News Of The Day – December 2nd
Bethlehem’s inns Empty this Christmas
In 2020 Mary and Joseph would have no problem finding lodging. The coronavirus has halted Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, all but shutting down the biblical town revered as Jesus’ birthplace at the height of the normally cheery holiday season. Many hotels usually filled to capacity during the holiday season have been forced to close, and the famous Christmas tree lighting ceremony has been scaled down to include only a few people. Read more about the impact the virus is making on this small biblical town here.
More North Korean’s Having Access To Bible
Despite the persecution of Christians in North Korea, the annual White Paper on Religious Freedom in North Korea from The Database Center for North Korean Human Rights found that the number of North Koreans who responded that “they have an experience of seeing the Bible” increased by 4% each year since 2000. Pastor Eric Foley of Voice of the Martyrs Korea, said that despite the crackdown on religion, “God is finding ways to get Bibles into North Korea.” Read more about these Korean Christians here.
Franklin Graham Says 1.7 Million Accepted Christ Through This Years BGEA Efforts
In a year filled with bad news, its wonderful to hear about those who receive Christ as their savior and turn their lives over to the Lord. Evangelist Franklin Graham, the president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse (BGEA) reported that 1.7 million people gave their lives to Christ in 2020 through their online ministries – over twice as many as last year. Read more about their efforts to share the Gospel here.
Michael Jordon Donate 2 Million Dollars To Feed Hungry
Known as a basketball icon, Michael Jordon also hjas a heart of charity. Donating proceeds from the hit documentary “The Last Dance” to Feeding America, to Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization. Jordon is quoted as saying, “In these challenging times and in a year of unimaginable difficulty due to Covid-19, it’s more important than ever to pause and give thanks. I am proud to be donating to food banks in the Carolinas and Chicago to help feed America’s hungry.” Read more about his generosity here.