- Welcome to "CBN Newswatch"for Friday, August 27, 2021.

I'm Mark Martin.

Coming up, evacuations continue

after the suicide attacks in Kabul.

We will have the latest developments.

Plus,

one critic says PresidentBiden's Afghanistan withdrawal

has led to what seems like open season

on American interests.

- Across the board, thisis just a terrible signal

of American weakness.

- [Mark] Caitlin Burke hasreaction from officials

in both the Trump andObama administrations

to the chaotic withdrawal.

And Las Vegas is one ofthe most unchurched cities

in the country, but there maybe signs of that changing.

- I think there is hope.

The North American Mission Board

is planting hundredsupon hundred churches.

- Heather Sells reportson these new findings.

All this and more coming up next.

Out of Kabul are continuing

after yesterday's suicide attacks

that killed at least 100 people,

including 13 US service members.

Now the rush to evacuate people

under the threat of more attacks

as the president'sdeadline to withdraw looms.

Jennifer Wishon reports.

- Abbey Gate. Follow the water.

- [Jennifer] US troops are continuing

their near impossible mission

to evacuate an estimated1,000 remaining Americans

and tens of thousands of Afghan allies

under constant threat ofanother attack from ISIS-K,

or IS-K, short for the IslamicState of Khorasan Province.

- We believe it is their desireto continue those attacks

and we expect those attacks to continue,

and we're doing everything we can

to be prepared for those attacks.

- [Jennifer] The USrelying on the Taliban,

a group that spent yearsworking to kill Americans

to prevent terrorists fromentering the airport's perimeter.

The president promising retaliation

for the 13 American lives lost.

- We will not forgive.

We will not forget.

We will hunt you down and make you pay.

- [Jennifer] IS-K is theregional affiliate of ISIS

in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

And while not as organized as the Taliban,

it's much more extreme and violent.

- Some of them are disaffectedTaliban that joined IS

because they thought theTaliban were too soft.

- [Jennifer] The jihadishave notoriously attacked

a girl's school, hospital,even a maternity ward.

- They attacked a maternity,

shot to death babies, pregnant women.

- [Jennifer] The tragedy Thursday

postponing the president's meeting

with Israeli Prime MinisterNaftali Bennett until today.

Meanwhile, critics argue the West

is now facing greater terrorist threats

because of the Bidenadministration's gravely botched exit

from Afghanistan.

"The hundreds of jihadistsreleased from prisons

with the Taliban victoryare already on the attack.

More Americans will become targets,

and far beyond theborders of Afghanistan,"

writes the "Wall StreetJournal" editorial board.

A new poll from YouGovfinds 68% of Americans

believe the US withdrawalhas been handled badly,

including 55% of Democrats.

And now with just four days remaining

before the president's August31st deadline to withdraw,

it appears Afghanistan hasonce again become a haven

for terrorists, withAmericans and our allies

once again in their cross-hairs.

Jennifer Wishon, CBN News.

- America is back.

That's the story Biden toldallies when he took office.

Now, after the chaoticwithdrawal from Afghanistan,

friends question our reliability

while adversaries couldexploit the situation

and test resolve.

National Security CorrespondentCaitlin Burke has more.

- America is in damage control

and our enemies are taking advantage

by going on the offensive.

- We have Iran resuming oil shipments

to both Afghanistan andLebanon in open defiance

of the administration,some sort of bizarre attack

on the vice president'straveling party in Singapore.

It seems like it's openseason on American interests.

- [Caitlin] Not tomention increased pressure

from China on Taiwan and Hamasfiring rockets on Israel.

Victoria Coates, a memberof President Trump's

national security councilsays this goes beyond

just testing a new administrationthanks to the message

the botched Afghanistan withdrawal

is sending our adversaries.

- Across the board, thisis just a terrible signal

of American weakness.

- [Caitlin] And our enemiesare making the most of it.

