In a recent interview with Charisma Media, evangelist Brian Barcelona highlighted the transformative impact of social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube on modern evangelism. Barcelona emphasized the need to capture attention with bold messages to effectively convey the gospel in a digital age.

“It was a way that we got the attention of people just sitting there video after video,” Barcelona said. “All of a sudden, you come across a video that just says, ‘Hey, we said stop scrolling.’ Why? Because we wanted the attention and that individual to hear the message that we were going to convey and communicate.”

Order Brian Barcelona’s “Legends Die Young” on Amazon today!

Barcelona addressed the divided opinions within Christianity regarding digital media. Some view it as harmful, while others see its potential for good. “You have people that say it’s demonic and stay off of it, and then you have people that say God uses it,” he said. “If the devil could bring an addiction through a phone, why couldn’t God bring freedom through a video?”

Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!

Innovative evangelistic strategies have emerged, including Zoom baptisms and extensive video content production. Barcelona’s team, for example, produced nearly 4,500 videos a month and saw significant engagement. “We were seeing kids get baptized over Zoom,” he said. “I remember this one kid didn’t have a bathtub to baptize, he grabbed a bucket of water and dumped it on himself.”

Barcelona also emphasized the power of praise, introducing various Hebrew words for different types of praise. He highlighted “tahila,” which means spontaneous worship, and “todah,” which refers to praising God for anticipated blessings. “Todah gives you the ability to praise God even though you have not seen it yet,” he explained.

Get your FREE CHARISMA NEWSLETTERS today! Stay up-to-date with current issues, Holy Spirit news, Christian teachings, Charisma videos & more!

Accessibility and engagement are key in Barcelona’s approach to digital evangelism. He encourages believers to share personal, relatable messages and prayer videos on social media. “You have a message if you’re a believer,” he said. “Share these short messages on your heart. They don’t have to be these elaborate things.”

Barcelona believes that social media is the modern marketplace where believers can preach the gospel. “The phone has become a pulpit,” he stated. “This is a way that kids were connecting with God, and I don’t think it’s going to go away.”

Barcelona’s strategies highlight the evolving landscape of evangelism, leveraging digital platforms to reach millions and foster spiritual growth among younger generations.

Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!

James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.

The recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a campaign stop in Butler, Pennsylvania, has sparked intense criticism over Secret Service failures and highlighted the deep political and cultural divides in the country. The shooter, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, managed to fire at Trump from an unguarded rooftop, revealing critical lapses in security protocols.

Michael Snyder, an end times expert and political analyst, described the incident as a “catastrophic security failure.” Snyder noted, “The roof with a direct line of sight to the platform where Trump was speaking was left unguarded.” He also criticized the Secret Service’s response time, comparing it unfavorably to their reaction during the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan. “When Reagan was shot, within less than a second, one of the agents had pushed him into the vehicle,” Snyder said. “In this case, there seemed to be an eternity in the amount of time it took for them to get there.”

Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!

Crooks, who had recently graduated from high school and worked in a nursing home, was described as a depressed, isolated individual with little social media presence. Snyder speculated about Crooks’ motives, saying, “He may have been depressed, desperate, angry at the world. We don’t know what he was thinking internally.”

The incident is seen as a reflection of the intense political and cultural climate in the United States. Snyder attributed this to years of demonizing Trump. “If you call someone Hitler enough times, people are going to believe that. Some people will internalize that and act on it,” he said. Snyder emphasized the need for unity and lowering political tensions, noting, “Both sides realize that things have gone too far, that we need to take the temperature down.”

Get your FREE CHARISMA NEWSLETTERS today! Stay up-to-date with current issues, Holy Spirit news, Christian teachings, Charisma videos & more!

Identifying a solution to the chaos the nation currently faces, Snyder highlighted the importance of prayer and engagement in societal issues, particularly for Christians. “We need to be praying for the safety of all of our national leaders,” he said. “The political chaos is just one element of the perfect storm we have now entered.” He urged people to recognize the stakes, saying, “We are literally going to have no future if we stay on the path that we’re on.”

Order your copy of “The Trump Code” by Troy Anderson on Amazon today!

