Episode 447

Church Responds to Online Threat, Worship Pastor Wins on ‘Wheel of Fortune’ & Praising God in Prayer

Sep 29, 2023

Police in Haymarket, Virginia responded in textbook fashion to neutralize a threat at an area church on Sunday. A Kentucky pastor recently used an appearance on the popular game show Wheel of Fortune to do more than spin the wheel and win some cash. And, Wesley Duewel, the 20th century missionary and prayer leader, once observed, “Praise gives you the spirit of triumph and overcoming. Praise fires you with holy zeal.

Transcript

Police in Haymarket, Virginia responded in textbook fashion to neutralize a threat at an area church on Sunday.

The Prince William County Police Department learned of the threat made against Park Valley Church on social media on Saturday. On Sunday, the man who made the threats showed up at the church and police took him into custody.

Rui Jiang, 35, of Falls Church, Va., was charged with threats of bodily harm and carrying a dangerous weapon to a place of religious worship, police said. The threat charge is a felony, while the weapons charge is a misdemeanor, according to online court records.

No motive has been announced.
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A Kentucky pastor recently used an appearance on the popular game show Wheel of Fortune to do more than spin the wheel and win some cash.

Steven Bell, pastor of worship and family ministry at Hindman First Baptist Church, won more than $61,000 on “Wheel of Fortune” on Sept. 20, winning the bonus round on Pat Sajak’s sendoff season.

Bell used his appearance on the show to talk about adoption and foster care. He and his wife have six children — including one adopted from the Congo and two adopted from the foster care system.

He said following the show’s taping, they allowed him to record some videos for social media that talked about how a portion of the money he won was going to be used to help families seeking to adopt or foster children.
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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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Wesley Duewel, the 20th century missionary and prayer leader, once observed, “Praise gives you the spirit of triumph and overcoming. Praise fires you with holy zeal. It lifts you above the battles to the perspective of God’s throne.” As a result of the significance of praise, it must be obvious that no prayer life is maturing properly until it includes frequent expressions of praise.

In a piece in the Baptist Press Toolbox, Kie Bowman writes, “Praise as a prayer is similar to the prayer of thanksgiving. Practically speaking, we thank God for what He has done; and we praise God for who He is. Together, these twin components of worship serve as the gateway of personal and congregational prayer since we are invited to “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4)!”
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