us news
Florida to require daily moment of silence in schools for students to ‘reflect, pray as they see fit’
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Monday requiring schools in the Sunshine State to require a moment of silence before class each day, allowing students to “reflect and be able to pray as they see fit.”
“The idea that you can just push God out of every institution and be successful, I’m sorry, our Founding Fathers did not believe that,” DeSantis said before signing the legislation behind a placard that read “protect religious liberty,” according to News Service of Florida.
H.B. 529 goes into effect July 1 and makes Florida one of 15 states in the United States that require moments of silence at the beginning of each school day, ABC7 News reported.
DeSantis signed the bill at the Shul of Bal Harbour, a Jewish community center in southern Florida. He also signed legislation to allow faith-based volunteer ambulance services to operate, including a Jewish transport service called Hatzalah. The Republican highlighted initiatives to support Israel and Florida’s Jewish community.
“Every family in our state should be able to send their children to school and know that they will be protected from harm and be able to practice their faith,” DeSantis said in a statement. “I’m proud to sign these bills today to help protect religious freedom in Florida and increase the safety and security of our Jewish communities.”
A moment of silence was already implemented in many Florida schools, but it will become mandatory in the next school year. This new law expands a current statute that only “encourages” a moment of “silent prayer” in school.
The new legislation directs the public school principal to require teachers in first-period classrooms to set aside one to two minutes each morning for a moment of silence, and students cannot interfere with another student’s participation.
The teacher must encourage parents to discuss the moment of silence with their children to suggest how to best use the time. The teacher, however, is not allowed to suggest the nature of reflection the student may engage in during the allotted moment of silence.
Florida’s Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran said the moment of silence could have positive implications on children struggling with mental health and will allow parents to have conversations with their children about how best to use the time for reflection.
“We know that many children struggle with mental health issues, which impact them, their families, and their schools most of all,” Corcoran said in a statement. “HB 529 empowers families to begin those ongoing conversations with their child on what they might reflect on during the moment of silence, and help them use this time as an opportunity to prepare for the upcoming day.”
Republican Sen. Dennis Baxley said the time of silence will give students “a moment to gather themselves in a quiet moment of reflection,” which he said is needed in the “frantic pace of modern life.”
Rep. Randy Fine, the bill’s sponsor, posted on Facebook that the bill allows “prayer back into schools via a moment of silence for all of our schoolchildren.”
“I won’t stop fighting back against woke radicals who wish to drive the Judeo-Christian values from every aspect of our lives!” Fine added.
In another statement, Fine said that in a “media-driven” world full of “societal turmoil,” students “desperately need time for quiet reflection.”
“Because it is in those fleeting moments that we find our higher purpose,” Fine argued. “That’s why I was so proud to sponsor HB 529, to ensure that each child gets a minute at the beginning of the school day — without a TV on or a cellphone blaring — to think about the world and their place in it. It is my hope that these small moments to become emotionally centered will have a big impact on their days — and their lives.”
Some lawmakers and secular groups are opposed to the bill.
Devon Graham of American Atheists, an organization that advocates for a strict separation of church and state, told media she is suspicious the bill is a way to mandate prayer in the classroom.
“It is a bit of a back door way of getting there,” said Graham, arguing that the moment of silence should not be mandatory.
Rep. Omari Hardy, a progressive Democrat from West Palm Beach, also condemned the bill and the Republicans who passed it.
“The Republican who sponsored the bill said that it wasn’t about prayer in school. (Of course it was!),” Hardy tweeted. “But when you question their motives, or their honesty, it’s called a personal attack & deemed out of order. No. The Republicans lie, and we need to call them on it every time.”
Ivan Gluck, an 83-year-old community member, sees the bill “putting God back into the school system” as a positive for the school system.
“If you don’t have religion, then I think that society and humanity will come to an end,” he said, according to The Tampa Bay Times.
Sources:Christian Post
us news
America’s Women: Called for Such a Time as This
The order had already been issued. An entire people faced destruction, and the man responsible held extraordinary power. Yet one woman, who had not sought the responsibility before her, might be able to change what happened next. Speaking up could cost her life, while remaining silent offered the possibility of safety and comfort within the palace. She had a difficult decision to make, and the stakes could not have been higher.
Before approaching the king, she asked her people to fast with her for three days. She understood the danger, but she had no way of knowing whether the king would even allow her to speak. When the time came, she went. Her name was Esther.
More than 2,500 years later, I still think about the question her cousin Mordecai asked in Esther 4:14: “And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” Esther had no guarantee the king would listen or that her actions would save her people. She went anyway, trusting God with what happened next.
As a mother of five and a grandmother, I often think about the world we’re leaving to the next generation. The values we defend and the decisions we make today will shape our laws and communities long after we’re gone. Destructive movements we fail to confront now can grow into even greater threats, leaving our children and grandchildren to face battles we were unwilling to fight. If we remain passive, we risk making their challenges even harder. And by then, will they still have the freedom and opportunity to fight them?