Trump’s upcoming speeches are expected to stress unity over partisan attacks. Snyder remarked, “His speech at the convention is supposedly going to be a lot about unity, bringing the country together.”

Snyder was proven correct when Trump took the stage for the final night of the 2024 Republican National Convention, as he spoke in a much more subdued tone. After discussing the assassination attempt that nearly took his life, he gave a message of unity and the strength of an America that came together to realize the amazing blessings that God had bestowed on the country in the past.

Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!

James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.

In a revealing interview, Pastor Billy Crone shed light on the secretive world the Freemasons, highlighting its pervasive influence and hidden agendas. Crone’s extensive research and firsthand accounts aim to expose the organization’s practices and their implications for society and the church.

Crone discussed the significance of the footage obtained from a Masonic ritual, emphasizing the authenticity of the practices. “We were able to get actual footage with a guy who snuck in there with his phone and recorded the rituals,” Crone says. “This is not a joke, it’s not a game. This is really what’s going on.”

Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!

Throughout the interview, Crone detailed his comprehensive study on occult societies, including a 10-part series on Freemasonry. He expressed surprise at the depth of the society’s influence, even among Christians. “A lot of people, even Christians, have heard of Freemasonry, but they think it’s a ‘good old boys’ club. No, it’s not. It’s an occult secret society,” he states.

Crone outlined the problematic aspects of Freemasonry’s beliefs, which he believes are fundamentally opposed to Christian doctrine. “They believe in a pluralistic deity and universalism, that all paths will eventually get you to what they call the Grand Lodge in the sky. It’s a works-based false gospel,” he explains. He also highlighted the severe oaths taken by Freemasons, questioning how Christians could reconcile these with their faith. “In the first three degrees, you have to take bloody oaths. How can I profess that as a Christian? I’ve got the light of Jesus Christ,” Crone argues.

Get your FREE CHARISMA NEWSLETTERS today! Stay up-to-date with current issues, Holy Spirit news, Christian teachings, Charisma videos & more!

The pastor went on to describe the widespread influence of Freemasonry, claiming its presence in various sectors, including politics and the entertainment industry. “Hollywood’s in it, the music industry is in it. We expose that, especially because we had two studies just on the symbolism in Freemasonry,” Crone says. He points to the symbology of Washington, D.C. and other areas as evidence of the society’s reach in American culture.

Crone’s call to action for Christians is clear: expose the truth to dispel the darkness. “You want to get rid of the darkness, you bring on the light. You teach the truth, which is the light of Christ, and instantly the darkness flees,” he urges. He emphasizes the need for vigilance and faithfulness, urging believers to finish strong and remain obedient.

Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!

James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.

Senator J.D. Vance, recently announced as candidate for vice president, passionately spoke about his Christian faith and its transformative power at the “God and Country” breakfast on Thursday, July 18. In a heartfelt speech, Vance detailed his spiritual journey and the significant role his faith plays in his personal and political life.

Raised by his grandmother, whom he affectionately calls “Maw-maw,” Vance recounted his early exposure to Christianity. “Despite the fact that she loved the f-word, she was a woman of very deep Christian faith,” Vance says, reflecting on how his grandmother’s unorthodox yet devout faith laid the foundation for his beliefs.

“She was in some ways what you might call ‘unchurched,'” Vance continues. “We went to church maybe once or twice a month, sometimes less, sometimes more, but she read the Bible every single day. She prayed every single day. She loved to watch Billy Graham whenever he was on the TV, and that was really my introduction to the Christian faith.”

Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!

However, Vance admitted that his early faith was shallow. “By the time that I was in law school, I started to call myself an atheist,” he confessed, attributing this shift to arrogance and a belief that his education made him smarter than his grandmother.

His return to faith was spurred by marriage and fatherhood. Vance shared how contemplating his responsibilities as a husband and father led him back to Christianity. “The more that I thought about those deeper questions, the more that I thought there was wisdom in the Christian faith that I had completely discarded and completely ignored,” he explains.

