There are certain days you never forget.

I remember the day Charlie Kirk was murdered as if it happened yesterday.

Like many others, I saw the video on X before I realized what had actually taken place. It wasn’t until moments later that the horrifying reality set in: the world had just watched a Christian husband, father and fearless defender of biblical truth lose his life in an act of evil.

While our hearts still grieve that loss, we do not grieve as those who have no hope. Charlie is with the Lord he loved and proclaimed so boldly. Our prayers, however, remain with Erika, their children and the entire Kirk family as they continue walking through an unimaginable valley.

That painful reality returned to the forefront Monday as Charlie’s family came face to face for the first time with the man accused of assassinating him during the opening day of a preliminary hearing in Utah.

According to Fox News, Tyler Robinson sat quietly in the courtroom as prosecutors presented evidence related to the Sept. 10, 2025, assassination. The hearing is expected to continue throughout the week as prosecutors seek to move the aggravated murder case toward trial.

One of the most shocking moments came when investigators introduced video evidence of the shooting. Although the graphic footage was shown only to the judge and attorneys, the courtroom could hear the fatal gunshot.

“While Judge Tony Graf Jr. flinched and leaned away from the screen when the shot rang out in one of the videos, Robinson remained still during both,” Fox News reported.

🚨 UPDATE: In a visibly jarring moment, the judge in the Charlie Kirk assassination trial of Tyler Robinson suddenly flinches after graphic footage of the incident is played

THAT'S how bad it really was.

And Robinson has no remorse.

Pray for Erika Kirk and Charlie's family, we… pic.twitter.com/Osn3SeZT2h

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 6, 2026

Charlie Kirk’s wife, Erika, along with his parents and other family members, left the courtroom before the graphic evidence and autopsy testimony were presented after receiving advance warnings.

Investigators later confirmed Kirk’s death was a homicide caused by a gunshot wound to the neck. Officer Christopher Bagley also testified that he believed the fatal shot came from a rifle fired from the rooftop of the Losee Center. He told the court he found “a black and red screwdriver and impressions in the gravel that he described as what looked like a ‘sniper’s pad.'”

The judge also ruled that an edited surveillance video could not yet be admitted because it had not been properly authenticated, though prosecutors indicated they plan to introduce an unedited version later in the hearing.

Order Jonathan Cahn’s New Book, “The Altar of Pergamon” on Amazon.com!

Charlie lived without apology for Jesus Christ. Whether speaking on college campuses, behind a microphone or in front of thousands, he consistently pointed people toward biblical truth and encouraged Christians to stand firm in their faith despite growing hostility.

Jesus warned His followers that such opposition would come. “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18). He also said, “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). Charlie understood that following Christ carries a cost, and he never stopped proclaiming the truth.

As these proceedings continue, let us faithfully lift up Erika, Charlie’s children and the entire Kirk family before the Lord. Pray that He strengthens them, comforts them and surrounds them with His peace. Pray that justice is carried out faithfully. And pray against the vile lies and hateful attacks that continue to be directed toward this grieving family. Those lies do not come from the Spirit of God, but from the father of lies (John 8:44). Even in the face of darkness, we know Christ has overcome the world (John 16:33), and His light will always shine brighter than the works of the enemy.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].

The late Derek Prince did not treat the Bible as religious decoration. He preached that God’s Word works, changes, heals, cleanses and exposes the heart of every believer who receives it by faith.

In his sermon “8 Effects God’s Word Can Have in Your Life,” Prince said, “Paul said to the Thessalonians it works effectively in you because you believe it.”

Then he laid out eight specific ways Scripture transforms our lives.

1. God’s Word produces faith

Prince began with Romans 10:17: “So, then, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”

That truth became personal during a long illness.

“I kept saying to myself, I know if I had faith God would heal me,” Prince said. “But the next thing I always said was: But I don’t have faith.”

Then Romans 10:17 broke through.

“If you don’t have it, you can get it,” Prince said. “You don’t need to stay without it. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.”

2. God’s Word produces the new birth

Prince said believers are born again through Scripture.

“Of His own will He brought us forth by the Word of Truth,” Prince said, quoting James 1:18.

