world news
‘Rainbow Revival’ Shares Jesus’ Love, Testimonies of Freedom to Those in the LGBTQ+ Lifestyle
For Christians who oppose Pride Month and the LGBTQ+ community’s use of rainbows during June, boycotting WOKE retailers is good for the conscience and meant to harm the offending companies’ profits.
But for some other Christians who’ve left LGBTQ+ lifestyles to follow Jesus, Pride Month festivities offer opportunities to shine His light.
Rainbow Revival (formerly Freedom March), a diverse group of former LGBTQ+ people, is celebrating its fifth year of loving their neighbors as they share testimonies of transformation.
Pride Month is no exception.
During June, some Rainbow Revival members across the nation are capitalizing on Pride Month by praying for and sharing the gospel with LGBTQ+ friends and neighbors.
“We wear a seven-color rainbow – a symbol of the Lord’s promise to never again flood the earth. This month is a great opportunity to demonstrate humility, remember our brokenness and God’s greatness.
“In 1st Corinthians 12:9, Paul says we boast in our weakness, for there God is manifest strong. It’s a great time to remember how weak we are,” Rainbow Revival leaders MJ Nixon and Kimberly Zember explain here: https://www.facebook.com/reel/275671264845372
This year Freedom March officially changed its ministry name to Rainbow Revival, which will host its first event of 2023 in Dallas, Texas on Oct. 21st.
Rainbow Revival’s stated mission is to gather and share testimonies of freedom, and to call the body of Christ to love LGBTQ+ neighbors with the truth of transformation through relationship with Jesus.
Unlike his faith-building experience at Freedom March, Karl Jackson’s former celebrations of Pride Month were frequently marked by parties, drugs and alcohol.
That is until the Lord delivered him from an addiction to crystal meth and sexual promiscuity, following his grandmother’s death two years ago.
To ease the pain of his grandmother’s loss – she was like a mother to him – Jackson attempted suicide by taking an overdose of drugs.
While in the lifestyle, “lukewarm” Christians condoned his sinful behaviors.
“Undoubtedly, if I had died in my former lifestyle I would have gone to hell. My blood would have been on their hands.
“The person you see today is not the person I was a year ago,” says Jackson, who believes he’s alive because of his grandmother’s prayers.
They are why he’s a “fisher of men,” committed to evangelizing the community he left behind, which includes a family member.
Another man convicted by the Holy Spirit of “a hedonistic lifestyle” four years ago sees the LGBTQ+ community as a mission field.
Living in south Florida today, Jarrod Tobias participated in Pride festivities from coast to coast for 25 years – his entire time in the lifestyle – until the Lord asked him to follow Him.
“I knew that meant leaving behind many friends who were all broken in their camaraderie – like a family,” says Tobias, who didn’t think his lifestyle or theirs was wrong until the Lord showed him otherwise.
The Lord revealed his brokenness and, as he started dealing with it, “blinders were taken off my eyes and how I see things is completely different,” says Tobias.
His heart breaks for friends – he calls them his people – who are LGBTQ+. “My best friend and I were recently reminiscing about old times.
“I let him know that I think about the guys all the time,” says Tobias of his friend who, grieving the loss of his father, still isn’t interested in conversations about leaving the lifestyle.
As for Tobias, his faith in Jesus grows stronger every day, despite battling lusts of the flesh common to all believers.
“I’m not the same person I was four years ago,” says Tobias for whom Pride Month in Columbus, San Diego, Los Angeles, and West Palm Beach is different now that he prays for friends in those cities, rather than party with them.
“It’s a mission field now,” says Tobias.
“I pray that the Lord opens a door where I can see that He’s working and, just by His grace, allow me to partner with Him,” he adds.
A single woman from rural West Virginia, Tori Ann battles loneliness even in churches, where Pride Month celebrations are a toss-up among bodies of “believers” in her area.
But going to a LGBTQ+ party is out of the question for Tori Ann.
