Christian News

Glen beck Raises $30 Million To Rescue Afghan Christians

Popular Syndicated radio host Glenn Beck raised $30 million in less than a week for the Nazarene Fund, which works to rescue Christians and other religious minorities from persecution and slavery in the Middle East and around the world. As the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan last week, Beck urged listeners to “give until it hurts” to rescue some 5,000 Christians, mainly women and children, trapped in the country. “Keep your prayers coming,” Beck said. “Keep your thoughts, contributions moving. It’s working.” Learn where you can donate here.

 

More Evangelicals Are getting Vaccinated 

An August poll by NBC News shows that 59 percent of white evangelicals say they already have received the vaccine. A poll conducted in June by Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and the Interfaith Youth Core showed that 56 percent of white evangelicals either had received the vaccine or planned on getting it. In March, 45 percent of white evangelicals in a PRRI poll answered that way. Together, the polls suggest that white evangelicals are gradually embracing the vaccine as the Delta variant spreads across the United States. Read about the poll here.

 

Chinese Authorities Are Offer Cash To Citizens To Spy On Christian Neighbors

In the latest persecutions of Christians in China, a new reward system is being used in as a way to crack down on Christians who engage in “illegal religious activities.” Earlier this month, the Meilisi Daur District in Heilongjiang Province’s Qiqihar city released “The Reward System For Reporting Illegal Religious Activities Offenses,” saying informants could be eligible to receive 1,000 yuan ($150). This is just the latest step taken by the Chinese Communist Party in an effort to assure that all its citizens comply with the edicts and beliefs of the state. Read more about the persecution here.

 

The U.S. EPA Banning Pesticide Harmful To Children

The Biden administration announced on Wednesday that it is banning a common pesticide, widely used since 1965 on fruits and vegetables, from use on food crops because it has been linked to neurological damage in children. The EPA said it would publish a regulation to block the use of chlorpyrifos on food. Environmental organizations, health advocates and groups representing farm workers have long sought to stop the use of the chlorpyrifos, after studies showed exposure to the pesticide was linked to lower birth weights, reduced I.Q.s and other developmental problems in children. Read more about the pesticide here.

 

 

 

The Chosen Expands To 90 Languages

The runaway hit, “The Chosen”, is a multi-season series about Jesus and the people of 1st Century Galilee. The beloved show, tells the story of Jesus through the lives of his followers and others in His ministry. No longer simply a streaming hit, two years after it first launched, The Chosen is now a worldwide streaming ministry. Season one, which premiered in 2019, now includes subtitles in more than 90 languages, including seven languages (Spanish, Arabic and Chinese, among them) in audio dubbing. Read more about this exciting series here. 

 

Oregon Megachurch Pastor Steps Down

Ben Courson, founder of Hope Generation and pastor of Applegate Christian Fellowship, is also a regular on The Hallmark Channel, ABC Family, TBN and can seen on more than 400 TV Stations. But now Courson has taken a leave of absence from the ministry following recent allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse. The pastor is accused by three female former church members of initiating sexual relationships with them. Two elders from Applegate have also resigned, claiming that the megachurch refused to discipline Courson and took action only after the allegations went public. Read more about the scandal here. 

 

Danny Gokey Releases New Album

Milwaukee native, “American Idol” finalist and three-time Grammy nominee Danny Gokey prayed over his new full-length album, “Jesus People,” which was released Aug. 20. Gokey describes it as the type of album where people can “get their soul fed” while rocking out. “There’s so much going on in our world, there’s so much division, it just feels like we’re being pitted against each other that there’s not a lot of unity, there’s not a lot of love,” Gokey said. The songs on the album speak to those themes. Read more about the new album here.