Vance also highlighted the impact of faith on his family dynamics, particularly noting his wife’s observations. “There’s something about becoming Christian that is really good for you,” his wife remarked, pointing out that his faith made him more patient with their son and more forgiving.

Get your FREE CHARISMA NEWSLETTERS today! Stay up-to-date with current issues, Holy Spirit news, Christian teachings, Charisma videos & more!

In his speech, Vance addressed social conservatives’ concerns about their place in the Republican Party. “Social conservatives have a seat at this table, and they always will so long as I have any influence in this party,” he asserts. Vance praised Donald Trump’s contributions to social conservative causes, urging the audience to trust and support the administration. “President Trump delivered for social conservatives more than any president in my 39 years of life. He deserves a little bit of grace and a little bit of trust,” Vance emphasizes.

The speech painted a picture of a man deeply committed to his faith and family. America needs leadership that places a high level of importance on Christian’s values in both their personal life and political career. If Vance truly believes the words he shared at the “God and Country” breakfast, he may just be the right man for the job of vice president.

Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!

James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.

State after state is having outages and operations issues with the 911 emergency line. The most recent was Massachusetts on July 18.

State leaders had a fire lit beneath them when they realized there was a statewide outage of the entire system, while they and emergency services tried to figure out ways to get the message to the public as well as what to do in the meantime.

As reported by USA Today, “Police texted out administrative numbers that callers could use, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu gave outage updates at a press conference outlining plans for the Celtics’ championship parade, and local officials urged people to summon help by pulling red fire alarm boxes.”

Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!

It is estimated that over 7 million people were without use of the 911 service, and thankfully it was not during a time when an emergency on a massive scale was taking place.

In 2024 alone, no less than eight states, including Massachusetts, have experienced emergency system disruptions to include: Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, California, Georgia and Illinois.

Many experts are pointing to the aging grid supporting these systems and the lack of upgrades and modernization in these particular areas.

“Now there are haves and have-nots,” said Jonathan Gilad, vice president of government affairs at the National Emergency Number Association. “Next-generation 911 shouldn’t be for people who happen to have an emergency in a good location.”

Get your FREE CHARISMA NEWSLETTERS today! Stay up-to-date with current issues, Holy Spirit news, Christian teachings, Charisma videos & more!

But states are not alone in this pressing issue of the failing 911 service, as Verizon was slapped with a $ million fine by the Federal Communications Commission. An outage affected six states all in the southern portion of the United States, showing that this issue is not specific to a set region, but affecting the whole country.

While politicians and bureaucrats debate the authority range of the FCC, the citizenry are the ones at risk.

There is plenty in this world to cause worry, fear and anxiety, but in all things we must remember that God is in control.

Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your care upon Him, because He cares for you.” So while we may be experiencing an emergency in real time, we can find peace knowing that God is with us in every scenario we may face.

Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!

James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.

Another day, another example of how Disney/Marvel caves to the insanity of the far-Left.

When the news broke that the character Ruth Bat-Seraph, aka Sebra, a Mossad agent, would make her Marvel debut in the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World movie, the anti-Israel crowd was not having it.

As reported by the Times of Israel, “Throughout her appearances in various comics, Sabra is seen to hold negative views toward Arabic characters, both terrorists and civilians. While various aspects of her characterization change throughout her appearances, her loyalty to the Israeli government and Mossad remains strong.”

This of course irked the rabidly anti-Israel Left who issued calls for boycotts of Marvel unless they rid the film of the Israeli intelligence agent.

Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!

So Marvel caved to the relatively low-pressure and altered the character’s past so that there is no mention of Israel and is instead a Black Widow agent like Scarlett Johansson’s character.

It doesn’t get much more ironic than erasing a Jewish character’s Jewishness after Marvel was founded by two Jewish men, Martin Goodman and Stan Lee.

In the wake of this cultural slap in the face, pro-Israel activists have taken up metaphorical arms against Marvel, who have put themselves in an unwinnable position.

Get your FREE CHARISMA NEWSLETTERS today! Stay up-to-date with current issues, Holy Spirit news, Christian teachings, Charisma videos & more!

