International Persecution Watchdog, Open Door deeply concerned by the U.S. State Department decision to end the designation of NIGERIA as a Country of Particular Concern

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International Persecution Watchdog, Open Door deeply concerned by the U.S. State Department decision to end the designation of NIGERIA as a Country of Particular Concern

“We’re deeply alarmed at today’s decision by the U.S. State Department to end the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern. This is likely in direct violation of the International Religious Freedom Act, the law that requires these designations to be made in the first place.” — David Curry, CEO of Open Doors USA.

Today, as required by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken identified the “Countries of Particular Concern” – those who are in severe violations of religious freedom. Burma, the People’s Republic of China, Eritrea, Iran, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan received the designation for having engaged in or tolerated “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.” However, the notable absence of Nigeria, which ranks #9 on Open Doors’ 2021 World Watch List, has the Christian persecution watchdog troubled. Open Doors has reported that in Nigeria alone, an average of 10 Christians a day are killed for their faith, driving a startling 60% worldwide increase in Christian martyrdom last year.

“We’re deeply alarmed at this decision by the U.S. State Department to end the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). This is not only a baffling error, it’s likely in direct violation of the International Religious Freedom Act, the law that requires these designations to be made in the first place,” said David Curry, CEO of Open Doors USA.

Under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998, the President is required to annually review the status of religious freedom in every country in the world and designate each country the government of which has engaged in or tolerated “particularly severe violations of religious freedom” as a Country of Particular Concern.. The law defines particularly severe violations as “systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom,” including violations such as: (1) torture; (2) prolonged detention without charges; (3) forced disappearance; or (4) other flagrant denial of life, liberty, or security of persons. The President has delegated the authority to make CPC, SWL, and EPC designations to the Secretary of State.

Curry said, “Open Doors USA has documented thousands of targeted killings of Nigerian Christians every year for more than a decade. In no other country on earth do we see such a sustained level of outright violence directed towards a Christian community, and the situation has only deteriorated over the past 12 months. The Nigerian government has stubbornly refused to address this violence. The removal of Nigeria from this list will embolden bad actors and strongly deter efforts to bring peace to the region.”

Ambassador Sam Brownback, Senior Fellow at Open Doors USA, said, “The sudden removal of Nigeria from the CPC list is a serious blow to religious freedom in both Nigeria and across the region. Just when we should be doing everything possible to stop the relentless violence that’s targeting Christians and others, we do the opposite. This rewards the Nigerian government for tolerating severe religious freedom violations and sends a message to extremists that their actions will continue to go unpunished. People of faith in Nigeria will bear the fallout of this decision, and that’s unacceptable.”

For interviews with Ambassador Sam Brownback or David Curry, please contact [email protected].

About Open Doors USA
For more than 60 years, Open Doors USA has worked in the world’s most oppressive and restrictive countries for Christians. Open Doors works to equip and encourage Christians living in dangerous circumstances with the threat of persecution and to mobilize the Western church to pray and advocate for the persecuted. Christians are one of the most persecuted religious groups in the world and are oppressed in at least 60 countries. For more information, visit OpenDoorsUSA.org.

Foundations – MOVIE

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Foundations – MOVIE

Can we disregard the truth of Scripture without any impact on our lives. Find out as we follow the life of Parker.

Does what we believe about Genesis really matter? Watch Parker’s life play out in three different ways based on how he views the beginning of Scripture: Atheistic, Compromised Christian, or Biblical Worldview. The results may surprise you!

Watch the Trailer

What we believe about the past—even the distant past—has an impact on how we live our lives today, including our choices, values, and moral foundation, and yes, even our destiny. Our Foundations illustrates this by walking through a young man’s life (Parker) in three different scenarios: Atheistic, Compromised Christianity, and a Biblical Worldview. In the Atheistic worldview, Parker’s life plays out with the understanding that his life is a product of molecules-to-man evolution over millions of years. There was no creator before him, and he will answer to no moral judge after he dies. Under the Compromised Christian scenario, Parker is raised by parents who take a mythical viewpoint on Genesis, and thus the Bible’s power to be an authority in his life is usurped. If the Bible doesn’t get it right in the beginning, why should Parker order his life after the rest? Thus he lives his life disregarding its principles. Under the Biblical Worldview, Parker’s parents regard the Bible as historically true and scientifically credible, and therefore base their perspectives and choices upon its teachings. This leads to a much different life outcome than the other two scenarios…

See more on LIVE TV

Can we disregard the truth of Scripture without any impact on our lives. Find out as we follow the life of Parker.