 

 

$140 Million Dollar Star Sapphire Discovered

A boulder containing a cluster of 2.5 million carats in star sapphires was unearthed by workmen digging a well on the island of Sri Lanka. Colored pale blue, the find has been given the name the ‘Serendipity Sapphire’, and could be worth $140 million on the international market, pending inspections and certification by world experts. The island nation, no bigger than West Virginia, is the world’s leading exporter of sapphires and other precious stones, which generated half a billion in revenue last year as one of the five biggest gem producers. Read more about the discovery here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well Known Bible Prophecy Teacher Dies From Covid-19

Bible prophecy teacher, Dr. Jimmy DeYoung Sr., passed away early Sunday morning, according to his wife Judy from Covid-19 complications.  Dr. DeYoung hosted a daily radio program, “Prophecy Today”, that was heard on several hundred radio stations including WDYN, the station he signed on the air in 1968.  Dr. DeYoung traveled the world teaching Bible Prophecy. His lessons are heard on the Bible Broadcasting Network, Moody Radio Network and VCY America among others. He was also a credentialed journalist.  He reported from Israel for 23 years. Read more about Dr. DeYoung here.

 

Huge Fire Just Outside Of Israel Contained

Israel asked allies for help as the country battled a wildfire outside of Jerusalem that started over the weekend. Initially, Israel’s Fire and Rescue Service was able to gain control of the fire, but it then spread to burn about 5,000 acres of forested area near west Jerusalem. 10,000 people were evacuated, and at least 10 firefighting planes and several hundred firefighters were deployed to the area, working to form defensive lines around the enormous blaze. The fire was caused by people, but it is unknown whether it was deliberate arson or negligence. Read more about the fire here.

 

Pope Francis Calls For Peace In Afghanistan

Pope Francis called for an end to the conflict in Israel and Gaza, saying the deaths of so many innocent people in recent days, including children, was unacceptable. From a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, the pope asked for prayers “so that the clamor of weapons may cease and solutions may be found at the negotiating table.” He added that “only in this way, may the battered population of the country return to their homes and live in peace and safety, with full mutual respect.” The Taliban entered Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul on Sunday. Read more about the Pope’s plea here.

 

Olympic Silver Medalist Auctions Off Medal For A Great Cause

In true Olympic spirit, Polish javelin thrower Maria Andrejczyk put her silver medal up for auction to help save an infant’s life. Miłoszek Małysa, an 8-month-old boy who needs to travel from Poland to Stanford University in California to have life-saving heart surgery was the recipient of her good will. She didn’t know Małysa, but she knew his cause was the right choice  While she cherishes her Olympic accomplishment, she decided that putting the medal up for auction was of more value than keeping it herself. A Polish convenience store chain called Zabka made the winning bid who in turn retuned the medal to Maria. Read more about this generous athlete here. 

 

Hamas Congratulates Taliban For Afghanistan Takeover

The extremist terror group Hamas, which have long called for the eradication of Israel, are celebrating the turmoil in Afghanistan. In response to the Taliban re-conquest, Hamas congratulated the Afghan people for “defeating” the US. “We congratulate the Muslim Afghan people for the defeat of the American occupation on all Afghan lands, and we congratulate the Taliban movement and its brave leadership on this victory, which culminated its long struggle over the past 20 years,” Hamas said in a statement.  Read more about the conflict here.

 

Devastating earthquake Hits Haiti

Over the weekend, Haiti was hit by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that crumbled homes and buildings, including churches. Every church seen by reporters from The New York Times in a 15-mile drive in and around Les Cayes was completely destroyed or severely damaged. The cathedral in the city of Jeremie, an architectural landmark built more than a century ago, was left in ruins. On Monday, as heavy rains threatened floods and mudslides in the region, civil defense officials raised the death toll to more than 1,400 and said nearly 7,000 people had been injured. Read more about the devastation here.

 

Hobby Lobby Loses Transgender Bathroom Case

Hobby Lobby violated an Illinois anti-discrimination law when it prohibited a biological male employee who identifies as female from using the women’s restroom, an appeals court ruled Friday. The unanimous decision by a three-judge state appeals court panel upheld a ruling by the state’s Human Rights Commission, which had fined Hobby Lobby $220,000 and ruled the company violated the Illinois Human Rights Act when its store prohibited Meggan Sommerville, a transgender woman, from using the women’s restroom. The store instead allowed her to use a unisex restroom. Read more about the 11 year old fight here.

