It’s Thursday, July 27th, A.D. 2023. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Jonathan Clark
Ukrainian government persecuting Ukrainian Orthodox Church
The Ukrainian government is reportedly carrying out persecution against members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church since Russia invaded the country. The church is affiliated with the Orthodox patriarchate in Moscow.
The United Nations Human Rights Office for the High Commissioner released a report on Ukraine, covering February through April of this year.
The report stated, “During the reporting period, the [Ukrainian] Government and local authorities took several measures targeting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church: [… they] notably searched places of worship and other UOC facilities, [issued] 12 notices of suspicions against clergymen, and placed several of them under house arrest.”
European Gen Zers pray and attend church when elders don’t
Ipsos released a survey of 19,000 people from 26 countries recently, focusing on Europe.
The report noted, “In countries where religious practice is high, older adults tend to engage in it more than the young, while in countries where religious practice is low, young people tend to have higher engagement.”
For example, Gen Zers are more likely to pray and go to a place of worship than Boomers in many European countries.
Young people were especially interested in religion in Sweden, Germany, Great Britain, and France.
Fewer Americans say “religion is important”
Meanwhile in the United States, Gallup released a survey on what aspects of life Americans say are very important to them.
U.S. adults are most likely to say that family (96%), health (92%), and friends (78%) are important. That has remained unchanged for about 20 years.
However, other life aspects have been growing in their importance with Americans. Community activities, hobbies, and money saw the most increase in importance.
Only one life aspect actually saw fewer Americans say it was important to them—religion. Fifty-eight percent now say religion is important, down from 65% in 2001.
In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on Earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven . . . For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Maskless Christian arrested in 2020 outdoor hymn sing awarded $300,000 settlement
An Idaho Christian won a $300,000 settlement from the city of Moscow, Idaho last week.
Gabriel Rench, a church deacon, attended an outdoor Psalm Sing in the city back in 2020. He and two hundred others were protesting Moscow’s COVID-19 restrictions. Police arrested Rench for not wearing a mask outside.
He explained what happened at the moment of his arrest.
RENCH: “They arrest me. They took away my hymn book to put handcuffs on me which is insanity. They took my hymnbook away from me to handcuff me. And it’s just a moment that really shocked the nation.”
The Thomas More Society represented him against the city. Michael Jacques with the group said, “Mr. Rench and the other worshippers who were arrested had their constitutionally-protected liberties violated and their lives disrupted – not only by the inappropriate actions of law enforcement officers, but also by city officials who did not immediately act to correct this unlawful arrest.”
Rench told CBN News what his victory means to Christians and non-Christians alike.
RENCH: “I’ve had a charge, where even Christians have said this, ‘Oh, you aren’t loving your neighbor. You aren’t loving your community because you’re suing your city.’ The reality is I actually am loving my neighbor. Because what I just did in my victory, I reminded everybody that our constitutional rights matter to everybody, not just to the Christians who’ve already been maligned in town, but to everybody.
“So, next time someone goes to exercise their First Amendment rights, they’re far more confident than they were before that my First Amendment rights are protected in town because of Gabriel Rench’s lawsuit.”
Psalm 135:14 says, “The LORD will vindicate His people and have compassion on His servants.”
Two San Antonio, Texas grandparents who accepted Michelle’s “Grandparents Challenge”
Joyce and Terry in San Antonio, Texas told me how they discovered The Worldview newscast and what they like about it.
JOYCE: “Well, we’ve been listening to you for a little while. Our son, he was telling us about your program. So, we started listening to it. We like it. I go out walking and I listened to it and my husband started walking with me. So, we’ve been listening together.
“We appreciate the honesty of your message every day and we look forward to it. It’s just uplifting to listen to you and to listen to the stories because we certainly never hear any of that on the other news that we don’t watch anymore. It’s about the only thing we can listen to that is uplifting.”
Her husband, Terry, appreciated our unashamed affirmation of the sanctity of unborn human life.
TERRY: “I just love your perspective on the unborn and abortion. We are strongly pro-life. Every time I’m listening to anybody on the radio that has a positive outlook on that I’m always very appreciative.”
Joyce also referenced my conversations with children who have chosen to donate their own tithe money to fund the newscast.
JOYCE: “And I love your interviews with the little children too when you talk to them about the money they’ve given and why they’ve given it. It’s just so sweet and you’re a very kind person.”
I asked Joyce what prompted them to give $2,000 recently.
JOYCE: “We had a figure in our mind and then we put it off and we didn’t do it. Then, we got another figure in our mind. And then we heard the lady a couple of days ago.”
TERRY: “And she said, ‘All you grandparents — pick a number and then double it.’ (laughter) She challenged us.”
McMANUS: “Is that what you did? You had a number and you doubled it?”
JOYCE: “Well.
TERRY: “Yeah!”
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 and 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.”
JOYCE: “Well, the number had gotten doubled a couple of times anyway. (laughter) And then when we heard her, we were at a certain number. And then we said, ‘Okay, well, all right. Yes, God!”
McMANUS: “You went from $1,000 to $2,000. That’s how you got to $2,000?”
JOYCE: “That’s correct.”
McMANUS: “That’s incredible! All because Michelle in Lexington Park, Maryland, issued a grandparents’ challenge.”
JOYCE: “Right.”
McMANUS: “How many grandchildren do you have? And what do they mean to you?”
JOYCE: “We have eight grandchildren and they are very important in our lives, and we love them very much. And then we have seven great grandchildren. It’s a beautiful thing. God has blessed us so much. We’re very grateful and we want them to be able to hear your newscast.”
9 Worldview listeners gave $3,675
Yesterday, 9 Worldview listeners donated toward our $80,000 goal by Monday, July 31st to keep this unique Christian newscast on the air for another year.
We’re grateful for Brian and Tammy in Chepachet, Rhode Island who gave $25 as well as Scott in Lexington, Kentucky and Jeanne in Thomasville, North Carolina – both of whom gave $100, as well as Greg and Regina in Lodi, California who gave $250.
And we were touched by the kindness of Keith in Aiken, South Carolina who pledged $25/month for 12 months for a total gift of $300, Justin in Wray, Colorado who gave $500, Susanna in Charlotte, North Carolina and Marvin in Lebanon, Tennessee – both of whom pledged $50/month for 12 months for a total gift of $600 each as well as Larry and Sue in Crooked Creek, Alberta, Canada who pledged $100/month for 12 months for a total gift of $1,200.
Those 9 new donations add up to $3,675. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (Drum roll sound effect) $76,266.41. (Crowd cheering sound effect)
In order to hit the $80,000 goal by Monday, July 31st, we still need to raise $3,733.59. We are so close!
To raise $80,000, we need to find 1 more person to pledge $100/month, 2 more people to pledge $50/month, and 4 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 Thursday, July 27th 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.