As reported by Fox News, “Pro-Israel activist Hen Mazzig blasted the changes on X, accusing Marvel of erasing ‘the only Israeli superhero.’ In an op-ed for The Jerusalem Post, he wrote, ‘The erasure of Sabra’s Jewish identity is also a slap in the face to the American Jews who literally invented the comic book superhero genre.'”

The world has seen a sharp rise in violent anti-Semitism in the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Now, Israelis are embattled in a two-front war which they never wanted but must win for the safety of their civilians, Jewish and Arab alike.

As this hateful rhetoric continues to spread, heed the words of God and pray for the peace of Jerusalem and His people. While some are deceived into believing the Abrahamic Covenant is no longer in effect, the Bible clearly says differently. Worldly events couldn’t be anymore clear regarding the targeting of the Jewish people, and the eventual Aaliyah of Jews back to Israel during the end times.

Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!

James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.

The United States is still reeling from the near assassination of Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump.

Prophetic voices have been warning of such an event for years now, and when it finally came to pass, the question on many peoples minds was: what do we do now?

Joseph Z sat down with Charisma Media to discuss the options Christians have moving forward and what we must do to see a brighter future for our country and cast out fear from our midst.

Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!

Z emphasizes the need for “good” Christians who understand their role in the nation. He quotes Romans 13, which talks about obeying the governing authorities, and sees it as a call to enforce the laws and the Constitution of the United States.

“We need to really follow the Constitution, we need to double down on the Constitution, we need to go forward with the Bill of Rights, we need to press into these areas and really enforce what’s on the books and see that happen,” Z shares.

With a united church acting like the light of Jesus to the world, as we are commanded to do, the country holds a bright future. But Z reminds us of the Great Commission and the need for the body of Christ to work together. He sees this as a time for Christians to unite and make a difference in the world.

Get your FREE CHARISMA NEWSLETTERS today! Stay up-to-date with current issues, Holy Spirit news, Christian teachings, Charisma videos & more!

“God needs His body. First John 4:17, ‘as He is, so are we in this world,'” Z says. “He needs the Great Commission. He needs His body to cooperate with what His will is on earth, or it’s going to speed up the time of judgment. It’s going to speed up the time of difficulty.”

In short, what Christians need to do is act. To put their faith into action and not sit idly by while the world is under the onslaught of the devil. We need to pray, we need to fast, we need to intercede, we need to answer the call of the Great Commission.

“If we stand now and don’t react as the world would react, but we stand in righteousness, we intercede. We show up where we need to show up for the polls, all of it. I’m telling you, I believe that we’re going to begin to see a victory here. I really do,” Z says.

Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!

James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.

As Beryl stormed across Texas leaving millions without power, one particular point of destruction has some saying it was an act of God.

Taking up residence at the University of Houston following its reveal in New York City, the satanic, pro-abortion statue “Witness” was found beheaded in the aftermath of Beryl.

Peaceful protests by pro-life groups as well as prayer walks have targeted the statue and its tentacle-like visage, but never with any manner of violence or damage, a stark difference to the pro-Hamas riots disrupting American university campuses over the past several months.

Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!

The creator of this statue, Pakistani-American Shahzia Sikander, has made the claim that it wasn’t the storm which beheaded “Witness,” but an act of vandalism by those pesky pro-life protesters.

“This was a violent, hateful act,” Sikander said in a statement to CNN. “And I hold the University of Houston accountable for their inadequate response and failure to protect the art. I urge them to release the footage of the perpetrator. The despicable narrative should not be cloaked by the hurricane. The act of violence is part of the history of the work and a testament to its power. I have asked the university to remove the tarp and show the violated work. They need to respect the wishes of the artist.”

The University of Houston has yet to release any video that would support Sikander’s unfounded claims of vandalism.

And it remains absurd for anyone to assume a person or group went out into a dangerous storm instead of seeking shelter for the sole reason of vandalizing a statue.

Get your FREE CHARISMA NEWSLETTERS today! Stay up-to-date with current issues, Holy Spirit news, Christian teachings, Charisma videos & more!

Sikander’s theory doesn’t quite add up, and it is reasonable to assume if this was an act of vandalism which the UH had footage of, it would have been released by now. The university has said that “the damage is believed to be intentional,” and “the University of Houston Police Department is currently investigating the matter.”

