It’s Wednesday, November 13th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)

By Jonathan Clark

Iranian prison releases pastor for hosting worship in his home

Praise God! Officials in Iran released an Armenian-Iranian pastor from prison, according to International Christian Concern.

Authorities imprisoned Pastor Anooshavan Avedian in September 2023 for having worship services in his house. They charged him with “establishing and leading an illegal group with the aim of disrupting the security of the country through educational and propaganda activities contrary to, and disturbing the holy religion of Islam, through the dissemination of false claims.”

Pastor Avedian faced 10 years in prison for his ministry. However, officials released him only a year into his sentence after public outcry. 

Iran is ranked ninth on the Open Doors’ World Watch List of nations where it is most difficult to be a Christian. 

Secular society: “Blasphemous” to claim gender change is impossible

The Evangelical Alliance of Northern Ireland took a closer look at the craziness of gender ideology recently, reports The Christian Post.

David Smyth with the Christian group warned the region’s Education Committee, “I do think we need to be careful not to create new secular blasphemies. Is it secular blasphemy to believe that a man cannot biologically become a woman?”

In light of the woke ideology that pervades all government-run schools, anyone who rejects biologically inaccurate pronouns or names is treated as a societal scoundrel.

Plus, such a politically correct worldview leads to both the marginalization of the Christian worldview as well as the use of age-inappropriate material.

Ireland’s bold March for Jesus that condemned abortion

Meanwhile in Ireland, Christians held the first-ever “March for Jesus” in Dublin last month, reports Christian Daily International.

The event celebrated the Christian heritage of the peoples of Ireland going back to missionary St. Patrick in the fifth century.

Participants sang and prayed, holding signs that read, “March for Jesus,” “Jesus is the Way,” and “Jesus is King.”

Pastor John Ahern of All Nations Church spoke the truth and prayed a powerful prayer.

AHERN: “God will not bless the shedding of innocent blood. God will not bless euthanasia. God will not bless the sexualization of children. God will not bless the erasure of women. And God will not bless churches that are so cowardly they refuse to call evil exactly what it is.

“And so, Father, we stand in the gap for this nation. We pray blessing over Ireland. We pray blessing over Northern Ireland, over Great Britain, Lord God, over Europe, and over the nations. And we pray, Lord God, in the name of Jesus, that as we come to the darkest time of the year, that we want to lift You up as the light of the world.

“And we pray that the Irish people are going to come back to You, to faith in You, to honoring You, to worshipping You, to declaring that You are Lord.”

Revelation 11:15 says, “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.”

Christian counselor wants freedom to help people trapped in homosexuality

Alliance Defending Freedom is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to protect the free speech of a Christian counselor in Colorado.

Kaley Chiles is challenging a Colorado law that censors her from talking with clients about sexuality according to her faith.

Cody Barnett, legal counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, said, “We are urging the Supreme Court to hear Kaley’s case . . . and stop Colorado officials from banning someone’s speech simply because they disagree with her beliefs. All Americans should be allowed to speak freely and seek the best possible help they desire.”

Trump selects Tom Homan to run border, Huckabee as ambassador to Israel

On Monday, President-elect Donald Trump announced that Tom Homan will be in charge of the U.S. border. Homan is the acting director of U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement. He is known for a policy of zero-tolerance for illegal immigration, promising to “run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.”

Also on Monday, Trump announced Lee Zeldin will lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Zeldin previously served as a Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives for New York. His goal is to deregulate the business sector, encourage U.S. energy production, and bring back jobs from oversees.

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee,  an ordained Baptist minister and TV host, is the choice to be the next U.S. ambassador to Israel in the incoming Trump administration, reports Fox News. Trump has promised to strengthen U.S. ties with Israel as it fights wars against Iran-backed terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah. 

Future mothers stockpile Abortion Kill Pills

Demand for abortion drugs surged following the election of Donald Trump.

Aid Access facilitates mail-order Abortion Kill Pills. It reported a 16-fold increase in requests.

Other groups that provide contraceptives also reported huge increases in demand.

Isaiah 59:7 says, “Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood.”

Augustine of Hippo: The prodigal son who repented

And finally, this week marks the birth of Augustine of Hippo. 

The renowned Christian theologian was born on November 13, A.D. 354 in what is modern-day Algeria, Africa.

Augustine’s early life was marred by prodigal living. His mother faithfully prayed for him for years before his eventual conversion in his 30s. This took place after he providentially came across Romans 13:13-14, which says, “Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in … drunkenness … and sensuality. … But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

Augustine would go on to become Bishop of Hippo, a Roman province in North Africa. An able scholar, he turned his mind to the theological battles of his day, producing Chri