WEEKLY NEWS SUMMARY - SEPTEMBER 23, 2026
In this week's Intersect, read about:
Franklin Graham's Daughter Nominated for Religious Freedom Role
"President Trump moved this week to fill some of the government's most important posts for defending religious freedom overseas, nominating Cissie Graham Lynch, granddaughter of the late evangelist Billy Graham, as the nation's top religious freedom diplomat. Trump also named three new commissioners, including a missionary once imprisoned in Turkey, to the federal watchdog panel that tracks religious persecution worldwide." Read more at Million Voices...
THINK.
- This nomination reframes what faith influence in Washington actually looks like. It is not a photo op or an advisory seat, but a working ambassador embedded inside the machinery of American foreign policy, with real authority to act.
- This post sat vacant for years without much notice outside religious liberty circles, which says something uncomfortable. Persecuted believers abroad had quietly slipped down the list of priorities, and it took a high-profile nomination to put the empty seat back in the headlines.
- Hebrews 13:3 pictures remembering prisoners as though chained beside them, a posture of solidarity rather than distance. It is worth asking whether our own prayer lives treat the persecuted church as a statistic to mention or as family to carry.
PRAY.
Lord, we thank You for leaders willing to champion the persecuted church around the world. Grant Cissie Graham Lynch, Andrew Brunson, Bishop Robert Barron, and Joe Grogan wisdom, discernment, and courage as they take up this work. Protect believers suffering for their faith in China, Iran, and beyond, and let these appointments become a shield for the voiceless. In Jesus' name, Amen.
ACT.
Contact your senators and ask them to move quickly on Cissie Graham Lynch's confirmation as ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom. Share this story with your church so believers know who is representing persecuted Christians on the world stage, and keep this office in your regular prayers.
Senate Control in 2026: The Key Races to Watch
"Longtime political analyst Dick Morris said this week that the 2026 Senate battle is breaking in Republicans' favor, telling viewers the GOP will not only hold its majority in November but likely grow it. His forecast lines up with what nonpartisan election analysts and conservative outlets have been reporting for weeks: Republicans start the fall campaign with a real, if narrow, advantage in the fight for the Senate." Read more at Million Voices...
THINK.
- A one-seat swing changes almost nothing about the daily life of a family making ends meet, yet it changes who confirms the next wave of federal judges. That mismatch between abstraction and consequence is why so many believers tune out until it is too late.
- Notice how often the toss-up races hinge on candidate quality rather than ideology. Voters in Maine and Alaska are less choosing between two philosophies than deciding whether they trust a specific person, a reminder that character still outweighs the party label attached to a name.
- Praying for those in authority was never meant as a spectator's prayer offered from a safe distance. It assumes engagement, the kind that shows up at the ballot box as readily as in a quiet room.
PRAY.
Father, we lift up every candidate and every voter facing decisions this election season. Grant discernment to Christians as they weigh who will serve with integrity and wisdom. Guard the process from fraud and division, and raise up leaders who will govern justly and honor You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
ACT.
Confirm your voter registration status today and mark your calendar for early voting in your state. Talk with your church family about the races on your local ballot, and encourage fellow believers to vote from a biblical worldview rather than sitting out the midterms.
Hamas Plotted Berlin, Vienna Attacks on Jews
"German federal prosecutors have charged seven suspected Hamas operatives over a coordinated plot to attack Israeli and Jewish targets in Berlin and Vienna. The indictment, made public on September 11, reveals the group planned to strike on the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023, massacre in Israel. The 214-page filing shows just how close Europe came to another mass-casualty terror attack." Read more at Million Voices...
THINK.
- An informant was embedded inside the cell, meaning German intelligence had a front-row seat to the planning and still needed a raid just six days before the attack was set to unfold. Monitoring a threat is not the same as neutralizing it.
- The plot's target was never Israeli soil. It was Jewish life anywhere in the world, exposing a threat model many Western governments have not fully priced in: hatred aimed at Israel rarely stays contained to the Middle East.
- Abraham was promised that those who bless his descendants would be blessed, and the reverse held true too. Standing with Jewish communities in Berlin and Vienna is not charity from a distance. It is an inheritance believers were written into long before this headline broke.
PRAY.
Lord, we thank You that this plot was stopped before it could claim innocent lives. We pray for the safety of Jewish communities in Germany, Austria, and around the world who continue to face threats simply for who they are. Give investigators wisdom to uncover every remaining thread of this network, and surround Your people with Your protection. In Jesus' name, Amen.
ACT.
Contact your representatives and urge continued support for intelligence sharing between the United States and European allies to disrupt terror networks before they strike. Support organizations that stand with Jewish communities facing rising threats abroad, and make prayer for Israel and the Jewish people a regular part of your week.
Trump Calls SCOTUS Mail Ballot Ruling a "Big Loss"
"The Supreme Court rejected President Trump's request to let new U.S. Postal Service mail ballot rules take effect before the November midterms. The unsigned order, released Monday night, keeps a lower court injunction in place, meaning the Postal Service must continue delivering mail ballots under existing procedures." Read more at Million Voices...
THINK.
- Kavanaugh did not reject the rule itself, he rejected the clock. That distinction gets lost in the win-or-loss headlines, but it matters for predicting how this fight resolves once November has passed.
- Some officials warning that a rushed rollout could backfire were Republicans, not just Democrats challenging the policy in court. When caution comes from inside your own camp, it is worth weighing more carefully than dismissing it as partisan noise.
- An honest scale was rare enough in the ancient world that God commanded His people to keep one anyway. Elections run on the same logic: trust is built through rules that hold up under pressure, not rushed through it.
PRAY.
Lord, we ask for integrity in every step of this election process, from ballot design to final count. Grant our justices wisdom as they weigh these hard questions of law and timing. Protect the trust Americans place in their elections, and let truth prevail over suspicion on every side. In Jesus' name, Amen.
ACT.
Contact your congressional representatives and ask them to support permanent legislation strengthening mail ballot verification, rather than relying on emergency court rulings weeks before an election. Stay informed on how your own state handles mail ballots, and encourage your church to pray regularly for trustworthy elections.
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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