(LifeSiteNews) — Conservative MPs are blasting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney after he said during a trip to Communist China that he is “heartened by the leadership” of President Xi Jinping and that the two nations working together sets them up for a “New World Order.” Carney, along with his top ministers, met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday and commented that the two nations can be “strategic partners” on issues such as “security.” “I believe the progress that we have made in the partnership sets us up well for the New World Order.” WATCH: Today in Beijing, PM Mark Carney says he is “heartened by the leadership” of the Chinese dictator, that Canada and Communist China can be “strategic partners” – including on “issues of security” – and invokes the “New World Order.” pic.twitter.com/D5ROsBbqJA — Juno News (@junonewscom) January 15, 2026 Online reaction to Carney’s comments came swiftly from Conservative Canadians. One commentator noted that Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, who is with Carney on the China trip, looked stunned by the PM’s mention of the “New World Order.” “I worked for Scott Moe (the man in the background here), and I know him personally, and he is *very stoic,* an incredibly difficult man to fluster,” wrote X user @wokal_distance. “So that look that gives when Mark Carney says ‘New World Order’ is a genuine look of shock and surprise.” “Does anyone else remember when Mark Carney campaigned on*checks notes*…partnering with China’s communist government to ‘set us up well for the new world order?’WHAT is he talking about??” commented Conservative MP Chris Warkentin. Reporter: What did you mean by the new world order? Carney: The architecture, the multilateral system is being eroded—undercut. The question is what gets built in its place… pic.twitter.com/UM6cvvKGgL — Clash Report (@clashreport) January 16, 2026 Barbara Bal, who ran as a Conservative candidate in the last election, noted how Carney’s remarks prove “conspiracy” theorists about the New World Order may have been right all along “A ‘New World Order?’ Wasn’t this considered conspiracy theory a few years ago?” noted Bal on X. Conservative MP Blaine Calkins ripped into Carney’s comments in an X post, noting how he did not think things could be “worse” under Carney as opposed to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “Mark Carney is talking to the communist human rights abusing PRC regime about a ‘new world order’…WHAT on earth is he talking about?” he noted. “I didn’t recognize Canada when Trudeau was the Prime Minister. I didn’t think things could get any worse,” he added. New Conservative MP David Bexte, from Alberta, tore into Carney, saying on X, “Hey Mark Carney, when you’re done in Beijing, come to Bow River and see what people think of your New World Order [expletive].” Carney is said to be negotiating new trade deals relating to Canadian agricultural products, such as canola, and trying to get tariffs reduced. China has been accused of direct election meddling in Canada, as reported by LifeSiteNews. LifeSiteNews also reported on an exposé claiming that Carney and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are influenced by an “elite network” of foreign actors, including those with ties to China and the World Economic Forum. Despite Carney’s later claims that China poses a threat to Canada, he said in 2016 that the Communist Chinese regime’s “perspective” is “one of its many strengths.” Recently LifeSiteNews reported that Canada’s federal government admitted there could be more than 2,400 people or entities operating in the nation as undeclared foreign “agents,” some of whom work to bend the will of all levels of politicians via other countries’ governments.

OTTAWA (LifeSiteNews) – A Canadian Federal Court of Appeal today affirmed in a ruling that former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s use of the Emergencies Act (EA) in 2022 to take out the Freedom Convoy protesters against COVID dictates was illegal. According to the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF), the appeals court today upheld a 2024 ruling by Federal Court Justice Richard Mosley that Trudeau’s use of the EA was “not justified.” “This decision confirms what Canadians witnessed in real time in 2022. The Emergencies Act was never meant to be used against peaceful citizens exercising fundamental freedoms,” JCCF president John Carpay said in a media statement sent to LifeSiteNews. “Today’s ruling is a significant victory for the rule of law and for the principle that governments are bound by limits, even in moments of political pressure. Emergency powers must remain truly exceptional, or they cease to be compatible with a free and democratic society.” Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis, who was a vocal opponent of using the EA, welcomed the news, noting on X, “When governments stretch the law, public trust erodes.” “This case is a reminder of how fragile our democracy is. When millions of people lose the right to work, travel, and socialize, governments must act with humility and restraint. Invoking the Emergencies Act when police indicated the situation was under control crossed a dangerous line. Freedom and liberty endure only when we are willing to defend rights, even those we may not agree with.” The JCCF observed that today’s ruling “affirms the lower court ruling that the Trudeau government’s use of the Emergencies Act against peaceful protesters in Ottawa in February 2022 was illegal.” “The Court confirmed that the high legal threshold required to invoke the Emergencies Act was not met, and that the situation in Ottawa could have been addressed using existing Canadian laws without resorting to emergency powers,” the JCCF noted. JCCF-funded lawyers were provided for four Canadians who participated in the Freedom Convoy and who then challenged the invocation of the EA. The JCCF said it was granted standing before the “Public Order Emergency Commission, where lawyers cross-examined Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other senior government officials under oath about their decision to invoke emergency powers against peaceful demonstrators in 2022.” “Since that time, the Justice Centre has continued to fund the legal defence of dozens of Canadians, including Chris Barber, who have been criminally charged simply for peacefully exercising their Charter rights during the Freedom Convoy,” it noted. In early 2022, the Freedom Convoy saw thousands of Canadians from coast to coast come to Ottawa to demand an end to COVID mandates in all forms. Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, Trudeau’s federal government enacted the EA in mid-February. Trudeau had disparaged Canadians who chose not to get the COVID shots, saying those opposing his measures were of a “small, fringe minority” who hold “unacceptable views” and do not “represent the views of Canadians who have been there for each other.”    After the protesters were cleared out, which was achieved through the freezing of bank accounts of those involved without a court order as well as the physical removal and arrest of demonstrators, Trudeau revoked the EA on February 23, 2022. At the time, seven of Canada’s 10 provinces opposed Trudeau’s use of the EA.

