This weekend, leaders of the United Methodist Church (UMC) will convene to vote on whether or not the United States’ second-largest Protestant denomination will allow same-sex marriage and ordained LGBT clergy. The vote—which is the culmination of several years of interdenominational conflict—may fracture the UMC, no matter which side wins.

In 1980 it seemed unreasonable to expect that the gospel could be preached openly in Soviet Ukraine, yet a group of believers there listened when a prophecy was given that they would do just that. When the country declared its independence in 1991, however, the freedom of religion offered by the new law enabled the believers to do exactly as the prophecy predicted – they planted churches, evangelized publicly, and gained converts. In 1993, they formally joined the Church of God.

I’ll never forget where I was sitting in the Orlando airport in Florida several years ago when I heard an unusual announcement on the public-address system. A male voice said: “George Mueller. George Mueller. Please contact a service desk for a message.”

United Methodists have upheld their denomination’s rules on sexual ethics, rejecting plans that would permit same-sex marriages and clergy to be sexually active outside of monogamous, heterosexual marriages.

Some have asked, “Why are the Ministry Forums being conducted and are they really needed?” I’m certainly glad to offer the best answers I possibly can.

Hollywood, which worships at the altar of a woman’s “right” to abortion, is about to be shaken by a new movie. It is called Unplanned, and it tells the story of Abby Johnson, formerly a Planned Parenthood clinic director but today a passionate pro-life leader.

Christian readers searching for an inspired choice for a book discussion group or their own Holy Week reading may want to consider a trilogy of critically acclaimed historical novels by author Barry Connolly. The series centers on the trials and triumphs of men and women of faith in the earliest days of Christianity. More information can be found at www.TheGoodThief.net.

Two girls creep into the kitchen at night in Thailand, looking for food to stockpile in their room. They never had enough to eat in their old home. Dad dealt drugs and was addicted to alcohol. Mom was the third of his four wives. The girls were used to scavenging for food wherever they could find it, a habit that is hard to break now even though they’re safe and warm with loving parents.

ABIDJAN, COTE D’IVOIRE — More than 50,000 people in West Africa gathered Feb. 15-17, 2019 in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire for a 3-day evangelistic festival with evangelist Andrew Palau. Led by the Luis Palau Association, the week-long campaign was the culmination of more than three years of work in Cote d’Ivoire, including massive citywide festivals in other influential cities such as Yamoussoukro and San Pedro.