It’s Wednesday, March 13th, 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
Haitian unrest continues
Civil unrest in Haiti is affecting churches across the Caribbean nation.
Christian leaders and missionaries have faced abduction for years as gang activity has increased.
Archbishop Max Leroy Mésidor of Port-au-Prince told Aid to the Church in Need, “There are kidnappings everywhere. As soon as you leave [the capital], you are in danger. … The gangs even come into the churches to kidnap the people there. … We must bear our cross and follow Christ. … The most important thing is that the Church continues to bring people together despite all the difficulties.”
Haitian Prime Minister to resign over gang violence
On Monday, Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced he will step down in response to widespread gang violence.
Last week, armed groups freed thousands of inmates from two of Haiti’s largest prisons. Gangs now control about 80% of the country’s capital. The United Nations estimates that 1.5 million people are starving during the unrest.
Dr. David Vanderpool, who heads LiveBeyond, a ministry to Haiti, talked to CBN News.
VANDERPOOL: “This is sort of the culmination of gangs running the country for the last three or four years. The government has collapsed. The President was assassinated in 2021. The judiciary was also terminated as well as the parliament. So, there’s not been an effective government in place since 2021.
“The gangs have had full run of the country. We need to pray for the safety of the individuals, especially the vulnerable populations, pregnant women and children, older people. We need to pray that we’re able to get food and medicine into Haiti.”
Trump loyalists cut 60 jobs at Republican National Committee
In the United States, former President Donald Trump continues to cement his control of the Republican National Committee.
Last week, he overwhelmingly won Republican primaries on Super Tuesday.
Last Friday, the Republican National Committee voted to make Michael Whatley its new chair and Lara Trump its co-chair. Whatley was the chair of the North Carolina Republican Party and fully supports Trump. Lara is Trump’s daughter-in-law.
Just days after installing his new leadership team at the Republican National Committee, Trump’s lieutenants cut dozens of staff across key departments, reports the Associated Press.
More than 60 people were fired in all, including senior staff in the political, data and communications departments inside the committee’s Washington headquarters.
Only 12% of voters say abortion most important issue
A new poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation found only 12% of voters say abortion is the most important issue for their vote this year.
Of those who said abortion is the most important issue, most of them were young, Democrat voters.
Republicans were more likely to view abortion as a moral issue than Democrats. But 43% of Republicans support abortion in all or most cases. Only 14% say abortion should be illegal.
U.S. gov’t identifying Christians & Trump-aligned citizens as threat
Alliance Defending Freedom has shared a disturbing report from a U.S. congressional subcommittee about federal surveillance.
According to the report, the government used banks to identify Americans it deemed as threats based on their financial activity related to religion and politics.
People could get flagged for keywords like “MAGA” and “TRUMP” or even the purchase of books including religious texts.
Inflation up again
Inflation continued to increase last month.
The consumer price index rose 0.4% during February. That’s up 3.2% compared to a year before.
Rising energy and shelter costs were behind the inflation which is still about the Federal Reserve’s target of 2%. The Fed is still expected to cut interest rates at some point this year.
Americans upset with bad economy
Pew Research released a survey on Americans’ top policy priorities after President Joe Biden delivered his State of the Union address last Thursday.
The most important issue to most Americans was strengthening the economy. Most U.S. adults are also very concerned about the price of food, consumer goods, and housing.
In Matthew 6:31-33, Jesus reminds us, “Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Franklin Graham concludes 10-city tour of Southern border
And finally, over the weekend, Evangelist Franklin Graham concluded his “God Loves You, Frontera Tour.“
He shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ in 10 cities across Texas, Arizona, and California that are facing the brunt of the border crisis.
Graham told CBN News he’s seen the highest response to the Gospel during the tour than anywhere else in the U.S.
GRAHAM: “This is kind of a forgotten part of the United States. Very poor, this border area. You have cartel people who take advantage and smugglers that take advantage. And you’ve got just good people that live here. They get caught in the middle of all this stuff. People are hungry, they’re hurting, and they’re hungry for truth.”
In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Wednesday, March 13th 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.