Gunmen Kill 26 Christians On Way To Prayer in Egypt

Masked gunmen  attacked a group of Coptic Christians in southern Egypt on Friday, killing 26 people and wounding 26 others as they were driving to a monastery, medical sources and eyewitnesses said.

The group was traveling in two buses and a small truck in Minya province, which is home to a sizable Christian minority, the sources said.

Provincial governor Essam al-Bedaiwy said earlier that 23 people had been killed and 25 wounded.

Eyewitnesses said the Copts were attacked as they were going to pray at the monastery of Saint Samuel the Confessor in the western part of the province.

They said masked men stopped the vehicles on a road leading to the monastery and opened fire.

Coptic Christians, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt's population of 92 million, have been the subject of a series of deadly attacks in recent months.

About 70 have been killed in bomb attacks on churches in the cities of Cairo, Alexandria and Tanta since December.

Those attacks were claimed by Islamic State. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Friday's attack

8 Signs Your Church May Fold Up Soon

The problems are deeply rooted, but the remaining members have been blind to them, or they chose to ignore them.

There are eight clear signs evident in many churches on the precipice of closing. If a church has four or more of these signs present, it is likely in deep trouble. Indeed, it could be closing sooner than almost anyone in the church would anticipate.

Breaking News!! Christianity On The Rise In Indonesia! …Pastor Says Many Dumping Islam In The World, Largest Muslim Nation Because Of Terrorism

A former Muslim and Pastor in the world largest Muslim nation of  Indonesia has revealed that many are embracing Jesus Christ in huge number in the country despite serious persecution.

 The pastor noted that as part of his ministry working in the field, he has heard many stories of former Muslims who have decided to come to Jesus.

 He insisted that he doesn't say that "because I am a Christian, just to excite the Christian body, but this is what I personally see happening.

Sacked Chaplain! LASG Opens Can Of Worms

Contrary to media reports that the Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode ordered the sack of Rev Femi Taiwo, Chaplain of Christ The Light Church,  his  official worship centre at the Alausa seat of power for disrespecting his wife, The Rhema News has reliably gathered that the Chaplain was moved from the worship centre over  what  the Lagos State government described as  the "culmination of various indiscretions ".

Accusing the former Chaplain of blackmail, Mr Steve Ayorinde, the State's Commissioner For Information and Strategy said  Femi Taiwo had been queried a number of times in the past for conducts unbecoming of his office.

Prayer, fast not enough to move Nigeria forward, says Osinbajo

The Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Wednesday, said no amount of prayer and fast by Nigerians could move the nation forward without hard work.

Osinbajo said as a pastor himself, he understood the law of sowing and reaping and knew the implication of leaving what was supposed to be done undone.

The Acting President spoke in Abuja during an interactive session organised for public and civil servants on the implementation of the three Executive Orders which he signed last week.

He said the prosperity and abundance being enjoyed by great nations today were not created by spirits, but by men.

LOVE letter from GOD

"You Future Is My Past...."

The beauty of gratitude is that it glorifies me. He who praises my name glorifies me, to him that order his conversation right will I shew my salvation (Psalm 50:23) when you praise me, I will raise you. From today, create time to claim new promises from the Bible, like new wine gladden the heart, so will you be joyous and full of faith, proclaim my Good news to others, the best time to seek me is now when you can find me, accidents cannot befall animals in their holes nor death catches birds inside the nest, tragedies befall men mostly while looking for bread, now at home, covet my presence than gold and silver, it is my attention you command that will force me to give you divine direction and remove tension from you. If you keep giving attention to your body, it is ugly, can't be satisfied, anyhow you cherish it, will decay one day. It is the spirit that quickens, the flesh profits nothing. 

Christian Leaders Praise Trump's Saudi Arabia Speech

President Donald Trump's views on Islam "continue to evolve," according to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, in the wake of the president's address in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which is earning him praise among notable Christian figures.

Trump's speech is garnering significant attention given that this was his first address on an international trip but especially because of its theological overtones while expressing his vision for U.S.-Muslim relations.

While more nuanced than many of his pronouncements about Islam on the campaign trail, his speech in Saudi Arabia last Sunday nevertheless decried "Islamist extremism," challenging leaders from more than 50 Muslim nations gathered for the summit in Saudi Arabia to confront the "vile creed" and "craven ideology" of terrorism. Nations of the Middle East are full of potential but the plague of extremism holds them back, he said.

"Terrorists do not worship God, they worship death," Trump said, framing the issue as "a battle between good and evil."

