It’s Wednesday, August 7th, A.D. 2024. This is The World View in 5 Minutes written by Jonathan Clark and heard at www.TheWorldView.com. Filling in for Adam McManus I’m Ean Leppin.

Christians Targeted in Nigeria as Protests Rock the Country 

Protests broke out in Nigeria last Thursday over a cost of living crisis, leaving dozens of people dead.

Christians in the country have faced even more violence during the instability. 

Islamic Fulani Extremists attacked multiple farms owned by Christians last week. The militants killed Christian farmers and destroyed crops. 

One survivor told International Christian Concern, “Fulani wanted to kill me, but I thank God I was safe.” 

Nigeria is ranked 6th on the Open Doors’ World Watch List of nations where it is most difficult to be a Christian. 

Nigerian Regional Church Body Leaves Compromised UMC

A Nigerian bishop with the United Methodist Church (UMC) resigned last month over the denomination’s support for sexually perverted lifestyles.

Bishop John Wesley Yohanna led the Nigerian Episcopal Area. The entire regional body decided to leave the UMC and join the Global Methodist Movement, according to The Christian Post. 

A letter from Yohanna said, “We want to make a statement that since the church has derailed from Biblical principle we cannot be in this church where … homosexuality can be celebrated.” 

Psalm 1:1 says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.” 

Arrest Made In An Assassination Plot in US

As reported by Fox News A Pakistani man with ties to the Iranian government sought to carry out a political assassination in the United States, a case that was investigated weeks before a gunman tried to kill former President Trump at a Pennsylvania campaign rally. 

Asif Merchant, 46, traveled to New York City and worked with a hit man to carry out the assassinations in late August or early September, federal prosecutors said  the plot was intended to target high-ranking U.S. officials, potentially including Trump.  ABC News Senior Investigative Correspondent Aaron Katersky gives more details concerning the case so far.

KATERSKY: “His name is Asif Merchant, and he entered the United States, according to federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, in April.  And while he was here in the United States, he made phone calls, trying to hire hitmen to carry out his alleged scheme to assassinate government officials on U.S. soil.  The criminal complaint does not mention former president Donald Trump by name, but multiple sources, familiar with this case, say one of the intended targets was former president Trump.  The hitman that Asif Merchant contacted, ended up being confidential sources of the FBI, so there was never any real danger here, because it seems the Feds were onto this man from the start.  They followed him for several months, and arrested him July 12th, just before he was about to board a flight and leave the country.  The arrest, July 12th, you’ll note, is one day before former president Trump’s rally in Butler, PA, when there was an attempt on the former president’s life.  Although, these two things are not believed to be connected.”

Christian Tennis Star Wins Olympic Gold

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic won an Olympic gold medal in the men’s singles final in Paris this week.

Despite being one of the world’s top tennis players, this is his first Olympic gold medal. With this victory, Djokovic accomplished what is known as the “Golden Slam.” That’s when a tennis player has won each of the four Grand Slam tournaments (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open) as well as an Olympic Gold medal. 

After receiving his medal, Djokovic pointed upward and said “God is great” in Serbian.

Kamala Harris Picks Running Mate

In the U.S., the Democratic National Committee officially picked Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday as their nominee for the presidential election. 

And yesterday, she announced her running mate—Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

The 60-year-old military veteran is known for pushing Democrat agendas in his state. Walz supports abortion up to birth, transgender surgeries, and socialism. He is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America which supports sexually perverted lifestyles. 

Georgia Town Pays $55k in Free Speech Case

A city in Georgia reached a $55,000 settlement in a First Amendment case last month. 

Authorities in the City of Alpharetta arrested Jeff Gray back in 2022 for holding a sign saying “God Bless the Homeless Vets” outside city hall.

Gray challenged the city in court with the help of The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. 

Thanks to the settlement, Alpharetta agreed to train officers on the First Amendment and to not punish people for peacefully demonstrating. 

1 out of 10 Americans are Evangelical 

A new study from Dr. George Barna documents the demise of Evangelicalism.

The study defined Evangelicals as those who recognize their sinful life, rely on Jesus for salvation, and receive guidance from the Bible. Only 10% of U.S. adults are Evangelical. And only a third of those have a Biblical worldview. 

Dr. Barna noted, “The data strongly suggests that evangelicals are more likely to be shaped by the culture around them than they are to influence or ‘evangelize’ it.”

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

U.K. Christian Settlement Becomes World Heritage Site

And finally, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation added a Christian settlement in Northern Ireland to its list of world heritage sites. 

German-speaking Protestants established the Gracehill Moravian Church settlement in 1759. 

It received world heritage status after the U.S. led an effort to recognize Moravian Church settlements. Other settlements include  Herrnhut in Germany and Bethlehem in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. 

The Moravian Church draws its heritage from the 15th century Czech reformer John Hus. In the 1700s, the church saw a renewal under the patronage of Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf who built the Herrnhut community. The community was known for sending pioneering Protestant missionaries throughout the world. 

And that’s The World View in 5 Minutes on this Wednesday, August 7th, in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe 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. Filling in for Adam McManus I’m Ean Leppin. Seize the day for Jesus Christ.