By Jon Brown, Christian Post Reporter Saturday, January 17, 2026LUIS TATO/AFP via Getty ImagesThe 2026 World Watch List recently released by Open Doors US, a U.S.-based persecution watchdog group, found that approximately 388 million Christians around the world face some form of intense persecution or discrimination for following Jesus Christ.The report found that Christian persecution has reached an unprecedented scale, with more than one in seven Christians being called to suffer for their faith last year, an increase of more than 8 million compared to 2024. "We're seeing a continuation of a multi-year trend where persecution is expanding," Ryan Brown, the CEO of Open Doors US, told The Christian Post earlier this week.Despite being afflicted in every way, some of the reports from the darkest regions of the world include accounts of the Lord manifesting supernaturally to Christians amid their deepest and loneliest tribulations.Here is a list of some of the countries where Christians are facing the worst persecution.

According to the Pharisees (some might call them the sticklers of the Bible), the Sabbath was meant to be a day of rest—and nothing more. So it’s no surprise that when Jesus and His disciples were seen picking grains in the fields, the Pharisees gave Him a hard time.  But Jesus gives an interesting response in Matthew 12:7-8 (NLT), saying,  But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: “I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.” For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath! This interaction reminds me of a lesson I learned in a Bible study class. I still keep it on a sticky note in my Bible, so when I open it, I am reminded that my relationship with Christ is not based on works. As humans, we can turn anything into a rule. God will love me more if I try harder, the Sabbath must be strictly on Sunday, I have to read my Bible for a set amount of time every day, the altar call is the only way to receive salvation, my prayers must be lengthy and detailed for them to work—rules, rules, rules! Think of your relationship with your parents, friends, or significant other. Your connection to them is not based on rules, but rather a loving attitude and sense of their great value. There are no conditions, just love. I encourage you to let it be the same with your Savior, because that’s how He sees you and me.  I see another meaningful lesson. That same day, Jesus goes on to heal a man suffering from a deformity, as well as a demon-possessed man who couldn’t speak or see. If Jesus had waited the next day, the crowd of witnesses would not have been there to say,  “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?” (Matthew 12:23)  People would have missed His message. So, let us not miss out on an opportunity for Jesus to be glorified because we are focused on our self-made rules.  Prayer: Dear Jesus, help us to separate rules from relationship as we worship You. Let us never miss an opportunity to glorify You because of rigid rules we make for ourselves. And guide us in honoring you with love rather than works because you are the only One who is worthy. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.  ~ Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. 

Matthew’s infancy narrative ends with a passage that has baffled biblical scholars: “And [Joseph] went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene” (Matt. 2:22–23). The problem is that the Old Testament never says the Messiah would be called a “Nazarene.” In fact, Nazareth isn’t mentioned in the Old Testament, and it’s believed that the town didn’t even exist when the Old Testament was written. Various theories have been suggested for Matthew’s meaning here, but I suggest the clue is to be found in the mystery (and even foolishness) associated with a Messiah coming from the obscurity of this small town in Galilee. ‘Nazarene’ Points to the Messianic ‘Branch’ Perhaps the most popular guess at Matthew’s meaning is that the name “Nazarene” is a play on words, as the Hebrew word for “branch” is nezer. This nezer or “branch” contains messianic connotations, or so it’s thought, based on the prophecy in Isaiah 11:1–3 of a coming Messiah: There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. Jesus is that Branch, that nezer, and his being called a Nazarene evokes that messianic image. Other passages also contain the image of a messianic “branch” but use a different Hebrew word (Jer. 23:5; 33:15; Zech. 3:8; 6:12). Was this the connection Matthew wants us to make? We can’t be sure, but another view is now gaining traction, and it has much in its favor. ‘Nazarene’ Points to Messianic Rejection Matthew’s citation in 2:23 differs in two ways from his typical formula when citing the Old Testament. First, he speaks of “the prophets” (plural), hinting that he isn’t referring to any particular prophecy but to a broader idea to which the prophets spoke. Second, the citation is introduced with the term “that” (hoti), rather than his usual term “saying” (legontos), suggesting a more general idea is in mind (cf. 4:6; 21:16). The word “that” merely introduces the general content of a prophetic tradition. The NIV rightly captures this thought: “So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.’” The clue is to be found in the mystery (and even foolishness) associated with a Messiah coming from the obscurity of this small town in Galilee. During his life, Jesus is known as “Jesus of Nazareth” instead of “Jesus of Bethlehem.” But how could the Messiah come from such an insignificant village of probably less than 500 people, way up in the hill country of Galilee? In John’s Gospel, Philip tells Nathanael, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael replies, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:45–46). A