(dramatic music)
- [Narrator] This is CBN Newswatch.
- And thank you so much forjoining us, I'm Efrem Graham.
Thousands of Israelis spentthe night in shelters Wednesday
after Hamas fired more than 150 rockets
into southern Israel.
Israel struck back hitting
more than 100 Hamas positions in Gaza.
As John Waage now reports from Jerusalem,
the fighting comes afterboth sides had talked about
a long term cease-fire.
(screams)
(gun fires)
- In the street of Sderot panic once again
as the sirens signalincoming rockets from Gaza.
Hamas says the barrage is retaliation
for Israel's earlierkilling of two Hamas snipers
who were said to be in training
and not firing at Israeli troops.
The terror group's responseset stressed out Israelis
heading for shelters.
And Israel's militarypounded Hamas targets
in the Gaza strip withstrike after strike.
This wave of bombardmentcomes after days of debate
here in Jerusalem aboutwhether Israel should agree
to a five year Egyptianbrokered cease-fire with Hamas.
Now with roads andbeaches and summer camps
closing in southern Israel
and weary residents sick of sirens,
the talk has turned to military strategy.
At least one Knessetmember, a retired colonel
is calling for the headsof the Hamas leadership
and U.S. Middle East negotiatorJason Greenblatt tweeted
another night of terror andfamilies huddling in fear
as Israel defends itself.
This is the Hamas regime's choice,
Hamas is subjecting it's people
to the terrifying conditions of war again.
Meanwhile, U.N. leaderswarn that Gaza residents
face impending disasterwith severe fuel shortages
already plaguing the city
but with more than 100,000Israelis under fire,
the fuel problem may notbe Gaza's greatest worry
in the days ahead.
John Waage, CBN News, Jerusalem.
- Here now's a look at someof the other major headlines
we're following for you todayinside the CBN Newsroom.
Nearly 8,000 uncounted votes were found
in a suburb of Columbusas the high stakes race
for a House seat in Ohio continues.
Republican Troy Baldersondeclared himself the winner
of the special election but his lead
over democrat Danny O'Connoris still too close to call.
If the final vote tally iswithin a half of percentage point
there will be an automatic recount.
Republican Congressman Chris Collins says
he is not dropping out ofhis race for reelection
despite facing federalcharges of insider trading.
Prosecutors say Collins was told
by the head of the pharmaceutical company
that an important test for aprescription drug had failed.
They say he called andtold his son Cameron
who then allegedly shared that information
with his future father-in-law,Stephen Zarski and others.
Everyone involved in nearly$800,000 in combined losses
all pleaded not guilty in federal court.
The lead pastor and everysingle member of the overseeing
elder board at WillowCreek Church has resigned.
This after months long fall out
at the Chicago area megachurch began in April
after founder Bill Hybel resigned
when women within the church accused him
of repeated sexualmisconduct and harassment.
This week, both lead pastorsSteve Carter and Heather Larson
resigned saying said thechurch needed new leadership.
The rest of the board then announced
they're stepping down aswell by the end of the year.
For more on these stories andothers through out the day,
you can visit cbnnews.com.
The Trump administrationis imposing new sanctions
on Russia because it believesRussia used a nerve agent
to poison two people in Britain.
The State Department says itdetermined a chemical weapon
was used illegally inthe case of a former spy
and his daughter.
Both were poisoned earlier this year
with a military grade nerve agent.
The Kremlin has deniedit was behind the attack
and is denouncing the sanctions.
The sanctions are expectedto begin later this month.
They will include denyingexport license to Russia
to stop it from buying itemstied to national security.
Turning back now to domestic politics
democratic Senator Claire McCaskill
and Republican StateAttorney General Josh Holley
officially won theirparty's senate primaries
this week in Missouri.
So now the race for one of the most
closely watched swingseats in the Senate is on.
As republicans hope to take the seat away
from the democrats this fall.
Abigail Robertson brings usthe story now from Washington.
- The Missouri Senate race is one
of the toughest to win in 2018
and voters are focused on a major issue
that could spell troublefor democratic incumbent,
Senator Claire McCaskill.
(applause)
Confirming Judge Brett Kavanaugh.
