| Weekly briefing: Syrians won't be deported, Joshua Harris, Trump meets black pastors |
 (PHOTO: REUTERS/MUHAMMAD HAMED)Syrian refugee Ahmad al Aboud, and his family members, walk to board their plane in Amman, Jordan in April 2016 bound for the United States. |
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We've compiled the top stories of the week. Here's what you need to know: |
7,000 Syrians protected from deportation |
Some 7,000 Syrians whose temporary protected status in the U.S. was set to expire in September have been given an 18-month extension by the Department of Homeland Security. |
With the ongoing civil war in Syria and the presence of radical terrorist groups, including the Islamic State, Syrians were at risk of persecution and death if they returned to their country. |
Christians react in shock to Joshua Harris’ departure from Christianity |
Over the course of the week, many Christians have written open letters and given public responses to the announcement that Joshua Harris, a former pastor and author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye, separated from his wife and is no longer a Christian. |
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Trump meets with black pastors amid Baltimore row |
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The meeting came as he was in a Twitter feud with House Oversight and Reform Committee Chair Rep. Elijah Cummings. Trump called Cummings’ congressional district, which includes parts of Baltimore, a rat-infested and crime-ridden place “no human being would want to live.” |
“It is no secret we have economic needs, educational needs, and safety needs. I am saddened that we had to have controversy over those needs instead of tangible efforts of help.” — Bishop Harry Jackson, a pastor in Maryland who participated in the White House meeting |
2020 Democratic candidates debate |
Democratic candidates for the 2020 presidential election held their second debate this week. |
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Katy Perry ordered to pay Christian rapper $2.78M over copyright infringement |
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Leah Sharibu, a Nigerian schoolgirl who was kidnapped by terrorists last year; watchdogs have called for an investigation into reports that she has been killed |
Pakistani Christian refugee Faraz Pervaiz, who is in hiding and seeking asylum |
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