Messiah coming from Nazareth seems inconceivable and even foolish to Nathanael, as it would to any Jew. For Jesus, to be called a Nazarene seems nothing but an insult. Instead of labeling Jesus a Bethlehemite, Matthew identifies him as a Nazarene, one who would inevitably be misunderstood and ultimately rejected. This is precisely what the prophets predicted would happen. Consider the description of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53: “He grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground” (v. 2). The Servant’s origin would be unexpected and surprising. Isaiah continues, He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isa. 53:2–3) In the first-century Jewish mind, it would be foolish to think the Messiah could come from Nazareth, but doesn’t such an origin reflect the very foolishness of the gospel itself—the message of a crucified Messiah? Jesus describes as “foolish” those who were slow to believe all that the prophets had spoken, that the Messiah would have to suffer before entering his glory (Luke 24:25–26). In God’s mysterious design, his Son’s birth wouldn’t take place in a royal palace but in a cattle stall. He wouldn’t be raised in the luxury of a prince but in the humble home of a carpenter. He wouldn’t come from the political capital of Jerusalem, much less Rome, but from a tiny, obscure village outside the corridors of power. He’d be scorned by the religious leaders; he’d be despised and rejected, being held in low esteem; and he’d suffer the shame and agony of a Roman cross. He’d be, as the apostle Paul describes it, “a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles”—nothing but a Nazarene (1 Cor. 1:23). The Messiah must first suffer before entering his glory. ‘Nazarene’ as a Discipleship Calling “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” You wouldn’t think so—but God arranged the events of Jesus’s birth so he’d be called a “Nazarene.” And in Acts 24, that’s just what Paul’s Jewish opponent derisively called Jesus’s followers—“Nazarenes” (v. 5). The Messiah must first suffer before entering his glory. That’s what it means to be a Christian. Take up your cross and follow Jesus, in his obscurity and humility, bearing his reproach, as he bore yours. Cast off all that would cause you to boast in the world—all your achievements and all your good deeds—all that would bring you honor and glory in the world’s eyes. In fulfilment of the words spoken by the prophets, Jesus was called a Nazarene. Are you willing to be called one, too?

Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. - Isaiah 49:15-16

In an era that emphasizes scale and speed, this church has chosen a slower, steadier path. deeangelo60141735/Envato In an ordinary apartment building in a city in northwest China, a warm light glows from a single window as night falls. There is no cross, no pulpit, and no choir. Three chairs surround a small tea table, a phone plays hymns, and a well-worn Bible rests nearby—the humble beginnings of a church. Three people would be enough... as long as we gathered in the name of the Lord. “At that time, I thought three people would be enough. As long as we gathered in the name of the Lord, the church had already begun,” recalled Pastor Wang.  From that first gathering of just three people, a small church guided by the principle of slow growth has gradually taken root in daily life, quietly reshaping perceptions of what a church can be.  Vigil and faith outside the ICU Shortly after the church was founded, Pastor Wang and his team met a couple going through a life crisis. The wife had been admitted to the ICU with kidney failure, and for several days, Pastor Wang and fellow believers kept vigil outside the ward, praying, offering comfort, and simply being present for the family. With God, I felt saved. I want to believe in Jesus. "God preserved her and gave her a final chance to accept Christ as the Lord of her life," Pastor Wang said. When her condition stabilized enough to move to a regular ward, she said, “It was hard in there, but with God, I felt saved. I want to believe in Jesus.” She was soon baptized.  Although she eventually passed away, her testimony brought deep comfort and encouragement to the congregation. Pastor Wang and members also assisted her husband and child with funeral arrangements. Prolonged illness had left the family both financially strained and socially isolated. Church members prepared simple meals for funeral guests, bringing a sense of warmth and life back to the home. Eventually, the husband also chose to be baptized, even though he did not continue attending this home church. “I respect each person’s choice,” Pastor Wang said. “What matters most is that they repent and come to faith.” Subtle transformation in daily life Sister Cui, a devoted member of the church, initially faced tension at home because her husband struggled to understand her faith. During the pandemic, when in-person gatherings were suspended, she continued to read the Bible, sing hymns, and warmly welcome fellow believers into her home. They would sit together on the sofa, chatting about daily life, sharing testimonies, and sometimes singing hymns one after another. Their service really reaches people’s hearts. Cui also participated in visits to the sick, the weak, and those in need. Over time, her husband, Mr. Chen, witnessed her faithful service and saw his heart gradually soften. While he has not yet been baptized, his attitude toward faith has clearly shifted. “Their service really reaches people’s hearts,” he said. The wisdom of “slow growth” In an era that emphasizes scale and speed, this church has chosen a slower, steadier path. Over seven years, it has established only five home gatherings. “We don’t need large numbers. Our