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A recent report commissioned by the British foreign secretary highlights the extent of global persecution of Christians, especially in the Middle East and North Africa. No Images? Click here The Weekly is a highlight of the work the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission is doing to strengthen you and our churches for God’s glory. 5 Facts about persecution of Christians in the Middle East and North AfricaA recent report commissioned by the British foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, highlights the extent of global persecution of Christians, especially in the Middle East and North Africa where persecution is rising to the level of genocide. Hunt, an Anglican, has made the issue of Christian persecution one of the major themes of his foreign secretaryship, notes The Guardian. “What we have forgotten in this atmosphere of political correctness is actually the Christians that are being persecuted are some of the poorest people on the planet,” said Hunt. “In the Middle East the population of Christians used to be about 20 percent; now it’s 5 percent.” Here are five facts you should know from the report about persecution of Christians in the Middle East and North Africa: Read MoreThis Week at the ERLCAndrew T. Walker is joining the faculty of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary as an assistant professor of Christian ethics and apologetics. Elizabeth Graham’s hard work was featured on the website for Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Andrew T. Walker is teaching a class this week on ethics at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Our team is busy getting ready for SBC 2019. Be sure to visit our booth in Birmingham to find out more about our giveaways! Russell Moore launched his new video series, “One Thing You Missed.” What You Need to KnowSBC 2019 is almost here, so Phillip Bethancourt introduces the seventh annual ERLC guide to food and fun at the convention. Read his suggestions here. Sexual Abuse and the Southern Baptist Convention: Join the ERLC as we have a candid conversation on "Sexual Abuse and the Southern Baptist Convention" at the SBC Annual Meeting on Monday, June 10, at 9 p.m.. With everything that is happening around us, this is a conversation that Christians desperately need to have. Speakers will include Russell Moore, J.D. Greear, Beth Moore, Rachael Denhollander, and several others. B21 Luncheon: The B21 Panel will take place on Tuesday, June 11, immediately following the morning session (approximately 11:30 a.m.). Register to hear from Russell Moore, J.D. Greear, Albert Mohler, Jen Wilkin, Dhati Lewis, and Danny Akin. Lunch and books will be provided to all paying attendees. Adoption is a beautiful picture of the gospel and brings many joys. Yet, as Kelly Needham points out, there are also sorrows involved, especially for the children. Read her article about recognizing and helping children through those hardships. [A]doption isn’t only beautiful; it is also painful. We know that many families face hardships through adoption. These hardships are worth it, of course. Those of us who have adopted would do it again in a heartbeat. But I’m not talking about the pain an adoptive or foster parent faces. I’m talking about the pain an adopted child faces. Mary Holloman has a burden for the spiritual needs of the women and children who walk through the doors of pregnancy care centers. In particular, she desires to connect them to the church. Read about how her pregnancy care center is doing just that. I believe that abortion and sex outside of marriage are symptomatic of a deeper issue—the need for Jesus Christ. So I asked myself, Are we meeting clients’ most immediate needs? Yes. Are we sharing the gospel? Yes. But if these clients went back to their regular lives—with no accountability or discipleship relationships—then chances are, not much would change. News From Capitol Hill“I'm pro-life. That means protecting the unborn from abortion and also caring for women.” writes ERLC policy director Chelsea Patterson Sobolik in a recent USA Today opinion editorial. Patterson Sobolik wrote in response to the unfolding nationwide debate surrounding new state laws banning abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected. The ERLC policy team is heartened to see these “heartbeat bills” make their way through legislative bodies in the south and midwest and signed by governors of both parties, most recently by Governor John Bel Edwards, the Democratic governor of Louisiana.“One of the most troubling arguments I routinely hear is that the pro-life movement only pays lip service to caring for women, but they really just care about the unborn. Pro-choicers claim to be the ones caring for all life, and the term ‘choice’ is painted as the compassionate option. Those engaging in the abortion debate have tried to make this into a binary choice — either you care for the woman or you care for the unborn child in her womb. Apparently you can’t do both. But we can and must care for the woman holistically, which includes protecting the little life inside of her.” The ERLC policy team is engaged in this unique moment of pro-life advocacy with a Capitol Conversations podcast series titled, "What’s happening with the abortion debate in America?" For part one, Jeff Pickering interviewed Dana Hall McCain, an Alabama columnist and ERLC Leadership Council member, to talk about the headline news made by her state’s significant pro-life bill. Dana’s column, The abortion pendulum is moving, places the Yellowhammer State bill in the national discussion and makes sense of how the church should engage in this cultural moment. Featured PodcastsFor part two of the abortion debate series on the Capitol Conversations podcast, Jeff Pickering and Chelsea Patterson Sobolik are joined by Trillia Newbell and Dan Darling to discuss what it means to bring a holistic pro-life ethic to this current cultural moment. Listen to their conversation here. Dan Darling hosts Rico Tice on The Way Home podcast. Tice is an Anglican priest and writer, co-author of Christianity Explored. He is currently associate minister at All Souls Church, Langham Place, London. Darling and Tice discuss evangelism in a post-Christian world. Tune in to their conversation here.From The Public SquareSupreme Court won't hear case on transgender school bathroom policy The Supreme Court declined on Tuesday to hear a case challenging a Pennsylvania school district’s bathroom policy allowing transgender students to use bathrooms of their choice. Are Married People Still Happier? The story is straightforward: married adults are much happier than unmarried adults, per the GSS. State prosecutors struggle with human trafficking cases Laws cracking down on human trafficking are on the books in all 50 states, but convictions are notoriously elusive, and state prosecutors haven't come close to matching the success their federal counterparts have had in winning cases. Pro-life Laws Don’t Establish Christianity and Religious Liberty is Not a License to Kill It makes no sense to claim that laws restricting abortion tread on the free exercise of religion because they do not allow abortions to be performed by people who have no religious objections to them. No serious interpretation of religious liberty allows people to do whatever they want simply because their religion allows or promotes it. The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commissionof the Southern Baptist Convention 901 Commerce Street, Suite 550 Nashville, TN 37203 Like Tweet Forward Preferences | Unsubscribe |
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