Friday Church News Notes
January 3, 2025 - Volume 26, Issue 1
The Friday Church News Notes is designed for use in churches and is published by Way of Life Literature. Unless otherwise stated, the Notes are written by David Cloud. Of necessity we quote from a wide variety of sources, though this does not imply an endorsement.
Kenneth Copeland
KENNETH COPELAND SAYS HE WILL LIVE TO 120 (Friday Church News Notes, January 3, 2025, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - Speaking in December at his church in Texas, 88-year-old Word of Faith preacher Kenneth Copeland said he has made a deal with God so that he will live to be 120. “I have made and entered [into a] covenant with God and on December 6, 2056, I’ll see you all later. I’m out of here, 120 years old” (“Televangelist Kenneth Copeland,” Christian Post, Dec. 23, 2024). Copeland has uttered many false doctrines and false prophecies, including the Word-faith heresy. Consider a couple of examples: “He [Adam] was not a little like God. He was not almost like God. He was not subordinate to God even. ... Adam is as much like God as you could get, just the same as Jesus. ... Adam, in the Garden of Eden, was God manifested in the flesh” (“Following the Faith of Abraham I,” Believer’s Voice of Victory, 1989 audiotape, #01-3001, side 1). “Believe it in your heart; say it with your mouth. That is the principle of faith. You can have what you say” (Copeland, quoted from Charismatic Chaos, p. 285). “The earth doesn’t belong to God; it doesn’t belong to Jesus; he gave it to men. If you study the Scripture, you will realize that God is pretty well bound up to whatever we ask Him to do” (“Kenneth Copeland delivers a special message about Hurricane Irma,” September 9, 2017). In September 2017, Copeland cursed Hurricane Irma in Jesus’ name and pronounced it “dead.” In fact, Irma hit the Florida mainland as a powerful category 3 storm and caused widespread wind and flood damage.
ANTI-CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE IN INDIA REACHES RECORD LEVELS IN 2024 (Friday Church News Notes, January 3, 2025, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is excerpted from “Violence Against Christians,” Premier Christian News, Dec. 28, 2024: “The United Christian Forum (UCF) has revealed that violence against Christians in India has reached unprecedented levels, with 745 incidents reported through November 2024. This marks a dramatic rise from 127 incidents recorded in 2014 and represents a nearly six-fold increase over the past decade. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of cases at 182, followed by Chhattisgarh with 139. Incidents were reported in 23 of India’s 28 states, highlighting the widespread nature of the issue. ... in Manipur ... sectarian conflict has led to significant destruction, including the demolition of over 200 churches in 2023. UCF expressed concern about the lack of governmental attention to these incidents, contrasting it with the swift response to attacks on minorities in neighbouring Bangladesh. The UCF also raised concerns about systemic issues, including law enforcement bias, citing a report from the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) that alleges police complicity in crimes against Christians ... India currently ranks 11th on the Open Doors World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most severe persecution.”
CHURCH TAKES BIBLE KNOWLEDGE TEST (Friday Church News Notes, January 3, 2025, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - “Bro. Cloud, I took your Bible Knowledge Test (the brief one) to the pulpit and held a pop-quiz right at the start of our Wed. night service (which was a special Thanksgiving Service this past November). I am happy to report that many of our people were able to answer correctly. What was even more exciting is that some of the young children were able to supply correct answers as they too participated in answering the pop-quiz. Some of our people quizzed out, after three correct answers, so as to give others a chance to answer. It was a delight for the congregation to hear the little children answer correctly--the people actually cheered. And when other adults answered correctly, that too, brought on some glad cheers. I got feedback from others who were challenged that they didn’t know the answers, but that they are glad to have had their ignorance exposed (even if it was to their own selves). Now they are resolved to listen better to the messages and sermons. I told them, I hope this experience would spur them on to really learning more and more the precious Holy Bible that God gave to us. We will be accountable to God someday for His words. Did we study it? Did we memorize it? Did we take heed to it? Did we read it? Did we understand it (or earnestly, purposefully try to understand it). Did we share it? Did we treasure it? I told our people, if we expect to have a good Judgment Seat of Christ experience in the future, then we better do good with what He has given to us, today. AMEN. We appreciate your Bible Knowledge Test book (at least for now the ‘Brief’ section of that resource).”