- I think if she votesagainst the Trump nominee,
I think it will be enough
that if the republicans getorganized and get back together
they can defeat her.
President Trump won Missouri
by almost 20 points in 2016.
Congresswoman Ann Wagnersays many in her states
supported Trump because of thePresident's potential impact
on the court system.
- It's huge, you know,there are a lot of voters
that I talk to especially, in my district
during the last election,some of them voted
for Donald Trump, specifically,
because of the court notjust the Supreme Court
but what he would be able to do
to impact the federal bench also.
- [Abigail] McCaskill hasn'tpublicly announced her stance
on Kavanaugh and plans tomeet with him in August.
While she voted against JusticeNeil Gorsuch's confirmation,
she tells CBN News, she'svoted in favor of 68%
of the President's picks and tries to work
with her republicancolleagues in Washington.
- That's what people really want,
they want us to quit yelling at each other
and they wanna start working together.
And I gotta a lot of proofpoints that that's exactly
the kind of Senator I've been
and I'm hopeful that that will be enough.
- [Abigail] Her republican opponent,
Missouri Attorney General Josh Holley,
a former clerk for ChiefJustice John Roberts
says he thinks the mostimportant vote a senator casts
is for a Supreme Court justice.
- Senator McCatskill needsto be leading her party
on this issue.
She should be out therechallenging democrats
to support Kavanaugh and she should pledge
to support him right now.
- [Abigail] One priority facing Holley
is trying to repair and unitea state republican party
that's struggled since the May resignation
of Governor Eric Reitens over reports
of affairs and misconduct.
Holley and McCaskillwill face off in a series
of debates before the November election
and both parties sees thisas a critical Senate seat
to win in 2018.
Reporting from St. Louis,Abigail Robertson, CBN News.
- From cars to cellphones,so many of the things
that we use today areconnected by the internet
and that poses a grave threat
to the United States' national security.
A cyber attack on the country's power grid
could shut off electricity to millions
and leave the governmentscrambling in the dark.
Our Jenna Browder set downwith Secretary of Energy,
Rick Perry to talk aboutthe growing concern.
Here's the story now from Washington.
- There's perhaps no more serious threat
to the United States thana crippling cyber attack
on the country's power grid.
Just ask Secretary of Energy Rick Perry.
It's what he says he and his department
are largely focused on.
How vulnerable is theUnited States power grid
from a major cyber attack?
- It's of great concernbecause we're not where we were
10 years ago, this is acompletely different world
we live in from the standpointof how it's interconnected.
- [Jenna] Perry says onefactor is old infrastructure
and it's not actually all bad.
- So in one way that kind of protects it
because you got someold technology in there,
you know, some analog equipment.
On the other hand, youknow, all the digital,
the new types of technologythat's there is vulnerable to
a cyber attack.
- [Jenna] Another factor.
- The Russians havesome thuggish behavior.
There's not any doubt about that.
- [Jenna] Russia andother countries like Iran
and North Korea and China,looking to infiltrate
everything from our powerplants to elections.
In the case of Russia.
- So I think we'refinding the right balance
between if you cannot bea citizen of the world
and act in an appropriate way,
there's gonna be some real punishments
but if you do then, youknow, we can find some ways
to work together, to tradetogether, to help each other.
- When it comes to North Korea
how much of a role isthe Department of Energy
playing in talks with Kim JungUn and in denuclearization?
- I think the President is spot on.
I think he's verycourageous to step forward
and carry on these conversationsand carry on this dialogue.
- [Jenna] And if the administrationcan achieve that goal,
Perry says the Department ofEnergy will play a key role
because of it's technical expertise.
- If the President and Secretary Pompeo
and others are successfulin getting North Korea
to agree to denuclearize,the Department of Energy
will play a substantial rolein the verification side of it
of the deconstructingof any of the weapons
and then the decommissioningand disposal of as well.
- [Jenna] If there's asilver lining to the threat
our power grid faces,Secretary Perry says it's this.
We're vulnerable, but every place
in the world is vulnerable.
The good news is that our national apps,
some of the smartest menand women in the world
are working on ways to defend,
working on ways to bothdefensively and offensively
deal with these individualswho would attack our grid.
