All indoor businesses, which include churches, in 30 counties are now closed in the state of California according to a new order by Governor Gavin Newsom. On Monday, Newsom cited the surge of COVID-19 cases and increased hospitalizations as reason for the closures, according to CBNC.

These businesses include indoor operations for fitness centers, churches, personal care services, malls, offices, hair salons and barber shops to close. These counties account for 80% of the state’s population and had been on the state’s monitoring list for three or more consecutive days. The counties include Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange counties.

In addition, all restaurants, wineries, movie theaters, zoos, museums, and bars statewide must shutter their doors. Newsom granted allowance to all businesses, except bars, to meet outside if possible.

“We’re seeing an increase in the spread of the virus, so that’s why it’s incumbent upon all of us to recognize soberly that COVID-19 is not going away any time soon until there is a vaccine or an effective therapy,” he said, according to CBN.

The order was effective immediately on Monday and remains indefinitely.

The Los Angeles Times reported that California has recorded more than 333,000 cases of COVID-19 with more than 7,000 deaths. The state averaged 8,211 new cases a day and nearly 6,500 people were hospitalized as of Sunday.

“The…

At least six people who allegedly support Israeli annexations have reportedly been arrested by the Palestinian Authority.

Under a U.S.-Israeli plan, Israel would annex parts of the West Bank. The Palestinian Authority, however, has said it is against the proposal.

According to Barron’s, the Palestinian Authority security denies it made any arrests related to the claim.

In an Israeli television report from June, several Palestinians were recorded by a hidden camera, saying they supported the annexation and hoped to become Israeli citizens.

The report distorted their voices and blurred their faces.

“I want an Israeli identity card,” one Palestinian says. Another said that he didn’t see “Israelis as enemies – their government is the enemy.” Another said he “chose Israel.”

Israeli journalist Tzvi Yehezkeli, who made the report, said at least six people who voiced support for the annexations have since been arrested. He said family members of the recorded people told him of the arrests and that he felt “responsible.”

“I was surprised to see that even though I’ve blurred the faces of all the people I filmed and distorted their voices, the Authority has reached and arrested (some) of them, it’s just amazing,” he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he supports the Middle East plan put forth by President Donald Trump.

Israel has yet to announce its decision on…

(RNS) –­ Earlier this week, megachurch pastor John Ortberg claimed his congregation had “extensively investigated” concerns about his son and found “no misconduct.”

Now elders at Menlo Church, a Bay Area congregation of 5,000, say their initial investigation fell short and have announced plans for an additional “supplemental” investigation.

“While many of you know that the Board took immediate action upon learning of these concerns, we understand our initial investigation could have gone further and included specific expertise in child safety and sex abuse issues, and it could have been informed by conversations with a wider group of people,” church elders said in an email to the congregation Saturday (July 11).

The Rev. Ortberg was placed on leave last fall after church leaders learned he had withheld information about his son from them, a move they described as “poor judgment and a betrayal of trust.”

In July 2018, the Rev. Ortberg’s youngest son — who volunteered with children at the church and in the community — told his father he experienced what church leaders called an “unwanted thought pattern of attraction to minors.” The senior Ortberg did not tell church leaders or staff about what he had learned from his son. Nor did he act to prevent John ‘Johnny’ Ortberg III — his youngest son — from working with children.

Church leaders finally learned of the…

CHICAGO (RNS) — Not long into the coronavirus pandemic, the Rev. Sandra Maria Van Opstal, a pastor at Grace and Peace Church on the West Side of Chicago, began to hear from congregants who lost their jobs and were struggling financially as the city closed nonessential businesses to slow the spread of the virus.

Some congregants were essential workers who were anxious about their exposure to the coronavirus and staying apart from family members so they didn’t risk bringing the virus to them.

Some had lost loved ones to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Others were unable to celebrate births or graduations.

And all that was before the nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd, a reminder of the systemic racism that exists in the United States and the trauma that it has caused communities of color.

“I don’t think we can ever underestimate the level of trauma we’re all experiencing,” Van Opstal said.