“Why go back to what, literally, took me to the train tracks in 2021,” says Tori Ann, who believes the Lord is calling her to pray for West Virginia’s gay and trans communities.
A ministry leader, Daniel Mingo heard the Lord say 20 years ago: “There are men coming along behind you who need to know my redemptive power in the homosexual’s life,” says Mingo, who was himself sexually addicted to promiscuity with men.
He founded Abba’s Delight (abbasdelight.com), a recovery ministry for men like himself who spent 30 years hooking up in anonymous sexual encounters.
Though Mingo never assumed a gay identity or lifestyle as a born-again, Spirit-baptized man, Pride Month is troublesome for him, due to the sheer numbers of deceived people celebrating it.
“Pastors tell me they never knew a ministry like mine existed; there are 250 ministries throughout the world that have helped millions of people,” Mingo says.
A Pennsylvania woman, Ellie Rosenberg, who’s been out of the LGBTQ+ lifestyle for nine years, says she too grieves for her friends who are still in sinful bondage.
Even Rosenberg’s new church is sensitive about celebrating versus mourning Pride Month because a couple of its members are LGBTQ+ or allies.
“Even though the church’s position is not gay affirming, we still welcome people who are, to come hear the gospel,” Rosenberg says.
One of her closest friends is still in the LGBTQ+ community. “I talk to her about my faith like she’s a Christian already, and she absorbs it,” says Rosenberg.
She will continue to plant seeds until they germinate, maybe even pray and fast for her friends who need Jesus.
Sources:BREAKING CHRISTIAN NEWS
China — In statements on social media and state-owned media platforms, China is celebrating an increase in government persecution of religious minorities in 2024.
The Chinese government views religious freedom as a threat to the exclusive loyalty it believes is owed to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which rules the country, and broadly labels non-state religious groups as cults regardless of their actual beliefs.
“China’s public security authorities intensified efforts to dismantle cult organizations in 2024,” the Global Times, a media outlet run by the CCP, reported last month. “They have worked to curb the growth and spread of cult organizations, mitigating potential threats to national political security and maintaining social stability.”
The word rendered as “cult” in the Global Times report is xie jiao, an amorphous term apparently dating back to the Ming Dynasty. It was used to designate movements or beliefs deemed anti-government or that failed to comply with the strict principles of the CCP.
In a statement on the Chinese messaging app and social media platform WeChat, China’s Ministry of Public Security boasted of increased spending on technology and manpower to combat independent religious organizations in a repressive campaign that has included crackdowns on the independent Christian house church movement.
China is known to have forced abortions on its citizens, sterilized women without their consent, and murdered religious minorities to sell their organs on the black market. Christian home churches are an attempt to escape government scrutiny, but even they are often raided and their members arrested on charges of working against the interests of the state.
China is a world leader in the use of technology to surveil and repress its citizens. While the full extent of its surveillance apparatus is unknown, research has shown that it operates a system that aims to track every citizen’s movement to gain insight into their loyalty to the CCP. From mundane details like what a person wears to larger observations like who they associate with, the system works to track and understand the loyalty of each citizen.
Chinese government officials use the data captured by this system to track and control those it deems a danger to the state. Notably, this includes anybody associated with the unregistered house church movement and anyone else who might desire to practice religion outside the confines of the state-run institutions.
Sources:persecution
നൈജീരിയയിലെ ഔച്ചി കത്തോലിക്കാ രൂപതയിലെ ഇടവക റെക്ടറിയിൽ നിന്ന് ഫാ. ഫിലിപ്പ് എക്വേലിയെയും ഒരു വൈദികാർഥിയെയും അക്രമികൾ തട്ടിക്കൊണ്ടുപോയി. “എഡോ സ്റ്റേറ്റിലെ എറ്റ്സാക്കോ ഈസ്റ്റ് എൽ ജി എ യിലെ ഇവിയുഖുവ-അജെനെബോഡിലുള്ള സെന്റ് പീറ്റർ കത്തോലിക്കാ പള്ളിയിലെ വൈദികരുടെ റെക്ടറിയും പള്ളിയും തോക്കുധാരികൾ ആക്രമിച്ചു” – മാർച്ച് നാലിന് പുറത്തിറക്കിയ ഒരു പ്രസ്താവനയിൽ നൈജീരിയൻ രൂപതയുടെ കമ്മ്യൂണിക്കേഷൻ ഡയറക്ടർ ഫാ. പീറ്റർ എഗിലെവ പറയുന്നു.
