It’s Thursday, May 8th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Jonathan Clark
Iran continues to imprison Christian pastor and wife
Authorities in Iran continue to hold a pastor’s wife, 56-year-old Lida Alexani, in solitary confinement after arresting the pastor, reports Article 18.
Iranian-Armenian pastor Joseph Shahbazian was arrested in February and sent to the infamous Evin Prison in Tehran. He has faced prison time before for participating in a house church and collecting tithes. Authorities also arrested his wife last month.
Iran has criminalized offering tithes to support church activities. The country is ranked ninth on the Open Doors’ World Watch List of nations where it is most difficult to be a Christian.
India launched air strikes on Pakistan
On Tuesday, India launched air strikes on Pakistan. India said it was in retaliation for an attack last month from alleged Pakistani nationals.
India and Pakistan are on the brink of a wider conflict.
Local church leaders are calling for Christians to pray for the countries.
Bishop Nadeem Kamran is the head of the Anglican Church of Pakistan’s Diocese of Lahore. He told Christian Daily International, “As the fear of war looms over the subcontinent, I ask all Christians in the two countries to observe … a day of prayer and fasting for peace in the region.”
In 1 Timothy 2:1-2, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore 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.”
Trump’s truce with Houthis
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced a truce with the Houthis in Yemen.
The United States has been carrying out strikes on the Houthis in Yemen for weeks. This is in response to the Houthis attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea. Despite the truce, the Houthis said they will continue attacks on Israel in support of Palestinians in Gaza.
Listen to Trump’s comments at an Oval Office meeting.
TRUMP: “The Houthis have announced that they don’t want to fight anymore. We will honor that. We will stop the bombings. They have capitulated.”
Trump will rebuild and reopen Alcatraz off San Francisco coast
President Trump announced Sunday he is directing the Bureau of Prisons to rebuild and reopen Alcatraz.
The small island is located 1.25 miles offshore from San Francisco near the Golden Gate Strait. The island was developed in the mid-19th century with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, and a military prison.
In 1934, the island was converted into a federal prison, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. The strong currents around the island and cold water temperatures made escape nearly impossible. The prison became one of the most notorious in American history.
Trump posted on Truth Social that the infamous former prison will “house America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders. We will no longer be held hostage to criminals, thugs, and judges that are afraid to do their job and allow us to remove criminals, who came into our Country illegally. The reopening of ALCATRAZ will serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE.”
The prison closed 60 years ago, but once housed the likes of Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, and James “Whitey” Bulger.
HHS denounces misguided treatments for gender confusion
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a report last Thursday, denouncing so-called treatments for gender confusion.
The study evaluated the impact of transgender drugs and surgeries on children.
The department noted, “These interventions carry risk of significant harms including infertility/sterility, sexual dysfunction, impaired bone density accrual, adverse cognitive impacts, cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders, psychiatric disorders, surgical complications, and regret.”
Federal Reserve keeps interest rate in the 4.25%-4.5% range
The Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates unchanged on Wednesday.
The Fed’s benchmark interest rate remains at 4.25% to 4.5%. The Fed warned of potentially higher unemployment and inflation as the economy adjusts to President Trump’s tariff plan.
Meanwhile, Trump continues to call for lower interest rates.
World’s largest page of Bible just printed to honor Gutenberg Press
And finally, the International Gutenberg Society printed the world’s largest page of the Bible, measuring 38 square yards, on April 26th, 2025 in Mainz, Germany.
The event commemorated the 625th anniversary of the birth of Johannes Gutenberg. The German inventor created the moveable-type printing press. And he produced the first printed version of the Bible.
The Gutenberg printing press revolutionized the dissemination of the Bible, making it more accessible to a wider audience than ever before. Prior to Gutenberg’s invention, Bibles were hand-copied, a laborious process that made them expensive and rare. The printing press allowed for mass production, increasing availability and lowering costs. This led to a surge in literacy, the spread of the Bible, and Christianity.
The commemorative event showcased a massive copy of the first page of John’s Gospel. It was made from the largest industrial paper rolls available and covered nearly 400 square feet.
John 1:1-4 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview on this Thursday, May 8th, my 59th birthday, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music or 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.