- [Jenna] In Washington,Jenna Browder, CBN News.
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- Coming up, the Church mayhave born in the Middle East
but Christians in thatregion have been suffering
through very difficult times.
We're gonna hear what theyhave to say to the world,
right after this.
(dramatic music)
The Church in the Middle Easthas endured some dark days
in recent years but some believe the lives
of believers today arereflecting the heroes
and heroins of the past
in the place where Christianity was born.
Chris Mitchell brings usthe story from Jerusalem.
- [Chris] Across theMiddle East, Christians
and the Church have sufferedterrible persecution,
yet, there is still optimism here.
- I see the Church isstanding and standing strong.
With all of the difficultiesand with all of the atrocities
and all of the persecution.
- [Chris] Egyptian bornYvette Isaac believes
that's because therecontinuing the testimony
of the early believers.
- I do believe everyday anew page of Biblical fact
is being written.
- [Chris] And Isaac wants theChurch in the West to know,
what's happening here.
- They're our brothers and sisters,
Christian brothers andsisters who are living there
and if it wasn't for them,
first we will not hear aboutChristianity in the West.
Because of the Church in the Middle East,
Christianity spread all over the world.
- [Chris] Yet, she saysthe pressure on Christians
has been enormous.
- That's where it's all started
and the enemy's focus is to destroy it.
The enemy's focus is toempty the Middle East
from Christianity.
So he's putting all of this pressure
and we have seen all kind ofpressure under the people.
- [Chris] Isaac hoststhe television program
to the Middle East and shebelieves Christian media
can play a big role to help Christians.
- The church needs to know the truth.
The Christian media needsto air and to show the world
the stories from there.
If we just depend on the secular media,
we will get what their agendafor the world (mumbles).
But awareness is very important,
that's why we have miniclips of Christian people
that they suffer andthey tell their stories.
One of the stories shetells are the Christians
who suffered under ISIS.
We go to Iraq and to Syriaand we go to those places
and we try to empower the girls
that they came out of captivity.
Christians in Syria and Iraq,
they don't wanna speak too much.
Probably it's the fearbut when we go there,
they open up and theyfeel like they can open up
and tell us their stories.
So we shared their stories
after their permission to the world.
- [Chris] She tells onestory of an Orthodox priest
and an evangelical pastor.
- An orthodox priest told me, you know,
when there was no water
and they're only a fewdrops of water left.
I would rather divide itwith an evangelical pastor
because I know if we both live
we're going to be more powerful together.
If I live and he dies, I'm weaker.
- [Chris] She hopes eachpart of the body of Christ
will do their part.
- What is my hope to do,especially in the Western world,
the Western Church needs to understand
the importance of the existing
of Christians in theMiddle East at this time.
- [Chris] Chris Mitchell,CBN News, Jerusalem.
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- Still ahead, how onecongressman and his wife
have been asking theirconstituents to send them prayers
for the President andin turn they're sending
those prayer cards to the White House.
We've got the story right after this.
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A prayer movement startedby one congressman
and his wife is gainingsome national momentum.
We first told you back inMarch about Mike and Tracy Bost
asking constituents to sendprayers to the President.
As Abigail Robertson shows us
they're delivering some100 prayer cards a month
to the White House and thePresident is reading them.
- When Tracy Bost first set up a P.O. box
for people in her district tosend prayers to the President
she was hesitant to go back and check it
fearing no one would send anything.
But to her great surprise,hundreds of prayers poured in.
- That was really a blessing to me
and then I knew that Godwas doing something bigger
than I ever imagined.
- School in Philadelphia.
- [Abigail] Tracy firstcame up with the idea
when she and her husband Mike attended
the 2017 GOP retreat in Philadelphia.
- We are people!
- There was so much protestgoing on and so much anger
and just pure ugliness.
- [Abigail] Tracy wanted todo something to encourage
the new Commander in Chief.
- I just kept praying, Godwhat can I do, what can I do?
And the prayer card came to my mind
that we could just simplyhave people in my life,
friends and family membersjust to send a little prayer
of encouragement to the President.
Mr. President and Vice President praying
for God's blessings.
