The 3 - March 23, 2025

MO's Attorney General continues pushback on abortion provider

Not to be deterred by his state's passage of an abortion amendment that was intended to allow abortions in the state throughout a woman's pregnancy, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is looking for ways to save babies' lives and preserve women's safety.

Liberty Counsel reports that Planned Parenthood has resumed surgical abortions in the state, which maintain that it is not doing chemical abortions, which use the abortion pill regimen to terminate life. 

But, Bailey is calling out the nation's largest abortion provider.  Liberty Counsel states:

AG Bailey stated in a press release that the order is due to Planned Parenthood’s “documented history” of “repeated and knowing” violations of state law. He noted the organization has “admitted under oath” to knowingly “refusing to file required complication reports” and that investigations had discovered other violations, such as failing to comply with informed consent laws and to sterilize surgical instruments.

The Christian legal firm notes:

Bailey issued a cease-and-desist order last week to Planned Parenthood formally prohibiting the abortion giant from performing chemical abortions in the state. The order advises the company to implement a “valid” health and safety plan to protect women and treat complications from abortion-inducing drugs, as required by state law. AG Bailey cited Planned Parenthood’s “uncontroverted track record” of disregarding Missouri health and safety laws...

Network featuring faith-based programming claims discrimination by streaming channel

YouTube TV is one of multiple streaming channels offering a variety of channels for subscribers. However, Great American Family is not one of them.  And, the head of the FCC has taken notice.

The Daily Signal relates:

Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, is raising the alarm about evidence suggesting the tech giant—which has a long history of censorship—has unfairly treated a Christian family TV station.

The article says that on March 7, Carr wrote to Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet, the parent company of Google and Neal Mohan, CEO of YouTube, stating, “[I]n the case of YouTube TV, concerns have been raised alleging that your company has a policy (secret or otherwise) that discriminates against faith-based programming..."

Carr went on to say:

“Great American Media states that its Great American Family network is the second fastest-growing channel in cable television,” wrote Carr, “and, while they are carried on a range of cable and streaming services, including Comcast, Cox, Hulu, FuboTV and DirecTV stream, YouTube TV refuses to carry them.”

In a press release, Doug Deason, Chairman of Great American Media is quoted as saying: "Faith-based and family-friendly content should not be marginalized in today’s digital ecosystem,” adding, “We are grateful for Commissioner Carr’s commitment to ensuring that all voices—including those that reflect faith values—receive fair treatment on major streaming platforms.”  Great American Media CEO Bill Abbott, formerly of the Hallmark Channel, states: "Great American Family is one of the fastest-growing channels in television, and audiences deserve the ability to access our content wherever they choose to watch...After years of petitioning YouTube TV for consideration, it is encouraging to see action being taken to address these concerns. We appreciate the FCC’s focus and its efforts to hold platforms accountable for potential viewpoint discrimination."

But, as Deadline reported, regarding the FCC's oversight of Multichannel Video Programming Distributors: "Carr acknowledged the limitations on the FCC’s authority over virtual MVPDs compared to cable distributors, as program carriage rules apply to traditional television. The FCC has had multiple open proceedings to expand the regulatory framework to virtual MVPDs like YouTube TV, Carr noted."

The website elaborated:

In his letter, Carr put the Great American Family carriage in the same context as his criticism of tech giants over their content moderation policies. Carr has long claimed social media platforms have engaged in discrimination against conservative voices. He has talked about reforming a key law, Section 230 of the Communications Act, that has immunized platforms from lawsuits over third-party content.

Christian leaders band together on behalf of hostages in former Soviet republic

It has been a difficult season for Armenian Christians in the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan, and a consortium of Christian leaders has sent a letter to President Trump on behalf of 24 hostages being held there.  Crosswalk Headlines reported:

A coalition of Christian leaders recently signed a letter to President Donald Trump to take action on behalf of 23 Christian Armenians and one Azeri Christian convert currently detained in Azerbaijan.

The catalyst of the letter was an organization called Save Armenia.  The Crosswalk article said that signatories included:

...former United States Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback, Christian artist and missionary Sean Feucht, National Religious Broadcasters President and CEO Troy Miller, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Commissioner David Curry, Save the Persecuted Christians Executive Director Dede Laugesen and civil rights activist Alveda King.

The article went on to say, "The letter was also signed by former Rep. Michelle Bachman... who now serves as the dean of the Robertson School of Government at Regent University, and Jim Garlow, former pastor of Skyline Church in California, The Christian Post reported."

The letter said, in part:

"Almost two years ago, Azerbaijan ethnically cleansed more than 120,000 Christian Armenians out of their ancestral homes, while the Biden administration refused to take action to stop the ethnic cleansing or punish the perpetrators of that crime," the leaders explained.

"Since then, the same regime has been holding 23 Christian Armenian hostages and one Azeri Christian convert, who are being subjected to routine torture, according to credible reports. The International Committee of the Red Cross, the only organization with access to check on the well-being of the prisoners, was ordered to leave the country in recent days."

The 3 - March 16, 2025

Trump administration switches side in emergency room abortion case

Just as in the case out of Tennessee, where gender-change treatments and surgeries have been banned under a state law, a case that has now been heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, the Trump administration has switched sides in a case out of Idaho, in which the previous administration had filed a lawsuit attempting to force emergency room doctors to perform abortions, challenging a pro-life state law.

That is according to The Daily Signal, which reported: "The Biden administration...sued Idaho to prevent it from applying its abortion ban to emergency rooms. In August 2022, a U.S. District Court judge issued an injunction against Idaho. More than a year later, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit affirmed that injunction and Idaho subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court."  The article went on to say:

The Supreme Court stayed the injunction in January 2024 and positioned the case as an actual appeal on the merits of the underlying Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act issue rather than just a request for a temporary procedural hold. The court directed that arguments in the case occur in April 2024 but, after that deadline came and went, the court dismissed the appeal as “improvidently granted.” In this case, that’s a fancy term for jumping the gun.

The article related:

So the case is now back in Idaho, this time amid speculation that the incoming Trump administration would no longer insist that the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act overrides state pro-life laws. St. Luke’s Health System, a Boise nonprofit that operates medical centers and pharmacies, asked a U.S. District Court judge for another injunction against Idaho enforcing its pro-life law in emergency rooms. The judge agreed.

As expected, the Trump administration decided to no longer try to force Idaho to allow emergency room abortions and, joined by the state of Idaho, asked that the case be dismissed on March 5, 2025. The previous day, however, St. Luke’s obtained a temporary restraining order keeping the case in place for now.

State school superintendent's efforts in OK to provide Bibles halted by state's highest court

Ryan Walters is the state school superintendent in Oklahoma.  He wants to make thousands of Bibles available to students in the state.  The Washington Times noted last week:

The Oklahoma Supreme Court has temporarily blocked an attempt by the state’s schools superintendent to purchase Bibles to be placed in public classrooms.

The state’s highest court issued an order Monday that blocks Superintendent Ryan Walters from using taxpayer dollars to purchase Bibles and Bible-related material for public schools.

He had planned to buy more than 50,000 Bibles to incorporate into fifth- through 12th-grade classes.

The article stated:

Nearly three dozen families, teachers and religious leaders have challenged the moves to incorporate the Bible and Bible-related material into the school curriculum; on Monday, the state’s highest court agreed. 

The court issued a stay, pausing any new purchase requests by Mr. Walters.