Muslim-majority countries must drive out terrorists from their communities, their places of worship, their holy lands, and even off the earth, he added. And religious leaders must make clear to their faith's adherents that "barbarism will deliver you no glory — piety to evil will bring you no dignity. If you choose the path of terror, your life will be empty, your life will be brief, and your soul will be condemned."

Flamboyant Nigerian Pastor Slammed With New Drug Charge *Hits 2 Months In South Africa Prison

Snr. Pastor and Set man of Jesus Dominion International, Durban South Africa, Rev Tim Omotosho, who has been in detention for about two months following his arrest last April,   will now wait until the 9th of June before his application for bail case could be determined.

The Rhema News  gathered this much  from a senior  member of the church in South Africa who also disclosed that the pastor may have been slammed with additional charge of drug trafficking.

Our source who would not like to be mentioned in name said "at the last sitting for bail hearing the Judge postponed again her judgement till 9th of June"

Narrating the proceeding so far, the source said " they have also failed in the allegation of the Rev. Tim been an illegal immigrant in SA.

"Subsequently, they have now began with another count charges of drug trafficking of which it is now obvious that the accusers don't have a case against Rev.

"Though, the Rev was supposed to have been granted bail, but the ruling had to be shifted to enable the judge consult with the people that gave her the job to do"

Optimistic that" God will intervene and the Rev. would regain his freedom against the plan of his accusers" our source said the South Africa government has been discovered to have a hand in the dilemma of the controversial pastor.  

"We have now discovered that the government is involved in this case as the ruling party ANC in South Africa have been protesting against his bail and even some local South African pastor's. There's something happening somewhere in this allegation that made a bail hearing that is supposed to be held in just a week now extending to two months.

"They are now proving that they do not need foreigners particularly Nigerians. But yet we believe God in his fullness of time and justification will vindicate his servant."

‘I Chose to Sing Gospel to Avoid Hell Fire’ (15 year old Pri_ce_less)

Just like a lot of young people are catching the bug of going into the music business, fifteen year old Olaoluwa Fadiji a.k.a Pri_ce_less, an up-coming musician has also joined the fast growing trend, what stands Fadiji out however,   is the fact that he’s not fascinated by the glamour of secular music, instead, he’s made up his mind to spread the word of God with his talent. The lad also has an edge that speaks volume, his ability to play musical instruments.

Pri_ce_less, in this interview discussed a number of interesting issues that include, his decision to sing gospel, D,Banj’s influence on him and his vow to become a millionaire before attaining age eighteen. He also spoke about how he intends to change the world through his music, doing music with schooling, on-coming album and his aspiration among others.  

Who really is Pri_ce_less?

My name is Fadiji Olaoluwa Elisha. I’m also known as Pri_ce_less. I’m a student of Kings College, Lagos. I’m in SS2 presently, going to SS3. I am an upcoming artiste, I am also a saxophonist and I play other musical instruments.

What attracted you to musical instruments?

I saw this video of D,Banj playing mouth organ( Harmonica) and I told my mummsy to get me one. I was still like eight years old then. She got it for me and I started playing it, from there, I moved to other instruments. The little idea I used to play the mouth organ (Harmonica) was what I used to play the rest, from keyboard to drums, drums to sax, to clarinet and all.

Islamic Ideology Flourishes Because Christians Deny Biblical Orthodoxy, Pastor Warns

One of the most important keys to Islamic ideology's success in spreading all over the world is a vacuum of Christianity created by Christians who abandon the inerrant teachings of the Gospel, Egyptian-born pastor and author Dr. Michael Youssef believes.

Youssef, senior pastor of the Church of the Apostles in Atlanta and president of the global Christian media ministry Leading the Way, spoke with The Christian Post on Thursday while attending the first-ever Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians hosted by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association this week in Washington, D.C.
Youssef, who recently released the book The Barbarians Are Here: Preventing the Collapse of Western Civilization in Times of Terrorism, told CP that even though he has written dozens of books on the subject, this book was something he waited over 20 years to write.

But as he witnessed more and more Christians being killed and persecuted at rates in which the world has never seen, and more and more born-again Christians denying biblical truths, Youssef explained that he couldn't wait any longer.

"In my heart, [I was] hoping that we would have an awakening or something that would make this book unnecessary," he explained. "But this time last year, I became absolutely convinced that we are reaching the point of no return unless God intervenes, unless God's people wake up in time."

Although Youssef has already written a number of books warning about the dangers of radical Islam, he explained that his new book is different, saying that it really serves as a "challenge to Christians."

Christianity in Steady Fall in UK * 26 Quit For Every One New Convert

A new study has found that the United Kingdom's nonreligious population is now bigger than its combined Christian one, with 26 believers abandoning the faith for every atheist or agnostic who decides to become a Christian.