focus is on cultivating commitment, so members truly understand what it means to be a disciple,” Pastor Wang explained. The church does not require members to stay in one location but respects their freedom of choice. “Where people gather is their decision. As long as they want to grow together, we accompany them, and they won’t be harmed in any way by us.” From simple Bible study sessions to systematic discipleship training, the church centers on home-based gatherings, allowing faith to grow naturally in daily life. “Every meeting is an encounter with the Lord and with truth. This process cannot be rushed,” Pastor Wang said. Rooted in the ordinary Today, what began as a three-person gathering has developed into a stable and flexible model: open homes for consistent meetings, and a focus on nurturing discipleship. Faith has become part of daily life, not confined to a church building. (The) patient, steady approach... may be key to cultivating the next generation of faithful believers. Looking to the future, Pastor Wang remains practical and steadfast: “We may not do great things like some famous pastors, but we can do simple, grounded work within our capacity.” This patient, steady approach, he believes, may be key to cultivating the next generation of faithful believers. As night falls, the ordinary window continues to glow, soft hymns drifting into the quiet street. For seven years, this northwest China house church has demonstrated how faith can thrive in the most ordinary settings, showing the extraordinary power of patience and presence. Originally published in English by ChinaSource. Republished with permission. Written, translated, or edited by members of the ChinaSource staff, often from original material published in Chinese languages. In this instance, this article was originally published in Chinese by the Christian Times and the English version was published by China Christian Daily, which ChinaSource republished. All names in this article have been changed to protect the individuals involved. ChinaSource is a trusted partner and platform for educating the global church on critical issues facing the church and ministries in China, and for connecting Christians inside and outside China to advance the kingdom of God globally. ChinaSource's vision is to see the church in China and the global church learning and growing together, engaging in ministry that powerfully advances the kingdom of God.

(LifeSiteNews) – A Canadian Conservative MP criticized a Liberal MP for allegedly implying that those who bring into Canada so-called “MAGA religious extremism” confirms there is justification for enacting a federal law that, if passed, could ban quoting certain parts of the Bible in public. Conservative MP Andrew Lawton, as reported by LifeSiteNews, stated on January 13 in a video posted on X that Canadians ���need to stop the Liberal attack on religious freedom.” Lawton was referring to Liberal Bill C-9, or the Combating Hate Act, which, if passed, could potentially criminalize parts of the Bible about homosexuality. Conservative MPs have warned that Bill C-9 is a direct “attack” on religious freedom and would allow the “prosecution” of those who simply read certain passages of scripture in “good faith.” In reply to his X video post, Liberal MP John Paul Danko wrote, “Importing MAGA religious extremism to Canada, and complete alignment with @realDonaldTrump Anger, division and weird conspiracy theories – this is @PierrePoilievre‘s @CPC_HQ.” In reply, Lawton wrote on X that Danko “says it’s ‘MAGA religious extremism’ to think Canadians shouldn’t be charged for quoting certain verses of the Bible or Torah, as his colleague Marc Miller says should happen.” “You should come out to one of our town halls, JP. You might learn something,” he added. Liberal MP Marc Miller had said last year that certain passages of the Bible are “hateful” because of what they say about homosexuality, and those who recite the passages should be jailed. As reported by LifeSiteNews, he was appointed as a government minister by Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney. Lawton’s “Religious Freedom” town hall main event will be held January 20 in Brampton, Ontario, hosted by multiple Conservative MPs. Lawton is currently touring Canada for additional “Religious Freedom” events leading up to the main event, as reported by LifeSiteNews. About Bill C-9, Lawton has said that it is a “very dangerous” bill that squarely takes “aim at religious freedom and freedom of expression.” “The bill is supposed to be protected communities from hate but actually will send people to jail for up to two years if they express a religious view or even cite a religious scripture the government finds offensive,” he said. “My Conservative colleagues and I have been 100 percent clear. We have been unequivocal, that we will not stand for this attack on religious freedom and freedom of expression for Canadians.” As reported by LifeSiteNews, Bill C-9 has been blasted by constitutional experts as allowing empowered police and the government to go after those it deems to have violated a person’s “feelings” in a “hateful” way. The bill was introduced by Justice Minister Sean Fraser last year. The bill, if passed, could criminalize parts of the Bible, with Conservative MPs warning it is a direct “attack” on religious freedom and would allow the “prosecution” of those who simply read certain passages of scripture in “good faith.” As reported by LifeSiteNews, Carney’s Liberal government recently passed amendments to the bill removing a religious exception. The amendments to Bill C-9 have been condemned by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, who penned an open letter to the Carney Liberals blasting the proposed amendment and calling for its removal.