Good News spreading: hundreds of thousands hear message in Ethiopia

And, a story of God at work has emerged out of the nation of Ethiopia.  CBN News reported recently:

Evangelist Franklin Graham preached the powerful message of the gospel to more than 400,000 people over the weekend in a massive public square that was once infamous for its Communist rallies.

Hundreds of thousands of people worshipped Jesus at Meskel Square for the "Encountering God Ethiopia" outreach.

It was a major turnout of 437,000 people hungry to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ for the two day-event.

 The article went on to say:

On the first night, 117,000 people attended and on the second night 320,000 were in attendance.

"The square was so full, thousands of people spilled into the nearby streets to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ," reads a BGEA press release.

The ministry reports that 4,000 people made decisions for Christ and many of these new believers will be discipled by local churches to help them grow in their walk with the Lord, BGEA reports.

The Association quoted from Dereje Jemberu, general secretary of the Ethiopian Council of Gospel Believers Churches, who said: "I have no words to express my heart. My eyes were full of tears to see so many people respond to the good news that was preached. This is what we wanted—we have been praying many years for a moment such as this," adding, "I thank God for what He is doing in Ethiopia and what He has done this weekend. This has helped encourage and motivate evangelical churches to continue to work together to understand one another and to organize activities to reach as many people as possible with the hope of Jesus Christ..."

The 3 - March 9, 2025

Bill to keep males out of women's sports fails in U.S. Senate, another state passes legislation to do that

With more and more states passing legislation to prevent males from participating in female sports, an executive order issued to prevent the practice, and House passage of a piece of legislation to make that permanent, there has certainly been momentum to ban this practice.

But, the momentum ran into a roadblock in the U.S. Senate last week.  FoxNews.com reported that the a bill in the U.S. Senate " prevent boys from participating in girls' sports failed to overcome the legislative filibuster on Monday night after it did not reach the necessary 60-vote threshold to advance." The final procedural vote was 51-45.  

The article stated:

The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act would require Title IX to treat gender as "recognized based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth," and would disallow any adjustment for it to apply to gender identity.

The White House issued a statement in support of the legislation, saying: "This bill also recognizes that ‘sex,’ as used in the statutory scheme, is based solely on reproductive biology and genetics...Men participating in women’s sports not only is demeaning and dangerous to women and girls, but it erodes the integrity of our Nation’s civil rights laws. Congress’s affirmative vote on this bill would complement both federal court rulings and President Trump’s February 5, 2025, Executive Order, ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.'"

Meanwhile, according to Alliance Defending Freedom, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon signed a bill "that protects women and girls by prohibiting men from entering into women’s spaces—such as changing rooms, sleeping quarters, and restrooms—and requiring colleges, public buildings, and correctional facilities to safeguard women’s safety and privacy in these spaces..."

Another U.K. citizen arrested for silent protest outside abortion clinic

There have been several incidents that have received attention out of the United Kingdom of people being arrested for standing silently in front of abortion clinics.  Scotland just passed a law to that effect, and the Standing for Freedom Center at Liberty University reported: "A 74-year-old woman was arrested...in Glasgow, Scotland, for allegedly breaching an exclusion zone around an abortion clinic." The article goes on to say:

This marks the first enforcement of Scotland’s recently enacted Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act 2024, which prohibits anti-abortion protests within 200 meters of medical facilities providing abortion services.

Rose Docherty, a grandmother and retiree, stood in silence on a sidewalk with a sign that read, “Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want.”

The article notes:

In recent years, England has also arrested pro-lifers for praying near abortion clinics in violation of censorship laws. British Army veteran Adam Smith-Connor was convicted in October 2024 for silently praying near an abortion clinic in Bournemouth, England.  

It also pointed out that "Isabel Vaughan-Spruce is another pro-lifer who has been arrested multiple times for silently praying within these zones. In October 2023, she was fined for her silent prayer, even after previous charges had been dropped or resulted in acquittal."

The Center relates that the new Scottish law "even applies to those who 'can be seen or heard' praying or discussing their pro-life beliefs inside of private homes located within the buffer zones." 200 meters is the equivalent of 650 feet - that's over two football fields (not counting the end zones).

Collegiate Day of Prayer calls on students to follow Jesus, churches to adopt campuses

The annual Collegiate Day of Prayer occurred on Thursday, February 27, and CBN.com reported that "Christians around the globe united...in a movement of prayer to see revival spread across college campuses and universities." It noted that over 6000 campuses "were adopted in prayer" by over 3200 "churches, ministries, and individuals."

The article went on to say: 

Organizers report that the 2,500-seat Rudder Auditorium at Texas A&M was sold out as students came to seek God for revival on their campuses.

The CBN article also noted:

According to Intervarsity, an evangelical Christian student movement with affiliate groups on university campuses, decisions for Christ rose by 33 percent last year. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes reports its highest number of salvations since the pandemic, and the international ministry, Cru, recently surpassed the one million mark in commitments to faith globally.

"It really has been such an incredible season to ministry to college campuses since Asbury," Thai Lam, Executive Director of the CDOP, told CBN's Faith Nation.

Lam is quoted as saying: "We are convinced that what we are doing in engaging the next generation, specifically 18-to-22-year-olds on college campuses, is so significant," adding, "As God is moving and marking these young adults who are being formed spiritually. Their worldview is being shaped and they are being launched into the trajectory of their lives [and] we believe that as these students are being marked by Jesus for the next 30, 40, 50 years, who they become and what they do will shape the trajectory of America."

The 3 - March 2, 2025

President's first Cabinet meeting opens with prayer

Last week, President Trump held the first meeting of his new Cabinet, and it was opened with a prayer offered by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Scott Turner, according to a report on the CBN website.  The report quoted the secretary, who said:

"Father the Bible says that blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, Father today we honor You in Your rightful place and thank You for giving us this opportunity to restore faith in this country and be a blessing to the people of America, and we pray in our meeting that You would be glorified in our conversation. In Jesus name, Amen..."

The article mentioned what appears to be a greater spiritual awareness in the President's life as the result of an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania last summer.  The article stated:

"None of us knows exactly when our time on earth will be over," Trump told those gathered at the National Prayer Breakfast. "You never know — a truth I confronted a few short months ago when there was an incident that … was not fun."

The president has frequently said he believes the Lord saved him that day. "God was watching me," Trump said.

“It changed something in me,” he said. “I feel even stronger. I believed in God, but I feel much more strongly about it. Something happened.”

The Christian Post reported that Turner "serves as an associate pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas."  The article related:

Turner later tweeted a video of his invocation, writing, "Giving the opening prayer at President Trump's first cabinet meeting was the honor of a lifetime."

Turner was confirmed as HUD secretary earlier this month after previously having served as executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council in the first Trump administration.

Turner, who played defensive back in the NFL for eight seasons, told the audience at the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, last week that he believes God is calling him to make a "generational impact."

Judge allows Christian school to participate in government funding program

Just because a Christian school holds to Christian principles does not disqualify it from government-sponsored programs that other schools can take part in.  That's a premise that has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.  But, Colorado school officials attempted to bar a Christian school from participation in such a program.  And, as The Christian Post reported, a judge ruled their actions to be unconstitutional. The article said that, "U.S. District Judge Daniel Domenico...ruled...that Darren Patterson Christian Academy can participate in Colorado's Universal Preschool Program."  It went on to say:

The academy had previously been denied an exemption to the program's antidiscrimination provision due to its refusal to hire non-Christians and its expectation that both staff and students adhere to traditional standards of sexual ethics and gender identity.

The article went on to say:

State officials lack a "compelling interest" to deny DPCA an exemption to its antidiscrimination provision over the school's "sincere religious beliefs," Domenico concluded.

