Texas Governor decrees religious services are “essential services”

In an amendment to his March 19 executive order on limiting the spread of coronavirus, the Governor of Texas has decreed that attending “religious services conducted in churches, congregations, and houses of worship” is as important as shopping for food or going to medical appointments. The executive amendment came into effect on April 2.

Jakarta Pastor Baptizes Muslims as Church Expands

Peter Tumbelaka wasn’t in a hurry to become the pastor of Jakarta’s largest Pentecostal churches where many Muslims convert to Christianity. “I thought I could remain an architect and an engineer. But God had different plans,” the 52-year-old preacher told BosNewsLife in Indonesia’s bustling capital.

Anne Graham: Virus’s ‘Blessing’ is America Listens to God, A Spiritual Renewal

In her spiritual message for March 23, Anne Graham Lotz, the daughter of the late Pastor Billy Graham, said there may be a ‘blessing in the coronavirus’ in that God is perhaps using the pandemic ‘to get our attention so that we will listen to His message,’ and that this will spark a ‘national spiritual renewal.’

Trump, Pence, Carson Speak, Pray With Pastors On Coronavirus Pandemic

CBN News has learned that President Trump, Vice President Pence and Secretary Ben Carson spoke to hundreds of pastors on a conference call Friday afternoon, with President Trump specifically asking them to pray for, ‘stamina’ and for the, ‘health of our country.’ Meanwhile, Vice President Pence commended pastors for the vital work churches are doing throughout this ordeal. ‘You’re putting hands and feet on your faith,’ the vice-president told the pastors. Secretary Ben Carson encouraged the group by saying, ‘God still has his hand on this nation.’

Ex-Terrorist Leads Indonesia’s Christian Convert Movement

The married-father-of-three has come a long way since he nearly blew up a Protestant church in Jakarta. Author Ahmad Quraisy, which isn’t his family name, was a commander of the feared Islamic State of Indonesia (NII), an Indonesian militant group. But the former Islamic terrorist now leads an underground movement in Indonesia converting Muslims to Christianity or, in his words, ‘personal faith in Christ.’

Gospel Spreads as Coronavirus in Indonesia’s Jungle Villages

They suggest their faith in Christ spreads as fast as the new coronavirus. Pentecostal pastors of several Muslim dominated jungle villages in Indonesia’s South Sumatra province report church growth. That’s despite local protests, poverty, and occultism. ‘I even received one hundred boxes of tiles from the village chief to complete our church building,’ explains Pastor Frani Pondaag.

San Francisco, Washington, Ohio ban large crowds of people

The city of San Francisco and the states of Washington and Ohio will place a ban on significant gatherings of people in an effort to stem the tide of coronavirus, with the NCAA canceling fan attendance at its upcoming tournament games.

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