With a Subtitle: A consolidation of this week's world headlines of interest to Christian readers.

A brief Excerpt: From Iran’s underground church and rising persecution to gender policy battles, pro-life victories, Israel, AI, and the decline of biblical morality, these are the faith and culture stories Christians should be watching.

The Author is: Jeff Hilles

40+ TOP STORIES FROM ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA

Denison Forum – What to know about the church in Iran – Christianity in Iran, despite persecution, is experiencing rapid growth within the underground church, with estimates ranging from 117,700 to 800,000 believers.

Just the News – School district tells SCOTUS to butt out of dispute with mom over girl’s secret gender transition – The Supreme Court reinstated a permanent injunction against a California school district’s alleged unwritten policies contradicting parental involvement requirements for gender-confused students. The district denies the existence of such policies, while Lavigne argues they explain her daughter’s secret transitioning.

Prophecy News Watch – Scientific Shift Toward God: Why Some Scientists Now See Design In The Universe – Scientific discoveries in physics, cosmology, and biology are prompting scientists to question the divide between science and belief in God. The book “God, the Science, the Evidence: The Dawn of a Revolution” argues that evidence from the Big Bang to DNA complexity suggests a Creator.

Crosswalk – 6 Reasons Doing Church Away from Church Isn’t Church – Article argues physical church gatherings are essential for worship and fellowship.

Prophesy News Watch – Progressives Vying For Votes Claim God Is On Their Side – The article argues that politicians on both sides claim divine endorsement, but the author believes the left’s stance on certain issues contradicts biblical principles. The author proposes a test for candidates’ alignment with God: asking if men can get pregnant.

The Morning Express – What apologetics is not – Apologetics is a thoughtful defense of Christianity, demonstrating its reasonableness and intellectual responsibility. It strengthens believers and helps others see the gospel’s relevance.

Crosswalk – Does My Passion Mean That I’m Being Called? – The article explores the relationship between passion and calling, emphasizing that God’s calling may not always align with our passions.

Just the News – Pro-lifers defeat abortion clinic ‘buffer zone’ law, as other municipal speech bans face lawsuits – Pro-life activists successfully challenged a Clearwater, Florida law banning pamphleting near abortion clinics. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the law, citing First Amendment concerns.

Prophecy News Watch – From Church Pews To Courtrooms: How Christians Are Being Labeled Extremists – Christian parents and churchgoers face increasing labeling as extremists in legal battles, impacting custody, workplaces, and universities.

Just the News – Second lawsuit filed by Islamic schools, parents over Texas school choice program – Three Islamic schools and four parents sued Texas over its new school choice program, claiming it discriminates against Islamic schools and violates their children’s rights.

Prophecy News Watch – The Battle Over Zionism: Christians Divided As Anti-Israel Extremism Rises – The intensifying battle over Zionism, with radical anti-Zionist movements aligning with terrorist organizations and hostile regimes, has led to growing divisions within Christianity and American political institutions.

Just the News – California seeks ‘end-run’ around Supreme Court to reinstate ‘gender secrecy’ policies: parents – California seeks to modify a permanent injunction against its “gender secrecy” policies in public schools, arguing it should protect students from parental abuse and withhold parental rights notice. Parent-plaintiffs argue the state is ignoring the Supreme Court’s orders and the 9th Circuit lacks jurisdiction to modify the ruling.

Prophecy News Watch – A Historic Shift: More Americans Than Ever Say Morality Doesn’t Require God – A Pew Research Center study finds 68% of Americans believe morality is independent of belief in God, highlighting growing secularization in Western societies.

The Christian Post – Moody Bible Institute secures settlement allowing student teachers in Chicago schools – Moody Bible Institute settled with the Chicago Board of Education, allowing student teachers to work in public schools while respecting Moody’s religious beliefs.

Just the News – Most voters support bans on transgender athletes in female sports – A new poll shows 68% of registered voters support state bans on transgender women in women’s sports, with strong support across party lines.

Denison Forum – “The moment the Middle East changed forever”? – US attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites raise concerns about potential retaliation and regional war.

Crosswalk – Christians Remain the Most Persecuted Religious Group Globally, Archishop States – Archbishop Balestrero highlighted the persecution of Christians, citing 400 million facing violence and discrimination, 5,000 deaths in 2025, and numerous attacks and legal actions in Europe.

The Christian Post – Street preachers sue Chicago over ‘unconstitutional’ arrests for sharing the Gospel – Three Christian street preachers are suing Chicago, alleging unconstitutional arrests for sharing their faith near Millennium Park. The lawsuit claims the city violated their First Amendment rights by arresting them for using sound amplification without determining if it violated noise ordinances.

Prophecy News Watch – Secular Fear Meets Bible Prophecy: One Third Believe The End Is Near – A study reveals one-third of Americans and Canadians believe the world will end in their lifetime, influencing attitudes towards global threats. The church is encouraged to engage in conversations about the future, offering hope and redemption.

Just the News – Judge bars Arkansas school districts from displaying Ten Commandments in classrooms – Federal judge rules Arkansas school districts can’t display the Ten Commandments in classrooms, citing Establishment Clause violation.

Prophecy News Watch – From Pulpit To Politics: How Progressive Christianity Is Distorting The Gospel – The article criticizes Sarah Trone Garriott for redefining Christian teachings to align with progressive political ideology, arguing that this misrepresents the theological basis of beliefs and risks undermining faith traditions.