Watch Foundations free here: www.foundationsmovie.com

New Book : Jesus Speaking: Daily Encouragement from His Words – by Mike Lutz

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New Book : Jesus Speaking: Daily Encouragement from His Words – by Mike Lutz

Announcing the release of Jesus Speaking on November, 15, 2021, a new book from Mike Lutz that is a must have daily devotional that goes beyond feel-good cliché-isms and delivers what you really need for encouragement and transformation, which is more Jesus. This devotional will help you trust in God’s goodness, rely on His grace, and live for His glory every day as you spend time every day listening to Jesus speaking into your life.

The world has never needed Jesus more than it needs Him today. Jesus Speaking is a great way to help expose people to the only one with the power to change the world and lives, Jesus. Whether you know nothing about the Bible, Jesus Speaking captures your attention and connects you with Jesus forcing you to decide what you are going to do with Jesus.

Endorsed by such celebrities as Aaron Shust, Miles McPherson, Sam Rodriguez, Ginny Owens, James Mead, Holly Starr, Chris Broussard and more.

See more at https://www.mikelutz.org/

New Book : Reflections on the existence of GOD – by Richard E. Simmons III

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New Book : Reflections on the existence of GOD – by Richard E. Simmons III

Birmingham Ministry Leader’s Christian Apologetics Book Tops Amazon’s Bestseller List

Richard E. Simmons’ “Reflections on the Existence of God” Ponders Life’s Most Enduring Question

Does God exist? The centuries-old question prompts a different response from each and every person and according to Richard E. Simmons III, author of Reflections on the Existence of God, just how we answer can shape our worldview. The Christian author and founding director of The Center for Executive Leadership in Birmingham, Alabama, is diving deep into uncovering God’s presence by examining the logical conclusions derived from both theism and atheism, earning him a consecutive spot among Amazon’s bestseller list.

In the book, Simmons focuses on topics like: ‘How did I get here?’ and ‘Where do I find meaning in life?’ – both common themes during his two decades of mentoring hundreds of men towards better leadership and spirituality. The book’s 57 short essays are meant to encourage an open thought process, serving as a handbook for families to discuss the Christian worldview and providing a safe space to contemplate the often-controversial subject.

“My objective was to create a very well researched book that would be easy to read and understand when pondering the complex mystery of God’s existence,” said Simmons. “As this last year has tested the faith of many, Reflections makes the perfect gift this holiday season for those searching for truth and real answers to life’s toughest questions.”

Reflections on the Existence of God has become a top favorite on Amazon in both the Comparative Religion and Christian Apologetics categories with one reader calling it an “essential primer for all who seek to effectively engage the skeptical culture in which we live.” Email subscribers can access a complimentary sneak peek of the first chapter while the audiobook is available for free with an Audible trial.

For more information and to place an order, visit www.richardesimmons3.com/reg

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Richard E. Simmons III founded The Center in 2000, a non-profit, faith-based ministry in Birmingham, Alabama, mentoring men towards better leadership and spirituality.

His bestselling titles include The True Measure of a Man, The Power of a Humble Life and Reflections on the Existence of God. For more information, visit www.richardesimmons3.com.

Pray.com presents ‘Protect America,’ an Event to Promote the Physical Wellbeing of our Nation

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Pray.com presents ‘Protect America,’ an Event to Promote the Physical Wellbeing of our Nation

As the United States continues to take aggressive action to reduce COVID-19 infections across the country, Pray.com will host Protect America — a faith-based conversation to promote life-saving vaccines with Pastor Samuel Rodriguez and Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Dr. Eliseo Perez-Stable. The broadcast is available here: https://www.pray.com/articles/protect-america-es.

The discussion between Dr. Perez-Stable and Pastor Rodriguez will focus on ways Americans can protect their health, provide facts about COVID-19, and deliver a faith-based perspective on vaccine uptake. Together, they aim to increase fact-based understanding of the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine, especially in communities that have shown a higher rate of vaccine hesitancy.

“The Biden Administration is thankful for the work of Pray.Com, Pastor Sammy Rodriguez, and faith leaders around the country who are encouraging their fellow Americans to get vaccinated against COVID-19,” said Josh Dickson, White House Senior Advisor for Faith Engagement. “Trusted messengers, including faith leaders, are playing a critical role fighting this pandemic by sharing the facts about the life-saving COVID-19 vaccine with their communities.”