(LifeSiteNews) — Joining me on this episode of The John-Henry Westen Show is Jason Jones, founder of the Vulnerable People Project (VPP). We discussed the X settlement, Israel’s latest project to take over a holy site and displace more of Gaza’s Christians, the need to speak out against the genocide of Christians, and more. I asked Jones about the Shdema settlement, which hasn’t really been reported by the mainstream media. He explained that this was an illegal settlement approved by the Israeli government this past November to divide and displace the Christians in Bethlehem. “It’s an illegal settlement; it would divide the Christian community in Bethlehem from East Jerusalem even further,” Jones said. “They’ve already displaced 19 families since November. … The Christian community believes that the Shdema settlement will lead to the very end of Christianity in the West Bank.” “The narrative that we’ve been told in the West, especially through Protestant evangelical media, is that there was a strong, vibrant Christian population in the Holy Land from the first century until about 1948, when we began to see a catastrophic collapse of the Christian community,” he added. “Well, in what was called the Nakba, or the catastrophe, over 100 churches and monasteries were destroyed, and convents were destroyed with priests and nuns and Christians being displaced and murdered. And it’s never stopped.” READ: ‘Faith in a time of Genocide’: Holy Land Christians call for solidarity, repudiation of Zionism Jones noted that on Christmas Eve, Benjamin Netanyahu had posted about his commitment to protect Christians from persecution via X, stressing that if the prime minister really wants to protect Christians, he can start by reining in these ongoing settler attacks. “The first thing Benjamin Netanyahu can do is rein in the settler attacks in Taybeh, the settler attacks in Bethlehem. … Stop these new settlements that are illegal,” he said. “In fact, the new illegal settlement that will take part of the Shepherd’s Field, which is this historic Christian site that’s very important to the Palestinian Christian community.” “What (Netanyahu) does is he actually, in the same breath, diminishes these attacks, saying all of the attacks across the West Bank, he’s figured it out, have been narrowed down to 75 young people from broken homes. … But that’s not the case,” he added. “The case is (that) settler violence takes place. It’s sponsored by the state with the IDF and the police protecting the settlers as they attack the Palestinians, who… cannot even think of defending themselves.” WATCH Next: Catholic humanitarian speaks out against Zionism, persecution of Gaza Christians I asked Jones if this Shepherd’s Field that Israel would like to take over is the same place where the shepherds received the message about Our Lord’s birth from the angel Gabriel, and he confirmed it was. I was shocked to hear that the IDF is targeting holy ground. “(That region) is 80% Christian. So this is a very threat to that ancient Christian community,” Jones said. To hear more from Jason Jones, watch my full interview above or by clicking here. The John-Henry Westen Show is available by video via LSNTV on YouTube, Rumble, Banned, and right here on my LifeSite blog. It is also available in audio format on platforms such as Spotify, Soundcloud, and Acast. We are awaiting approval for iTunes and Google Play as well. To subscribe to the audio version on various channels, visit the Acast webpage here. We’ve created a special email list for the show so that we can notify you every week when we post a new episode. Please sign up now by clicking here. You can also subscribe to the YouTube channel, and you’ll be notified by YouTube when there is new content. You can send me feedback, or ideas for show topics by emailing [email protected].

(LifeSiteNews) — A record-breaking 1.3 million calls were made to the pregnancy support helpline of Heartbeat International in 2025. The pro-life organization announced last week that its 24-hour Option Line for women with unplanned pregnancies received more than triple the number of calls made to the line in 2024, the highest in its history. The record is especially significant considering that more than 90% of those who call Option Line are at risk for abortion, according to Nafisa Kennedy, the organization’s director. The helpline provides pregnant women with extensive information about all of their options and also connects them to local pregnancy help groups. Option Line provides information about medical and surgical abortions, including detailed information about the procedures it entails and its risks, including those of abortion pills. “We also frequently connect with women who have already obtained abortion pills by mail; with little information or guidance from the provider of those pills, they often call to ask questions before taking these drugs,” Kennedy told Live Action News. The organization also provides information about adoption options and guides mothers who want to parent their child to resource assistance and other help. Option Line encourages pregnant women who are not sure they want to bring up their child to consider their personal strengths and consider different ways they can make parenting work, noting it can be “incredibly rewarding.” “Your child, no matter what stage of pregnancy development, is already half made up of you. Parenting allows you to watch as your child grows, takes her first steps, laughs, and develops interests all his own,” Option Line’s website explains. Option Line sees a 70%-75% show rate for pregnancy help appointments and about a 90% show rate for virtual consultation appointments, according to Kennedy. The pregnancy help centers’ Option Line connects women with usually provide material support for mothers, and a high percentage of them also provide ultrasounds, prenatal and parenting education programs. Option Line also connects post-abortive women directly to abortion recovery services for emotional healing, whether they had an abortion “yesterday or 20 years ago.”  LifeSiteNews reached out to Option Line about the portion of callers who chose life last year but had not received a response as of publishing. For more information about Option Line, visit OptionLine.org.