The article noted that the school is represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, and...

ADF Senior Counsel Jeremiah Galus said in a statement on Tuesday that state officials "can't force religious schools to abandon their beliefs" in order "to participate in a public benefit program that everyone else can access."

"The U.S. Supreme Court has reaffirmed this constitutional principle multiple times, and the district court has now fully followed up on its previous decision to safeguard this right for religious schools in Colorado," stated Galus.

High court refuses to re-think previous ruling on "buffer zones" around abortion clinics

The U.S. Supreme Court, meanwhile, declined to hear two cases involving so-called "buffer zones" around abortion clinics. USA Today reported:

The court declined to hear challenges to a law in southern Illinois and to a 2014 ordinance in Englewood, New Jersey, that created a protest-free buffer zone around certain health care facilities.

Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito said they would have taken the cases.

The article noted that pro-life groups and some state attorneys general had hoped the Court would use these cases to overturn the ruling in Hill v. Colorado, which, according to the article, "upheld protest restrictions around abortion clinics."

USA Today said: 

In his dissent Monday, Thomas said Hill “has been seriously undermined, if not completely eroded, and our refusal to provide clarity is an abdication of our judicial duty.”

Thomas also said he would have used the Illinois case to explicitly overrule Hill.

In that case, according to Worthy News, "officials prohibited protesters from getting within 8 feet (2.5 meters) of patients at an abortion clinic without consent."  That article notes Thomas was on the court with Hill was decided and dissented from the majority opinion.  The article goes on to say:

The justice said the Hill case “manipulated this Court’s First Amendment jurisprudence precisely to disfavor ‘opponents of abortion’ and their ‘right to persuade women contemplating abortion that what they are doing is wrong.'”

He suggested the Supreme Court revisit Hill to give clarity to lower courts “who feel bound by it,” particularly after Roe v. Wade enabling nationwide abortion was overturned in 2022.

The 3 - February 23, 2025

Military leader alleges he was removed from service for Christian faith

On this edition of The 3, there are two incidents of Christians who were "cancelled," silenced apparently for the simple reason that they were Christians.  In America.  Sweet land of liberty.  But, religious liberty, baked into the Bill of Rights of our Constitution, still is an underappreciated commodity.

Idaho Army National Guard Major David Worley has filed a lawsuit in which the explosive contention is made that there is a "No Christians in Command" policy in the Guard. He is represented by Liberty Counsel.  That's according to The Christian Post, which reports:

The complaint argues that the Idaho Army National Guard was urged to implement an unconstitutional policy that the filing calls "No Christians in Command."

Worley claims the policy was intended to identify "extremists" in the military by looking at the social media profiles of potential command candidates.

The series of events leading to the suit began in 2023, when Major Worley ran a campaign for Mayor of Pocatello, Idaho.  The Post article relates:

During his campaign, Worley expressed his religious convictions and moral objections to social issues, including "Drag Queen Story Hours," the inclusion of explicit materials in public libraries for minors, and so-called medical interventions for children experiencing gender confusion.

According to Liberty Counsel, "all of Worley's protected speech occurred off-duty in his private capacity" and prior to his taking a command role.

After his election campaign, a subordinate service member, who identifies as homosexual, filed a formal complaint against Worley, alleging discrimination and a hostile work environment. The guardsman, who had only met Worley twice, claimed he felt "threatened and unsafe" because of Worley's religious beliefs.

The article says, "As a result, the Idaho Army National Guard suspended Worley from command in July 2023."  There was an investigation, which seemed to exonerate Worley; however, he was not reinstated to command - the Christian Post says that "the investigation recommended that future command candidates undergo scrutiny for 'concerning ideologies' through public records searches and social media monitoring."

Substitute teacher and former school board candidate removed from sub list due to faith

Meanwhile, in Virginia, a former school board candidate applied to be on the list of substitute teachers, was apparently approved, but when she reported to work, she was removed from the school premises.  That is according to Liberty Counsel's website.

The teacher had enlisted the assistance of Liberty Counsel, which sent a letter to the school board. The website states:

After Liberty Counsel sent a demand letter to the school district about how the First Amendment, Title VII, and Virginia law protect teachers to speak on public matters in their private capacity, the district returned the teacher to the approved substitute teacher list.

The article goes on to say:

The district’s corrective decision to restore the teacher shows that the law clearly protects teachers to freely express their beliefs in their private capacities. Under the First Amendment, Title VII, and the Virginia Constitution, any citizen may freely speak, write, and publish his or her sentiments on all subjects. Under the Virginia Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the “Virginia Values Act,” it is discriminatory and unlawful for an employer to burden the free exercise of religion and refuse to hire or discharge a person with respect to their religion.

State attorney general takes issues with bans on therapy for those with unwanted same-sex attraction

It's called "conversion therapy," and those who oppose it have made sure that it is a stigmatized term, when it is simply the act of helping those who are struggling with gender identity or experiencing same-sex attraction that they wish to eliminate or overcome. 

In Kansas City, Missouri and one of the counties in which it is situated, Jackson County, there have been ordinances passed, according to Baptist Press, that ban this type of therapy. A lawsuit has been filed by two Christian counselors; the article says, regarding the ban, "This a violation of free speech, the suit contends, by preventing the plaintiffs from offering biblical counsel regarding sexuality."

The article relates:

Pamela Eisenreich and Wyatt Bury operate in the Kansas City area and say in the lawsuit that the ordinances have prohibited them from sharing facets of care in line with their Christian beliefs to juveniles regarding issues of gender confusion or same-sex attraction. Those clients are often brought by parents whose Christian faith aligns with those of Eisenreich and Bury and are seeking counsel from them largely for that reason.

Attorney Jonathan Whitehead states: "Licensed counselors holding a biblical worldview should be free to help young people pursue the counseling goals they desire – whether that means embracing their biological sex or working through unwanted same-sex attraction...The government has no business censoring those conversations.”

Baptist Press reports: 

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has also joined the lawsuit on behalf of the state.

“Our children have a right to therapy that allows for honest, unrestricted conversations, free from transgender indoctrination,” he said. “These ordinances represent a dangerous overreach, forcing children and counselors to conform to a radical transgender agenda. I will not stand by while Jackson County violates Missourians’ constitutional rights to free speech and religious liberty.”

The 3 - February 16, 2025

This week's edition of The 3, with three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes the exoneration of employees in San Francisco who did not take the COVID shot on religious grounds. Plus, a Christian college has drawn scrutiny for congratulating one of its alums for being confirmed for the President's Cabinet, then withdrawing it.  And, a student movement made another stop, in which thousands of young adults attended and many gave their lives to Christ.

Large California city ordered to make restitution for employees fired for not taking the COVID shot

The path of destruction caused by the attempt to mandate that individuals take the COVID-19 shot has been rather wide.  Already, the Trump Administration has taken steps to take corrective action for military members who were dismissed for their refusal to take the so-called "vaccine," many of whom did so for religious reasons.  An Executive Order states:

The vaccine mandate was an unfair, overbroad, and completely unnecessary burden on our service members. Further, the military unjustly discharged those who refused the vaccine, regardless of the years of service given to our Nation, after failing to grant many of them an exemption that they should have received. Federal Government redress of any wrongful dismissals is overdue.

And, a federal appeals court has ordered the city of San Francisco to right its wrongs concerning its vaccine mandate.  The Christian Post reported recently: "In a unanimous ruling..., a three-judge panel on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that San Francisco must rehire employees who were terminated from their jobs because they declined to comply with a mandate requiring all city employees to take the COVID-19 injection. The appellants in the case, Selina Keene and Melody Fountila, objected to taking the COVID-19 shot on religious grounds."

