On August 19, 2025, Shana Gaviola, a mother of four from Clovis, California, will face trial in federal court for alleged violations of 18 U.S.C. § 2262(a)(2), a statute enacted under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Prosecutors allege that she orchestrated the forcible transport of her 16-year-old child across state lines to a religious…

Candles flickered against the September dusk as mourners gathered outside Westminster Abbey on Friday night, their faces lit by the orange glow. Hundreds stood silently in memory of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, assassinated during an appearance at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025 (Reuters; AP News;…

By Michael Peabody – The sanctuary at Godspeak Calvary Chapel in Thousand Oaks was packed. Every seat was filled, every wall lined. Those who couldn’t get inside stood outside in silence, listening through speakers. It was not just a memorial. It was a moment of transfer. “I’m running out of tears,” said Pastor Rob McCoy,…

On September 11, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed what California law has long required: public schools, including charter schools, must remain secular. In Woolard v. Thurmond (No. 24-4291), parents sought to use state-funded charter school independent study programs to obtain religious curricula. The panel of Judges Andrew Hurwitz, Eric…

Several people were fired after mocking Charlie Kirk’s death online, but is that real justice? This article explores a biblical response to offense and mockery, showing why retaliation through job loss does not reflect the gospel. Christians are called to respond with grace and truth, not with silence or celebration when others are punished. By…

Theme: How should Christians respond when others say offensive or cruel things, especially about someone we respect? What does the Bible say about vengeance, justice, and our role in confronting sin? Opening Prayer (5 minutes) Ask God to give the group wisdom, humility, and clarity to understand His Word and to reflect His character in…

On September 12, 2025, the Hawai‘i Supreme Court voided a 1922 deed restriction that forced land in Hilo to be used only “for Church purposes.” The justices concluded that such a condition violated article I, section 4 of the Hawai‘i Constitution, which prohibits laws “respecting an establishment of religion” . The constitutional language itself dates…

The fatal shot that ended Charlie Kirk’s life at Utah Valley University turned a loud argument about speech into a blood-stained reminder that the fight over who gets to talk is never polite, never safe, and never finished. It was September 10, 2025, a late-summer day in Orem, Utah. The foothills of the Wasatch Mountains…

Commission urges the U.S. to strengthen prevention efforts as new analysis ties persecution of minorities to looming mass violence. In a stark September 2025 policy update, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) warned that the persecution of religious communities often foreshadows atrocities on a national scale. The report argues that when governments or…

Lawmakers condemned Kirk’s assassination, but Democrats split sharply over praising his legacy as Republicans faced accusations of setting a political trap. On September 19, 2025, the House of Representatives passed H.Res. 719 by a vote of 310–58, with 95 Democrats joining 215 Republicans in support. The resolution condemned the September 10 assassination of conservative activist…