: 2019-20 prosecutions increase for not showing full official name
      Religious organisations continue to be prosecuted for not showing their full official names on literature, online, and most frequently on buildings. The conviction rate is 72.5 per cent. A Constitutional Court appeal may clarify the law on how and where names should be displayed. Charges are also sometimes brought against individuals, despite the Supreme Court in 2017 clarifying that this should not happen.
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    • UZBEKISTAN: "The draft Religion Law is only an advertisement"
      A Venice Commission and OSCE ODIHR opinion on the draft Religion Law has been welcomed by human rights defenders and members of religious and belief communities. Officials have not explained why a draft which they knew seriously failed to implement human rights was sent for review. One Muslim noted that: "We need to understand that the draft Law is only an advertisement for Uzbekistan aimed at international organisations and foreign states. If the authorities wanted real freedom for the people, then the draft Law would have been very different."
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    • KAZAKHSTAN: Tortured prisoner of conscience jailed again
      After being arrested in 2018, jailed, tortured, acquitted, and put on trial again, 30-year-old Sunni Muslim Dadash Mazhenov has been jailed for nearly 8 years on the same "terrorism" charges he faced in 2018. His "crime" was to post online 4 Islamic talks, which he later deleted. In 2019 he was tortured for praying in prison, but no officials have been arrested or tried for this.
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    Get Religion

    • Newspaper that once sang praises of Stalin shocked Babylon Bee likes to sting liberals!
      If you have been reading The Babylon Bee since Day 1, you know that its bread and butter has always been satire of evangelical Protestants of all kinds — from bearded Reformed seminarians who study theology in hipster craft-brewing establishments to megachurch musicians who yearn to play Eddie Van Halen solos during the 100th repetition of whatever whatever praise chorus is currently all the rage.You can see the Summa Theologica of that viewpoint in the book “How to Be a Perfect Christian: Your Comprehensive Guide to Flawless Spiritual Living,” by Bee founder Adam Ford and Kyle Mann, the website’s current editor. Hold that thought, because we will come back to it.Lots of core readers clicked on classic headline like “New Prayer App Delivers Electric Shock Every Time User Says 'Just' ") or "Joel Osteen Sails Luxury Yacht Through Flooded Houston To Pass Out Copies Of 'Your Best Life Now.' "Then along came Donald Trump: Superstar. Legions of people wanted to click a headline like this one: “Trump Announces He Was Born Of A Virgin And Will Bring Balance To The Force.” Eventually, it was obvious that the Bee also needed to harvest the gazillions of clicks that would result from posts mocking blue-zip-code liberals who have been suffering from so-called “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”The fact that I needed to add “so-called” in that sentence points to the complexity of the current age for satirists. As another Bee headline noted: “Reality Criticized For Not More Clearly Distinguishing Itself From Satire.”Now, if Bee readers were going to write a New York Times headline about all of this — the evangelical subculture humor, the jabs at Trump and then the wisecracks about liberals — wouldn’t it look something like this epic double-decker? What ‘The Babylon Bee’ Thinks Is So Funny About Liberals The comedy site, a conservative answer to ‘The Onion,’ used to have Trump squarely in its cross hairs. But now it’s less about him and more about the people who can’t stand him.This is actually a pretty interesting article, if one is willing to ignore the history of the Babylon Bee. Also, it helps to assume that, in order to be legitimate (whatever that means for a satire site) and funny, it needs to focus most of its attention on the sins of Citizen Trump, while ignoring all those freakouts about his existence seen in the highest ranks of the cultural establishment — especially the world of high tech billionaires and America’s entertainment, academic and journalism elites.All of that brings us to this Times overture that simply writes itself:
      - 14 days ago 14 Oct 20, 7:30pm -
    • Catholic church vandalism still being ignored, while Amy Coney Barrett's faith remains a big story
      It was just 10 days ago that the U.S. Catholic bishops’ religious freedom chair joined forces with interfaith leaders and called for better protection of churches following this past summer’s vandalism at many houses of worship.In a letter to congressional leaders on Oct. 5, Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami asked for the quadrupling of funding of a federal security grant program for non-profits.A news release informing journalists of the request, sent along with a copy of the letter to newsrooms across the country, stated the following: This program provides grants to nonprofits and houses of worship in order to enhance security through improvements to infrastructure, funding for emergency planning and training, upgrading security systems, and some renovation projects. While the program has been popular, lack of funding prompted many applicants for grants to be turned away in 2019. The coalition is calling on Congress to quadruple the total funding for the program to $360 million. From the letter: “Each of our communities believes that respect for human dignity requires respect for religious liberty. We believe that protecting the ability of all Americans to live out their faith without fear or harm is one of the most important duties of the federal government. … These security grants benefit people of all faiths. At a time of increasing extremism and antagonism towards different religious groups and religion in general, we believe significant increased funding for this important government program in fiscal year 2021 is imperative.” Other groups joining the letter include the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, National Association of Evangelicals, U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations, Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty, The Jewish Federations of North America, National Council of Churches in Christ in the USA, North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventists, Sikh Council for Interfaith Relations, Agudath Israel of America, and The Episcopal Church.FBI statistics cited in the letter said that 1,244 hate crimes had been committed in 2018 against members of the various denominations in the United States. The letter also comes following a spate of attacks against Catholic churches and statues across the U.S. The acts of vandalism have largely been ignored by the mainstream secular press.The letter was the latest beat in this ongoing story that was also ignored.By comparison, the Catholic faith of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett has bordered on fixation by the press over the past few weeks.
      - 15 days ago 14 Oct 20, 1:00pm -
    • Mini-media storm: Trump guilty of using meds created with help of abortion tissue?
      A few days ago, an article was floating about on Facebook with a headline proclaiming that “Trump’s antibody treatment was tested using cells originally derived from an abortion.”Say what?With the article in the MIT Technology Review was a photo of President Trump standing with Supreme Court Justice nominee Amy Coney Barrett. This led to copycat articles in several other publications, some of which had to run corrections on their misleading headlines.The MIT piece began with a religion angle This week, President Donald Trump extolled the cutting-edge coronavirus treatments he received as “miracles coming down from God.” If that’s true, then God employs cell lines derived from human fetal tissue. The emergency antibody that Trump received last week was developed with the use of a cell line originally derived from abortion tissue, according to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, the company that developed the experimental drug. The Trump administration has taken an increasingly firm line against medical research using fetal tissue from abortions. For example, when it moved in 2019 to curtail the ability of the National Institutes of Health to fund such research, supporters hailed a “major pro-life victory” and thanked Trump personally for taking decisive action against what they called the “outrageous and disgusting” practice of “experimentation using baby body parts.”That was about as far as most people read the piece. Now what are the chance that Trump knew or cared anything about cell lines? Surely he had a lot of other stuff on his mind while at Walter Reed.Two of my predictably liberal friends had posted links to the piece along with comments about Trump’s hypocrisy.“I guess he’s only anti-abortion unless it benefits him.”“Unbelievable hypocrisy!”“His doctors at Walter Reed Hospital are under the commander-in-chief.”I protested to both these friends, saying the article was a cheap shot because it made out like Trump sat up in his hospital bed and approved the fact that his meds had come from an abortion. The folks I addressed didn’t care.I get that Facebook is the domain of idiots. Noting that the MIT piece was dated Oct. 7, I wondered how they knew about the president’s drug cocktail. Sure enough, Rep. Ted Lieu, a Democratic congressman out of California who runs a non-stop feed trashing Trump, posted this two days earlier.
      - 15 days ago 13 Oct 20, 3:00pm -
    • Yin-yang of Washington Post on Amy Coney Barrett: Wait. Pope Francis embraces charismatics?
      It would appear that the goal on the cultural and religious left is to find a way to link Judge Amy Coney Barrett to all of that strange charismatic Christian stuff like healing and speaking on tongues while avoiding anti-dogma language that would raise warning flags for Sunday-morning-Mass Catholics. She may as well be a fundamentalist Protestant!Here is the Big Idea that is right up top, in a story that uses the term “handmaid” 11 times — early and often.Oh, this will also require tip-toeing around the awkward fact that millions of charismatic Christians are found in Latino and Black pews — Catholic and Protestant.Will this play a role in the hearings that are getting underway as I type this? We will see.In the branch of the Democratic Party known as Acela Zone journalism, the key to the news coverage has continued to be a steady drumbeat of references to the word “handmaid,” which in cable-television land calls to mind all kinds of horrible fundamentalist terrors, starting with sexual slaves in red capes and white bonnets.It’s hard to know what to write about the People of Praise-phobia angle of this story right now, since your GetReligionistas have been on it for some time now. See my podcast and post here: “Why is the 'handmaid' image so important in Amy Coney Barrett coverage?” Also, Julia Duin’s deep dive here into 40 years of history linked to the People of Praise and charismatic Christian communities of this kind. There there is Clemente Lisi on three big questions that reporters need to face linked to Barrett’s faith.There are too many elite news stories on the handmaid angle to parse them all, so let’s focus on that recent Washington Post feature from a team led by the scribe who brought you the hagiography of Christine Blasey Ford during the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh.For starters, this would be a good time to remind readers that reporters rarely play any role in the writing of the headlines atop their work. The headline on a piece such as this one primarily tells you the angle that editors thought would launch it into social-media circles among the newsroom’s true believers. Thus we have: “Amy Coney Barrett served as a ‘handmaid’ in Christian group People of Praise.”
      - 16 days ago 12 Oct 20, 5:00pm -
    • What spiritual ramifications of the fly that landed on Mike Pence's head?
      My journalist son Keaton and I were watching the vice presidential debate Wednesday night when he burst out laughing.“Is that a fly on Mike Pence’s head?” my 23-year-old son wondered out loud.I glanced up from the Words With Friends game on my iPad and squinted at the TV.“It sure looks like it,” I said.We both rushed to check Twitter. Confirmation of our suspicion came quickly. And suddenly, a nation weighted down by too much heavy news had a reason to giggle again.The New York Times dutifully reported: Vice President Mike Pence, his hair perfectly coiffed, never reacted to the fly’s appearance on the right side of his head. It stood out against his bright white hair, standing still for the most part but moving around slightly before, well, flying away. A local TV news reporter from California clocked the fly’s screen time on Mr. Pence’s head at 2 minutes, 3 seconds.Despite the buzz that it created, the fly did not respond to an interview request. However, America’s most famous insect did start a viral social media account.Please don’t whack me with a fly swatter, but that “spiritual ramifications” title at the top of this week’s column was clickbait.If that bugs you, though, Sojourners’ Jenna Barnett has you covered with “5 Bible verses about flies.” See, there’s always a religion angle. Even with Flygate.Concerning the actual debate, Pence and California Sen. Kamala Harris clashed briefly over religious belief. Religion Unplugged’s Timothy Nerozzi delves into the specifics.
      - 17 days ago 12 Oct 20, 1:00pm -

