As Hurricane Michael blew onshore in Florida and into Georgia, Operation Compassion began formulating a plan to get help to the survivors as quickly as possible. With winds in excess of 155 miles per hour and storm surge between 9 and 12 feet, the immediate coastline was devastated. Hurricane Michael continued its devastation into Georgia as a category 3 storm.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, in his capacity as a Commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, attended this morning’s hearing near Izmir, Turkey where Pastor Andrew Brunson was released to return to the United States. The pastor spent nearly two years in prison before being transferred in July to house arrest. The Trump administration had imposed sanctions on two Turkish officials who were linked to the arrest and detention of the pastor along with other economic actions against the Turkish government.

This year’s focus of the United Nations’ annual International Day of the Girl Child, emphasizing the need for better educational opportunities for girls under the theme “With Her: A Skilled GirlForce,” brings a spotlight to some of the quiet, ongoing work of GFA (Gospel for Asia, www.gfa.org).

Jerry and Ulli Lillard, overseer for the Church of God of the Czech Republic, finally received an approved building inspection for a new church in Prague which has been in process the past couple of years.

Elreta Dodds’ new book, “The Right to Be Christian in a Gay Rights America” (paperback) provides a biblical and constitutional defense against the persecution of Christians who do not support homosexuality and explains why their non-endorsement is a question of faith and religion, not of homophobia and bigotry. Dodds’ intent is not to castigate gays or inflame emotions, but rather to present a convincing argument as to why many Christians believe they cannot support the gay lifestyle.

Christian filmmaker Ray Comfort–whose award-winning movies have been seen by millions–decided not to release ten minutes of interview footage after being threatened with a lawsuit by famous magician and atheist Penn Jillette.

The Lee University annual tradition of Homecoming will have a centennial theme this year. The university anticipates more than 2,000 alumni and friends to be on campus for the much anticipated weekend of celebration.

One hundred years ago on November 6, 1918, the young life of a visionary missions mobilizer in the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) prematurely ended. The extraordinary missions influence L. Howard Juillerat was cut short by the global influenza pandemic of 1918. It is estimated that 70 million people worldwide died in that horrible plague. Those seventy million, and millions more of his generation, were carried constantly on his compassionate heart.

When Sarah Williams learns that the baby she is carrying will likely not survive birth, her world crashes down around her. Amidst the voices of well-meaning onlookers offering to pray for healing, the bittersweet companionship of a pregnant best friend, medical staff who question her decision, and the loving support of friends who respect it, Williams and her family learn to celebrate life while preparing for the birth and subsequent death of their youngest daughter, diagnosed with a lethal skeletal deformity.