Virginia Democrats pass an abortion amendment

Virginia Democrats pass an abortion amendment

VERBATIM:  The measure would enshrine the procedure in the state constitution and allow for abortion up to the moment of birth.  All that remains is for voters to approve the amendment in the fall — which isn’t a sure thing — but in a purple state like Virginia, is a pretty good bet.  Pro-life activists are vowing to campaign hard against the amendment this year.  So far 11 states have enshrined abortion in their constitutions and three others may do so this year.  MH REPORTING

The annual March For Life takes place this week

The annual March For Life takes place this week

VERBATIM:  Hundreds of thousands of people from all across the nation are expected in Washington D.C. on Friday for the event.  It commemorates the 1973 Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion in all 50 states, and despite the fact that Roe versus Wade has now been overturned, the March goes on.  Organizers say “the necessary work to build a culture of life in the U.S. is not finished. The goal of the March is to ultimately make abortion unthinkable.”  MH REPORTING

The two biggest nations on earth are unfriendly to Christians

The two biggest nations on earth are unfriendly to Christians

VERBATIM:  Some say the future belongs to India and China because they represent more than one-third of the global population.  But they also BOTH appear on the Open Doors US World Watch List this year — an annual ranking of nations where religious persecution is the worst.  India comes in number 12 overall thanks to a Hindu nationalist majority that persecutes Christians.  China is number 17 for his constant persecution and repression of believers.  MH REPORTING

Religious people weigh-in on sex-change operations for kids

Religious people weigh-in on sex-change operations for kids

VERBATIM:  The poll comes from the Public Religion Research Institute and it finds that White Evangelical Protestants are the group most likely to support state laws barring children from undergoing such procedures in order to live as the opposite sex — 67%.  But the numbers drop from there.  Only 51% of White Mainline Protestants favor bans on child sex-change operations, as do 50% of White Catholics and 44% of Black Protestants.  MH REPORTING

Open Doors US has released its World Watch List

Open Doors US has released its World Watch List

VERBATIM:  It’s an annual ranking of the countries where it’s most dangerous to be a Christian.  North Korea is number one, followed this year by Somalia, Yemen, Sudan and Eritrea.  Rounding out the top 10 are Syria, Nigeria, Pakistan, Libya and Iran.  Open Doors also reports that nearly 400 million Christians around the world suffer high levels of persecution for their faith.  That’s one-in-seven believers worldwide, one-in-five in Africa and two-in-five in Asia.  MH REPORTING

More churches are closing than are opening

More churches are closing than are opening

VERBATIM:  A new study from LifeWay Research reveals that for 2024 — the last year for which all the data is in — about 3,800 new Protestant churches opened in this country.  However, that same year, roughly 4,000 churches closed their doors.  LifeWay spokesman Scott McConnell finds a silver lining, however, saying “Given recent declines in Americans identifying as Christians, churches show a remarkable ability to remain open, even with fewer attendees.”  MH REPORTING

A critical religious freedom case is underway in Canada

A critical religious freedom case is underway in Canada

VERBATIM:  Assisted-suicide is legal in the country, but religious hospitals and pro-life hospice facilities do NOT want to participate.  But a family in British Columbia is suing, demanding that such healthcare providers be FORCED to help people kill themselves.  The Supreme Court of British Columbia is taking testimony in the case the rest of this month and is expected to deliver a verdict this year.  That decision could affect religious freedom all across Canada.  MH REPORTING

The eyes of Christians around the world are on Iran

The eyes of Christians around the world are on Iran

VERBATIM:  The country’s failing economy has triggered weeks of protests to start the new year and the Islamic government has responded by killing hundreds and jailing thousands.  Some experts think the regime will fall and that could change Iran’s status as one of the most dangerous places to be a Christian.  Evangelical leaders in the U.S. and in other nations are urging believers to be in prayer for Iran and its Christian minority as the protests continue.  MH REPORTING

International Planned Parenthood is feeling the pinch

International Planned Parenthood is feeling the pinch

VERBATIM:  Now that President Trump has cut 87 million dollars in U.S. funding to the giant abortion business, it has begun to cut staff.  IPPF reports that nearly 1,000 staffers around the world have been laid off and nearly 1,400 facilities of various sizes have shut their doors.  The cuts have had a major impact here in the U.S., with Planned Parenthood closing scores of abortion clinics or putting aside plans to open new ones.  MH REPORTING

The Heritage Foundation issues a warning

The Heritage Foundation issues a warning

VERBATIM:  The influential conservative think-tank says the family is in decline in this country and if that isn’t reversed, the U.S is headed for calamity.  Heritage President Kevin Roberts says, “Our country will not survive if families continue to crumble at this rate.”  The report urges federal government action, including 2,500-dollar investment accounts for every newborn, child tax credits and marriage boot camps designed to strengthen relationships.  MH REPORTING

The 10 Commandments might come before the Supreme Court again soon

The 10 Commandments might come before the Supreme Court again soon

VERBATIM:  At least a dozen states have considered proposals that would require the posting of the Decalogue in public school classrooms, with Texas, Louisianaand and Arkansas mandating their display in 2024 or 2025.  Legal challenges have led to all three laws being at least partially blocked while the cases play out.  Last month families in Texas filed a class-action lawsuit seeking to take down displays across the state.  MH REPORTING