    ID the Future (Podcast)

    • Michael Denton Discusses The Miracle of the Cell
      New research keeps unveiling ever more ways in which this fine tuning exists, from the cosmos to the atoms of the periodic table, even to the subatomic level of quantum tunneling.
      - 16 days ago 12 Oct 20, 9:31pm -
    • Michael Denton: Remarkable Coincidences in Photosynthesis
      On this episode of ID the Future from the vault, we listen in on a few minutes from a lecture given by Australian biochemist Michael Denton, author of the brand new book The Miracle of the Cell. In this segment, Denton explains the “remarkable set of coincidences” that makes the creation of oxygen through photosynthesis possible. From the specific energy of visible light to the unique properties of water, this degree of fine tuning for life shouts intelligent design. For more on how the cosmos is designed for life, watch Discovery Institute’s documentary Priviledged Species, featuring Michael Denton.
      - 19 days ago 9 Oct 20, 7:16pm -
    • Dr. Michael Denton on Evidence of Fine-Tuning in the Universe
      On this episode of ID the Future from the vault, Casey Luskin sits down with Dr. Michael Denton, a Senior Fellow of the CSC who holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry. Denton is the author of Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, which has been credited with influencing both Phillip Johnson and Michael Behe, as well as Nature's Destiny: How the Laws of Biology Reveal Purpose in the Universe, which elaborates on the evidence of design in nature.
      - 21 days ago 7 Oct 20, 11:29pm -
    • The Demise of the Artifact Hypothesis
      Paleoentomologist Günter Bechly makes the case that recent findings have put the nails in the coffin of this “artifact hypothesis.” He goes on to argue that these findings are “not just a tiny problem but a fatal problem” for modern Darwinism.
      - 23 days ago 5 Oct 20, 7:28pm -
    • Scott Turner on Purpose in Nature, Part 2
      On this episode of ID the Future from the vault, Rob Crowther continues his conversation with J. Scott Turner, biologist at the State University of New York (SUNY), visiting scholar at Cambridge University, and author of the new book Purpose and Desire: What Makes Something “Alive” and Why Modern Darwinism Has Failed to Explain It. Turner critiques evolutionary biology’s bias toward mechanistic and gene-centric thinking, and contemporary biology’s failure to come to grips with the evidence of purpose and intentionality at many levels of biology. Viewing the brain as a computer, for example, obscures many things about the brain and the mind that exceed computers, both quantitatively and qualitatively.
      - 26 days ago 2 Oct 20, 8:55pm -

