(dramatic music)
- [George] This week onChristian World News,
after years of fighting ISIS,
all this Iraqi soldier wanted was peace
and safety in Americauntil a group of angels
showed him a better way.
- [Wendy] Plus, Turkey'schurch fears for the future
as the government continuesto expel foreign missionaries.
Turkish Christian leadersfear they'll be targeted.
- And the Muslim majority country
that's friendly to bothChristians and Jews.
Why these Christianleaders say it offers hope
for peace in the Middle East.
(dramatic music)
Hello everyone welcometo this week's edition
of Christian WorldNews, I'm George Thomas.
- And I'm Wendy Griffith.
We begin in Syria, wherea new crisis is unfolding.
Russia and Iranian backedforces are ravaging the country.
- Still brave soldiers and relief workers
are bringing hope.
Chuck Holton talks to one Iraqi soldier
who's found new lifeand now risks his life
helping rescue the suffering.
- [Chuck] In March, afterconquering the last ISIS holdouts,
Russia, Iranian and Syrian forces loyal
to President Bashar al-Assadturn their attention
to wiping out rebel groups
who call themselves the Free Syrian Army.
U.S. intelligence agencies report
that former ISIS fightershave joined the FSA
which also receives support from Turkey.
Civilians in rebel held areasaround the northwestern city
of Idlib are paying the highest price.
The White Helmets, a rescue organization
receiving help from the United States
has been busy rescuing thosecaught in the massive bombing.
This Syrian Kurdishsoldier who spent two years
fighting ISIS talksabout those who now kill
for the Free Syrian Army.
- They are jihadis, straightup, they are jihadis,
there's videos online when they took Afrin
now they're slaughteringpeople, they have ISIS flags,
and Nusra flags so theseare not Free Syrian Army.
There is no Free Syrian Army anymore.
This is the people that ranaway from Roshava and Idlib
everything from the regime
or from us early days of these fights.
- [Chuck] As the fighting wearson more than 300,000 people
have fled this area for campscloser to the Turkish border.
Translator Mohammed Amad once fought ISIS
as a sergeant in the Iraqi army.
His life changed foreverwhen he met a small group
of humanitarians know asthe Free Burma Rangers.
- I said, please stay hereand I want to go to America.
America like heaven,nice place, super place,
I'm tired, I'm 12 years Iwork with the Iraqi Army
and war, always war, Iwant to go to America,
can you help me?
- [Chuck] But their leader, Dave Eubank
had something better tooffer, the love of Jesus.
- Can I pray for you, I told him yes
and he prayed for me.
I love his mercy, he cry with the people,
he held children, old women, old men.
I don't believe we have
in this world like these people.
This is not normalhuman, not normal people
this is angels and I say Iwill follow these people.
This is right people.
- [Chuck] The Rangers ledMohammed to give his life
to Jesus, a difficult anddangerous decision for a Muslim
and Mohammed would soon faceone of the greatest struggles
of his life during the2016 battle for Mosul.
- And we see the civilians,they run away from us
and David he looked and hesee little girl, she's shot
in her eye and he say, oh, quick, quick,
they need help here andMohammed can you drive for us?
I say yeah, I can.
- [Chuck] In the midstof a vicious fire fight,
the team rescued the girl and her father
but not without cost.
Their translator, Shahim Nasdar was shot
while helping the girl escape.
Mohammed jumped to help his friend.
- And I tried to help him,
I tried to put him in the Humvee and ISIS,
he shot me in my arm, yeahand in my, this was one
and two in my chest andone in yeah in my shoulder,
one in my leg, one here and yeah.
And I don't stop, I put this my hand here
and I drive in this handI feel it's very weak
but I say I don't, he die here.
- [Chuck] Miraculously,Mohammad got everyone back
to the medical facilitybefore he passed out
from loss of blood.
- And the doctor hetold me just one milli,
or you'll become disabled or you be die,
you are very lucky, you are like cat,
you have nine lives.
- [Chuck] But he knows it wasn't luck.
Since his recovery Mohammad has worked
with the Free Burma Rangersacross Iraq and Syria
to help people displacedby the ongoing war
and he knows he was spared for a reason.
- Everything changed my heart,my mind like a new person.
I feel I'm liked, I want to help, yeah,
I'm not like before.
- [Chuck] Chuck Holton,CBN News, Erbil Kurdistan.
- Thanks Chuck.
The growing influence of Iranhas the West seeking allies
to curb it's expansion in the Middle East.
Recently some Christianleaders visited the Kurds
of Northern Iraq.