The Benedict XVI Center for Religion and Society, launched by St. Mary's University in Twickenham, release its May study based on data from the latest British Social Attitudes survey and European Social Survey, with key findings revealing the nation's growing secularization.

The researchers noted that 24.3 million people, or 48.6 percent of the British adult population, identified as "nones" in 2015 and they are predominantly young, white and male.

The nones were found to have different faith backgrounds — 38 percent of people who now say they have no religion were brought up as nones, while 25 percent were brought up as Anglicans, 25 percent as Other Christians, and 11 percent as Catholics, before leaving the faith.

Top of Form

"For every one person brought up with No religion who has become a Christian, twenty-six people brought up as Christians now identify as Nones," the study noted as a key trend.

Evidence for Bible's Tower of Babel Discovered

The Smithsonian Channel shows in the first episode of its documentary series "Secrets" the emergence of new "very compelling" evidence that the Tower of Babel, as mentioned in the book of Genesis in the Old Testament, actually existed.
"Biblical scholars have long debated whether the Tower of Babel really existed. Now, a remarkable stone tablet never before shown on film appears to settle that question," the Smithsonian magazine says, featuring the video on its website.

The tablet, which dates to about 600 B.C., is from the private collection of Norwegian businessman Martin Schøyen, and it includes the clearest image ever found of the Great Ziggurat of Babylon, according to Andrew George, professor of Babylonian history at the University of London, who also says in the video that it carries an illustration which looks like a pyramid-like structure, with a depiction of King Nebuchadnezzar II, the ruler of Babylon from 605-562 B.C.

Genesis 11:4 says, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky, and so make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered all over the Earth."

The following verses state: "But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The Lord said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other. So the Lord scattered them from there over all the Earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel — because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole Earth."

Survey: 61 Percent of Practicing Christians Agree With Some 'New Spirituality' Beliefs.

A new survey reveals the scope of influence of non-Christian belief systems on the mindsets of practicing Christians, with large percentages of them agreeing with ideas from other faiths and secular philosophies.

The research from Barna in cooperation with Summit Ministries released this week measured how much the central beliefs of other worldviews like "new spirituality," secularism, postmodernism, and Marxism have affected the beliefs of Christians about the world and how it should be.

Their "widespread influence upon Christian thinking is evident not only among competing worldviews, but even among competing religions," the survey report reads.

In a web-based survey conducted in March of 1,456 practicing Christians, researchers asked the sample if they agreed with several statements that are rooted in so-called "new spirituality." Sixty-one percent of them affirmed at least one of the questions.

Nearly 30 percent agreed that "all people pray to the same god or spirit, no matter what name they use for that spiritual being." About that same percentage of people said they believe that "meaning and purpose come from becoming one with all that is."

Hollywood Icon Steve McQueen Came to Christ Before Death; Pastor Greg Laurie Reveals Details in Book

Internationally renowned evangelist Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Ministries is revealing the salvation story of legendary actor Steve McQueen in his newest book, Steve McQueen: The Salvation of an American Icon, which will be followed by a documentary film.

Steve McQueen, which hits shelves June 13, follows the life of the No.1 movie star of his time. Also known as the "King of Cool, McQueen is now immortalized in pop culture through his hit movies "The Magnificent Seven," "The Great Escape," and "Bullitt."

It was McQueen's legendary car chases and death-defying stunts that drew many fans, including Pastor Laurie.

"That story was so fascinating to so many because the mystique of Steve McQueen continues to this day," said Laurie in a statement shared with The Christian Post. "Steve McQueen wasn't cool because he drove the Bullitt car. The Bullitt car was cool because Steve McQueen drove it.

"Notwithstanding all his fame and wealth, a colossal vacuum lived rent-free in his heart, a yawning chasm. A lot of people do not know about McQueen's hardscrabble beginnings. He was born into the home of an alcoholic mother and a father that left him early in life, he found himself on the wrong side of the law more than once. McQueen chased after every pleasure this planet had to offer."

Chris' Kolade, CAN Chief Bamgbola, Lash Out @ Leaders As Kingdom Men Rock Lagos with Mega summit *Mamora, Elishama Take Turn Today

The 2017 edition of the annual Mega Summit of Kingdom Men, a group of men with focus to raising and discipline Christlike men enters the second day today, Friday.

With the theme: Arise, Take Your Mountain, the 3 day Summit kicked off at the Planet One, Maryland Lagos, venue on Thursday with Former Cadbury Chairman and High Commissioner to the UK, Dr Christopher Kolade speaking on Leadership and Accountability. In his words, God has found some men to use, but the men are yet to find themselves.