He then pointed to 1 Peter, saying, “It’s the seed of God’s Word received into the heart by faith that produces the new birth.”

Prince said the seed determines the life it produces.

“The Word of God is incorruptible,” he said. “And the life it produces is incorruptible. It’s divine, it’s holy, it’s eternal.”

3. God’s Word provides spiritual nourishment

Prince said Scripture feeds every stage of spiritual growth.

“When you’re just a little spiritual baby, you need milk,” he said.

But we are not meant to remain babies.

“To mature, you have to exercise your senses,” Prince said. “You have to practice. You have to apply the Word of God.”

He warned that knowledge alone does not produce maturity.

“If you never really seriously apply the Word of God, if you don’t live by the Word of God you will never become mature,” Prince said.

Order Abby Trivett’s New Book, “The Power of Suddenly” on Amazon.com!

4. God’s Word brings mental illumination

Prince turned to Psalm 119:130: “The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.”

He made a sharp distinction between education and spiritual light.

“Education is not light,” Prince said. “You can be educated and totally in the dark. How do I know? Because I was.”

Only Scripture brings true illumination.

“It’s only the entrance of God’s Word that gives light,” Prince said.

5. God’s Word provides physical healing

Prince said God’s Word saves, heals and delivers.

“He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions,” Prince said, quoting Psalm 107:20.

He then told believers not to put their trust in a preacher instead of the Lord.

“Without any preacher, you can be healed if you’ll receive God’s Word,” Prince said.

Prince said Proverbs 4:20-22 became the Scripture that brought him out of the hospital.

“God says: His words are life to those that find them and health to all their flesh,” he said.

Prince said he took God’s Word “as my medicine three times daily after every meal,” and it brought “complete and permanent healing.”

6. God’s Word gives victory over sin and Satan

Prince pointed to Psalm 119:9 and 11, saying God’s Word makes purity possible.

“Your Word have I hidden, or stored up, in my heart that I might not sin against you,” he said.

He also reminded believers that Jesus defeated Satan with Scripture.

“You’ll remember that we looked in Matthew 4, when Jesus encountered Satan; He only met him with one weapon: It is written,” Prince said.

7. God’s Word cleanses and sanctifies believers

Prince said Jesus cleanses His church through the Word.

“How will Jesus provide Himself with a bride who is holy and without blemish?” Prince asked. “Through the washing of water by the Word of God.”

He said redemption and cleansing work together.

“By the blood of His sacrifice He redeems us, but by the water of His Word He cleanses and sanctifies us,” Prince said. “We need both. We’re redeemed by the blood that we might be cleansed by the Word.”

8. God’s Word is a spiritual mirror

Prince closed by pointing to James 1:23-25.

“The Bible is a spiritual mirror,” he said. “When you look into it, it doesn’t show you your physical appearance; it shows you what you’re really like inside.”

The right response is obedience.

“You act on what you see in the mirror,” Prince said. “You need to see your spiritual self in it and act on whatever it shows you that you need to do.”

Prince’s message is simple, direct and needed: God’s Word is not passive. It produces faith, brings the new birth, nourishes our souls, gives light, heals, delivers, cleanses and shows us who we really are before God.

For those of us who have yet to enter paradise, the challenge is not whether Scripture still has power. It does. The question is whether we will receive it, believe it, obey it and allow the Holy Spirit to use it to transform every part of our lives.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].

The first great technological project recorded in Scripture was never about bricks or towers. It was about mankind believing it could build a future without God (Gen. 11:1-9).

Thousands of years later, the Tower of Babel has unexpectedly found its way into one of today’s biggest debates: artificial intelligence.

That reality came into sharper focus after billionaire technology investor Peter Thiel publicly criticized Pope Leo XIV over the Vatican’s call for stronger international oversight of artificial intelligence. While the political controversy has generated headlines, it also points to a much deeper question for us: As AI rapidly reshapes our world, how do we ensure that innovation remains a servant rather than becoming a master?

According to one report from Breitbart, Thiel argued that Pope Leo’s position on AI regulation could unintentionally benefit China by slowing innovation in the United States while doing little to restrain the Chinese Communist Party.