“റെക്ടറിയിലെയും പള്ളിയിലെയും വാതിലുകളും ജനലുകളും അക്രമികൾ വെടിവച്ച് തകർത്തു. തുടർന്ന് ഫാ. ഫിലിപ്പ് എക്വേലിയെയും മേജർ സെമിനാരി വിദ്യാർഥിയെയും തട്ടിക്കൊണ്ടുപോകുകയായിരുന്നു. അക്രമികൾ ആയുധങ്ങൾ കാട്ടി ഭീഷണിപ്പെടുത്തിയാണ് അവരെ വനത്തിലേക്ക് കൊണ്ടുപോയത്” – ഫാ. എഗിലെവ വിവരിക്കുന്നു. തട്ടിക്കൊണ്ടുപോകപ്പെട്ടവരുമായി ഇതുവരെ യാതൊരു ആശയവിനിമയവും നടന്നിട്ടില്ലെന്ന് ഫാ. എഗിലെവ പറയുന്നു. തട്ടിക്കൊണ്ടുപോകപ്പെട്ടവർ പരിക്കേൽക്കാതെ മോചിതരാകുന്നതിനായി എല്ലാവരും പ്രാർഥിക്കണമെന്നും അദ്ദേഹം അഭ്യർഥിച്ചു.
2003 ഫെബ്രുവരി 22-ന് ഉദ്ഘാടനം ചെയ്യപ്പെട്ട ഔച്ചി കത്തോലിക്കാ രൂപത, അതിന്റെ ഉദ്ഘാടനത്തിന്റെ ഇരുപത്തിരണ്ടാം വാർഷികം ആഘോഷിച്ചത് അടുത്തിടെയാണ്. കഴിഞ്ഞ 5 വർഷത്തിനുള്ളിൽ, ഈ രൂപതയിലെ എട്ടിലധികം വൈദികരെ തട്ടിക്കൊണ്ടുപോയിട്ടുണ്ട്. 2022-ൽ ഒരാൾ ക്രൂരമായി കൊല്ലപ്പെടുകയും ചെയ്തെന്നു ഫാ. എഗിലെവ കൂട്ടിച്ചേർത്തു.
Sources:azchavattomonline.com
The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of Rev. Fr. Philip Ekweli and Seminarian Peter Andrew by suspected herders at St. Peter Catholic Church, Ivukwa community, Etsako East Local Government Area.
The command’s spokesperson, Moses Yamu, in a statement on Tuesday, said operatives killed one of the suspected kidnappers while four others were arrested.
Yamu said, “On March 3, 2025, at about 11:30 pm, the command received a distress call from a concerned citizen that armed men, suspected to be herdsmen, stormed St. Peter Catholic Church in Ivukwa, Etsako East LGA, and abducted Rev. Fr. Philip Ekweli and Seminarian Peter Andrew.”
He added that the police, in collaboration with vigilantes and hunters, swiftly moved to the scene and engaged the attackers in a gun duel, leading to the death of one suspect.
“One of the suspects, whose name remains unknown, was neutralised, and his corpse has been deposited at the General Hospital, Agenebode,” he said.
According to the police, items recovered from the suspect include two pairs of rubber shoes, a button phone with two SIM cards, a power bank, a dagger jacket, a bag containing biscuits and Nescafé beverage, and N168,850 in cash.
The four arrested suspects were identified as Murtala Ibrahim (32), Joshua Joseph (31), Sadiq Sheidu (35), and Sunday Bulus (28).
