RELIGION HEADLINES SUN 10-19-25

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(SRN NEWS)  October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month and President Trump has released a statement.  Mr. Trump’s proclamation says that “Every child is created in the holy image and likeness of God with inherent dignity and worth.  We celebrate the extraordinary individuals living with Down Syndrome who bring joy, wonder, and meaning to the world.”  Down Syndrome can be identified by prenatal testing and abortion advocates have been campaigning for years to get women bearing such children to terminate their pregnancies.  Iceland recently announced that it had “eradicated” Down Syndrome by aborting all babies who had it. 

(  )  Five Christians are going to prison in Iran.  Each of the converts will serve eight years for trying to spread the gospel in the repressive Islamic state.  International Christian Concern says “The persecution of Christians in Iran, particularly those who have converted to the faith, has plagued the nation for decades.  However, despite seemingly insurmountable odds and threats of imprisonment, many Iranians continue to risk everything to worship Christ.”  In fact, independent agencies have estimated that there may be as many as one million Christians living in Iran and the church there is growing despite the best efforts of the Iranian government. 

(  )  Officials in Iraq report that only about 70 Christian families have returned to the northern city of Mosul since ISIS was driven out.  Before the war there were at least 50,000 believers in the city.  International Christian Concern says “Believers in Iraq have faced many challenges during the past two decades, from war to religious extremism and systematic discrimination, which have all contributed to the sharp decline of Christians in the region.”  Making up less than one percent of the Iraqi population, Christians have little influence with local officials or the federal government.  Christianity has a 2000-year history in Iraq. 

(  )  A small congregation in a remote Alaska town now has a church building thanks to help from Samaritan’s Purse.  Hundreds of volunteers from the giant Christian relief agency helped construct the Lake Clark Bible Church in Port Alsworth over the summer.  It was dedicated this month with a visit by Franklin Graham, who heads Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.  Writing on Facebook Graham says “This building will make such a difference to the entire community. It will be a center for the teaching of God’s Word, ministry, and missions. Every night, the lit cross serves as a beacon to all.