This is Whyte House Report podcast. Here are the top stories you need to know about today.
According to Mission Network News, Dozens of international watchdogs want the USCIRF to label India as a “Country of Particular Concern,” which it did for the first time last year. Allies of the Indian government insist the committee reverse that decision in this year’s report. “The trend is on the uptick in terms of persecution against Christians. That has Christian leaders, pastors, those that work with persecuted Christians, very concerned about what’s happening in India,” Voice of the Martyrs Canada’s Greg Musselman says. Persecution has dramatically increased since Hindu nationalists rose to power in 2014. More about that here. Several states have passed, or are in the process of passing, anti-conversion laws. Radicals use the laws as an excuse to attack Christian communities and individual believers. “These anti-conversion laws are the latest opposition,” Musselman says. Earlier this month, India’s Supreme Court turned down an attempt to nationalize the anti-conversion movement. “The pastors and leaders that understand what the Bible teaches about persecution are preparing their people.” Ask the Lord to help His followers throughout India. “We need to be praying that our brothers and sisters would have wisdom in how they meet and how they conduct themselves, what they say,” Musselman says.
According to Assist News Service, Derek Chauvin’s conviction for killing George Floyd has returned race issues to the center stage of public discourse. In a world rocked by racial turmoil and demands for justice and equality, some view the Christian church as part of the problem – white supremacy, discrimination, apathy. Consider one faith movement’s efforts to become part of the solution. Dax Palmer’s unusual career path is taking him from prisoner to pastor. As a Black California drug seller, he experienced multiple incarcerations. In the penitentiary, he found faith in Jesus. Paroled in 2008, he pursued YMCA work, then joined the staff of a Raleigh, NC, Presbyterian church as community outreach coordinator. Feeling out of place in the mostly white congregation, he encountered at a convention other African-American faith leaders who deepened his commitment to serve where God planted him. “I felt like I could be a part of this,” he reflected to byFaith magazine. He now helps church members engage with people of color and networks with leaders serving refugees, the homeless, and human trafficking victims. Palmer also attends graduate school aided by the PCA Unity Fund, established in 2016 to help develop diverse leadership in the Presbyterian Church in America. The fund assists men and women of various US minorities, including Blacks, Asians and Latinas/os.
According to Mission Network News, Idriss Déby, President of Chad for the last 30 years, has been killed. He was visiting the frontlines of fighting against rebel forces. Meanwhile, the rebels continue advancing towards the capital. David Bogosian of Christian Aid Mission says it’s a very tense time for Christians in Chad, whom Déby treated very well. “It’s not known what the intentions of the rebels are, in terms of how they will relate to Christians. But the uncertainty in the political environment is something that’s a real concern to Christians because he maintained the peace. And there have been civil wars between Christians and Muslims in the past. Many have been concerned that Chad could go the way of Sudan, which basically split between Muslims and the North and Christians in the South. It really was President Idriss that kept the country together.” Déby’s death could also jeopardize counterterrorism efforts in the region. Pray for stability in Chad. Ask God to give Christians wisdom as they serve Jesus in a volatile situation.
According to Assist News Service, Millions around the world are still waiting to get a life-saving vaccine — and it’s not the COVID-19 shot, according to a Gospel For Asia World press release. Human trials of a new malaria vaccine are underway, with promising initial results, according to a new report by humanitarian agency Gospel For Asia World that coincides with World Malaria Day, April 25, an annual event. Gospel For Asia World reports the quest to develop an effective malaria vaccine — a shot that could save millions of lives — has proved difficult and is still ongoing. “Malaria is one of the most rampant child-killers in the world today,” said K.P. Yohannan, founder of Texas-based Gospel For Asia World, formerly Gospel for Asia. “For countless millions across Africa, Asia and other parts of the world, an effective vaccine against malaria would be like a dream.” But with the world laser-focused on the global COVID-19 pandemic, efforts to wipe out malaria have stalled, the report says. A new experimental vaccine developed using mosquito spit has shown promise in early studies, says the just-released report, Malaria Makes Comeback Amid A Pandemic.
According to Mission Network News, Over 700 languages are spoken throughout the islands of Indonesia. Now, Wycliffe Associates plans to translate the Bible into 30 of these languages. Wycliffe works with Indonesian Christians, enabling them to do the translation themselves. But on many islands, Christians must conduct this work with secrecy. Neu says, “We’ve had friends and family members who have been forced out of their places of work. They’ve been forced out of their homes, and their earthly possessions have been burned in front of their eyes. And some have actually lost their lives, making the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel.” The speakers of these 30 languages live in remote areas. Wycliffe Associates needs help reaching them with the necessary equipment. “We have Bible translation acceleration kits, which include solar panels and satellite modems. We would love to see our friends and partners join with us and providing these types of tools for the remote locations.”
According to Assist News Service, 10-year-old Molly Harper is described as compassionate and kindhearted by those closest to her. They know her as the little girl with the infectious smile. Molly loves to draw — and she also loves to listen to music on her favorite radio station in Dallas, 94.9 FM KLTY. “It is a good radio station and I love listening to good Christian music,” Molly said. So, during March, while Food For The Poor was airing its radio campaign Give Food, Give Hope, Give Life in Dallas, Molly was listening. Motivated by what she heard, she asked her mom to call the radio station. Live on-air, Molly expressed her deep concerns about kids not having clean water and said she was going to do something to help. Molly got to work and came up with an idea to make her promise a reality. She decided that instead of receiving gifts for her 10th birthday, she would accept donations to help her cause with Food For The Poor. Thanks to her joyful generosity, Molly has exceeded her goal of $625. Her donation will feed several families for a month, give a soccer ball to a child in need, and provide a community in Honduras with a water pump for a well, which is the gift she believes will make the greatest impact. “A water well can pop up in someone’s village, so they don’t have to walk an entire day to get a bucket of water that spills along the way,” Molly said. “They can walk to a well that is in the center of the town.”
According to Mission Network News, Iran has a very young population. Now, these young people have become increasingly discouraged about the political and religious establishments in the country. Rex Rogers of SAT-7 USA says, “You’re talking about a region where religion is often a tool to power. Those 35 and younger, 65% of an 80 million population, all they’ve ever known is the current system of religion as a tool to power. They don’t remember the Shah, they don’t remember any other freedom. So they’re looking for a religion that works. They’re looking for a faith that works. They’re looking for hope, and the Church provides that.” But Iranian Christians can often feel isolated, unable to meet together with large groups of other believers. That’s where SAT-7 comes in. They providing Iranian Christians a community and access to Christian content through satellite TV.
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In closing, remember, God loves you. He always has and He always will. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” If you don’t know Jesus as your Saviour, today is a good day to get to know Him. Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead for you. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart and He will. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Thanks so much for listening and may God bless you.
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