 

British Boy Raises Funds For Hospice By Camping

As Max Woosey and his parents helped to care for a dying neighbor, the man gave Max his tent. Max camped in his backyard for 500 nights to raise funds for hospice care. He raised more than $750,000. Told to “go have an adventure”, Max started camping in his backyard through the cold and rain hoping to raise a couple hundred bucks for North Devon Hospice, which took care of his friend. After 500 consecutive nights, Max has raised more than $750,000. With his plush stuffed animals to keep him cozy, he posted updates on his fundraising page. Read more about this remarkable young man here.

 

 

 

Marvel Comics Says Batman Sidekick Robin Is Bisexual

In the latest example of conforming to the demands of the LGBTQ community, DC Comics superhero Robin will come out as bisexual in the new Batman comic. In the new issue of “Batman: Urban Legends,” Robin’s alter ego, Tim Drake, recently reunites with his old friend Bernard and asks him out on a date. Comic writer Meghan Fitzmartin tweeted that she is happy her writing room trusted her vision of Drake/Robin’s character development for the comic. Robin coming out follows an ongoing trend where iconic characters have been rewritten to push LGBTQ representation. Read more about the comic’s decision here.

 

Foo Fighters Troll Westboro Church Protestors 

The Foo Fighters’ disco alter ego, The Dee Gees, trolled a protest by Westboro Baptist Church. The group was picketing a Foo Fighters show in Kansas City when the band decided to take to a flatbed truck in all-white disco attire and drown out the protests with a rendition of Bee Gees classic You Should Be Dancing. The Westboro Baptist Church have picketed several Foo Fighters shows in the past. The band’s latest retaliation comes almost exactly 10 years after their last memorable counter-protest, also in Kansas City. Read more about the protest and response here.

 

Street Preacher Vindicated After Hate Speech case Tossed Out

Hazel Lewis was arrested while preaching outside Finsbury Park Tube station in north London  2020. She was falsely accused of homophobia and racism. Passers-by said she had called for gays and non-believers to be stabbed. Officers decided she had not, in fact, used homophobic or racist language, but she was still charged with a public-order offence. Now, following an 18-month court battle, Lewis has finally been vindicate after a judge threw out the case against her. Hazel Lewis, 49, said she now plans to sue the Metropolitan Police. Read more about the arrest here.

 

Olympic Gold Medalist Using Earnings To Buy Mom A Food Truck

A few weeks ago, Mensah-Stock made history as the first Black American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in wrestling. Now, she’s taking her tax-free $37,500 in prize money to help make her mother’s dream come true by buying her a food truck. Mensah-Stock said she vowed to take care of her mom whenever she got the chance. “I made a promise to her, and she loves cooking. It’s just one of her passions. Growing up, we’d be like, ‘Ooh, mommy; you put your back into this food. Like you literally put your foot in it,” she recalled. Read more about this inspiring athlete here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wife Of Megachurch Pastor Commits Suicide

Mental illness effects people everywhere, including Christians. In a sermon message preached to the congregation this past Sunday, North Coast Church Pastor Larry Osborne told congregants about the death of 28-year-old Paige Hilken, the wife of one of North Coast’s teaching pastors, Christopher Hilken. Osborne revealed that Hilken had taken her life after suffering from mental health troubles. She leaves behind her husband and five kids under the age of 6.  Nearly $500,000 has been raised for the devastated family. Read more about the tragedy here.

 

American Pastor Arrested In London For Preaching against Homosexuality

Ryan Schiavo, who leads Last Days Pulpit Ministry, was arrested in London on July 22 for preaching that homosexuality is a sin. “I was preaching the Gospel on the streets as I frequently do, but it was about a 30-minute message, and in the course of a long message, I can touch on many topics that I believe are pertinent,” Schiavo said. In response to his remarks, a young woman believed to be a lesbian called the cops on the American evangelist. In response to his arrest Schiavo replied, “It is an honor to suffer for Jesus Christ.” Read more about the arrest here.

