Hostile Canadian judge makes pastor stay in jail, Wycliffe is translating Bible in 167 countries, Wyoming, Arizona, Conn., & West Virginia lift COVID restrictions

It’s Wednesday, March 10th, A.D. 2021. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)

By Jonathan Clark

Algeria sentenced two Christian bookstore owners to jail

A court in Muslim-majority Algeria, Africa sentenced two Christians to two years in prison and fined them thousands of dollars recently.

Authorities targeted Pastor Rachid Seighir and Nouh Hamimi for operating a bookstore accused of “undermining the faith of a Muslim.” The legal battle goes back to 2008 when officials tried to shut down the bookstore.

A 2006 law in Algeria bans the publishing of material that challenges Islamic beliefs.  Open Doors lists Algeria as the 24th worst nation in the world for the persecution of Christians.

Hostile Canadian judge makes pastor stay in jail

Last week, a Canadian court ruled Pastor James Coates of GraceLife Church must stay in jail until his trial in May.

Authorities jailed Coates for holding an in-person worship service in February in violation of coronavirus restrictions.

Peter Michalyshyn, a justice with Alberta’s Court of Queen’s Bench, dismissed Coates’ appeal. The judge said the pastor’s religious beliefs do not overcome the “valid and enforceable” laws against him.

Hebrews 13:3 says, “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.”

United Kingdom re-opens schools after COVID shutdown

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson  announced the reopening of schools this week as the first of four steps to lifting coronavirus restrictions in the country.

The government scheduled the final reopening stage for June when officials plan to lift all restrictions.

Biden’s new executive order promotes sexual perversion

On Monday, U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order establishing a White House Gender Policy Council. The move reinstates an Obama-era council that the Trump administration dissolved.

Council co-chair Jennifer Klein said they would be “inclusive” in their definition of gender and would promote sexually perverted lifestyles.

GOP Senator blocks Planned Parenthood access to Paycheck Protection funds

The U.S. Senate failed to pass an amendment to the recent $1.9 trillion spending bill that would have prevented funds from going to abortion.

The Senate voted 52-47 in favor of the amendment, falling short of the required 60 votes.

However, Republican Sen. Rand Paul did succeed in removing a provision in the bill that would have allowed Planned Parenthood to access Paycheck Protection Program funds.

Texas Governor vs. Mexican Cartels

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott  launched Operation Lone Star last week to combat the smuggling of people and drugs into the state.

Abbott deployed the Texas National Guard in the effort to stop smuggling activities of Mexican Cartels.

Abbott stated, “The crisis at our southern border continues to escalate because of Biden Administration policies that refuse to secure the border and invite illegal immigration.”

Almost 10% of Americans COVID vaccinated

The U.S. has administered over 90 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.  9.7% of the population has now been vaccinated.

The Centers for Disease Control released their first set of guidelines for fully vaccinated individuals, including allowances for no mask-wearing or social distancing in certain situations.

Wyoming, Arizona, Conn., & West Virginia lift COVID restrictions

More and more states are lifting coronavirus restrictions.

Wyoming Republican Gov. Mark Gordon announced Monday he will repeal the state’s mask mandate and end lockdown measures next week.

Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey announced last week the immediate end of coronavirus capacity limits on businesses. Connecticut Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont also announced the lifting of capacity limits on many businesses this month. West Virginia Republican Gov. Jim Justice said businesses could open 100% last week.

Wycliffe is translating Bible in 167 countries

And finally, Wycliffe Bible Translators reports an increase in translations despite the disruptions of the coronavirus pandemic.

The organization is working on 2,700 language projects right now in 167 countries. Their goal is to begin work on the 2,000 remaining languages still without the Scriptures by 2025.

Wycliffe President John Chesnut  described to CBN News the importance of translating the Bible.

CHESNUT: “The unreached people groups of the world today, they are unreached for a reason. There’s many reasons why they are. They do not have access to God’s Word. And so when you think about that, how can a church be planted? How can disciples be made? How can evangelism take place if Scripture is not available in a language or a form that people can understand? Really Scripture is the foundation for everything that we do within the body of Christ.”

Micah 4:1-2 says, “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it. Many nations shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion, the law shall go forth, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”

Close

And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Wednesday, March 10th, in the year of our Lord 2021. 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.

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