Aug. 7, 2019: Senators urge Trump on refugees, World Relief fights Ebola, Pence and religious freedom in China
Daily Radio Script - Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Here are the latest headlines, brought to you by The Christian Post.
— Bipartisan senate group to Trump admin: Refugee resettlement promotes religious freedom
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Eighteen Senators from both major parties have sent a letter to the Trump administration calling on the president to reject a reported proposal to effectively eliminate refugee resettlement.
“We were especially surprised to hear reports of the elimination or severe decrease in proposed refugee resettlement on the heels of the State Department’s Second Ministerial for International Religious Freedom, where survivors of severe persecution came to the United States to share testimonies of unimaginable human rights atrocities,” explained the letter.
“America has an obvious interest in demonstrating and promoting freedom of religion to the world, including accepting refugees who flee persecution because of their faith.”
Republican Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma and Democrat Senator Chris Coons of Delaware were the chief signatories of the letter. Former presidential hopeful Marco Rubio of Florida and current presidential candidate Kirsten Gillibrand of New York were among the signers.
— How World Relief fights Ebola with the help of 300 churches
The Christian humanitarian group World Relief is working with around 300 churches to battle the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Charles Franzen, director of humanitarian and disaster response at World Relief, told The Christian Post, that the work involves establishing handwashing stations at many of the congregations and holding meetings centered on advocacy and awareness.
“Many medical personnel have been beaten, and a few have been killed, and some Ebola centers have been ransacked and destroyed by local people who believe that Ebola is an invention of the West, and that all of this is just fakery which is being used and perpetuated by unscrupulous people to make money off the Western powers and NGOs,” Franzen said.
https://www.christianpost.com/news/how-world-relief-fights-ebola-with-the-help-of-300-churches.html
— Pence meets with Russell Moore, religious freedom advocates to discuss China's abuses
Vice President Mike Pence met with an interfaith coalition of religious freedom advocates Monday to discuss what the United States can do to hold China to account as it continues to persecute and abuse religious believers of all stripes.
David Curry, head of the international Christian persecution advocacy group Open Doors USA, told The Christian Post, "We had people from different faith backgrounds but we joined together to give an in-depth briefing on the series of issues that are happening against Christians, Muslims, the Falun Gong and other religions that are being persecuted in China right now."
— Pentecostal church's permit revoked in Indonesia after Muslim radicals protest
A recently issued permit for a Christian church in Indonesia has reportedly been revoked following protests and threats from radical Muslim groups in the area.
Palit Panjaitan, who chairs the group Solidarity of Victims of Violations of Freedom of Religion and Beliefs, told the news agency that permit revocation is an indication that "the state is defenseless against pressure by intolerant groups.”
The church's pastor, Tigor Yunus Sitorus, asked members to attend services at other churches. He did not want to issue a statement in order to avoid worsening the atmosphere for the community's Christians.
— Joyce Meyer says her 2-y-o great-grandson healed his mom with prayer
Popular televangelist Joyce Meyer says her 2-year-old great-grandson prayed for healing and his prayers were answered.
“Stop trying to get hold of God with your head, it's a heart thing,” the preacher shared in a message published on July 29. “As soon as you get into reasoning, you're going to get into trouble believing. You need to come like a little child and believe Him. Just believe.”
“My great-grandson, who's two, his mothers back was hurting really bad …” Meyer explained. “It was hurting so bad she was laying on the bed crying and he went up to her, Jeremiah, 2 years old, put his hand on her and said 'Jesus, mommy, ouchy, amen.'”
After that, Meyers said, “her back quit hurting.”
To read more stories from a Christian perspective, visit christianpost.com.
