It’s Thursday, June 27th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Jonathan Clark
Nicaragua has shut down 250 Protestant groups
Roman Catholic Churches have faced persecution in Nicaragua under the regime of Daniel Ortega.
The dictator is increasingly targeting Protestant churches as well.
The central American country shut down over 250 Protestant groups in recent years. Earlier this year, authorities imprisoned 11 Evangelical pastors associated with Mountain Gateway, a ministry that drew thousands to its Christ-centered events.
Nicaragua is ranked 30th on the Open Doors’ World Watch List of nations where it is most difficult to be a Christian.
Israeli Jews are asking for New Testaments
Jews for Jesus reports more people of the Jewish faith are seeking New Testaments.
The nonprofit offers the New Testament to Israelis for free. The group sent over 1,200 New Testaments to Israelis since the Muslim terrorist group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7th, 2023.
Aaron Abramson, the Executive Director of Jews for Jesus, told The Christian Post that the terrorist attack has prompted many Israelis to have spiritual questions. He said, “Israel has prided itself in its ability to defend itself, so [the Hamas attack] was a real blow to that for people. … If you can’t put your trust in … a military solution … then where do you put your trust? … And I think that’s why a lot of people were starting to sort of dig into those spiritual questions.”
In Romans 1:16, the Apostle Paul wrote, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.”
Supreme Court okay with Biden’s censorship of Facebook
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of the Biden administration yesterday in a social media case.
Multiple states and social media users accused the government of pressuring media companies, like Facebook, to censor content about COVID-19 and the 2020 presidential election.
Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Neil Gorsuch ruled against the Biden administration. In the dissenting opinion, Justice Alito warned, “If a coercive campaign is carried out with enough sophistication, it may get by. That is not a message this Court should send.”
Vermont’s crisis pregnancy centers allowed to speak the truth
A federal court in Vermont is allowing pro-life pregnancy centers to continue their lawsuit against the state.
The centers are challenging a state law that censors their free speech. The law only applies to pregnancy centers, which could face fines of up $10,000 if the state’s attorney general believes their advertisements are misleading.
Julia Payne with Alliance Defending Freedom said, “Pregnancy centers should be free to serve women and offer the support they need without fear of unjust government punishment. As our case continues, we will urge the court to support the rights of pregnancy centers that provide these critical care services.”
70% of Americans approve of homosexual faux marriage
A new survey from Gallup found nearly 70% of Americans believe that faux homosexual marriage should be legal. And 64% believe that sexually perverted lifestyles are morally acceptable.
However, support for these issues is plateauing and even declining slightly. This is driven by a drop in support for such lifestyles by Republicans.
Forty-six percent of Republicans support such lifestyles now, down from 55% in 2021. The drop in support comes as Democrats have supported sexually perverted lifestyles for children through the schools and medical industry.
Low home inventory and high interest rates drives prices higher
The National Association of Realtors reports the sale of previously owned homes is down 2.8% in May, compared to last year. Existing home sales are now at a 30-year low.
With low inventory and high interest rates, home prices continue to climb. The median home price in May was a record $419,300. That’s up 5.8% compared to last year.
If you can forgive, you’ll be happier
The American Bible Society released their latest data from the “State of the Bible USA 2024 Report.”
The report found that people who say they are willing to forgive others were more likely to score higher in Human Flourishing which involves happiness, health, purpose, character, and relationships.
The report also noted that young people who engage with Scripture score higher in Human Flourishing. Dr. John Blake, editor-in-chief of the State of the Bible series, said, “Not only do [Gen Zers] score higher on the Human Flourishing scale than other young adults who don’t read the Bible — but they have the highest score of any generation.”
In Proverbs 8:35, Wisdom says, “For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the LORD.”
Why Virginia Worldview listener gave $200
Ginger and her husband Michael in Jonesville, Virginia gave $200 yesterday to help fund the 6-member newscast team for another fiscal year.
I called her last night and asked her what she liked about The Worldview in 5 Minutes.
GINGER: “I like the very clear, Christian worldview that’s presented, the fact that it’s just straight news, straight facts, but then you also, by the addition of Scripture and a little analysis, show how Christians should think about these things.”
She was encouraged to hear one uplifting story about Tennessee.