Speaking during a panel at the Aspen Ideas Festival, Thiel said that because the pope’s message would influence Americans more than China, Leo was, “in his own view,” “working for the Chinese Communists.”

The Vatican did not respond to a request for comment, according to the report.

More than a debate about technology

The controversy centers on Pope Leo’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas (“Magnificent Humanity”), which calls for greater oversight of artificial intelligence while warning against placing too much confidence in technology.

The encyclical declares that artificial intelligence “must be disarmed” and urges greater international regulation of the rapidly developing technology.

Order Jonathan Cahn’s New Book, “The Altar of Pergamon” on Amazon.com!

At the heart of the pope’s argument is a conviction that every advance in technology must remain subject to God’s design for humanity rather than redefining it. Machines may process information at astonishing speed, but they cannot bear God’s image, love their neighbor or walk in obedience to their Creator (Gen. 1:26-27).

According to the encyclical, “while AI might become smarter than any one of us, it will never be able to match the unexpected and delightful achievements of all of us — the unpredictable genius of magnificent humanity.”

Pope Leo reinforces that point by turning to one of Scripture’s clearest warnings about human pride.

The encyclical describes Babel as “an impressive feat” built with “a single language, a single technology, a single direction.”

Yet the project ultimately failed because “it was a project conceived without reference to God, supported by a uniformity that eliminated diversity and that chose homogenization over communion.”

That is why the Tower of Babel continues to speak so powerfully today. God’s judgment did not fall because people built something remarkable. It fell because they believed human achievement could replace dependence on Him. The danger was never the technology itself. It was the heart behind it (Gen. 11:4-9).

How should we respond?

Thiel’s criticism and Pope Leo’s encyclical arrive as artificial intelligence rapidly transforms nearly every area of society. Questions surrounding ethics, privacy, employment, warfare and even human identity are moving from theory into everyday life.

We may reach different conclusions about how governments should regulate AI. We may also disagree with aspects of either Thiel’s criticism or the Vatican’s proposals.

What should unite us is something far greater than politics. Every new technology presents us with the same question humanity has faced since Eden: Will we trust God’s wisdom, or will we trust our own ability to determine what is best? (Gen. 3:1-7).

That is why discernment matters. AI can become an extraordinary tool for good, but every tool reflects the heart of the one using it. Technology may amplify human potential, but it also amplifies human sin when it is detached from biblical truth (Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:23).

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the world around us, we are called to test every new development against Scripture rather than cultural enthusiasm or political ideology (1 Thess. 5:21; 1 John 4:1).

Our confidence has never rested in mankind’s greatest inventions. It rests in Jesus Christ, whose wisdom, truth and kingdom will endure long after every human innovation has passed away (Heb. 13:8; Rev. 11:15).

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].

After months of imprisonment for his Christian faith, Pastor Ezra Jin is finally free.

The founder of Beijing’s influential Zion Church arrived safely in Los Angeles on July 4 after being released directly from detention in China, ending an ordeal that prompted an international outcry and months of fervent prayer from believers around the world. The release marks a significant victory for religious freedom advocates, even as other members of Jin’s church remain behind bars.

ChinaAid announced the pastor’s release Saturday, saying it welcomed the news “with profound gratitude” after learning Jin had safely reached the United States.

According to the ministry, “Pastor Jin had spent months in detention because of his Christian faith and ministry. His unexpected freedom is an answer to countless prayers offered by Christians around the world and demonstrates once again that sustained international advocacy can save lives and restore freedom.”

Order Abby Trivett’s New Book, “The Power of Suddenly” on Amazon.com!

Rev. Dr. Bob Fu, founder and president of ChinaAid, celebrated the pastor’s release while giving thanks to God and those who worked to secure his freedom.

“We rejoice with Pastor Ezra Jin, his family, and the global Body of Christ on this remarkable Independence Day miracle,” Fu said. “We thank Almighty God for hearing the prayers of His people. We are deeply grateful to President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and all U.S. officials who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to secure Pastor Jin’s freedom. Their unwavering commitment demonstrates that principled leadership and persistent diplomacy can make a life-saving difference.”

