Newsmakers

A new faith and family-friendly video came company is looking to transform the entertainment landscape. Hollywood is already making Christian content, but now TruPlay is joining in to create faith-inspiring games — and more. CEO and founder Brent Dusing joins "Newsmakers."

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Welcome to "The Newsmakers Podcast," a show where we go behind the headlines each day to bring you interviews with pastors, entertainers, politicians, and other notable figures. Based on the "Newsmakers" show on the CBN News Channel, this daily podcast featuring CBN's Billy Hallowell provides full interviews with one newsworthy person every weekday.

Eighty years after diabolical German leader Adolf Hitler went on a reign of terror, killing millions of Jewish men, women, and children, the stories of pain, horror, loss, and tragedy continue to reverberate. Victims like Jochen "Jack" Wurfl continue educate today's generations about what unfolded, with his new book, "My Two Lives" releasing just weeks before Hamas' deadly Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel.

Wurfl opened up in an interview with CBN News about the traumatic events he experienced during World War II as his mother, who was Jewish, and father, a Catholic, both lost their lives during the Holocaust. Wurfl and his brother, Peter, were sent away in an effort to keep them safe. Another factor allowing the children to blend in and escape Hitler's wrath was their mixed background. 

"My parents decided very wisely to have us baptized Catholic, and that helped us all along because every time someone asked us, or we had to complete some papers or something, instead of saying 'Jewish,' we could say, 'Catholic,'" he said. "So, that was a big help at that time." Wurfl started school in Berlin when he was just 6 years old, recalling how he and the other students had to go into the backyard of the school and learn how to march and sing Hitler's praises — something they wanted no part of but were forced to do.

"We had to learn how to march and how to say, 'Hail, Hitler!'" he said, "When we were a couple years older than that, we were actually beginning to be taught by the Hitler Youth ... to use certain weapons such as bazookas and grenades and that type of thing. We were just kids." Wurfl said he and his brother were young but knew they were hiding out under the guise of their Catholic identity. They also knew the costs were quite high.

Wurfl and his family soon faced the unthinkable, as his father was arrested and sent to a concentration camp. Eventually, his mother, too, faced the same fate; both died. The story is particularly pertinent as the Israel-Hamas war continues to rage and anti-Semitism grows. "It's very disturbing," he said of Hamas' violence and rising anti-Jewish sentiment. "It was very, very surprising how they went about it in such cruelty." Listen to his story.

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Welcome to "The Newsmakers Podcast," a show where we go behind the headlines each day to bring you interviews with pastors, entertainers, politicians, and other notable figures. Based on the "Newsmakers" show on the CBN News Channel, this daily podcast featuring CBN's Billy Hallowell provides full interviews with one newsworthy person every weekday.

Persecution watchdog is delivering a pointed message to the Biden administration after the U.S. State Department again declined to list Nigeria on its Countries of Particular Concern list, with the expert warning that there's a "slow-motion genocide" unfolding against Christians inside the African nation. Jeff King, president of International Christian Concern (ICC), told CBN Digital there have been an estimated 100,000 deaths over the past two decades, with 3.5 million Christian farmers being unfairly driven from their lands. 

The ongoing and intense persecution has left King and other leaders perplexed as to why the State Department continues to leave Nigeria off its Countries of Particular Concern list, a designation King said provides "a list of the countries with the worst records on religious freedom around the world." If given the chance to speak with the Biden administration, King said he'd deliver a candid assessment of the dire nature of the ever-deteriorating situation.

"This is a slow-motion genocide," he said. "It's a slow-motion Jihad." King added, "What does it take for the United States to use what they're best at — just use the administration, use the bully pulpit to speak up and to stand for those who are oppressed, to stand for the defenseless? That's all we have to do." The persecution watchdog said it's essential to call out what's unfolding in Nigeria and to put pressure on officials there to take action.

Many Christians in Nigeria live in total fear, not knowing when their towns and homes could be targeted next. "Day to day, you're wondering ... if you're village is next, and whether you're going to live through the night," King said. It's an especially perplexing situation considering Nigeria's demographics, with upwards of half of Nigerians calling themselves Christians. There's a large number of Christians in the south of Nigeria, with Muslims dominating the north.