By Ryan Foley, Christian Post Reporter Friday, January 16, 2026Robert Wolgemuth shares the story behind the Men’s Daily Bible a video uploaded to YouTube on April 24, 2024. | Screengrab/YouTube/B&H Publishing GroupThe widow of the recently deceased Christian author and publisher Robert Wolgemuth, remembered by ministry leaders as a “legend in Christian publishing,” has revealed the heartfelt note she left for her husband to find days before his death.Prominent Bible teacher and Revive Our Hearts Ministry founder Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, who married Wolgemuth in 2015, published a social media post on Thursday, providing additional details about her husband's final days before his death on Jan. 10 at age 77.  She shared an image of a note she left for him on a napkin the evening of Dec. 23, reading “I love you so” and “Happy Christmas Eve.” The note was positioned so it would greet him when he got up for his morning coffee on Dec. 24. He had not been feeling well in previous days. “Early Christmas Eve morning, I took him to the ER, as he was in pain, struggling to breathe,” she explained. “He declined quickly and within a few days was totally unresponsive. On Jan. 10, I returned to our home a widow. That same day, Robert moved to his eternal Home, to find unending joy and rest with Christ.” Late the night of Dec 23, I left this note for @robertwolgemuth to find when he got up for his early morning coffee. He had not been feeling well. Early Christmas Eve morning, I took him to the ER, as he was in pain, struggling to breathe.He declined quickly and within a few… pic.twitter.com/o4xXz3h20W— Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth (@NancyDeMoss) January 15, 2026 The widow expressed confidence that “this contented, grateful man is happier today than he ever dreamed of being on earth.” Although she has cried “tears aplenty,” Wolgemuth said she rejoices "in the incredible joy and gift of walking with Robert as his wife for the last ten years.” “I have no complaints about the path the Lord has led us on — only profound gratitude.” “I have tasted His goodness and grace in every season of the last 67 years. I know there will be more than enough where that came from — in this time of grief and heartache, and all the way till I reach my own ‘finish line,’” she predicted.Wolgemuth’s post concluded with the phrases “Heaven rules” and “Jesus is near.”She announced his death on social media last Saturday, calling it the next step on his eternal journey. "This faithful, courageous, precious man of God has entered his eternal rest and reward — not because of anything he did to deserve it, but because of the magnificent, redeeming grace and love of Christ," Wolgemuth stated. During her husband’s final moments early Saturday morning, she played a song titled “Come to Jesus."“On the phrase, ‘with your final heartbeat,’ Robert took a gasping breath,” she stated.“We watched intently, waiting to see if he would take another one. It was to be his last." 

By Leonardo Blair, Senior Reporter Friday, January 16, 2026Brian Carn pleads guilty to obstructing the IRS.Carn faces three years in prison for failing to report over $1.4 million in income.He claims he won't go to prison, citing spiritual knowledge about handling the situation.An artificial intelligence-powered tool created this summary based on the source article. The summary has undergone review and verification by an editor.Brian Carn preaches at Kingdom City Church in St. Marys, Georgia. | Facebook/Kingdom City ChurchSelf-styled prophet and leader of Kingdom City Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, Brian Carn Jr., is facing three years in prison after pleading guilty to obstructing the IRS’ efforts to collect more than $600,00 in outstanding taxes.Carn insists that he won’t be going to prison because he knows how to “handle that stuff in the spirit.” “It's an accounting error, but it's an accounting error that I have to take responsibility for because it's my taxes,” Carn, 36, said in an interview with Larry Reid about his plea and the charge on Thursday.When Reid raised concern that he didn’t want him to go to prison for the maximum penalty of three years, Carn said, “Well, I won't be you. You know, I know how to handle that stuff in the spirit.”The U.S. Department of Justice announced Carn’s guilty plea in a press release Thursday, claiming that he falsely underreported $1.4 million in income for 2015. He reportedly made a number of false representations and material omissions to the IRS to allegedly conceal his assets and income, causing a loss to the U.S. Treasury of between $550,000 and $1,5 million.Court documents show that Carn operated a ministry under a number of names, including Healing House Ministries, Inc., Brian Carn Ministries, Inc., and Kingdom Culture City Churches. While the ministry isn’t required to report its income to the IRS or pay income taxes under U.S. tax laws, Carn is required to pay taxes on income he received from the ministry.While he did not earn a salary from the ministry and did not have a written employment agreement, court documents say Carn “received income by withdrawing cash from ministry bank accounts and otherwise using ministry funds to pay for personal expenses.”Carn’s internal finance manager, who accounted for his income in 2015 and 2016, shared this information with a tax preparer identified as Accountant 1. That accountant then filed a tax return for 2015 and reported his income as $1,451,077, which generated an income tax bill of $606,722.In October 2016, the IRS started tax collection efforts against Carn and demanded the money he owed. By December that year, the IRS recorded a federal tax lien on the pastor’s assets and issued a levy notice.Carn, however, had already turned to another accountant identified as Accountant 2 in November 2016 to do an amended tax return for 2015 “that substantially underreported his income.” He allegedly provided the accountant with a fictitious “Employment Agreement” between himself and the ministry dated Jan. 1, 2014.The agreement stated that he received an annual salary of $120,000 and a yearly parsonage allowance of $24,000.“CARN represented to Accountant 2 that this was the entirety of his income. CARN knew at the time — and represented to third parties on credit applications, financial account openings, and lease applications — that the income he actually earned through the ministry through cash withdrawals and the payment of personal expenses far exceeded his purported salary in the Employment Agreement,” the court file states.Carn also filed a series of other tax returns using the fictitious employment agreement in the following years and stopped filing returns in 2020 despite continuing to earn income from his ministry.The controversial minister, who would have been about 26 when he began filing the fictitious tax returns, told Reid in his interview Thursday that he was young at the time and had just started ministering on huge Christian platforms like Trinity Broadcasting Network and Benny Hinn.“Thousands of people showing up. I'm not pastoring yet. I haven't even started pastoring. I didn't start pastoring [until] 2016,” he said.He also argued that at the time, he had never worked a regular job where he received a W2 form.“I've never worked at a job. I never got income tax at the end, and you know, to go to the income tax people and file your taxes. I never went through that. And so when you're thrust into a world of money and finance and all of that stuff, us as black people, we do file taxes, but we don't file taxes to pay money. We file taxes to get money back,” Carn explained.He further added that he hadn't yet addressed his guilty plea with his church because he was hoping the information wouldn’t have become public.“I kind of feel a little bad. I was going to address this. I spoke to the leaders of my church to kind of let them know what was going on. I didn't communicate it to all of the members of the church because if it didn't go public, I didn't want to have to address it,” he said.“So if they're listening, I don't want them to feel like I'm talking to the world before I'm talking to them [because] it was my intention that I would have went [sic] ahead and addressed it on Sunday. But with the permission of my pastor, … he gave me his permission to go ahead and address it.”