GINGER: “I really appreciated you presenting the story about the Tennessee governor and his recent signing of the call for fasting and praying for the state of Tennessee. We live near there, but actually go to church in Tennessee. So we know, have a lot of friends and it’s been very exciting to ask them. ‘Did they realize that? Do they know that?’ I just thought that was fantastic that you presented it because you may be the only news source that shares that.”
Ginger also liked the recent human interest story I highlighted about the Katy, Texas couple who discovered a newborn baby girl on the ground who had been abandoned.
GINGER: “The story about the couple that found the baby was heartbreaking in one sense, but tremendously hopeful. Life was valued and life was saved in a culture that worships death. I so appreciated that being reported as well.”
Ginger urges other Worldview listeners to make a donation today to help us reach our $84,000 goal.
GINGER: “If you appreciate the objective news and the Christian worldview then definitely it needs to be supported. It’s such a rarity. Now, my one thing would be don’t wait to the last minute like I did.”
McMANUS: (laughs) “Well, it is the last minute. That’s okay, as long as people get in, before the wire.”
GINGER: “It is definitely a worthy cause to support Adam. I don’t even realize how much work is put into the research and the gathering. There’s so much out there. It’s so refreshing to have a new source and a news broadcast that I can listen to. I can quickly get the gist of the news that day, but from the Christian worldview that I share. It’s refreshing!”
23 Worldview listeners donated $3,105.37
And finally, toward our $84,000 final goal by 5:00pm central this Saturday, June 29th, 23 Worldview listeners stepped up to the plate to help fund our 6-member team for another fiscal year.
Our thanks to Rob in Annandale, Virginia, Edward in Burnt Hills, New York, Rich in Roanoke, Virginia, and Paul in Glen Allen, Virginia – each of whom gave $25.
We appreciate Augustine in Auburn, California who gave $30, Samuel in Niceville, Florida who gave $37.37, Jeremy and Kristin in Cleveland, Tennessee who gave $40 as well as Colleen in Melbourne, Florida and Joshua in Hortense, Georgia – both of whom gave $50.
We’re grateful to God for Eli in San Diego, California who gave $58, as well as Eben in Kansas City, Missouri, Kirsten in Drake, Colorado, Corrie in Crawfordsville, Indiana, Amy in Snohomish, Washington, Leslie in Middletown, Delaware, Cory in Morrison, Colorado, and Tamar in Poplar Bluff, Missouri – each of whom gave $100.
And we’re thankful for the sacrifice of Don in Rogers, Minnesota who pledged $15/month for 12 months for a gift of $180, Michael and Ginger in Jonesville, Virginia, Stephen in Morgantown, West Virginia, and Rick and Barb in Arlington, Washington – each of whom gave $200, Duane in Moriarty, New Mexico who gave $300, and Michael and Jacci in Valley Center, California who pledged $80/month for 12 months for a gift of $960.
Those 23 donors gave $3,105.37. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (sound effect of drum roll) $64,160.53 (audience cheering)
We still need to raise $19,839.47 by 5:00pm Saturday, June 29th
In order to hit our $84,000 goal, we still need to raise $19,839.47 in just 48 hours. I had hoped that 40 people would be inspired to make a donation yesterday, but only 23 did so. At this point, on this Thursday, we need 60 people to make either a one-time donation or a monthly pledge.
I wonder if you might be one of four people to give a one-time gift of $2,000. There might even be someone who would invest $5,000 in this Christ-centered work. Could you be one of 6 Worldview listeners to pledge $100 per month for 12 months, 4 people to pledge $50 per month for 12 months, and 8 people to pledge $25/month for 12 months?
Time is ticking. (sound effect of ticking clock) We need your help by 5:00pm central on Saturday, June 29th.
Your support enables our 6-member newscast team to thrive. We have three writers – Kevin Swanson, Jonathan Clark, and myself, the researcher, Emily Munday, and the uploaders of the audio on multiple platforms – Rebekah Swanson and Kayla White.
Were you touched by what Ginger in Jonesville, Virginia said today about what makes this newscast special? Did you hear what 10-year-old Lukas in Olympia, Washington said yesterday about why he gave $10 of his own money?
I need you to step up to the plate. Please, go to TheWorldview.com, click on “Give,” select the dollar amount you’d like to donate, and click on the recurring monthly tab if that’s your wish.
Ask God what He wants you to give to this newscast that proclaims Jesus Christ as our standard for Truth.
Close
And that’s The Worldview on this Thursday, June 27th, in the year of our Lord 2024. 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.