A man who survived the 2016 shooting at an Orlando nightclub says he is no longer gay. Luis Javier Ruiz said in an interview recently with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s “GPS: God. People. Stories” that he repented and was changed after the shooting. Ruiz said he was raised in the church before churches knew how to minister to homosexuals. Instead, he kept his secret until finally coming out to his family at the end of high school. He says his family was listening to the radio where someone was saying homosexuals were “an abomination” and were “going to hell.” "It was bad," Ruiz said. "And we got into an argument about it ... and I just ended it with 'Mom, you know what? Your son is gay. How about that?" Ruiz graduated from high school and joined the armed forces where he served for 15 years. He did not reveal his sexuality to the military. After his service, he moved to Florida and became involved with a church. However, h...
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"THE POWER OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS" Eric Aboadwe, Ghana Our Scripture reading is taken from the Book of Isaiah where God says: “No WEAPON formed against you shall prosper, and every tongu e which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the SERVANTS OF THE LORD and their RIGHTEOUSNESS is from ME,” says the LORD” (Isaiah 54:17). Many Christians are very familiar with this passage in Isaiah, and they are fond of saying, “No WEAPON formed against me shall prosper.” Meanwhile they claim this promise without BELIEVING in the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. God gave the reason why He says that “No WEAPON formed against you shall prosper.” And He said it is because “their RIGHTEOUSNESS is from ME,” says the LORD.” Therefore if somebody does not BELIEVE that JESUS fulfilled “all RIGHTEOUSNESS” in His BAPTISM as recorded in the Bible in Matthew 3:15, then the promise in Isaiah 54:17 is not for him. How can a Christian say “I BELIEVE...
Copts have long complained of discrimination under successive Egyptian leaders and Sisi's actions suggested he would deliver on promises of being an inclusive president who could unite the country after years of political turmoil. However, striking out at extremists abroad might prove easier than reining in radicals at home. Orthodox Copts, the Middle East's biggest Christian community, are a test of Sisi's commitment to tolerance, a theme he often stresses in calling for an ideological assault on Islamist militants threatening Egypt's security. A Coptic journalist has detailed her frustration living as a woman in an Egyptian society where men regularly treat Christian woman as whores, and shared ways in which the Coptic Church has also mistreated females. Engy Magdy, a Cairo-based journalist, authored an op-ed published by Brooklyn- based Catholic news website The Tablet on Wednesday that detailed the plight that women, especially Christian woman...
The Belgium based gospel music minister Pastor Hilary Chinedu Chukwugbo with the stage name as Hilary C is out with a brand new song titled Onyeukwu . Onyeukwu is a song that proclaims the mightiness of God and His supremacy over all. Hilary C is an anointed minister of God, A radical worship leader, Song writer called to usher worshipers into the presence of God. He has also ministered alongside big gospel artists such as Steve Crown, Chioma Jesus and many others. He just released his 8 tracks debut album titled “Joyful”. In his words: I am astonished by the Amazing Power behind the name of Jesus Christ. So many testimonies have been recorded after the release of this song in Europe.
Christians in the U.K. and Nigeria held a protest on Wednesday to mark the 150 days that have passed since a 15-year-old Christian girl was kidnapped along with 110 others by the Islamic radical group Boko Haram in Nigeria. The girl, Leah Sharibu, is the only person among that group who's still being held captive by the terrorists because she refuses to renounce her faith in Jesus Christ. Christian Solidarity Worldwide, which says that Sharibu "paid the price" for her faith with her freedom, is calling on Christians worldwide to pray and take action by staging protests demanding the teenager's safe return to her family. One such protest took place at the Nigerian High Commission in London on Wednesday, with Christians praying and holding signs in support of Sharibu. "It's very important to remember that this isn't just a protest — this is prayer and protest. CSW believes in those two things going together," CSW CEO Mervyn Thoma...
The Nigeria Of My Dreams By Glory Teniola Egbuwalo The Nigeria of mycdream is a nation that is built on honesty and justice. I picture a Nigeria that is free from war and chaos. A nation that is devoid of poverty, starvation and insecurity. I dream a Nigeria where there is free education. A country that practices absolute democracy. I dream of a Nigeria that attains the highest point of academic excellence. I dream of a Nigeria where there is steady electricity supply and sophiscated medical facilities. I dream of a Nigeria where the youths and the children of today will make a great nation tomorrow. I dream of a land of hope. A nation that creates job opportunities for our youths. I dream of a Nigeria that had attained the highest point of economic development. A nation free from corruption and crimes. A nation that portrays great leaders and good governance. A nation with patriotic citizens; a nation that is ruled with the fear of God A Nigeria that lives up to her name " *...