Submitting that many people want to be leaders only if they don't want to work for it, he said a leader should know he can miss it if he does not rely on Jesus.

The 84 year old said" a leader does not wallow in self-pity remorse or do blame games but should accept responsibility.

"Leaders take action to correct the problem. This is the great thing about responsibility. Once you own it, you can begin fixing it.

Tragic! Lagos Cleric Loses 5 children, 3 wives * Marks 60th Birthday

Lagos cleric, Prophet Lai Bamidele, recounting his travails in the service of God, submitted that it was only perseverance that had kept him in the vineyard.

Specifically, he said he lost three wives in succession and five children, and that at a time, all his life savings in Kano were lost to ethno-religious crisis.

Bamidele, General Overseer of Glorious Christ End-time Evangelical Church, a church with headquarters in Lagos, spoke on the occasion of his 60th birthday at the weekend.

"It was as if I would never get out of those disasters when they kept happening. Like the Biblical Job. I lost three wives in quick succession during which five children also passed on. I was virtually stretched to my wits' end; but I kept on in the faith.

“But I have been undeterred because I know the devil, having caused those losses, had forgotten that the Lord is faithful. And by the grace of God, I have been enjoying divine blessings and increase. To the glory of God, I now have five other glorious children, who are doing well along with my beautiful wife,” a visibly moved Bamidele said.

Kendrick Lamar: Churches Need to Preach God's Judgment, Not Just Hope

Kendrick Lamar wants to showcase a side of God that he hasn't seen in church, one that focuses less on the blessings of God and more on God's wrath.

Lamar, the 29-year-old rapper whose fourth studio album Damn is sitting atop Billboard charts, believes the churches that only focus on the idea of hope are one-sided.

"I went to a local church some time ago, and it appalled me that the same program was in practice. A program that I seen as a kid the few times I was in service," Lamar wrote in an email to Hip Hop website DJ Booth. "Praise, dance. Worship. (Which is beautiful.) Pastor spewing the idea of someone's season is approaching. The idea of hope."

However, Lamar said he felt a sense of emptiness when he heard these types of sermons as a child. Now that the Grammy award-winning rapper based out of Compton, California, has been studying his faith for himself, he revealed why he was leaving churches feeling "spiritually unsatisfied as a child."

The Role of Self-Deception When We Challenge Christianity By Pastor Olanrewaju Ifabiyi

Every objection [that comes against Christianity] comes with a refusal to trust what God has said. That refusal to trust God is always accompanied by a trust in something or someone else. In the end, it is accompanied by an unwavering trust in ourselves.

It is not possible to know [all of the objections] or to study them all. What is possible is to know God’s Word better and better and to think about what God has said in light of the alternatives.

For example, Christians believe that Christianity is true. That belief does not cause Christianity to be true. It does not make Christianity true. Nor is it a belief whose opposite can be just as true. When we confess Christianity to be true, we are also confessing that anything that opposes Christianity is, by definition, false. What do we mean by that?

In part, what we mean is that any objection to Christianity has no way to explain who people are, what the world is really like, what love is, why certain things are evil, etc. Because any objection to Christianity has no transcendent (i.e., biblical) foundation, it is off the road and trapped in a dark and confusing ditch. It has no way to see beyond its immediate context. It cannot reach up beyond its own situation.

North Korea Arrests Christian Professor; Fourth US Citizen Held as Crisis between Nations Escalates

North Korea has reportedly arrested a U.S. citizen and professor from the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology who has identified himself as a Christian. He is now the fourth American held by Kim Jong-un's regime.

The state-run KCNA news agency said Kim Hak-song was detained on May 6, becoming the second U.S. citizen arrested from the evangelical-funded PUST, and the fourth American to currently be held. 

New Twist In Rev Omotosho Battle For Freedom * Slammed With 18 New Charges *Symphatisers Storm Court. "Trial Will Prove My Innocence"- Omotosho Affirmed

The hope of Pastor Tim Omotosho of Jesus Dominion International, Durban South Africa of getting a bail following his arrest last month has suffered a setback.

When the application for bail case came up in court on Thursday, additional 18 charges were added to the original 4 made agaimst him.

The development has forced further hearing in the case to be postponed to today (friday).

Before the commencement of proceedings on Thursday, supporters of Pastor Timothy Omotoso besieged the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court to protest the continued detention of the cleric.

TRN gathered that links between Hawks officials, being the investigating body on the case and the Nigerian pastor will continue due to further need for investigation before bail application hearing today.

