Franklin Graham: ‘Sad Day for the Church of England’ After It Approves Blessing Same-Sex Couples on Trial Basis

November 22, 2023 — Breitbart.com reports: “It is a ‘sad day for the Church of England,’ Christian evangelist Franklin Graham said Tuesday following news of the church opting to hold experimental services to bless same-sex couples.

‘It’s a sad day for the Church of England,’ Graham began, explaining that ‘any decision that goes against the Word of God is wrong—even if it’s called a trial.’

‘The Church of England decided to go forward with trial blessing services for same-sex couples. We need to pray for the Church around the world to return to the firm foundation of God’s Word,’ he added.

Graham’s plea follows news of the General Synod supporting a plan to hold services devoted to blessing homosexual couples, albeit on an experimental basis…”  (Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! – Isaiah 5:20.  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away – II Timothy 3:1-5.) 

Chinese Police Raid Christian Worship Service, Arrest 13 Believers

November 20, 2023 — Breitbart.com reports: “Chinese police and national security agents raided a Christian worship service in the nation’s Sichuan province last week and arrested 13 believers.

Among those arrested in the November 9 raid were Elder Li Yingqiang and Pastor Dai Zhichao of Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church, an independent Christian church regularly harassed by the Chinese Communist Party.

Elder Li and Pastor Dai had traveled to the city of Dazhou, where they held a worship service at the ‘Good Land Mission Center,’ a subsidiary of Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church. The service included baptisms and holy communion, according to reports by ChinaAid, a U.S.-based Christian charity.

During the worship service, held in a hotel conference room, more than ten police officers, national security agents, and staff from the religious affairs bureau and civil affairs bureau stormed the conference room…”  (If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.  But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.  If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.  He that hateth me hateth my Father also.  If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father – John 15:18-24.  See the next two reports.) 

Report: Anti-Christian Hate Crimes in Europe Leapt by 44 Percent in 2022

November 17, 2023 — Breitbart.com reports: “Religiously motivated hate crimes against Christians in Europe jumped by 44 percent in just one year, reveals a sobering report by a prominent Christian persecution monitoring group.

On Thursday, the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC Europe) released its Annual Report 2022/23, which documents a sharp rise in violent incidents and social hostility against Christians, as well as in vandalism and arson attacks on churches.

The report also underscores legal developments in several European countries that infringe upon the religious freedom of Christians, including ‘hate speech’ legislation, under which some Christians have been prosecuted for voicing mainstream Christian beliefs in public.

It also notes the elimination of conscience clauses and legislation needed to guarantee parents’ right to educate their children in conformity with their beliefs…”

Nightmare Wedding: Over 100 Christians Burned Alive, Iraqi Gov. Says ‘Accidental’

November 1, 2023 — PJMedia.com reports: “Over 100 Christians were burned alive after a fire broke out during a Christian wedding ceremony in Iraq on Oct. 3, 2023; another 150 attendees were seriously injured. Nearly 60 of those killed in the inferno were directly related to the bride and groom…

In a press conference held on the same day of the tragedy, the Iraqi government announced that its investigation had ‘conclusively concluded’ that the fire was ‘accidental’ and ‘not intentional at all.’

Minutes later, the Syriac Church slammed the announcement: ‘We reject it [the results], we don’t accept it,’ said the Archbishop of Mosul Benedictus Younan Hanno, adding that ‘political conspiracies’ might be afoot…

It is worth noting that this scenario — a fire claims Christian lives only for Muslim authorities to say it was ‘accidental’—has played out many times in the Middle East. Take Egypt, for example, where the region’s largest Christian minority resides…”