Evangelist Ray Comfort lamented the tragic assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk and remained resolute in his own ministry to continue openly sharing the Gospel.

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“I absolutely admired … Charlie Kirk, and I admired him because of his courage,” Comfort said. “He was so courageous to touch issues that most of us would be afraid to touch, and he did it with such eloquence. I’ve never heard anyone with a grasp of the English language like he had.”

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The faith leader called Kirk “brilliant” and said, despite the pain of his killing, he’s optimistic God will raise up other leaders.

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In the meantime, Comfort said he has no plans to let fear stop him from his own evangelistic quests. He’s encouraging other believers to stand up against fear as well.

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“The day before Charlie was killed, I told our crew, our camera crew and our planning team, that I wanted to go to 13 universities in Southern California,” he said. “After what happened to Charlie, I am going to do it. I’m resolved to do it. I will not fear. I’ll not be intimidated, and I want every Christian to feel that way too because, if God’s for us, nothing can be against us.”

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Seldom is someone like Max Lucado — a minister once dubbed “America’s pastor” — left without words.

Less than 24 hours removed from conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination in Utah, two weeks after the senseless shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis, and just under three weeks past the slaughtering of a Ukrainian refugee in Charlotte, there was a palpable exhaustion in Lucado’s voice.

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“I just don’t have the words,” he told CBN News, holding sorrow at bay. “It leaves us struggling.”

To make sense of the darkness of this world, Lucado turned to geography — not the geography of maps and charts, but toward a spiritual geography, a divine placement that holds in tension what Christians often call “the already but not yet.”

“Sometimes, just a reminder of where we are in the scope of human history does help,” Lucado said. “And that is: we’re between the two gardens. We’re between the garden of Eden, we’re between the garden of eternity. In the garden of Eden, there was no panic, there was no chaos; there was simply peace [and] harmony between Adam and Eve, between Adam and Eve and God, between Adam and Eve and nature, and I firmly, with all of my heart, believe that day will come again.”

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“But right now,” he continued, “we’re at a time in which the nature itself, the world itself — even the creation — is groaning, because we all sense that something is not right.”

While the decline of Christianity has slowed in the U.S., it is clear the country is moving in a post-Christian direction.

“If you don’t have to look face-to-face or eye-to-eye with someone with whom you disagree, and you can say anything you want without consequence, it cultivates this type of hostility,” Lucado said. “It sows the seeds of anger and leaves a person feeling like they have the right — which we don’t — to lash out and hurt somebody, not just disagree with them.”

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“What Charlie Kirk was doing was well within his right as an American citizen,” Lucado emphasized. “Whether a person agrees or disagrees with him, that’s a nonissue. What we cannot do, regardless of what your viewpoint is, is try to silence somebody with the act of violence or the shedding of blood. That’s just so against what God intends for human nature, how He intends for us to behave.”

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JERUSALEM, Israel – At the United Nations, Israel is bracing for more than a dozen countries to announce their recognition of a Palestinian state during the annual General Assembly. However, Israel has announced plans on the ground that could stop a Palestinian state from becoming a reality.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed an agreement on Thursday to build a large number of housing units just outside of Jerusalem in a largely open area known as the E-1 Corridor. It’s a move many believe would effectively prevent the establishment of a contiguous Palestinian state. 

“This thing is about to bring about a doubling of the city of Ma’ale Adumim. There will be 70,000 people here within five years,” Netanyahu said.

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He added, “This is a huge change, and we know there’s another change here, or more precisely, another fulfilment of promise, not a biblical one but a present one. We said that a Palestinian state will not be established, and indeed a Palestinian state will not be established.”

Israel also held a 9-11 memorial on Thursday. Hundreds gathered to remember those who died on Sept. 11, 2001. 

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Jewish National Fund-USA President Deb Lust declared, “This memorial, which was built in part through the generosity of Jewish National Fund-USA, is important for several reasons. The first one is that it’s the only memorial outside of the United States that lists every single victim from that horrible day. And it also represents the strong bond between the United States and Israel.”

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Christian leaders across the U.S. are reflecting on the life and legacy of evangelical Christian and conservative advocate Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on Wednesday in front of a crowd of 3,000 people.

Kirk had been a member of Dream City Church in Phoenix, Arizona, and last night, his Pastor, Luke Barnett, spoke about him as the church paused to remember his life during its Wednesday night service.

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“He is a lover of Jesus Christ. Charlie loved the Lord, and he had a personal walk with Jesus. And I want to say I’ve been so motivated by him because he is a man who lives his faith unashamedly,” Barnett said.

“You witnessed a really good man, a moral man… a good man died,” Barnett said. “Today is a turning point in America. This event is a turning point in America.”