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Welcome to "The Newsmakers Podcast," a show where we go behind the headlines each day to bring you interviews with pastors, entertainers, politicians, and other notable figures. Based on the "Newsmakers" show on the CBN News Channel, this daily podcast featuring CBN's Billy Hallowell provides full interviews with one newsworthy person every weekday.

A Christian pastor is reportedly facing criminal charges for violating zoning laws and housing the homeless. Pastor Chris Avell of Dad's Place, a church in Bryan, Ohio, and First Liberty attorney Ryan Gardner join the "Newsmakers Podcast" to discuss the shocking case.

"[Avell's] facing 18 criminal charges for violating the city’s zoning laws," a First Liberty news release reads. "The city is going after him because earlier this year Pastor Chris opened the church 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. He’s seeking to serve homeless people."

The statement continued, "In November 2023, the city sent a letter ordering the church to stop allowing overnight guests or face criminal prosecution. This past Sunday—on New Year’s Eve—police showed up at the church. They handed the Pastor a packet of multiple charges and violations."

Listen to Avell and Gardner give the back story and explain why they believe the case is unfolding.

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Welcome to "The Newsmakers Podcast," a show where we go behind the headlines each day to bring you interviews with pastors, entertainers, politicians, and other notable figures. Based on the "Newsmakers" show on the CBN News Channel, this daily podcast featuring CBN's Billy Hallowell provides full interviews with one newsworthy person every weekday.

Actor and Comedian Rob Schneider recently offered a powerful -- and public -- message of forgiveness. He explains why he's now embracing faith, God, and forgiveness. Plus: hear about some of his new projects on this episode of the "Newsmakers Podcast" with Billy Hallowell.

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Welcome to "The Newsmakers Podcast," a show where we go behind the headlines each day to bring you interviews with pastors, entertainers, politicians, and other notable figures. Based on the "Newsmakers" show on the CBN News Channel, this daily podcast featuring CBN's Billy Hallowell provides full interviews with one newsworthy person every weekday.

Actress and producer Roma Downey has built a long career in Hollywood, creating TV and film content that inspires and entertains.

The “Touched By An Angel” star has also carried her uplifting, family-friendly messages into literary works, including a new children’s book, “A Message in the Moon.”

Downey said her touching new book is deeply personal, with the concept predicated upon her childhood.

“This story for this book has sat in my heart for a really long time,” she recently told CBN Digital. “My mother died when I was just a little girl; I was only 10.”

As a result of such a monumental loss due to an unexpected heart attack, Downey said she became quite close to her father, whom she described as a “great dad.” The struggles that came along with her mother’s death, though, were profound.

“To say that we were heartbroken would be an understatement, because we didn’t even have the preparation of illness, which I know can be traumatic and painful for a child to see their parents suffer and go through a long illness,” she said. “But … there was no warning, and so it was as if somebody just turned the lights out in our lives.”

Downey continued, “If I was making a movie of my own life, my childhood would be in full technicolor, and then, when my mother died, it’s as if the movie then went into black and white.” Listen to her story.

A theology lecturer in the U.K. who was reportedly fired from his job at a Christian college over a tweet about biblical sexuality is suing to raise awareness and to stop similar instances from unfolding. Dr. Aaron Edwards was terminated from Cliff College in Derbyshire, England, in March after he sent a tweet defending traditional marriage, something he said was sparked by what he sees as a retreating church plagued by pastors and leaders unwilling to preach on homosexuality and other related issues.

"The tweet was, 'Homosexuality is invading the church. Evangelicals no longer see the severity of this because they're busy apologizing for their apparently barbaric homophobia, whether or not it's true. This is a gospel issue, by the way. For if sin is no longer sin, we no longer need a savior,'" Edwards recently told CBN Digital. "So, from my point of view, I was making a point about ... evangelical cowardice at not standing up to what's quite obviously happening [amid] secular incursion and invasion into the church." Reaction to the tweet was intense, leading to his eventual punishment and firing. Now, Edwards — a man who taught theology and said he found himself in the crosshairs for defending it — is on a mission to seek justice, suing over his firing.