(Hassan shouting in foreign language)

- [Caitlin] Hezbollahleader Hassan Nasrallah

says US behavior during theTaliban takeover of Afghanistan

indicates the moral downfallof America, saying, quote,

"They evacuated the dogs whoworked in the security forces,

but not those who aided them.

They took out their equipment,

but left the human beings behind.

These are the Americans."

China points to the failure

as another sign of American decline,

using an op-ed to warn Taiwanthat if war breaks out,

the US military won't come to their aid.

Russia also using the hastyretreat to sow seeds of doubt.

Vladimir Putin's topnational security advisor

claiming that America will abandon Ukraine

just as they did Afghanistan.

Brett Bruen, the directorof global engagement

in the Obama White House,

says America's foreign policy is changing,

and if we don't provide a clear narrative

of what that means, ourenemies will continue

to do it for us.

- One of the things thatI was really pressing for

when I worked in the Obama White House

was this idea that Americaneeds a new story for the world.

Roosevelt, Churchill,Reagan gave the world

and gave Americans a sense of who we are

and what we were doing.

And right now, and it was, youknow, under President Obama,

it was under President Trump,and now under President Biden,

we don't have that meta-narrative.

- [Caitlin] With more foreignpolicy challenges ahead,

both Coates and Bruen sayit's time for a shakeup

of Biden's national security team.

- He's got to get somenew leadership in there.

He's got to reassure bothfolks here in Washington

as well as in foreign capitals

that the right team is in place,

that they have learned the lessons

of what went wrong with Afghanistan

and that, going forward,we are going to be

a more reliable partner.

- [Caitlin] Caitlin Burke, CBN News.

- As the evacuation deadline

for Afghanistan approaches quickly,

humanitarian groups arehelping charter private flights

to get aid workers and othersout before it's too late.

CBN Middle East CorrespondentJulie Stahl has more.

- [Julie] The first charterflight left Afghanistan

carrying more than 340 people

just days before the explosions in Kabul.

- We formed a coalitionof like-minded partners.

Most of us are faith-basedand we're working together

to push ahead to try andsave as many souls as we can.

- [Julie] Charmaine Hedding,president of the Shai Fund,

says they're opening seatsto citizens of America

and other nations, Afghans whohelped international forces,

plus religious and ethnic minorities.

- Many of them are Christians now,

but they come from a Muslim background

and they are in fear of their life.

They received a letter from the Taliban

before they even closeddown the whole of Kabul

saying, "We know who you are.

We know where you are."

So they've got them on a listand they're hunting them down.

- [Jennifer] But a few days later,

they weren't so successful

when people ready to flywere put out of the airport

and others can't get in.

Iranian American journalistFarnaz Fassihi tweeted about it,

saying, "A 345-seat charteredplane to evacuate Afghans

leaves Kabul empty today becausethey couldn't get through

Taliban checkpoints and USmilitary gates at airport."

While more than 100,000people have been evacuated,

no one is saying how manyremain in the country.

There could be thousandsof Americans alone.

According to the "New York Times,"

refugee and resettlement experts

estimate at least 300,000Afghans face threats

from the Taliban for theircontacts with Americans.

Hedding, a veteran humanitarian aid worker

in places like Syria and Iraq,

says she's never seenanything like this disaster.

- First of all, we can praybecause we need a mighty move

of the hand of God to save these people.

But secondly, we needto contact your senator,

contact your congressman,and tell them that you care

and that you don't wantany of these people

that have fought for freedomand for what we stand for

in the West that have become believers

in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior

and are now going to die.

Reach out to your senator and tell them,

"Do not leave them behind."

- [Julie] She also warned

nothing has changed about the Taliban.

- This is not the new moderate Taliban.

They've already stated

what they're gonna do to the Christians,

these believers that havefrom the underground churches.

We know what they're gonna do.

They sent them a letter.

They're gonna capture themand they're gonna behead them.

We have to rise up as fellow believers,

as brothers and sisters in Christ.

- [Julie] Julie Stahl,CBN News, Jerusalem.

