RELIGION HEADLINES TUE 7-8-25

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( SRN NEWS )  An arsonist set fire to the door of a Melbourne, Australia synagogue over the weekend, forcing the congregation to flee.  The incident happened seven months after criminals destroyed a synagogue in the same city with an accelerant-fueled blaze that left one worshipper injured.  In this latest case, a man doused the double front doors of the downtown East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation and set it alight while 20 worshippers were inside sharing a meal to mark Shabbat.  Police say everyone evacuated through a rear door and no one was injured.

(  )  China is ramping up its persecution of Christians and it’s using the latest technology to do so.  The Communist government is extending its control of the internet and seeking to monitor all activities by churches and individual Christians.  It is officially against the law in China to worship anywhere but inside a state-controlled church and house churches are raided regularly.  Efforts by house church members to communicate with each other via the internet are now being monitored by the government and can result in arrest.

(  )  The North Carolina legislature is scheduled to reconvene this month and consider overriding several vetoes by Democratic Governor Josh Stein.  One of the bills he rejected would protect parents from charges of child abuse if they refuse to allow their child to live as the opposite sex.  Three other vetoed measures would eliminate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs in the North Carolina government.  It’s not clear if Republicans in the legislature will be able to amass enough votes to reverse Governor Stein’s multiple vetoes.

(  )  Christian relief agencies are rushing aid to Texas where deadly floods have killed scores of people and destroyed a lot of property.  Samaritan’s Purse is leading the charge and CEO Franklin Graham is urging all Americans to intervene spiritually, saying “We need to continue to surround these devastated families and communities in prayer.  Also pray for the hundreds involved in search and rescue efforts.”  Samaritan’s Purse has already dispatched a disaster team and it will work in concert with local churches in the affected areas to provide relief and help the search and rescue teams.