It’s Thursday, January 25th, 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
Myanmar military deploying air strikes to destroy churches
A report by the Myanmar Witness project confirmed that multiple air strikes destroyed churches in Myanmar last year.
Christians in the Buddhist-majority nation have faced high levels of persecution, especially in recent years.
The airstrikes hit churches in Myanmar’s Chin State which is predominately Christian. Since 2021, internal conflict in the country has destroyed 67 church buildings in the state.
Benedict Rogers with Christian Solidarity Worldwide wrote, “Bombing churches is much more than just collateral damage. Targeting them is part of a deliberate strategy.”
Please pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters in Myanmar.
Matthew 5:10 says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.”
Sweden voted in as newest NATO member
On Tuesday, the parliament of Turkey approved Sweden’s bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Turkish President Recep Erdoğan is expected to sign the legislation.
Sweden applied to the western military alliance in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Sweden is one step closer to joining and only needs the approval of Hungary now.
49 U.S. abortion mills shut down last year
Operation Rescue released its annual survey of American abortion facilities for 2023.
The report found 49 abortion mills shut down last year. Another 88 shut down in 2022 when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The latest update from Operation Rescue noted even more mills shut down since November of last year.
Sadly, the pro-life group said there has been an “alarming rise in dangerous mail-order abortions.”
Political independents are the largest voting bloc
Gallup reports that political independents remain the largest voting bloc in U.S. politics since 2008.
About 43% of American adults identified as independents last year. Republican and Democrat identification tied at 27% each.
Democrat identification is down from a 38% high in 2008, while Republican identification is only slightly down from 28% over the same period.
United Methodist Church lost 25% of congregations over sexual perversion
Last week, The Lewis Center for Church Leadership released its final report on disaffiliations from the United Methodist Church.
The mainline Protestant denomination lost 25% of its congregations since 2019 over the issue of Biblical marriage.
Many churches are joining theologically conservative denominations instead, like the Global Methodist Church.
37% of teens working or looking for work
The U.S. Labor Department reports that 37% of teenagers were working or looking for work last year. It’s the highest labor rate for high schoolers since 2009.
Younger workers also saw the largest increase in starting pay last year.
Teen workers are reversing decades of decline following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ohio legislature vs. Governor on transgender agenda
Ohio’s legislature has voted to override Republican Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto of Ohio House Bill 68.
The bill prohibits transgender surgeries and drugs for minors and bans men, pretending to be women, from playing in women’s sports.
Ohio’s Senate voted to override the veto yesterday. The state’s House voted the same way earlier this month.
Pastor Mark Robinette died in house fire trying to save his two sons
And finally, it is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the tragic deaths of Ohio Pastor Mark Robinette, age 55, as well as two of his sons, Gideon, who was 17, and Liam who was 10.
A fire broke out at the family’s house in the early morning hours on Tuesday. As flames engulfed their dwelling, Pastor Mark got most of his family to safety. His last selfless act on this Earth was spent trying to rescue Gideon and Liam, but the flames took all three.
Pastor Mark leaves behind his beloved wife Andrea and six children — Nathanael, Elizabeth, Benjamin, Rebekah, Anna, and Valiant. He was a selfless man, always ready to run to the aid of anyone in need, physically or spiritually. Pastor Mark worked in full-time ministry for over 30 years and was the founding pastor of Foundation Church of Mount Sterling, Ohio. Gideon was a bright, generous, and loving young man, always ready to help anyone. And Liam was a shining light of joy and a blessing to all. They will be greatly missed by their community.
Pastor Mark was a two-time Associated Press award-winning investigative journalist, wrote for numerous magazines and newspapers, and authored the book Myanmar Gold, introducing the world to the incredible indigenous church leader, Naing Thang, in Myanmar. Pastor Mark also founded Mission to Myanmar, as the New York Post reported, Missions to the Americas, Foundations of Grace Publishing, and the Chin Heritage Foundation. He even contributed as a writer to this very newscast.
Above all, Pastor Mark Robinette is remembered for his passionate love for God and for the church, loving others and laying down his life to the very end. Proverbs 3:5-6 was often on his lips and exemplified in his life: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”
Please keep the Robinette family in your prayers and consider giving a donation through a GoFundMe campaign linked in our transcript today at TheWorldview.com.
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Thursday, January 25th 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.