OTTAWA (LifeSiteNews) – A Canadian Federal Court of Appeal today affirmed in a ruling that former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s use of the Emergencies Act (EA) in 2022 to take out the Freedom Convoy protesters against COVID dictates was illegal. According to the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF), the appeals court today upheld a 2024 ruling by Federal Court Justice Richard Mosley that Trudeau’s use of the EA was “not justified.” “This decision confirms what Canadians witnessed in real time in 2022. The Emergencies Act was never meant to be used against peaceful citizens exercising fundamental freedoms,” JCCF president John Carpay said in a media statement sent to LifeSiteNews. “Today’s ruling is a significant victory for the rule of law and for the principle that governments are bound by limits, even in moments of political pressure. Emergency powers must remain truly exceptional, or they cease to be compatible with a free and democratic society.” Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis, who was a vocal opponent of using the EA, welcomed the news, noting on X, “When governments stretch the law, public trust erodes.” “This case is a reminder of how fragile our democracy is. When millions of people lose the right to work, travel, and socialize, governments must act with humility and restraint. Invoking the Emergencies Act when police indicated the situation was under control crossed a dangerous line. Freedom and liberty endure only when we are willing to defend rights, even those we may not agree with.” The JCCF observed that today’s ruling “affirms the lower court ruling that the Trudeau government’s use of the Emergencies Act against peaceful protesters in Ottawa in February 2022 was illegal.” “The Court confirmed that the high legal threshold required to invoke the Emergencies Act was not met, and that the situation in Ottawa could have been addressed using existing Canadian laws without resorting to emergency powers,” the JCCF noted. JCCF-funded lawyers were provided for four Canadians who participated in the Freedom Convoy and who then challenged the invocation of the EA. The JCCF said it was granted standing before the “Public Order Emergency Commission, where lawyers cross-examined Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other senior government officials under oath about their decision to invoke emergency powers against peaceful demonstrators in 2022.” “Since that time, the Justice Centre has continued to fund the legal defence of dozens of Canadians, including Chris Barber, who have been criminally charged simply for peacefully exercising their Charter rights during the Freedom Convoy,” it noted. In early 2022, the Freedom Convoy saw thousands of Canadians from coast to coast come to Ottawa to demand an end to COVID mandates in all forms. Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, Trudeau’s federal government enacted the EA in mid-February. Trudeau had disparaged Canadians who chose not to get the COVID shots, saying those opposing his measures were of a “small, fringe minority” who hold “unacceptable views” and do not “represent the views of Canadians who have been there for each other.”    After the protesters were cleared out, which was achieved through the freezing of bank accounts of those involved without a court order as well as the physical removal and arrest of demonstrators, Trudeau revoked the EA on February 23, 2022. At the time, seven of Canada’s 10 provinces opposed Trudeau’s use of the EA.

A new report from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) reveals the highest number of countries persecuting Christians in recorded history, with faith communities facing imprisonment, violence and even death simply for practicing their beliefs. From state-imposed religious conformity in China to escalating sectarian bloodshed in Nigeria, the 2025 USCIRF Annual Report paints a dire global picture: that worship itself has become a capital offense in parts of the world.  U.S. lawmakers are now calling for an update of foreign policy, arguing that the erosion of religious freedom abroad poses a direct threat to American security and democratic values at home. "Religious freedom is not just a Western value, it's a human right," said Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., during a January USCIRF hearing on violations of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) against Christians abroad. "And when violated anywhere, it should concern freedom-loving people everywhere." The commission's report identifies nearly 30 countries where people of all faiths, including Christians, are systematically targeted. Globally, 16 nations are designated as "Countries of Particular Concern," while 12 others are placed on a "Special Watch List." More than 2,300 individuals are currently imprisoned worldwide solely for their religious beliefs. Nowhere is that violence more lethal than in Nigeria, where USCIRF reports over 80% of religion-based murders in 2024 occurred. Rebecca Dali, founder of the Center for Caring, Empowering and Peace Initiatives and a former captive of Boko Haram, was one of several witnesses to share her violent reality, having documented thousands of killings by the extremist group.  "Let us acknowledge that there are too many killings in Nigeria," Dali said. "All Nigerian Christians, Muslims, and traditional worshippers are among those killed. And violence will never end violence. All Nigerians, be they Christian or Muslim, want to live together in peace." In China, persecution is evolving with technology and state-enforced "Sinicization" of religion. Grace Drexel, daughter of detained Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri and a national security analyst, explained how Chinese authorities are erasing Christian identity. "When the government demands Sinicization in practice, it means removing crosses and replacing them with portraits of Xi Jinping, replacing hymns with revolutionary party songs, rewriting sermons to align with socialist core values, and installing facial recognition cameras in sanctuaries," she said. Drexel warned that the threat extends beyond borders, with believers increasingly targeted even after fleeing to supposed safe havens. And in post-Assad Syria and Iran, the full toll remains obscured. An estimated 1,300 people have died in sectarian violence following the collapse of Syria's central authority. But experts testify that these numbers are just an estimate.  Ryan Brown, advocacy director for Open Doors, specifically tracks Christian persecution and provides emergency aid and trauma relief in at least 70 countries. The organization's 2025 World Watch List estimates that 388 million Christians now face high levels of persecution or discrimination – an increase of 8 million from the previous year.  Brown noted that persecution in places like Syria often stems not from direct government action but from the weak rule of law and the state's inability to establish order. He calls on the church to remain vigilant in prayer.   "I can't tell you how many folks I've met who've been in prison who've told me they've taken such comfort in knowing that they're not forgotten, that there's a body of believers around the globe consistently lifting them up in prayer," Brown said. As USCIRF presses the U.S. government to strengthen its response, advocates stress that defending religious freedom is both a moral imperative and a strategic necessity in an increasingly volatile world.

