It’s Thursday, April 9th, 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
Christian Chinese attorney Wang Quanzhang released
Praise God! Chinese officials released Christian human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang after more than four years in prison. Quanzhang is now in a 14-day quarantine in Shandong province, 250 miles away from his home in Beijing, according to his wife Li Wenzu.
Meanwhile in China, officials are restricting churches from meeting online. Only state-sanctioned organizations can livestream religious services in China, and multiple pastors report being shut down when they tried.
Ugandan Health Minister: “You cannot delete God from COVID-19”
Cases of COVID-19 in Africa surpassed 10,000 this week with over 500 deaths.
Dr. Jane Aceng, Uganda’s Health Minister, decribed the country’s response to the outbreak, spiritually and physically, quoting from 2 Chronicles 7:14.
ACENG: “If all of us in Uganda could fall on our knees and ask for forgiveness, I am very sure that God will hear from heaven, forgive us, and heal our land. … So, for us in the ministry of health, we are combining both: we pray and we also have scientists to guide us on the response. In any case, the wisdom that the scientists are using is given to them by God.
“So, you cannot delete God from COVID-19, neither can you delete God from the response. He’s the ultimate authority in this response.”
Cuba releases Christian homeschooling mother
Officials in Cuba released a homeschooling Christian mother named Adya Expósito Leyva at the end of last month after 11 months in prison for refusing to send her children to the government school.
Her husband, Pastor Ramon Rigal, remains in prison.
The couple was imprisoned last April for homeschooling their children which they did to avoid the socialism and atheism promoted in the schools.
Senator Sanders ends presidential campaign
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont suspended his campaign for president yesterday.
SANDERS: “We are now some 300 delegates behind Vice President Biden, and the path toward victory is virtually impossible. I have concluded that this battle for the Democratic nomination will not be successful. And so today, I am announcing the suspension of my campaign today. I congratulate Joe Biden, who I will work with to move our progressive ideas forward.”
Sanders said he would help former Vice President Biden to run against President Donald Trump.
Circuit Court upholds Texas ban on abortions during COVID-19
The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday in favor of a Texas executive order banning most abortions in the state during the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.
The ruling overturns a lower court decision to block the order. Planned Parenthood sued the state over the order which deems the killing of unborn babies as non-essential.
Trump signs $2 trillion coronavirus bailout bill into law
President Trump signed the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act into law on March 27 to keep small businesses and non-profits afloat during the pandemic.
Churches can apply for bailout money?
And on Saturday, Jovita Carranza, head of the Small Business Administration, announced that houses of worship and faith-based organizations are eligible for the program without discrimination.
He said, “Faith-based organizations have always provided critical social services for people in need, and the Small Business Administration will make clear that these organizations may access this emergency capital.”
Bible sales rise during coronavirus outbreak
Multiple publishing companies are seeing a rise in the sale of Bibles during the coronavirus outbreak.
Jim Jewell, an executive at Tyndale House Publishers, told The Christian Post, “It’s not surprising that people turn to the comfort and clarity of the Bible in times of trouble and uncertainty.”
The increase in Bible sales coincides with increased Google searches about prayer.
Jeremiah 29:12-13 says, “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”
April 16th likely peak of U.S. coronavirus outbreak
The University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation created a new model supported by the White House, predicting the U.S. will hit the peak of the coronavirus outbreak on April 16.
The group model anticipates 3,130 deaths across America on that date. The model suggests some states may have already experienced the worst like Colorado, Delaware, Louisiana, Vermont, and Washington.
Stocks jump 7%
Stocks jumped over 7 percent on Monday with hopes of the end of the coronavirus pandemic in sight.
However, Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan Chase, America’s largest bank, said Monday he anticipates a “bad recession” in 2020 and may suspend the bank’s dividend if the economic fallout from the pandemic continues.
Psalm 62:10 reminds us, “If riches increase, do not set your heart on them.”
Tee ball-playing Daddy, with 6-year-old daughter, arrested at park
And finally, Colorado police apologized to a local resident for arresting him on Sunday at a park in front of his 6-year-old daughter for supposedly breaking social distance rules.
Matt Mooney was playing tee ball with his wife and daughter when three officers with the Brighton Police Department approached them. Even though the park was closed to only groups of over four people, the police still arrested Mooney.
On Tuesday, Brighton police apologized to him, saying it was “evident there was an overreach by (Brighton) police officers.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Thursday, April 9th 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.