As Chris Mitchell reports,their willing to partner
with the U.S./Israel and theglobal Christian community.
- [Chris] In September 2017,the Kurds of Northern Iraq
voted overwhelmingly for independence
while they celebrated muchof the world either ignored
their accomplishment orpunished them economically.
Because of a long history of betrayal,
a Kurdish proverb says,the only friends we have
are the mountains.
One goal behind this visitis that one day Christians
around the world would becomebetter friends to the Kurds
than these mountains.
These Christians including many
from the White House Faith Initiative
wanted to reach out to the Kurds.
While an unofficial visittheir views could inform
President Trump about theimportance of the Kurdish people.
They went to the front linesoverlooking the Ninevah plain
and met with the Peshmerga,the Kurdish military
responsible for pushing back ISIS.
- I wish that every American could stand
where we're standing today
and get the briefing that we got
from the Kurdish military officials
who helped to liberate this part of Iraq.
- [Chris] Now with the ISIScaliphate basically destroyed,
the Kurds and the U.S.face a common enemy Iran.
Shi'ite militias nowcontrol the Nineveh plain.
- [Interpreter] Shi'ite militiasare a very serious danger
because they are made by Iran
and they're against any kind of freedom
or human rights, so thereis not a lot differences
between them and ISIS.
- That's Iran, so Iranhas a huge voice here
in this part of theworld, not only in Iran
but they have a huge voice here in Iraq.
- [Chris] Iran now largelycontrols four Mideast capitals,
Beirut, Damascus, Baghdad and Tehran.
Given rising tension, thedelegation sees the Kurds
as a natural ally.
- I think we need to understand
that one of the most practicalways that we can love
and stand with Israel andbless Israel in these days
is to stand with the Kurds.
Because if you look at the configuration
of the Middle East today, theKurds 30 to 40 million people
spread throughout Iraq,Iran, Turkey, Syria,
that 40 million peopleis really the bull work
against Iranian expansionism.
- [Chris] Kurdish leaders told CBN News
they're looking to America.
- [Interpreter] I want the Americans
to know that the only alliesare here in the Middle East
are Israel and Kurdistan
and we would like them to support us.
- And they're opposedto the kind of tyranny
that Iran represents
and I think they can bea valuable ally to us.
- [Chris] The delegationplans to brief the White House
about what they learnedwith Iran and the U.S.
on the brink of war, itpromises to be a timely report
about a key ally in the Middle East.
Chris Mitchell, CBN News, Iraqi Kurdistan.
- Thank you Chris, turning to Turkey
where church leaders see trouble ahead.
American pastor, Andrew Brunson testified
before the U.S. Commission
on International ReligiousFreedom this week.
Brunson you'll remember spent two years
in prison and house arrest in Turkey
accused of being a terroristby the Erdogan government.
He told the commission the same tactic
is being now used againstother foreign Christians
to force them to leave the country
and that is causinghardship for the Church.
- The Turkish governmentdoes not allow Christians
to set up education and training programs
to develop leaders and one result of this
is a lack or trained pastors.
So foreigners havehelped to fill this gap.
Over 50 Protestant families have
had to leave the country in recent years.
Many churches have beennegatively affected
and in Izmir where I served five churches
have lost their senior leaders.
To put this in perspective, this is close
to half the churches in thatcity of four million people.
- [George] The governmentsees Christian activity
such as evangelism and social ministry
as a threat to the countryclaiming it divides Turks
against each other andthreatens national unity.
Compared to other Muslim countries,
Turkey's Christians arestill relatively free
to practice their faith but Brunson says
they see danger on the horizon.
- Another Turkish church leaderwrote to me a few days ago,
he said, some TurkishChristians have started to ask
after the foreigners are sent away
what will the government do to us?
And this is a good question.
According to some Turkish leaders,
there is I quote, "anexpectation of an action
from the government againstTurkish church leaders,
arrest, investigations, we don't know."
so I think the accelerateddeportation of church leaders
is a sign of very dark times to come.
Turkey is not there yet
but it is careening inthe wrong direction.
- Turkey's church is very small.
There are about 6,000Muslim background believers
in the nation of 80 million people.
Brunson said the media tension on him
and other foreign workershas created curiosity
and more Turks are visiting churches
and showing interest in the Bible.
(dramatic music)
- [Wendy] Coming up, speakingup for the oppressed,
new revelations aboutexecutions in North Korea
spark calls for more pressureon Kim Jong-un's rogue regime.
(dramatic music)
- [Pat] People wanna know is there a plan
and how do you find it?
- [Narrator] CBN presents The Plan,
Eight Keys for UnderstandingGod's Will for your Life.