As Americans deal with the impacts of the pandemic and the country’s reckoning over racism, many Christian leaders, organizations and churches are providing resources not only to care for their spiritual and physical health, but also their mental health. 

The Chicago pastor said churches have a key role in helping people deal with the fears and anxiety raised by the current crises. 

“It’s giving people a sign of hope, not just through our words, but the…

(RNS) — Before the coronavirus pandemic reached South Africa in early spring, 15-year-old Sandile Manyike and his family faithfully attended Mass at St. Martin de Porres, a vibrant 800-member Roman Catholic church in Orlando West, the township where Nelson Mandela lived before he was imprisoned.

But when his school and the church were closed to avoid the spread of COVID-19 three weeks before Easter, Manyike came up with an unusual solution: He decided to play the part of the priest himself.

Having rehearsed his parts in the Holy Week liturgies and in the choir, Manyike was disappointed to be deprived of the vibrant worship typical of South Africa’s township, with their joyful ululations, vigorous clapping, energetic beating of drums, melodic tapping of marimbas. With internet data prohibitively expensive for most of its parishioners, St. Martin’s is not able to livestream any of its services.

Manyike was determined, however, that he and his family wouldn’t be starved of the celebration of Mass.

“I want you to feel like you’re at church,” he told his skeptical grandmother to convince her to celebrate Easter under his direction.

Finally, he prayed to God. “I found myself asking God for forgiveness and asking God to let me do this sacrifice,” he said. “I know that I am not anointed in my hands yet, but please let me do it,” he begged God. “Something in my heart…

NEW DELHI, July 13, 2020 (Morning Star News) – Maoists in Maharashtra state killed a church pastor on Friday (July 10), the fourth death of a Christian for their faith in India since late May, sources said.

In Bhatpar village, Gadchiroli District in the western peninsular state, pastor Munshi Devu Tado was leading a worship service on his property for about 15 village families from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. when three armed men and three women escorted him away, said his wife, Jaini Munshi Tado.

“They shook hands with him at first, then took him by his hand and, after few steps, they tied his hands at his back with a rope,” she told Morning Star News. “I, my father-in-law and brother-in-law followed after them, pleading and enquiring as to why they are taking him. They said they just want to talk to him and that we need not worry, they will send him back in a little while.”

Family members continued to follow until the Maoists forcibly stopped them and pushed them away, throwing them to the ground, Jaini Munshi Tado said.

“Hardly five to seven minutes later, we heard a gunshot,” she said, weeping. “We immediately ran in the direction only to find the body of my husband in the pool of his blood, and the Maoists had gone. I wept bitterly, my husband was gone.”

Pastor Tado was estimated to be in his mid-thirties. He leaves behind four children, ages 6, 5, 4 and 1.

Villagers upset with the growth…

On July 10, Dr. Morris Cerullo, a well-known evangelist and Christian author, died from pneumonia complications at the age of 88.

Just one day before his passing, a prayer request for the international evangelist was posted to Cerrullo’s official Facebook page, CBN News reports.

The post noted that the evangelist was undergoing treatment for pneumonia at a hospital in San Diego, California. He would later pass away on Friday evening.

 A tribute to the evangelist was posted on his ministry’s website page, Morris Cerullo World Evangelism.

“Dr. Cerullo, affectionately known as “Papa” to millions across the globe who were touched by his decades of personal ministry, is known for his outreaches to people in more than 400 cities, 150 nations, and on 6 continents, in over 72 years of ministry.”

Cerullo was born on October 2, 1931 in Passaic New Jersey. Orphaned at 2 years old, the late evangelist was raised alongside his four siblings at a Jewish orphanage in Clifton, New Jersey.

Cerrullo lived at the orphanage until he was kicked out at 15 because of his conversion to Christianity.

Upon his newfound faith, Cerullo began preaching throughout local churches. Inspiration TV noted that Cerrullo pastored a 15-member congregation at age 21 while also serving as its janitor, maintenance man and landscaper.

God would later call Cerullo into international ministry leading him to found the Morris Cerullo…