(bright upbeat music)
- [George] Today on"Christian World News,"
life in North Korea or communist China,
that's how some Australiansare describing their country
under extreme COVID restrictions.
Has the land down underbecome a police state?
- [Wendy] Plus U.S PresidentJoe Biden mandates vaccines
for millions of workers,
that has many Americansseeking exemptions,
including those based ontheir religious faith.
- And a faithful witness.
Despite the threats totheir lives and freedom,
Christians in Afghanistan
say they'll keep following Jesus Christ.
(bright upbeat music continues)
Hello, everyone, welcometo this week's edition
of "Christian World News."
I'm George Thomas.- And I'm Wendy Griffith.
The Corona virus hasturned the land Down Under,
upside down.
Australia used to be knownfor its fierce individualism
and defense of personal freedom.
- Now, extreme lockdowns andintense tracking of citizens
have people claiming,
the country has turnedinto a police state.
Dale Hurd has the story.
- In a viral tweet in Australian posted
what they said is a view
of the world's largest prison from space.
A map of Australia.
Australia is still a democracy,
but it's COVID restrictions are severe.
It's hard to enter or leave the country
unless you're a politician or a celebrity.
Citizens are tracked with apps,
and soon by facial recognition.
In some states, you haveto have your phone scan
before entering a church.
And some have been arrested
for simply posting on social media
about protest against COVID restrictions.
The rest of the world is starting to ask
if Australia can stillbe called a free country.
Australia's lockdownhas been so draconian.
It's brought comparisons on social media
to how Australia began,as a prison colony.
This pregnant Australianmother was handcuffed,
and hauled away by copsin front of her children,
for simply posting on Facebookabout a lockdown protest.
The charge was incitement.
- [Woman] What on earth?
Excuse me, what earth?
- Is just what you're found in.
- Can you like record this on camera-
- What's this?- I have ultrasound in a hour.
- [Man] Yeah, she's pregnant.
- [Dale] This leader ofan anti lockdown group
also arrested for incitement,
has now been in jail for three weeks.
- [Police] You're underarrest for incitement.
- You guys been following me?
- [Dale] Police helicopterslook for lockdown violators
like these folks trying toenjoy an evening on a rooftop.
And the government is firedrubber bullets and tear gas
at anti-lockdown protestors,including children,
James Allan, Garrick Professor of law
at the University of Queensland
calls it heavy handed despotism.
- It's been appalling in Australia,
and I see that he wasa big fan of Austria.
I'm Canadian, you cantell from the accent.
But it's come as a real shock to me,
how conservative friends
are perfectly happy to go along with this.
- [Dale] Australia consists of six states
in two territories,
each with their own COVID restrictions.
Under a new home quarantine plan
for international travelers,
if you don't send the governmentyour photo and location,
when it sends you a text, thepolice will come to your door.
Melbourne Pastor Paul Furlonghas been arrested three times
and placed in solitary confinement
for opening his churchduring the lockdowns.
- The reason I did, was for what I believe
was a greater law and that wasto abide to the word of God.
And so, I had to chooseGod's law over man's law.
- [Dale] This church in Sydneyshown before the lockdown,
was raided and fined forholding what authorities called,
an illegal service,
and for not scanning people's phones
before they entered.
Some pastors are nowconcerned that the government
could require a vaccine passportbefore entering a church.
We asked Evan Mulholland
at Australia's Conservative Think Tank,
the Institute of Public Affairs,
if he still considersAustralia a free country.
- Well, it's a good question.
It's a question a lot of people
across the politicalspectrum have been asking.
These things don't happen in a vacuum,
they happen when thepolitical and cultural elites
slowly take away our freedomsand they become normalized.
- [Dale] Australians have also begun
turning in one another toauthorities, East German style.
In this tweet, an Australianmother was desperate
to find a way home with her son
and needed to cross a state border,
violating lockdown restrictions.
She was turned into police.
