VCY America

Mat Staver is founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. Mat is a constitutional attorney with three landmark cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. He's an author and the host of the radio broadcasts Faith & Freedom and Freedom's Call and the TV broadcast Freedom Alive. It was on June 26th, 2015, when five members of the U.S. Supreme Court invented the constitutional right to same-sex marriage. At that point, states were thrown into a tailspin. For example, Kim Davis, now the former clerk for Rowan County, Kentucky, was not willing to bow down to Caesar and would not compromise her religious convictions by issuing marriage licenses to those outside the biblical mandate. For refusing to comply, Kim went to prison. She's now saddled with a $360,000 judgment against her (for emotional distress and hurt feelings claimed by the plaintiffs). The Supreme Court will meet this Friday in conference regarding whether or not to hear this case. Two other cases were discussed. One involved the Texas Supreme Court that ruled unanimously 9-0 to amend their judicial code of ethics so that judges that refuse to participate in so-called, same-sex weddings for religious reasons will not be disciplined. Finally, during the COVID vax mandate of 2021, New York Governor Kathy Hochul and the State of New York issued a mandate to all health care employers saying that you cannot give or consider any religious accommodation request. In other words, all health care workers had to get the COVID vaccine. Mat indicated that this overrides Title VII, the federal law that says there's no discrimination on account of religion in the workplace.

From time to time, Crosstalk features a program titled, "What in the World?" This expression is often a response to things heard that are bizarre or outlandish and this broadcast highlighted just such stories. For example: --Zohran Mamdani, the far left, pro-socialist, anti-Israel candidate for New York mayor, has a campaign ad in Arabic with a strategically placed Palestine Liberation Organization flag in the background wooing Muslims to go to the polls. --Palestinian activist Linda Sarsour issued a thinly veiled warning to New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani saying that she will hold him accountable to fulfill campaign promises including dismantling an NYPD unit that polices terrorism threats, protests and riots. --Zohran Mamdani sought to blame President Trump for bomb threats at polling places. --An internal report confirms that the BBC (British Broadcasting Company) was caught in a serious lie concerning words spoken by President Trump on January 6th, 2021, to his supporters. --A poll conducted by the Henry Jackson Society reported that 32% of British Muslims favor the implementation of Sharia in the UK. --Suspects in an alleged Dearborn, Michigan, terror plot were said to be Muslim terrorists. They were accused of stockpiling weapons for an ISIS inspired attack according to an FBI affidavit. Feds found over 1,600 rounds of ammunition, multiple firearms and tactical vests in raids of their homes and a storage unit. --Former Vice President Kamala Harris accused college age individuals of being stupid and that's why they're put in dormitories. Ironically, at the same time, she wants to lower the voting age to 16.

Proverbs 27:1 reads: "Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." In other words, as we open our eyes to a new day each morning, we don't really know what the day holds for us. However, as believers in Christ, we do know who holds the day, and we can trust in His sovereignty. It's from that perspective that we present to you the testimony of Hannah Glass, a young girl simply living her life. She was a student at Maranatha Baptist University in Watertown, Wisconsin. She was getting ready to celebrate her 19th birthday, a day she wanted to celebrate by volunteering at Bearing Precious Seed, a Scripture publishing and distribution ministry in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. 2 day later, Hannah took a bite of a brownie that contained refined peanut flower and in less than a week, she was ushered into eternity. Today would have been Hannah's 20th birthday. Don't miss this edition of Crosstalk as David Glass, Hannah's father, presents more background concerning Hannah and the incident that took her life, the gift of life Hannah left behind, the lessons David and his wife have learned from this, the formation of the Hannah Helps ministry and more.

During the Great Tribulation, the final three and a half years of Daniel's 70th week, believers will endure severe judgments. The 144,000 Jewish first fruits will be saved first, followed by multitudes of Gentiles. The gospel of the kingdom will spread globally, preparing hearts for Christ's Millennial reign.

This edition of the "Round-Up" looked at not just news from the past week, but began by remembering the great reformer, Martin Luther, who began the Protestant Reformation on this date in 1517. Also, an update was given concerning VCY's Central Asia project. News stories from this past week included: --The FBI thwarted a potential terror attack in Michigan, arresting multiple suspects accused of plotting violence over the Halloween weekend. --Authorities are sounding the alarm over drug laced candy and snacks. --Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem rebuffed a request from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker to suspend immigration enforcement over the Halloween weekend. --Samaritans Purse, headed by Franklin Graham, has airlifted more than 38,000 pounds of emergency relief supplies to Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa tore through the island leaving widespread destruction and thousands homeless. --Left-wing TikTok'ers are shamelessly promoting rioting and stealing as a pause of food stamps or the Snap benefits looms due to the government shutdown. --New York Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency to financially support food banks as the government shutdown threatens the food aid program. --President Trump has called on congressional Republicans to invoke the "nuclear option" by ending the Senate filibuster to bring the ongoing government shutdown to an end. --Jim provided audio from Chris Cuomo who appeared on NewsNation to call out Democrats for peddling the farce about the "Schumer Shutdown." --The nation's largest union representing federal workers has called on Senate Democrats to end the government shutdown immediately!