Keene and Fountila were joined by over 100 other plaintiffs.

The article also noted that the..

...opinion cited the 2020 U.S. Supreme Court ruling Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo, which struck down COVID-19 worship restrictions imposed by the state of New York when asserting that “the Supreme Court has recognized that the loss of protected religious freedoms, ‘for even minimal periods of time, unquestionably constitutes irreparable injury.’”

“Appellants’ coerced decision between their faith and their livelihood imposed emotional damage which cannot now be fully undone,” stated the panel ruling.

Christian college congratulates, then withdraws post on alumnus sworn into Cabinet

Russell Vought, in his confirmation hearings for the post of Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget, or OMB, during the first Trump administration, had to endure a challenge from Sen. Bernie Sanders, who chided the nominee for his written response to a situation at his alma mater, Wheaton College, regarding a professor who had been fired as the result of wearing a hijab to show solidarity with Muslims, a professor who had said Christians and Muslims worship the same God. The Atlantic, back when Emma Green, who was sensitive to religious matters, published a piece she wrote in which she related that Vought had written at The Resurgent, which is Erick Erickson's old website: "Muslims do not simply have a deficient theology. They do not know God because they have rejected Jesus Christ his Son, and they stand condemned."  Sanders railed against Vaught, calling the statement, Isalamaphobic.  Green had stated that Sanders came close to a Constitutional line with his questioning.

Fast forward to 2024: Vought was confirmed as Director of OMB, a position he had eventually held under Trump before. His alma mater posted a statement of congratulations and request for prayer for him, then took it down.  Fox News reported:

Wheaton College apologized for a since-deleted Facebook post calling for prayers for Russ Vought after receiving intense online backlash.

On Friday, the Illinois university posted their congratulations to Vought for being confirmed as the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) after a 53-47 Senate vote.

In removing the post, Wheaton made a statement:

"On Friday, Wheaton College posted a congratulations and a call to prayer for an alumnus who received confirmation to a White House post. The recognition and prayer is something we would typically do for any graduate who reached that level of government. However, the political situation surrounding the appointment led to a significant concern expressed online. It was not our intention to embroil the College in a political discussion or dispute. Our institutional and theological commitments are clear that the College, as a non-profit institution, does not make political endorsements. Wheaton College’s focus is on Christ and His Kingdom..."

Noted economist David Bahnsen posted on X:

"This is just the absolutely lamest, most embarrassing thing imaginable. First of all, you didn’t make a political endorsement - you congratulated an alumnus for receiving a major appointment and said you would PRAY for him. Second, when you say your focus is on Christ and His Kingdom and go on to define that as something which politics are excluded from, you WRONGLY diminish the Biblical definition of Kingdom. Third, admitting you took down a ‘call to prayer’ because people online were mad at you is rank cowardice. Parents should take note of @WheatonCollege boldness and courage when considering your school for their young adult children, because this is seriously pathetic."

Thousands gather, accept Christ at the latest UNITE event 

Meanwhile, at secular universities all across the country, thousands of students have been gathering in arenas to hear the message of the gospel and thousands have been responding.  From its beginnings at Auburn's Neville Arena, to Coleman Coliseum at the University of Alabama, through such SEC strongholds as Athens and Knoxville, even ACC city Tallahassee, the UNITE events are emblematic of what God is doing in the hearts of young people. 

The next one occurs Tuesday night in Columbus, Ohio, the site of a fall meeting that had members of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team in leadership, a team marked by multiple players sharing their devotion to Christ throughout the weeks of the College Football Playoff, which culminated in the Buckeyes winning the national championship. 

The previous UNITE event occurred at the massive Rupp Arena at the University of Kentucky.  Kentucky Today reported:

With more than 7,000 in attendance and 2,000 going to the altar, the Unite Kentucky event in Rupp Arena on Wednesday has continued a growing move among college students and young adults.

It was all part of the larger UniteUS movement that has been to 11 other college campuses since starting at Auburn University’s Neville Arena in September 2023. It has attracted more than 70,000 college students from around the country in the past 17 months.

The article related:

Daniel Johnson, the director of the Baptist Campus Ministry in Lexington on the University of Kentucky campus, was among those gathering. Several in the BCM came with him if they were not already attending with their local church.

“We’re seeing these pop up around a ton of different campuses,” he said. “The spirt is ripe for moving. We are praying that heart change is happening and we will see a ripple effect. It can lead to a different culture on campus. That there would be spiritual fruit from this, and lives are so changed that Kentucky is not seen as a place of darkness as a campus but a place of light."

The report included the statement: "Johnson said the gospel presentation was clear."

UNITE's Instagram page stated: 

We’ve been praying for this night for months, and God met us here again. Over two thousand students flooded the altar to surrender their lives to Jesus, and we know it’s just the beginning of all He has in store.

We ended the night celebrating life change with the coldest water baptisms we’ve ever experienced.

The 3 - February 9, 2025

This week's edition of The 3, with three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes proclamation and action by President Trump protecting religious liberty, and specifically the rights of Christians.  Also, a Louisiana law has been used to bring criminal charges against a New York abortionist, her company, and the mother of a pregnant minor in a case involving the distribution of the abortion pill.  And, the President signed an Executive Order intended to prevent males from participating in female sports sponsored by organizations receiving federal funding.

Trump demonstrates support for Christians

Last week, the National Prayer Breakfast was held in Washington, DC, and President Trump addressed that crowd, as well as another gathering later that morning.   The Washington Times quoted the President as saying, regarding the assassination attempt in Butler, PA: “I feel even stronger,” adding, “I believed in God, but I feel​ much more strongly about it. Something happened.”

He told the gathering: “Today we join our hearts and prayers, recommitting to putting our country first, we have to put country first, making America stronger and greater and more exceptional than ever before, and we have to make religion a much more important factor now,” Mr. Trump said. “If we do that our job is just going to be much easier.”

Later, at another gathering the Washington Hilton, according to The Washington Times, the President made comments about the establishing of a task force, saying: “The mission of this task force will be to immediately halt all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination within the federal government, including at the DOJ — which was absolutely terrible — the IRS, the FBI and other agencies..."

The article also related:

He also said work will be done to “fully prosecute anti-Christian violence and vandalism in our society and to move heaven and earth to defend the rights of Christians and religious believers nationwide.”

Mr. Trump added, “If we don’t have religious liberty, then we don’t have a free country.”

The task force will work under the authority of new Attorney General Pam Bondi, according to the article, which noted, "The president said he’s reinstating from his first term the White House Faith Office..."

Trump said, "While I’m in the White House, we will protect Christians in our schools and our military and our government, workplaces, hospitals and in our public squares,” he said. “We will bring our country back together as one nation under God with liberty and justice for all.”

Louisiana's abortion law used to charge New York abortionist in abortion pill case

Across America, women are obtaining abortion pills and using them to take the lives of their unborn children, and recently, a New York abortionist has found herself charged with criminal behavior under Louisiana's strong abortion laws.  CBN.com reported:

Louisiana prohibits the killing of preborn children by abortion, and recent law was passed to reclassify abortion pills as controlled substances. Under the measure, if someone knowingly possesses mifepristone or misoprostol without a valid prescription, they could be fined up to $5,000 and sent to jail for one to five years. The law, however, carves out protections for pregnant women who obtain the drug without a prescription to take on their own.