With this kind of behavior,
you might think manythousands of Australians
have died from COVID,
but the death toll is under 1200
out of a nation of 25 million people,
or 0.0047% of the population,
almost three times that manyAustralians die every week
from normal causes.
But one poll showed most Australians
favor living without freedom,
because they fear COVID
more than any other Western nation.
- The media has justscared people senseless.
The average person thinks ifI catch this, I'm gonna die.
- [Dale] There have been several large,
and sometimes violentdemonstrations against the lockdowns
and against planned vaccine passports,
and hundreds had been arrested.
The government says the death toll
would have been muchworse without lockdowns.
And they saying now that lifecan only return to normal
when most of the country is vaccinated.
- They describe giving back our freedoms
as some sort of a treat,
as some sort of a reward,
something that can be given back to us,
and on our fundamental freedoms
that were stolen fromus in the first place.
- The Australian JournalistsClive James once said,
"The problem with Australians
is not that so many of themare descended from convicts,
but that's so many aredescended from prison officers."
It's a quote that's beingtalked about a lot these days.
Dale Hurd CBN news.
- Here in the United States,
President Biden's vaccine mandate
has put millions of Americanworkers in a quandary.
They want to refuse a shot
based on their religious convictions.
- The question, is how do they go
about claiming a religious exemption?
And will it be up to the Supreme Court
to decide if they have a right to do so?
Our Heather Sells explains.
- [Heather] For months,evangelical leaders
have encouraged followersto get the vaccine.
- Hi, welcome to pastors and the vaccine.
- With all kinds of campaignsto encourage the faithful,
now, the president's newpush to mandate the shot
has some in the pews opposed.
Although many denominations
and high profile evangelicalleaders support the vaccine,
a number of people of faith also oppose it
for spiritual reasons.
And they're seekingguidance on how to claim
a religious exemption.
- People are entitled toreligious accommodations
under Title Seven ofemployment discrimination law.
- [Heather] There's basic protection
for faith in the workplace,
thanks to federal lawand the constitution.
When it comes to the vaccine mandate,
however, many aren't sure
how to claim a religious exemption,
and thousands have been calling places
like the Religious FreedomInstitute for help.
- RFI, the Religious Freedom Institute
doesn't provide legal services,
but we still receivecalls with people asking,
you know, what are they able to do
in light of their objections?
- [Heather] Legal scholars say the key
is not a church's doctrine,
but an individual sincerely held belief.
- The Supreme Court has made it very clear
that religious convictionsthat merit protection
are individual.
I don't have to have a church behind me.
- What we wanna avoid, is employers
and we're stalled the federal government
becoming some sort of starchamber inquisitorial board,
probing into people's religious beliefs.
If a person says, these are my reasons,
I disagree with abortion,
sanctity of human life.
I know that the aborted fetalcells are part of the testing,
that should be it,
that should be the clo...
The case closed on whether or not,
they have a sincere belief,
you don't need a letter from your pastor.
- [Heather] But Oklahoma Pastor
and Senate Candidate JacksonLahmeyer is doing just that,
telling people that ifthey join his church,
he'll sign their exemption.
- It's not an anti-vaccinething, it's a pro-freedom thing.
- [Heather] Berkeley cautions people
to sort out their reasons,
and avoid pursuing this exemptionif motivated by politics.
- Religious exemptionsare meant to be a remedy
to a particular kind of issue.
And just objecting to bad policy,
is not what religious exemptions are for.
- [Heather] Still, in the months ahead,
untold numbers could claim them.
In a telling sign, 3000LAPD employees plan to file,
and the lawsuits have already started.
The White House may have ahard time telling the courts
that OSHA has the right to mandate a shot.
- Think about what OSHA is about?
It's about chemicalexposures in the workplace,
hardhat regulations on construction sites.
This is conduct outside of the workplace
that they say must bepart of the workplace,
this is a real stretch.
- [Heather] It's unclearhow the Supreme Court
might eventually rule
especially with weakenedreligious protection
after the 1990 Smith Ruling.
- The government can win ifit has a compelling interest,
really, really important interest.