But God certainly works in mysterious ways, as this is not the first time that a statue has met a grim fate at the hands of the Lord Almighty or even been beheaded.

In the book of 1 Samuel chapter five, the pagan god Dagon of the Philistines fell before the Ark of the Covenant.

“When they arose early on the next morning, again Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord, and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold. Only the torso of Dagon was left to him,” (1 Sam. 5:4).

Our God is a jealous God (Exod. 34:14) and He will tear down that which He so chooses.

Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!

James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.

The sure sign of a Christian organization that is making progress and succeeding in fighting the evil that has permeated American society is that it will be targeted for its work.

Such is the case for the Family Research Council, which according to the FRC website, “is a nonprofit research and educational organization dedicated to articulating and advancing a family-centered philosophy of public life. In addition to providing policy research and analysis for the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the federal government, FRC seeks to inform the news media, the academic community, business leaders and the general public about family issues that affect the nation from a biblical worldview.”

Well, the Left certainly can’t have powerful organizations stand up to their agenda of fundamentally altering the United States now, can they?

Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!

So, 11 Democratic members of Congress signed a letter to U.S. Treasury Department Secretary Janet Yellen and IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel to challenge the FRC, and organizations like the FRC, and their tax-exempt status:

“We write to express our continued concerns about the tax-exempt status of certain organizations,
including the Family Research Council, which are self-identifying as ‘churches’ or ‘associations
of churches’ to receive more favorable tax treatment than other tax-exempt organizations.”

Weaponizing the IRS to target Christian or conservative groups is not a new trick for the authoritarian Left, and is not something they show any signs of ending.

Remember back in 2015 under the Obama registration, director of the IRS’ Exempt Organizations Unit Lois Lerner was embroiled in controversy over the targeting of conservative groups and the clown show of deleted emails and crashed hard drives which led to evidence being destroyed.

Get your FREE CHARISMA NEWSLETTERS today! Stay up-to-date with current issues, Holy Spirit news, Christian teachings, Charisma videos & more!

And this is not the first time that congressional Democrats have targeted the FRC for investigation, either. In 2022, a similar letter was sent to Yellen and then-IRS Commissioner Charles P. Rettig demanding the same type of investigation.

In a statement to The Christian Post, FRC president Tony Perkins defended the organization and the ministerial work that it performs on a regular basis.

“In 2005, FRC shifted its 501(c)(3) status from an education non-profit to a religious non-profit. This change was made to reflect our mission,” Perkins stated.

“Additionally, this change was required so that we could be an organization that has a statement of faith, and has the ability to hire people and pursue our mission in accordance with our faith and not be imposed upon by regulations from the local government.

“The Democratic Party’s attempts to silence religious organizations, with whom they disagree, will not stop with FRC.”

Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!

James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.

In a whirlwind afternoon at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, former President Donald Trump has selected Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) as his running mate.

“After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the great state of Ohio,” Trump posted to his Truth Social account.

Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!

Vance, hailing from Middletown, Ohio, is a freshman senator who rose to fame with his best-selling memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.” He attended the Ohio State University and continued his education at Yale Law School. Prior to these endeavors he served in the United States Marine Corps.

As reported by The Daily Wire, “Vance’s alignment with Trump’s agenda made him the favorite of Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., who promoted Vance in the weeks leading up to the Republican National Convention.”

This lays to rest the myriad rumors as to who would win the selection, of candidates ranging from former HUD Secretary of Housing and surgeon Ben Carson to Robert Kennedy Jr.

Get your FREE CHARISMA NEWSLETTERS today! Stay up-to-date with current issues, Holy Spirit news, Christian teachings, Charisma videos & more!

Vance holds a strong position against funding the war in Ukraine, but is a staunch supporter of Israel and has condemned the actions of Hamas in the strongest terms while voicing his support for the Jewish state.

Additionally, Donald Trump has now secured the necessary delegates and is officially the Republican presidential candidate, drawing shouts of “USA! USA!” at the press event, less than 48 hours after an assassination attempt on his life.

Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!

James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.