- [Mark] More stories likethis from the Middle East

with Middle East BureauChief Chris Mitchell,

who you see there, andhis team on this station

or on the CBN News Channeltonight at 8:30 Eastern.

Coming up, see how theseLas Vegas missionaries

are growing churches during the pandemic.

Stay tuned.

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- And welcome back to "Newswatch."

Here are some otherstories making headlines

in the CBN newsroom.

The Supreme Court blocked

the Biden administration's extension

on the COVID evictionmoratorium on Thursday.

The court saying if a federallyimposed eviction moratorium

is to continue, Congress mustspecifically authorize it.

Now to the latest on the coronavirus.

The US is now reporting

more than 800 deaths from COVID per day,

with a possible 100,000 or more deaths

between now and December.

Hospitals continue to be overcapacity along with morgues.

Liberty University is steppingup its COVID restrictions,

going to virtual classes

and suspending large events on campus.

The decision was made in an effort

to migrate the spreadof the virus on campus,

to prevent the migration of it.

The new policy takes effect on Monday

and will remain in placethrough September 10th.

1,500 migrants, all ofthem COVID positive,

flooded into McAllen,Texas in just one week.

That's only the tip of the iceberg.

Hundreds of thousands of them

are landing in Americancommunities day after day,

the highest number in 21 years.

Here's Tara Mergener with more.

- In July alone, a record 210,000 migrants

entered the US along the border,

often with the help of smugglers.

Many of those putting their feet

on American soil for the first time

are said to be carrying COVID.

Detention facilities out ofspace, agents overwhelmed,

and border communities like McAllen, Texas

in a state of emergency.

- It's an issue, and I keep on saying

we shouldn't have to be dealing with it.

- [Tara] As thousandsof migrants per week,

none vaccinated, maketheir first pit stop here.

- In one week alone, Joe Bidenand Kamala Harris released

1,500 illegal immigrants into McAllen

who were COVID positive.

- [Tara] Across theentire southwest border,

illegal crossings are at a 21-year high.

- Judging from the number ofpeople I'm seeing down here

on Mexico's southern borderin the city of Tapachula,

those numbers could be aboutto get very much worse.

- [Tara] Swarms of people,

including 19,000-plusunaccompanied children,

turning themselves into agents in July.

- [Reporter] Our drone videoshowing a massive group

of illegal immigrantsbeing held by Border Patrol

under Anzalduas Bridge.

It's the largest group we have ever seen.

- [Tara] Critics are soundingthe alarm across the country,

blaming Biden's border policies.

- They will defend the illegal immigrants

against the right of Americans.

- [Tara] Day after day,hundreds of thousands

of migrants landing incommunities across the nation

via planes, trains, and automobiles.

- Why don't you get this border secure,

and until you do that, Idon't want to hear a blip

about COVID from you.

- [Tara] But those blips aren't going away

given the Delta variant.

- People are dying and willdie who don't have to die.

- [Tara] And if anything,the Biden administration

and the CDC are focusing on unvaccinated

and unmasked Americans.

- Something supersedes that need

to do exactly what you want to do.

- [Tara] While almostignoring the border crisis.

Actions like that causing some on the left

to call for the president to impose order

on the increasinglyout-of-control migration.

- The "Washington Post" editorial board

is as liberal as they come,

probably the most liberalpaper in the nation

competing with the "New York Times,"

they know that this is apolitically toxic issue.

- Agencies on the border report

as many as one in five migrantsare showing up with COVID.

The administration is reportedly preparing

to help control it byoffering them vaccines

paid for by US tax dollars.

In Washington, Tara Mergener, CBN News.

- Sin City, Las Vegas,holds the distinction

as one of the most unchurchedcities in the country,

but now that's changing.

A wave of church plants istaking the city by storm

fueled by social media.

Senior National AffairsCorrespondent Heather Sells

brings us the good news.

- Las Vegas is one of thefastest growing cities in the US

and one of the most unchurched.

It's why church plantershere say this city is key

to advancing the gospel.