And there's no way to accomplish that
without infringing on liberty.
And, you know, when you'relooking at a pandemic
and people dying,
the government is certainlygonna try very hard,
even if they're under the tufts standard,
they're gonna argue thatwe meet that standard.
- It's a high stakes fightthat could severely weaken
or empower religious liberty,
in the months and years ahead,
Heather Sells CBN news.
- Thank you, Heather.
One mission agency,
the Southern BaptistInternational Mission Board
has announced mandatory COVIDvaccines for new missionaries,
all those returning to the United States.
A spokeswoman told CBN
that a religiousexemption would not apply,
as they've alreadyreceived numerous vaccines.
Other Christian ministrieslike Compassion International,
for example, are waiting onmore information from OSHA
to better understand the new requirements.
- [Wendy] Up next, the Taliban is set
to resume strictenforcement of Sharia law.
Afghanistan's Christianssay the growing darkness
will drive people to thelight of Jesus Christ.
(bright upbeat music)
- [Gordon] You can experience
the kingdom of heaven right now.
- [Announcer 1] CBN presents"The Nearness of Heaven."
- We're going to be talkingabout people who went to heaven,
who had encounters withthe kingdom of God.
He let me experience what it felt like,
and there's more lovethan you can imagine.
- [Announcer 1] In thisbrand new teaching from CBN,
you'll discover what theBible has to say about heaven
and our lives in eternity.
How to know for certain, thatheaven is your future home.
How seeking God's presence now,
will satisfy your heart's desire,
and prepare you for what's ahead.
Plus, how to experience
the reality of God's kingdomright here, right now.
- You're gonna experienced peace, and joy,
and life to the fullest.
- [Announcer 1] Get thisexciting new teaching
from CBN today.
Call 1-800-700-7000,
or go to cbn.com to become a CBN partner
and receive your copy of"The Nearness of Heaven."
- [Announcer 2] Nutrition, exercise,
essential oils,
weight loss, and more.
It's "Healthy Living" with Lori Johnson.
- Talk about what's in this?
- [Announcer 2] Join CBNHealth Reporter Lori Johnson
to get the latest information
from today's top health experts.
- This is fan-tastic.
- [Announcer 2] Find outwhat you need to know
to live a healthier life.
Watch "Healthy Living,"Tuesday night at 8:30
on the CBN News Channel.
- I'm Efrem Graham, and this is Studio 5.
Cruise with me, as Idiscovered the good things
happening in the world of music,
sports, television, and movies.
- The fact that Ryan Coogler,
was gonna be directing the film,
I knew that somethingspecial was gonna happen.
- [Efrem] We'll chat artists
at the forefront of entertainment,
and explore the connection
between popular culture and faith.
- I asked my pastor, I said,
"Well, does that mean I'msupposed to be a preacher?"
He says, "Well, no. Youalready have a pulpit."
- [Announcer 3] Wednesday night at 8:30
on the CBN News Channel.
- Well, this week, the Taliban announced
it will return to harshenforcement of Sharia law,
including executions and amputations.
Still some are asking,
could this country becomethe heart of revival,
Christian revival thatis, in the Middle East?
- Wow! One ministry that's worked
with the underground church there,
predicts that might just happen.
As Caitlin Burke reports,
even with the Taliban'sefforts to squelch the message,
Afghan Christians continue tolive and spread the gospel.
- As the new Taliban government
tightens its grip on Afghanistan,
people can plainly see thedarkness of Islam spreading,
and they're running toward the light.
- As Job says, in thebook of Job, he says,
"When a man is in a heap,
you know, on the ground,
he stretches out his hand to God."
And so, it's in themidst of the desperation
that souls are hungry.
And so, it's a moment of opportunity.
- [Caitlin] Joel Richardsonwith Global Catalytic Ministries
says history proves thatoppressive Islamic governance
leads to revival in the church.
- Iran has the fastestgrowing church in the world.
Seven years after the ISIS Blitzkrieg,
there's a revival in Northern Syria.
