February 19, 2025

Anniversary of John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Delta plane crashed at airport & flipped upside down, Christian physician assistant fired for affirming two genders

6 minutes

It’s Wednesday, February 19th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. ([email protected])

By Jonathan Clark

Christians faced the most murders and abductions in Africa

Global Christian Relief released the Violent Incidents Database last month in partnership with the International Institute for Religious Freedom.

The publicly accessible resource records over 6,000 verified incidents of religious persecution starting from 2022.

Christians faced the most murders and abductions in Africa according to the database. Europe led in terms of damage to religious buildings. Believers faced the most sentences and arrests in Asia. Asia also led in terms of attacks on houses and people being forced to leave their home or country.

Global Christian Relief reported Nigeria, India, China, and Azerbaijan were some of the worst countries for the persecution of Christians in their 2025 Red List Report.

British woman in trouble for holding pro-life sign outside abortion mill

A retired medical scientist in England will face trial next month for her pro-life work.

The case began when authorities confronted 63-year-old Livia Tossici-Bolt for holding a sign near an abortion mill. The sign read “Here to talk, if you want to.”

Jeremiah Igunnubole, Legal Counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom UK, noted, “Under far-reaching and vaguely-written rules, we have seen volunteers like Livia criminalized simply for offering conversations to those in need; and others dragged through courts for praying, even silently, in their minds.”

Christian physician assistant fired for affirming two genders

In the United States, a Christian healthcare worker is fighting for her religious freedom with the help of First Liberty.

Back in 2021, the University of Michigan Health System fired Valerie Kloosterman. The physician assistant lost her job for remaining committed to the Biblical definition of male and female. She took her case to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this month.

Kloosterman said, “I couldn’t do this without my faith. This battle belongs to the Lord. I’m His instrument and I’m required to be faithful. I’m hoping that I do that every step of this process even though it can be difficult and hard.”

2 Chronicles 20:15 says, “Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

Trump announces reciprocal tariffs

President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on Monday.

He wrote on X, “On Trade, I have decided, for purposes of Fairness, that I will charge a RECIPROCAL Tariff -- meaning whatever Countries charge the United States of America, we will charge them. No more, no less!”

A Trump administration official told The Hill the tariffs will apply equally to competitors, like communist China, or allies like the European Union or Japan or Korea.

JP Morgan, Citigroup, & Morgan Stanley scrub DEI nonsense

Big banks in the U.S. are reacting to President Trump’s executive order against diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, also known as DEI.

Banks like Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan, and Citigroup have scrubbed their public references to DEI in recent weeks, reports The Wall Street Journal.

A White House fact sheet from last month noted, “In the private sector, many corporations and universities use DEI as an excuse for biased and unlawful employment practices and illegal admissions preferences, ignoring the fact that DEI's foundational rhetoric and ideas foster intergroup hostility.”

Delta plane crashed at Canadian airport, flipped upside down

A Delta Air Lines jet crashed at Canada’s Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday, reports Fox News.

The flight was carrying 80 people on board from Minneapolis.

The plane ended upside down on the runway, leaving passengers hanging from their seats “like bats” as one passenger described.

At least 21 people were injured, but thankfully no one died in the crash.

Republican Rep. Pete Stauber of Minnesota said, “I am praying for those involved and will continue to monitor this situation as details emerge. I am incredibly grateful for the quick response of the first responders on the ground!”

Anniversary of John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress

And finally, this week is the 347th anniversary of the publication of John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress.

His first volume of the book was announced on February 18, 1678.

With 250 million copies sold, it’s one of the best-selling books of all time. If you don’t have a copy, pick up one today. It’s a must have volume for every Christian’s library.

Bunyan began the work from prison. He was sentenced for holding unsanctioned religious services. Despite suffering for his faith, he would produce a Christian classic that would influence the church for centuries.

The 19th century English preacher Charles Spurgeon said of Bunyan, “Read anything of his, and you will see that it is almost like reading the Bible itself. He had read it till his very soul was saturated with Scripture; and though his writings are charmingly full of poetry, yet he cannot give us his Pilgrim’s Progress—that sweetest of all prose poems—without continually making us feel and say, ‘Why, this man is a living Bible!’”

Jeremiah 15:16 says, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.”

And that's The Worldview on this Wednesday, February 19th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I’m Adam McManus ([email protected]). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

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