It’s Thursday, April 7th, A.D. 2022. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Jonathan Clark
Chinese Communists release two Christians from prison
Last week, Chinese Communists released two Christians from prison who were sentenced for attending a Christian conference in Malaysia last year.
Originally, authorities arrested five Christians for attending the conference and released three of them previously. Now, all of the believers are free.
Wang Runyun of Xuncheng Reformed Church said after his release, “My family, we are home! Just letting you know we are well! Thank you all for your prayers during this time. We are grateful!”
One of the Christians who was previously released said they experienced God’s grace in prison and shared the Gospel with other prisoners.
Dean of Ukrainian seminary killed in war
As The Worldview reported yesterday, the bodies of 400 Ukrainian civilians were discovered as Russian forces have withdrawn from Kyiv.
Sadly, the Kiev Slavic Evangelical Seminary confirmed one of the civilian casualties was their dean.
The seminary wrote, “Vitaliy Vinogradov, our dear brother and coworker, was found dead in Bucha. There are no words to express the sorrow of our hearts. He will be greatly missed!”
The U.S. leveled new sanctions against Russian banks and elites yesterday in response to what President Joe Biden called “major war crimes.”
Joni & Friends evacuated 300 disabled Ukrainians
The Christian ministry, Joni and Friends, has helped to evacuate nearly 300 people with disabilities from war-torn Ukraine.
The ministry’s founder, Joni Eareckson Tada, told CBN News their partners and teams are risking their lives to evacuate those in need.
EARECKSON TADA: “So, a lot of these people with disabilities are stuck in apartment buildings; a lot of them are in basements. The plight there of individuals with disabilities is horrific. But we’ve been working with our in-country, partner Galena.
“Galena and our teams have been out searching for these people, even in the most dangerous eastern parts of Ukraine, to rescue them and get them across the border and to safe haven in not only Poland, but Germany and the Netherlands. And we’ve evacuated over 300 people with disabilities and caregivers. And we’re still active, believe me.”
To donate to Joni and Friends, to help rescue the disabled in Ukaine, give through their website JoniAndFriends.org, spelled J-O-N-I and Friends dot o-r-g.
Matthew 25:35 says, “For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in.”
Kentucky protects churches from discrimination
Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed a bill on Tuesday to protect churches from being shut down during a state of emergency.
Lawmakers passed the bill in response to orders from Beshear during the COVID-19 pandemic that discriminated against churches.
Republican Rep. Shane Baker sponsored the bill, calling Beshear’s orders “a direct assault on our God-given rights that are protected in the Constitution.”
You can send a thank you note to Rep. Baker to the address we have listed in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com. 702 Capital Ave, Annex Room 432B, Frankfort, KY 40601
Colorado Democrat Governor signs pro-abortion bill
Colorado Democrat Gov. Jared Polis, a self-professed homosexual who is faux married to a man, signed a pro-abortion bill into law on Monday.
The law calls abortion a “fundamental right,” denies all rights to unborn babies, and prohibits cities from banning abortions. The law effectively allows abortion up to birth.
Oklahoma House bans nearly all abortions
In contrast, the Oklahoma House approved a bill on Tuesday that bans nearly all abortions and makes abortion a felony, punishable with 10 years in prison.
The bill now heads to Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt.
Arizona Gov. signs pro-life bill & bans transgender surgeries on kids
Meanwhile in Arizona, Republican Gov. Doug Ducey signed several conservative proposals last week.
Senate Bills 1138 & 1165 protects participation and fairness for female athletes and bans transgender surgeries on minors.
Senate Bill 1164 bans abortions in most cases after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
U.S. COVID hospitalizations dropped 32%
COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S. have fallen 32% to the lowest level on record. New cases and deaths have also continued to fall.
However, the CDC released a survey on the devastating effects of lockdowns on young people.
The study found that 44.2% of 9th to 12th graders experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, 19.9% had seriously considered attempting suicide, and 9% had attempted suicide.
Scripture-engaged Americans dropped by 21%
And finally, the American Bible Society released their 2022 State of the Bible report.
Thirty-nine percent of adults qualified as Bible users this year, down from 50% last year. Scripture-engaged Americans dropped by 21% while the Bible-disengaged category grew by 38%.
The report noted, “In 2022, Americans are less likely than ever before to say that the Bible is influencing the way they live out their faith in relationship to others.”
Ten percent of Americans say they read the Bible daily; 16% read the Bible at least weekly; 7% monthly; 15% at least yearly; 12% less than yearly; and 40% never read the Bible. Evangelical Protestants were the most likely to read the Bible regularly.
James 1:22, 25 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. . . . He who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the word, this one will be blessed in what he does.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Thursday, April 7th, in the year of our Lord 2022. 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.