The establishment of Islamic government
provides ripe soil for the church to grow.
- [Caitlin] The church in Afghanistan
is determined to do the same.
- There's till actively meeting,
studying the scriptures together,
worshiping, and sharing the gospel.
We actually have a reportof one of our leaders
who has been sharing thegospel with Taliban members
that came into their village,
and they've actually been engaging
in Bible studies and prayer.
- [Caitlin] While it's oftenthe sensational reports
that make headlines,
like a recent one that falsely claimed
the underground churchthere had been murdered,
or others that spotlight heroic action.
Richardson says Afghanistan's Christians
are just real people choosing to live out
their Christian faith.
- They say they're scared,
many of them are in despair,
but it's in that weakness
that they're still pushing forward,
and they're finding...
They're finding sweetness in all of it.
- [Caitlin] One Afghan Christian
recently reporting back toGlobal Catalytic Ministries,
quote, "There is pain and joy right now.
God hasn't left.
There is no need to fearwhat the Taliban is doing.
Yes, bad things may happen to us,
but God will do somethingand glorify His name."
Richardson worries, this couldbe the calm before the storm,
but he says, Christians, therehave submitted themselves
to the will of God, come what may.
- They've given their future,their fate over to the Lord,
knowing that it could result in martyrdom.
They understand that very, very clearly,
but yet they're pushingforward regardless.
- The biggest prayer request right now
is for Divine Protection.
One Christian writing thatthey continue to remember
the passage where Jesus'senemies are after Him.
And he passes througha crowd and disappears,
divine camouflage.
Caitlin Burke, CBN news.
- And we pray for that divine camouflage.
Turning now to the U.S Southern border,
where the largest expulsionof migrants in decades
is taking place.
Some 13,000 people,most of them from Haiti,
have been living under a bridge
in the Texas town of Del Rio.
The U.S now sending the back to Haiti,
although, officials say manyare being sent to cities
across the United States
that had already been livingin central and south America
before converging on the border,
and don't want to returnto their home country.
The U.S Envoy to Haiti has resigned
to protest the deportations.
- Haiti has been crippledby natural disasters.
On top of economic and political upheaval,
the survivors of thesedisasters have no where to live
and no clean water to drink.
So, who has been bringing relief
and going into theseareas no one wants to go?
Once again, here's Heather Sells.
- It's hard to overstate thedevastation in Haiti right now.
On top of political and economic crises,
the August 14th earthquakekilled thousands,
and it damaged both homes and schools.
- This region has beenaffected by multiple shocks,
economic crisis related toCOVID, cyclones, earthquakes now.
The earthquake that hit, leftall these people with nothing.
- [Heather] It killed 2000,
injured more than 12,000,and destroyed 53,000 homes.
Just three days later,
Tropical Storm Grace flooded the streets.
After all this, hundreds of schools
must now be rebuilt or repaired,
forcing the government to delay
the start of the school year.
Operation BlessingSpokeswoman Emmanuela Delsoin
tells CBN news, Haitians have no idea
when classrooms will open.
- So many schools has been collapsed,
so the Ministry of Education
has to postpone the re-entry,
but everyone is wondering how.
- [Heather] Earthquake struck
the Southwest part of the country,
cutting off access to roads,
and making the reliefeffort to remote areas
even more difficult.
Operation Blessing hastargeted those communities.
- When we met with the Ministryof Health and government,
we can say, "We don't mind going
where other people doesn't want to go,
because we are here to servethe most needy people."
- [Heather] And they'reserving by sending food kits,
water and filtration systems,
along with medical brigades tothe hardest-to-get-to areas.
In the Southern port city of Les Cayes,
Samaritan's Purse also brought in
an emergency field hospital.
- We brought in a lot ofmedical relief supplies,
the infrastructure we need to operate
in this kind of environment
where there's a little electricity.
So we came fully preparedand self-contained.
- [Heather] Well, the aide'swelcome, it's not near enough.
Operation Blessing reports
that health facilities are overwhelmed.