Crosswalk – Is Your Church Worship More Pagan Than Christian? – Many churches mistakenly view music as a means to encounter God, granting it sacramental power. This belief undermines the role of Jesus as the sole mediator between God and man and leads to several consequences: marginalization of God’s Word, threats to believers’ assurance, elevation of musicians to priestly status, and increased division within churches. Music in worship should honor God and edify believers, not serve as a means of divine encounter.

Prophesy News Watch – A Courtroom Battle That Could Redefine Religious Freedom in America – Liberty University faces a lawsuit from a former employee challenging the dismissal, arguing it doesn’t fall under the “ministerial exception.”

Crosswalk – Is Your Church Worship More Pagan Than Christian? – Churches that view music as a means to encounter God risk undermining Jesus’ role as mediator and causing division. Worship music should honor God and edify believers, not serve as a means of divine encounter.

The Christian Post – Pastor arrested in Cuba after uploading Bible teaching to YouTube – Pastor Rolando Pérez Lora was arrested in Matanzas, Cuba, after uploading a Bible teaching video to YouTube. He claims he has been targeted by authorities for years due to his ministry.

Prophesy News Watch – Faith In The Fire: Iran’s Underground Church Continues To Grow – Iran’s underground Christian church is growing despite persecution, with only one-third of Iranians identifying as Shi’ite Muslim.

Crosswalk – Swedish Couple Labeled “Religious Extremists” for Attending Church – Swedish couple Daniel and Bianca Samson were separated from their daughters for four years due to allegations of religious extremism. Despite retracted accusations and no evidence of abuse, the girls remain in foster care.

Western Journal – Christian Engineer in Los Angeles Sues to Make Sure He Can Abstain from ‘Pride Month’ – Eric Batman, a Christian civil engineer, is suing Los Angeles County for denying his request to work remotely during Pride Month, citing religious beliefs. Liberty Counsel argues the denial violates his First Amendment rights.

The Conversation – Evangelical holy war: Why some Christians think Trump will end the world – Some American military commanders are using extremist religious rhetoric to describe the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, claiming it is a holy war. This belief system, rooted in violent interpretations of Christian eschatology, justifies violence as a tool for redemption.

Crosswalk – Bryce Crawford: Young People Are ‘Tired of Fluff’ and Hungry for Jesus – Bryce Crawford’s ministry, Jesus in the Street, attracts young people disillusioned with superficiality, mirroring the success of UniteUs.

Just the News – Federal appeals court denies California’s request on gender policy -The 9th Circuit denied California’s request to modify a Supreme Court decision requiring schools to inform parents about a student’s gender transition.

Crosswalk – Gen Z Is Experiencing Rising Church Engagement, Pastors Say: ‘Something Is Shifting’ – A Barna survey shows increased church engagement among Generation Z and Millennials, with 45% of Protestant pastors reporting higher engagement from Gen Z.

The Christian Post – Cuban regime holds pastor’s 16-year-old son captive amid ongoing crackdown on Christians – 16-year-old Jonathan Muir Burgos, son of Pastor Elier Muir Ávila, remains detained in Cuba after participating in protests and allegedly calling for freedom. His detention raises concerns due to his family’s history of facing pressure related to their religious work.

Prophecy News Watch – The Silence In The Pulpit: When Pastors Stop Preaching On Bible Prophecy – Pastors avoid preaching Bible prophecy, fearing controversy and complexity. This neglect leads to a loss of spiritual urgency and discernment within the church.

The Christian Post – A Bethel alum reflects on the ongoing sifting of the charismatic church – Bethel Church faced a scandal involving Shawn Bolz’s misuse of prophetic gifts. Despite the controversy, the author reflects on their positive experiences at Bethel, highlighting the church’s teachings and supportive community.

Crosswalk – Can Christians Be Depressed? A Faith Based Look at Mental Health – Depression is a real battle for Christians, not a sign of weak faith. Support can be found through trusted individuals, professionals, physical health, and spiritual practices.

Faith New Service – State of the Christian Workplace 2026 Report Highlights Positive Improvement in Employee Engagement – The State of the Christian Workplace 2026 report shows a significant increase in employee engagement, with 61% reporting engagement in 2025. This is nearly twice the U.S. workforce average and is linked to increased productivity and success.

Denison Forum – Is AI a tool for the Antichrist? – Peter Thiel’s conference in Rome explored the potential for AI to be used by the Antichrist, but the article emphasizes Christian faith in Jesus’ ultimate triumph.

The Christian Post – Speaker Mike Johnson: Separation of church and state is ‘misunderstood’ – House Speaker Mike Johnson argues the “separation of church and state” is misunderstood, emphasizing its purpose to protect religious practice from government interference, not to exclude religion from public life.

Premier Christian Media – Pastors sue Chicago over ‘unconstitutional arrests’ of street preachers – ACLJ sues Chicago for arresting pastors, claiming unconstitutional restriction of free speech and religious freedom.

The Christian Post – 4 things to know about the Christian origins of basketball – Basketball, invented in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith, has Christian origins rooted in missionary work.

Crosswalk – Why “Christian” Antisemitism Is Making a Dangerous Comeback – Christian antisemitism, rooted in Replacement Theology, falsely claims the church replaced Israel in God’s plans. This theology has historically led to persecution and discrimination against Jews, paving the way for atrocities like the Holocaust. Today, Christian antisemitism persists through subtle teachings and media platforms, normalizing harmful stereotypes and undermining the church’s relationship with the Jewish people.

CBN News – Staggering New Data Reveals Decline in Importance of Faith in Americans’ Lives – Gallup data shows a decline in the importance of religion for Americans, with only 47% considering it “very important” in 2025. The percentage of religiously unaffiliated Americans, or “nones,” reached a record high of 24%.