Thursday, June 8th, in the year of our Lord 2017
By Jonathan Clark
Christians Face Discrimination in Kurdistan After Fleeing There from ISIS
Thousands of Christian minorities have escaped the Islamic State to the country of Kurdistan. Yet a report from International Christian Concern shows that they are still facing discrimination in Kurdistan from the religious majority of Sunni Muslims.
The World View spoke to William Stark of International Christian Concern who told us that the new report on discrimination is the result of an influx of refugees in Kurdistan.
“ISIS has pushed so many religious minorities out of places like Mosul and the Nineveh Plains. There’s just a higher number of Christians, Yazidis, Turkmen that have actually moved into what’s considered Kurdistan which is a land that’s mostly dominated by Sunni ethnic Kurds.”
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom is asking the government to step up protections for Christians after studying the violation of minorities’ rights there in Kurdistan.
Stark said that there are some laws in place in Kurdistan for protecting Christians from persecution.
“There are actually robust laws that actually protect religious freedom within Kurdistan itself. It’s more of just a general social treatment of Christians. I’ve talked to a number of the Christian who have been displaced to a place like Erbil. Erbil’s actually a very nice city, but they feel that they have to move back to the Nineveh plains into the villages that they’re from that were destroyed by ISIS. Because they feel that they’ll never be able to be treated fairly here. They’ll always be treated as second class.”
Please pray for these brothers and sisters.
Hebrews 13:3 says, “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.”
Chinese Churches Grow Dramatically Despite Persecution
Pastor Erik Burklin of China Partner told Mission Network News that Chinese churches are seeing an average of 100,000 new converts per year.
This despite the communist nation’s practice of persecuting underground churches, arresting Christians, and destroying church crosses. Pastor Burklin said, “God is still in the business of changing lives, and He’s in the business of building His Church.” Amen!
ISIS Terrorists Attack Capital of Iran
Yesterday, ISIS carried out another terrorist attack, this time its first in Iran.
Suicide bombers and gunmen attacked two locations in the country’s capital, Tehran, including the parliament building. Twelve people died and about 40 people sustained injuries.
President Trump Announces Planned Nomination for FBI Director
Yesterday, President Donald Trump said he plans to nominate former assistant attorney general Christopher Wray to be the FBI director.
If confirmed by the Senate, Wray would replace Andrew McCabe who became Acting FBI Director after Trump fired James Comey.
Barna Study Looks at Cities Where Former Churchgoers No Longer Attend Church
Christian pollster George Barna released a new study on churchgoing in American cities.
In particular, the report looked at “dechurched” cities where people used to be involved in a church, but have not been in the past six months. Some of the top “dechurched” cities include San Francisco, CA, Boston, MA, Seattle, WA, Orlando, FL, and Albany, NY.
Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.”
12 Percent of US Men in Their Prime Missing from the Workforce
J.P. Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon told reporters on Tuesday that the US economy has a huge problem: men in their prime years are leaving the workforce by the millions.
Only 88 percent of men aged 24 to 54 are in the labor force — down from 97 percent in the 1950’s. Effectively, 10 million men are missing from the economy.
Alabama Sees Drop in Food Stamps After Setting Work Requirements
Thirteen counties in Alabama saw an 85 percent drop in food stamps since January 1st after officials decided that beneficiaries must meet work requirements, reported AL.com.
The new guidelines require able-bodied food stamp recipients, without dependents, to be employed or engaged in job training.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10)
Oregon Senate Rules Committee Approves Pro-Euthanasia Bill
The Oregon Senate Rules Committee approved the anti-life, pro-euthanasia Senate Bill 494 on Monday for senate consideration.
Gayle Atteberry, the Oregon Right to Life director, said, “This bill, written in a deceiving manner, has as its goal to save money at the expense of starving and dehydrating dementia and mentally ill patients to death.”
Dozens of World View listeners made calls to the Oregon legislature back in late May. Learn more in this link.
Please pray that the Oregon Senate votes down this egregious bill!
Proverbs 24:11 says, “Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.”
Ten-Year-Old Homeschooled Boy Runs Half Marathon
Ten-year-old Benaiah Powers outran over 2,500 adults in a half marathon back in March, according to the Home School Legal Defense Association.
Benaiah placed 696th among 3,500 runners for the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina course. His parents decided to homeschool from the beginning to give their kids the freedom to follow their interests and to develop functional skills.
Please Prayerfully Consider Supporting The World View
Barbara Andersen, a World View listener in Seward, Alaska, wrote me at adam@TheWorldView.com.
She said, “Hello Adam, Thank you for the great news broadcast. At first I thought, ‘Only five minutes?’ But it is so full and rich with truth that it surprises everybody who listens to it.
“I also appreciate that you can read the transcript via email along with listening to help improve reading skills! We look forward to it every day and we use it in every way! I’m thankful for people like you and your staff who are faithful to God’s commission. It makes a difference for many of us.”
Stay tuned for our fundraising update.
Each day, our team spends 8-9 hours working on The World View between researching, interviewing, transcribing, writing, text editing, voicing the newscast, and audio editing. In order to help keep The World View on the air, we need to raise $20,000 of pledges by Friday, June 23rd. Among the tens of thousands of our listeners, we are looking for the remnant to step up to the plate.
We need just 17 World View listeners to pledge $50 per month for a year and 33 listeners to pledge $25 per month for a year. Go to www.TheWorldView.com, click on Give on the top right, choose $50 or $25, select The World View in the drop-down menu, and check the recurring donation button.
So far, in the first 3 days, 9 World View listeners have stepped up to the plate, pledging a total of $1,950. We are almost at the 10% mark. Special thanks to Phil, Jonathan, Shirley, Jon, Grace, Forrest, and Elaine for their monthly pledges. And to Shawna and Nathan for their one-time pledges. Will you help us?
And that’s The World View in Five Minutes.