It’s Tuesday, News Year’s Eve, January 31st, A.D. 2019. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus.
By Kevin Swanson
Chinese pastor sentenced to prison for 9 years for his faith
Pastor Wang Yi of the Early Rain Covenant Church has been sentenced to nine years in a communist prison for his stance for Christ, reports Amnesty International. Additionally, the Chinese pastor was also fined 50,000 Renminbi or $7,000 U.S. dollars.
Prior to his arrest, Yi released a statement in which he wrote: “Separate me from my wife and children, ruin my reputation, destroy my life and my family – the authorities are capable of doing all of these things. However, no one in this world can force me to renounce my faith; no one can make me change my life; and no one can raise me from the dead. Jesus is the Christ, Son of the eternal, living God. He died for sinners and rose to life for us. He is my king and the King of the whole earth yesterday, today, and forever. I am His servant, and I am imprisoned because of this. I will resist, in meekness, those who resist God, and I will joyfully violate all laws that violate God’s laws.”
Throughout 2019, Generations and The Worldview supported this church with thousands of dollars.
Hebrews 13:3 says, “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.”
Imprisoned U.S. Christian man asks for sentence to be vacated
Phillip Zodiahates, a Christian businessman, has filed a motion to vacate his sentence due to ineffective counsel which the judge is now considering. Our brother in Christ has been in a U.S. prison for over a year now for his part in providing transportation to a child and her mother who were attempting to escape court-imposed visitations with a lesbian.
Zodiahates told the court, that “In 2009, newspaper reports were that Lisa’s child was being sexually abused. . .When people are suffering abuse, poverty, or injustice, and I am asked to help, I do so. Thus, my natural instinct was to help her and her daughter become free of the abuse. Helping others is always a primary motivation for me, especially so when children are involved.”
The courts are expected to respond to Phillip’s appeal on February 20th.
Learn more at https://419fund.com/blog/.
Active Texas church shooter taken out by retired FBI agent
An active shooter at a Church of Christ in Fort Worth, Texas was shot down by a member of the Church Security Team on Sunday, within about 2-3 seconds of the attacker taking his first shot, reports the Dallas Morning News.
The shooter, 43-year-old Keith Thomas Kinnunen, killed two people just before a retired FBI Agent, Jack Wilson, shot and killed the alleged shooter. On his Facebook account, Wilson said, “I’m thankful to GOD that I have been blessed with the ability and desire to serve Him in the role of head of security at the church. I am very sad in the loss of two dear friends and brothers in CHRIST, but evil does exist in this world and I and other members are not going to allow evil to succeed.”
Dan Patrick, the Republican Lieutenant Governor of Texas, spoke to reporters yesterday morning about the church security response to the attack.
PATRICK: “This church had its own security team. They were well trained. The heroism today is unparalleled.”
Kinnunen had a long history of assaults and batteries and was described by his ex-wife as “battling a demon”, reports the Fort Worth, Texas NBC affiliate.
The Faith Based Security Network estimates that deaths from violent incidents in churches have increased from 3 in 2004, to 65 in 2016, and 118 in 2017.
However, as 2 Corinthians 10:4 instructs us, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.”
Fellowship of Christian Athletes distributed 190,000 Bibles this year
And finally, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes has announced they have distributed over 190,000 Bibles in 2019.
Last year, the FCA became embroiled in controversy for their uncompromising Biblical stand on homosexuality, even as Chick-fil-A withdrew their support from the group.
FCA President and CEO Shane Williamson noted in an editorial published in the Christian Post that they have “not compromised [their] focus and commitment to God’s Word and biblical truth.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, December 31st in the year of our Lord 2019. 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.