- [Abigail] They set a goal of 100 prayers
and asked people to send themon three by five note cards.
- [Tracy] Lubbock Texas.
- [Abigail] Six weeks later.
- [Tracy] Norco California.
- [Abigail] They had received almost 300.
Her husband asked a White House liaison
to deliver them to President Trump.
- I hand him, I saidlook, we don't want any,
you know, just give them to them, okay?
- [Abigail] A couple monthslater, Bost joined a few other
congressmen in the ovaloffice for a bill signing.
- The President looks atme and goes Bost, Bost,
he said prayer cards.
I went yeah, Mr. Presidentwe sent, my wife did that
and circulated prayer and prayer cards
and he said we use those.
And I said good, I'm soglad, that's wonderful.
- [Abigail] The Presidentthen asks for the bag of cards
of a shelf so they could take a picture.
- He said understand we use these.
And I turned and whenever I turned I ran,
honest to goodness chest tochest with the Vice President
and he goes Mike, he'snot joking, we use these.
They'll be times we say,okay, and we reach out
and we grab them.
It is amazing that people arewilling to put these together.
- [Abigail] Tracy was elated to learn
he actually read the cards.
- I cried and I stillget emotional about it.
I'm thankful that everydayhe gets to put his hand
in that bag and I know theright card for that day
is the one he puts in his hand.
- [Abigail] And so wereAndrea Deming's students
who wrote cards, even those who told her
they didn't like the President.
- We encourage them that, you know,
just to say positive things.
If you had a specific prayer for him
or specific scripture or something
that you would like tosay that's positive.
But we were strongly encouragedthem to keep it positive
and they all did.
There were none that were rudeor anything in that matter.
- [Abigail] Cassandra Ortez
who now held collect the prayer cards
tells CBN News she wasworried about President Trump
because she didn't knowwhere he stood spiritually.
This experience has eased her concerns.
- To know the word of God is being spoken,
it's being taught, it's being reflect on,
it's being meditatedon in the White House,
it's just a hugeencouragement to, you know,
know that God is working and God is moving
in the White House.
- [Abigail] She believes there is power
in believers joiningtogether to send prayers
to our leaders.
- So many people,
yet, we don't want to bethe silent Christians,
we don't want to be theones that, you know,
see the issue, complain about the issue
and then don't do anything about it.
- [Abigail] CongressmanBost says prayers and faith
are an integral part of his job.
- I don't know how anyone does this job
or any other job withouta faith that is strong
and without the prayer andsupport of other people.
- [Abigail] And he thinks many Christians
would be surprised to learnhow much prayer happens daily
in the Capitol.
- There's never a day,never a morning, never a,
sometime during the day ofany day that we're there
that there's not at leastone or two Bible studies
or prayer groups happening.
- I was so overwhelmed withthe amount of faith in D.C.
- The Bosts still deliverabout 100 prayer cards
each month to the White House
and now collect them fromall over the country.
Tracy encourages peoplenot just to write prayers
to the President butalso the Vice President,
the First Lady or anyother leader God is putting
on your heart, like amayor, a state Senator
or a city councilman.
Reporting from Washington,Abigail Robertson, CBN News.
- And remember the scriptureclearly calls for us to pray
for our leaders.
Stay with us, there's muchmore of CBN Newswatch coming up
right after this.
(dramatic music)
It is time now for you Thursday Thankful.
I hope you'll join me inthis prayer of gratitude.
God I may look in the mirrorand think I am not enough
but I rest to know that you are always
more than enough.
That truth is enough to begin your day,
get you through your dayand even end your day.
It is certainly a greatreason to make this
a very thankful Thursday.
That is gonna do it for thisedition of CBN Newswatch.
Remember you can always findmore of our exclusive coverage
of the issues you caremost about at cbnnews.com.
And we'd love to hear whatyou think about the stories
you've seen here today.
You can do that byemailing newswatch@cbn.com
and of course, you canalways reach out and touch us
on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
This ends the newscastbut the news continues
24/7 at cbnnews.com.
Thank you so much for your company.
We'll see you right backhere same time tomorrow.
Goodbye and God blessand be sure to make this
a very thankful Thursday.
We'll see you tomorrow.
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