Yamu stated that the Commissioner of Police, Betty Otimenyin, had deployed additional anti-kidnapping operatives and Police Mobile Force personnel to work alongside the military in securing the victims’ release and apprehending the abductors.
Meanwhile, the Bishop of Auchi Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel Dunia, has decried the rising cases of attacks on Catholic priests, urging the government to address the worsening security situation in Edo North.
In a statement issued by the diocese’s Director of Communications, Rev. Fr. Peter Egielewa, the bishop lamented that Edo North, once peaceful, had become a hotbed for kidnappers.
The statement read, “The Diocese of Auchi announces with sadness that at about 9:30 pm on Monday, March 3, 2025, gunmen violently attacked the rectory and church of St. Peter Catholic Church, Iviukhua-Agenebode, Etsako East LGA.
“Doors and windows in both the rectory and church were pulled down amid heavy gunfire. Local vigilantes engaged the kidnappers, but due to the superior weapons of the attackers, the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Philip Ekweli, and a major seminarian serving in the parish were abducted and taken into the surrounding forest.”
The diocese urged Nigerians to join in prayers for the safe release of the abducted priest and seminarian.
As of press time, there had been no contact with the kidnappers.
ഇന്ത്യാ പെന്തക്കോസ്ത് ദൈവസഭയിലെ എഴുത്തുകാരുടെയും മാധ്യമ പ്രവർത്തകരുടെയും ആഗോള കൂട്ടായ്മയായ ഐപിസി ഗ്ലോബൽ മീഡിയ അസോസിയേഷൻ യുഎഇ ചാപ്റ്റർ ഭാരവാഹികളായി പാസ്റ്റർ വിൽസൺ ജോസഫ് (രക്ഷാധികാരി), ലാൽ മാത്യു (പ്രസിഡന്റ്), ഡോ. റോയ് ബി. കുരുവിള (വൈസ് പ്രസിഡന്റ് ), കൊച്ചുമോൻ ആന്താര്യത്ത് (സെക്രട്ടറി) , വിനോദ് എബ്രഹാം (ജോയിൻ്റ് സെക്രട്ടറി), നെവിൻ മങ്ങാട്ട് ( ട്രഷറർ ), പി. സി. ഗ്ലെന്നി (ജനറൽ കൗൺസിൽ അംഗം), പാസ്റ്റർ ജോൺ വർഗീസ്, ആന്റോ അലക്സ് (കമ്മിറ്റി അംഗങ്ങൾ) എന്നിവരെ തിരെഞ്ഞെടുത്തു.
ഐപിസി ഗ്ലോബൽ മീഡിയ അസോസിയേഷൻ അന്തർ ദേശീയ ഭാരവാഹികളായ സജി മത്തായി കാതേട്ട് , ഷിബു മുള്ളംകാട്ടിൽ എന്നിവർ തിരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പിന് നേതൃത്വം നൽകി. ഐപിസി യുഎഇ റീജിയൻ പ്രസിഡന്റ് പാസ്റ്റർ വിൽസൺ ജോസഫ് അനുഗ്രഹ പ്രാർത്ഥന നടത്തി. എഴുത്തുകാരനും പി വൈ പി എ കേരള സ്റ്റേറ്റ് ജോയിൻ്റ് സെക്രട്ടറിയുമായ സന്ദീപ് വിളമ്പുകണ്ടം പ്രസംഗിച്ചു.
Sources:christiansworldnews
The IPC Global Media Association, a global association of writers and media workers of the Indian Pentecostal Church of God, has elected Pastor Wilson Joseph (Patron), Lal Mathew (President), Dr. Roy B. Kuruvilla (Vice President), Kochumon Antaryath (Secretary), Vinod Abraham (Joint Secretary), Nevin Mangat (Treasurer), P. C. Glennie (General Council Member), Pastor John Varghese and Anto Alex (Committee Members) as the office bearers of the UAE Chapter of the IPC Global Media Association.
