Jan. 22, 2020: Nigerian pastor beheaded; preborn babies feel pain as early as 12 weeks; Iran arrests Christian convert activist
Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020
Here are the latest headlines, brought to you by The Christian Post
— Nigerian pastor beheaded after refusing to deny Christ
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A pastor who made headlines earlier this month for praising God in a ransom video has been executed by Boko Haram militants in Nigeria. International human rights activists have condemned the killing of Reverend Lawan Andimi, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria’s chapter in the Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
Andimi was declared missing on January 3rd following a raid by the Islamic extremist group in Michika. Video posted online appears to show Andimi being forced into a vehicle by his captors.
On Monday, local sources disclosed to ministry partners in the United States that Andimi was murdered. The local source, whose name could not be revealed for security reasons, told Save the Persecuted Christians that Andimi’s captors demanded 2 million euros in exchange for his release. But they were unable to raise the funds. The source said Andimi was “murdered him because he refused to renounce his faith. And because they couldn’t raise the money for his ransom.”
— Preborn babies feel pain as early as 12 weeks into a pregnancy: study
A preborn baby is able to feel pain as early as 12 weeks into a pregnancy, months earlier than previously assumed by most scientists, according to a newly published study.
The Journal of Medical Ethics published a study earlier this month by Stuart Derbyshire, professor of psychology at the National University of Singapore and John C. Bockmann, physician assistant at the Conner Troop Medical Clinic of Fort Drum, New York, titled “Reconsidering fetal pain.”
The study says recent evidence from the field of neuroscience indicates that brain developments which begin at 12 weeks’ gestation could create a pain experience for a preborn baby.
— Amazon working on system where customers swipe hand to pay
Amazon is working on a system that would link customers' credit card information to a "non-contact biometric identification system" that will digitally scan a customer's hand.
Although plans are in the early stages, the tech giant has set in motion collaborative efforts with companies such as Visa to test hand scanner terminals for use in its brick and mortar stores. The hand-scanning terminals produce a photo of a person's palm that will be connected with the person's credit card. The move is being seen as yet another development in how consumers purchase goods and services.
— Iran arrests Christian convert activist after criticizing regime's 'soft repression'
Concerns are being raised internationally about the well-being of an Iranian Christian convert who was arrested during an anti-government protest in Tehran last week. The Human Rights Activists News Agency first reported on the arrest of 21-year-old Christian convert Fatemeh Mohammadi, who prefers to go by the name “Mary” since her spiritual conversion.
Mohammadi was detained near Azadi Square in Tehran, where protests occurred after the Iranian military shot down a Ukranian passenger plane and killed 176 people. Iran Human Rights Watch reported on Sunday that even a week after Mohammadi’s arrest “authorities have released no information on her whereabouts and condition.”
Mohammadi was previously arrested in 2017 during a raid on an underground house church meeting and later sentenced to six months in prison. Mohammadi served her time in the women’s ward of Iran’s notorious Evin prison.
— Tim Tebow marries former Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters
Beloved Christian athlete Tim Tebow married former Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters on Monday night and said all of his “dreams have come true.” The former NFL quarterback and Nel-Peters had a weekend full of events in her hometown of Cape Town, South Africa, leading up to the big day, all of which the couple documented on Instagram.
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