    International Missions Board

    • First Person: Finding Meaning in a Broken World
      My first Sunday back after quarantine, I sat in a daze on the pew in my Central Asian church. The IKEA Christmas star still hung suspended from the ceiling above the baptismal in the corner. To my side, the audio-visual equipment that made our months-long online meetings possible overwhelmed the narrow aisle of the small sanctuary with its cables and devices. Around me, church members sat carefully distanced from one another. No one touched. In dismay my mind raced to find something relatable. It was like returning to the bedroom of a loved one who recently died. Or venturing out...The post First Person: Finding Meaning in a Broken World appeared first on International Mission Board.
      - 2 days ago 27 Oct 20, 1:24pm -
    • Southern Baptists help Brazilians hone English skills for gospel advance
      What’s a good way to learn a language? Converse with a native speaker. What’s a good way to advance the gospel? Invest in a missionary. What can catalyze both objectives? A global pandemic, apparently. When COVID-19 grounded IMB missionary Caron Johnson from travel (which had included an intensive English class in another city), she contacted Fernando Brandão, director of the South Brazil Seminary and executive director of the Brazilian Baptist Convention’s National Mission Board (JMN), and offered to launch virtual English classes. Her idea was to connect volunteers in the U.S. with Brazilians to meet online for English conversations. Brandão...The post Southern Baptists help Brazilians hone English skills for gospel advance appeared first on International Mission Board.
      - 3 days ago 26 Oct 20, 1:29pm -
    • Latin Americans share vision to reach Central Asia
      As a young adult Didxali De Leon* devoured missionary stories. Her heart resonated with the passion of Hudson Taylor for the Chinese, with the determination of Elisabeth Elliot in the jungles of Ecuador. But the thought that Didxali could be a missionary seemed more like a fantasy than a calling. Her church in Latin America never talked about sending missionaries to far-flung places. They didn’t have the vision or the resources. And yet Didxali’s longing remained. “As I started to read more workers’ biographies, I realized that I wanted to have the same life. I was thinking of Africa in...The post Latin Americans share vision to reach Central Asia appeared first on International Mission Board.
      - 9 days ago 20 Oct 20, 12:00pm -
    • Believers in Madagascar partner to craft Bible stories in local dialects
      In the last ten years, believers in southwest Madagascar have crafted over 100 local dialect Bible stories that are now told over the radio each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. Missionaries secured a weekly 20-minute radio segment for the stories when COVID-19 prevented churches from meeting in person. Antonny, one of the local pastors, receives texts after the stories play. More than 15 people have contacted him asking about salvation, discipleship opportunities, local churches, or to share stories with others. Pastor Antonny and his church have followed up as coronavirus restrictions allow. One of those who has reached out is a witch...The post Believers in Madagascar partner to craft Bible stories in local dialects appeared first on International Mission Board.
      - 14 days ago 15 Oct 20, 12:00pm -
    • Missionaries in Sub-Saharan Africa commit to reach 55 people groups in five years
      While more Christians live in Sub-Saharan Africa than in any area of the world, 27,000 people in the region die every day without knowing Christ. Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the fastest-growing populations in the world and one of the highest rates of child mortality. Many people groups in Sub-Saharan Africa have no gospel presence and no knowledge of Christ. IMB leadership in the region set a goal to start ministering among 55 unreached people groups. The ministry initiative is known as “55 in 5.” Daren Davis, the affinity leader for Sub-Saharan Africa, says their area has 55 unreached and...The post Missionaries in Sub-Saharan Africa commit to reach 55 people groups in five years appeared first on International Mission Board.
      - 16 days ago 13 Oct 20, 12:00pm -

    Julie Roys

    • North Carolina Pentecostal Church Ordered to Close after COVID-19 Outbreak
      A Pentecostal church in Charlotte, North Carolina, was declared an “imminent hazard” and ordered to close until Nov. 6 after an outbreak of COVID-19 led to more than 143 cases and at least five deaths. The closure took effect Saturday (Oct. 24).The abatement order from the state’s health director, Gibbie Harris, was issued for the United House of Prayer for All People, which hosted more than 1,000 people at a weeklong event held Oct. 
      - 1 day ago 27 Oct 20, 11:00pm -
    • Sean Feucht’s ‘Finale’ Worship Protest on the National Mall Draws Thousands
      Christian musician Sean Feucht led thousands in worship on the National Mall Sunday night, framing his performance as a protest against restrictions on churches. Feucht, a volunteer worship leader at the controversial Bethel Church in Redding, CA, also voiced opposition to abortion and celebrated the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court.Throngs of worshipers braved colder temperatures and drizzles of rain to attend the event. Yet neither the crowd nor Feucht appeared to be deterred by the weather. 
      - 1 day ago 27 Oct 20, 5:53pm -
    • Pastor Accused of Urinating on Passenger Identified as Daniel Chalmers of Love Wins
      The “well known” North Carolina pastor accused of urinating on a female passenger during a Delta airlines flight earlier this month has been identified as Daniel Chalmers, founder of a prophetic, itinerant ministry called Love Wins. Chalmers also is an ordained minister and staff member at Catch the Fire Raleigh-Durham, and according to his website, was trained at Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry.Chalmers identity was published Monday night by The North Carolina Beat, which received a redacted police report from the Wayne Metro Airport Police Department after submitting a FOIA request. 
      - 2 days ago 27 Oct 20, 6:04am -
    • Opinion: Hidden Identity of “Peeing Pastor” Reveals Different Standards for Evangelical Celebrities
      Apparently, there’s one set of standards for regular people and another for celebrity pastors—even in the secular world. Recently, someone identified merely as “a well-known pastor from North Carolina” urinated on a passenger on a flight from Las Vegas to Detroit. (Yes, you read that correctly. In the middle of a flight about a week and a half ago, a woman was rudely awakened by a man peeing on her. And according to news reports, the perpetrator is a prominent pastor.)Normally, the name of the perpetrator would be public record. 
      - 2 days ago 26 Oct 20, 8:06pm -
    • First Cases of COVID-19 Reported at John MacArthur’s LA Megachurch
      John MacArthur’s Los Angeles-area megachurch, which has defied county orders banning indoor worship services, has three confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to LA County officials.The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has not said whether the confirmed cases involve Grace Community Church staff or congregants. However, public health officials say they are investigating the “outbreak” and “will work closely with the church to support outbreak management strategies that can limit transmission of COVID-19.”Grace has an estimated attendance of 7,000. 
      - 5 days ago 23 Oct 20, 4:01pm -