- We're gonna talk aboutGod's plan for your life.
- Is there a plan for everyone's life?
- [Narrator] In PatRobertson's latest teaching,
you'll discover the secret to knowing
and living out God'sunique purpose for you.
- The plan of God willbe unfolded in your life
in ways you couldn't believe possible.
- [Narrator] In The Plan,Pat reveals the principles
to understanding God's willso that you'll be filled
with peace, provision,joy and satisfaction.
Plus, see amazing stories of how others
are living out your individualpurpose intended by God.
- God is gleeful and wedid what he told us to do.
- [Narrator] Live the lifeGod has designed for you.
- [Pat] I hope that Godworks out a plan in you
that will bring blessing,joy, peace and happiness.
- [Narrator] Get ThePlan, call 1-800-700-7000
or visit cbn.com.
(dramatic music)
- [Terry] Remember for amoment what it was like
to be a child, you believedevery story you were told.
You sought a world fullof endless possibilities.
What stories will the world's orphaned
and at risk children believe?
We believe the Bible tells the only story
truly worth believing.
We believe that every childshould have the opportunity
to dream, the chance to takechallenges and turn them
into possibilities, the chanceto stand on the promises
of God, to recognize their place
in the greatest story every told.
They have their whole lives ahead of them,
their's is a world ofendless possibilities.
They are looking for a story to believe.
We will tell them that story.
Will you join us?
(slow music)
(children laughing)
- Welcome back.
Taiwan's churches are promotingadoption over abortion.
In June pro-lifers in Taiwan
held a rally highlightingthe benefits of adoption.
This video comes from ourpartners at Good TV in Taipei.
Adoption is not widely accepted in Taiwan
but churches are hopingto change that attitude.
Pastors from across the island nation
came to the capital to support life.
- [Wendy] One medicalgroup estimates there are
as 500,000 abortions every year in Taiwan.
Surveys show that about30% of Taiwanese women
who seek an abortion do so
because they want to postpone childbearing
or they're afraid they can'tafford to raise a child.
- A South Korea based group has uncovered
more than 300 sites usedby North Korea's regime
to publicly execute it's citizens.
In this week's editionof WorldBeat I spoke
to a leading religious freedom advocate
who is speaking out on behalf
of North Korea's oppressed people.
(inspirational music)
U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo
says the Trump administrationis ready to resume talks
with communist NorthKorea at a moment's notice
if the regime signaled a willingness
to discuss denuclearizationof the peninsula.
Talks between our two nations, by the way,
stalled following Trump'ssecond meeting with Kim Jong-un
in Vietnam, meanwhile testimonies
from more than 600 North Korean defectors
claim the government routinely carries
out public executions often at riverbanks,
markets or in schools.
The South Korea basedTransitional Justice Working Group
released a map showing dozens of locations
where North Koreans werereportedly publicly executed
for crimes related to theft,violence and politics.
North Korea is one of theworst human rights violators
in the world, Christians face persecution
and severe punishment for worshiping
outside state controlled churches.
Joining me is Tony Perkinsthe newly appointed chair
of the bipartisan U.S. Commission
on International Religious Freedom.
Tony, thank you so muchfor coming on the show
and congratulations on your appointment.
There are as you know severalstate sanctioned churches
in North Korea but these arejust show churches, right?
- Yeah, they're nothingmore than a facade.
Look, North Korea is oneof the worst countries
in the world when it comesto religious freedom.
I mean, look, repressivegovernments hate religious freedom.
They're fearful of theirpeople having the ability
to express their faith becausethere is no moral foundation
for a repressive governmentand so they are very concerned
about religious freedom andthe tyranny, the repression
that we see in North Koreais again, it's unparalleled.
- What price does a North Korean pay
for following Jesus Christ?
- Well, we know that there arecamps, concentration camps,
if you will, in North Koreawhere political prisoners,
Christians, we know best estimates,
a very closed country but maybe 50,000
of them are Christians,they are singled out
for harsh treatment fortorture, forced hard labor.
And there is, in NorthKorea, it's more of a worship
of the ruling family andso no religion of any sort
is tolerated and it's avery repressive regime
and hopeful that the engagementby this administration,
which is all in when itcomes to religious freedom
around the globe that byengaging in these conversations
and negotiations with North Korea
that possibly the door might be opened.
The North Korean peopleclearly have been locked away
from the rest of the worldbut if they get a glimpse
of what true freedom is like,
maybe, maybe we could seefreedom coming to North Korea
in the future.
- Yeah, Tony, talk tothat very specific point.
