It’s Monday, July 24th, A.D. 2023. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Adam McManus
14 female hostages rescued in Congo, Africa
On July 21st, Ugandan and Congo security forces rescued 14 female hostages from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamic terrorist group in eastern Congo, reports International Christian Concern.
Elements of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces and the Armed Forces of Congo executed the rescue in North Kivu province as part of “Operation Shujaa” which means “Operation Courage.”
An ADF group responsible for the June 2023 terrorist attack in Uganda, that killed 45 students in western Uganda, was holding the hostages.
Conflict in eastern Congo has been ongoing since the late 1990s, causing 3.9 million deaths since 1998, according to the International Rescue Committee. Ethnic armed groups—including the March 23 Movement (M23) and Islamic extremist groups, such as the ISIS-affiliated ADF, have contributed to destabilizing the region.
The Muslim oppressors would be wise to heed God’s call for justice which He issued to the evil leaders of Israel in Ezekial 45:9. “Give up your violence and oppression and do what is just and right.”
European Christians look back on the effects of the COVID-19 crisis
Three years after the COVID-19 outbreak that lead to a closure of almost everything in Europe, German theologians of the Evangelical Church met in the city of Erfurt to look back at how the social crisis was handled, reports Evangelical Focus.
The Bishop for Central Germany, Friedrich Kramer, said some restrictions implemented to contain the coronavirus were “terribly excessive.” One of the mistakes was that church buildings were closed for far too long.
Plus, Rochus Leonhardt, a theologian, said the Protestant Church presented the COVID shot as an almost “sacred” act.
And Slovakia restricted church attendance as late as Easter 2021 which was far longer than other European countries.
Tucker Carlson vs. Asa Hutchison on transgender bill
Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson asked former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchison, a GOP presidential candidate, some tough questions at the Family Leadership Summit on July 14th in Des Moines, Iowa.
Listen.
CARLSON: “So, I wanted to talk to you about your veto of the anti-puberty blocker/trans surgery bill in April of 2021. At the time, you said that the bill was extreme, in that it would interfere with the treatment of minors seeking to transition from male to female or female to male.”
HUTCHISON: “I sided with parents on that bill in managing the most sensitive issue that a parent can face. And I believe in a limited role of government.”
CARLSON: “If you have a child who is born a boy who says, ‘I want to become a girl,’ he hasn’t gone through puberty yet, he’s say 10. Is it treatment to prevent him from going through the natural process of adolescence? How is that treatment? It seems not really treatment; it seems like something else.” (applause)
HUTCHISON: “Well, you have … Tucker, I hope that we’ll be able to talk about some issues. I know that …”
CARLSON: “Well, this is one of the biggest issues in the country. And I think every person in this room would agree (applause and cheering) that it is a central issue because it these are children who are being altered permanently. And you can defend that alteration, that change, if you like, but there’s really no debate about whether or not it’s permanent. And so I think it’s fair to ask you in a calm, rational, and very much, I hope, polite way, why you would support that?”
HUTCHISON: “Whenever you look at children and what they’re challenged with in life, I think it’s important that in the most sensitive issues that parents are able to guide them through that challenge.”
In Matthew 18:6, Jesus says, “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in Me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
Why a 12-year-old girl and her 10-year-old brother gave to The Worldview
Five siblings in Lexington Park, Maryland — Lydia, Isaac, Abigail, Anna and Eva — pooled their money together and made a donation to The Worldview.
I first talked with Lydia, the oldest, who just turned 12.
McMANUS: “How much money did you give to help with The Worldview?”
LYDIA: “$20.”
McMANUS: “Why did you want to give that money?”
LYDIA: “So that The Worldview in 5 Minutes, that we can still listen to it.”
McMANUS: “Terrific. What do you like about it?”
LYDIA: “I like that it says a lot of Scripture verses. And I like that it talks a lot about hard things that are going on around to the world.”
McMANUS: “Are you talking about how sometimes we talk about the Christians in other places that are being hurt because they believe in Jesus?”
LYDIA: “Yes.”
McMANUS: “Okay. Do you remember a country where that happens a lot?”
LYDIA: “Iraq and Iran and China.”
I asked Lydia where the $20 came from.