*HEALTH AFFAIRS* *Cervical Cancer By Favour Christopher* Cervical cancer like the name implies is a cancer of the cervix. While cancer is an abnormal cell growth. Therefore, cervical cancer is an abnormal growth if cells in the cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. Cervical cancer is caused by s virus called " *Human Papilloma Virus" HPV.* Not all HPV actually causes cancer. HOV can only be transmitted by sexual contact. Symptoms of Cervical Cancer includes: * Bleeding from Vagina after sex, between menstrual flows and after menopause * Pain in lower pelvis or lower belly * Pains during sex * Abnormal Vagina discharge Before jumping to conclusions, my dear visit a Doctor fr a pelvic examination, pap test and biopsy. Cervical cancer can be treated: which means if you had been diagnosed of cervical cancer you can actually get well and back to normal a condition. Treatment vary depending on the stage of the cervical cancer ...
The Chinese government has reportedly banned the sale of Bibles at online bookstores across the country to comply with a "white paper" that is dictating compliance with the "core values of socialism." Australia's ABC News reported on Wednesday that copies of the Gospels have been disappearing from online retailers following the release of the "China's Policies and Practices on Protecting Freedom of Religious Belief" document. The white paper in question declares that Chinese faith communities "should adhere to the direction of localizing the religion, practice the core values of socialism, develop and expand the fine Chinese tradition and actively explore the religious thought which accords with China's national circumstances." The document also states that the next five years will see an effort to build up Chinese Christianity and the Chinese theology to "consciously develop Bible study talents to lay a s...
A religious liberty law firm filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against a Pennsylvania town that allegedly is banning Bible clubs and other religious meetings from being held on a couple’s 35-acre property. The lawsuit by the Independence Law Center against Sewickley Heights Borough – which is about 15 miles from Pittsburgh – alleges the town ordered Scott and Terri Fetterolf to stop holding religious activities on the property as part of a zoning restriction. Parties, political rallies and book club meetings are not banned under the zoning ordinance. The suit says the town’s position violates the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of religious freedom, free speech, and the freedom to assemble. “Government should not target religious activities for punishment, particularly when similar secular activities are permitted,” said Jeremy Samek , senior counsel for the Independence Law Center. “In America, no government can categorically ban people from assembling to worsh...
Though, the Nigerian gospel music industry is highly saturated, yet you cannot talk about those who have influenced the industry and affected the up and coming generation of gospel artists positively without mentioning Sister Chinyere Udoma. While many see music only as a means of acquiring wealth and fame, Sister Chinyere Udoma sees it as a ministry for reaching out to people and administering to the pressing need of the masses. The music diva who launched into the Nigerian gospel music scene officially in 1999 with the release of her debut studio album titled “ idighi ajo njo”, was at the GOSPOTAINMENT RADIO during the BIG SAMIE SHOW on Monday to share her experiences on the journey so far. According to her “music is not something that should be dabbled into just to show off ones skills or acquire wealth. People are suffering, the country’s economy is dwindling by the day and this has affected a lot of people, so what Nigerians need is someone who can minist...
According to a recent Barna report on spiritual conversations in a digital age, children who grow up regularly talking about faith and seeing their parents integrate faith into everyday life are much more likely to continue being actively engaged in their faith as they grow older. In other words, parents who are eager to talk with their kids about spiritual matters raise kids who are likewise eager. While we often think of sharing faith as something we do with strangers or non-Christian friends, some of the most significant and impactful conversations happen in the familiar context of home. Those of us who are parents know this is easier said than done. I’m the mother of four children between the ages of 4 and 12. This last spring after school and sports ended, every room in my house needed major work— organizing, vacuuming, and cleaning. The clothes in my laundry room seemed to be crawling to the washing machine on their own. One morning, I heard my youngest ...
Church leaders didn’t get an explanation for why the seventh worship building to be closed in Algeria since November was sealed last week, but they suspect lack of registration was the pretext. It is virtually impossible to register a church in Algeria under current restrictions. Although three of the six churches previously closed were allowed to reopen last month, the shuttering on Wednesday (July 11) of the church building in the northeastern town of Riki was taken as a sign that harassment of Christian institutions that began in November is not over. The church of about 60 people, which began meeting at its building in Riki, near Akbou in Bejaia Province, on Aug. 11, 2017, had not been able to affiliate with the Protestant Church of Algeria (EPA) because the Ministry of Interior recently ordered the once-legally recognized association to freeze all new applications for membership, said Esaid Benamara, pastor of the Riki church. After the church finished wo...
After nearly two years in a Turkish prison, hopes for the release of American pastor Andrew Brunson have been deferred. A Turkish court ordered 50- year-old pastor to remain bars until at least his next hearing on October 12. On Wednesday, the court heard testimony from members of Brunson’s church who made “vague, unsubstantiated accusations” against Brunson, reported World Watch Monitor. When the judge asked how Brunson would respond to the testimony of the prosecution’s witnesses, he said, “My faith teaches me to forgive, so I forgive those who testified against me.” Bill Campbell, a North Carolina pastor whose church belongs to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, the same denomination as Brunson’s church, was among several supporters of the pastor who attended the trial. “As usual, there was much spurious testimony against Andrew,” Campbell told EPConnection after the trial. “Andrew’s testimony was absolutely powerful. He presented the gospel with confiden...