Todd Nettleton is vice president of message for the Voice of the Martyrs-USA. Todd is also host of The Voice of the Martyrs Radio. In his position, he serves as a voice for persecuted Christians, inspiring Christians with the faithfulness of Christ's followers in over 70 nations where they face persecution for wearing His name. During more than 25 years serving at VOM, Todd has traveled the world and conducted face-to-face interviews with hundreds of Christians who've endured persecution in more than 30 nations. He is the author of When Faith is Forbidden: 40 Days on the Frontlines with Persecuted Christians. Others bring comfort when they pray for you. However, when was the last time you prayed for the persecuted church? There are many who suffer on account of their faith in Jesus Christ. Some are behind bars, some have received physical beating, some are being denied a place to live or a job to earn a living, while others are cast out of their family. Like you, such individuals are greatly encouraged when they know other believers are praying for them. This is the focus of this Crosstalk as we approach the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Some churches will be participating this Sunday November 2, while others will participate the following Sunday. Regardless of the date, it's important for us to be praying for those suffering on account of their faith in Christ. So don't miss this broadcast as Todd had much to talk about!

William J. Federer is a nationally known speaker, historian, author, and president of Amerisearch, Inc. He is the speaker on "The American Minute" daily broadcast. Polls seem to show that Gen "Z" voters (age 18-29) are drawn to socialism and therefore it's this demographic that appears to be the source for the current popularity of candidates like Zohran Mamdani who is a New York State Assembly member running for mayor of New York. What's behind this appeal for socialism? William explained that there's two ways for people to give up their freedom: fear and free stuff. After WWII and the cold war, the communists couldn't defeat America from the outside so they tried doing it from the inside. It's the idea of making everyone dependent. He used the example of wild pigs. You put a post in the ground and throw some corn down. The pigs come and eat the corn and ignore the post. You keep adding posts and throwing down more and more corn. Eventually all you'll have left is a small opening for the pigs to enter the circle. The pigs will still squeeze their way in. Eventually, you shut the gate behind them and you've caught yourself some wild pigs. In other words, you've trapped them by dependency. Drug dealers use a similar approach in order to take over a neighborhood. They can cause fear by use of guns or they can be so nice that for a time they give away free drugs. They may do this until you are hooked at which point you are dependent upon the dealer as the source to supply your addiction. These examples are known as the Cloward-Piven Strategy, named after Richard Cloward and Frances Piven who were professors at Columbia University.

At Wartburg Castle, Martin Luther, hidden after refusing to recant at the Diet of Worms, battled doubt and depression yet translated the New Testament into German, shaping history and faith profoundly.

Pastor Jack Hibbs is senior and founding Pastor of Calvary Chapel, Chino Hills, California. Moses, David, Elijah and Esther are just a handful of individuals who stood fast, taking a bold stand when the circumstances required it. However, as our culture today continues to slide deeper into violence, immorality and overall chaos, it's easy to become discouraged. Pastor Jack Hibbs says it doesn't have to be this way. He says that everything changes when you say "yes" to God's call to be diligent as you await the coming of the day of God. So don't miss this edition of Crosstalk as Jim has Pastor Hibbs present practical insights and biblical teachings from his new book, Called to Take a Bold Stand. These teachings and insights will help you to boldly and courageously present Christ to a world in great need. As you listen you'll learn the following: Why does this issue burn on the heart of Pastor Hibbs. Why should we take a stand which can end up "creating waves"? His book says: "Hostile aggression demands decisive action." Is he promoting hostility as a response? Pastor Hibbs believes that much of the professing church resembles America at the start of WWII. What does he mean? Is it biblical to stop at becoming a Christian or is there more? Are Christians to be contentious against those who oppose the Gospel or the evil that manipulates them?

The Olivet Discourse teaches that during the Great Tribulation, believers face persecution, yet salvation comes through faith in Christ, not endurance. Eternal life begins when Christ enters the heart. Those who endure tribulation may be spared physical death, but their eternal salvation rests solely on God's promise, not performance.