It’s Thursday, March 9th, A.D. 2023. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)

By Jonathan Clark

Nigerian pastor killed by Muslim militants

Last Saturday, attackers killed a pastor in Nigeria, Africa.

Pastor Musa Hyok with the Church of Christ in Nations died at the hands of suspected Muslim Fulani militants. Two of his sons were also killed.

His death comes after Nigeria’s February 25 general election.

A local leader told International Christian Concern, “The militant came when we were sleeping. They targeted the pastor for preaching to the community not to vote for Muslims as the country’s presidents. … The militant promised to attack the Christian communities that failed to vote Muslim during the election.”

575,000 fewer Christian Germans members of church

Latest figures show membership in the Evangelical Church in Germany fell by 575,000 people last year. That’s a drop of 2.9%. The mainline evangelical group numbers over 19 million people or 23% of Germany’s population.

An estimated 380,000 people left the group in 2022, outpacing its recorded number of deaths for the first time.

Unlike Free Evangelical churches in Germany, the mainline association trends theologically liberal. As of 2019, a third of its membership did not even believe in God.

Psalm 10:4 says, “In his pride, the wicked man does not seek [God]; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”

British police arrest pro-lifer for praying silently – again!

Alliance Defending Freedom UK reported Monday that British police arrested a pro-life activist again for silently praying near an abortion mill in Birmingham, England, 100 miles from London.

Just weeks ago, a court exonerated Isabel Vaughn-Spruce, the director of March for Life UK, after her first arrest last December in a similar incident.

Listen to the police tell her that prayer is an offense before her latest arrest. 

COP: “Can I please ask you to step away from here and step outside the exclusion zone?”

VAUGHN-SPRUCE: “But I’m not protesting. I’m not engaging in any of the activities prohibited.”

Since Isabel’s words were difficult to hear, she said, “But I’m not protesting. I’m not engaging in any of the activities prohibited.”

COP: “But you’ve said you’re engaging in prayer which is the offense.”

VAUGHN-SPRUCE:  “Silent prayer.”

COP: “You were still engaging in prayer which is the offense.”

Vaughn-Spruce’s prayers remind us of the prophet Daniel who also faced government censorship. Daniel 6:10 says, “Now when Daniel knew that the [decree] was signed, he went home.  … He knelt down on his knees, three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God.”

U.K. Parliament voted yesterday on “censorship zones” around abortion mills

Meanwhile, U.K. members of parliament voted yesterday to move forward with censorship zones around abortion mills. 

As in the case of Isabel Vaughn-Spruce, local censorship zones were already in place.

The new measure would impose such buffer zones nationwide. Lawmakers specifically voted down an amendment to protect silent prayer and consensual conversations outside abortion mills.

Florida Christian counselors permitted to help minors overcome homosexual attraction

Last Friday, counselors won their case against a county in Florida over an unconstitutional ordinance.

Palm Beach County had banned counselors from helping minors who wanted to overcome homosexual attraction or gender confusion.

Liberty Counsel, a Christian legal group, represented the counselors.

Mat Staver, the firm’s founder, said, “These victories set a precedent that minors who are struggling with gender confusion can get the help they need from counselors who are free from political censorship.”

Unemployment dropped to 3.6% from 5.3%

Last Wednesday, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released unemployment data for last year.

The unemployment rate in 2022 was 3.6%, down from 5.3% in 2021.

The ten states with the lowest unemployment rates were led by Republican governors. The states included South Dakota, Utah, New Hampshire, Alabama, and Idaho.

The ten states with the highest unemployment rates were led by Democrat governors. These states included California, Oregon, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. 

Franklin Graham preached in Vietnam

And finally, tens of thousands of people gathered to hear evangelist Franklin Graham preach in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam over the weekend.

The event was historic. It’s the first time the Communist Vietnamese government has allowed an evangelistic outreach with a foreign speaker outside of a religious holiday.

Before the event, Graham also met with officials to discuss religious freedom in the country. Christians often face persecution from relatives and authorities for converting out of animism. 

Graham said many lives were changed during the event.

GRAHAM: “Many people put their faith and trust in Christ here in Ho Chi Minh City. We just thank God for the opportunity to come to this country to preach the gospel. We just thank God. He’s just done a great work here, and many people’s lives have been changed.”

Acts 17:30 says, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent.”

Close

And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Thursday, March 9th in the year of our Lord 2023. 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.