It’s Friday, March 27th, A.D. 2020. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Jonathan Clark
Chinese Communists ban online preaching, remove 2 crosses
During the coronavirus outbreak in China, churches in the country are meeting online, but that hasn’t stopped the Communist regime from continuing their persecution of the church.
Officials in Shandong province banned online preaching last month and ordered the eradication of underground churches.
This month, Chinese officials removed two church crosses and demolished an entire church building.
Also, the first picture of Chinese Pastor Wang Yi of Early Rain Covenant Church has emerged since he was arrested in December 2018 on false charges. The photo shows Yi has lost a lot of weight. Please pray for him.
Coronavirus hitting world’s poorest countries
The novel coronavirus pandemic is now taking off in some of the world’s poorest countries like Venezuela in South America, Pakistan in South Asia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa.
South Africa’s president announced a 21-day lockdown on Monday, and the country had 709 cases as of Wednesday, a six-fold increase in a week. As of Wednesday, cases in Africa surpassed 2,400 across 43 countries.
India’s prime minister similarly announced a nationwide lockdown on Tuesday with 562 cases as of Wednesday, a five-fold increase in ten days.
Israeli Prime Minister: “We survived Pharaoh, we will survive corona”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced new travel restrictions on Wednesday to deal with the coronavirus that has infected 2,693 people and killed eight in the country so far.
Netanyahu quoted Deuteronomy 4:15, “Take good heed unto yourselves,” as he called on citizens to stay home, reports CBN News.
NETANYAHU: “The exodus from Egypt reminds us that our people have withstood fierce storms. This gives strength. This gives hope. We survived Pharaoh and though the battle will be hard and uncompromising, we will also survive corona, with God’s help and with yours, citizens of Israel.”
Trump’s pro-life policy defunded abortion groups $153 million
A new report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office shows that 54 abortion groups have refused American taxpayer funding after President Donald Trump reinstated the Mexico City Policy in the first week of his presidency.
The policy bans U.S. funding of international groups that promote or perform abortions. Ninety-six percent of the global health grantees complied with the policy, leaving nearly fifty groups defunded of $153 million.
The main abortion groups to lose funding were the International Planned Parenthood Federation and the U.K.-based Marie Stopes International.
Trump wants churches open for Easter
On Tuesday, President Trump said a team of public health experts and economists are working on a careful plan to re-open the American economy, something Trump hopes can happen by Easter.
In an interview with Fox News Channel’s Bill Hemmer, Trump said he has enjoyed attending online church services but that he hopes Americans can get back to church by Easter.
TRUMP: “Wouldn’t it be great to have all of the churches full? You know, the churches aren’t allowed essentially to have much of a congregation there. And most of them—I watched on Sunday—online, and he was terrific by the way. But online is never going to be like being there. So, I think Easter Sunday, and you’ll have packed churches all over our country. I think it would be a beautiful time. I’m not sure that’s going to be the day, but I would love to aim it right at Easter Sunday so we’re open for church service.”
Psalm 122:1 says, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the LORD.’”
3.28 million Americans file for unemployment
According to the Labor Department, 3.28 million Americans filed unemployment claims over the last week during the coronavirus lockdown.
The number beats the 2009 Great Recession peak of 665,000 and smashes the all-time high of 695,000 in October 1982.
How churches are blessing people during coronavirus
And finally, churches across America are stepping up to help their communities during the coronavirus outbreak.
Ed Stetzer, the Billy Graham Chair of Church, Mission, and Evangelism at Wheaton College, asked pastors what their churches are doing.
Some churches are providing food boxes to hundreds of families while others are helping their elderly members get groceries. Churches are helping feed healthcare workers as well as even taking care of their children, while others are running a blood drive.
Churches have also had increased viewership of their services online.
Throughout history, the church has been known for ministering the love of Christ through times of disease and pandemic.
Jesus said in Matthew 25:40, “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Friday, March 27th in the year of our Lord 2020. 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.