Dec. 5, 2019: Economy harming churches, more pastors say; Aimee Powell health update; China monitoring phones for 'Almighty God'
Daily Radio Script - Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019
Here are the latest headlines, brought to you by The Christian Post.
A growing number of US pastors believe the economy is harming their churches
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An increasing number of Protestant pastors in the United States believe that the economy is having a negative effect on their churches, according to a new report by LifeWay Research.
30 percent of surveyed pastors believed that the economy was having a positive effect on their congregations.
This was a decline from last year when 45 percent of pastors said it was positive. The number of pastors saying the economy was having a negative effect increased from 14 percent in 2018 to 26 percent in 2019.
The jump from 14 percent to 26 percent represented the first increase in the number of pastors who felt the economy was harming their churches since 2010.
China monitoring mobile phones, blocking 'harmful' words like 'Almighty God'
Mr. Li, a former employee of one of China’s largest tech firms has revealed how the Communist regime is manipulating public opinion by monitoring citizens’ mobile phones, blocking any words deemed “sensitive to the state” — such as “Almighty God.”
He told religious liberty magazine Bitter Winter that there is “simply no privacy in China,” with authorities monitoring social media, calls, and messages on mobile phones.
“If one says anything deemed unfavorable to the CCP, he or she will be punished. Every person is monitored and controlled under the pretext ‘to crack down on harassment,'” Mr. Li said.
Religion-related words and phrases like “Almighty God” are among words deemed “sensitive.”
White pastor who is ‘epitome of faithfulness’ chosen to lead black church
Jack Teeler, a white Texas pastor and businessman who has been described as the “epitome of faithfulness,” was recently chosen by a predominantly black congregation to be their leader.
"I thank God for this moment in time that is unique and different," Pastor Teeler said at his inauguration to assume his new role at Harvey Avenue Baptist Church. "It's certainly different for me."
“I didn't even apply for the job. They called me. They said God put it in their heart,” recalled Teeler, who is also president and CEO of Eyecrafters in Fort Worth, an eyewear and eye care retailer.
Third Day's Mac Powell says 'prayers are being felt' as wife sits up for first time after brain aneurysm
Third Day frontman Mac Powell shared a photo of his wife sitting up for the first time after suffering a brain aneurysm and said he and Aimee are feeling everyone's prayers.
“Your prayers and well wishes are being felt! Positive progress today. The morning started out better than yesterday. The pain had subsided a bit but it’s up and down,” Powell wrote on Instagram Tuesday.
“She was able to eat a few bites of banana for breakfast and soup,” he added, revealing that Aimee “was even able to stand up and walk a few steps to sit in the chair.”
Gay 2020 hopeful Pete Buttigieg quotes Matthew 25 in new campaign ad
Openly gay Democrat presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg quoted the words of Matthew 25 in a new 30-second television commercial airing in South Carolina as he continues to invoke religion in an attempt to appeal to black voters and liberal Christians.
Buttigieg, an Episcopalian, pulls from one of the more well-known passages of the New Testament in what appears to be a dig at Christian conservative support for President Donald Trump.
“In our White House, you won’t have to shake your head and ask yourself: whatever happened to ‘I was hungry and you fed me. I was a stranger and you welcomed me,’” Buttigieg said, referring to Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:35.
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