Episode 202
Prayers at Execution, 21st Biennial Conference & Apps Removed from Google Store
Pastor Dana Moore prayed – his left hand holding a Bible and his right over John Henry Ramirez’s heart – as the death row inmate took his final breaths Oct. 5, the wish Ramirez had expressed following his turn to Christianity years earlier. After a four-year hiatus because of Covid, the 21st biennial conference of the Chinese Baptist Fellowship of the United States and Canada took place Sept. 26-29 at Crosspoint Church of Silicon Valley in Milpitas. And, accountability software including Covenant Eyes and Accountable2You, were recently dropped from the Google app store. Many Christian leaders believe they’re still useful tools in helping people turn away from temptation and addiction.
Transcript
Pastor Dana Moore prayed – his left hand holding a Bible and his right over John Henry Ramirez’s heart – as the death row inmate took his final breaths Oct. 5, the wish Ramirez had expressed following his turn to Christianity years earlier.
Pastor Moore of Second Baptist Church in Corpus Christi said Ramirez had deep remorse for his crime.
He converted in the county jail years earlier through the witness of Second Baptist member Les Archer. Ramirez became a member of Second Baptist in 2016.
Twelve years earlier in 2004, Ramirez had stabbed store clerk Pablo Castro 29 times in a robbery that brought only $1.25. Ramirez went on the run and was caught in Mexico three years later. He was found guilty in 2008.
Ramirez fought all the way to the US Supreme Court for the right to have his pastor with him when he was executed.
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After a four-year hiatus because of Covid, the 21st biennial conference of the Chinese Baptist Fellowship of the United States and Canada took place Sept. 26-29 at Crosspoint Church of Silicon Valley in Milpitas.
More than 200 hundred pastors, and their wives and other church leaders gathered from 22 states and three Canadian provinces.
Workshops for the event covered topics such as “healing heart wounds”, generational partnerships, overcoming obstacles to church growth and facing legal issues affecting California churches.
The fellowship has been in existence since 1980.
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Good News for Today is sponsored by The Voice of the Martyrs
Good News for Today is made possible through our friends at The Voice of the Martyrs, a nonprofit organization that serves persecuted Christians around the world. Founded in 1967 by Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, VOM is dedicated to inspiring believers to deepen their commitment to Christ and to fulfill His Great Commission — no matter the cost. Find out more and sign up for their free monthly magazine at vom.org/goodnews.
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Accountability software including Covenant Eyes and Accountable2You, were recently dropped from the Google app store. Many Christian leaders believe they’re still useful tools in helping people turn away from temptation and addiction.
Google dropped the apps amid accusations that they violate the company’s malware policy, which Covenant Eyes and Accountable2You both dispute.
Representatives from both companies say they are appealing the decision and hope Google will reverse the decision.
Jason Thacker of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission hopes that is the case.
“Many of these apps and services can help Christians and all people to navigate the challenges of pornography and explicit content in community with others,” Thacker said.
“They can be a critical part of Christian discipleship in our digital age, especially for those with histories of pornography use or sexual sin.”
Read the full piece and sign up for our daily emails at Baptist Press.com.
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