The case involves a minor who obtained the pills. The article notes: "...Margaret Carpenter, Nightingale Medical, Carpenter's company, and the child's mother, who ordered the pills, were indicted Friday with charges of criminal abortion for allegedly prescribing an abortion pill online in Louisiana, which has some of the strongest pro-life laws in the country."

CBN goes on to say:

"She was a minor and ... she was excited," Prosecutor Tony Clayton told WBRZ-TV. "She had planned a reveal party. She had wanted to have this baby."

The girl was reportedly coerced to take the drug and later "suffered complications while alone," Clayton said, adding, "She called 911 and an ambulance rushed her to the hospital and they were able to save her life."

The article says:

Grand jurors at the District Court for the Parish of West Baton Rouge indicted the abortion doctor, her medical clinic, and the girl's mother.

All three were charged with criminal abortion using abortion-inducing drugs – a felony.

While Louisiana goes after this doctor, her company, and the grandmother of the baby, the abortionist has found a friend in a high place: the Governor of New York, Kathy Hochul.  CBN reports:

In a video statement, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called the charges "outrageous" and vowed to defend the abortionist.

"I am proud to say that I would never, under any circumstances, turn this doctor over to the state of Louisiana under any extradition request," she said.

CBN also says, "Carpenter was also sued by the Texas attorney general in December for prescribing abortion-inducing drugs to a Texas resident via telemedicine, but the case did not involve criminal charges."

President signs order protecting women's sports from male intrusion, NCAA acts

Also, last week, President Trump signed an Executive Order, entitled, "Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports," as reported by the website for Alliance Defending Freedom, which quoted ADF CEO, President, and General Counsel Kristen Waggoner, who said: “Schools, activist groups, so-called experts, and politicians demanded that women either celebrate the ’victories’ of males in their sports or stay silent. Those in power told girls that their discomfort with males in their locker rooms amounted to bigotry..." She added: "Trump told our daughters the truth: that men and women are physically different, those differences matter, and women deserve their own sports and spaces. Rather than standing alone in these truths, female athletes now have the U.S. government on their side..."

The Executive Order stated, in part, according to the White House website:

...it is the policy of the United States to rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities, which results in the endangerment, humiliation, and silencing of women and girls and deprives them of privacy. It shall also be the policy of the United States to oppose male competitive participation in women’s sports more broadly, as a matter of safety, fairness, dignity, and truth.

Following the issuance of this order, it didn't take long before the NCAA, a large governing body over collegiate sports, weighed in. The Christian Post reported:

National Collegiate Athletics Association has unveiled a new policy prohibiting trans-identified male athletes from competing in women's sports amid the Trump administration's crackdown on gender ideology.

NCAA, a major organization that oversees collegiate athletics in the United States, announced in a statement Thursday that it is changing its participation policy for trans-identified student-athletes. The move follows President Donald Trump's new executive order vowing to cut off federal funds to schools that allow males who identify as female to participate on women's sports teams.

NCAA President Charlie Baker is quoted as saying: "...We strongly believe that clear, consistent, and uniform eligibility standards would best serve today's student-athletes instead of a patchwork of conflicting state laws and court decisions," adding, "To that end, President Trump's order provides a clear, national standard."

The 3 - February 2, 2025

This week's edition of The 3, with three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes news of an Executive Order signed by President Trump that would serve to restrict surgeries and treatments for young people with the purpose of changing a person's "gender."  Also, an Ohio pastor who opened his church doors to help the homeless has been convicted of criminal activity and sentenced to probation.  And, the President has issued a number of executive actions dealing with issues relative to the sanctity of life. 

President signs order to restrict trans surgeries

The topic has gained steam since the first states, including Alabama, began to pass laws prohibiting gender-change treatments and surgeries, deceptively called "gender-affirming care."  Now, over half of all states have passed some sort of law that would prevent doctors from attempting to change a young person's "gender."

The Christian Post reported last Wednesday:

President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order that seeks to crack down on government funding, coverage and promotion of sex-change procedures on minors as concerns persist about their long-term impacts.

Through the order signed Tuesday, Trump commits to "protecting children from chemical and surgical mutilation," referring to body-mutilating procedures performed on minors under the age of 18 as well as the prescription of puberty-blocking and cross-sex hormone drugs.

"It is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called 'transition' of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit these destructive and life-altering procedures," the order declared.

The order included instruction to a variety of federal agencies, and The Christian Post noted: 

The order directs the heads of executive branch agencies to "take appropriate steps to ensure that institutions receiving Federal research or education grants end the chemical and surgical mutilation of children" and "rescind or amend all policies" that rely on guidance from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, which encouraged the performance of gender transition procedures on minors.

Ohio pastor who opened church to homeless convicted, sentenced to probation

Chris Avell is the Pastor of a church in Bryan, Ohio, called Dad's Place.  Over a year ago, the pastor made the decision to minister to the homeless in his city by opening his church doors to accommodate them.  First Liberty has defended the pastor in court, and on its website, posted a press release, which said:

Pastor Chris Avell of Dad’s Place Church in Bryan, Ohio was found guilty of a criminal charge regarding a fire code violation filed against him by city officials. The year-long battle with the City of Bryan that has continuously attempted to shut down the church, Dad’s Place, resulted in a conviction for the caring pastor. Pastor Avell was fined $200 and given a 60-day suspended jail sentence. The judge stayed his decision for 30-days to allow the Avell’s attorneys to appeal.

The Christian legal organization noted:

For over a year, the City of Bryan, Ohio has been aggressively attacking the church in court, including alleged zoning violations, middle-of-the-night fire inspections, police antagonism, and even criminal charges filed against the church’s pastor. And while city officials demand the church install an expensive fire suppression system, the city does not require all of its motels, most of its apartment complexes, and even a senior living facility to install fire suppression systems in their buildings.

Furthermore, as the website stated: "The Court of Appeals of Ohio, Sixth Appellate District, recently issued a stay against the city in their lawsuit against Dad’s Place, allowing the church to continue operating."

Presidential executive orders protect the unborn

Even though President Trump, in his most recent campaign, was perhaps not as forthright in his support for life as he had been in his winning 2016 campaign, his recent executive actions have demonstrated a commitment to protecting unborn life.

In a piece at the Newsweek website by Erin Hawley of Alliance Defending Freedom, the attorney made mention of "23 men and women prosecuted under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act that Trump pardoned on January 23. Among those released: grandparents, mothers of young children, pastors, a Holocaust survivor, and a Catholic priest—all prosecuted and convicted by the Biden administration for their nonviolent protests at abortion facilities."

Hawley also noted that...

...In a subsequent memo issued on January 24, the Trump administration made sure that the FACE Act would no longer be weaponized against pro-life viewpoints. The memo—written by Chad Mizelle, chief of staff to Pam Bondi, Trump's pick for attorney general—limits future FACE Act prosecutions to incidents involving "extraordinary circumstances" or "significant aggravating factors."

The article referred to three cases dismissed by the Department of Justice regarding prosecutions under the FACE Act. 

And, the op-ed piece related:

What's more, Trump revived two additional crucial pro-life policies designed to curtail taxpayer-supported abortions. First, he signed an executive order directing his administration to enforce the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal taxpayer funding for abortion. He also reinstated the "Mexico City policy," which blocks international organizations that provide and promote abortion from receiving U.S. government funding.

But, that's not all; Hawley mentioned: "...the Trump administration has also sent word via the U.S. Mission to the United Nations that the U.S. is rejoining the Geneva Consensus Declaration, of which the U.S. was a founding member. A coalition of 40 governments united around a pro-life policy stance are signatories to the declaration."

