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WEEKLY NEWS SUMMARY - JANUARY 24, 2024
In this week's Intersect, read about:
Trump Trounces Haley in New Hampshire to Sweep First Two Nominating Contests
“Former President Donald Trump clinched a second win in the Republican primary, crushing his sole remaining GOP opponent, Nikki Haley, in New Hampshire on Tuesday even as she made plans to keep battling Trump for the nomination until at least March. It’s the second time this month that Mr. Trump dominated the party’s presidential nomination contest. He secured more than half of New Hampshire primary voters as of late Tuesday.” read more at The Washington Times
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- With Ron DeSantis dropping out of the presidential race on Sunday and endorsing former President Trump, New Hampshire became a test for Trump and Haley. The tiny community of Dixville Notch cast their historic votes at the stroke of midnight Tuesday morning, representing the first votes. All six registered voters of the community cast their ballots and all six voted for Nikki Haley. At 8pm, the Associated Press called the race for Trump on the Republican side and for President Joe Biden as a write-in candidate on the Democratic side.
- The next Republican presidential primary election will take place in Haley’s home state of South Carolina. According to polling from Real Clear Politics, Trump commands more than twice the support among Republican voters than Haley in South Carolina. South Carolina is an open primary state, which means residents can vote in either the Democratic primary on Saturday, Feb. 3 or the Republican primary three weeks later on Saturday, Feb. 24, regardless of party affiliation. However, voters cannot vote in both primaries. Unregistered South Carolinians hoping to vote in the Republican primary still have a few days left to register, with the cutoff being this Thursday, Jan. 25.
- It's time for all of us across the nation to awaken Christians to civic engagement in America to see Godly principles advanced in our society. Our mission at My Faith Votes seeks to advance policies consistent with Jesus’ principles. We do not endorse any candidate or political party. Instead, we encourage Christians to bring the solutions of their faith into the ballot box.
PRAY.
As my pastor once told me, “The primary pursuit of every election is to seek the face of God in prayer.” Download and share this Election Day Prayer Guide as you prepare to vote in the primaries and general election this year.
ACT.
Here are the states with upcoming primaries in February: South Carolina, Nevada, and Michigan. If you live in one of these states, make sure you are ready to vote. Visit My Voter Hub for your voting and ballot information.
The 50 Countries Where It’s Hardest to Follow Jesus in 2024
“Almost 5,000 Christians were killed for their faith last year. Almost 4,000 were abducted. Nearly 15,000 churches were attacked or closed. And more than 295,000 Christians were forcibly displaced from their homes because of their faith. Sub-Saharan Africa—the epicenter of global Christianity—remains the epicenter of violence against followers of Jesus, according to the 2024 World Watch List (WWL). The latest annual accounting from Open Doors ranks the top 50 countries where it is most dangerous and difficult to be a Christian.” read more at Christianity Today
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- "Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.” (Hebrews 13:3) We remember our brothers and sisters in our prayers and in our aid to them. Is it also possible to remember them in our votes? When our country values religious liberty, it affects how we interact with nations who suppress religious liberty. When we support religious liberty through our votes and our civic action, the ripple effect extends beyond America.
- According to the U.S. State Department, “[T]he President is required to annually review the status of religious freedom in every country in the world and designate each country the government of which has engaged in or tolerated ‘particularly severe violations of religious freedom’ as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).” Most of the countries on Open Doors’ list are also on the State Department’s list of CPCs, with a few notable exceptions. Nigeria is not a CPC, despite being the deadliest country for Christians, according to Open Doors. Of the 4,998 Christians killed last year for their faith, 4,118 were in Nigeria.
- It is heartbreaking to read about the persecution many of our brothers and sisters experience, often at the hands of cruel governments. Though the physical circumstances may be severe and limiting, there are no circumstances too difficult for mind, heart, and soul to still believe in and follow Jesus. Our brothers and sisters have been “born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” and “by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3, 5) These nations would be wise to stop fighting God.
PRAY.
Heavenly Father, I pray for the leaders in America and in other countries to let Your people lead godly lives and share the gospel. (1 Timothy 2:1-4) But if they do not, give us the courage to be like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, refusing to worship anyone or anything besides You, no matter the cost. (Daniel 3) In Jesus’ mighty name, amen.
ACT.
Jason Yates, CEO of My Faith Votes, recently interviewed Nathan Berkeley, Communications Director and Research Coordinator for Religious Freedom Institute. Learn about the challenges facing religious freedom and how the Religious Freedom Institute is actively engaged in education and public policy to protect these essential rights. You will also discover practical steps you can take to advance religious freedom in your community. Watch our interview here.