(LifeSiteNews) — From a Christian perspective, 2010 to 2020 was a grim decade. As Pew’s 2025 report noted, Europe’s Christian population share dropped from 75% to 67%, and most of those who self-identify as Christian do so as a nod to cultural heritage but never darken the door of a church. In the same decade, the United Kingdom lost its Christian majority. The Church of England has become an ecclesiastical lapdog for progressive causes; in October, it announced that the new Archbishop of Canterbury is a woman. But a recent report indicates some surprising news. Bible sales, according to the Guardian, “reached a record high in the UK in 2025, increasing by 124% since 2019 — the highest since records began — according to industry research. Last year, total sales of Bibles in the UK reached £6.3m, £3.61m up on 2019 sales.” The Church of England’s collapse is occurring concurrently with a “meaning crisis” that is provoking more questions among young people; as the Catholic Herald recently observed, many are fleeing to the Catholic Church, to Pentecostalism, or to more traditional denominations. “The sudden uptick of interest has caused booksellers and scholars to ask some profound questions of their own, such as where these newly curious readers are coming from and whether faith, or another more modern phenomenon – namely social media influencers – have called them to the word of God,” the Guardian reported. “We’ve seen an increase in people coming to the Bible from scratch,” retail sales director at Church House bookshop Aude Pasquier said. “They have no Christian background whatsoever. They have no grounding from their parents or from their school. Whereas most people in prior generations would have. It’s definitely younger people who are seeking some sort of spirituality – they want to understand the world and themselves better.” Steve Barnet of St. Andrews bookshop in Buckinghamshire concurs. He believes that Jordan Peterson’s commentary on the Bible is perhaps one of the triggers. “(Peterson) is not a Christian, but through him, a lot of people are going on a spiritual journey,” he said. “Some are ending up in church; some are ending up elsewhere. Some are ending up in a good place. I would think ending up as a Christian in church is a good place … “Almost out of the blue, something’s changed where people are turning to faith.” It isn’t just Bible sales, either: The research was conducted by Christian publisher SPCK Group. It analysed data from the Nielsen BookScan, a service that compiles the sales data of books across the globe. The upward surge in Bible sales in the UK correlates with growth in church attendance in England and Wales in previous years. According to a report published in April 2025 by the Bible Society, the number of people attending church in England and Wales rose by 50% since 2018. Leading the charge is young people. Only 4% of 18- to 24-year-olds said they attended church monthly in 2018, but in 2024 that number rose to 16% – the largest increase of any age demographic. Sam Richardson, the CEO of SPCK Group, stated that part of this is the attraction to Christianity as a countercultural force. Atheists like Richard Dawkins are now firmly establishment, and the establishment has obviously failed. Thus, young people — especially young men — are more interested in Christianity. Tommy Robinson, one of the most controversial figures in the UK, recently announced that he’d converted to Christianity while in prison. In a lengthy interview for The European Conservative recently, he told me that young men are searching. “We were the lost sheep, as a movement,” he said. “We were working class men. We’ve got no faith. We’ve got no church. We’ve lost our belief. And when we’d go into a city, the church leaders would line up with the Muslim leaders to actively condemn us.” “As we face worldwide political and social change, including the aftereffects of the Covid-19 pandemic, global wars, the rise of AI, and a growing mental health crisis, individuals are re-engaging with questions of meaning and spirituality,” Sam Richardson told the Guardian. He also dismissed accusations that figures like Robinson are spurring interest in faith merely for political reasons. “It has probably been overplayed as a factor,” he said. “There’s definitely something going on, but it seems very recent that Christian nationalism has really started to get attention, whereas this increase in Bible sales has been sustained for six or seven years since 2019.”