- The overall majority ofpeople, I guarantee you,

especially if they're from the West Coast,

have never had someone sitdown and explain who Jesus is.

- [Heather] Seeing themselvesfirst as missionaries,

Josh Carter and Joseph Gibbons

work as Southern Baptist church planters.

Their mission field, what they describe

as the pre-Christian culture of Las Vegas.

- These are people that didnot grow up around church.

It doesn't fit within theirnorms of how to do life.

- [Heather] That's why Carter,Gibbons, and their team

hope to take what many knowas Sin City for the gospel.

They're planting 13 churchesin this booming metropolis

of two million.

- Good morning, friends!

Good morning!- With an updated playbook

that uses social mediaas a starting point.

- It, literally, that isthe front door for people.

They're gonna check you out.

They're gonna follow you.

- [Heather] These churchplanters also rely heavily

on meeting their neighbors face to face.

For Gibbons and his wife,

that has meant local Vegas playgrounds

during the height of COVID.

- Really, nothing was open.

We have little kids, five and three,

and so my wife would take 'em out to parks

and she would meet moms.

- [Heather] That led to relationships

that then moved towarda focus on the Word.

- For us, it's about notthinking of ourselves

more highly than we ought,but getting into a posture

of we all need to meet each other

on the ground level of the gospel.

- [Heather] And from there,Favor City Church began to grow

right in the midst of a pandemic.

- When the limit of gathering was 10,

we were like, "Great, we have six."

And so we just started to gather.

- [Heather] Favor City is part of a wave

of Southern Baptist plantsthat are moving the needle

in the right direction.

The denomination's NorthAmerican Mission Board, or NAMB,

launched close to 600 lastyear, up 36% over 2019.

- I think there is hope.

The North American Mission Board

is planting hundred upon hundred churches,

surprisingly high numbers, even in 2020.

- [Heather] And thesechurches are diverse.

Six in 10 last year were non-Anglo.

That is crucial as experts predict

that whites will declineto a minority population

as early as 2045.

Researchers say plants like Favor City

could lead the way as the church in the US

seeks to diversify and reverse trends,

especially out West and in New England,

where large numbers of peoplehave no religious affiliation.

They're also battling church closures,

which outpaced openings in 2019.

To keep up with these closingdoors and population growth,

Lifeway Research estimates

that nearly 2,000 newchurches must open each year.

That means the call for church planters

is as urgent as ever, butthose in the trenches caution

the work is difficult and slow.

- You don't necessarily, like,

magically launch a church on one day.

You engage a city over a period of time.

You make disciples.

- [Heather] Favor City recently baptized

a new group of believersand began services.

So while it's seen as anuphill climb in this city,

Gibbons says the spirit is moving.

- I'm not building this thing.

I'm just stewarding where God is active.

- [Heather] Reporting in LasVegas, Heather Sells, CBN News.

(people clapping)

- [Mark] God is on the move in Las Vegas.

Well still ahead,

a pro golfer is offeringhope in a unique way.

Find out about his ministry next.

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- [Shawn] It's about the competition.

- I kind of put that pressure on myself

and I think people had expectations.

- [Shawn] It's about overcoming.

- We use this phrase allthe time, keep chopping.

Keep practicing hard.

- [Shawn] It's about going the distance.

- You know, I think as afather, it's my job to lead.

Just be the best husbandand father I can be.

- [Shawn] Watch "Going theDistance with Shawn Brown"

Saturday night at 7:30on the CBN News Channel.

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- Orphan's Promise iscommitted to loving and serving

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We're working in over 60countries around the world,

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- Welcome back to "CBN Newswatch."

Pro golfer Jimmy Stanger is on the cusp

of joining the PGA Tour.

He's also rooted in his faith,launching Birdies of Hope.

It's a ministry that buildschurches around the world.

Sports Director Shawn Brown has more.

- Jimmy, it's great to be with you.

So excited for all that youhave going on in your career.

Right now, you're on thecusp of joining the PGA Tour.

How are you feeling?