Pastor Rodriguez will deliver critical guidance about the life-saving measures available to protect oneself, one’s loved ones, and one’s community from COVID-19.

“It is God’s blessing and a privilege to be able to offer direction to our community during a very challenging time that has affected so many,” said Pastor Rodriguez. “We are receiving God’s gift to us when we open ourselves to science. It’s my goal to help those of faith understand this gift, embrace it, and trust in God who has blessed us with the ability to protect ourselves.”

Pray.com Co-founder Mike Lynn shared gratitude for the ability to use the Pray.com platform for greater good. “Our legacy at Pray.com is determined by what we do to help others,” he said. “We work daily to make a difference in times like this, where we can provide a platform for faith-based discussions that can help protect and improve people’s lives.”

Pray.com is the world’s No. 1 app for daily prayer and Bible-based audio content, reaching more than 10 million people worldwide through its mobile app and website.

About Pray.com
Pray.com was launched in 2017 with a mission to grow faith and cultivate community. Pray.com is the No. 1 app for daily prayer and faith-based audio content and is the easiest way to incorporate prayer into your daily life. Pray.com provides encouragement and inspiration through Daily Prayers, Pastor Podcasts and Bedtime Bible Stories.

About Dr. Eliseo Perez-Stable:
Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, M.D. (Eh-lee-SAY-oh PEH-rez-eh-STAH-blay) is Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) at the National Institutes of Health. He oversees NIMHD’s annual budget to advance the science of minority health and health disparities research. Since joining NIMHD in September 2015, Dr. Pérez-Stable has been cultivating the Institute’s position on the cutting edge of the science of minority health and health disparities. Through this effort, the Institute has produced a collection of resources that guide and facilitate the conduct of research to promote health equity.

About Pastor Samuel Rodriguez:
Samuel Rodriguez is the President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, the world’s largest Hispanic Christian organization with 42,000 plus U.S. churches and many additional churches spread throughout the Spanish-speaking diaspora. Rodriguez stands recognized by CNN, FOX News, Univision and Telemundo as America’s most influential Latino/Hispanic faith leader. He has advised Presidents Bush, Obama and Trump, and frequently consults with Congress advancing immigration and criminal justice reform as well as religious freedom.

Rev. Al Sharpton, Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant and Attorney Benjamin Crump call for Faith Leaders to Rally in Brunswick

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Rev. Al Sharpton, Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant and Attorney Benjamin Crump call for Faith Leaders to Rally in Brunswick

Faith-leaders Call for Prayer Vigil in Wake of Defense Attorney’s Efforts to Prohibit Black Pastors Attendance During Murder Trial.

After a defense attorney demands Black pastors be barred from the murder trial where three white men are charged with the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, national faith leaders are calling for a prayer vigil outside the Glynn County courthouse on Thursday, Nov. 18, at 11 a.m. Rev. Al Sharpton, who previously joined Arbery’s parents during the court proceedings, will join New Birth senior pastor Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant and attorney Benjamin Crump a week after Kevin Gough, a defense attorney representing one of the three men charged objected to “Black pastors” being present in the courtroom.

Sharpton, Bryant and Crump are urging other faith leaders and activists to join the prayer vigil and remain supportive of the Arbery family as they endure weeks of emotional and traumatic testimony throughout the trial proceedings. “This is a blatantly racist and abundantly bigoted move by the defense to specifically limited Black leaders of faith from supporting a family who has already endured the unimaginable loss of their loved one – Ahmaud Arbery,” said Dr. Bryant. “We are calling on faith leaders, the Brunswick community and those who long to see justice for Ahmaud to join us for a moment of prayer and encouragement to support a grieving family in need of spiritual support as we fight the forces that seek to censure and silence our rallying cry for justice and truth.”

WHO: Faith leaders include Rev. Al Sharpton and Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant will join attorney Benjamin Crump and others for a prayer vigil in support of Ahmaud Arbery’s family and loved ones.

DATE: Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021

TIME: 11 A.M.

LOCATION: Glynn County Superior Court, 701 H Street, Brunswick, GA 31520 (outside of the courthouse building)

National Religious Ministries Announce Legal Challenge to Biden Administration’s National Vaccine Mandate

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National Religious Ministries Announce Legal Challenge to Biden Administration’s National Vaccine Mandate

First Liberty Institute, on behalf of three prominent national religious ministries – Daystar Television Network, the American Family Association, and Answers in Genesis – announced that it will petition the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Sixth Circuits to review the Biden administration’s federal vaccine mandate for employers with over 100 employees.