I hear from women across the country who are genuinely worried about what they’re seeing. Mothers are questioning what their children are being taught in the classroom. Women are asking why protecting girls’ sports and private spaces has become so controversial. Parents are frustrated that their voices seem to carry less weight when decisions about their own children are being made.
Women ask me all the time what they can possibly do about what’s happening in our country. My answer is this: start where you live. Pay attention to what’s happening in your child’s school, get involved in your community, and don’t assume someone else will speak up. As Christians, we’re not promised that everything will turn out the way we want. We are, however, called to be faithful regardless of the outcome. We can face an uncertain future without fear because our confidence rests in something greater than the circumstances around us.
Our foundation is solid: Jesus Christ. And He does NOT change.
Ephesians 6:13 tells us to put on the full armor of God so we can stand firm when difficult days come. I’ve always found that instruction especially meaningful because Paul understood that difficult days were inevitable. Our circumstances may change, and doing what’s right may come at a cost, but Scripture doesn’t leave us wondering how to respond. We’re called to stand firm in our faith, even when doing so is uncomfortable or unpopular.
Standing firm begins with prayer.
When something troubles me, my instinct is to figure out what to do. I can become so caught up in finding a solution that I forget to seek the Lord’s wisdom first. Why do we make things so complicated when we have a God who knows far more than we ever could? We need to bring our concerns to Him, particularly when we’re facing decisions that affect our families and our communities. Prayer doesn’t absolve us of responsibility; it helps prepare us to meet that responsibility with wisdom and discernment. Once we’ve prayed, we must also be willing to act on what we know is right.
Prayer changes the posture of our hearts too. When we seek the Lord, we’re reminded that those who disagree with us are not our enemies. Some may be deeply influenced by a toxic culture, but they, too, are made in God’s image and worthy of dignity and love. Truth and love do not compete, and as followers of Christ, we are called to uphold both. We can stand firmly for what is right without abandoning the compassion that should distinguish us.
Proverbs 31:25 describes a woman clothed in strength and dignity who can smile at the future. I love that picture because it isn’t a portrait of a woman who has no concerns about what lies ahead. It’s a picture of someone who refuses to be consumed by fear because she knows where her strength comes from. She can face an uncertain future with confidence, not because she controls the outcome, but because she trusts the One who does.
That’s what I want to see more of in America’s women. We have enough voices telling women to be afraid or angry. I’d rather see women who are confident in their faith, willing to take responsibility for their families’ future, and prepared to use their influence for good. That means praying for our leaders, including those with whom we disagree; seeking God’s wisdom as we care for our families; and remaining engaged in the communities where our voices and actions can make a difference.
Romans 8:28 reminds us that God works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. We may not understand what He’s doing or why certain things happen, but our inability to see the bigger picture doesn’t excuse us from the responsibilities before us. We can trust Him with tomorrow while remaining faithful in the decisions we make today.
So when you face a difficult decision, seek God’s wisdom. When you see something that isn’t right, be willing to speak up. And when you enter the voting booth, remember that your vote is more than a mark on a ballot. It is an opportunity to exercise your voice, reflect your convictions, and help shape the world our children and grandchildren will inherit. We may not control every outcome, but we are responsible for how we respond to the opportunities God places before us.
Ephesians 6:13 reminds us that after we’ve done all we can, we are to stand. That means more than holding firm to our beliefs in private. It means living out our faith with courage, accepting the responsibilities that come with it, and refusing to surrender our voices when the moment calls for us to speak. Whatever happens in our nation, I want to be found standing firm.
Sources: Breaking Christian News
us news
Millions Encouraged to Open Their Bibles for Global Bible Month
Psalm 119 describes God’s Word as “a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.”
Throughout November, Bible apps, ministries, and even retailers hope to spark a light worldwide with a challenge to read God’s Word daily.
Global Bible Month is a 30-day challenge that brings together organizations like Walmart, Hobby Lobby and the YouVersion Bible App with a shared goal of encouraging people to place Scripture at the center of their lives.
Whether through a physical Bible or a digital app, the initiative encourages people to make God’s Word a daily priority.
As the challenge enters its second year, YouVersion Bible App founder Bobby Gruenewald says the 2026 campaign will put God’s Word on display in some of the world’s busiest places.
“We have people that created 30-day Bible plans. I think there’s hundreds of our partners that have created special plans for Global Bible Month. We actually celebrate the Bible in Times Square, and Piccadilly Circus in London, and just different iconic places around the world,” Gruenewald said.
After YouVersion marked a major milestone last year with one billion app downloads, Gruenewald says the numbers continue to grow.
Daily use is up 13%, adding up to 18.5 million visitors each day.