Late last week, Life Site News reported: 

Taxpayer dollars will no longer be used to pay for travel expenses of military members heading out of state to obtain abortions, thanks to an executive order issued by President Donald Trump.

It went on to say: "On Wednesday, the Pentagon’s Defense Travel Management Office released a memo announcing it scrapped a policy that had been put into place..." by the former Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin.

The article quoted U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, representing Alabama, who said on X: “I took a lot of heat when I held senior military promotions for nearly a year over the Pentagon’s illegal and immoral taxpayer-funded abortion travel policy. But as of today, it was all worth it..."

The 3 - January 26, 2025

This week's edition of The 3, with three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes a look at action taken by President Trump during the first few days of his new Administration, including the issuing of an Executive Order restoring the traditional understanding of gender to federal entities and the pardoning of almost two dozen pro-life protestors who were jailed by the previous Administration. And, the attempt to reduce the distribution channels for the abortion pill took a positive step forward with a judge's decision.

President issues Executive Order on gender identity

Within his first three days after taking the oath of office last Monday, President Trump wasted no time in issuing a variety of executive orders.  According to Liberty University's Standing for Freedom Center, topics of actions the President took included...

...religious liberty; free speech; the pro-life movement; border security and national defense; increasing public safety; restoring biological reality; protecting women and girls; eliminating woke ideologies like critical race theory (CRT), diversity, equity, and inclusion policies (DEI), and LGBTQ pride from federal policies; reining in government abuse and weaponization; and unleashing the power of energy and the free markets.

The President followed through on his inaugural declaration that only two genders would be reflected in federal law.  The website notes:

On Monday, Trump signed an executive order called, “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government,” which states that the federal government will only recognize two sexes, male and female, and that these sexes are unchangeable.

The order mandates that government-issued identification accurately reflects a person’s sex, not gender. It will also correct the Biden administration’s application of Bostock v. Clayton County to Title IX and protect sex-based distinctions; assess grant funding to ensure taxpayer funds are not used to promote gender ideology; ensure that males are not housed in women’s prisons or detention facilities; enact a policy protecting women seeking safety at a women’s rape shelter; ensure that intimate spaces are designated by sex and not identity; protects the right to express the binary nature of sex and right to single-sex spaces; and ensures that federal funds are not used to perform gender transitions on prisoners.

Trump announces pardons for 23 pro-life protestors

Actions taken by government against pro-life protestors were reversed by an Executive Order by the President, according to The Daily Wire, "pardoning 23 of the pro-life activists targeted by President Joe Biden’s Justice Department." The piece quotes the President saying, in the process of signing that order, “They should not have been prosecuted...Many of them are elderly people. They should not have been prosecuted. This is a great honor to sign this.”

The article noted that these individuals "...were prosecuted under the FACE Act and a Reconstruction-era felony conspiracy charge first used for the first time against pro-life activists by the Biden administration."  FACE stands for Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances, and legislation has been introduced into Congress to eliminate it. 

The Thomas More Society represented 21 of the 23, and the article quotes Senior Counsel Steve Crampton, who said, “Today, freedom rings in our great nation,” adding, “The heroic peaceful pro-lifers unjustly imprisoned by Biden’s Justice Department will now be freed and able to return home to their families, eat a family meal, and enjoy the freedom that should have never been taken from them in the first place.”

Challenge to abortion pill distribution moves forward

The area of chemical abortion has become a leading way in which women take the lives of their unborn children.  Thanks to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, ladies can order abortion pills in the mail and administer them in their home without a doctor present.  A lawsuit filed against the FDA was turned back last year by the U.S. Supreme Court, noting that the pro-life doctors and organizations bringing the suit were not eligible to sue. 

But, three states claim that they themselves do have this eligibility, or "standing."  As Liberty Counsel reports:

... a federal judge ruled that Missouri, Kansas, and Idaho can move forward with their lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that could restrict future access to the abortion drug Mifepristone. The states argue that the FDA’s deregulation of Mifepristone allows the drug to cross their borders and undermine their abortion laws. The ruling denied the FDA’s request to dismiss the case and granted the states more time to amend and strengthen their complaint.

Liberty Counsel notes that the lawsuit represents a "transition" from that previous suit that was dismissed by the high court. It notes: "The new lawsuit, which continues to be amended, could end up back at the Supreme Court in the future. The states assert they have the legal standing to sue the FDA because its relaxed restrictions involving a dangerous drug like Mifepristone puts lives and health at risk and undermines state pro-life laws protecting women, girls, and unborn children."

The judge issuing this decision is U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who in 2023, according to Liberty Counsel...

...presided over the original abortion pill case from the pro-life doctors and determined that the FDA shouldn’t have approved Mifepristone for public use in 2000 and voided its approval. He noted the agency approved the abortion pill under political pressure, its safety studies were improperly conducted, and that the FDA’s regulatory decisions allowing them to be prescribed via telemedicine, sent by mail, and dispensed at retail pharmacies were unlawful. While the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals largely upheld his ruling, the Supreme Court vacated the injunction allowing all of the FDA’s deregulation actions to stay in effect.

The 3 - January 19, 2025

On this edition of The 3, highlighting three stories of relevance to the Christian community, there is a report on how ministries have been involved in providing help and support for victims of the fires in the Los Angeles area and how some ministries have been affected.  Also, a bill that would prevent biological males from competing in female sports has passed the U.S. House of Representatives.  And, a Christian employers' group has sued the EEOC regarding its attempts to force Christian employers to violate their faith convictions by requiring accommodations for employees who are LGBT.

L.A. fires continue to wreak havoc, Christian ministries affected

While a variety of Christian ministries are involved in helping the victims of the fires that have been affecting the greater Los Angeles area, some ministries find themselves in or close to harm's way.  Recently, Tom Thompson, Senior Vice President of World Help was on The Meeting House on Faith Radio, discussing how his ministry was working in partnership with the Dream Center, which is located in L.A., to provide relief for fire victims.  A recent National Religious Broadcasters article highlighted the work of Operation Blessing, as well as Samaritan's Purse, which is working in tandem with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team.

Joni Eareckson Tada, CEO and Founder of Joni and Friends, who is heard regularly on Faith Radio, according to the article...

...released two special episodes of her radio broadcast, Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope, to address the devasting fires in Los Angeles. She shared about her own experience evacuating, as well as the unique challenges of people with disabilities in emergency situations. Tada and her husband Ken are safely back home, but so many have lost everything. Tada encouraged listeners to continue praying...

Jay Flowers, COO of Grace to You, the media ministry of John MacArthur said that while the ministry's headquarters were safe, the church which Dr. MacArthur pastors, Grace Community Church, had experienced an effect; he said: “Sadly, multiple members of Grace Community Church, where Grace to You Bible teacher John MacArthur serves as pastor, with its campus located closer to the fires, lost their homes,” adding, “Our congregation has been activated to help meet immediate needs related to the fires.”

And, the article quotes Pastor Jack Hibbs from a press conference that was presented on the Real Life Network: “We need to pray for salvation and the church’s opportunity to love on Los Angeles like never before..."

Bill to prevent males from competing in female sports passes U.S. House

Another step forward in preventing males from competing in female sports occurred in the U.S. House last week - as CBN News reports:

The House passed a bill on Tuesday requiring all federally-funded schools to defend the safety and the rights of women and girls.

The measure, also known as the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, would restrict women's sports to those who are born female.

The bill makes it a violation of Title IX rules to allow transgender females – those who are born male – to take part in women's athletics. It covers most middle schools, high schools, and colleges.