SOCIAL MEDIA A MAGNET TO DRAW THE LORD’S PEOPLE TO THE WORLD (Friday Church News Notes, January 3, 2025, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - Facebook is filled with worldly people and worldly things. You aren’t forced to participate with worldly things and you can control your own Facebook page and your “friends,” but staying in control is no small task. Facebook doesn’t want to make it easy for its users to shut themselves off from notifications and suggested “friends” and “Likes,” and such. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok are the devil’s nose-rings to take young people wherever he wills. The young people in our church who are growing spiritually are those who have given up social media, and we have many of these. One reader said, “Many years ago, I left Facebook for the simple fact that I found too many so called Christians that I had grown up with or went to Bible college with had left their first love and it became very depressing and troublesome.” A pastor says, “I have taught our young people not to be on Facebook, and the ones who have stayed in the church are those who followed that advice.”
WITCHCRAFT ON SOCIAL MEDIA (Friday Church News Notes, January 3, 2025, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is excerpted from “Young women gravitate toward modern witchcraft,” The Washington Post, Oct. 29, 2024: “Today’s witches are young influencers with popular social media accounts. They host podcasts and post astrological divinations from their downtown dwellings. ... the #witchesoftiktok ... rack up hundreds of thousands of views and likes daily. ... astrology’s influence is growing, especially among younger Americans. According to YouGov’s 2022 poll, more than 1 in 4 Americans say the stars influence their lives. That includes 37% of adults younger than 30. The astrology market, in particular, has grown significantly from $2.2 billion in value in 2018 to $12.8 billion in 2021. By 2031, it is expected to reach $22.8 billion, Allied Market Research said. Women are more likely to buy in. ... A 2023 survey from the Pew Research Center explores details of this growing interest in ‘spirituality.’ It said 42% of adults believe the dead can communicate. Nearly half of respondents said they believe the dead can lend the living a helping hand ... On Reddit, groups such as WitchesvsPatriarchy even share politically charged hexes. One user recently described a ‘freezer spell’ aimed at Donald Trump and Project 2025, with plans to symbolically ‘freeze’ their influence by sealing names in bottles under the waning moon. ... WitchesvsPatriarchy has more than 750,000 active members.”
THE PASTOR’S SACRED STUDY (Friday Church News Notes, January 3, 2025, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - A pastor, who is divinely appointed to “feed the flock,” must teach his people the importance of his study time and exhort them to respect that time and help him guard it. He should explain that there are certain times when he is unavailable except for real emergencies. If they want a godly pastor who has a rich personal devotional life and if they want an educated pastor and a rich preaching/teaching ministry, they will understand and respect this. One preacher said, “I carve out a time away from everything in order to avoid distractions. I notify my wife, and others so that I can get into my study mode. I gather the necessary materials ahead of time. My desk has most, if not all, of the resources that I will need or consult. I will have water and peanuts on the desk also so that I don’t need to waste time getting up and breaking my concentration. My cell phone is on airplane mode, a no disturbance sign is on the door.” I know of a pastor who does some of his study in a back corner of a public library. While traveling, I’ve often done my Bible study in my car while parked in some quiet place. There are occasions, of course, when a preacher must interrupt his study schedule, but it should be for a true emergency only. If the preacher allows himself to be at the beck and call of people during his study time, he will get into the bad habit of being hit and miss. The preacher must honor God by honoring God’s Word and giving it the right priority in his daily life. In case of emergency, the pastor can make some arrangement for being contacted during his study. Perhaps the people can call his wife, secretary, or a deacon and inform them of the problem, and they can decide whether to inform the pastor at that time or to wait until later.
INSULATED BLACKBIRDS (Friday Church News Notes, January 3, 2025, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is from CreationMoments.com, December 16, 2024: “European blackbirds love southern Germany so much that many of them stay for the winter. Some of the blackbirds migrate to North Africa, Spain or southern France to escape the cold. Like the robin in North America, however, some European blackbirds don’t migrate. European blackbirds are able to live through the cold German winter because they are designed with several features that use sophisticated principles from biochemistry and physics. To cope with the winter cold, the birds fluff up their feathers. This creates more insulating dead air spaces between their warm bodies and the cold. Then they tuck their head inside the feathers, making their body into a ball. A round ball is the most heat-conserving shape possible for any object. The ball also protects poorly insulated parts of their bodies--like feet, legs and beak. Food is also more scarce in the winter. On top of that, the birds’ need for energy is five times higher at 20 degrees below zero (F) than it is during the summer. The blackbirds reduce their energy needs by lowering their body temperature at night when they are curled into a ball. Scientists have found that, as a result, European blackbirds are in no danger of freezing, even at 20 degrees below zero, as long as they can get enough food! The intelligent special designs found in the European blackbird reflect a sophisticated knowledge of biochemistry and physics. By its very existence, the European blackbird glorifies our Creator God. Notes: ‘Stay-at-home blackbirds cope with cold,’ Science News.”