Hard Knock for Gospel Singers As Obey, KSA Lead Ayewa's 40th Bash Praise Team

Gospel Musicians in the country have been chastised for what has been described as their unrepentant penchant for promoting secular music instead of the message of God. Castigating the acts yesterday at a symposium organized as part of activities marking the 40th anniversary of Pastor Adelakun a.k.a Baba Ayewa as pastor and singer, Prof Albert Oikelome, a professor of music from university of Lagos, said among many things killing gospel music today is the church folks who would rather promote secular songs instead of promoting the message of God. Insisting that the trend is "killing gospel music" Oikelome said this has also killed the morale of most church talents, stressing that "when a young singer enters into the car of his church member and a minister parse, instead of listening to gospel song he is playing 'I don get alert God win',. " The bad signal has sent so many talents out of our churches and today our music is in jeopardy." he registered. Congratulating Pastor Adelakun for raising the bar of gospel music and its originality, Prof Albert praised the Soldier turned preachercum singer for the milestone he has covered and "not just coming this far but has remained undiluted over the years." He said Ayewa has proven to his immediate and younger generation that "when you stay original in your calling, no amount of pressure can pull you down" Submitting that " the person of the Holy Spirit is not in the consciousness of our today songs ministers" a development he mentioned, has made their works shallow, the Professor said it’s not enough to make good music, but good lyrics will on every good day lift people’s soul, spirit and body. He enjoined potential minister of songs to "wait for the calling into that office, seek mentoring, be part of a Bible believing church and build expectations for your works which without all these success is at risk." 

The Nugget for the Day: When should You Fast? I can’t tell you, and the Bible doesn't give you specific instructions. The leaves it up to the leading of the Lord. The more you study, the more you can see how dependent we are on the Spirit of God; not only the word, but the Holy Spirit. No wonder Jesus said ‘I’ll not leave you comfortless ...We need the help of the holyspirit- and we have it - in this area, as in all others.-Kenneth E Hagin

EXCLUSIVE! Why Prophet Joshua Can’t Move Synagogue to Israel

Indications have emerged to the effect that the report of the General Overseer of the Synagogue church of All Nations, Prophet Temitope Joshua relocating his ministry to Israel may be a ruse after all.

 Prophet Joshua had registered during ministration in church last Sunday that his Ministry is the most persecuted in Africa hence his resolve to live a lonely life just as he indicated that the Ministry may move to Israel where he has been offered incentives to warrant his relocation to the foreign country.

According to the Prophet, his Ministry   is the most persecuted ministry in the world, adding that those persecuting his Ministry are his fellow Africans.

He said his persecution is the reason for his solitary life.

 “That is why I choose to live a lonely life. If you want to see me, come to this church. I don’t go out. It has not been easy – because I don’t know who is a friend or who is an enemy

 “If you learn TB Joshua is not around, I am in a revival. I live in the church here. I don’t have a house outside.” “What happened to me from the beginning of my ministry is enough to chase me out of this country.

NFL Star Dez Bryant Says: God's Commandments Are Not 'Old Fashioned But Well Fashioned'

Dallas Cowboys pro-bowl wide receiver Dez Bryant has shared his thoughts on what he learned at church last Sunday.

Bryant, who regularly uses his social media accounts to voice his opinions or share thoughts of encouragement, posted a message to Twitter in which he shared a verse from the Old Testament and reflected on the lesson he discovered in worship that Sunday morning.

"I learned more about myself today in church," the former Oklahoma State Cowboy wrote. "Regardless of your upbringing, good or bad, keep the honor of authority in the fore front [sic] of your life because there is blessing when you choose to honor in spite of the circumstances."

Bryant then cited Deuteronomy 5:16: "Give honor to your father and your mother, as you have been ordered by the Lord your God; so that your life may be long and all may be well for you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you."

"Instead of us looking at the commandments as old fashioned we should look at them as well fashioned," Bryant stressed. "

My Cousin’s Mysterious Death Led Me to Christ- Paul Play

Holy Ghost inspired singer and Angel of My Life crooner, Paul Play Dairo has revealed how the mysterious demise of a Cousin of his, compelled him to give his life to Jesus Christ years before he became a super star.

Speaking with TRN, the Producer cum singer said the death of the family member in question was so mysterious that he decided at once that "surrendering to Christ is the only way out for man to dominate on earth and still gain eternity"

  Mentioning how the decision has helped him and enhanced his relationship with Jesus, the Musician volunteered that over time he had designed ways to maintain his walk with Christ by ensuring that his flesh is tamed.