"The primary reason is actually to raise awareness of the issue and ... for the sake of justice," he said. "It's just horrendous how many times this kind of thing happens, but my case is quite unique." Edwards said the fact this case is a "Christian against a Christian organization" elevates the situation. While Christians often find themselves out of step with the culture, it's not often that this sort of situation devolves between a faith-based institution and one of its staff.

"It's like when the world has gone into the church, and into a denomination, or into a Christian institution, that you're facing the world from your own people," Edwards said. As for the lawsuit, Edwards said it's essential he take action. "If don't do this ... some other Christian or 10 other Christians are going to be in a similar position," he said. "And other academics, especially, are probably watching this case going, 'What's going to happen here? Is this going to help me to speak out or is it going to make me shirk back and not say anything?'" He said his case could end up establishing precedent. Listen to his story.

Tune in daily for new interviews AND be sure to watch "Newsmakers" weekly on the CBN News Channel.

Evangelist Nick Hall has spoken to thousands around the U.S., bringing the powerful world of the Gospel to young and old Americans, alike. 

Hall, founder of Pulse, a global evangelistic organization, is embarking on a multi-year effort to bring biblical truth to every corner of North Dakota. He recently spoke with CBN Digital about some of the powerful moments of spiritual revival observed throughout 2024. From the Asbury outpouring to historic mass baptisms, many preachers have felt a spiritual stirring in America, with Hall explaining what he believes is happening.

"I think we're in the middle of ... a reformation of sorts," he said. "I think there's a shift happening. ... A lot of the things that we've put our hope in for a long time aren't working, and I think God is using that to draw many, many people to Himself."

With so many coming to Jesus, Hall said he believes we're seeing an "awakening moment" in which a plethora of young people happen to be on the "front lines."

"There really is revival," Hall said. "You hear this word thrown around all the time, but, man, I've never seen anything like it." He continued, "I think people are more open. I think people are more hungry for the Gospel than they've been in decades." Listen to the entire story.

The wife of an Arizona man who was shot in the head last month while street preaching in Glendale, Arizona, said she and her family have witnessed a "miracle" every day after doctors initially assumed her husband wouldn't survive the ordeal. Zulya Schmidt, wife of 26-year-old Hans Schmidt, told CBN Digital her husband continues to make stunning progress despite facing a litany of medical uncertainties.

"We're hopeful, and we're praying, and we're contending for a supernatural recovery," Zulya Schmidt said. "But there's just so much unknown still, so much uncertainty." She said there's hope though, noting, "Every day we've been able to witness a miracle." Schmidt called Hans' progress "just amazing" and said he's now able to understand a bit more of the situation he's in after being shot Nov. 15. She's unsure exactly how much he comprehends because he's unable to communicate, though he is increasingly aware of the circumstances. 

As CBN Digital reported, Hans, a 26-year-old dad of two, a military combat veteran, and the outreach director at Victory Chapel First Phoenix in Arizona, was taken to the hospital Nov. 15 on suspicion of having been assaulted. But a CT scan revealed he had been shot. Schmidt was initially in serious condition, as his family prayed for a miracle, imploring others to do the same.

Zulya Schmidt shared details with CBN News of what unfolded the evening of the shooting, noting Hans was street preaching as he has frequently done over the past year. "He's been doing that for over a year, and, usually, he street preaches for 30 minutes before every evening service for our church," she said. "That day, he just ended street preaching early, and I thought that was odd." Watch her explain the shocking details of the case — and update on her husband's condition. 

Actress Candace Cameron Bure, star of Great American Family's "My Christmas Hero," has had a long career in Hollywood. The popular performer joins the "Newsmakers Podcast" to break down her latest projects — and her reaction to so many Hollywood actors finding Jesus. Listen to this powerful episode of the show.

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"The Newsmakers Podcast" is a daily podcast based on "Newsmakers," a weekly TV show hosted by Billy Hallowell on The CBN News Channel and the CBN News YouTube Channel. You can watch "Newsmakers" on Thursday evenings to see three actors, pastors, authors, politicians, and other notable figures discussing issues of the day. On the podcast, we focus on one special interview each day. Be sure to subscribe today on your favorite podcast platforms.