Weekly briefing: Christians urged to vote, revival in Calif., NY Planned Parenthood dumps founder

We've compiled the top stories of the week. Here's what you need to know:

Christians for, against Trump appeal to voters ahead of election

Efforts urging Christians to vote in November are underway as groups like My Faith Votes and Republican Voters Against Trump appeal to believers.

Our Church Votes was launched to activate Christian voters who didn’t participate in the 2016 election (an estimated 25 million).

“We recognize that Christians, God gives us passions and pursuits that may lead people one way or the other but what we are calling people to do is to vote not right/left, donkey, elephant, but the Lamb and to think about what Jesus’ principles are.” — Jason Yates, CEO of My Faith Votes

Meanwhile, Never Trump Republicans are spending $10-15 million to defeat President Donald Trump and elect Joe Biden. Their latest ad argues that Trump is “using” Christians.

Read Tony Perkins refutes claim that Biden is ‘more acceptable choice’ for Christians in 2020

‘Revival is happening’ at a beach in So. Calif.

Organizers of Saturate OC have extended their evangelism event at Huntington Beach in California until August due to the overwhelming response. Parker and Jessi Green say “revival is happening” as they see many people get baptized in the ocean.

“What we're seeing now is a return back to a gritty, raw Gospel, Jesus people movement foundation. A lot of that is in part because we can't be in our churches.” — Sean Feucht, worship artist

US continues to see surge in coronavirus cases, deaths rising

Many states have continued to see a rise in COVID-19 cases and the daily death rate has also gone up. President Trump said this week that while some parts of the country “are doing very well,” others are doing “less well.”

“It will probably, unfortunately, get worse before it gets better.” — Trump

He encouraged Americans to socially distance and wear a mask, noting that they’ll “have an effect.”

Currently, the U.S. has more than 4 million confirmed cases and 144,954 deaths.

Trump also announced that plans to cancel the Republicans National Convention in Jacksonville, Florida, saying it’s “not the right time” and that he has to protect the American people.

Read More Americans see coronavirus as bigger threat to economy than health

NY Planned Parenthood dumps founder Margaret Sanger’s name

Planned Parenthood of Greater New York announced Tuesday that it's disassociating from its founder, Margaret Sanger, for her “racist legacy” and view on eugenics.

But pro-lifers say the abortion provider is continuing Sanger’s legacy.

“The evil that Margaret Sanger started when she founded Planned Parenthood 100 years ago pales in comparison to the atrocities the corporation does today. Every day, Planned Parenthood kills 900 babies.” — Lila Rose, founder of Live Action

Interview

COVID-19 making orphan crisis worse; Christians urged to help

In case you missed it

JI Packer dies at 93

John Lewis, civil rights icon, dies at 80

Pray for

Christians around the world who risk losing COVID-19 aid unless they renounce faith

Two young brothers who lost both their parents to coronavirus

New releases

Albums:

Dawn by Rebecca St. James (July 24)

Revival Culture Worship Lab (live) by Jonathan Ferguson (July 21)

Books:

Struggling with God: A Theology for Real Life by Sam Sumner (June 25)

The Lost Art of Dying: Reviving Forgotten Wisdom by L.S. Dugdale (July 7)

Liberty Online Alumnus, Quadriplegic Plants Growing Church in New England

Mackenzie planted Steeple Fellowship Church in January 2020 with the support of his friends and family. | https://www.liberty.edu/

The car rounded the street corner at 100 miles per hour, the momentum sending it rolling. Then-17-year-old John Mackenzie (’19) was riding in the backseat. His door fell off as the car rolled, throwing him onto the ground before the car’s door frame landed on his neck.
The 2006 accident left him paralyzed from the neck down for the next several years. Now, Mackenzie has limited use of his arms and hands but just feels blessed to be able to serve the Lord through sharing his story.
“A lot of people ask me how I can still believe in God after all that I’ve been through and I always tell them, ‘How could I not believe in God after all I’ve seen and after all He’s done for me?’” Mackenzie said. “I would much rather be in this wheelchair and know what I know now about Christ than to be able-bodied and walking around not knowing the Lord.”

Mackenzie grew up in Orange, Mass., a small town an hour outside of Boston.
“I was blessed to come from a Christian family,” Mackenzie said. “Sadly, it is very common for a lot of teenagers to not seek after the Lord during their high school years.”
Mackenzie said he was one of those teenagers. His season of drifting away from the Lord led to the night of the car crash... Read More