    Life News

    • newPresident Trump Can Win Pennsylvania and Latino Voters May Help Him Beat Biden
      Please take a few moments out and read Jacki Ragan’s, “The Power of One ~ You!”. I asked her to write something that would appear both in our Monday through Saturday National Right to Life News Today and in our last issue of National Right to Life News, which will go out Friday morning. As always, I left reading Jacki’s […]
      - 1 hour ago 29 Oct 20, 1:03am -
    • newSnopes Falsely Claims 1 in 4 Women Have Abortions. The Real Number is Far Less
      Abortions are far too common. About 62 million unborn babies have been aborted in the U.S. since 1973. But they may not be as common as abortion activists claim in their efforts to normalize the killing of unborn babies. Snopes recently examined a common pro-abortion claim that “roughly 1 in 4 women in the United States […]
      - 5 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 9:19pm -
    • newPence Praises Fellow Christian Amy Coney Barrett: “That Dogma Lives Loudly Within Me” Too
      Vice President Mike Pence touted new Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett during stops Tuesday in North and South Carolina “Isn’t she something?” Pence said. “How great did she do in those hearings? Didn’t you love it when she held up that blank pad?” Pence was referring to a moment during Barrett’s Senate Judiciary Committee […]
      - 5 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 9:04pm -
    • newAbortion Activist Chelsea Handler Admits to Harassing Trump Supporters
      The hosts of The View were eager to have left-wing comedian Chelsea Handler on the show this week, after her public blow up on social media at rapper 50 Cent for saying he would vote Trump (then recanting). She was also asked about her very vocal and gross crush on New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, and how […]
      - 5 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 8:56pm -
    • newChristian Pastor Didn’t Vote for Trump in 2016, But Will This Year Because Trump’s Pro-Life
      Prominent Baptist leader Al Mohler did not vote for Donald Trump in 2016. But the Republican president’s strong pro-life actions contrasted with the radical pro-abortion proposals of Democrat challenger Joe Biden convinced the evangelical Christian leader to support Trump in November, the Christian Post reports. “The difference between a Trump administration and a Biden administration will […]
      - 5 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 8:40pm -

    Mennonite Central Committee

    MinistryWatch

    • newNorth Carolina Church Ordered to Close After Coronavirus Outbreak
      A controversial Charlotte, N.C., church was declared an “imminent hazard” and ordered closed until Nov. 6 after an outbreak of COVID-19 led to more than 121 cases and at least three deaths. The closure took effect Saturday, Oct. 24.
      - 12 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 2:05pm -
    • newSean Feucht’s ‘Finale’ Worship Protest on the National Mall Included More Politics Than Usual
      Christian musician Sean Feucht held a politically charged concert in front of thousands on the National Mall Sunday night, Oct. 25, framing his performance as a protest against restrictions on churches but also voicing opposition to abortion and celebrating the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court.
      - 12 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 1:55pm -
    • new‘Peeing Pastor’ Hunt Comes to an End
      After nearly two weeks of speculation that had pastors across North Carolina issuing denials, an online North Carolina news outlet identified the Rev. Danny Chalmers as the “well-known pastor” charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly urinating on a fellow passenger on a flight to Detroit.
      - 12 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 1:48pm -
    • newThree Church Coalitions in the Deep South Partner to Urge Racial Reconciliation—and Justice
      Leaders of multiracial coalitions of churches in three Southern cities have confessed to being too “comfortable” and committed anew to “work for justice to right past wrongs” and seek racial unity.
      - 13 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 1:36pm -
    • MinistryWatch Enhances Financial Efficiency Rating Formula
      MinistryWatch has enhanced its Financial Efficiency Rating so that ministries will be rated in comparison to those in its peer group, and not in comparison to every ministry in the database. The formulas at the heart of the rating system, however, remain unchanged.
      - 2 days ago 27 Oct 20, 1:51pm -

    Religion News Service

    Trinity Foundation

    • Investigative Reporters Examine Religious Fraud Across Latin America
      An ambitious investigation of religious fraud cases shows that religious leaders are rarely prosecuted, and churches are increasingly participants in money laundering. The Cross-Borders Data Project at Columbia University has […]The post Investigative Reporters Examine Religious Fraud Across Latin America first appeared on Trinity Foundation.
      - 36 days ago 22 Sep 20, 4:02pm -
    • Brazilian Church Accused of Money Laundering $1 Billion
      The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, founded by controversial pastor Edir Macedo, has been accused of money laundering again. The accusations come from Rio de Janeiro’s Public Prosecutor’s […]The post Brazilian Church Accused of Money Laundering Billion first appeared on Trinity Foundation.
      - 36 days ago 22 Sep 20, 3:41pm -
    • Taxing Jerry Falwell’s Golden Parachute Payments (severance over $10M)
        After analyzing Jerry Falwell Jr’s Liberty University compensation, Trinity Foundation estimates tax penalties of $1,530,383 on golden parachute payments of $10.5 million. Excessive compensation is a scandalously common practice […]The post Taxing Jerry Falwell’s Golden Parachute Payments (severance over M) first appeared on Trinity Foundation.
      - 58 days ago 31 Aug 20, 3:24pm -
    • Televangelist Morris Cerullo Dead at 88
      After preaching for 70 years, faith healer and televangelist Morris Cerullo has died at 88 years of age from pneumonia. In the months before he died, Cerullo’s final project, a […]The post Televangelist Morris Cerullo Dead at 88 first appeared on Trinity Foundation.
      - 13 Jul 20, 1:25pm -
    • Warning Signs When Reviewing Church or Ministry Financial Statements
        Before donating to a particular organization, stop and consider a few warning signs first. Trinity Foundation has spent several decades examining financial statements of religious organizations. There are common […]The post Warning Signs When Reviewing Church or Ministry Financial Statements first appeared on Trinity Foundation.
      - 4 Jul 20, 10:49am -

