It’s Friday, August 9th, A.D. 2019. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus.
By Jonathan Clark
50 villagers in Myanmar released
Praise God! Over 50 villagers in Myanmar, many of whom are Christians, have been released after six months of captivity.
The Worldview spoke to Gina Goh with International Christian Concern.
GOH: “There were about 50 Khumi villagers. They are a Chin ethnic group. They were abducted by the Arakan army group and brought to their place located between the Myanmar and Bangladesh border. Although the Arakan army claimed this was because they were taking them away for safety. But that’s basically not true. They were abducted, and they were, at one point, used for human shields. I think it’s a way to protect the Arakan army themselves because they were having intense fighting with the Burmese army.”
Sadly, one of the villagers died in captivity. However, two others were able to escape and tell others.
GOH: “During this duration two people managed to escape. Earlier, around April or Mayish, and so they were able to tell other people what happened to them and ask people to continue to press on, ask the Arakan army to release these civilians, so we were happy to see that all of them seemed to be released.”
Immediately following today’s newscast, stay tuned for a Worldview Special Report about how you can pray for Christians in Myanmar who are often forgotten. And visit MissionToMyanmar.com to learn how you can help our brothers and sisters in Christ there.
Jesus said in Matthew 25:40, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”
China tries to control those in Hong Kong
Since March, millions of protestors have flooded the streets of Hong Kong in opposition to a bill that would allow criminals to be extradited to Communist China which has been seeking to extend control over the jurisdictionally-distinct territory of Hong Kong.
At one point, the Christian hymn “Sing Hallelujah to the Lord” became the anthem of the protests which have morphed into a general call for democratic reforms in the government.
In response, the Chinese government, in cooperation with Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, declared war on the protests, involving preventative arrests and deploying the Chinese army if deemed necessary.
Amazon Studios releases “One Child Nation” documentary
Amazon Studios is releasing a documentary in theaters today called “One Child Nation” showing the devastations of China’s one child policy and forced abortions.
The communist regime has been scaling back population control since 2015 after decades of abortions, sterilizations, and abandoned newborns that the government estimates wiped out 400 million children.
Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”
Court: Pennsylvania county allowed to retain cross in seal, flag
Yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia ruled unanimously in favor of a Pennsylvania county keeping their 70-year-old seal and flag that feature a cross at the center.
The cross represents the county’s German settlers who fled persecution in their homeland for religious liberty in America.
An atheist group targeted Lehigh County for its Christian symbol in 2016. This ruling follows a Supreme Court decision in June that allowed for the Bladensburg “Peace Cross” war memorial to remain on public property.
NRA to Trump: Do not greenlight background checks
The National Rifle Association has warned President Donald Trump against supporting gun control this week following recent mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas.
Following the shootings, Trump voiced his willingness to endorse extensive background checks for gun sales
White House officials say Trump has waffled between wanting to do more on gun control and concern over backlash from his supporters if he does.
Liberty University empowers 400 pastors to take a stand
Four hundred pastors are headed to Liberty University for an event this week organized by the American Renewal Project in preparation for the 2020 elections.
The American Renewal Project has encouraged pastors for years to lead their congregations in restoring Christian values in politics and even running for office themselves. Since then, hundreds of pastors have run for office.
Newt Gingrich told CBN News, “David Lane’s ‘Pastors and Pews’ training sessions are having an effect across the country. In California and Missouri, we have evidence that trained and courageous pastors can change history.”
Paul said in 1 Timothy 2:1-2, “I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”
Holocaust survivor, 104, makes it to Israel’s Western Wall
And finally, Holocaust survivor Shoshana Ovitz celebrated her 104th birthday recently by fulfilling her dream of visiting Israel’s Western Wall with her extended family of 400, including children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren!
Ovitz survived the Auschwitz concentration camp some 74 years ago. A picture of her surrounded by her descendants has garnered hundreds of thousands of shares around the world. We have it linked in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com.
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Friday, August 9th in the year of our Lord 2019. 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.
Special Report: Persecution of Myanmar Christians
Time now for a Worldview Special Report by Emily Swanson. I’m Adam McManus.
In an in-depth look into what Christians in Myanmar face, Gina Goh of International Christian Concern told The Worldview that Chin and Kachin Christians face some of the most severe discrimination and persecution.
GOH: “They have this double identity. If you are a Christian and if you are of other ethnic groups, you tend to be targeted. It’s the same with Kachin Christians because for both Chin groups and Kachin ethnic groups, they have more than 90% of Christianity, followers of Christianity. That’s why in a Buddhist majority country, especially because Buddhism is such a powerful religion in the country, and then they also have the backing of the Burmese army, so they seem to be targeting Christians and ethnic minority groups at the same time.”
She said a kidnapping of 54 mostly Christian villagers, like the one in February, is usually rare.
GOH: “This type of scale is rare to see, because obviously 50 people is quite a big group. But we feel, hear, and see cases from Rakhine state while all eyes are on the Rohingya issue. We know that a lot of the minority ethnic groups who are Christians inside Rakhine state. They’re still being persecuted individually by the Buddhist groups inside their community or sometimes by the army.”
Goh said that the Christians are still being pressed hard on many different sides.
GOH: “It’s not just one side, like, ‘Oh, our enemy is just the Burmese army.’ They also have to face the Arakan army or whatever insurgent in the area. Sometimes they live in fear, and they don’t know how to voice their concerns, or some of them are afraid that once they say something, trouble will come to them or they will be spotted.”
She said that an in-country representative told her a recent story of a Christian who was killed just for witnessing some fighting.
GOH: “The other day a Christian witnessed the violent acts of the insurgents, and then he was killed just for seeing that. So, this is still happening. But it’s just not getting out because sometimes they don’t have the means to get the news out. So, I would really like to offer more attention to the Christian situation inside Rakhine state especially.”
Goh shared some pretty important prayer requests for the Christians in Myanmar.
GOH: “Definitely that they would be able to continue to persevere in this harsh situation because they don’t have much choice. A lot of them are not educated; they can’t just freely move around within the country so they have to live there. So, they have to find a way to continue their faith while trying to avoid danger in a way. For people to pay more attention to them, to their plight, and put pressure on the state holder whether it’s the Burmese army or the Arakan army or whatever insurgent groups that are in their vicinity. And then, last but not least, I think even within Myanmar other Christians can band together and help their brothers and sisters in Christ that are suffering.”
Please don’t forget these dear brothers and sisters who are facing daily hate and rejection for following Jesus Christ. Learn more of the trials of the Myanmar Christians and ways you can pray for them at a special link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com.
Our Savior explained what to expect in this world.
John 15:18-20 says, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’”
This has been a Worldview Special Report. I’m Adam McManus.