Revival Stirs While the Culture Wars Press In

The Washington Stand – FTC, States Sue WPATH for Misleading Claims on Transgender Procedures for Minors – The FTC and attorneys general from Alaska, Iowa, Nebraska and Texas sued the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, alleging it misled families about pediatric transition. The 123-page complaint cites ten misrepresentations, including claims that puberty blockers are reversible, and seeks a permanent injunction.

Crosswalk – Christian Flag Victory: Jersey City Reverses Course after Religious Liberty Group Intervenes – After Liberty Counsel cited First Amendment precedent, Jersey City reversed its ban and will permit a Christian flag-raising at city hall for the Children of Faith Parade on September 8. The tradition, held since 1979, had been halted over Establishment Clause concerns the city now concedes were misplaced.

Christian Newswire – Israeli Seizure of Greek Orthodox Church Land in Jerusalem Signals Escalating Threat to Christian Presence in the Holy Land – The Vulnerable People Project is calling on the international community to defend Christian property rights after Israeli authorities seized Greek Orthodox Church land in Jerusalem. The group warns the move signals an escalating threat to the dwindling indigenous Christian presence across the Holy Land.

The Washington Stand – 17 GOP Officials in Virginia Vote in Favor of Dem Ballot Initiatives on Late-Term Abortion, Gender Identity – Seventeen Republican officials in Virginia joined Democrats in advancing ballot initiatives that would enshrine constitutional rights to abortion, gender identity, and voting for felons. Following Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s election, analysts say GOP resistance to the agenda has been minimal as amendments move toward voters.

Just the News – Criminal Charges Multiply for Abortion-Pill Coercion, but Feds Oppose Faster Court Review of Rules – Criminal charges are mounting against men who secretly slipped abortion pills to pregnant partners, even as federal officials oppose faster court review of mifepristone mail-order rules. A pro-life donor is pressing DOJ’s Todd Blanche to settle Louisiana’s challenge to regulations critics say enable coercion.

Crosswalk – Most Americans Want a More Religious Society, Gallup Finds – A new Gallup survey found 65 percent of Americans believe society would benefit if more people were religious, with only 22 percent disagreeing. Support spans the political spectrum, and 39 percent now say religion’s influence is rising—among the highest readings Gallup has recorded in two decades.

Prophecy News Watch – 40% Of All Babies Born in U.S. Last Year Were To Unmarried Mothers – Forty percent of U.S. births in 2025—1,440,031 babies—were to unmarried mothers, an Institute for Family Studies analysis found. Researcher Nicholas Zill noted children of married parents fare better at every life stage, while unwed births remain far costlier in public assistance.

The Washington Stand – Pro Baseball Team Forfeits after Players Reject Pride Uniforms – The minor-league York Revolution forfeited a Thursday game against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs after players refused to wear LGBT Pride jerseys management had chosen. The Pennsylvania team’s protest adds to a growing trend of athletes rejecting Pride-themed uniforms and messaging.

Crosswalk – Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? Historian Thomas Kidd Answers – On Crosswalk Talk, historian Thomas S. Kidd examines whether America was founded as a Christian or secular nation, unpacking the Founders’ actual beliefs, the meaning of church-state separation, and the Great Awakening’s influence on the Revolution while addressing myths about Jefferson and Washington.

Graphs About Religion – Should America Have a Christian Culture? – Ryan Burge analyzes a Pew survey asking whether the U.S. should have a culture based in Christian beliefs. Drawing on 9,201 respondents, the data shows evangelicals largely stand alone in strong support, while other faith traditions and the unaffiliated diverge sharply on the question.

The Washington Stand – WMATA Invites DMV Travelers to Celebrate ‘Gay Pride’ with Rainbow Vehicles – Even as national support for same-sex relationships declines, Washington’s Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is decorating buses and rail cars with rainbow branding for Pride Month, inviting DMV-area travelers to celebrate. The piece contrasts the agency’s continued promotion with corporate retreats from Pride messaging.

Just the News – Oregon Suddenly Backs Down on $90k Fine on Christian Therapist for Not Blessing Gay Relationship – Oregon abruptly dropped a $90,000 fine against Christian therapist Frank Canepa, who declined to affirm a client’s same-sex relationship, after he sued the state’s licensing board. The reversal followed a Supreme Court ruling against Colorado for compelling a counselor to affirm gender confusion.

Crosswalk – Half of U.S. Pastors Will Hold America’s 250th Anniversary Celebrations – A Lifeway Research study found half of U.S. Protestant pastors plan special church events for America’s 250th anniversary, while 45 percent favor patriotic elements in July Fourth services—down from 56 percent in 2021. Older and evangelical pastors were likeliest to support commemoration.

Prophecy News Watch – The Spiritual Impact Of A Generation That No Longer Reads – Educators warn that younger Americans increasingly struggle to read deeply, with 2024 NAEP scores for 12th graders at record lows and 70 percent of fourth graders below proficiency. The article argues declining literacy threatens Scripture engagement and discernment in the next generation.

The Washington Stand – AI Is Not Just a Technology Problem—It Is a Church Discipleship Test – Drawing on Christian fellowship gatherings across four states, Robert Maginnis argues artificial intelligence is reshaping not just what people do but who they become. He calls the church to respond with conviction and discipleship rather than alarm, treating AI as a formation challenge.

Crosswalk – Children from Faith-Based Households More Likely to Attend Church as Adults – A study by the Institute for Family Studies and Communio found children whose parents attended church weekly were more than twice as likely to attend as adults. Daily prayer, mealtime grace, and faith conversations strongly predicted lasting belief, researchers said.