“As religious ministries our clients cannot in good conscience force their own employees to violate their deeply held beliefs regarding vaccines,” said David Hacker, Director of Litigation at First Liberty Institute. “The federal government has no authority to compel employers to violate the personal health care decisions of their employees. The Biden administration’s order is the latest example of its disdain for both our Constitution and the sincerely held religious beliefs of millions of Americans.”

Daystar Television Network is an international, faith-based network “dedicated to spreading the Gospel 24 hours a day, seven days a week”; America Family Association is one of the largest pro-family organizations in the country; Answers in Genesis is a world-class, Christ-centered, family attraction, with physical properties—one a full-scale replica of Noah’s Ark—located in northern Kentucky. Each organization has over 100 employees, making them subject to the new vaccine mandate.

In September, President Biden directed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) to promulgate a federal “emergency temporary standard” (ETS) requiring all private businesses with 100 or more employees to ensure that every employee is vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus or presents a negative test result on a weekly basis or face potential fines. According to federal law, an ETS can be issued only when doing so is “necessary” to protect employees against “grave danger” from exposure to “substances or agents determined to be toxic or physically harmful or from new hazards.” An ETS is temporary and expires after six months, after which the agency is required to issue a permanent rule that complies with the lengthy regulatory process.

About First Liberty Institute
First Liberty Institute is a non-profit public interest law firm and the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.

 

New Tongues of Fire Channel for Evangelicals Debuts on YouTube

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New Tongues of Fire Channel for Evangelicals Debuts on YouTube

Bishop Veronica Akuabia Anusionwu is proud to announce the launching of her Tongues of Fire channel on YouTube. The channel will serve as a 24/7 prayer line for the world’s Christians to come and pray, Bishop Anusionwu said, and will offer healing prayers, praying in tongues and other Christian activities.

The bishop who already hosts the London-based Breaking the Bounds of Human Infertility TV show on the Faith World YouTube channel, said, “I am very excited about this. Tongues of Fire will allow people to receive help when they need it and listen to the Gospel being preached around the clock. I believe lives will be saved through the teaching and receiving of the Good News.”

The idea for the channel came to her during the pandemic and was inspired by God, who asked her to lead her prayer group in a two-year, nonstop intercession prayer for the nations of the world and the families that inhabit them. Anusionwu picked up the story: “Meanwhile I had all these prayer videos on my computer and asked the Lord what I could do with them. He said, ‘Build an online 24/7 TV channel and upload them there.’ So, this is how this vision came about. This is a labour of love and I am so glad God has called me to do this.”

About Bishop Veronica Akuabia Anusionwu

Touching lives and bringing healing to the nations of the world is the life mission of Veronica Akuabia Anusionwu who is a coach and founder of The Lord’s Word on Healing Christian Centre. She is also well-known for working with couples who are struggling to conceive. A majority of the couples she has coached are happy parents today; their testimonials can be found at www.lwhhealingcentre.com. She has authored more than 50 books on fertility, healing, childbirth and relationships.

SOURCE : Veronica Akuabia Anusionwu

Escaping to the Presence of God

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Escaping to the Presence of God

We escape to our refuge in God, Hohnberger says.  Jim Hohnberger achieved the American dream.

A successful insurance agent, Hohnberger had a house, cars, vacations, and a beautiful wife and family. He also had interminable stress.

In his book Escape to God, Hohnberger tells the story of how he escaped from a life soaked with stress and devoid of God into a God-filled, unselfish life in a wilderness home. He escaped the trap of looking for blessings in the physical realm and found far more blessing in a life of less money and fewer things, discovering along the way that “everything in our lives is safe when we are committed to God, and nothing really is when we aren’t.”

Jim Hohnberger and his wife and children relocated to a house in the wilderness not far from Glacier National Park. Their lifestyle doesn’t sound easy: Splitting logs to fuel the wood stove, drawing water from a creek that froze over in the winter, no cellphone service, no landline service, no Internet, dependence on a generator and batteries for power.

But what an adventure—to trust and depend completely on God! The Hohnbergers found their path to independence from so many of the things we all believe we need in the modern world, cars, computers, smartphones, TVs, and never ending news. Most of us feel paralyzed when we lose power after a storm or when the Internet is down. Our connections to our families and friends depend on social media instead of sitting down tête-à-tête and engaging in a meaningful conversation.