    United Methodist News Service

    • newPanel: Racial and sexual parity linked
      A new online forum about racism focuses on intersectionality, or how nobody can truly be free until all are free.
      - 8 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 6:36pm -
    • New group explores General Conference options
      Organizers of The United Methodist Church’s top lawmaking assembly have named a technology study team to look at ways to accommodate full participation in this time of COVID-19.
      - 1 day ago 27 Oct 20, 7:44pm -
    • Faith calms fears for Filipino COVID-19 survivors
      United Methodist front-line workers and church leaders in the Philippines share survival stories after contracting the coronavirus, with most relying on faith to overcome fear and isolation.
      - 2 days ago 27 Oct 20, 3:48am -
    • Church school's library restocked after fire
      Alumni of United Methodist Hartzell High School in Zimbabwe have been raising money to replace some of the 40,000 books lost in a 2019 fire.
      - 2 days ago 26 Oct 20, 3:32pm -
    • Bishop calls for dialogue on police reform in Nigeria
      As protests turn deadly, Nigeria Area Bishop John Wesley Yohanna urges the government to address demonstrations peacefully. Several United Methodist pastors say they witnessed the violence.
      - 5 days ago 23 Oct 20, 3:06pm -

    Women of Faith

    • 2 Hearts | Love, Faith & Hope  
       Only in theaters October 16. Learn more about the inspirational true story of 2 Hearts as told by the cast and filmmakers.ONLY IN THEATERS OCTOBER 16
      - 22 days ago 6 Oct 20, 8:33pm -
    • The 2 Hearts Story | Only in Theaters Oct 16
      The 2 Hearts StoryHi Women of Faith, as part of the cast of the upcoming film ‘2 Hearts’, we are excited to share with you a first look at the inspirational true story behind the film. Do you believe in miracles?  2 Hearts is a romantic journey that celebrates life, love and generosity of spirit and will strengthens our belief that miracles still happen. 2 Hearts will open in theaters everywhere on October 16th.  
      - 50 days ago 8 Sep 20, 5:14pm -
    • Women of Faith Interview with Jeremy Camp
      Jeremy Camp...  Throughout his 17-year career, Capitol CMG artist Jeremy Camp has established himself with landmark accolades including: Holds title for most #1s among solo artists on the Christian Airplay chartBillboard’s #2 artist of the Decade in 201040 #1 radio hits across all formats4 RIAA certified gold albums and 1 gold single1 Grammy nomination, 3 American Music Award nominations & 4 ASCAP Songwriter of the Year AwardsJeremy has also authored an autobiography, I Still Believe (2013, Tyndale) and toured the world, sharing his music in more than 36 countries, and his organization, Speaking Louder Ministries, has allowed him to travel to Brazil, Guatemala, Ukraine, Japan and Kyrgyzstan.Now his story is being told in a movie for the ages!One love can change your life. One life can change the world. From the creators of I Can Only Imagine comes an inspiring true story of faith, hope, and love. I STILL BELIEVE is based on the real-life story of chart-topping singer Jeremy Camp. Starring KJ Apa, Britt Robertson, Shania Twain, and Gary Sinise, I STILL BELIEVE is a powerful reminder that in the midst of life’s storms, true hope can be found in Christ. Learn more at https://istillbelievemovie.com. Women of Faith is a global ministry, specializing in the use of all forms of media & technology, as a conduit to connect people to people and exponentially grow friends and community globally and to create disciples 24/7, 365 days per year.  This allows Women of Faith to reach more people and to have more impact in growing God’s Kingdom.  Women of Faith is also committed to carrying the legacy of wisdom, story and authenticity, by providing various media, initiatives, resources, events, courses, studies, partnerships and programs.  These are utilized in delivering spiritual strength, life leadership, real relationships and to encourage and equip women to experience a deeper relationship with Jesus. Women of Faith's Foundational Voice is Alita Reynolds. 
      - 25 Mar 20, 5:01am -
    • JONAH: More Than a Whale of a Tale
      Who doesn’t know Jonah?  While at first glance we think of it as the tale of a whale, it’s really a story of God’s heart toward the nations.  God uses this timeless story to challenge us to His most important commitment – reaching the nations with the news of His love and forgiveness.  Even if they are our archenemies, He wants us to go there and tell them of the wonderful grace of Jesus…greater than all our sin.Jesus Himself summed up the story of Jonah as He left this earth.  It’s recorded in the last two verses of Matthew 28: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.”  He had a plan for Jonah, and that same plan is for us.From Women of Faith Devotional Bible.  Copyright © 2003 (Thomas Nelson, Inc.)  Used by permission.   Women of Faith is a global ministry, specializing in the use of all forms of media & technology, as a conduit to connect people to people and exponentially grow friends and community globally and to create disciples 24/7, 365 days per year.  This allows Women of Faith to reach more people and to have more impact in growing God’s Kingdom.  Women of Faith is also committed to carrying the legacy of wisdom, story and authenticity, by providing various media, initiatives, resources, events, courses, studies, partnerships and programs.  These are utilized in delivering spiritual strength, life leadership, real relationships and to encourage and equip women to experience a deeper relationship with Jesus. Women of Faith's Foundational Voice is Alita Reynolds. 
      - 10 Feb 20, 6:00am -
    • LOOKING THROUGH THE LENS OF ANGER
      Looking through the Lens of Anger"In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” (Ephesians 4:26–27)Anger is a God-given emotion, yet many believe anger is always negative, always a sin. We stuff it, hide it, avoid it, and deny it. Hidden anger only fuels the fire inside. These Keys for Living will help you identify the four sources of anger and learn how to apply the quick answer to anger. You will also find biblical solutions for resolving past anger and practical tools to identify triggers, handle angry people, and act rather than react in volatile situations.Anger is appropriate at certain times.Anger must be resolved, or it becomes sinful.Anger can be curtailed.Anger, if not stopped, can be used by Satan.Anger, if prolonged, gives ground to Satan.“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.”(Ephesians 4:29–30)Anger can lead to unwholesome talk.Anger can grieve the Holy Spirit.Anger can be totally cancelled.Anger becomes sin when it results in bitterness.Anger must be eradicated before it turns to rage.Anger must be let go before it leads to fighting.Anger must be overcome before it leads to slander.Anger must be mastered before it becomes malicious.Anger can be conquered through kindness and compassion.Anger can be fought and defeated through forgiveness.“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”(Ephesians 4:31–32)Facing the Internal FireIs your commute plagued by road rage?Do you battle difficult people every time you step into the grocery store?How often have you sat alone after an argument, regretting your harsh words?Do you try to control your emotions and find yourself at the mercy of unpredictable anger?Anger can make you feel like a powder keg, vulnerable to even the smallest spark. When you lose control, the flames can be explosive, singeing your relationships, charring your work and burning your health. In truth, anger is a positive emotion, designed by God as a warning signal to alert you to a problem. But if left unchecked, anger grows into deep destructive bitterness.God can help you uncover the source of your anger whether injustice, hurt, fear or frustration. He is ready and able to heal your heart and help you control your anger before it controls you!To learn more about working through anger, check out our resources on ANGERAND... you are able to check out all of our resources here: RESOURCES   Women of Faith is a global ministry, providing digital media, resources and events to encourage and equip women to experience a deeper relationship with Jesus.  Initiatives and programs allow women to be reached with the Word of God. Various media and events are utilized in delivering the message.  Women of Faith's Foundational Voice is Alita Reynolds.
      - 6 Feb 20, 5:21pm -