LYDIA: “I had a lawn-mowing business company in our old house that we lived at. She paid us, me and Isaac, $40. I would cut the lawn and Isaac would weed whack. So, I would get $20, and he would get $20.”
McMANUS: “And how old are you?”
LYDIA: “Ele… Oh, sorry. Twelve. I just had my birthday.”
McMANUS: “And how old is Isaac?”
LYDIA: “He is 10.”
McMANUS: “Wow. All right. So, is Isaac there\? Can I talk to Isaac too? Yes.”
ISAAC: “Hi, Mr. Adam.”
McMANUS: “Hi. How are you, Isaac? It’s good to talk to you.”
ISAAC: “Good to talk to you, too.”
McMANUS: “Thank you for the money that you gave. How much money did you give to The Worldview?”
ISAAC: “Same. $20.”
McMANUS: “What??”
ISAAC: “I have a lot of money.”
McMANUS: “Have you lost your mind?”
ISAAC: “No.”
McMANUS: (laughs) “Well, that’s very kind of you, very generous.”
ISAAC: “Thank you.”
McMANUS: “Why did you want to give the money?”
ISAAC: “Because I really like The Worldview in 5 Minutes. It tells me about things I can pray for and things we can do. I just really like it. It tells us about facts that I don’t know, that I really want to know about and things that are happening all around me.”
McMANUS: “That’s terrific!”
A homeschool mother’s challenger to grandparents
I also talked with Lydia and Isaac’s homeschool mother, Michelle, who has been listening to The Worldview for nine months now.
She explained why she appreciates the newscast.
MICHELLE: “We love that we can know how to pray for the persecuted church. We don’t hear about that often. And the fact that sin is called sin. We love that. And the practical things that we can do. I can’t tell you how many times, at the end of the broadcast, we take action in some way, whether it’s writing a letter, an email, a phone call. We love that there’s practical things we can do to apply what we’re learning. And, of course, all the verses that you put in. We appreciate that too.”
Michelle issued a financial challenge to the grandparents around the globe.
MICHELLE: “There’s a lot of grandparents out there that want to help encourage the next generation. And what better way than to keep this type of newscast on? We need to meet our goals.
“So, I challenge all the grandparents out there to give generously if you had a number in your head, give double that! What better way to help spur on the next generation to good works and disciple them in the way that grandparents should be a part of that. This is an easy way to take that step.”
14 Worldview listeners gave $4,576
On Friday and Saturday, 14 Worldview listeners donated toward our $80,000 goal by Monday, July 31st to keep this unique Christian newscast on the air for another year.
Our thanks to an anonymous donor who gave $5, Dean in Paulden, Arizona who gave $21, as well as Victoria in Ronks, Pennsylvania and Sandy in Janesville, Iowa – both of whom gave $50, and Luke in Paignton, Ontario, Canada who pledged $5/month for 12 months for a total gift of $60.
We thank God for Russell in Antioch, Tennessee who gave $100, Jody in Westerlo, New York who gave $150 as well as Bethany in San Antonio, Texas and Gary in Westminster, Colorado – both of whom gave $250, and Sarah in Madera, California who gave $300.
And we were touched by the kindness of Jenifer in San Antonio, Texas who gave $500, Michelle and her kids Lydia, Isaac, Abigail, Anna and Eva in Lexington Park, Maryland who gave $640, members of Sovereign Grace Singles, a reformed Christian dating website, who matched four Worldview listeners with a gift of $1,000, and Robert in Prescott, Arizona who pledged $100/month for 12 months for a gift of $1,200.
Those 14 new donations add up to $4,576. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (Drum roll sound effect) $51,686.16 (Crowd cheering sound effect) That means we missed our weekend goal by $8,313.84.
We only have one week left to cross the finish line of $80,000 by Monday, July 31st. Honestly, we’re behind the eight ball, needing to still raise $28,313.84. I’m getting nervous, but I am trusting the Lord will put it on your heart to give.
We need 10 more people to pledge $100/month, 13 more people to pledge $50/month and 26 more to pledge $25/month.
Just go to TheWorldview.com and click on “Give” at the top right to give what the Lord is prompting you to donate. Make sure to select the “Recurring” tab, if that’s your wish.
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Monday, July 24th in the year of our Lord 2023. 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.