A Christian financial expert issues a warning

A Christian financial expert issues a warning

VERBATIM:  And it’s not about the economy or debt or investments.  No, Dave Ramsey is very concerned about gambling.  The long-time Christian radio host and author said on a recent show that sports waging is “the most addictive thing I’ve ever seen.  The number of people calling our financial counselors and telling them that their entire lives have been destroyed by gambling is unbelievable. It’s the fastest growing addiction in America.”  MH REPORTING

Samaritan’s Purse is bringing relief to Ethiopia

Samaritan’s Purse is bringing relief to Ethiopia

There’s a months-long drought going on in the northern Tigray region and conditions are getting dire.  Samaritan’s Purse, one of the biggest Christian relief groups in the world, is now providing water and other rations to some of the most remote villages.  So far the ministry has handed out over 64 tons of food and critical aid, including hygiene kits containing jerry cans, soap, water filtration systems, and water treatment kits.  Hundreds of got supplemental vitamins and minerals.  

The new mayor of New York is moving quickly

The new mayor of New York is moving quickly

VERBATIM:  Zohran Mamdani promised to fix a lot of problems on the campaign trail, but his first priority seems to be eliminating all pro-Israel executive orders issued by his predecessor.  In his first hours in office Mamdani, New York’s first Muslim mayor, has revoked orders that barred the city from joining the anti-Israel Boycott, Divest, Sanctions movement and other directives by Eric Adams that aimed at curbing anti-Semitism.  MHNREPORTING

An historic Dutch church has been lost

An historic Dutch church has been lost

VERBATIM:  It happened in the last hours before Amsterdam rang in 2026.  A fire broke out at the Vondel Church, spreading quickly and completely destroying the building.  The church was more than 150-years old, though its congregation had declined so greatly in the second half of the 20th century that worship ended there in 1977.  Since then the building had been used for a variety of purposes including as a music venue.  MHNREPORTing

A Virginia school system votes on pronouns

A Virginia school system votes on pronouns

VERBATIM:  Members of the Chesapeake School Board have decided to enact a policy barring any school from forcing students or faculty from using the preferred pronouns of a transgender person.  Board Chairman Angela Swygert says “A person who does not fundamentally agree with the use of alternative pronouns and titles cannot be compelled to use them.”  However, the voluntary use of transgender pronouns is NOT prohibited.  MH REPORTING

The Grahams will be doing some traveling in 2026

The Grahams will be doing some traveling in 2026

VERBATIM:  Franklin Graham is scheduled to hold a big gospel festival in Cambodia later this month.  He will also preach the word in Argentina in February, in Peru in March, in Spain in May and will visit the United Kingdom in October.  His son Will Graham is scheduled to host a gospel festival in Japan in May and another one in South Korea the same month.  Both men may add further international trips to their schedule over the course of the year.  MH EPORTING

The global center of Christianity has shifted

The global center of Christianity has shifted

Is your toddler on social media?

Is your toddler on social media?

VERBATIM:  According to a new study from the British government, nearly 40% of kids between the ages of 3-and-5 years old in the United Kingdom are on social media platforms regularly.  And we’re talking about the big platforms — Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok and Snapchat.  This report lands amidst growing concerns in the U.K. the U.S. and elsewhere about the harm social media is doing to TEENAGERS, let alone kids who might not be potty-trained.  MH REPORTING

Are you reading the scriptures?

Are you reading the scriptures?

VERBATIM:  The American Bible Society’s annual report finds that about 41 percent of Americans qualify as “Bible users,” meaning they have read the scriptures at least three times a year outside of church services.  That’s up from 38 percent last year but down from 2021, when half of Americans fit that category.  The ABS report also reveals that a little over a third of Gen Z and Millennials would qualify as Bible users — an increase for Millennials over 2024.  MH REPORTING

A new ranking of which states are the most giving

A new ranking of which states are the most giving

VERBATIM:  It comes from WalletHub and it reveals that Virginia is number one when it comes to donating money to churches, ministries and other charitable institutions.  New York comes in 2nd, followed by Maryland, Georgia and California.  Giving is clearly strongest in the states that are generally the most wealthy.  However, when it comes to donating one’s TIME to local charities, Utah comes in 1st, followed by Wyoming, Idaho, Montana,  and Minnesota.

The battle over gay marriage in Japan is heating up

The battle over gay marriage in Japan is heating up

VERBATIM:  A Japanese court has ruled that the government does not have to legalize homosexual unions in the last of six cases that are expected to be brought to the Supreme Court for a final and definitive ruling, possibly next year.  The Tokyo High Court says marriage under Japanese law is largely expected to be a union between men and women in a decision that reversed a lower court ruling last year.  This is also the first loss at high courts for gay activists.  MH REPORTING

A new Gallup poll asks Americans about Christmas

A new Gallup poll asks Americans about Christmas

VERBATIM:  88% of us will celebrate the holiday on Thursday — down from 96% who did so 20 years ago.  But while secular forms of celebration remain popular, religious ones are in decline.  Fewer Americans will be going anywhere near a church and fewer put out Nativity scenes or other religious displays at their homes.  Even self-identified Christians are changing their ways.  Just 61% of them say they attend church on Christmas Eve — down from 73% in 2010.  MH REPORTING

The number of abortion clinics in the U.S. continues to decline

The number of abortion clinics in the U.S. continues to decline