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Since the shocking murder took place at a Utah Valley University event, many more Christian leaders have responded with the following statements:

“Charlie Kirk is a martyr, and Charlie Kirk is with the Lord. To live is Christ and to die is gain. His voice and witness of Truth will not be silenced but will rather inspire courage in a generation of young men and women who will continue to boldly proclaim the message of Life and Hope. Jesus is Lord.” – Pastor Jack Graham

“I cannot express how incredibly proud I have been of his faithful Christian witness and the way he has honored the Lord Jesus Christ with his life. Charlie was known as an intellectual giant, a very compassionate young man, and one who was tirelessly devoted to this nation’s welfare and our glorious republic.” – Pastor Jack Hibbs

“Yesterday, Charlie Kirk was engaged in one of the most quintessentially American things possible. He was peacefully debating his fellow citizens in a spirited conversation. A bullet may have ended his life here on earth, but he is now safely in the arms of Jesus. I remember the day I met him. He was there with his beautiful girlfriend Erika, who he would end up marrying. A brilliant mind and profound speaker, Charlie was a national treasure. I’m filled with grief for Charlie’s wife and children. God is indeed near to the brokenhearted, and I’m praying He wraps His arms around them.” – Pastor Jentezen Franklin

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“What happened today at Utah Valley University is senseless and horrific. Violence like this simply cannot continue in America. Father God, please be near to Charlie Kirk’s wife and children at this time. I can’t imagine the horror they are living through right now. Comfort them with your Holy Spirit as they grieve. Please be near to the students at Utah Valley as they grapple with the evil they witnessed today. Father, please heal our land. Have mercy on us. Lead us to respond in peace, not in anger or violence.” – Pastor Wendell Vinson

“Our hearts and prayers are with the entire Kirk family as we grieve the death of Charlie Kirk. We are deeply saddened by the news of this horrific shooting. In moments like these we remember the words of the psalmist, ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.’ (Psalm 46:1). Almighty God, we need You. We pray for Your comfort and for an abiding sense of Your presence to draw near as our nation grieves this loss. Amen.” – Pastor Samuel Rodriguez

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“Charlie… was not only a bold and unwavering voice for biblical truth in our culture, but also a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, a husband, and a family man. He will be deeply missed. As shocking as this news is, we can take comfort in knowing that Charlie is now in Heaven. The moment he took his last breath here on earth, he took his first breath in the presence of the Lord.” – Pastor Greg Laurie

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The Federal Trade Commission and Utah have ordered Pornhub’s parent company to pay a $5 million penalty for hosting nonconsensual and child sexual abuse content.

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A stipulated order for permanent injunction was filed last week, demanding Aylo (formerly MindGeek) remove child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and proven nonconsensual content from its sites, implement comprehensive prevention policies to be periodically reviewed by a third party, and bolster privacy and security measures.

The order also includes an additional $10 million payment to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection. That amount, though, will be suspended if the defendants comply with the mandates of the FTC’s order.

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“Pornhub’s operators turned a blind eye to the proliferation of videos depicting the sexual abuse of children on its sites so it could profit off this exploitation,” Christopher Mufarrige, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement. “Under the order we’re announcing today, Pornhub’s operators will be required to take concrete steps to block this harmful content and ensure that those who appear in videos on their sites are consenting adults.”

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Several groups have praised the FTC’s order, including the anti-trafficking organization Exodus Cry and the National Center on Sexual Exploitation.

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“This settlement mandates massive reforms and we’re here for it,” Exodus Cry stated in part.

NCOSE called the FTC ruling “a victory for all of us.”

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The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has sparked an outpouring of grief, shock, and anger. In the words of Utah Governor Spencer Cox, “Our nation is broken.”

The 31-year-old founder of the youth education group Turning Point USA was an outspoken Christian who leaves behind a wife and two young children.

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A massive manhunt is underway for his killer. Investigators believe the shooter, dressed in dark clothes and wearing a mask, fired one round from a high-powered rifle from a rooftop approximately 200 yards away. Two suspects were taken into custody but later released.

Authorities say the sniper is believed to have jumped off a roof and fled into a neighborhood after shooting Kirk. The suspect appeared to be of college age but has reportedly not been identified. While his motive and whereabouts are unknown, officials say they have now tracked the shooter’s movements on the campus in the run-up to the assassination.

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Kirk was shot in the neck while answering questions at an outdoor rally of about 3,000 people at Utah Valley University. Terrified students ran for cover while Kirk was whisked away to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

One witness, identified as Danielle, tearfully described what she saw. “You just see his neck just like open up and there’s just like so much blood that just came out,” she said. “It was horrible.”

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Other eyewitnesses spoke of the shock and horror they and their children experienced. Cari Bartholomew, the state director of Utah Moms for America, had taken her 17-year-old son to the event, along with other moms and their children.