 

Hillsong Church Founder Charged With Hiding Father’s Child Sexual Abuse

Hillsong founder Brian Houston says he is “obviously devastated” by the charges of concealing child sex offences laid against him. Houston is accused of knowing about the sexual abuse of a young man in the 1970s by Houston’s father, but failing to tell police. He has denied the charges saying they, “have come as a shock to me given how transparent I’ve always been about this matter. I vehemently profess my innocence and will defend these charges, and I welcome the opportunity to set the record straight.” Read more about the charges here.

 

94 Year Old Grandmother Fulfills Dream of Wearing Wedding Dress

Martha Tucker, 94, was not allowed in a bridal shop when she got married in 1952 due to segregation. Now, thanks to her family, she got to experience trying on and choosing the perfect dress seven decades later. Her grandchildren and other family members made her an appointment at their local David’s Bridal store and Tucker was able to say yes to the dress and pick out the perfect wedding gown.  “When I went into the bridal shop, that dress had my name on it,” she recalled. “Oh, it was so beautiful…I was in heaven.” Read more about this dream come true here.

Hundreds Arrested At Faith Driven Rally

Several Episcopal clergy and lay leaders were among more than 200 demonstrators who were arrested and detained in Washington, D.C., while rallying with the Poor People’s Campaign in favor of legislation that would benefit disenfranchised voters and low-income Americans. The event was organized by Rev William Barber II and Rev Liz Theoharis. It featured speakers like Rev Jesse Jackson and Luci Baines Johnson, former president Lyndon B. Johnson’s daughter. Read more about the rally here.

 

Pastor Donates Kidney To Church Member 

When Jack Coultas, pastor of Park Grove Christian Church in Deepwater, found out that church member Jeremy Whitman, 36, was in desperate need of a new kidney due to diabetes, he was hoping to become a donor.  Wanting to live out 1 John 3:16-17, Coultas said, “I just felt like the responsible thing to do as a Christian was to see if I could be a candidate. I could not think of any reason not to.”  When the pastor came back as a match, he immediately donated his kidney adding, everyone should love like Jesus. Read more about this generous gift here.

 

Leader Of Burned Church Offers Forgiveness To Arsonist

St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in the Canadian city of Surrey, British Columbia, was destroyed in a recent arson attack. The church is another casualty in a string of arson attacks on Canadian churches in recent months. The attacks follow the discovery of unmarked graves of nearly 1,000 indigenous children on the lands of church and state-run residential schools. Yet despite seeing his church go up in flames, Steven Faltas, a board member, shared that he forgives whoever is behind the arson attack. Read more about the arson here.

 

84 Year Old England Farmer Becomes YouTube Star

An 84-year-old former farmer has become a YouTube hit with his soothing words and gentle wisdom helping people cope with anxiety during the pandemic.  John Butler, who in the 1970s was one of the first organic farmers, has practiced meditation throughout his life. Aged 79, he began to post YouTube videos sharing his own philosophical take on life. Mr. Butler, who is from Bakewell in Derbyshire can often be seen, usually alone, cycling his three-wheeler bike. His fans from around the world have posted such comments as: “I want this guy to read me bedtime stories.” and, “His voice sounds like a warm glass of milk”. Read more about this unusual star here.

 

 

 

Woman With Down Syndrome Dedicates 10 Years To Handwriting The Bible

Ten years ago, 28 year old, Caroline Campbell decided to handwrite the Bible.  She finally finished her longstanding project earlier this month, in front of a crowd of fellow parishioners at Community Bible Church in Beaufort. what makes this act even more remarkable, is that Caroline suffers with Down Syndrome. “I want to inspire people to write the Bible like me,” Campbell said. Caroline has numerous binders of all of her hard work. “My favorite book is Esther,” she said. Read more about this amazing woman here. 

