It’s Thursday, August 15th, A.D. 2019. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus.
By Jonathan Clark
Muslim terrorist group, Boko Haram, terrorizing Africa
Boko Haram is a major terrorist force across African countries like Niger, Chad, Nigeria, and Cameroon, perpetrating violence, kidnapping, robbery, and terror. This year alone, the Islamic group kidnapped nearly one person a day in Niger, reports International Christian Concern.
At the end of last month, persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA called on the Nigerian government to investigate unconfirmed reports that Christian Nigerian girl Leah Sharibu had been killed by extremists.
16-year-old Leah has been in Boko Haram captivity since February of 2018 for refusing to renounce her faith in Christ. Please pray for her and all those in the region persecuted for simply following Jesus.
How the church has grown globally
The church of Jesus Christ continues to grow throughout the Earth.
Over a century ago, most of the world’s Christians were in America and Europe, and most Christian missionaries were also sent from the West. Meanwhile, only about six percent of Christians were from Africa and Asia.
Now however, over a third of Christians hail from Africa or Asia. And Pew Research projects Africa will be the most Christian-populated continent in the next 40 years.
Not only that, the global south is becoming a major missions sending force, according to the World Christian Database by Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Between 2010 and 2015, African missionaries increased by 32 percent and Korean missionaries increased by 50 percent.
Isaiah 9:7 says of Christ, “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.”
New drugs has Ebola on the run in Congo, Africa
Scientists are testing several new drugs to treat Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa. And the research shows 90 percent of people treated with the most effective drug can survive if treated early enough.
On Tuesday, two people were released from a treatment center in Goma, eastern Congo after being cured of Ebola with the experimental drugs. Health officials say everyone with Ebola in the country will be treated with the new drugs.
Bible publishers grateful that Chinese tariff doesn’t apply
On August 1, President Donald Trump announced a 10 percent tariff hike on $300 billion worth of Chinese goods to go into effect on September 1.
Christian publishers are thankful, though, that the Bible is exempted from the tariff as China is, ironically enough, the world’s largest Bible publisher. Christian publishers in the U.S. had warned the tariff would have made some Bible translations too costly to produce.
6 Philly cops shot in standoff
As Philadelphia police were serving a narcotics warrant around 4:30 p.m. yesterday afternoon, the suspect opened fire with a long rifle, shooting at least six officers during the gun battle.
Police Commissioner Richard Ross Jr. explained what happened on CBS’ Philadelphia affiliate, Channel 3.
ROSS: “Officers were serving a narcotics warrant in a house of the 3600 block of North 15th Street. They had already entered the premises and gotten towards the rear in the kitchen area when gunfire erupted. The shooter fired multiple rounds. Officers returned fire, many of whom escaped from windows and doors to escape from a barrage of bullets. There are six police officers who were struck by gunfire. Thankfully, they are all in stable condition. They were struck throughout their bodies. Got an officer shot in the arms. Fortunately, everybody is going to be okay. Having been at that scene for the last couple of hours, trying to talk to this male, he continues to fire rounds out of the window. So, this situation is in no way resolved.”
As of The Worldview’s deadline, the Philadelphia gunman remains armed inside the house. Please pray for a peaceful outcome there.
Kentucky GOP Governor Matt Bevin signs “Heartbeat Bill”
Kentucky Republican Governor Matt Bevin signed a “fetal heartbeat bill” into law last Thursday, banning the murder of unborn babies after six weeks of pregnancy.
Three other anti-abortion laws were also signed the same day. The Chemical Abortion Reporting Act requires physicians to inform patients of reversal medication abortions. The Human Rights of the Unborn Child and Anti-Discrimination Act bans abortions on babies based on sex, race, or disability. And House Bill 148 would ban all abortions in the state in the case of Roe v. Wade being overturned.
NJ Mayor: Perverted curriculum is “an affront to Almighty God”
Mayor Alfonso Cirulli of Barnegat, New Jersey spoke out on Tuesday against a recent state law requiring public schools to teach children about contributions of people committed to sexual perversions in American history, reports ChristianNews.net.
Isaiah 10:1 says, “Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who keep writing oppression.”
CIRULLI: “No group has a right to force others to comply with their beliefs, deprive them of their First Amendment rights, and strip the rights of parents of how to morally raise their children.”
Cirulli described homosexual activism as “an affront to Almighty God” and that it was his duty to protect the people. He said, “Now is the time for the righteous to stand up for their rights.”
You can send Mayor Cirulli an email of gratitude for his bold stand to acirulli@barnegat.net. We have the email address listed in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com.
Dow Jones dropped by 800 points
The Dow Jones industrial average fell 800 points yesterday, or about three percent, its worst day of the year, along with two major U.S. indices, as recession signals intensified.
Economic data from countries like Germany, the U.K., Argentina, and China also signal slowing growth internationally.
Chick-Fil-A founder’s sons pledged to “Christ’s Lordship in our lives”
In January 2000, current Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy met with his father and founder of the company, S. Truett Cathy, about carrying on the Christian values of Chick-fil-A.
Dan pledged, along with his siblings Bubba and Trudy, to “be faithful to Christ’s Lordship in our lives. As committed Christians we will live a life of selfless devotion to His calling in our lives.” The covenant also included the company remaining closed on Sundays.
Dan has been true to his promise after taking over the company in 2013. The company’s annual revenue in 2000 was $1 billion. This year, Chick-fil-A hit $10.5 billion.
God said in 1 Samuel 2:30, “For those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Thursday, August 15th in the year of our Lord 2019. 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.