It’s Monday, July 12th, A.D. 2021. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Jonathan Clark
Iran sentences 3 Christian converts to 5 years imprisonment
Iranian authorities sentenced three Christian converts to five years in prison last month for “spreading propaganda against Islam.”
Amin Khaki, Milad Goudarzi, and Alireza Nourmohammadi are the first Christians sentenced under Iran’s new Article 500, aimed at suppressing the spread of Christianity.
Officials charged the Christians after they raided their homes and confiscated Bibles, phones, and computers.
Open Doors ranks Iran as the 8th worst country for the persecution of Christians.
Biden withdraws from Afghanistan as Taliban advances
President Joe Biden confirmed the end of the 20-year war in Afghanistan this month.
The U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan’s Bagram Airfield at the beginning of the month. The base was America’s center of operations during the war against the Taliban.
The U.S. plans to complete its withdrawal by August. Meanwhile, the Taliban is taking more and more territory and threatening the Afghan government.
New South Wales, Australia bans singing in churches
Australia is tightening coronavirus restrictions as COVID-19 cases are rising.
New South Wales officials told churches they could not have any singing during worship services. The ban also applies to a livestream service in a practically empty building.
The restrictions also require church leaders to wear a mask even during a livestream.
Isaiah 10:1 says, “Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, who write misfortune, which they have prescribed.”
Arizona examining 2 million ballots from 2020 election
Arizona officials are conducting a forensic audit of over two million ballots cast in Maricopa County during the 2020 presidential election. Contractors are examining problematic ballots, and a full report is expected later this summer.
Other states are also making moves to investigate ballots from the 2020 election. Pennsylvania is conducting an audit in Philadelphia County. Georgia is moving forward with an investigation of mail-in ballots in Fulton County. And Wisconsin officials are also starting a probe of their election results.
Centerville, Texas is 33rd city to ban murder of pre-born babies
Centerville, Texas, with a population of 1,000, became the 33rd city in the U.S. to ban the murder of pre-born babies last week.
Unfortunately, the city’s sanctuary ordinance for the unborn measure has some exceptions. However, it also bans abortion-inducing drugs.
The city council received hundreds of petitions in favor of the ordinance.
70% of Americans identify as Christian
Last week, the Public Religion Research Institute released their 2020 Census of American Religion.
The report found that 70% of Americans identify as Christians, 23% as religiously unaffiliated, and 5% as other religions.
Although the “nones” – n-o-n-e-s — have been growing for years, the growth of the religiously unaffiliated has tapered off since 2018. Younger generations were much more likely than older generations to be unaffiliated.
Close friendships have declined for Americans
The 2021 American Perspectives Survey found the number of close friendships that Americans have has declined over the past several decades, especially for men.
In 1990, most Americans said they had at least five close friends. Now, most Americans only have three close friends. And the number of Americans with no close friends has quadrupled.
In 1990, 55% of men said they had at least six close friends. Today, only 27% of men say the same. Over the same period, the number of women with six or more friends fell from 41% to 24%.
Proverbs 27:9 says, “Ointment and perfume delight the heart, and the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.”
Homeschooler is Spelling Bee national champion for first time
Last Thursday, for the first time in 21 years, a homeschooler won the Scripps National Spelling Bee championship.
Zaila Avant-garde, an 8th grader, spelled the word “murraya” for the win. It is a genus of trees in tropical Asia and Australia.
Here is her winning moment.
Avant-garde: “Murraya. M-U-R-R-A-YA”
JUDGE: “That is correct!”
(sound of music and a confetti gun)
She was excited to win the spelling bee.
ZAILA: “I’ve been working on it for two years and then, to finally have it, the best possible outcome. It was really good.”
Zaila is the first African-America to win the bee. She also holds three Guinness World Records in basketball handling skills.
- The most bounces of four basketballs in 30 seconds (307) — set in New Orleans on Nov. 14, 2019
- The most basketballs dribbled at one time (six) — set in Westwego, Louisiana, on Jan. 26, 2021 (equalling Joseph Odhiambo’s August 2000 record)
- The most bounce juggles in one minute, using four basketballs (255) — set in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Nov. 2, 2020.
And she aspires to play in the WNBA.
