California church shooting: Father kills 3 daughters and elder
A father killed his three daughters and a church elder before turning his gun on himself inside a church in Sacramento, California on Monday, the NY Post reports.
Christian
Ukrainian Bishop: “Putin is antiChrist of our time”
A bishop of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has said Russian President Vladimir Putin is the ‘antiChrist of our time’ because everything he does is against God’s law, the Christian Post (CP) reports. Bishop Yevstratiy Zoria made his remarks during a BBC Global News podcast Sunday, amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Christian denominations face shortage of clergy
There is evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a shortage of clergy in a number of US Christian denominations, ADN America reports. While national data on the issue is limited, a high number of pastors resigned during the pandemic, leaving their churches without a leader.
Ukraine Christians call for prayer amid Russian invasion, “prayer is our weapon in times of war”
As Christians in Ukraine look to Jesus amid the Russian invasion launched on Thursday, the Kyiv Theological Seminary has called on believers around the world to pray for the country and for the Ukrainian church, Christian Headlines (CH) reports.
Christian Broadcaster TWR Forced To Flee Kyiv As Battles Rage, Urges Prayers
International Christian broadcaster Trans World Radio (TWR) said late Friday that its affiliate in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv was “cut off from its office and studio” while battles raged between government forces and Russian troops attacking the city. In a statement to Worthy News, TWR confirmed that the local “director and staff” of its broadcasting partner initially thought they gathered safely outside Kyiv “to set up makeshift broadcast facilities in a house basement.” However, “before a day had passed, our colleagues heard small-arms fire nearby. They were considering whether to relocate farther from the battlefront,” TWR added.
US religious freedom chair demands Finland to stop Christian prosecution
The United States’ commission in defense of religious freedoms has condemned Finnish efforts to prosecute Christians for intolerant speech against homosexuality.
‘Christians Suffering In East Ukraine As Russian Forces Move In’
With Russian forces entering eastern Ukraine, there is mounting concern about the plight of devoted Christians worshipping outside the Moscow-backed Orthodox Church.
Christian nurse fired for refusal to send women for abortion awarded $374,000 in legal fees
A Christian nurse in Illinois was awarded $374,000 in attorneys’ fees last week, after a trial court found that Winnebago County violated her religious freedoms by ordering her to refer women for abortion, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Southern Baptist Convention reports large increase in new believers despite COVID-19
While wracked by controversy over race relations and sexual abuse at home, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has nevertheless been able to report a substantial increase in new believers through its international missions, Christianity Today (CT) reports.
Texas: Public university changes discrimination policy to accomodate Christians
A public university in Texas has officially changed its policies to allow Christian student clubs to require that their leaders be practicing believers, Just the News (JN) reports. The University of Houston-Clear Lake made the changes after the Ratio Christi Christian student club filed suit asserting that the school had denied its recognition because it requires leaders to be Christians.
Thousands of farmers expected to attend Global Agricultural Day of Prayer in Kentucky
Around 12,000 farmers and agribusiness stewards are expected to gather in Louisville, Kentucky on Friday for an event known as Global Agricultural Day of Prayer, CBN reports. Organized by the Praying Farmers group, the event is expected to be followed online by as many as one million people around the globe.
UK government: Christian teaching on homosexuality will not be criminalized
UK officials have told a group of Church leaders that the government has no intention of criminalizing Christian teaching on homosexuality, the Christian Post report. Officials gave the assurance last week at a meeting of leaders who are concerned any future ban on conversion therapy may ultimately criminalize and punish Christians who teach against LGBT ideology.
Pastor appealing to US Supreme Court after Vimeo deleted testimony of his exit from gay lifestyle
A California pastor who was homosexual before giving his life to Christ is asking the US Supreme Court to intervene in a case he brought against Vimeo, after the platform deleted video testimonies of his successful exit from the gay lifestyle. Claiming unfair discrimination and a violation of his right to freedom of expression and religion, Rev. Jim Domen of United Church in Newport Beach filed papers with the US Supreme Court last week.
Hungarians: ‘Don’t Make Quoting Bible A Crime’
Thousands of Hungarian Christians rallied Sunday near Finland’s embassy in Budapest against the “hate speech” trial of two prominent Finns who publicly quoted the Bible on homosexuality.
Madagascar Christians Rebuild After Deadly Cyclone
Christians are trying to rebuild “their lives and ministries” after Cyclone Batsirai hit the island nation of Madagascar, killing more than 100 people and destroying many churches and homes, aid workers told Worthy News.
USA: Christian nurse claims unfair dismissal after firing for refusal to dispense contraception
A Christian nurse practitioner in Texas filed a letter of complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Tuesday, after a national drugstore chain terminated her employment for refusing to dispense contraception, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Pastor Artur Pawlowski arrested before preaching at Canadian trucker convoy
Pastor Artur Pawlowski, who has butted heads with Canadian authorities throughout the pandemic, was arrested again just before he was set to address a group of Canadian truckers opposed to vaccine mandates.
Tonga Christians say God protected their nation from volcanic eruption more powerful than Hiroshima
Tongan Christians have publicly given thanks to God for saving their South Pacific island kingdom when a massive volcanic eruption, which NASA experts say was hundreds of times more powerful than the Hiroshima atomic bomb, poured over the tiny nation on January 15, Christianity Today (CT) reports. Given the intensity of the eruption and the potential for destruction, many say it is a miracle that the number of casualties was not exceedingly higher than three.
Alberta caves to Canada trucker protests, ends vaccine passports
A Canadian province has conceded to nationwide demonstrations by the nation’s truckers and will abolish vaccine passports immediately and end most COVID-related restrictions by month’s end.
Court rules US Air Force must pay $230 to survivors of mass shooting in church
A federal judge ruled Monday that the US Air Force must pay more than $230 million in damages to survivors and families of victims of the 2017 mass shooting at a Baptist church in Texas, the Associated Press reports.