September 2021

Megachurch Pastor Says There Is No Credible Religious Argument Against Covid Vaccines

Because a fetal cell line was used during the testing phase of covid vaccines, some Christians are reluctant to get vaccinated. But Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, says religious faith is no reason to not get vaccinated. Evangelical Christians, according to the Pew Research Center, are more likely to be anti-vaccine. But Jeffress recently said that “there is no credible religious argument against the vaccines,” adding in an email sent to the Associated Press that he and his staff “are neither offering nor encouraging members to seek religious exemptions from the vaccine mandates.” Read more about his position here.

 

SoCal Harvest Returning After Halt From Pandemic

One of the longest evangelistic events in the nation is returning. Pastor Greg Laurie, who leads Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, is hosting the event, SoCal Harvest, in person on October 3 in Anaheim at 7:00 pm PST. The annual Christian event will be making a return next month for the first time in two years after it was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I’ve never in my entire life and ministry encountered more hearts awakened to the Gospel,” said Laurie. “I believe in the wake of the global pandemic we might be on the precipice of a great, global revival.” Read more about the event here.

 

Christian Magician Wins America Got Talent

Season 16 of America’s Got Talent came to a close on Wednesday, September 15 after Christian magician. Dustin Tavella was crowned the winner. Tavella gained popularity with tricks about family, hope and generosity. “This is what I was hoping for. This is what I was praying for.” said the magician. ‘I am so blessed.” Each of Tavella’s tricks had a theme. In Tavella’s final trick of the season, he urged the audience to be generous and told them that a “small act of kindness can go a really long way.” In recent years he and his wife, Kari, have been involved in homeless ministry and a crisis pregnancy ministry. Read more about his win here. 

Standing More Often Could Help Prevent Chronic Diseases

In a Finnish collaborative study, researchers noticed that standing is associated with better insulin sensitivity. Increasing the daily standing time may therefore help prevent chronic diseases. Insulin is a key hormone in energy metabolism and blood sugar regulation. Normal insulin function in the body may be disturbed, leading to decreased insulin sensitivity and increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Researchers have noticed that standing is associated with better insulin sensitivity. Increasing the daily standing time may therefore help prevent chronic diseases. Read more about the study here.

 

 

 

 

Bible Translator Marilyn Laszlo Passes Away At Age 88

A Bible translator who helped develop a written language for a Papua New Guinea village has died from Alzheimer’s near Valparaiso, Indiana. Laszlo spent 24 years living in the Hauna Village in Papua New Guinea. There, she formulated a written language and translated the Bible for the once-unreached Sepik Iwam people, starting by carving words into banana leaves. The ministry efforts she began in Hauna more than 50 years ago, including a church, school, and clinic, continue to this day. Read more about this woman of God here.

 

Rapper Pardoned By President Trump Receives Jesus As His Savior

Rapper Bill Kahan Kapri, popularly known by his stage name “Kodak Black,” was one of 73 people granted pardons by former President Donald Trump before he left office. Now the rapper has announced his acceptance of “Jesus as my Lord and Savior.” In 2019, Kapri was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for making a false statement in order to buy a firearm. He was serving His sentence when hevreceived the pardon. A number of religious leaders, including Pastor Darrell Scott and Rabbi Schneur Kaplan, also supported the pardon. Read more about his conversion here.

 

Religious Exemption Requests Spike After Vaccine Mandate

President Joe Biden has issued sweeping new vaccine mandates covering more than 100 million Americans, including executive branch employees and workers at businesses with more than 100 people on the payroll. Since then requests for opting out of the vaccine due to religious beliefs are on the rise. About 3,000 Los Angeles Police Department employees are citing religious objections to try to get out of the required COVID-19 vaccination. In Washington state, hundreds of state workers are seeking similar exemptions. Read more about the exemptions here.

 

Boy Raises Over $32,000 For Charity From Lemonade Stand

Wyatt Dennis, an 8-year-old Piedmont boy, set up a free lemonade stand that was a must-stop destination for many attending this year’s 81st Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. His free lemonade stand started off as a way for him to raise money for college and get himself a Lego set, but also included a way to give back to St. Jude’s Research Hospital. He earned that money and much more thanks to thousands of shares on social media and even national news. Because of the generosity of those who donated, Wyatt was able to give $31,394.50 to the hospital. Read more about this remarkable young boy here.