It’s Thursday, June 25th, A.D. 2020. This is The World View in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldView.com. I’m Adam McManus. (adam@TheWorldview.com).
By Jonathan Clark
War crimes against Christians by Turkish-backed forces
The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria last year has created a vacuum where Turkish-backed forces have carried out war crimes against Christians and other religious minorities, according to religious liberty experts who spoke to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom last week.
Nadine Maenza, the USCIRF Vice-Chair, said the areas controlled by Turkey in Syria have lost religious freedoms.
MAENZA: “I visited northeast Syria in late 2019 where I was able to see for myself the devastation brought upon the Christian villages near the area Turkey had invaded. I met with religious and community leaders and heard about the remarkable religious freedom conditions under the autonomous administration and how that is now nonexistent in the area Turkey occupies.”
Amy Holmes, professor at the American University in Cairo, described some of the atrocities Christians in Syria have suffered under the Turkish occupation.
HOLMES: “They have been killed, disappeared, kidnapped, raped, detained, subjected to forced religious conversion and held for ransom until their families pay exorbitant sums of money to secure their release. They have been forcibly displaced and driven from their homes. Their places of worship have been destroyed, defaced, and looted. Even their cemeteries have been demolished and vandalized. The international community has failed to take action.”
Please pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters in the Middle East.
COVID-19 will cost U.S. 8% of economy
Coronavirus cases surpassed nine million on Monday with over 470,000 deaths and 4.5 million recoveries.
The International Monetary Fund projects global economic growth to fall by 4.9 percent this year because of coronavirus lockdowns.
The report projects advanced economies like the U.S. will fall by a higher rate of eight percent compared with developing economies at three percent.
1 Timothy 6:17 says, “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.”
U.S. colleges received $6.5 billion from foreign countries
On Monday, the U.S. Department of Education announced the results of a year-long inquiry into foreign funding of American higher education institutions.
The Department found that $6.5 billion in previously undisclosed foreign gifts and contracts to U.S. schools and that educational institutions have anonymized the identity of the donors of over $1 billion from China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Russia.
The Department also uncovered multiple university contracts with Chinese Communist Party-subsidized companies.
Amazon Smiles cuts funding to Family Research Council
Tech giant Amazon has cut funding to yet another conservative non-profit by excluding them from their AmazonSmile program which allows customers to donate a portion from their purchases to charity.
Amazon excluded the Family Research Council from the program after the Southern Poverty Law Center labeled the Christian conservative non-profit as a “hate group” because of their Biblical stand on marriage and sexuality.
Previously, religious freedom nonprofit Alliance Defending Freedom had also been labelled a “hate group” by the SPLC and defunded by Amazon.
47% of Americans say abortion is morally wrong
Forty-seven percent of Americans believe that abortion is morally wrong while 44 percent believe it is morally acceptable, according to Gallup’s annual Values and Beliefs survey.
The results continue a 20-year trend with the survey that more Americans believe abortion is wrong than those who think it is acceptable.
Sadly, thousands of unborn babies continue to be killed in the U.S.
Isaiah 1:15 says, “When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.”
Vice President Pence appeals to Christian voters
Vice President Mike Pence launched a “Faith in America” tour this week ahead of the presidential election this year, appealing to Christian voters around the country.
Quoting 2 Chronicles 7:14, Pence called on Americans to have “faith that in these challenging times that if his people who are called by his name will humble themselves and pray, he’ll do like he’s always done through the long and storied history of this land. He’ll hear from Heaven, he’ll heal this land – this one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. So pray for America, for all the American people.”
13-year-old Worldview listener gives $11, issues verbal challenge
Cody, a 13-year-old Worldview listener in Hortense, Georgia, gave a generous $11 gift from his own money to keep The Worldview in 5 Minutes on the air.
Listen to the challenge that he recorded for you. If you normally read the transcript, I URGE you to click on “Listen Now” to hear him!
CODY: “This is Cody from Hortense, Georgia. I am 13 years old and I am going to give $11 of my own money to keep The Worldview in 5 Minutes on the air. I want to challenge all the younger listeners who know of The Worldview to donate to help them reach their goal so they can keep their ministry going.
“I think that even at a young age God can still use you to accomplish His purposes. Your parents don’t have to be the only ones who contribute to good causes.
“The money that I’m giving to The Worldview in 5 Minutes is from tithes from my allowance and cutting the lawn and cleaning the windows and vacuuming my room.
“It is so important that we have broadcasts like The Worldview in 5 Minutes that tell us about what is going on in the world from a Godly perspective. Even just a little donation of only one or two dollars can make a big difference if every young listener around the world gave that much.
“Luke 6:38 says, ‘Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.’ You need to contribute and not be consumers.”
Wow! Cody that is awesome. Thanks so much for your generosity and your challenge. I hope that God will move on the hearts of at least 30 people to become new donors today as a result!
10 new donors gave $676. Need $9,288 by 12 midnight tomorrow
Toward our goal of raising $60,000 by Tuesday, June 30th to keep The Worldview in 5 Minutes on the air, we are trying to raise $55,070 by 12 midnight tomorrow! Listeners had already pledged $45,106.
We’re grateful to our new donors including 13-year-old Cody in Hortense, Georgia who gave $11 of his own money, 10-year-old Henry in Hortense, Georgia who gave $20 of his own money, Jeffery in Forest Hill, Maryland who gave $25, and Kay in Lancaster, Pennsylvania who gave $50.
Our thanks to Augustine in Auburn, California, Charlotte in Castle Rock, Colorado, and Jennifer in Oldsmar, Florida – each of whom gave $100.
And we praise God for the generosity of Dean and Cinthia in Due West, South Carolina who gave $120 as well as Casey in Victorville, California and Caleb in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania – each of whom gave $150.
Those 10 new donors gave $676.
Ready for the new grand total? Drum roll please. (drum roll sound effect) Our new total is $45,782. (crowd cheering effect)
We are now $9,288 away from hitting our $55,070 goal by 12 midnight tomorrow. We’re on the last lap. Can you help us cross the finish line?
I need to find 15 listeners to pledge $25/month for 12 months or give a one-time gift of $300. And another 7 listeners to pledge $50/month for 12 months or give a one-time gift of $600.
If you’ve been waiting until the last minute to give to put us over the top, we are virtually there. I need everybody to do something. Can you be one of 30 brand new donors today?
Please make your donation here and select the correct dollar amount. Don’t forget to click on the box to make it a recurring donation if that’s your wish.
What would God have you do?
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Thursday, June 25th, 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.