As you know, talksbetween our two countries
have so far focused ontrade and denuclearization.
Why isn't human rightsand religious freedom
apart of those discussions?
- Well, I actually think they have been.
It's not been publicizedmuch but I know that
in the first meeting the President had
that those issues did come up,
obviously at the top isdenuclearization of the peninsula,
that's the top priority.
But those other issues havefactored in to the conversation.
- As I mentioned you are the new chair
of the U.S. Commission onInternational Religious Freedom.
Tony, what's going to be yourfocus during your tenure?
- Well, there is a lothappening around the world.
We are seeing unprecedentedlevels of persecution
of people of faith, Christians being a,
probably the largest religious group
that is being persecutedbut when we look at China
we have the Uyghurs Muslims
that are being put intoconcentration camps,
somewhere between 800,000to two million of them.
We see the Middle East beingvery unsettled right now
but here's the good news, George,
what we're seeing happenand because of the focus
of this administration many countries
are paying attentionnow to religious freedom
or at least the freedom ofworship in their country.
So I'm engaging with leadersat the highest levels
all around the worldin moving them forward
toward recognizing thatfundamental human right
of religious freedom, meaningthe ability to worship
as you please, not to worship,to change your religion,
that's a fundamentalright of every human being
and this administration, this commission
is advancing that around the world.
- Are there any areas ofthe world that you hope
during your time as chairto draw attention to?
- Well, I'm very concerned
about what's happening in Nigeria.
That country, I thinkwould be another Rwanda
where you have genocide,where you have right now,
violence taking place betweenMuslims and Christians
and in fact, I've adopted
as a prisoner of conscience Aliyah Sarabou
who is a 15 year old girl whowas kidnapped by Boko Haram
and being held as a prisoner.
And so I hope to bring greater attention
to what's happening in Nigeria as well.
- Okay, terrific, we'llhave to leave it there.
Tony, thank you so muchand congratulations
at the new position.
- Thank you very much.
(dramatic music)
- [Wendy] Up next, hope is his mission,
meet the guardian angel who not only prays
over the fishing fleet,he's also a present help
in times of trouble.
(dramatic music)
(upbeat music)
- [Narrator] It's about the competition.
- I kinda put that pressure on myself
and I think people had expectations.
- [Narrator] It's about overcoming.
- We use this phrase allthe time, keep chopping,
keep practicing hard.
- [Narrator] It's aboutgoing the distance.
- You know I think as a father it's my job
to lead, just be the besthusband and father I can be.
- [Narrator] Watch Going theDistance with Shawn Brown
on Saturday night at 7:30on the CBN News Channel.
(dramatic music)
- Woo-hoo, hi Superbook fans,
here's something elseyou'll love. (hollers)
It's the new Superbook Bible app.
It's packed with games,activities and Superbook episodes
that you can watch for free, oh no!
There's trivia, a fun daily devotional
and answers to Biblequestions, plus, an easy
to understand Bible thewhole family will enjoy.
You can create your ownSuperbook character, ta da, whoa!
(mumbles) coming--
- Sorry, sorry, pardon me,sorry, excuse me, ouch!
- [Reporter] Are you getting this?
- Earn super points toget daily prizes too
and so much more!
Time to get back to my adventures.
See you soon.
It's the new Superbook Bible App.
Free downloads on iTunes,Google Play and Amazon.
(upbeat music)
- How can you find God'splan for your life?
- [Narrator] CBN presents The Plan
Eight Keys to UnderstandingGod's Will for your Life.
In Pat Roberson's latest teaching,
you'll discover the steps totake in following God's plan.
How to know for certainwhen God is leading you.
How to get rid of spiritual blindness
and see God work.
- God said I've got a plan togive you a future and a hope.
- [Narrator] Get ThePlan, call 1-800-700-7000
or visit cbn.com.
- Welcome back to Christian World News.
Just like some of the first disciples,
Captain David Wright is a fisherman
who is a passionatefollower of Jesus Christ.
- He sure is and as Ifound out on a recent day
out on his boat, whetherhe's praying for the fleet
or helping someone out of a jam,
his mission is to give others hope.
Each morning for nearly 30 years,
Captain David Wright ofHigh Hopes Sports Fishing
in Virgina Beach sends local fisherman
off to sea with a prayer.
- Oh great mighty God,we thank you for the day
that you made for us today.
We ask for your blessing and protection
to be on each and everyone of us out here
on the water today.
We ask you to be withus, in the name of Jesus,
in his name we pray, amen.
I hope you guys all have a blessed day.
- Thank you Dave, we really appreciate it.