    The World And Everything In It (Podcast)

    • new10.28.20 Washington Wednesday, World Tour, and harvesting social media
      On Washington Wednesday, Mary Reichard talks to professor Mark Caleb Smith about this year’s unusual presidential campaign and its potential to set new trends; on World Tour, Onize Ohikere reports on international news; and Sarah Schweinsberg talks to young farmers cultivating a following on social media. Plus: commentary from Joel Belz, and the Wednesday morning news.Support The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from Bible Visuals International, Helping Children See Jesus! by equipping you with lessons, stories and songs. Biblevisuals.orgAnd from Dordt University. Ranked #1 in the nation for student engagement by The Wall Street Journal, Dordt informs, inspires, and challenges students. dordt.edu.
      - 19 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 7:15am -
    • 10.27.20 Voting records, China’s reach, and hiking cross country
      Sarah Schweinsberg reports on the prevalence of get out the vote messaging and its role in record early voting numbers; Mary Reichard talks to Mindy Belz about China’s effort to discredit one of its most prominent overseas critics; and Jenny Rough meets a family of homeschoolers hiking across the country together. Plus: commentary from Kim Henderson, one scary year, and the Tuesday morning news.Support The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from Bible Visuals International, Helping Children See Jesus! by equipping you with lessons, stories and songs. Biblevisuals.orgAnd from Dordt University. Ranked #1 in the nation for student engagement by The Wall Street Journal, Dordt informs, inspires, and challenges students. dordt.edu. 
      - 2 days ago 27 Oct 20, 7:15am -
    • 10.26.20 Legal Docket, Moneybeat, and History Book
      On Legal Docket, Mary Reichard details oral arguments in a fight over water at the Supreme Court; on the Monday Moneybeat, Nick Eicher talks to financial analyst David Bahnsen about the latest economic numbers; and on History Book, Katie Gaultney reports on significant events from the past. Plus: commentary from Marvin Olasky, and the Monday morning news.Support The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from Bible Visuals International, Helping Children See Jesus by equipping you with lessons, stories and songs. Biblevisuals.orgAnd from Dordt University. Ranked #1 in the nation for student engagement by The Wall Street Journal, Dordt informs, inspires, and challenges students. dordt.edu.
      - 3 days ago 26 Oct 20, 7:15am -
    • 10.23.20 Culture Friday, What Killed Michael Brown?, and Word Play
      On Culture Friday, Mary Reichard and Myrna Brown talk to John Stonestreet about Pope Francis, civil unions, and the sanctity of marriage; Megan Basham reviews the documentary What Killed Michael Brown?; and on Word Play, George Grant spell-checks the Constitution. Plus: running while pregnant, and the Friday morning news.Support The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from Christianbook.com. Great gifts for everyone on your list.
      - 6 days ago 23 Oct 20, 7:15am -
    • 10.22.20 Third parties, the Artemis Accords, and training police horses
      Anna Johansen reports on why some voters cast ballots for so-called third party candidates and what effect that might have on the election; Bonnie Pritchett explains the new, other-worldly international agreement known as the Artemis Accords; and Myrna Brown meets a man in Kentucky whose Christian college program helps train police horses. Plus: commentary from Cal Thomas, an uncrushable bug, a preview of this week’s Listening In, and the Thursday morning news.Support The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from Christianbook.com. Christian books, Bibles, music, toys, and gifts.
      - 7 days ago 22 Oct 20, 7:15am -

