It’s Friday, May 15th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Adam McManus
Vietnamese Communists arrest four Christians
On May 12th, Vietnamese Communist authorities arrested four clergy and lay leaders accused of sharing documentation of human rights abuses online, reports Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
The group was also indicted for associating with Dr Nguyễn Đình Thắng, the president of Boat People SOS, a Vietnamese-American human rights group, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison in absentia in April on false terrorism charges for his alleged role in the 2023 Dak Lak uprising.
While two of the four were released, the others remain behind bars.
Psalm 23:4 says, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You, [God], are with me; Your rod and staff, they comfort me.”
China’s Jinping warns Trump about Taiwan
On May 14th, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned U.S. President Donald Trump that the two countries could clash over Taiwan if the issue was not handled properly, reports the Associated Press.
The exchange at a highly anticipated summit in Beijing underscored just how far apart Trump and Jinping remain on thorny issues, including the war in Iran, trade disputes and Washington’s relations with Taiwan, which is self-ruled but which China claims as part of its territory.
The pair met for about two hours behind closed doors at the Great Hall of the People after an elaborate welcome ceremony featuring booming cannons, a band playing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and China’s national anthem, and hundreds of school children waving flowers and American and Chinese flags.
President Trump’s opening remarks were optimistic.
TRUMP: “President Xi, I want to thank you very much. We’ve had a fantastic relationship. We’ve gotten along. When there were difficulties, we worked it out. I would call you, and you would call me, and whenever we had a problem, people don’t know, whenever we had a problem, we worked it out very quickly.
“I have such respect for China, the job you’ve done. You’re a great leader. I say it to everybody. You’re a great leader. Sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway, because it’s true. I only say the truth.
“And I just want to say on behalf of all of the great delegation that we have. We have the greatest businessmen. Every single one of them. We asked the top 30 in the world. Every single one of them said, ‘Yes,’ and they look forward to trade and doing business. It’s going to be totally reciprocal on our behalf. It’s an honor to be with you.
“It’s an honor to be your friend. The relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before.”
Trump’s pick for Federal Reserve Chairman confirmed
President Trump’s pick to lead the Federal Reserve won Senate confirmation on May 13th, just in time to officially take over as the leader of the central bank, reports National Public Radio.
Trump is hoping Kevin Warsh can lead the Fed into much lower interest rates — but the president could be frustrated by persistent inflation.
Warsh was confirmed on a 54-45 vote, mostly along party lines.
Prior to the vote, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, spoke from the Senate floor and shared an overview of Kevin Warsh’s biography and questioned why the Democrats have objected to his nomination.
THUNE: “He credits his knowledge of the real economy to growing up in upstate New York, where his dad ran a children’s clothing store and manufacturing company. From Shaker High School, he went on to Stanford University and then Harvard Law School. He then started a career on Wall Street, but he shifted to public service, joining the Bush administration’s economic policy team in 2002.
“Four years later, President Bush nominated him to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. At age 35, Kevin Warsh was unanimously confirmed here in the Senate and became the youngest governor in the history of the Federal Reserve. Being the youngest person to take a seat in the Federal Reserve’s boardroom is impressive enough, but Kevin Warsh didn’t just take a seat. He was a key player during the time he was on the board.
“Kevin Warsh seems to have just the profile of a Federal Reserve Chairman, yet Democrats oppose his nomination. For the first time in its history, the Banking Committee reported out a nominee for Fed chairman on a party line vote because every single Democrat opposed Mr. Warsh’s nomination, and actually only one Democrat was even present for the vote.
“The other 10 Democrats on the Banking Committee didn’t even bother to show up for it. I wish I could say I’m surprised, but this is just how bad Trump Derangement Syndrome has gotten on the other side of the aisle. Democrats won’t say so, but that’s what it is.”
Kevin Warsh has argued there’s room to lower rates, but he also promised to use his own judgment in setting monetary policy — and not to take orders from the White House. Warsh denied charges from Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts that he would be Trump’s “sock puppet.”
Warsh will replace Jerome Powell, who has led the Fed since 2018. Although Trump appointed Powell to the job, he has relentlessly criticized the outgoing Fed chairman for not moving more aggressively to lower borrowing costs. Powell’s term as chairman ends today.
In a break with tradition, Powell will remain on the Fed’s governing board for a period of time after stepping down as chairman. That’s unusual since Fed chairs typically leave the central bank when their term as the head is done. But Powell is determined to safeguard the institution from political pressure.
He has vowed to keep a low profile and not overshadow Warsh. But Powell will continue to have a vote on the 12-member committee that sets interest rates.
Missionary John Vassar commissioned as evangelist
And finally, on May 15, 1850, John Vassar—often referred to as “Uncle” John—was formally commissioned as an evangelist for the American Tract Society of New York.
Following a distinct conversion experience at the age of 28, Vassar left his family’s prominent brewing business in Poughkeepsie, New York, to dedicate his life to soul-winning. As an agent for the American Tract Society, he traveled extensively, selling and distributing Christian literature.
Known for his intense earnestness, he was described as a “living fire” who would ask everyone he met about their relationship with Christ. He became one of the most powerful personal evangelists of the 19th century.
Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”
Later in John Vassar’s career, in 1863, he was commissioned to work among soldiers during the Civil War. Upon being captured, he famously asked Confederate General Jeb Stuart, “General, do you love Jesus?”
Close
And that’s The Worldview on this Friday, May 15th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I’m Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.