Amen thank you David.- Amen.
- [Wendy] Captain Wrightsays the prayers began here
at Rudee Inlet during aparticular big tuna season
back in 1991.
- We were actually havinga discussion about how good
our tuna fishing was andsomewhere along the line
one of our captains broughtup the idea of saying
you know we should work together
but we should have a prayer in the morning
before we start our day.
I said, yes, that's a great idea.
I had no idea it was gonna be me.
- You said Lord here I am.
- I said yeah, here I am Lord, send me.
- High Hopes, it's more than just the name
of Captain Wright's boat,it's the message behind
every prayer that he givesand the feeling fishermen
say they get when they hear it.
- Honestly it kinda givesyou like a sense of hope
that somebody's looking out for you
'cause I mean when you leave the slip
and when you leave the inlet there's,
you're at the mercy ofmother nature and everything
so it's always nice to knowthat somebody's looking out
and praying for everybody.
- [Wendy] 19 year old Haley Harris
is one of the few female
first mates you'll see around here.
- My dad grew up as a mate where I am now
and worked his way up to a captain
and I was like, oh that's pretty cool,
that's what I wanna do.
- What's it like workingnext to a local legend
like Captain Wright?
- It's really awesome, peoplecome down here looking for him
and I'm like he's just afew slips over go see him,
he's the best.
He's got a really big heart
and really cares about your wellbeing
and always cheers you up,puts a smile on your face.
- [Wendy] Captain Wrightsays out on the water,
fisherman strive to help each other.
Today we saw that firsthand
as a fellow charter boat lost power.
High Hopes was able to tow the boat
loaded to fisherman to safety.
- You're good man, I'm gonnaget you out of the tide line.
- [Wendy] Captain Wright says whether
it's throwing someone arope, taking families out
for a dream fishing tripor throwing up a prayer,
giving hope is the mission.
- God told me many yearsago when I started this
and I didn't know whatto do to pray, to say.
He said tell them about me.
There's another generation of fishermen
that'll come after meand my hope and prayer
is that this carries on.
- Wow, he's a spiritualfisherman right there.
- My husband and I wereout in his boat one morning
and we heard the prayer.
- Oh, on the radio.
- Yeah, we heard it andthat gave me the idea,
well actually my husbandsaid you should do a story
on this guy and I was like, yeah.
But that was a Spanishmackerel that I was holding
and guess what it was good we ate it,
we had it for dinner. (laughs)
- Well, folks we'll beback right after this.
(dramatic music)
- [Narrator] As the worldwatches from the outside.
- It's a big diplomatic tug ofwar here in the Middle East.
- [Narrator] Go inside thestory with Jerusalem Dateline.
- Israeli archeologists aretalking about a discovery
that could change the thinkingabout the Temple Mount.
- [Narrator] Join CBN JerusalemBureau Chief, Chris Mitchell
and get the biblical perspective
on the events shaping the world.
- It's what starts in Israel
then ends up going to other places.
- [Narrator] Watch JerusalemDateline Friday night at 9:30
on the CBN News Channel.
(dramatic music)
- Orphan's Promise iscommitted to loving and serving
at risk children, to helpingkeep families together
and to creating opportunities for strong
and sustainable communitiesaround the world.
We're working in over 60 countries
around the world and with yourhelp, we can do even more.
There's an old African proverb I love
that says if you wanna run fast, run alone
but if you wanna run far, run together.
At Orphan's Promise we want to run far
so we can touch thelives of as many orphaned
and vulnerable children as possible.
But we don't wanna go alone.
We're out to change theworld one child, one family,
one community at a time.
Will you join us?
(upbeat music)
(children laughing)
(upbeat music)
- Meet the pastors whoare preaching the gospel
in a fresh, fearless way.
(upbeat music)
- I'm Roberto Torres-Cedillo,join me each week
for Next Gen Voices
(upbeat music)
and watch God transform a generation.
(upbeat music)
- And finally on the broadcast this week,
Palestinian officials
discovered a Byzantine era baptismal font
in the Church of theNativity in Bethlehem.
The church was built in the fourth century
on the site traditionally believed
to be the birthplace of Jesus.
The font was discoveredduring recent renovations.
The head of the Palestinian committee
called the discovery magnificent.
He said nobody knowswhy it has been covered
and put in this place and never written
in any historical book about it.
- Interesting.
- Everyday you find a discoveryin that beautiful country.
- You sure do.
- Yeah, well folks that isit for this week's edition
of Christian World News, thankyou so much for joining us.
- Until next week from all of us here
goodbye and God bless you.
(dramatic music)