A new image released by the European Space Agency (ESA) reveals more than 1,000 points of light that are actually individual galaxies. The infrared image was taken by the ESA's Herschel Space Observatory's Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver (SPIRE). The image shows the North Galactic Pole, covering 180 square degrees of the sky. Astronomers say each point of light in the image represents a galaxy. A galaxy is an enormous array of stars, interstellar gas, and dust. For example, our galaxy is known as The Milky Way. Scientists believe it includes more than 100 billion stars. Images like this one reaffirm the Psalmist's declaration who wrote in the Bible's Old Testament: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." - Psalm 19:1 According to the website Answers in Genesis , the Bible indicates that the universe has stretched out or expanded. Isaiah 40:22 tells us that God stretches out the hea...
Nepali Christians are facing new pressures from their government after authorities deported a Christian couple for evangelizing Hindus. Immigration officials said the two foreigners had violated terms of their business visa, but a Nepali religious freedom advocate told CBN News the couple had a right to practice their faith. BP Khanal, General Secretary of the Janjagaran Party said government officials reached their decision based on media reports, not facts when they sent Filipino De Vera Richard and his Indonesian wife, Rita Gonga packing. Khanal said party workers investigated and found government officials demonstrated bias against the couple and violated their human rights by denying them the right to practice their faith as Christians. In October 2017, the Nepal government enacted legislation criminalizing religious conversion which states that no one should be involved in, or encourage "conversion of religion." Those found guilty of violating th...
Israel is warning Hamas that it will "pay a heavy price" if their aggression along the Gaza border continues. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told residents of Gaza border towns that Israel is prepared for a "lengthy battle" with Hamas. "It is important that Hamas will understand it is facing a wall of steel, and this wall consists, first of all, of a determined government with strong local leadership and Zionist communities that we will continue to strengthen and, of course, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces)," Netanyahu told Israeli residents on Monday. Despite agreeing to a cease-fire, Palestinians launched fresh attacks with kites and balloons loaded with flammable material aimed at Israel, setting fires to farmlands and forests. Israel's military is urging Gazans to speak out against such terror tactics. "We ask every merchant and every citizen who is interested in calm and wants to see the goods enter (Gaza), turn to t...
NEW TECHNOLOGY AND ANCIENT BONES COULD REVEAL WHERE CHRISTIANITY BEGAN IN SCOTLAND "Advancements in research and analysis techniques since the collection was excavated mean that it is likely that the project will result in some radical discoveries in relation to dates and interpretation." -Julia Muir Watt [CBN News] Ancient bones discovered 30 years ago could help researchers point to exactly where Christianity began in Scotland. Three decades ago, researchers uncovered a mass grave full of thousands of bones in Whithorn that could prove that Christianity spread on the south west coast of Scotland. Withorn is already believed to be the site of a major Christian settlement. In fact, the Latinus Stone, the earliest Christian memorial in Scotland dating back to 450 AD is found there. Now, new technology could reveal if the bones belonged to some of Scotland's earliest Christians. "It could confirm what people in Whithorn already believe, that it...
A Muslim family in Pakistan strangled to death a teenage Christian girl who failed to carry out the household chores to their satisfaction, a horrific new report has revealed. Christians in Pakistan reported that the murder of Kainat Salamat, the 17-year-old daughter of Salamat Masih, occurred in Kamonki, Gujranwala district earlier this month. The teen's father filed a First Information Report to report the crime on May 6, explaining to police that he arrived to visit his daughter at the home of Muhammad Asif, where she had worked as a domestic helper since age 11. When he arrived, the father said that he and another relative saw that the Muslim family, Asif, Muhammad Kashif, Muhammad Tariq Pasran, Muhammad Ismael, along with Asif's wife and another woman, were holding down Kainat's legs and arms. The Muslim family had tied a rope around the Christian girl's neck and were strangling her, Masih said. Despite her father's pleas, the teen was e...
Lifestyle factors, such as abstinence—both with regards to sex and alcohol—along with prosocial behaviors, such as volunteering, were found to be only partly responsible for the gains, leaving researchers wanting to do further studies. (Columbus, OH)—[ StudyFinds.org ] Churchgoing may be on the decline, but lapsed congregants have new reason to attend services. Why, you may ask? Because religious affiliation can increase lifespan by a handful of years, even when gender and marital status are taken into consideration, a new study finds. (Photo credit: @BenWhitePhotography/Unsplash) Researchers at Ohio State University recently conducted an analysis of over 1,600 obituaries across two related studies, hoping to find whether religiosity helped promote longevity. It did, with the average congregant living four extra years. The researchers' first study looked at 505 obituaries published in the Des Moines Register in early 2012, noting the age, gender, religious aff...
Praise For Supernatural Restoration – God is in praise and He is the omnipotent God; that is why praise has a very strong potent force. Praise is acknowledging God for who He is irrespective of how you feel. When praise becomes acceptable, God manifests His mightiness in your favour. Joel 2:26 -And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. Shame is coming to an end in your life today! All the years the enemy stole from you, My God will restore because this is your time of restoration in the name of Jesus! John 11:41-44 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with ...