Faith Facts

• Union Theological Seminary withdrew support for a talk by Mohamed Abdou, banned from Columbia for endorsing Hamas and Hezbollah after October 7 attacks.
• Event flyer featured inverted red triangles, Hamas symbols for targeting Israelis; Abdou later praised jihad and an assassin of Jewish staffers virtually.
• Liberal UTS, once criticized by martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer for rejecting biblical dogmatics, now condemns the event’s violent rhetoric as against peace.

Union Theological Seminary in New York City canceled an in-person talk titled “Death to the Akademy,” organized by Queer Muslims of NYC featuring self-described Muslim anarchist Mohamed Abdou.

The event promoted “decolonial organizing lessons from Gaza’s warrior mujahideen,” drawing scrutiny for Abdou’s prior support of terrorist groups.

UTS President Serene Jones stated, “The violent and hateful rhetoric expressed at the non-Union, off-campus event is in complete contradiction of UTS’s values, and we forcefully condemn it.”

To put it plainly, this is not who we are.

She added, “In order to preserve our community’s rigorous code of conduct and standards which are grounded in peace and respect, we have publicly denounced this event.”

Abdou declared virtually, “Let us engage in jihad, and there are rules for jihad, and Muslims know that Allah has commanded rules.”

Despite UTS’s condemnation, Bonhoeffer warned decades ago of the seminary’s students being “completely clueless with respect to what dogmatics is really about,” intoxicated by liberal phrases while ignoring fundamentals.

As believers grounded in Scripture, we celebrate seminaries rejecting terrorist advocacy, standing firm against hatred that defies Christ’s command to love our neighbors.

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Faith Facts

• Lebanon conflict displaces nearly 700,000, including 200,000 children, as families shelter in churches and schools.
• Marianne Awaraji, SAT-7 ARABIC leader and mother, balances team responsibilities with protecting her son amid uncertainty.
• Psalm 46:1 declares God is our refuge and strength.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

Mother’s Day in Lebanon unfolds against intensifying conflict, where mothers like Marianne Awaraji juggle leadership duties and family safety.

They embody biblical resilience, teaching children courage rooted in faith rather than fear.

A displaced mother shared.

“The hardest thing is leaving, not knowing what to take or if you will ever return.”

Another voiced solidarity.

“My heart is with every mother in this war.”

Leadership here means presence and trust in God’s sovereignty, sustaining missions and families.

A Lebanese believer affirmed.

“Without having faith and hope, we would have been lost long ago.”

Mothers leading households or teams model Christ-like strength, pointing to eternal hope.

This Mother’s Day, pray for persecuted Christian families in the Middle East and support ministries like SAT-7 advancing faith and freedom.

Read full story at Christian Today

Faith Facts

• Born December 23, 1805, in Vermont to struggling farmers with limited education and frequent relocations.
• Palmyra family cleared land for farm but drew suspicion for treasure digging with seer stones, earning mixed neighbor views.
• Amid revivalism and family spiritual divides, claimed grove vision launching Mormonism after rejecting churches.

Joseph Smith Jr., fourth of nine children, faced poverty that curtailed his schooling, leaving him barely literate in reading and writing.

Neighbors called him illiterate and ignorant, yet his mother Lucy noted he pondered religious matters deeply beyond his peers.

“Joseph Smith is a man of God, a prophet of the Lord set apart to lead the people — If we observe his words it will be well with us; if we live righteously on earth, it will be well with us in Eternity”

— Lucy Mack Smith.

The Smiths toiled on their New York farm, felling trees and planting orchards.

But economic woes and treasure quests tarnished their name.

One acquaintance deemed them “poor as well as worthless,” while 51 others questioned their moral character.

Others saw them as hearty good neighbors.

Grandfather Solomon Mack, after visions and prayer, found true rest in Christ as Matthew 11:28 promises.

He believed for salvation.

Young Joseph mourned his sins and the world’s, sensing apostasy amid church divisions despite Bible reverence.

Father Joseph Sr. favored solitary Bible study in woods over churches.

Mother Lucy chose Presbyterianism.

Second Great Awakening revivals left Joseph unsatisfied—he felt nothing amid the shouting—prompting his personal grove quest.

True Biblical faith offers rest to the weary through Christ alone.

It contrasts with man-made visions that stray from Scripture.

Defend America’s Christian heritage by discerning prophets through God’s unchanging Word.

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Full article at Christian Post