News Of The Day – November 30th
Biden Administration Criticized For Removing Nigeria From Religious Persecution List
Religious liberty watchdogs are criticizing the Biden administration for removing Nigeria from an annual list of religious freedom violators, charging that it denies reality and is motivated solely by foreign policy interests. An annual list released by the State Department examines the status of religious freedom in every country in the world and designates the worst violators as a “Country of Particular Concern,” which means they are guilty of “particularly severe violations of religious freedom.” Nigeria was considered a Country of Particular Concern in the State Department reports of 2020 and 2019, yet was missing in the State Department’s 2021 report. Read more about the list here.
New York Pastor Who Advocated Spousal Rape Resigns
Days after a video surfaced of a controversial sermon during which Bronx pastor Dr. Burnett L. Robinson seemed to advocate for spousal rape, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church has stripped him of his title permanently. Robinson made his controversial remarks during a Nov. 13 sermon on the idea that wives should “submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord,” as the apostle Paul wrote in his Letter to the Ephesians. Speaking about submission Robinson said, “You are your husband’s. You understand what I’m saying? And I would say to you, gentlemen, the best person to rape is your wife.” Read more about his resignation here.
The family and congregation of a Minnesota pastor killed in a car crash by a drunk driver have extended forgiveness to the driver after he was sentenced to almost three years in prison. Pastor Verlyn Strenge of First Baptist Church in Clearbrook was killed when his jeep was rear-ended by David Nelson, who was going close to 70mph in a 30mph zone and had a blood alcohol content of .267. Strenge’s family and congregation told Nelson that they forgave him for his actions saying, “We forgive you, Mr. Nelson. As hard as it was at first, we want you to know that we have been praying for you for the past year because we know your life has been impacted by the biggest mistake of your life,” Read more about their gracious response here.
11 Year Old girl Discovers Ancient Shekel Coin
An 11-year-old girl in Jerusalem uncovered a silver shekel coin that archeologists believe could have been minted by a priest in the Temple Mount 2,000 years ago. The discovery of the coin was made by Liel Krutokop, who was sifting through dirt during a family-friendly “archaeological experience”. One side of the coin bears the image of a cup and the ancient Hebrew text “Israel Shekel, Year Two”; the other face has the words “Holy Jerusalem” and a depiction of pomegranates. Dr. Robert Kool, Head of the Coin Department of the Israel Antiquities Authority, says with caution that this coin is, apparently, one of the only items we hold today that originated on the Temple Mount. Read more about the discovery here.