    World Magazine

    • newOverseas U.S. voter turnout high
      ELECTION 2020: Voter turnout for nearly 5 million Americans living abroad looks like it will be higher than usual. Among world leaders, perhaps no one has more riding on next week’s election returns than Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but this breakdown shows how other leaders will be affected, too.IRAN: “You cannot trust Democrats,” said a hardline official not quoted by name in this analysis suggesting a President Joe Biden would face a wary Tehran government reluctant to dismantle its nuclear enrichment and restart negotiations, as Biden has suggested he would do. “Not much compromise should be expected from Iran’s side,” said an Iranian security official. “If Biden wins, don’t expect too much bargaining room from [Khamenei].”BRITAIN: A British Facebook group with more than 17,000 followers is the latest sign the U.S.-based QAnon movement is exporting its loopy conspiracy theories to Europe.PANDEMIC: A rise in COVID-19 cases across the Northern Hemisphere is testing hospital capacity in Europe and parts of the United States. The World Health Organization on Oct. 24 reported its biggest single-day rise of 468,409 cases. At its Oct. 26 press briefing, officials warned that positivity rates and deaths also showed upticks. “The positivity rate cannot lie,” warned Dr. Michael Ryan, and he said getting such rates (the percentage of those tested who test positive) down is critical to making vaccine programs successful.Indigenous communities in Canada, unlike the United States, are showing dramatically lower rates of infection than the rest of the population.Syria’s embattled Idlib region has seen a tenfold increase in COVID-19 cases in the last month.HONG KONG: Hong Kong police rearrested pro-independence activist Tony Chung, along with others, after the group made a dramatic bid for asylum at the U.S. Consulate and were turned away.CHINA: President Xi Jinping and members of the Central Committee are meeting to formulate economic and social policy goals for the next five years. The fifth plenum comes as members of Congress and U.S. national security adviser Robert O’Brien appear poised to accuse Xi’s regime of carrying out genocide in China’s Xinjiang province against ethnic Uighurs.SUDAN: More than 180 delegates, including Western diplomats, are participating in an international religious freedom roundtable hosted in Khartoum by members of a transitional government that in 2019 replaced the country’s Islamic regime. The event underscores Sudan’s progress that led to its removal last week from the U.S. state sponsors of terrorism list.The agreement hinged on Sudan’s agreement to pay $335 million to U.S. victims for its involvement in 1998 embassy bombings. But Saudi Arabia—not Sudan—is the source funding the compensation package.U.S. District Judge John D. Bates in 2011 found that Sudan “harbored and provided sanctuary” to al-Qaeda terrorists who carried out the attacks, leading to the U.S. terror designation and extended settlement procedures.Victims’ representative Eric Sapp clarified the arrangement does compensate some foreign nationals, but “at a rate less than 10 percent that of native-born Americans” while “it doesn’t compensate any of the foreign national families, who were the majority of the judgment holders.” Foreign national employees and their families received judgments from Bates in a two-year process that were on average 25 percent higher than U.S.-born victims, said Sapp, because they were more badly injured. Those judgments, overruled in the deal, were based on the severity of injury and loss for the employee and family members rather than upon nationality of birth.ARMENIA: Christian communities in the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh are bearing the brunt of the crisis as Turkey has stepped in on behalf of Azerbaijan to wrest the region from Armenian control—and churches 200 miles away are feeling it, too.BELARUS: Olympic basketball star Yelena Leuchanka is among prominent figures jailed after joining protests against President Alexander Lukashenko. Protesters overflowed the streets of Minsk on Monday calling for national strikes.MEXICO: Hurricane Zeta made landfall in the Yucatan Peninsula north of Tulum before heading to the United States. It sent rain and high winds to areas of the Caribbean Sea struck just three weeks ago by Hurricane Delta, causing landslides in Jamaica that killed at least two people.ITALY: The Sicilian town of Salemi is the latest to offer up dilapidated properties for less than the cost of an espresso.I’M WATCHING how a Sudanese migrant made his way to South Africa, where he became leading doctor Emmanuel Taban, whose bronchoscopy treatment for COVID-19 patients is being followed all over the world. And READING Literary Occasions by V. S. Naipaul.Image: Deck: World leaders have much riding on this election’s outcomeCategory: InternationalKeywords: Globe TrotInternationalElectionsCampaign 2020IsraelSudanSlug: InternationalArticle Title: Overseas U.S. voter turnout highAuthor: Mindy BelzDigital Branding: Globe TrotHide from Archive?: 0
      - 3 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 10:46pm -
    • newElection season’s final lap
      Election season’s final lapCampaign 2020Donald TrumpJoe BidenElectionsSupreme CourtThe Senate in the balance, Biden in the dock, and Barrett in the courtElectionsJamie DeanAfter months of one of the most unusual presidential campaigns in modern history, we’re less than one week away from Election Day. Here’s a grab-bag of stories to watch as the week unfolds.Senate showdownWhile the top of the ticket is grabbing the most attention, GOP senators remain locked in a grueling battle to hang onto their majority—and to prevent a Democratic sweep of the White House and both chambers of Congress. Some Republican senators seemed to brace for a potential wipeout: Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., will likely keep his Senate seat, but he’s clearly worried about down-ballot disasters in swing states. Sasse slammed President Donald Trump’s leadership during a recent campaign call with constituents, and he warned of a “Republican bloodbath” in the Senate if Trump loses. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, blamed Democrats for holding up a new coronavirus stimulus package, but he worried about a similar scenario: He told CNBC that if voters are angry and depressed on Election Day, the GOP could face “a bloodbath of Watergate proportions.”Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., avoided talk of bloodbaths in his swing state re-election bid, and he told reporters he thought Trump could win. But he also added a pragmatic note: “The best check on a Biden presidency is for Republicans to have a majority in the Senate.”Biden in the dockWhen it comes to a Biden presidency, Democratic nominee Joe Biden hasn’t answered questions about whether he would add more justices to the Supreme Court. The question gained urgency as Democrats objected to Republican plans to confirm a new justice before Election Day.Republicans moved ahead: The Senate voted to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court on Monday evening, and she was officially sworn in on Tuesday. The ball is now in Biden’s court: With less than a week left before Election Day, will he say whether he intends to support packing the Supreme Court? In a town hall on Oct. 15, Biden said he’s “not a fan” of the idea, but he didn’t rule it out. A few days ago, he said he would convene a committee of scholars to study the courts if he’s elected, but he still didn’t answer queries about adding additional justices.Biden’s running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., dodged a similar question in a debate with Vice President Mike Pence, but during her primary run for the presidency she told The New York Times she was “absolutely open” to the discussion of expanding the court. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., made her own demands clear in a Monday night tweet to her own party: “Expand the court.