It’s Thursday, April 2nd, A.D. 2020. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)

By Jonathan Clark

The COVID-19 persecution of Christians in Iran, Egypt, Pakistan

Please pray for prisoners of conscience around the world, especially Christians, who are now facing increased threats due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In Iran, officials have released 85,000 prisoners to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus, but they largely overlooked prisoners of conscience who remain imprisoned.

In Egypt, although authorities have released fifteen members of the political opposition, Christians remain unjustly imprisoned.

And in Pakistan, sanitation workers, who are mostly Christian, are being required to keep working despite not having personal protection equipment. Worse yet, Christians are also being discriminated against in countries like Pakistan as they are refused aid distribution.

Matthew 5:10 says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Classified report: China lied about number of cases & deaths

In a classified report last week, the U.S. intelligence community told the White House that China has under-reported the number of cases and deaths from its coronavirus outbreak, according to Bloomberg.

China has publicly reported about 82,000 COVID-19 cases and 3,300 deaths. Meanwhile, the U.S. has already reported over 200,000 cases and 4,400 deaths.

Liberty Counsel represents arrested Florida pastor

The Liberty Counsel will be representing Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne of The River at Tampa Bay Church who was arrested at his home on Monday for holding a church service on Sunday.

Hillsborough County, Florida, where the church is located, had banned all gatherings larger than 10 people on March 20. A week later, the county issued some exceptions, including religious personnel and certain businesses that were able to maintain social distancing.

The River at Tampa Bay Church continued to meet with serious precautions: they enforced a six-foot distance between family groups, all the staff wore gloves, every person received hand sanitizer, and they purchased a $100,000 hospital grade purification system.

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “The actions of Hillsborough County and the Hernando County Sheriff are discriminatory against religion and church gatherings.”

55% of American adults have prayed for end to coronavirus pandemic

A new Pew Research study found 55 percent of U.S. adults say they have prayed for an end to the coronavirus pandemic, including people who rarely or never pray or say they don’t belong to any religion.

Another study by the Joshua Fund found that 44 percent of likely voters say the coronavirus pandemic is a “wake up call for us to turn back to faith in God,” signs of “coming judgment,” or both. And 22 percent of non-Christian respondents said they are more interested in God and spiritual matters.

Isaiah 45:22 says, “Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.”

Federal judges blocked bans on abortion in Texas, Ohio, Alabama

Sadly, federal judges on Monday halted orders by officials in Texas, Ohio, and Alabama that would ban most abortions during the coronavirus outbreak.

However, on Tuesday, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered for the Texas abortion ban to be reinstated.

Dr. Fauci predicts 150,000 American deaths by COVID-19

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert for the U.S. government, estimated on Sunday that the coronavirus outbreak in America could cause 100,000 to 200,000 deaths and millions of cases.  However, he also indicated that if people support the social distancing recommendations it could help lower that number.

And President Donald Trump extended federal guidelines for people to stay home for another 30 days.

101-year-old Italian man recovers from COVID-19

And finally, a 101-year-old Italian man is now a symbol of hope in the fight against the coronavirus after becoming the oldest person to recover from COVID-19.

Identified as “Mr. P.,” he was released from a hospital in northeast Italy last week.

Mr. P was born in 1919, surviving the then deadly Spanish Flu pandemic and went on to live through both World Wars and now the coronavirus pandemic.

Close

And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Thursday, April 2nd in the year of our Lord 2020. 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.