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Charis Flow, Eko (2026)

13/08/2026

Nigeria Violence and Religious Freedom Concerns

A Nigerian lawyer who advocates for Christian women and girls affected by abductions says recent U.S. counterterrorism efforts in Nigeria have not significantly reduced violence against vulnerable communities.

Speaking under the pseudonym Jabez Musa, the lawyer said U.S. airstrikes and troop deployments initially raised hopes but were not sustained long enough to produce lasting results. He said armed groups have continued attacks in several regions, while some communities remain without adequate protection.

Musa described cases involving women and children who were abducted during attacks on communities and places of worship. According to his account, some survivors experienced difficult conditions while trying to escape, including limited access to food, water and medical care. He also said his legal team works with families seeking the safe return of girls who were allegedly abducted and pressured to change their religious affiliation or enter unwanted marriages.

The United States has raised concerns about religious-freedom conditions in Nigeria and has supported counterterrorism cooperation with the Nigerian government.

Musa urged Nigerian authorities and the international community to strengthen civilian protection, humanitarian assistance, legal accountability and support for displaced families affected by insecurity. He also praised Nigerian courts for handling some cases involving alleged militant activity, while calling for stronger efforts to protect communities and uphold religious freedom.

13/08/2026

A Wyoming church has filed a federal complaint against two food bank organizations after its food pantry partnership was discontinued.

Foundations For Nations Church, located on private property within the Wind River Indian Reservation, submitted the complaint to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The church alleges that Food Bank of the Rockies and Food Bank of Wyoming ended its partnership because of the church’s religious views and public statements.

The complaint asks federal authorities to review the decision and require the food banks to restore the partnership and resume deliveries to the church’s food pantry.

The dispute follows comments made by church pastor Sarah Lucas about the Northern Arapaho Tribe’s traditional Sun Dance ceremony. Her remarks drew criticism from members of the local community and reportedly led to protests and calls for the church to leave the area.

The church is represented by Liberty Counsel, whose founder said the organization believes the partnership was improperly ended.

Food Bank of the Rockies and Food Bank of Wyoming were contacted for comment, but a response was still pending when the article was published.

The USDA will determine whether further action is warranted.

13/08/2026

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has outlined his vision for the future of artificial intelligence, arguing that advanced AI should not be controlled by a small group of companies, governments or institutions.

In a manifesto titled The Future Is for Everyone: The Path to a Positive AI Future, Zuckerberg said he believes highly capable AI should be widely distributed and customized to individual users.

He argued that a single centralized superintelligence could struggle to represent the different values and interests of people around the world. Instead, he supports a system in which individuals and organizations have access to different advanced AI systems that can provide greater balance and competition.

Zuckerberg also acknowledged that increasingly capable AI could eventually create challenges if it stops serving human interests. However, he disagreed with some predictions of extreme AI outcomes and said concentrating power in response could create additional risks.

His broader message is that giving individuals greater access to advanced AI could help create a more balanced technological future.

13/08/2026

A former teacher and choir member at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been arrested following a reported threat sent to church leadership.

Melissa Ann Redway, who previously worked at Westminster Academy, was arrested Monday in connection with an email sent to the church. Authorities said concerns about her behavior had increased after she lost her teaching and choir positions.

According to reports, Redway allegedly sent a threatening message to a church leader in February. The message referenced an upcoming concert at the church, prompting authorities to investigate. An arrest warrant was issued in April.

Redway faces felony charges related to making a threat involving a destructive device and communicating a threat to harm others. Her bond was reportedly set at $7,500.

Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church has a long history in Fort Lauderdale. The congregation began holding services in 1959 and was formally established in 1960. D. James Kennedy served as its first pastor until his retirement in 2007.

Rob Pacienza became the church’s senior pastor in 2016.

12/08/2026

Voters in six states took part in primary elections Tuesday, producing mixed results for candidates supported by President Donald Trump and progressive Democrats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

In South Carolina, Darline Graham Nordone, sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, led the Republican primary with 32.7% of the vote. Rep. Ralph Norman finished second with 24.6%, sending both candidates to an Aug. 25 runoff.

Wisconsin Republicans selected Tom Tiffany as their gubernatorial nominee with more than 95% of the vote. Democrat David Crowley narrowly defeated Francesca Hong, 39.8% to 39.3%, in the Democratic primary.

In Minnesota, Lisa Demuth defeated Trump-endorsed candidate Mike Lindell, 43.4% to 32.5%, in the Republican gubernatorial primary. Sen. Amy Klobuchar won the Democratic nomination with nearly 90% of the vote.

Minnesota’s Democratic Senate primary went to Peggy Flanagan, who defeated Rep. Angie Craig by nearly 20 percentage points. Michele Tafoya won the Republican nomination by more than 25 points.