More than 100,000 needclean drinking water,
and there's growing risk of disease,
such as cholera and malaria.
Thousands of families stillhave no place to sleep
after their homes were destroyed.
And following the July assassination
of President Jovenel Moise,
gang control and violence are on the rise,
that is chasing awaypotential foreign investors
slowing down relief anddestabilizing the country
at the very moment itneeds to come together.
Delsoin says, Operation Blessing
is trying to help theHaitians regain their hope
so that they can beginto rebuild their lives.
Heather Sells CBN news.
(bright upbeat music)
- Thank you, Heather.
Up next, it's been calledthe largest single gift
ever made to medical missions.
Meet the amazing Jewish philanthropists
who are coming alongsideChristian hospitals in Africa.
(bright upbeat music continues)
- Orphans Promise is committed to loving
and serving at-risk children,
to helping keep families together,
and to creating opportunities for strong
and sustainable communitiesaround the world.
We're working in over 60countries around the world,
and with your help, we can do even more.
There's an old Africanproverb by Love that says,
"If you wanna run fast, run alone.
But if you wanna run far, run together.
At Orphans Promise, we wanna 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 the world,
one child, one family,one community at a time.
Will you join us?
(upbeat music)
(child laughing)
- [Announcer] This is "CBN Newswatch."
- Thanks for joining us.
- [Announcer] Watch breaking news,
exclusive stories and programs,
credible news reporting.
- And we show you what'shappening in the world
and how you can pray about it.
(upbeat music)
- [Announcer] This is "CBN Newswatch,"
because truth matters.
Weekdays at 5:00 on the CBN News Channel.
- And what does Jesus meanthat the kingdom of heaven
is within you or within your midst?
The kingdom of God is at hand,
that means you can literallyreach up and grab it.
And His presence is right there with you.
If you're saved, if you're a Christian,
Jesus is dwelling in your heart.
The kingdom of God is in your midst.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
- [Announcer 1] "The Nearnessof heaven available now.
- [Announcer 2] Now stayconnected with CBN News
all day across our platforms.
- Welcome back to "Christian World News".
Healthcare in Africa isgetting a significant boost
to the tune of $18 million.
That's how much thecouple in our next story
is giving to Christian missionary doctors
serving on the continent.
- And they are an amazing couple.
Mark Gerson and hiswife Rabbi Erica Gerson,
believe deeply that they arefulfilling the Jewish command
to love the stranger by helping
those who serve Africa's most needy.
Take a look.
Spend time with Mark and Erica Gerson,
and you'll quickly discover their passion
for helping those lessfortunate is rooted in love.
- Love is always an action word.
When we commit to lovingsomebody or something,
it means that we have to dosomething to manifest that love.
- [George] Mark is a NewYork-based entrepreneur
and philanthropist,
his wife, Erica is a Jewish Rabbi.
The Gerson say the deeplove for their faith
compels them to giveaway millions of dollars
of their personal wealth each year,
to fulfill their Jewishobligation to love the stranger.
- The Bible never tellsus to love our children
because it's something we willdo without the Bible's help.
We'll love our children,
even if nobody instructs us to do so.
Yet, the Bible tells usto "Love the stranger
over and over again, three dozen times."
Because loving thestranger is not something
that comes naturally,
it's not something that comes easily.
- [George] The Gersonsputting the practice
of loving the stranger by supporting
the work of African Christians
and missionary doctorsacross the African content.
- When we learned some 20 years ago
about the work of Christianmissionary doctors in Africa,
and how they are sacrificing everything
in order to serve the poorby bringing healthcare,
to those who otherwise wouldn't have it,
we said, "This is what itmeans to love the stranger."
- This week, the couplepledged a record $18 million
along with matching funds
from the United Bank of Switzerland,
and others to support the work
of African Mission Healthcare,
which he co-founded 11 years ago.
- And this gift of at least $20 million,
and hopefully the matching grant
will make it much more than that,
is going to transform African health care,
is gonna enable us to build thesystems, the infrastructure,
the hospitals that will treat literally,
millions of patientsnow and into the future.