 

Converse Under Fire For Shoe Featuring A Satanic Symbol

Finding themselves under scrutiny, Converse unveiled a new limited edition collaboration with fashion designer Rick Owens, through his brand, Drkshdw. The sneakers, coming in several styles, feature a pentagram in place of the iconic Chuck Taylor star. In a quote posted by Converse, Owens said he has “been using this pentagram for a long time because, obviously, it has adolescent occult associations. But one of the main things that I think it suggests is empathy and a consideration of systems of living that might not be standard. Read more about the shoes here.

 

Muppets Go Woke Featuring Gonzo In A Dress

In a sad display of the recent “woke culture”, the Muppet Babies have joined the cause. The show dove into the cultural debate over gender expression and LGBT ideology in recent days when it aired a new episode showing Gonzo wearing a dress to a royal ball. “I don’t want you to be upset with me, but I don’t want to do things just because that’s the way they’ve always been done, either. I want to be me,” Gonzo says. The episode received some backlash on Twitter. Conservative commentator Candace Owens said: “I can’t believe I’m tweeting this but.. they are pushing the trans agenda on children via muppet babies.” Read more about the show’s decision here.

 

Premature Baby Becomes Prodigy At Age Three

Lawson Lundberg was born prematurely in a hospital in Portland, Oregon 3 years ago. He was expected to have significant delays in cognitive development. For the first two years of Lawson’s life, Lawson’s mom didn’t hear him speak a word. Then she noticed a change. “He seemed leaps-and-bounds ahead, learning shapes without us having to teach him, learning words we don’t even remember saying around him.” At 3 years old, Lawson now knows every flag, capital, and country in the world. His IQ is a whopping 151 after getting tested and has joined the national intelligence organization of Mensa. Lawson is among the group’s youngest members. Read more about this remarkable toddler here.

 

 

Pastor Max Lucado Tests Positive For Covid-19

Despite being vaccinated, America’s Pastor and best-selling Christian author Max Lucado has revealed that he has tested positive for Covid. Lucado posted a tweet over the weekend, showing a photo of his positive COVID-19 test and saying he would not be preaching on Sunday at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. He said, “Groan. Covid found me. Tested positive yesterday. Turns out it’s me in a downstairs room with aches, stuffy head and quarantine.” Still Lucado feels that he would be feeling much worse if not for the vaccine. Read more about the Pastor’s condition here.

 

Michigan Farmers Sue Over Ban Because Of Biblical View Of Marriage

The trial of a lawsuit between Country Mill Farms owner Steve Tennes, who sued East Lansing after being denied a vendor’s license for the city’s farmers market, will begin Tuesday. Tennes filed the lawsuit after they were reportedly banned from a local farmers market in 2016 because of their biblical viewpoint on marriage. In 2019, East Lansing City officials said the decision to deny Tennes a vendor license stemmed from a December 2016 Facebook post that detailed Tennes’ decision not to hold same-sex weddings at the Charlotte orchard. Read more about the lawsuit here.

 

Former Strip Club Turned Into A Church

Proving all things are possible with God, a popular strip club that once beckoned customers off a busy highway leading into Anchorage is now a church offering salvation instead of temptation. And it’s all  thanks to a daughter of a former exotic dancer Linda Dunegan. Dunegan believes divine intervention played a hand in transforming the building that housed Fantasies on 5th into the start-up Open Door Baptist Church, turning the show floor into a sanctuary and trading the dancer’s pole with a pulpit. Read more about the transformation here.

 

2021’s Perseid Meteor Shower Called Best Of The Year

The Perseid Meteor Shower is happening now, and will continue to fill the night sky with streaks of light and color until August 24. Known as the “best meteor shower of the year” by NASA because of its fast, bright and plentiful meteors that can be easily viewed outside during the warm summer months, the shower is not one to be missed. It will peak around August 12, where up to 100 meteors an hour can be caught shooting across the sky at 37 miles per second, leaving long streaks in their wake. Read more about this nighttime phenomenon here.