Faith Facts

• Heavy rains have killed over 200 and displaced hundreds of thousands in Southern Africa since December.
• Churches in Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe are serving as shelter and relief centers for families.
• Authorities warn of increased disease risk and communities remain on high alert for further flooding.

Faith communities are rallying to provide sanctuary as devastating floods across Southern Africa leave families homeless and vulnerable. In Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, local congregations are stepping up to shelter and care for those displaced by rising waters and widespread destruction.

The region faces a national disaster with critical infrastructure damaged, leaving many areas inaccessible. Churches have become places of hope, offering food, shelter, and spiritual support when people need it most.

“We have moved the hymnals to the rafters so families can sleep on the floor mats,” said the Rev. Alberto Bila. “The water is at our doorstep, but the church is on the only high ground left.”

President Daniel Chapo of Mozambique stressed the need to save lives as a top priority, and officials are issuing urgent warnings as health threats loom. Victims are contending not only with flooding but with outbreaks of disease and predators entering flooded towns.

Local faith leaders call on believers worldwide to pray and take action, rooted in the Biblical call to care for neighbors in distress. The hands of the church bring Christ’s love and practical aid, strengthening faith, family, and freedom in the darkest storms.

Read the full story at Christian Daily

Faith Facts

• Three activists were arrested for disrupting worship at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
• They are charged under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act and conspiracy federal laws.
• Religious leaders and officials reaffirmed America’s commitment to protecting freedom of worship.

The Department of Justice confirmed that federal agents arrested activists after an anti-ICE protest disrupted a Sunday service at Cities Church in St. Paul. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel stated Nekima Levy Armstrong and Chauntyll Louisa Allen were charged under the FACE Act, which guards access to faith communities.

“Listen loud and clear: WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP,”

Bondi declared, making clear that the protection of churches is a top priority.

The arrests also included William Kelly, who was recorded harassing worshipers and mocking believers. These activists, connected to the Racial Justice Network and Black Lives Matter leadership, stormed the Southern Baptist congregation, cutting the Sunday service short with disruptive shouts.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized America’s foundational commitment to religious freedom and cited the federal law against conspiring to deprive citizens of their constitutional rights.

“Religious freedom is the bedrock of the United States — there is no first amendment right to obstruct someone from practicing their religion,”

Noem said.

Authorities pointed out that protecting places of worship upholds the nation’s purpose, founded by those fleeing persecution and seeking the freedom to worship God in peace.

As faith and freedom come under attack, Christians must remain vigilant in prayer, defending the right to worship, and standing together to preserve the legacy of our founders’ devotion to God. Now is the time to boldly defend what is sacred to our families and churches.

Read the full report at Christian Post

Faith Facts

• The biblical account of Hagar warns against turning motherhood into a contract.
• Modern surrogacy often treats women and children as commodities.
• God’s compassion is for those who suffer, not for exploitative systems.

Meghan Trainor recently announced the birth of her daughter, revealing the child was born through a surrogate rather than by her own delivery. More celebrities are using surrogacy, with society increasingly accepting it as a solution for those unable to bear children.

Scripture, however, shows that the longing for children is worthy of compassion, yet believers are called to discern the costs and consequences of surrogacy. Christians must question what is sacrificed in the process—and who bears that burden.

Surrogacy, even when painted as charitable, separates pregnancy from motherhood and turns the child into a product. The woman who carries the baby is regarded as a means to an end, rather than honored for her God-given dignity and unique role.

Genesis recounts Sarai giving her servant Hagar to Abram in an attempt to build a family, resulting in deep suffering for both Hagar and her son Ishmael.

“Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.” (Genesis 16:2)

Hagar is left vulnerable, mistreated, and eventually cast out, with Ishmael facing displacement and rejection. God intervenes with compassion, not to bless the arrangement but to care for those harmed by it.

God hears Hagar’s cries in the wilderness; she names Him “the God who sees me.” Ishmael is also rescued by the Lord, showing that biblical justice protects the vulnerable.

Modern surrogacy’s methods have changed, but the harms remain similar, as the most vulnerable women often pay the highest price. The practice can fracture a child’s sense of identity and family, while financial inequality usually means surrogates come from poor communities.

Reports reveal surrogates being pressured into abortions or left to care for children when commissioning parents change their minds. If surrogacy were truly empowering, wealthier parties would not always be the ones collecting children, rather than carrying them for others.

Even in places like the UK, where only “altruistic” surrogacy is permitted, the moral concerns remain. No payment can change a child’s fundamental need for love and connection, as intended by God.

As Christians, we must stand for the dignity of motherhood and resist systems that turn God’s blessings into transactions.

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