Tuesday, June 30, 2020

• High court affirms religious access to state programs

  by Tom Strode, posted Tuesday, June 30, 2020 (one year ago)

  

  iStock

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- The U.S. Supreme Court narrowly upheld Tuesday (June 30) a state tax credit scholarship program that includes religious schools, thereby maintaining its recent support of the right of faith groups to participate in government programs.

  The high court voted 5-4 to overturn a Montana Supreme Court decision that invalidated a state program that provides a tax credit of up to $150 for a donation to a Student Scholarship Organization (SSO). Contributions to SSOs finance scholarships given to families for student tuition at private schools of their choosing. The program approved by the state legislature includes Christian and other religious schools. Read More

• Ruling against New York worship orders praised

  by Tom Strode, posted Tuesday, June 30, 2020 (one year ago)

  

  File photo by Taylor Field

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- Defenders of religious freedom inside and outside the federal government praised a court decision to block enforcement of New York orders on the size of worship meetings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that are more restrictive than those imposed on other gatherings. Read More

• China approves contentious Hong Kong national security law

  by Zen Soo and Ken Moritsugu, posted Tuesday, June 30, 2020 (one year ago)

  

  AP Photo/Vincent Yu

  HONG KONG (AP) -- China on Tuesday approved a contentious national security law that will allow authorities to crack down on subversive and secessionist activity in Hong Kong, a move many see as Beijing's boldest yet to erase the legal firewall between the semi-autonomous territory and the mainland's authoritarian Communist Party system.

  President Xi Jinping signed a presidential order promulgating the law after it was approved by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the official Xinhua News Agency said. It will be added to the Basic Law, Hong Kong's constitution. Read More

• Southern Baptist church plants, Send Relief persist in outreach to New York City

  by Brandon Elrod, posted Tuesday, June 30, 2020 (one year ago)

  

  NAMB photo by Jeremiah Brinkman

  NEW YORK, N.Y. (BP) -- New York City has entered Phase 2 of its reopening plan following the COVID-19 shutdown, but several churches and church plants plan to continue serving those on the margins in their communities into July. They believe that their efforts of providing for their communities will open more doors for further ministry. Read More

• Amid rising Christian persecution, Turkey denies visa to pastor's American wife

  by Diana Chandler, posted Tuesday, June 30, 2020 (one year ago)

  

  iStock

  ANKARA, Turkey (BP) -- Amid rising Christian persecution, Turkey has denied a visa to a U.S. citizen and wife of a Protestant pastor there, reportedly in an attempt to force the entire family out of the country.

  Florida native Joy Anna Crow Subasiguller, a U.S. citizen and wife of Turkish pastor Lütfü Subasiguller, is legally contesting the government's decision. Turkey's Ministry of Interior gave the family no reason for the denial, but such tactics are indicative of growing persecution against Protestants there, International Christian Concern (ICC) said. Read More

• 2021 VBS archaeology theme leads kids to unearth truth about Jesus

  by Aaron Wilson, posted Tuesday, June 30, 2020 (one year ago)

  

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- Next summer, kids will roll up their sleeves and grab excavation gear as they head to archaeological sites of present-day Israel with "Destination Dig," the 2021 Vacation Bible School theme from LifeWay Christian Resources. Read More

• FIRST-PERSON: Living a compassionate life

  by David Jeremiah, posted Tuesday, June 30, 2020 (one year ago)

  

  It is clear from Scripture that God expects His children to bring the tears of heaven to earth through the exercise of compassion toward others, David Jeremiah says. Read More