House Speaker Mike Johnson commented: "This comports with commonsense," adding, "It's biology. And biology is not bigotry as we say. Anyone who would accuse the supporters of this legislation otherwise is ill-informed. This is to protect women and girls. It's very clear."

On the Alliance Defending Freedom website, ADF CEO, President, and General Counsel Kristen Waggoner is quoted - she said, in part: "The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act reaffirms the vital protections for women’s sports guaranteed by Title IX, ensuring that women and girls truly have equal athletic opportunities. As we continue to witness increasing incidents nationwide of males dominating girls’ athletic competitions, it is imperative to affirm that biology, not identity, is what matters in athletics."

Christian employers' group pushes back on attempts to force companies to favor LGBT

A new rule issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission would force religious groups to adopt practices favorable to LGBT individuals, and the Christian Employers Alliance has teamed up with Alliance Defending Freedom to file a lawsuit challenging the rule.  According to a Center Square article published at Worthy News, the lawsuit states:

“This mandate, published in agency ‘guidance’ and on its website, threatens employers with large penalties if they do not use employees’ self selected pronouns based on gender identity, and if they do not allow males to access female single-sex restrooms, locker rooms, and lactation rooms..."

ADF Senior Counsel Matt Bowman is quoted as saying: “The employers we represent believe that God purposefully created humans as either male or female, and so it would violate their religious beliefs and free speech to force them to affirm an identity that is not aligned with a person’s sex." He went on to say: “They also believe in the sanctity of human life, and forcing them to promote abortions adds insult to injury. We are urging the court to, once again, uphold the religious freedom of these employers from attacks by the outgoing Biden administration..."

The article also points out:

The same lawsuit argues that recent changes to the interpretation of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act “prevents employers from speaking their pro-life beliefs, requires employers to knowingly give employees special leave, including paid leave, to obtain abortions, and precludes employers from enforcing life-affirming workplace policies against employees who engage in conduct contrary to those policies.”

The 3 - January 12, 2025

In this most recent edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, there is a report on a judge's decision that, in essence, stops the advance of the Biden administration attempts to force a Title IX rewrite to offer protection not just on biological sex for females, but for "gender identity," i.e., males who present as female.  Also, in Florida, it has been found that abortion proponents involved in the petition drive to get a pro-abortion amendment on the November ballot actually, well, cheated, and will pay the price in the form of fines and possible prison time. And, in a reversal, a Georgia college and seminary will now be allowed to participate in a state financial aid program 

Federal judge obliterates Title IX rewrite

It was the #8 topic of 2024 from The Meeting House program - it was relevant to the Christian community because the action itself was a violation of God's created order: an attempt to expand federal protections under Title IX, meant to provide greater opportunities for women, as in biology, to also include gender identity. 

Multiple courts have placed enforcement of new regulations by the U.S. Department of Education on hold, and just recently, the official in charge of the department had already announced that the government would no longer try to expand the rules to allow males to participate in female sports. So, Title IX was in trouble, and a federal judge has dealt the death blow shortly before a new administration takes office.

FoxNews.com reports that:

A federal judge in Kentucky blocked the Biden administration’s attempt to redefine sex in Title IX as "gender identity," striking down the change nationwide.

The U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky Northern Division made the ruling in Cardona v. Tennessee on Thursday.

The article notes:

The ruling came months after the Supreme Court rejected the Biden administration’s emergency request to enforce portions of a new rule that would have included protections from discrimination for transgender students under Title IX.

The sweeping rule was issued in April and clarified that Title IX’s ban on "sex" discrimination in schools covers discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation and "pregnancy or related conditions."

According to the Fox report, the court stated, "When Title IX is viewed in its entirety, it is abundantly clear that discrimination on the basis of sex means discrimination on the basis of being a male or female...As this Court and others have explained, expanding the meaning of ‘on the basis of sex’ to include ‘gender identity’ turns Title IX on its head."

Group attempting to place pro-abortion amendment on Florida ballot ordered to pay fine

Not only did the attempt by pro-abortion advocates to secure a three-fifths vote of Florida voters in order to amend the state's constitution to contain language allowing abortion throughout a woman's pregnancy, but it will be a costly effort - monetarily and perhaps legally. 

The Christian Post reported:

The group behind the unsuccessful effort to enshrine a right to abortion in the Florida Constitution has paid more than $186,000 in fines in connection with fraudulent signature-gathering activity as investigations into alleged wrongdoing continue.

In a Dec. 20, 2024, memo, Florida Deputy Secretary of State for Legal Affairs and Election Integrity Brad McVay informed state leaders about ongoing investigations into "initiative petition fraud."

Furthermore, regarding this group, called, Floridians Protecting Freedom, the article notes, "Several paid circulators who submitted petitions on behalf of FPF were arrested in early 2024, and at least three were convicted and sentenced to prison terms. The report added that a much larger number of individuals have been referred for criminal investigation for fraudulent activity."

Christian college/seminary in Atlanta can participate in state financial aid program

We have seen cases in which religious entities - for instance, Christian schools - have been prevented from participating in state programs just because they are religious in nature.  The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of religious institutions in the past facing this type of discrimination.

Ministry Watch reports:

Luther Rice College and Seminary has reached a settlement agreement with the State of Georgia that allows its students to participate in the state’s financial aid programs.

Georgia offers a financial aid program to help cover the cost of tuition for undergraduate programs at colleges and universities in the state, including at private and religious institutions.

However, it had a provision that excluded schools of theology and divinity.

A lawsuit was filed by Alliance Defending Freedom in October, and in December, it was announced that the school would be allowed to participate in the program.  The article relates:

According to a news release by ADF, the state has now agreed to let Luther Rice students participate in the financial aid program.

“Georgia officials did the right thing by allowing Luther Rice to participate in student aid programs while still adhering to its religious beliefs, character, and exercise,” ADF Senior Counsel Ryan Tucker said in the press release.

Tucker also stated: “We’re pleased that Georgia high school students can now receive dual credit by taking classes at Luther Rice and that college students who choose Luther Rice can apply for much-needed financial aid. The state should never limit educational opportunities for students based on their faith..."

The 3 - January 5, 2025

This edition of The 3, highlighting three stories impacting the Christian community, includes the response of Christian leaders to the devastating events in New Orleans the morning of January 1st.  Also there is a continued opportunity an Ohio church has to serve the homeless in its community, thanks to a state appeals court. And, a federal appeals court has rendered a positive ruling on behalf of Christian organizations challenging a New York law that threatens their ability to hire people with beliefs consistent with their Christian faith.

National, local Christian leaders respond to New Orleans tragedy

The day following the tragic events of the morning of New Year's Day in New Orleans, church leaders were on the streets of the city in prayer.  Baptist Press reported:

Southern Baptist pastors and chaplaincy leaders were among clergy who joined city elected officials in the 10-block procession at noon Jan. 2.

The article mentioned that "Vieux Carre’ Baptist Church Pastor Alex Brian, who participated in the prayerwalk, was awaiting the opportunity to check on his church’s meeting location" on Thursday - the church is located a block from a portion of Bourbon Street closed to pedestrians.

Baptist Press went on to say:

Brian is praying for and supporting chaplains in the locked-down area, including those under the command of Col. Page Brooks, state command chaplain for the Louisiana National Guard and pastor of Canal Street Mosaic Community Church, a Southern Baptist congregation that collaborates with Brian on various ministry outreaches.