Her son was in line waiting to ask a question when the gunshot rang out, and she couldn’t see how her son was impacted in that moment. “All of us, we were trying to grab the little kids and getting them as near to us as possible,” she said.

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Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012, galvanizing Gen Z and Millennial voters to the conservative cause and helping put President Trump in office. He spoke against antisemitism and in defense of Israel’s right to defend itself in its war with Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called him “a lion-hearted friend of Israel.” Kirk also spoke against abortion and LGBTQ activism.

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Thousands of college students turned their hearts toward Jesus over the past few days as huge ministry events kicked off the school year in Oklahoma and Ohio. These are just the latest signs of spiritual awakening as students cried out to God in praise and worship, seeking salvation and forgiveness.

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On Tuesday night, approximately 9,000 students gathered to seek God together at the University of Oklahoma’s basketball arena, the Lloyd Noble Center. 

The event was held by the national UniteUS movement, which has seen hundreds of baptisms and thousands of commitments to Christ since it began two years ago at Auburn University. 

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In an unrelated event at Ohio State, members of the football team led their second Fall Kickoff event called “An invitation to Jesus.” 

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Football players like Caleb Downs, Sonny Styles, Luke Montgomery and others shared their faith with a crowd of more than one thousand, and many responded to the Gospel message. Scores of students chose to be baptized on the spot.

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There is overwhelming support for banning cellphones during class time in middle and high schools. Two-thirds of Americans believe phone-free schools will help students improve their social skills, grades, and behavior.

We may also see if that happens since more students across the country face the new reality this school year of no cellphones allowed in the classroom.

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According to the Parents Television and Media Council, since last fall, more than thirty states have moved to ban or restrict cellphones in their public schools.

“Cell phones are expected to be off and away,” Virginia Beach Public School Board member Kathleen Brown told CBN News. “So, in the backpack if they’re in high school. Just off and away, not in use, not vibrating or turning on or sending messages that are going to be distracting them in the classroom and the hallways.”

States joining Virginia in these phone bans include Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, New York, and Texas.

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In Wisconsin, where nearly every school district bans phones in the classroom, GOP state senator Joel Kitchens told CBN News that an ongoing problem is with enforcing the rules, often due to parental complaints.

Kitchens has introduced legislation to send a clear message that school district superintendents have state law behind phone restriction polices.

“We’re not doing this because we think the schools don’t – we’re not forcing the schools to do this,” Kitchens explained. “We want to back them up and let them say, when the parents complain to them, say, ‘hey, sorry, we’re just following state law.’ So that’s really the goal that we all need to be on the same page on this.”

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Experts and advocates agree that phones have led to a mental health crisis for young Americans, ranging from lack of attention and poor focus.

“We also have what some researchers have termed an attention apocalypse going on, which is kids have become so acclimated to these digital devices,” said Melissa Henson of the Parents Television and Media Council.

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Some experts warn that phones are also inviting trauma and danger into the lives of kids.

Laura Derrendinger, who once worked as a public health nurse, told CBN News, “I saw the phone indeed as a vector of disease carrying toxic online content and creating disease in our children.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Trump held the first meeting of his new Religious Liberty Commission at the Museum of the Bible on Monday. His first initiative is protecting prayer in public schools, focusing more broadly on the issue of religious freedom for students.

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“We have to bring back religion in America, bring it back stronger than ever before,” the President said while opening the event in front of a packed audience representing different faiths.

He said his administration wants to advance religious liberty, and that as America’s 250th anniversary approaches, the nation must remember the significant role faith played from the beginning.

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Trump also invited 12-year-old Shea Encinas from California to speak about his school forcing him to read a book promoting transgender ideology, which conflicts with his Christian faith.

“Last year, in fifth grade, Shea was forced to read a book to a kindergarten student promoting a message of radical gender ideology that is contrary to his religious beliefs and ours,” Trump explained.

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Then Shea addressed the crowd, too. “I believe kids like me should be able to live our faith at school without being forced to go against what we believe,” he said. “I hope no other family has to go through what mine did.”

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President Trump renewed his promise to defend religious freedom and signaled a big development at the Department of Education during a speech at the Museum of the Bible on Monday.

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The president lauded his record in office while vowing to protect religious liberty in America’s public schools. He made that pledge as the White House Religious Liberty Commission gathered at the museum.

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“When faith gets weaker, our country seems to get weaker. When faith gets stronger… good things happen for our country. It’s amazing the way it seems to work that way. Under the Trump Administration, we’re defending our rights and restoring our identity as a nation under God. We are One Nation Under God — and we always will be,” he said.

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During his speech, President Trump told the story of a little girl named Hannah Allen from Honey Grove, TX, who organized some friends to pray for an injured fellow student. “The school principal declared that Hannah’s generous act of love was prohibited from taking place in front of the other students. Didn’t like it. The principal didn’t like it, can you imagine?”

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