Abortion-rights Opponents Brave Snow for March for Life Rally
“Thousands of opponents of abortion rights gathered on a snow-covered National Mall Friday to participate in the 51st annual March for Life, headlined by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). The participants gathered for the largest anti-abortion event in the country under the theme ‘With every woman, for every child.’ Johnson and House Pro-Life Caucus Chair Chris Smith (R-NJ) focused their speeches on two anti-abortion bills that passed the House Thursday, focused on funding and protecting ‘pregnancy centers,’ which aim to help mothers and prevent abortions. ‘Tragically, President Biden, the abortion president, has weaponized the entire federal bureaucracy to aggressively promote abortion on demand,’ Smith said.” read more at The Hill
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- Other notable Washington D.C. attendees were Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, former football player Benjamin Watson, singer Danny Gokey and thousands of others, including a team from My Faith Votes. On Saturday, over 50,000 walked for life in San Francisco and thousands more in Los Angeles.
- On Monday, President Biden and Vice President Harris doubled down on advancing abortion, launching a public relations blitz to put anti-life policies at the center of their campaign, using it as their key to win in 2024. Multiple Biden administration departments on Monday also announced new plans to increase access to surgical abortion, chemical abortion, and contraceptives. Both the White House and Biden’s re-election campaign have been blaming Republicans, calling their more restrictive stance on abortion “dangerous, extreme, and out-of-touch agenda.”
- Notice the language. It’s critical to understand that the media as well as Biden and Harris are using intentional terms like “reproductive health” and “reproductive freedom” and “abortion rights opponents.” As terms are repackaged, if you can simply rename something then you can change the moral dynamic. That's a big worldview realization for Christians and we must call things what they are. This is not about “health” or “freedom” or “rights.” This is about the intentional killing of unborn human life in the womb. We should be using the correct language. Abortion attacks the character and nature of God, assaults those God cherishes, and destroys the weakest and most vulnerable among us. That, my friends, is “dangerous, extreme and out-of-touch.”
PRAY.
Lord, thank you for the tens of thousands of people across this nation who publicly showed their commitment to stand for life. We pray for a continued energy to advocate for and protect life despite the enormous push and pressure to celebrate death. We boldly pray for those in office who advocate for abortion as “freedom” and “healthcare” to see the truth and change their ways.
ACT.
There is nothing quite like the energy and joy of participating in a March for Life! You can be a part of it too. If you live near Fort Wayne, Indiana, Lincoln, Nebraska and Austin, Texas, there are pro-life marches taking place this Saturday, January 27th. Check here and here for more details and to see if there is an event near you in the coming weeks and months. It’s a simple yet powerful way to advocate for the sanctity and protection of life.
Supreme Court Authorizes Biden Admin to Tear Down Texas Razor Wire Securing Border
“The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on Monday that the Biden administration may cut through or tear down razor wire that the state of Texas has placed along the U.S.-Mexico border as it seeks to stop foreign nationals from illegally crossing into the U.S. The short order noted that Justice Clarence Thomas, Justice Samuel Alito, Justice Neil Gorsuch, and Justice Brett Kavanaugh all would have denied the Biden administration’s request.” read more at the Daily Wire
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- This order is not the court’s final ruling. Late last year, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, at Texas’ request, stopped the Biden administration from cutting Texas’ razor wire while the case proceeded. The Biden administration appealed, and the Supreme Court on Monday annulled the Fifth Circuit’s injunction. The original case will be heard by the Fifth Circuit on February 7. The court did not say why they granted the Biden administration’s request, but you can read a summary of the arguments here.
- What is the role of the federal government versus the states on immigration? What about a state’s right to property, self-defense, and protecting its citizens? These are key questions as we consider Texas’ suit against the federal government and the discussion surrounding the Supreme Court’s order. Texas Governor Gregg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton argue that Texas has a “constitutional authority to secure the border,” and a duty as a sovereign state to defend its citizens. A spokesman from the Texas Department of Public Safety said Texas “will maintain its current posture in deterring illegal border crossings by utilizing effective border security measures - reinforced concertina wire & anti-climb barriers along the Rio Grande.”
- The Biden administration argued that the federal government’s immigration law supersedes state law according to the supremacy clause of Article VI of the Constitution. It also argued that the razor wire hinders border patrol agents from carrying out their duties. Brandon Judd, President of the National Border Patrol Council, disagreed, saying, “The administration no doubt will say this is a win for border security, but if they sought rank and file input, they would be told this will do the exact opposite. Agents support what Texas was trying to accomplish in the absence of true border security policies from this administration." This will be a crucial case going forward.
PRAY.
Pray for our country and our government to return to its God-ordained duty of protecting its citizens and maintaining order. Continue to keep law enforcement at the border in your prayers. In such a demoralizing situation, pray for them to seek the hope and redemption found in Jesus.
ACT.
How do we hold judges accountable? How is our justice system structured? What are some ways to pray for our judges? To find out, download A Christian Voter’s Resource Guide to Understanding the American Justice Systems.
My Faith Votes—is a nonpartisan movement that motivates, equips and activates Christians in America to vote in every election, transforming our communities and influencing our nation with biblical truth. By partnering with national faith leaders, My Faith Votes provides resources to help Christians Pray, Think, and Act to create an America where God is honored in the public square.
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