Christians Sheltering in Gaza Churches, Duck Dynasty’s Family Spurs Drug Dealer to Faith & Experiencing New Birth

Christians are sheltering in two churches in North Gaza where Israel has threatened a ground offensive in the Israeli-Hamas war, International Christian Concern (ICC) told Baptist Press.

Israel will work to protect the churches amid the danger, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have reportedly told private sources, but ICC expressed to Baptist Press little confidence of the Christians’ safety as the war intensifies.

Members of the dwindling Christian community of about 800 in North Gaza are sheltering at the St. Porphyrios Greek Orthodox Church and the Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, two of only three Christian churches in the area, Daniel said. None are sheltering at the local Baptist church that is not officially recognized as a church, Daniel said.
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Recording artist Bryan Rucker was living a life of drugs and alcohol on a path to destruction. Even after he was released from prison, his life was out of control. Needing a job, he interviewed with Robertson family and their Duck Commander line of hunting related products. He got more than he bargained for.

Not only did the Robertson give him a job, they eventually introduced him to Jesus.

In a “I am Second” interview, Rucker tells the story of how he turned from addiction to Christ.

He says it was while he was attending Celebrate Recovery that God finally got his attention.

“God was like, ‘Either you’re for Me or against Me.’ There’s no gray area. You can’t ride the fence. You can’t go around and proclaim me and then be caught up in all this sinful behavior.”

You can find the link to Rucker’s story at Baptist Press.
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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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A Lifeway Bible study talks about the interaction between Jesus and a Jewish priest named Nicodemus in John 3.

It says, “Nicodemus knew about, and perhaps had personally seen, the miracles Jesus had performed. That’s what brought him to Jesus in the first place. Yet Jesus said he would never understand what he had heard without experiencing the new birth. New birth – being born again or experiencing salvation – not only gives us new life and changes our eternal destination, it allows us to “see the kingdom of God.”

Apart from new birth, we might observe the effect of God at work, but we will only see unexplained phenomenon. With the new birth we can recognize God’s kingdom in what previously seemed to be only unexplained activity.”

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