Monday, December 12th, in the year of our Lord 2016.
By Adam McManus
Nigerian Christians Killed in Church Accident
160 people were killed when a church roof collapsed on Saturday onto worshippers in southern Nigeria, reports the Associated Press. Local mortuaries are overflowing and the final death toll likely will be much higher. Congregants said the Reigners Bible Church was still under construction when it was crowded with worshippers to ordain a bishop. Metal girders crashed and the corrugated iron roof caved in.
Important Update on Christians in Syria
The World View spoke with William Stark, director of International Christian Concern in the Middle East about whether or not the Iraqi Christians who were displaced from Mosul by ISIS have plans to repopulate the city.
“Christians who were displaced from Mosul, when I’ve asked them, ‘Are you going to go back to Mosul now that it’s been retaken?’ They say, ‘Absolutely not. We will not go back there. We don’t trust the Muslims who have stayed there with ISIS. We feel like, somehow, the ideology of ISIS has been imparted to these folks so we don’t feel like we can trust them again.”
Stark explained the status of Qaraqosh, Iraq.
“In Qaraqosh, which was re-taken in October, all the churches have been ransacked and burned; 50% of the Christian houses have been burned to the point of unliveableness. They can’t depend on the Iraqi Government to provide them funds to rebuild their lives; but they don’t necessarily trust the Kurds to do this. They’ve been asking for help to create a place on the Nineveh plain where Christians can have their own place or special zone/self autonomy.”
Stark suggested how Western Christians can help.
“The first thing I would encourage everyone to do is to pray for these folks. They are facing a very uncertain future. … I would also encourage them to get involved with a ministry of some sort that is providing the actual physical aid to these folks. The last several years, ICC has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in the relief effort in providing homes, food, medicine, for the past 2.5 years…
“Honestly, the state of the church in the Middle East is one of the most important questions facing the global church today. How we take care of these very vulnerable folks is going to be reflective upon our generation.”
Matthew 5:10 says, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Compassion International Faces Eviction From India
India is cracking down on foreign non-governmental organizations based on fears that the groups are using humanitarian work to mask evangelization efforts, reports WORLD News Service. This could affect organizations like Compassion International, that provide poverty relief to children. Within the next three weeks, 80% of the 145,000 children supported by Compassion sponsors in India could lose that financial relief.
Pro Life Teacher Fired for Stance on Abortion
An unnamed 44-year-old male pro-life teacher was fired at a Vancouver, Canada high school after telling his 12th grade law class “I find abortion to be wrong,” reports the National Post.
U.S. Agrees to Help Fight Boko Harm
On December 8th, the United States House of Representatives unanimously approved a bi-partisan bill to help counter the African terrorist group called Boko Haram, known for their brutal tactics in northeast Nigeria, reports the World News Service. The bill directs the Departments of Defense and State to develop a five year strategy to adress this scourge that has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and more than two million exiles in Nigeria and neighboring countries.
Trump’s Choice for Secretary of State
Rudy Giuliani is out. Mitt Romney is out. Rex Tillerson, the CEO of ExxonMobil, appears to be first choice for Trump’s Secretary of State, according to several news sources. The 64-year-old veteran oil executive has no government or diplomatic experience, although he has ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Wall Street Journal reported that Tillerson backed Jeb Bush during the GOP presidential primary and did not donate to Trump’s campaign.
Abortion Activists Persecute Mike Pence
In a bizarre attempt to shame his pro-life views, 72,000 abortion activists have donated to Planned Parenthood in Vice President-elect, Mike Pence’s name, according to CBC News. While Trump is a recent convert to the pro-life cause, Pence has been a long-time champion for the rights of unborn babies. In addition to voting to defund the abortion chain Planned Parenthood when he was a U.S. Congressman, Indiana Governor Pence signed into law a bill to ban abortions based solely on an unborn baby’s disability, sex or race.
Companies That No Longer Support Planned Parenthood
Macy’s Department store is no longer giving funds to Planned Parenthood, according to a watchdog group 2ndVote.com. Other companies which recently decided to no longer financially support Planned Parenthood, include AT&T, Coca-Cola, Ford, and Xerox.
Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Trump Seeks Evangelical Leader’s Wisdom on Cabinet Picks
President-elect Donald Trump is asking evangelical Christian leaders for appointment recommendations at a higher level than previous presidents, says Dr. Richard Land, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary. In fact, the Christian Post reports that Trump will be keeping his Evangelical Advisory Board into his presidency which includes Dr. James Dobson, as well as Liberty University’s Jerry Falwell Jr.
Trump Greeted With Enthusiasm At Army-Navy Game
President-elect Donald Trump was greeted with cheers on his arrival at the annual Army-Navy game in Baltimore, Maryland on Saturday, reports the Associated Press. The future commander-in-chief, protected by panes of bulletproof glass, waved to the crowd and pumped his fist as he arrived during the first quarter of the 117th game between the military academies at West Point and Annapolis.
Trump spent the second half of the game in the box of retired Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North, a graduate of Annapolis. During the Ronald Reagan administration, North was the National Security Council aide most directly involved in providing military assistance to the Contras, a group seeking to overthrow Nicaragua’s left-leaning government.
Dylann Roof Admits His Guilt
Dylann Roof, the self-described white supremacist who killed nine black members including the senior pastor at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, is finally getting his day in court. In an FBI video, Roof admits to driving an hour to the historically black church and firing 70 rounds of his Glock .45-caliber pistol, claiming that he was motivated by revenge against blacks who murdered and raped whites and his hope of starting race riots.
Roof said he was “in absolute awe” that police weren’t waiting outside on June 17th, 2015 when he left the building. He had been prepared to kill himself in the event of a confrontation with police. If convicted, the 22-year-old could face the death penalty.
Genesis 9:6 declares, “Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind.”
Benham Brothers Urge Christians to Stand With Fixer Upper Stars
HGTV’s “Fixer Upper” stars Chip and Joanna Gaines are under fire from the left for attending a church where the pastor preaches a biblical message that homosexual behavior is a sin. Not only have 31,000 Christians signed the Family Research Council petition supporting the married couple in Waco, Texas, but now David and Jason Benham, Christian twin brother realtors, are urging believers to hang magnolia wreaths to support Chip and Joanna Gaines, reports the Christian Post.
The Benham Brothers, who lost their own HGTV show because they affirmed God’s design for sexuality was chastity before marriage and fidelity in heterosexual marriage, have now written a new book entitled Living Among Lions: How to Thrive like Daniel in Today’s Babylon.
And that’s the Worldview in 5 Minutes.