CONCLUSION: The Friday Church News Notes is designed for use in churches and is published by Way of Life Literature’s Fundamental Baptist Information Service. Unless otherwise stated, the Notes are written by David Cloud. Of necessity we quote from a wide variety of sources, but this obviously does not imply an endorsement. We trust that our readers will not be discouraged. It is God’s will that we know the times (1 Ch. 12:32; Mt. 16:3) and that we be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves. The News Notes remind us that the hour is very late, and we need to be ready for the Lord’s coming. Are you sure that you are born again? Are you living for Christ? “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Ro. 13:11-14).
ANTI-CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE IN INDIA REACHES RECORD LEVELS IN 2024 (Friday Church News Notes, January 3, 2025, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is excerpted from “Violence Against Christians,” Premier Christian News, Dec. 28, 2024: “The United Christian Forum (UCF) has revealed that violence against Christians in India has reached unprecedented levels, with 745 incidents reported through November 2024. This marks a dramatic rise from 127 incidents recorded in 2014 and represents a nearly six-fold increase over the past decade. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of cases at 182, followed by Chhattisgarh with 139. Incidents were reported in 23 of India’s 28 states, highlighting the widespread nature of the issue. ... in Manipur ... sectarian conflict has led to significant destruction, including the demolition of over 200 churches in 2023. UCF expressed concern about the lack of governmental attention to these incidents, contrasting it with the swift response to attacks on minorities in neighbouring Bangladesh. The UCF also raised concerns about systemic issues, including law enforcement bias, citing a report from the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) that alleges police complicity in crimes against Christians ... India currently ranks 11th on the Open Doors World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most severe persecution.”
CHURCH TAKES BIBLE KNOWLEDGE TEST (Friday Church News Notes, January 3, 2025, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - “Bro. Cloud, I took your Bible Knowledge Test (the brief one) to the pulpit and held a pop-quiz right at the start of our Wed. night service (which was a special Thanksgiving Service this past November). I am happy to report that many of our people were able to answer correctly. What was even more exciting is that some of the young children were able to supply correct answers as they too participated in answering the pop-quiz. Some of our people quizzed out, after three correct answers, so as to give others a chance to answer. It was a delight for the congregation to hear the little children answer correctly--the people actually cheered. And when other adults answered correctly, that too, brought on some glad cheers. I got feedback from others who were challenged that they didn’t know the answers, but that they are glad to have had their ignorance exposed (even if it was to their own selves). Now they are resolved to listen better to the messages and sermons. I told them, I hope this experience would spur them on to really learning more and more the precious Holy Bible that God gave to us. We will be accountable to God someday for His words. Did we study it? Did we memorize it? Did we take heed to it? Did we read it? Did we understand it (or earnestly, purposefully try to understand it). Did we share it? Did we treasure it? I told our people, if we expect to have a good Judgment Seat of Christ experience in the future, then we better do good with what He has given to us, today. AMEN. We appreciate your Bible Knowledge Test book (at least for now the ‘Brief’ section of that resource).”
SOCIAL MEDIA A MAGNET TO DRAW THE LORD’S PEOPLE TO THE WORLD (Friday Church News Notes, January 3, 2025, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - Facebook is filled with worldly people and worldly things. You aren’t forced to participate with worldly things and you can control your own Facebook page and your “friends,” but staying in control is no small task. Facebook doesn’t want to make it easy for its users to shut themselves off from notifications and suggested “friends” and “Likes,” and such. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok are the devil’s nose-rings to take young people wherever he wills. The young people in our church who are growing spiritually are those who have given up social media, and we have many of these. One reader said, “Many years ago, I left Facebook for the simple fact that I found too many so called Christians that I had grown up with or went to Bible college with had left their first love and it became very depressing and troublesome.” A pastor says, “I have taught our young people not to be on Facebook, and the ones who have stayed in the church are those who followed that advice.”
WITCHCRAFT ON SOCIAL MEDIA (Friday Church News Notes, January 3, 2025, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is excerpted from “Young women gravitate toward modern witchcraft,” The Washington Post, Oct. 29, 2024: “Today’s witches are young influencers with popular social media accounts. They host podcasts and post astrological divinations from their downtown dwellings. ... the #witchesoftiktok ... rack up hundreds of thousands of views and likes daily. ... astrology’s influence is growing, especially among younger Americans. According to YouGov’s 2022 poll, more than 1 in 4 Americans say the stars influence their lives. That includes 37% of adults younger than 30. The astrology market, in particular, has grown significantly from $2.2 billion in value in 2018 to $12.8 billion in 2021. By 2031, it is expected to reach $22.8 billion, Allied Market Research said. Women are more likely to buy in. ... A 2023 survey from the Pew Research Center explores details of this growing interest in ‘spirituality.’ It said 42% of adults believe the dead can communicate. Nearly half of respondents said they believe the dead can lend the living a helping hand ... On Reddit, groups such as WitchesvsPatriarchy even share politically charged hexes. One user recently described a ‘freezer spell’ aimed at Donald Trump and Project 2025, with plans to symbolically ‘freeze’ their influence by sealing names in bottles under the waning moon. ... WitchesvsPatriarchy has more than 750,000 active members.”
