WEEKLY NEWS SUMMARY - OCTOBER 15, 2025
In this week's Intersect, read about:
Christian Photographer Wins Major First Amendment Case
“When Kentucky wedding photographer Chelsey Nelson filed suit against the city of Louisville five years ago, she wasn’t seeking fame, she was defending her right to create art that aligns with her beliefs. Last week, a federal judge handed Nelson a major victory, ruling that the city violated her First Amendment rights by attempting to force her to photograph same-sex weddings against her convictions.” Read more at Million Voices…
THINK.
- The court affirmed that artistic expression is protected speech under the First Amendment. This holding will likely positively impact other decisions in the future regarding religious liberty, should they arise.
- This case builds on the Supreme Court’s 303 Creative decision, extending free speech protection to other creative professions.
- The ruling reinforces that government cannot compel individuals to express messages that violate their conscience. This is in alignment with the view America’s Founding Fathers held; the freedom of conscience and religion are intimately connected.
PRAY.
Thank you, Jesus, for judges who are willing to uphold America’s supreme law, which is founded on Your law. May more rise up with their courage; leaders courageous enough to do the right thing for Your people.
ACT.
Speak respectfully about why protecting both free speech and freedom of religion strengthens civil liberty for everyone.
Gun Rights Advocates Target the National Firearms Act
“Gun-rights organizations are taking direct aim at the National Firearms Act (NFA), arguing that decades-old gun restrictions violate the Constitution. Their coordinated efforts mark a renewed legal challenge to federal firearm laws, which some advocates believe could be the most significant Second Amendment fight in a generation.” Read more at Million Voices…
THINK.
- Lawsuits against the NFA test the limits of how far federal regulation can go without infringing on individual rights.
- The coalition of pro–Second Amendment groups is strategically using court rulings to challenge decades of precedent; rulings like Heller v. D.C. which recognized that the right to carry a firearm is not based on one’s membership to a militia.
- This renewed debate centers on whether the right to bear arms includes ownership of items long restricted under federal law. The Supreme Court tends to lean more in the direction of upholding the original intention of the Constitution; therefore, many are hopeful that the coalition of pro Second Amendment organizations will be successful in their case.
PRAY.
May the justices have the wisdom and courage to uphold the law that has been protected since the founding of our nation. I asked, Lord, that you remove any doubt and fear from the justices who may be wavering, and give them boldness in their decision-making.
ACT.
Encourage others to read the Constitution’s Second Amendment and understand its original purpose in preserving liberty.
Illegal Alien Superintendent Scandal Rocks Iowa Schools
“An Iowa school district faces backlash after hiring an illegal alien as superintendent, an individual who allegedly made key decisions impacting students while unlawfully in the country. The revelation has sparked outrage among parents and lawmakers who question how such an appointment could happen in the first place.” Read more at Million Voices…
THINK.
- The scandal exposes failures in vetting processes within local education systems, and the lack of care that goes into hiring for positions that will impact children for their entire lives.
- Allowing noncitizens in powerful roles challenges both the rule of law and the integrity of school governance. It hurts America’s culture by removing the process of assimilation, which gives immigrants the opportunity to learn and live by America’s values, customs, and traditions, not the country they fled from.
- People are growing weary of illegal immigration and the pain it brings to America, and all other nations that allow open border policies. Every nation’s culture is hurt when they allow people who do not care about their culture, come into their borders unvetted.
PRAY.
Though we have made mistakes, God, please show us mercy. Allow us the grace to teach the people in our nation our own laws, our customs and traditions. Help us to teach them quickly, how to love Your precepts which are the foundation of our laws. Protect us from those who we have allowed in who wish to hurt us, and help us to be graceful and patient with those here.
ACT.
Ask your local school board how they verify employment eligibility and ensure leaders comply with the law.
Trump-Brokered Ceasefire Brings a Fragile Calm to the Middle East
“After months of relentless bloodshed, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire, the first major step in Donald Trump’s new peace initiative. The deal, announced Thursday, marks a rare moment of quiet in a war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and reshaped regional alliances. In exchange for the release of Israeli hostages, Israel will free Palestinian prisoners and pull back troops from key areas of Gaza under strict verification measures.” Read more at Million Voices…
THINK.
- Israel’s relief is real, but fragile. The return of hostages marks a powerful moment of victory and grief intertwined, as the nation continues its fight for security while carrying the emotional scars of terror. Each release is both a miracle and a reminder of the danger still lurking beyond its borders.
- The world is watching a test of moral courage. Israel’s stand against Hamas exposes the high price of confronting evil while protecting the innocent. The struggle demands more than military strength; it calls for moral clarity in a time when many have lost it.
- Faith, not fear, defines this moment. Families who clung to prayer through every sleepless night are seeing hope turn into reality. Their perseverance proves that faith outlasts violence, and that light still breaks through even the darkest captivity.
PRAY.
I pray for the restoration and healing for those who were in captivity. May their bodies, their minds, and their families heal from the horrors they went through. I also pray for the salvation of Hamas. God, You are the redeemer of man. May those who brought the atrocities on their enemies be captured by Your love and mercy.
ACT.
Pray for peace in the region, and share factual updates to help others understand the human cost of this conflict.
My Faith Votes— is a ministry that motivates, equips, and activates Christians in America to vote in every election, transforming our communities and influencing our nation with biblical truth. An estimated 25 million Christians who are registered to vote, fail to vote in presidential elections. My Faith Votes is on a mission to change this statistic by helping Christians act on their faith and vote in every election. When we pray unceasingly for our nation, think biblically about the issues, and vote consistently in every election the impact of Christians taking action from the local to the state and federal level will be unprecedented.
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