The National Guard deployed 100 soldiers and two chaplains in response to the attack, said Brian, who was walking the streets of the French Quarter to provide counseling and check on soldiers and first responders when he spoke with Baptist Press.

Former Southern Baptist Convention President Fred Luter, Senior Pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, was also part of the prayerwalk, noted, "...our entire city has been impacted because of this terrorist attack." He added that, "...prayers for our city and the families who lost loved ones are truly needed."

On Saturday, Family Research Council announced that Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, who is a resident of Louisiana and former state representative, would be hosting a one-hour broadcast called, "Pray for the Nation"  

Christian leaders due to participate included: Pastor Carter Conlon, Pastor Jack Hibbs, Michele Bachmann, Dr. David Goza, Troy Miller, and Pastor Art Reyes. Mike Clark, who is a chaplain with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and has been doing ministry in New Orleans was also part of the lineup. That event was scheduled for Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. Central Time. Perkins, Conlon, and Hibbs are Faith Radio programmers.  Goza is President of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, Miller is President and CEO of National Religious Broadcasters, and Reyes is Pastor of Calvary Chapel in Downey, California. 

OH church devoted to serving the homeless allowed to remain open

Dad's Place, a church in Bryan, Ohio pastored by Chris Avell, has been in and out of court as the result of its desire to serve the homeless of its area, remaining open so that people will have a warm, safe place to rest.  For this, Pastor Avell has been arrested and the church has run the risk of having to cease these services.

A key decision has been handed down by an Ohio appeals court, according to the website of First Liberty, which is representing the church in court action. 

The Court of Appeals of Ohio, Sixth Appellate District, stayed an injunction against the church "pending appeal." Jeremy Dys, Senior Counsel for First Liberty, stated: “We are grateful to the court for recognizing the weighty issues of Constitutional law and temporarily pausing the city’s aggressive campaign against Dad’s Place. Without this decision by the Court of Appeals, as the judges explained, the city would ‘prohibit Dad’s Place from practicing what it maintains is an important part of its religious beliefs for several months.’ America is better with people like Pastor Chris Avell and Dad’s Place, who compassionately open their doors to people who have nowhere else to go, keeping them from freezing on the snowy sidewalks.”

The appeals court wrote, according to First Liberty, "[G]ranting a stay of the preliminary injunction would preserve the status quo and permit Dad’s Place to continue to exercise its professed religious beliefs during the pendency of its appeal..."

Federal appeals court uphold right of faith-based organizations to hire people who embrace their ideals

The state of New York has a law that, according to the Alliance Defending Freedom website, "...required employers—including churches, religious schools, faith-based pregnancy care centers, and religious nonprofits—to undermine their own beliefs about abortion, contraception, and sexual morality by forcing them to employ those who cannot effectively convey the groups’ message because they refuse to abide by the organizations’ statements of faith and core principles about such issues."

ADF challenged the law on behalf of three Christian ministries: " CompassCare, a faith-based pregnancy center in Rochester; First Bible Baptist Church; and the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, an association of pro-life pregnancy centers."

In 2023, ADF reported: "ADF attorneys asked a federal district court to rule that New York’s SB 660 violates the groups’ freedom of speech, religion, and association. The court declined to do so in full, which led to the appeal, though the court did rule that a requirement that the law be communicated to employees in employee handbooks was unconstitutional."

Last week, according to the ADF website, the "U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ruled...to reinstate an expressive association claim seeking to affirm the freedom of faith-based pregnancy centers and churches to employ individuals who agree with their fundamental beliefs and missions."

The 3 - December 29, 2024

This week's edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes news of a case the U.S. Supreme Court will be hearing dealing with states setting policy for funding abortion with taxpayer dollars. Also, a Virginia realtor faces punishment due to his faith-related posts on social media.  And, the U.S. Department of Education has announced it will no longer be pressing the issue of allowing males to compete in female sports. 

SCOTUS to hear case of state banning taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood

The governor of South Carolina issued an executive order, according to LifeNews.com, "directing the South Carolina Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) to deem abortion clinics unqualified to receive Medicaid funding." The article stated, "Planned Parenthood and an individual plaintiff immediately sued in federal court, challenging the state’s decision."

A federal district court and the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the state, sending the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, which agreed to hear it. 

Life News noted that this "is a critically important case that could have a dramatic impact on the ability of the states to stop the flow of taxpayer dollars to the nation’s largest abortion company."

Realtor receives reprimand for Christian social media posts

Wilson Fauber is a 70-year-old real estate agent who has been in the business for over 40 years.  He decided to run for City Council in his hometown of Staunton, Virginia last year, and according to The Christian Post:

Opponents of his campaign uncovered several social media posts from years earlier, including a 2015 post in which Fauber shared his Christian views on marriage, particularly in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s consideration of same-sex marriage. At the time, Fauber had posted a Bible-based perspective on the issue, sharing thoughts from the Rev. Franklin Graham and other Christian leaders.

For this, a complaint was registered with the Virginia Association of Realtors, claiming that Fauber had violated the National Association of Realtors Code of Ethics.  The article notes that the code...

...prohibits realtors from using "harassing speech, hate speech, epithets, or slurs" related to "race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation or gender identity."

Fauber, who is also a minister, was found guilty of violating the code. The Post article goes on to say:

Fauber’s attorney, Michael Sylvester, said they are “obviously disappointed” by the decision and are “considering all legal options.”

“The way the NAR rule is being applied, the message is simple: Bible-believing Christian realtors must be silent,” Sylvester added.

A CBN article related that: 

When asked why he believes this is all coming out now in 2024, Fauber said, "Because the National Association of Realtors is woke. The leadership of the National Association of Realtors has made it very clear about their involvement in endorsing and approving of the LGBTQ community, and just recently, just a few weeks ago actually, in Charlottesville, Virginia, the National Association of Realtors provided funding for a Drag Queen Show." 

CBN.com reported that "If the guilty verdict stands, Fauber could face fines as high as $15,000 and possibly lose his license which would likely end his real estate career."

Administration abandons rule change to allow males to compete in female sports

Ever since the U.S. Department of Education announced its rule changes to Title IX, which was intended to provide more opportunities for females in areas of education, including athletics, there has been strong opposition to the action, which would redefine "sex" to include so-called "gender identity" and "sexual orientation."

The Daily Citizen ran a story recently that said:

On Friday, December 20, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education withdrew its proposed rule forcing schools to permit biological males into girls and women’s sports.

The DOE had released its proposed rule on April 13, 2023, seeking to force schools that receive federal funding to permit students “to participate on a male or female team consistent with their gender identity.”

During the rulemaking process, the Department received 150,000 comments on the proposed rule, each of which it was required to review prior to issuing any final rule. It was also required to respond to significant areas of public concern.

But due to the flood of public comments and concerns, the DOE never issued a final rule, instead opting to withdraw the proposed regulation.

Opposition to the Title IX changes was a key factor, according to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona who is quoted by the Daily Citizen; he said, “The Department recognizes that there are multiple pending lawsuits related to the application of Title IX in the context of gender identity, including lawsuits related to Title IX’s application to athletic eligibility criteria in a variety of factual contexts.” Cardona also stated, “In light of the comments received and those various pending court cases, the Department has determined not to regulate on this issue at this time..."

Alliance Defending Freedom noted on its website: "The Biden administration has attempted to insert gender ideology into Title IX by its general Title IX rule adopted earlier this year, the Biden administration has repeatedly told courts that Title IX alone requires schools to admit men into women’s sports, and activist groups across the country have filed numerous lawsuits to force females to compete against males."