The election was led by IPC Global Media Association International Office Bearers Saji Mathai Kathet and Shibu Mullamkattil. IPC UAE Region President Pastor Wilson Joseph offered the blessing prayer. Sandeep Vilampukandam, writer and PYPA Kerala State Joint Secretary, delivered the speech.
http://theendtimeradio.com
Chinese Government Boasts About Increased Persecution in 2024
China — In statements on social media and state-owned media platforms, China is celebrating an increase in government persecution of...
‘God Is in This’: Chris Tomlin Reveals Powerful Providence Behind New Movie ‘The Last Supper’
“No one’s heard it.” It’s easy to chalk things up to coincidence, to believe in happy accidents and happenstance. Chris...
President Trump Tells American Children: ‘You Are Perfect Exactly the Way God Made You’
During a speech to Congress celebrating a growing list of accomplishments during his whirlwind 43-day administration, President Donald Trump spoke...
നൈജീരിയയിൽ വൈദികനെയും വൈദികാർഥിയെയും തട്ടിക്കൊണ്ടുപോയി
നൈജീരിയയിലെ ഔച്ചി കത്തോലിക്കാ രൂപതയിലെ ഇടവക റെക്ടറിയിൽ നിന്ന് ഫാ. ഫിലിപ്പ് എക്വേലിയെയും ഒരു വൈദികാർഥിയെയും അക്രമികൾ തട്ടിക്കൊണ്ടുപോയി. “എഡോ സ്റ്റേറ്റിലെ എറ്റ്സാക്കോ ഈസ്റ്റ് എൽ ജി...
ഖത്തറിൽ യുപിഐ സംവിധാനം: ഇനി ഡിജിറ്റൽ പണമിടപാടുകൾ കൂടുതൽ കാര്യക്ഷമമാകും
ഇന്ത്യയുടെ യൂണിഫൈഡ് പെയ്മെന്റ് ഇന്റർഫേസ് (യുപിഐ) സംവിധാനം ഖത്തറിലും പൂർണതോതിൽ നടപ്പാക്കാൻ ഒരുങ്ങുന്നു. കഴിഞ്ഞ വർഷം ജൂലൈയിൽ ഖത്തർ നാഷണൽ ബാങ്കുമായി നാഷണൽ പെയ്മെന്റ്സ് കോർപറേഷൻ ഓഫ്...
‘Jesus Is King’: Biggest Streamer in the World ‘Ninja’ Shares Gospel With Fans
Tyler Blevins is one of the most prolific video-game streamers on the internet, with a Twitch account boasting more than...
-
Travel10 months agoയാക്കൂസ കരിഷ്മ:ഓല സ്കൂട്ടറിനേക്കാൾ വിലക്കുറവിൽ കുഞ്ഞൻ കാർ; സിറ്റി യാത്രകൾക്ക് ഇനി ഇവൻ മതിയാവും
-
Movie4 months agoFor KING + COUNTRY Stars’ Big Plan to Bring Message of Jesus, ‘Redemption of Humanity’ to People Across America
-
Tech8 months agoചിത്രങ്ങൾ എഡിറ്റ് ചെയ്യാം; വാട്സ്ആപ്പിലെ ‘നീല വളയം’ സ്മാർട്ടാകുന്നു, കാര്യമായ മാറ്റങ്ങൾ
-
Movie3 months agoFor KING + COUNTRY Stars’ Big Plan to Bring Message of Jesus, ‘Redemption of Humanity’ to People Across America
-
Movie12 months agoActor Ryan Phillippe ‘Craving’ Relationship With God After Movie About Christian Missionary
-
Articles9 months ago8 ways the Kingdom connects us back to the Garden of Eden
-
world news2 weeks agoമ്യാന്മറില് സായുധസംഘത്തിന്റെ വെടിയേറ്റ് കത്തോലിക്ക വൈദികന് കൊല്ലപ്പെട്ടു.
-
Hot News11 months ago3 key evidences of Jesus’ return from the grave