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., didn’t dismiss the idea in an appearance on MSNBC: “Should we expand the court? Well, let’s take a look and see.”Meanwhile, another question remains unanswered: Biden has avoided queries about whether he intends to support eliminating the Senate filibuster and pave the way for most legislation to pass with a simple majority in the Senate. Biden also continues to face allegations regarding his involvement in the overseas business dealings of his son, Hunter Biden. The former vice president denies ever discussing overseas business with his son. Tony Bobulinksi, a former business associate of Hunter Biden, alleges that’s not true, and he says he met with both Bidens in May 2017.Barrett in the courtBarrett’s new appointment means the conservative balance of the high court shifts to 6-3. But it also may mean more influence for one justice in particular: Clarence Thomas.That’s because Chief Justice John Roberts sometimes votes with the more liberal side of the court in decisions that have come down 5-4. In those cases, Roberts has the authority to choose which justice writes the majority opinion, and he can assign the duty to himself.But the new balance brings a new twist: If Roberts joins the liberal side of the court in some cases—and if Barrett joins the conservatives—the conservative side likely would prevail 5-4. With Roberts in the dissent, the authority to assign authorship of the majority opinion would fall to the most senior justice in the conservative majority. That would be Clarence Thomas.Wall Street Journal opinion editor James Taranto considers the implications: “Justice Thomas is something of an anti-Roberts. His lone concurrences and dissents are usually not incremental but adventurous, urging colleagues to break new legal ground or rethink old precedents.” Taranto notes that in a dissent this summer, Thomas argued that “Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided and should be overturned—a position no other sitting justice has endorsed since Antonin Scalia died in 2016.” With a new court balance, Taranto says Thomas may be in a position to write majority opinions and to “induce the court to a bolder conclusion.” For now, Barrett joins the court just in time to face a request that she recuse herself from an election-related case. There wasn’t an immediate word on Barrett’s response, but she did make one election-related comment during a White House ceremony on Monday night: “My fellow Americans, even though we judges don’t face elections, we still work for you. It is your Constitution that establishes the rule of law and the judicial independence that is so central to it.“The oath that I have solemnly taken tonight means, at its core, that I will do my job without any fear or favor, and that I will do so independently of both the political branches and of my own preferences.”PoliticsDean's List
      - 4 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 10:03pm -
    • newZeta strikes Louisiana
      Tropical storm warnings stretched across the South, from the Louisiana coast all the way to the northern Georgia mountains. Zeta strengthened to just short of a Category 3 Hurricane before making landfall in southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday afternoon, potentially pushing up to 9 feet of seawater inland, according to the National Hurricane Center.Are officials ready? Workers in New Orleans closed one of the last floodgates surrounding the city ahead of the storm. Forecasters predicted 2-6 inches of rain in the city. The 27th named storm this year is moving relatively quickly, making flooding less of a threat.Dig deeper: Find the latest information at the National Hurricane Center.Image: Category: WeatherArticle Title: Zeta strikes LouisianaKeywords: WeatherHurricaneAuthor: Rachel Lynn Aldrich
      - 4 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 9:48pm -
    • newEurope, U.S. renew lockdowns
      Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker banned indoor dining and drinking in restaurants and bars in Chicago and reimposed a cap on gatherings after a summer of looser restrictions. Every state except Hawaii and Delaware has seen growth in the number of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. White House coronavirus task force member Adm. Brett Giroir said an increase in hospitalizations suggests the higher case count isn’t only due to more testing. On average, more than 71,000 Americans test positive for the coronavirus each day. The number of daily deaths is climbing in 39 states.Isn’t Europe surging, too? Germany shut down restaurants, bars, and theaters again on Wednesday, and France is considering similar moves. Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, and Switzerland have already gone back into stricter lockdowns. “We are deep in the second wave,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. “I think that this year’s Christmas will be a different Christmas.” Some good news: Melbourne, Australia, mostly lifted its lockdown on Wednesday after 111 days.Dig deeper: Read Charles Horton’s analysis of the search for a COVID-19 vaccine.Image: Category: HealthArticle Title: Europe, U.S. renew lockdownsKeywords: CoronavirusHealthInternationalEuropeGermanyFranceAuthor: Rachel Lynn Aldrich
      - 5 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 9:16pm -
    • newPandemic parole
      In mid-March, Florida officials released 164 inmates to try to keep the coronavirus from spreading in jails. The next day, police rearrested Joseph Edward Williams, 26, on suspicion of shooting and killing someone right after he left.To prevent COVID-19 from spreading inside facilities, many jails and prisons have taken measures that criminal justice reform advocates have sought for years: early release for some prisoners and fewer pre-trial detentions. The pandemic could serve as a test run for enacting the reforms permanently, but fears remain about putting inmates back on the streets too soon.On March 26, U.S. Attorney General William Barr sent a memo to the Federal Bureau of Prisons urging home confinement for prisoners at higher risk of contracting COVID-19. At the end of March, California released 3,500 inmates, and New York City released 900. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced her state could free medically vulnerable inmates, and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis issued a similar executive order. Most states and cities prioritized letting out medically compromised or nonviolent prisoners who were nearing the end of their sentences.It’s difficult to gauge whether the measures stopped the spread of the coronavirus in prisons and jails. In some states, the death rate from COVID-19 among prisoners was lower than in the general population, while in other states, it was higher. The Marshall Project reported that by Oct. 20, 152,955 inmates had tested positive for COVID-19 in U.S. prisons, and 1,276 had died from the illness.Of the 164 inmates released in Hillsborough County, Fla., in March, Williams was the only one rearrested by April 15, The New York Times reported. Overall crime decreased this year through June. So far, the exception—an increase in shootings in major cities—doesn’t appear connected to those released early from prison and jails. Marc Levin, chief of policy and innovation for the Right on Crime initiative at Texas Public Policy Foundation, said it’s too soon to draw conclusions about how COVID-19 releases have affected public safety. Most in-depth recidivism studies must follow inmates for one to five years after release.But he pointed to some positive early indicators: the downward-trending national crime statistics, the fact that Michigan has reduced its correctional populations without seeing an increase in crime, and positive results prosecutors in Kentucky have noted. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear commuted more than 900 sentences in April, judges granted compassionate release requests, and by June 23 close to 7,000 people received home confinement instead of jail.Prison Fellowship supported many of the COVID-19 release and parole efforts across the country because they got nonviolent offenders out of jail and prison and used other forms of punishment such as home confinement. Heather Rice-Minus, senior vice president of the ministry, said Prison Fellowship advocates for only using incarceration when necessary.“I think that this season is a chance for people to really be forced to take a hard look at their prison or jail population and think about who really needs to be there,” she said.Image: Deck: The coronavirus prompts measures prison reform advocates have pushed for yearsCategory: Effective CompassionKeywords: CompassionCriminal JusticePrisonsCoronavirusHealthSlug: Criminal JusticeArticle Title: Pandemic paroleAuthor: Charissa KohDigital Branding: CompassionHide from Archive?: 0
      - 6 hours ago 28 Oct 20, 8:11pm -