Samuel Smith and World Watch Monitor

Latest

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  Apr 14, 2020

  Missionary abducted in Niger shown alive in video released by jihadists

  A Catholic missionary priest who was abducted in Niger in 2018 is still alive, according to a proof-of-life video released last week that was purportedly filmed in late March.

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  Apr 13, 2020

  Judge allows church to hold drive-in Easter service after mayor 'criminalized' communal celebration

  A federal judge on Saturday issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting the city of Louisville, Kentucky, from barring drive-in Easter worship services in order to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. 

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  Apr 9, 2020

  Judge denies Christian college 'ministerial exception' to ex professor’s discrimination lawsuit

  A judge has barred Gordon College from using a “ministerial exception” defense in a lawsuit brought by a former professor who claims she was denied a promotion over her opposition to the evangelical institution's policies on sexuality.

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  Apr 9, 2020

  Strong majority of pastors see current events as 'birth pains' of Christ's return: survey

  Most pastors serving at evangelical and historically black churches see some current events lining up with what Jesus said would happen shortly before His second coming, according to a new poll on Christian eschatology from LifeWay Research. Over half believe Christ will return during their lifetimes.

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  Apr 8, 2020

  Calif. pastor resigns from city council before hosting communion attended by hundreds

  A California pastor resigned from his role on a local city council one day before he tested statewide social distancing orders by holding an in-person communion attended by hundreds. 

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  Apr 7, 2020

  At least 50 Nigerian Christians killed by Fulani attacks in March, NGO reports

  A Nigerian civil society organization is reporting that no less than 50 Christians were killed in March and 10 in the first two days of April by radical Fulani herdsmen. Since the start of 2020, estimates suggest that over 400 Christians were killed in the West African country.

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  Apr 6, 2020

  Greg Laurie's Palm Sunday webcast draws 1.3M viewers, Trump: People are open to the Gospel

  California megachurch pastor Greg Laurie’s Palm Sunday webcast service drew 1.3 million people, including President Donald Trump, with 11,207 people making decisions to have a relationship with Christ.

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  Apr 6, 2020

  Franklin Graham says coronavirus pandemic is 'result of a fallen world'

  The novel coronavirus pandemic is the “result” of sin that exists in a “fallen world” that has “turned its back on God,” conservative evangelical leader Franklin Graham said. 

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  Apr 4, 2020

  Fourth Circuit blocks Trump admin. rule banning abortion clinics from receiving Title X funding

  The U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Trump administration’s motion to stay a federal judge’s order blocking a new rule that bans Planned Parenthood and other clinics that receive Title X family planning funding from referring patients for or providing abortions.

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  Apr 4, 2020

  Uganda arrests pastor for denying coronavirus outbreak on television

  A controversial pastor in Uganda could face up to seven years of prison after being arrested for allegedly denying on television that there is a coronavirus outbreak in Africa.