It’s Monday, March 16th, A.D. 2020. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus.
By Jonathan Clark
Sudanese churches get more relief
Sudan’s Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasr al-Din Mufreh, announced Wednesday the abolishment of all government-appointed committees forced on churches under the regime of former President Omar al-Bashir.
Sweeping changes have come to the country since the ousting of Islamic dictator Bashir last year. The government committees had been responsible for churches losing control of their properties and some churches being shut down.
Christian leaders in Sudan rejoiced over the news as they anticipate regaining oversight of their own properties. Please pray for the churches there and for continued growth in religious liberty.
Ezra 9:9 says, “Our God did not forsake us in our bondage; but He extended mercy to us . . . to revive us, to repair the house of our God.”
Swedish Christian midwives refuse to do abortions
The European Court of Human Rights declined to hear the case of two Christian midwives on Thursday who are bringing a case against Sweden for violating the religious freedom.
Ellinor Grimmark and Linda Steen had initially worked as nurses, but retrained as midwives in Sweden. However, they were denied jobs for their refusal to kill babies in the womb.
Alliance Defending Freedom International described the top European court’s refusal to hear the case as a “dangerous departure from the Court’s purpose in protecting fundamental freedoms.”
President Trump declares emergency over coronavirus
President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak on Friday during a live press conference.
TRUMP: “I am officially declaring a national emergency—two very big words. The action I am taking will open up access to up to $50 billion . . . a large amount of money for states, territories and localities in our shared fight against this disease.”
Trump said the government would be partnering with major U.S. companies to rapidly increase testing capacity for coronavirus. Trump also announced that the federal government would be relaxing regulations on hospitals and doctors to free them up in the treatment of patients.
The new testing plan involves drive-through testing centers at parking lots of retailers and pharmacies throughout the country.
2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
(You can watch the entire press conference here including other governmental officials.)
Stocks rebounded by 9 percent on Friday
During Trump’s announcement on the U.S. response to the coronavirus, the stock market made a huge comeback with gains of over 9 percent after its worst day in 30 years last week.
However, stocks still closed last week with the second-worst weekly loss of the past decade.
European markets dropped 11 percent last week with their worst one-day losses in history.
Sunday was National Day of Prayer over coronavirus
Last Friday, President Trump took to twitter to declare Sunday a National Day of Prayer in the face of the coronavirus.
He tweeted, “It is my great honor to declare Sunday, March 15th as a National Day of Prayer. We are a Country that, throughout our history, has looked to God for protection and strength in times like these. No matter where you may be, I encourage you to turn towards prayer in an act of faith. Together, we will easily PREVAIL!”
2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
46,000 U.S. schools have closed
In response to the coronavirus, as of Friday, at least 46,000 schools have closed, are scheduled to close, or have closed and later reopened, affecting at least 21 million students, reports Education Week.
Breitbart News reports that the director of global outreach for a national homeschooling association said they are seeing an increase of interest in homeschooling at this time.
Michael Donnelly, staff attorney at the Home School Legal Defense Association, said he anticipates many people will look back at the coronavirus outbreak as the start of their homeschool journey.
HSLDA has already released a quick start guide and video for parents interested in homeschooling.
Missouri could have no abortion mills
And finally, Missouri may become the first state with no active abortion mills, reports LifeNews.
As of February 21st, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced there have been seven abortions in the state so far this year with three in February. That’s down from 174 abortions in February, 2019.
The Missouri Administrative Hearing Commission is set to rule in April on whether the last Planned Parenthood abortion mill in the state can keep its license after it was revoked by the state’s Department of Health and Senior Services.
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Monday, March 16th in the year of our Lord 2020. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I’m Adam McManus (adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.