Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
In today's edition:
- Celebrating the Priceless Gift of Freedom
- South Carolina Judge Sentences Drunk Driver to Bible Study
- GSN Announces "The American Bible Challenge"
- Wycliffe Associates Support Bible Translation in Nigeria amid Sectarian Violence
Celebrating the Priceless Gift of Freedom
Today in the United States we are celebrating a priceless gift. It’s a gift that many of us received when we were born, that some are receiving for the first time, and a gift that tragically, some will never experience. That gift is freedom. And much like the things that are most important in life – the air we breathe, our lives, our homes, our families – it’s easy to take for granted. Ironically, many of the people who appreciate most the freedom we are celebrating are those who know the least about this iconic day. But their fresh perspective on the priceless gift we share can inspire us to remain grateful every day. Read more on ReligionToday.com.
South Carolina Judge Sentences Drunk Driver to Bible Study
Christian Post reports that a judge in South Carolina decided to sentence a drunk driver to more than just eight years in prison, adding that the convicted person must also do a Bible study. Circuit Court Judge Michael Nettles of Rock Hill has included in his sentencing of Cassandra Tolley the assignment of reading through the Book of Job and then writing a summary on the Old Testament Scripture. According to local media, Tolley's lawyer has explained that the defendant is thankful for the biblical sentence and has already started working on the assignment. Read more on ChristianPost.com.
GSN Announces "The American Bible Challenge"
The Game Show Newtwork (GSN) announced the premiere date for the original series THE AMERICAN BIBLE CHALLENGE, an original one-hour game show hosted by comedian Jeff Foxworthy, on Thursday, August 23 at 8 pm ET/PT. Comedian and author, Jeff Foxworthy hosts this studio-based game in which contestants compete based on their knowledge of the Bible. Utilizing current as well as historical references, questions will be drawn from the rich, dense narrative found in the world's best-selling book. The contestants will share their compelling back-stories and each team will be playing for a charitable organization.
Wycliffe Associates Support Bible Translation in Nigeria amid Sectarian Violence
Wycliffe Associates, an international organization that involves people in the acceleration of Bible translation efforts, is working in Nigeria to provide new technologies that will enable safer communication for translation workers. “Violence continues to escalate in Nigeria and across Africa, and we don’t have much time before some locations could close to Westerners,” says Bruce Smith, president and CEO of Wycliffe Associates. “Together, we can use today’s advancements in technology to translate God’s Word more efficiently and safely.” Nigeria’s population of more than 170 million is comprised of approximately 50 percent Muslims and 40 percent Christians, with the remaining population following other religions or traditional beliefs. Recently, Nigerian Christians have been the target of terrorist attacks. On June 3, a suicide bomber killed 12 worshippers at a church in northern Nigeria, and another 15 worshippers were killed in April when they were attacked by gunmen in the city of Kano in northern Nigeria. In February and March, suicide bombers struck churches in Jos, killing a total of 5 people and wounding 38. While English is the official language of Nigeria, half of Nigerians cannot speak it. There are more than 500 languages in the country, spoken by 250 people groups. And currently, more than 300 languages are without any Scripture.