THE PASTOR’S SACRED STUDY (Friday Church News Notes, January 3, 2025, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - A pastor, who is divinely appointed to “feed the flock,” must teach his people the importance of his study time and exhort them to respect that time and help him guard it. He should explain that there are certain times when he is unavailable except for real emergencies. If they want a godly pastor who has a rich personal devotional life and if they want an educated pastor and a rich preaching/teaching ministry, they will understand and respect this. One preacher said, “I carve out a time away from everything in order to avoid distractions. I notify my wife, and others so that I can get into my study mode. I gather the necessary materials ahead of time. My desk has most, if not all, of the resources that I will need or consult. I will have water and peanuts on the desk also so that I don’t need to waste time getting up and breaking my concentration. My cell phone is on airplane mode, a no disturbance sign is on the door.” I know of a pastor who does some of his study in a back corner of a public library. While traveling, I’ve often done my Bible study in my car while parked in some quiet place. There are occasions, of course, when a preacher must interrupt his study schedule, but it should be for a true emergency only. If the preacher allows himself to be at the beck and call of people during his study time, he will get into the bad habit of being hit and miss. The preacher must honor God by honoring God’s Word and giving it the right priority in his daily life. In case of emergency, the pastor can make some arrangement for being contacted during his study. Perhaps the people can call his wife, secretary, or a deacon and inform them of the problem, and they can decide whether to inform the pastor at that time or to wait until later.
INSULATED BLACKBIRDS (Friday Church News Notes, January 3, 2025, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is from CreationMoments.com, December 16, 2024: “European blackbirds love southern Germany so much that many of them stay for the winter. Some of the blackbirds migrate to North Africa, Spain or southern France to escape the cold. Like the robin in North America, however, some European blackbirds don’t migrate. European blackbirds are able to live through the cold German winter because they are designed with several features that use sophisticated principles from biochemistry and physics. To cope with the winter cold, the birds fluff up their feathers. This creates more insulating dead air spaces between their warm bodies and the cold. Then they tuck their head inside the feathers, making their body into a ball. A round ball is the most heat-conserving shape possible for any object. The ball also protects poorly insulated parts of their bodies--like feet, legs and beak. Food is also more scarce in the winter. On top of that, the birds’ need for energy is five times higher at 20 degrees below zero (F) than it is during the summer. The blackbirds reduce their energy needs by lowering their body temperature at night when they are curled into a ball. Scientists have found that, as a result, European blackbirds are in no danger of freezing, even at 20 degrees below zero, as long as they can get enough food! The intelligent special designs found in the European blackbird reflect a sophisticated knowledge of biochemistry and physics. By its very existence, the European blackbird glorifies our Creator God. Notes: ‘Stay-at-home blackbirds cope with cold,’ Science News.”
CONCLUSION: The Friday Church News Notes is designed for use in churches and is published by Way of Life Literature’s Fundamental Baptist Information Service. Unless otherwise stated, the Notes are written by David Cloud. Of necessity we quote from a wide variety of sources, but this obviously does not imply an endorsement. We trust that our readers will not be discouraged. It is God’s will that we know the times (1 Ch. 12:32; Mt. 16:3) and that we be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves. The News Notes remind us that the hour is very late, and we need to be ready for the Lord’s coming. Are you sure that you are born again? Are you living for Christ? “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Ro. 13:11-14).
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Distributed by Way of Life Literature., publisher of Bible Study Materials and reports for Fundamental Baptists and other fundamentalist, Bible-believing Christians. Established in 1974, Way of Life Literature is a fundamental Baptist preaching and publishing ministry based in Bethel Baptist Church, London, Ontario, of which Wilbert Unger is the founding Pastor. Brother Cloud lives in South Asia where he has been a church planting missionary since 1979. OUR GOAL IN THIS PARTICULAR ASPECT OF OUR MINISTRY (REPORTS AND FRIDAY NEWS) IS NOT DEVOTIONAL. IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO ASSIST PREACHERS IN THE PROTECTION OF THE CHURCHES IN THIS APOSTATE HOUR.
David Cloud, Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org
The Way of Life Literature preaching and publishing ministry is based at Bethel Baptist Church, London, Ontario, of which Wilbert Unger is the founding Pastor. A mail stop is maintained in Port Huron, Michigan.
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