It’s Thursday, February 8th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Jonathan Clark
Russian government persecuting Ukrainian believers
Dmytro Lubinets with Human Rights in Ukraine reports that Russian forces have carried out 76 acts of religious persecution since invading Ukraine in 2022.
Lubinets told the International Religious Freedom Summit last week, “The Russian military has repeatedly threatened the total physical elimination of all Evangelical believers, calling them American spies, sectarians, and enemies of the Russian Orthodox people.”
The persecution incidents include 29 cases of killed or captured religious leaders. One pastor from Ukraine told the summit, “Most priests and pastors, like me, have been threatened, intimidated, humiliated, detained, beaten and deported.”
Hungary helps persecuted Christians in 50 countries
Speaking of the International Religious Freedom Summit, a representative of Hungary promoted Biblical values at the event in Washington, D.C.
Tristan Azbej is the Hungarian Secretary of State for the Aid of Persecuted Christians and the Hungary Helps Program.
Hungary established the program in 2017 as the first-ever governmental department dedicated to serving persecuted Christians. Since then, it has engaged in over 300 faith-based humanitarian projects in 50 countries.
Azbej told The Christian Post the program is part of Hungary’s efforts to “implement the social teachings of the Bible.”
Wisdom says in Proverbs 8:15, “By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice.”
Mexico is top exporter of goods to U.S. now
Mexico became the top exporter of goods to the U.S. last year. This unseats China which held the top spot for two decades.
In 2023, Mexico exported $475.6 billion worth of goods to the U.S., up 5% from 2022. Meanwhile, China exported $427.2 billion worth of goods to U.S., down 20% from 2022.
Also, the U.S. trade deficit fell 19% last year to $773.4 billion. It’s the largest annual drop in the deficit in 15 years as the U.S. increased exports and decreased imports in 2023. The trade deficit measures the difference between exports and imports.
RFK Jr: “NBC Nightly News declared it is no longer a two-man race, it’s a three-man race”
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a reason to be excited, reports RealClear Politics.com.
KENNEDY: “I want to take note of a poll that came out, reported by NBC News today, that shows that 34% of the country would vote for me. (cheers)
“NBC Nightly News declared that it is no longer a two-man race, it is a three-man race. (cheers) And if you do the math, all I really need, theoretically, is 34 points to win the election because if it is a three-way tie, and I get 34, it is winner-take-all.”
Texas’ fertility rate up 2%
A recent report from the University of Houston found that the fertility rate in Texas increased by 2% in 2022. This followed the state’s Heartbeat Act going into effect in 2021. It’s the first time the Texas fertility rate increased since 2014.
Life News reports the Heartbeat Act translated into about 8,000 more children being born in the Lone Star state in 2022. Life News also noted a “35.7 percent decline in the Texas teen-fertility rate since 2016. Overall, the Lone Star State has seen impressive long-term reductions in teen pregnancies, teen births, and teen abortions.”
United Church of Christ declines after pushing homosexual sin
The United Church of Christ reports it lost 286,000 members from 2012 to 2022. The mainline Protestant denomination also lost over 500 congregations over the same time period.
It started to see significant losses after 2005 when it passed a resolution that year in favor of faux homosexual marriage.
Just between 2020 and 2022, the United Church of Christ dropped from 4,794 congregations to 4,603 congregations. And membership declined from 773,000 to 712,000.
Americans view small businesses, the military and churches favorably
Pew Research released a new survey on how Americans view institutions.
U.S. adults are most likely to view small businesses positively at 86%, followed by the military at 60% and churches and religious organizations at 59%.
Americans are least likely to view large corporations positively at 29%, followed by banks at 37%, colleges at 53%, and public schools at 53%.
2.6 billion people worldwide identify as Christian
And finally, the Center for the Study of Global Christianity released their 2024 report.
The report estimates there will be about 2.6 billion people who identify as Christian this year.
Africa and Asia are home to some of the fastest growing Christian populations. About 734 million Christians live in Africa, and 425 million live in Asia, both with growth rates of over 2%.
Evangelical and Pentecostal groups are the fastest growing among Christian denominations. An estimated 445,000 will be sent out this year. And an estimated 28% of the world has no access to the Gospel, down from 54% back in 1900.
Speaking of Christ, Isaiah 9:7 says, “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Thursday, February 8th in the year of our Lord 2024. 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.