Gruenewald believes the growth is no accident, especially as people look for truth and reliable information in the age of artificial intelligence.
“I don’t think it’s an accident. I think we have a generation right now, with AI, that is searching for what can be trusted and what is true, and there’s nothing like God’s Word, and so we see people turning to the Bible during this time as they’re trying to understand what is truth,” he said.
Words like anxiety, hope, and healing rank among the app’s most-searched terms this year. Gruenewald sees a silver lining in those searches as people turn to Scripture for answers.
“That’s encouragement to me, just because there’s a lot of places you can turn to in these types of moments, but the fact that people are turning to God’s Word, I feel like, should be an encouragement to all of us,” he said.
So far, nearly 15 million people have joined the Global Bible Month movement.
Sources:CBN News
us news
NACOG 2027 ഓസ്റ്റിൻ ദേശീയ പേൾ ജൂബിലി സമ്മേളനം : രജിസ്ട്രേഷൻ ഉൽഘാടനം ഡിസംബർ അഞ്ചിന് അറ്റ്ലാൻ്റയിൽ
30 -ാമത് നോർത്തമേരിക്കൻ ചർച്ച് ഓഫ് ഗോഡ് ഇന്ത്യാ ദേശീയ സമ്മേളനം ഓസ്റ്റനിൽ 2027 ജൂലൈ 15 മുതൽ 18 വരെ നടക്കും. 30 -ാമത് പേൾ ജൂബിലി കോൺഫ്രൻസാണിത്.
ഈ സമ്മേളനത്തിൽ പങ്കെടുക്കുന്നവരുടെ രജിസ്ട്രേഷൻ്റെ ഉൽഘാടനം അറ്റ്ലാൻ്റയിൽ ഡിസംബർ അഞ്ചിന് നടക്കും. ചർച്ച് ഓഫ് ഗോഡ് വേൾഡ് മിഷൻസ് അസിസ്റ്റൻ്റ് ഡയറക്ടർ ബിഷപ്പ് ഇസ്മായേൽ ചാൾസ് പ്രസംഗിക്കും.
പാസ്റ്റർ ഏബ്രഹാം തോമസ് – ടെക്സസ് ഓസ്റ്റിൻ ( പ്രസിഡൻ്റ്) , പാസ്റ്റർ എബി തോമസ് – ന്യൂ യോർക്ക് (വൈസ്. പ്രസിഡൻ്റ്), ഫിന്നി ഫിലിപ്പ് – ഫിലദെൽഫിയ ( സെക്രട്ടറി), അജി ഇടിക്കുള – ഹ്യൂസ്റ്റൻ ( ട്രഷറാർ), പാസ്റ്റർ ജെറമി മാത്യു – ഡാളസ് ( ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് കോ- ഓർഡിനേറ്റർ), ഡോ. ജൂലി തോമസ്- ഓസ്റ്റിൻ ( ലേഡീസ് പ്രസിഡൻ്റ്) എന്നിവരാണ് നാഷണൽ ഭാരവാഹികൾ.
ലോക്കൽ കമ്മറ്റിയെയും തെരഞ്ഞെടുത്തിട്ടുണ്ട്. ലോക്കൽ കൺവീനറായി സുവി. ജോർജ് മാമ്മൻ, സെക്രട്ടറിയായി ജുവിൻ ജോർജ്, ട്രഷററായി ഷെൽവിൻ പോളി, ലോക്കൽ ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് സെഷൻ കോ- ഓർഡിനേറ്ററായി കെസിയ അലക്സ് എന്നിവരെയും തെരഞ്ഞെടുത്തു.
Sources:cchintha.in
-
us news5 months agoMike Winger deletes YouVersion app over ‘The Passion Translation’ controversy, urges others to ‘use caution’
-
us news5 months ago‘America Is Hungry’: Hundreds Born Again and Baptized as Jesus Tent Revival Sweeps the Nation
-
Movie12 months agoCBN’s Superbook Launches New Free Bible App for Kids: ‘The Power of God Is Released’
-
Movie9 months agoHollywood Actor Jen Lilley Launching New Ministry After ‘Vision’ From Holy Spirit
-
National12 months agoഐ.പി.സി കേരള സ്റ്റേറ്റ് ഇലക്ഷൻ 2026 മാർച്ച് 9 മുതൽ
-
us news12 hours agoMillions Encouraged to Open Their Bibles for Global Bible Month
-
world news11 months agoപാകിസ്ഥാനിൽ പാസ്റ്റർ കമ്രാൻ മൈക്കിൾ തന്റെ മകളുടെ മുന്നിൽ വെച്ച് ക്രൂരമായി കൊല്ലപ്പെട്ടു.
-
Movie8 months agoWorship Leader Brooke Ligertwood Shares Stunning Testimony of Answered Prayer From Ukraine