- CBN and the Gersons have partnered
on several projects on thecontinent to provide quality,
compassionate care to patients.
African Mission Healthcare says,
this latest gift from RabbiErica and Mark Gerson,
is the largest private gift ever
to Christian medical missions.
They firmly believe thatBible verse in Malachi 3:10,
that when you help the stranger,
God will pour out his blessing.
- God says, "Test me."
I believe it's the only testthat God uses in the Bible,
is this, "Test me, giveto charity," He says,
"And you will enjoy blessings yourself."
And it is so true.
No one has ever made a donationto serve the African poor
by supporting Christianmissionary physicians
and regretted it.
It, it has been the blessing of our life,
is in the blessing of Erica and my life,
to be able to partnerwith these sacred people,
these doctors who are working in Africa
in the name of their Christianfaith to serve the poor,
and it's something that wealways want to do more of.
- [George] You can learn moreat our website CBNnews.com.
We'll be back right after this.
- [Announcer 1] From Washington DC.
- Good evening andwelcome to "Faith Nation."
- [Announcer 1] Uncompromisingstories, interviews,
and analysis from veteran journalists,
David Brody, John Jessup, JennaBrowder, and Derek Phillips,
bringing you the politicalnews that matters.
- Regulation on the energy industry
are going to have dramatic ripple effects
throughout the economy.
- [Announcer 1] News you can trust.
- We're people who are committed
to protecting the mostweakest and most vulnerable.
- [Announcer 1] Watch "FaithNation" weeknights at 6:00.
- [Gordon] You can experience
the kingdom of heaven right now.
- [Announcer 2] CBN presents"The Nearness of Heaven".
- We're going to be talkingabout people who went to heaven,
who had encounters withthe kingdom of God.
He let me experience what it felt like,
and there's more lovethan you can imagine.
- [Announcer 2] In thisbrand new teaching from CBN,
you'll discover what the Bible has to say
about heaven and our lives in eternity.
How to know for certain thatheaven is your future home.
How seeking God's presence now,
will satisfy your heart's desire,
and prepare you for what's ahead.
Plus, how to experience thereality of God's kingdom,
right here, right now.
- You're gonna experience peace, and joy,
and life to the fullest.
- [Announcer 2] Get thisexciting new teaching
from CBN today.
Call 1-800-700-7000,
or go to cbn.com to become a CBN partner
and receive your copy of"The Nearness of Heaven".
- [Announcer 3] As the worldwatches from the outside.
- It's a big diplomatic tug ofwar here in the Middle East.
- [Announcer 3] Go inside the story
with "Jerusalem Dateline."
- Israeli archeologists aretalking about a discovery,
that could chase the thinkingabout the Temple Mount.
- [Announcer 3] Join CBN Jerusalem Bureau
Chief Chris Mitchell,
and get the biblical perspective
on the event shaping the world.
- What starts in Israel thenends up going to other places.
- [Announcer 3] Watch"Jerusalem Dateline,"
Friday night at 8:30 onthe CBN News Channel.
- And finally this week,in the Philippines,
boxing icon Manny Pacquiao iscampaigning to be president.
Pacquiao, who is a Senator right now
made the announcement Sunday,
he's also an outspoken Christian
who has criticized the government
of President Rodrigo Duterte.
A one time ally of Duterte,
Pacquiao accused him ofincreasing corruption
in the Philippines.
Pacquiao responded to critics who say,
the boxer is not qualified tobe president saying, quote,
"I am a fighter, and Iwill always be a fighter
inside and outside the ring."
It's gonna be an interesting race.
- Yeah. And we've profiled his faith.
Our colleague LucilleTalusan has interviewed him,
and he's an amazing personand a great believer as well.
- Personally, he's got my vote.
- Yeah.
- Even though it doesn't count.
- All right, folks, that'sit for this week's edition
of "Christian World News"
- Till next week, goodbyeand God bless you.
(bright upbeat music)