Clarification on the name of Haitian ministry
On Friday, we reported on the tragic plane crash which took the lives of Trent Hostetler and John Miller, two American missionaries working in Haiti.
To clarify, they worked for Gospel to Haiti which you can learn more about through their blog and Facebook page.
Caleb Jenkins, who has completed 10 short-term missions trips to Haiti since 2013, wrote me at Adam@TheWorldview.com. He said, “They all need our prayers as they lean on the direction from the Holy Spirit for their future there in Haiti.” Please also pray for God’s protection from possible violence, following the assassination of the Haitian president.
And remember, GoFundMe pages have been set up for the families of both Trent and John if you would like to make a donation. We have those pages linked in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com.
Florida Worldview listener & homeschool parent grateful for newscast
Mark Minck in Newberry, Florida wrote me at Adam@TheWorldview.com. He said, “I listen to The Worldview in Five Minutes every weekday morning, and my wife and I have been telling our friends and family members about it over the past year. We are the homeschool parents of three, ranging from 18 to 8.
“I also wanted to share how grateful I am for the way that you handle your fundraising, as it is extremely edifying to those who give, and done tastefully, professionally, and in a God-honoring manner. We were thrilled to hear on July 9th that you exceeded your goal. I hope that the additional contributions that came in will help meet every need you have to continue what the Lord has called The Worldview team to do.
“We are grateful for the work that you and Kevin Swanson both are doing to fight the good fight in a hostile culture that is spiraling downward. We know God is sovereign and that many families are being encouraged and strengthened to live biblically because of your ministries. May God bless you and your family richly, provide for your every need, and fill you with His peace and joy.”
22 new Worldview listeners donated $2,755
And finally, to help keep The Worldview on the air, our goal by this past Friday, July 9th was to raise $65,000. By Friday morning, we had already surpassed that goal by $6,393. As our fundraising campaign came to a close, 22 new Worldview listeners stepped up to the plate.
Our thanks to Nathan in Rome, Georgia who gave $5, Jovanna in Newberry, Florida who gave $10 in honor of her brother Dietrich’s 12th birthday on July 9th, Susan in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania who gave $20, as well as Ted in Moundville, Alabama, Erica in Adkins, Texas, and Gerald in Morden, Manitoba, Canada – each of whom gave $25.
We appreciate Phillip in Silverlake, Indiana who gave $30, Isaac in Newberry, Florida who gave $40 in honor of his brother Dietrich’s 12th birthday, as well as Melissa in Great Falls, Montana and Charles in Firestone, Colorado – both of whom gave $50.
The ministry values the support of Kirk in Bayfield, Colorado, Joel in Delavan, Wisconsin, Tom in Grand Ledge, Michigan, Steven in Colorado City, Colorado — each of whom gave $100, Joseph in Burnet, Texas who gave $125, as well as Eric in Ellensburg, Washington and Redeemer Broadcasting based in Olivebridge, New York – both of whom gave $150.
We’re grateful to God for Kyle in Billingsley, Alabama who gave $250, Guy in Owasso, Oklahoma and Melissa in Phillipsburg, New Jersey – both of whom pledged $25/month for 12 months for a gift of $300.
And we’re humbled by the generosity of Anika (age 14), Helen (age 12) and Elias (age 10) in Wellsburg, Iowa who collectively pledged $25/month for 12 months for a gift of $300. They earn money by doing chores on their grandpa’s farm which includes power washing, bucket feeding 2,000 cows and a bunch of pigs when the machines break down, and picking up sticks. Anika is an avid student of Dave Ramsey and wanted to start tithing. Her siblings agreed to tithe their chore money as well. And finally, thanks to Mark and Denise in Fayetteville, Tennessee who gave $500.
Those 22 gifts add up to $2,755. Ready for final grand total? Drum roll please. (Drum roll sound effect). $74,148 (Sound effect of people cheering) You helped us exceed the $65,000 goal by $9,148! Wow! God is faithful. And he touched the hearts of many of you – adults and children alike — to share the resources which He entrusted to you to ensure that a Biblical perspective on the news is declared from the mountain tops.
Thank you for believing in The Worldview team and the Generations ministry, founded by Kevin Swanson. To God be the glory!
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Monday, July 12th, in the year of our Lord 2021. 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.