Life in the 2020s, Hohnberger says, has become all about accumulating things that just clutter up our lies. Hohnberger believes that it isn’t wrong to have possessions, “but if things have usurped the throne in our hearts, they must be dethroned.” When we get rid of the things that we keep for false security, that we have allowed to replace or reduce the presence of God in our lives, we aren’t really depriving ourselves. He writes “We eliminate things in our lives that are good, even things that are better, so we can possess what is best!”

God is the Best, Hohnberger says. We surrender ourselves to God’s Best when we simplify our lives. Jim Hohnberger tells the story of how his life echoed Paul’s lament, “That which I would not, that do I do.” He relates the inner struggle of how entrenched he was in carnal things, and how, when he overcame those urges, he encountered unexpected blessings.

God gave us the freedom to choose, Hohnberger says, and we can find the freedom to choose Him. Simplifying our lives makes us aware of the presence of God. It isn’t necessary to be perfect. It’s just necessary to be surrendered. We escape to our refuge in God, Hohnberger says, by making a habit of surrendering our choices to Him. When we give up the right to manage ourselves, we are truly His.

New BOOK : Precious in the Sight of the Lord – by Vivan Lynn

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New BOOK : Precious in the Sight of the Lord – by Vivan Lynn

Precious in the Sight of the Lord; A Collection of Matthew Henry’s Reflections on Death, Dying, and the Christian Experience.”

Book Description:

The book is an unexhausted collection of reflections on death and dying by one of the most trusted and beloved theologians of all times, Matthew Henry. Every reflection expounds on a particular scripture verse, or verses, which relate to dying and death. All of Matthew Henry’s reflections provide scholarly scriptural support and offer scriptural cross-references.

This short collection, one hundred and fifty-three pages in all, is presented in a devotional format. However, instead of searching an index for related reflections scattered throughout the book, Matthew Henry’s related reflections are grouped into seven chapters; The Entrance of Death, Because He Lives, A Dying Jesus, As We Come Dying, The Road We Travel, Returning Our Dust, and Our Inheritance.

The book will be a valued resource to lay ministers, bible teachers, students of religion, and grief counsellors.

Available to buy on AMAZON, click here

Precious in the Sight of the Lord - by Vivan Lynn - The Christian Mail

Excerpt of a Book

To everything, there is a season, and a time to every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted (Ecclesiastes 3:2 NRSV).

 “There is a time to be born and a time to die. These are determined by the divine counsel, and as we are born, so must we die at the time appointed (Acts 17:26). … But, as there is a time to be born and a time to die, so there will be a time to rise again, a set time when those that lie in the grave shall be remembered.” Taken from Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Ecclesiastes 3:1-10, 2.1.

Precious in the Sight of the Lord, is a collection of Matthew Henry’s reflections on what the scriptures speak to each Christian concerning their death and dying season. Matthew Henry gives a solid scriptural foundation for hope and comfort to those who are dying, facing a loved one’s death, or who desire clear and faithful information concerning a Christian’s death and dying season. A trusted scholarly theologian, Matthew Henry’s reflections expound on a particular scripture verse or verses related to death and dying. He provides scriptural support for every reflection and offers cross-references for the reader’s further review.

The collection’s table of content provides not only a listing of the chapters but also a brief description of the chapter’s theme with a relevant short quote. Precious in the Sight of the Lord - by Vivan Lynn - The Christian Mail

Chapter 1: The Entrance of Death. Why did death enter the world? Matthew Henry analyzes the creation of man and explains man’s spiritual and physical makeup. He shows us why death entered the world.

Chapter 2: Because He Lives. What does it mean to die as a member of the Christian body of faith? Matthew Henry speaks to the Christian’s transformation from spiritual death to spiritual life, the certainty of the resurrection of the saints based on Christ’s resurrection, and the separation of the soul from the body at death.

Chapter 3: A Dying Jesus. Is there a spiritual model for the individual Christian’s dying journey and death? Matthew Henry illuminates the divinely chosen activities and words of Jesus during his dying season.

Chapter 4: As We Come Dying. How did the Bible’s greats, beloveds, and patriarchs respond in their dying seasons? Matthew Henry expounds on activities patriarchs participated in during their dying season. Are these patterns we should adopt in our dying seasons?

Chapter 5: The Road We Travel. Matthew Henry speaks to us of the concerns of Christians dying by the way of old age and those dying by the way of sickness.

Chapter 6: Returning Our Dust. The chapter sets forth some of the patriarchs’ burials.

Chapter 7: Our Inheritance. Matthew Henry presents Christ as the first of our inheritance. He gives a scriptural foundation for our inheriting of heaven.

Available to buy on AMAZON, click here

 

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