The results set up several closely watched November contests as candidates prepare for the general election. These races are expected to receive significant national attention as parties compete for important seats during the 2026 midterms.

12/08/2026

Michael W. Smith Shares Message About Humility in Worship

Christian music artist Michael W. Smith is reflecting on his decades-long career and encouraging worship leaders to remain humble and focused on their faith.

Smith, 68, has spent more than 40 years in Christian music, earning multiple Grammy and Dove Awards and selling millions of albums. His well-known songs include “Friends,” “Agnus Dei” and “Place in This World.”

In a recent interview, Smith discussed the challenges that can come with public recognition. He said worship leaders should remember that their role is to help people focus on God rather than seeking personal attention.

Smith is also an executive producer of House of Worship, a new film featuring 25 Christian artists and songwriters. The project brings together performers from different generations to revisit influential worship songs.

Smith said the filming experience was meaningful because of the unity among the artists. He also hopes younger worship leaders will discover some of the classic songs that have influenced Christian music.

At the same time, Smith expressed appreciation for today’s younger Christian artists and said he is encouraged by their enthusiasm and commitment to their faith.

House of Worship is scheduled to arrive in theaters nationwide on Aug. 23.

12/08/2026

A California software engineer who identifies as a woman returned to the United States after seeking asylum in the Netherlands, saying conditions at a Dutch reception center were more difficult than expected.

Jane-Michelle Arc, 48, left the U.S. in April 2025 and stayed at Ter Apel, the Netherlands’ main registration center for asylum seekers. Arc later returned to California without receiving a residence permit.

According to media reports, Arc described the reception center as overcrowded and said concerns about personal safety contributed to the decision to return home. Arc also said life in California is expensive and described social attitudes toward transgender people as challenging.

Dutch officials have previously faced concerns about conditions at Ter Apel, including overcrowding and security issues.

Data from Dutch authorities show that 76 Americans sought asylum in the Netherlands last year, compared with nine in 2024. Experts say Americans generally face significant challenges in qualifying for asylum because applicants must demonstrate persecution and a lack of adequate protection in their home country.

12/08/2026

The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) has criticized a health and s*x education curriculum used by Colorado’s Roaring Fork Schools, raising concerns about age-appropriate content and parental notification.

In a letter to the school board and superintendent Anna Cole, ADF argued that parts of the “Rights, Respect, Responsibility” (3Rs) curriculum contain material it considers unsuitable for young students. The organization called for the district to remove the curriculum or adopt an opt-in policy giving parents greater control over participation.

According to ADF, some kindergarten lessons discuss body parts, while later elementary lessons address gender, families and identity. The district approved its health curriculum in May 2023 after research and community feedback, selecting about 18 lessons from a larger 3Rs collection.

District officials have defended the program, saying it focuses on safety, prevention, consent, inclusion and helping students access appropriate resources.

School records indicate that most parents have not opted their children out, although rates vary by school and grade. Superintendent Cole has opposed changing the current opt-out approach, saying the curriculum supports safe, inclusive and supportive schools for students.

12/08/2026

Christian relief organization Operation Blessing is deploying its Global Disaster Response team to Colombia following a powerful earthquake that caused significant damage and left more than 200 people dead.

The team is expected to assess affected communities, identify urgent needs and coordinate assistance with local partners. Support may include food, clean water, hygiene kits, solar lanterns and other essential supplies.

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, with strong tremors and aftershocks affecting several cities and communities. Authorities reported widespread structural damage, while emergency teams continued searching affected areas and assisting residents.

The Colombian government declared a state of emergency to speed recovery efforts and provide support to affected communities. Airports in several cities were temporarily closed while officials assessed infrastructure.

Operation Blessing said its relief work in Venezuela would continue while the additional team responds in Colombia.

The United States also announced $15.5 million in assistance for food, shelter and other earthquake-related relief efforts.

12/08/2026

A July report from the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe (OIDAC Europe) documented 40 incidents targeting Christian places of worship, religious symbols, cemeteries, clergy, worshipers and other individuals across Europe.

The organization compiles information from its own research, police records and other sources and contributes data to the OSCE’s annual hate-crime reporting. OIDAC reported that 40 incidents were recorded in both June and July, while March had the highest monthly total at 41.

Vandalism was the most frequently reported category in July, accounting for 18 cases. The report also recorded eight fires, seven cases involving damage or disrespect toward religious sites, two incidents involving physical harm, two threats, two thefts of religious objects and one incident involving both vandalism and violence.

Germany recorded the highest number of incidents with 15, followed by France with 10 and Italy with five. The United Kingdom recorded three, Poland two, while Austria, Finland, Ireland, Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina each recorded one.

OIDAC said the findings show that Christian communities and places of worship continue to face repeated incidents across Europe.

Charis Flow

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