Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
In today's edition:
- More Details Emerge of Syrian Pastor, Family Murdered by Muslim Militants
- Obama Endorses Same-Sex Marriage Initiatives in Three States
- Chick-fil-A Thrives in Third Quarter Despite Marriage Controversy
- Family Research Council Shooter Faces Terrorism Charges
More Details Emerge of Syrian Pastor, Family Murdered by Muslim Militants
The Middle East director of Christian Aid Mission revealed more details about a Syrian Christian pastor shot and killed along with his wife and three children by a band of Sunni Muslim militants who stormed into a house church meeting earlier this month, CBN News reports. The Christian Aid director, whose name cannot be released for security reasons, described the martyred pastor, whose name was Sami: "I know he was a Muslim-background believer. He was not a Bedouin. He had been in training for a while, and he was given help by Christian Aid Mission. He was a very faithful, godly person that the leadership really trusted in, and they really thought a lot of him." Thirty-two Christian families associated with Sami are now seeking help to flee Syria. Various missions groups report Syrian Christians are coming under increased attack by armed militants.
Obama Endorses Same-Sex Marriage Initiatives in Three States
President Barack Obama on Thursday endorsed state ballot initiatives to legalize same-sex marriage in Washington state, Maryland and Maine, Reuters reports. Statements issued by the Obama campaign in those three states urging voters to approve the gay-marriage measures on their respective November 6 ballots came five months after Obama became the first U.S. president to express support for gay marriage. With various polls showing Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney in a virtual dead heat, both candidates are doing the utmost to motivate the turnout of their core constituencies on Election Day. For Obama, the gay and lesbian community is seen as a loyal and potentially pivotal voting bloc, along with larger demographic groups such as Hispanics and young single women.
Chick-fil-A Thrives in Third Quarter Despite Marriage Controversy
In the months since Chick-fil-A came under fire for its CEO's support of traditional marriage, the fast food chain has thrived, USA TODAY reports. Consumer use, visits and ad awareness were all up measurably in the third quarter despite gay activists calling for boycotts against the restaurant. According to a report by research specialist Sandelman & Associates, customer traffic was up 2.2 percent, market share was up 0.6 percent, and total ad awareness was up 6.5 percent. Additionally, Chick-fil-A broadened its regular customer base in 28 of 35 media markets. "There was a lot of talk that this would hurt Chick-fil-A, but it actually helped the brand," said Jeff Davis, president of Sandelman.
Family Research Council Shooter Faces Terrorism Charges
The man accused of shooting a security guard inside the Family Research Council headquarters in Washington, D.C., in August now faces a terrorism charge, CBN News reports. Floyd Lee Corkins, the first person in 10 years to be prosecuted under the District of Columbia's Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002, reportedly announced "I don't like your politics" as he shot security guard Leonardo Johnson in the lobby of the FRC's building. Though wounded, Johnson managed to take down Corkins before anyone else was injured or killed. Investigators say Corkins was carrying a backpack with ammunition and Chick-fil-A sandwiches. The incident happened after Chick-fil-A's president made headlines by voicing his support for traditional marriage; Corkins, a supporter of gay rights, had been volunteering at a community center for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. In a statement Wednesday, FRC president Tony Perkins said, "The terrorism indictment announced today ... makes clear that acts of violence designed to intimidate and silence those who support natural marriage and traditional morality violate the law and undermine the security and stability of our form of government."
Publication date: October 29, 2012
