Friday, October 20th, in the year of our Lord 2017
By Jonathan Clark
Chinese President Xi Jinping Promises China Will “Take Centre Stage in the World”
Chinese President Xi Jinping opened the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on Wednesday promising a new era of building a “modern socialist country” that would “take centre stage in the world.”
Jinping has been consolidating power since taking leadership at the 2012 National Congress and is expected to continue with another five-year term.
Psalm 33:10-11 reminds us, “The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.”
Chinese Government Increases Persecution of Christians
Meanwhile, Chinese President Jinping has described Christianity as “a foreign infiltration.” His government has become a primary persecutor of the Christian church there.
Feeling threatened by the “uncontrolled growth of Christianity”, the Communist Party of China has initiated a sweeping crackdown on Christians, reports Open Doors UK. They have demolished thousands of churches and crosses, installed video surveillance in churches, regulated pastors and Christian education, and imprisoned and tortured Christians.
Just recently, a Christian evangelist, her daughter, and grandson were arrested for violating new government restrictions on sharing one’s faith.
Despite this, the Christian population of China has grown to an estimated 70 million as of 2010 and is on track to become the largest population of Christians in any nation by 2030.
Residents of Iraq and Syria Return to Destroyed Homelands Retaken from ISIS
ISIS has suffered major defeats from US-backed coalition forces in the Middle East. Cities across Iraq and Syria have been retaken from the Islamic militants. Now, hundreds of thousands of displaced residents have next to nothing left in their homelands.
Many Christians are among those returning to their homes in Iraq and Syria. Edward Clancy with Aid to the Church in Need told The Christian Post, “If we do not help these ancient Christian communities, ISIS might very well have lost the battles, but won the war.” He said Iraq may have lost 80 percent of their Christian people, and Syria may have lost 50 percent.
Please pray for the Christians as they return home and rebuild their communities.
President Trump Says the Administration Will Prioritize Welfare Reform
On Monday, President Trump announced the administration would be making welfare reforms a priority, citing concerns over people taking advantage of the system. Here are his comments from CNN.
“Some people are really taking advantage of our system from that standpoint. We are going to be looking very, very strongly therefore at welfare reform. It’s going to be a very big topic under this administration.”
Number of Americans Filing for Unemployment Reaches New Low
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits reached a new low in over 40 years, reports Reuters.
Job growth rebounded after a hurricane-related decline in September. Reports also indicate factory employment in the mid-Atlantic region has reached new highs this month.
Late-Term Abortionist Cancels All Appointments After Being Exposed as Illegal
Abortionist LeRoy Carhart planned to begin performing late-term abortions on Tuesday at his Bethesda, Maryland facility. However, Operation Rescue reports all of these appointments have been cancelled after they exposed that he is unlicensed.
Pro-lifers and members of churches held a press conference and prayed outside the abortion mill, exposing how the facility would be operating illegally.
Operation Rescue President Troy Newman said, “Every day that abortions do not take place in Bethesda is a victory. We pray Carhart’s new late-term abortion business never opens.”
Study Shows Bible Reading Most Important Factor in Young People Keeping the Faith
According to a Life Way Research study released on Tuesday, most Protestant churchgoing parents say their children grew up to be Christians, but that only half of them are practicing the Christian faith.
The study found the most important factor predicting spiritual health among these young adults was whether they read the Bible regularly while growing up. Other factors included growing up with regular prayer, service in the church, and listening to Christian music.
Jana Magruder, director of LifeWay Kids, stated, “The key takeaway from the study is a simple yet profound finding that God’s Word truly is what changes lives.”
Paul reminded Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:15 “that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
Hungary Honors Printer Who Helped Jews Escape from the Nazis
A Hungarian who printed thousands of passports enabling Jews to flee the country during World War II was honored with a memorial plaque on Wednesday in Budapest.
Emil Wiesmeyer’s printing company produced 4,000 of the passports in cooperation with Swedish special envoy Raoul Wallenberg to rescue Jews from Nazi death camps. Wiesmeyer went on to print 20,000 more passports to get Jews out of Hungary.
Many others helped Wallenberg with the effort in Hungary, including Italian businessman Giorgio Perlasca who posed as a Spanish diplomat to save over 5,000 Jews.
And that’s The World View in 5 Minutes on this Friday, October 20th in the year of our Lord 2017. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldView.com. I’m Adam McManus. Seize the day for Jesus Christ.