French Evangelicals Stand For Life, Christian Women Punished For Praying in Nicaraguan Prison & Tips on Speaking Effectively

Evangelicals in France spoke up to stand for life earlier this week. Believers voiced a measured objection to the enshrinement of abortion in the country’s constitution in advance of the historic move March 4, citing concerns for freedoms of conscience, expression and opinion.

France became the first country to enshrine abortion rights into a national constitution March 4.

The National Council of Evangelical Churches of France (CNEF) urged Parliament March 1 to protect the rights of conscientious objection for healthcare workers, and the freedoms of speech and opinion.

Ethics leader Brent Leatherwood said he believes France will grow to regret the constitutional change.
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Human rights advocates are speaking up for believers in Central America.

Christian women wrongfully imprisoned in Nicaragua have been beaten and denied time outdoors for praying aloud with rosaries, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reported March 6.

The report comes days after the United Nations’ Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua (GHREN) released a report documenting the nation’s increased governmental persecution of Christians, including false imprisonment of pastors, priests and lay members; confiscation of churches and other properties, cancellation of organizations linked to churches, and hate speech through governmental channels that has incited violence against Christians.

U.N. human rights experts also noted the criminalization of several evangelical leaders.
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Every day, hundreds of thousands of people die without the hope of Jesus. Your faithful prayers will make a difference. That’s why the IMB created a free 18-month calendar, called “Impacting Lostness Through Prayer”. It provides guidance, reminders and encouragement as you pray for individuals and communities who have yet to hear the gospel. Learn more about this free resource at IMB.org/prayercalendar.
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It’s something people desperately fear. Speaking in front of a group. Oklahoma pastor Stephen Rummage believes he can help anyone be a more effective public speaker.

In the Baptist Press Toolbox he lists a handful of tips that anyone can use.

Have one dominating idea.

A speech about 20 things is a speech about nothing. You aren’t ready to make a speech until you can state, in a short, simple sentence between 8 to 12 words, what your speech is about.

Make every point of your speech “point” back to the dominating idea.

You should be able to draw a straight, solid line between each point and the big idea.

Think intent, not content.
Focus on what you’re trying to do with your speech rather than what you’re trying to say. Think about the intent of your speech: to communicate that one big idea to your listeners.

Visit out website to read the full piece from Stephen Rummage.
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