Court Rejects Transgender Mandate, MK’s Entering College & Disaster Relief Update

The Biden administration has received another setback from a federal court – this time at the appellate level – in its effort to institute transgender rights even at the expense of freedom of conscience.

The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans blocked Aug. 26 a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rule that required doctors and hospitals to perform gender-transition procedures, as well as abortions. The unanimous opinion by a three-judge panel upheld a 2021 permanent injunction by a federal court in Texas that barred enforcement of the regulation – an action also taken by a federal judge in North Dakota.

The Biden administration’s support for transgender rights experienced another court defeat in July, when a federal judge in Tennessee blocked enforcement of guidelines from the Department of Education (DOE) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) while they are being legally challenged by 20 states. Those rules mandated schools must permit students to use the restrooms and locker rooms, as well as to compete on sports teams, of their gender identity instead of their biological sex.
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More than 50 children of missionaries (MKs) preparing to enter college in the U.S. this fall gained insights and encouragement for “reentering” well during the annual MK Re-Entry Retreat held at Alabama WMU’s WorldSong Missions Place.

Each year, Woman’s Missionary Union partners with the International Mission Board to host the retreat, providing a setting where MKs can process the transition to college, envision what life in the U.S. will look like, learn skills to help them adjust to living in the U.S. and navigate university life. State WMUs take turns hosting the retreat.

MKs from around the world participated in the Aug. 1-6 event and were prepared for the transition to U.S. and college life spiritually, academically and emotionally, said Candace McIntosh, Alabama WMU executive director.
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Recovery teams were busy reclaiming the foundations of homes that burned to the ground during the Tunnel Fire in Flagstaff, hauling twisted metal, rebar and melted box springs and appliances and transforming them into massive heaps inside industrial-size walk-in dumpsters.

Arizona Southern Baptist Disaster Relief incident command coordinated efforts with Coconino County and managed work orders and teams.

A two-person assessment team met with property owners to evaluate the scope of the jobs and get them on the schedule. A chaplain lent an empathetic ear, ready to listen and pray at any moment.

Members of the team had the opportunity to get to know a lady named Sandy and share their hope in Christ with her. Before leaving the area, they were able to help Sandy make that hope her own as she decided to follow Jesus.

Some team members stayed in touch with her and report that since their last meeting with Sandy, God has blessed her with a new job, an apartment and a church family.