What's going on through your mind

as you're furthering yourcareer at this level?

- Yeah, it's an exciting time for sure,

especially being four years into my career

as a professional golfer.

We're not to the PGA Touryet, but we're very close,

and it's pretty amazingto think about that dream

that I've had since I wasseven, eight years old

becoming a reality very possibly soon.

It's both exciting and nerve-wracking,

so it's something I'mtrying to take day by day

and give to the Lord as best as I can.

- For a lot of professional athletes,

they wait till they getfurther in their career

before they start partneringwith different organizations.

But for you, what impressedme was that you started early,

even before you even joined the Tour.

You've already partneredwith organizations,

specifically for you, ICM,the global church developer.

Why ICM?

What stood out about them?

And I know it's a personal story for you.

Would you mind sharing that?

- Yeah, of course.

Well, I really appreciate what you said

and I attribute thatvery much to my parents,

my family being a givingfamily growing up.

When I was six years old,

my little sister, Theresa Maylei Stanger,

was adopted from China.

And my family, whenever wewent over in that process,

had been working with ICM fora couple years at that point.

They knew Dois Rosser very well.

They knew the Gills family very well.

And ICM and my familypartnered to build a church

in my little sister's hometown

and right next to Wuhan, China,

right in the middle of nowhere.

And it was pretty amazing

to go and visit her and pick her up.

Even at a young age atsix, seven years old,

I remember the church opening.

We were there for the dedication,this big, pink building,

and seeing the hundredsof people packed in there

hearing about our Lordand Savior Jesus Christ.

That definitely leaves amark on a young kid's life.

And just to know thatICM is willing to do that

and to be able to see firsthandthe impact that they have

in third world countries at ayoung age really impacted me.

When I became a professional golfer then

and quickly realizedthat professional golf

will not fulfill all yourhopes and expectations

as you think it will as yougrow up and you start realizing

that it's more blessedto give than to receive,

I started looking intoways that I could give back

to both the community around me

and to this world in general.

ICM, partially because ofmy family and just partially

because of knowing someof the people up there,

was one of the firstcharities to come to mind.

- Wow.

And now you've partnered

and started your own ministry called,

is it Birdies of Hope?

Tell me about that and whyyou're passionate about it.

- Yep, yep.

So it's called Birdies forHope, and what we're doing is...

You know, it's interestingthe way it started.

It's just a combinationof a whole lot of things

and I wish I had timeto go into all of it.

But essentially, it's this idea that I had

where I've had a lot of peoplewho've been following me

on kind of a day-to-day basisover the last few years.

And it's blown me away tosee, friends, strangers,

guys that I meet in pro-ams on Wednesdays,

guys that I meet back home in Tampa,

people that I meet on the road traveling

for non-golf reasons, justtexting me after rounds

saying, "Hey great, greatjob on these few holes."

And it was one of thosethings where I realized,

like, "Hey, this could be a way

to get people both interested in my career

and use their interest in my career

to give back to the community."

So the idea of Birdies for Hope is,

for every birdie that Imake on a Korn Ferry Tour

and the PGA Tour both in 2020and 2021 and in the future,

I'm donating $10 of my personal money

to help build, you know, a certain church.

Right now, we're focusingin Colombia with ICM.

And I'm getting peoplearound the country to join me

for however amount thatthey feel comfortable.

I've gotten a lot of people to join

for just 1 and $2 a birdie.

Fortunately, gotten some people to join

at 10, $20 a birdie, which is incredible.

And it's been remarkable for me to see

how taking this step in faith,

God has been very goodto bring people around me

to help donate to this causethat means so much to me

and is helping andimpacting so many people.

- [Mark] Great to see himso bold for Jesus Christ.

Wow.

Well, to see the full interview,

be sure to tune in to "Goingthe Distance with Shawn Brown"

this weekend on the CBN News Channel.

It's Saturday at 7:30 p.m.and Sunday at 6:30 p.m.,

both Eastern times.

And we'll be right back.

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Have a great day and a great weekend.

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