Christian Newswire – United States Space Force Chief of Chaplains Formally Endorses ‘Creator of the Universe’ as the Recognized Service Hymn – The U.S. Space Force chief of chaplains has formally endorsed “Creator of the Universe” as the branch’s first recognized service hymn. The announcement, provided by Commander Manuel “Don” Biadog, marks a notable acknowledgment of faith within the military’s newest branch.

The Washington Stand – Hawley Calls for Federal Fraud Investigators to Probe Planned Parenthood – Citing national attention on health-care fraud, Senator Josh Hawley urged CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz to open a federal fraud investigation into Planned Parenthood. His June 11 letter frames the nation’s largest abortion provider as a target alongside the White House task force on fraud.

Crosswalk – Frank Turek on Aliens: If Extraterrestrials Exist, Christianity Is Still True – Apologist Frank Turek told a University of Tennessee audience that the discovery of extraterrestrial life would not undermine Christianity, since God would remain Creator of any intelligent beings. Asked whether UFOs are demonic, he declined to speculate, urging believers not to fear the topic.

Just the News – Kids on ‘Lifesaving’ Cross-Sex Hormones Skyrocket in Oregon, but No Corresponding Suicide Decline – An insurance-database analysis shows cross-sex hormone prescriptions for Oregon minors far exceed national rates, yet researchers found no corresponding decline in youth suicide—undercutting “lifesaving” claims. Separately, the Cleveland Clinic committed $2 million toward detransition care in a DOJ settlement.

The Washington Stand – CCP Widens Christian Persecution amid Uncertain Status of Ezra Jin – After hopes rose for imprisoned Pastor Ezra Jin’s release, Xi Jinping’s regime expanded its crackdown, raiding a prominent evangelical house church during Sunday worship and detaining dozens. The escalation underscores the Chinese Communist Party’s intensifying pressure on unregistered congregations.

Prophecy News Watch – Disclosure Day: Are We Being Prepared For An Alien Savior? – As Spielberg’s film Disclosure Day and a fresh batch of Pentagon UAP files fuel alien fascination, this commentary asks whether culture is being conditioned for an “alien savior.” It argues Scripture already describes a vast unseen realm and warns of spiritual deception.

The Washington Stand – MLB Official Warns Christian Athletes against Referencing Scripture on Pride Caps – After San Francisco Giants players quietly restored the rainbow’s biblical Genesis meaning to Pride caps, a Major League Baseball official warned Christian athletes against referencing Scripture on the hats. The directive sides with the team against the players’ subtle protest.

Absolutely Agentic – The Week Anthropic Lost Control of Its Own Launch – Just days after launching its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models, Anthropic disabled them worldwide to comply with a U.S. export-control directive restricting foreign access over security concerns. The company disagreed, calling the cited jailbreak finding too narrow to justify recalling a widely used product.

Crosswalk – 4 Christian Responses to the Biggest Questions in ‘Disclosure Day’ – Reviewing Spielberg’s Disclosure Day, Crosswalk offers four Christian responses to the film’s big questions about alien life, government cover-ups, and faith. The piece notes the movie portrays the church positively and argues fascination with UFOs reflects a deeper human longing for transcendence.

Just the News – Biden DOJ Targeted Parents at School Board Meetings Despite FBI, Sheriffs’ Objections, Memos Show – Newly obtained memos show the Biden Justice Department pursued parents protesting at school-board meetings despite objections from FBI officials and county sheriffs, according to America First Legal. The documents stem from litigation over Attorney General Merrick Garland’s 2021 directive targeting such parents.

The Washington Stand – NJ Bill Would Make ‘Interference with Reproductive Health Care Services’ a Crime – A New Jersey bill, A2218, would create a crime of “interference with reproductive health care services” and let abortion providers and the attorney general sue pro-life sidewalk counselors. Critics warn it threatens First Amendment activity the Supreme Court recently shielded in the state.

CBN News – 60,000 Christians Rally for Jesus in One of the World’s Most Secular Countries – Roughly 60,000 Christians gathered at the four-day Opwekking Pentecost Conference in Biddinghuizen, Netherlands—one of the world’s most secular nations, where 60 percent claim no religion. With Gen Z increasingly drawn to faith, organizers and observers described the surge as a sign of European revival.

Crosswalk – Why Do I Doubt My Salvation? – This Crosswalk reflection addresses why believers doubt their salvation, identifying such doubt as a common tactic of Satan. Pointing to John 3:16-17 and Ephesians 2:8-9, it reassures readers that salvation rests on faith in Christ alone and cannot be earned or lost.

Christian Newswire – New Book ‘True Face of Islam’ Equips Christians to Engage in Apologetics with Polemics – Sule Welply’s new apologetics title, True Face of Islam, equips Christians to engage Islam confidently, examining the Quran, hadiths, and historical record in plain language. Now available on Amazon, the book blends apologetics with polemics for evidence-based conversations.

The Washington Stand – PERKINS: Happy Non-Gestating Parent’s Day! – Tony Perkins argues that activists are reshaping culture through language, pointing to the term “non-gestating parent” as a replacement for father. He links the linguistic engineering to historical revolutionary movements and Orwell’s warnings, urging Christians to defend the meaning of motherhood and fatherhood.

Crosswalk – What Did Jesus Say about End Times? – Dr. Roger Barrier explains what Jesus taught about the end times, warning against deception, detailing signs like the abomination of desolation, and pointing to the rapture in Matthew 24. He urges believers to stay watchful and ready for Christ’s any-moment return.