Jin’s release comes after one of the largest crackdowns on a single house church in modern Chinese history. Chinese authorities detained Jin and numerous Zion Church leaders during coordinated raids in October 2025. Eighteen church leaders were ultimately arrested as Beijing intensified its campaign against independent Christian congregations operating outside state control.

Although Christians are celebrating Jin’s freedom, Fu emphasized that the work is far from over.

“While we celebrate Pastor Jin’s freedom, our hearts remain with the countless pastors including 8 other jailed pastors and coworkers from Zion Church, priests, bishops, house church Christians, Uyghur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners, and other prisoners of conscience who remain unjustly imprisoned by the Chinese Communist Party. We respectfully call on President Trump and his Administration to continue making religious freedom and the release of all prisoners of faith a top priority in every engagement with Beijing. True progress in U.S.-China relations must include freedom for those imprisoned simply because they choose to believe.”

ChinaAid also thanked members of Congress, international religious freedom advocates, churches and countless Christians whose prayers and advocacy kept Jin’s case before senior U.S. officials throughout his imprisonment. The organization pledged to continue pressing for the release of every believer imprisoned because of his or her faith.

Fu concluded with a reminder that Jin’s release is only one step toward a larger goal.

“Freedom for Pastor Jin is a tremendous victory. But our work is not finished until every prisoner of faith is free.”

The circumstances surrounding Jin’s release make the story even more remarkable.

According to ChinaAid, trusted sources said Chinese officials informed Jin that his freedom came as a result of discussions between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping and was presented as a goodwill gesture ahead of America’s Independence Day.

Reuters, the Associated Press and other news organizations separately reported that Trump personally raised Jin’s case during his May visit to Beijing, where Xi reportedly agreed to give the request serious consideration. Less than two months later, Jin was released from detention and reunited with his family in the United States.

Even so, eight members of Zion Church remain imprisoned in China, showing the world that the fight for religious freedom is far from over. Please lift them in prayer for strength and endurance during this time of persecution.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].

A remarkable archaeological discovery beneath Egypt’s Western Desert is shedding new light on the enduring presence of Christianity in one of the ancient world’s most important regions.

Archaeologists recently uncovered a remarkably well-preserved Byzantine-era city at the Dakhla Oasis, revealing a thriving Christian community that flourished approximately 1,600 years ago.

According to a Daily Mail report, at the heart of the settlement stands a striking reminder of the city’s faith.

At its centre stands a basilica church overlooking one of the city’s main streets.

The discovery highlights the spread of Christianity across Egypt during the Byzantine era, when believers established churches and communities far beyond the country’s better-known cities along the Nile.

According to the report, the city featured “broad north-south streets intersected by east-west roads to create public squares,” along with homes, watchtowers and public buildings, painting the picture of a well-organized Christian settlement.

Mahmoud Massoud, director general of Dakhla Antiquities and head of the excavation mission, said the settlement “contained all the architectural components of a fully functioning community.”

Among the most significant discoveries were nearly 200 inscribed pottery fragments, known as ostraca, preserving the voices of the people who once lived there.

Order Dinesh D’Souza’s New Book, “The Stones Cry Out” on Amazon.com!

Diaa Zahran, head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities Sector, said, “One of the excavation’s most significant discoveries is a collection of nearly 200 inscribed ostraca (pottery fragments used as writing material) bearing texts in both Coptic and Greek.”

According to Zahran, the inscriptions “record commercial transactions, correspondence and other details of daily life, offering an exceptional documentary record of the city’s inhabitants.”

The discovery also reinforces Christianity’s deep historical roots in Egypt. During the Byzantine period, “Christianity became the dominant religion, towns expanded across the country, and Egypt served as one of the empire’s richest provinces.”

Today, the unearthed basilica stands as a testimony to generations of believers who faithfully gathered to worship Christ centuries before many of the world’s modern nations even existed. As archaeologists continue uncovering the city, each discovery provides another glimpse into the lives of early Christians whose faith helped shape the history of the Church.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].

Millions of people around the world have reported near-death experiences, describing remarkably similar encounters that have fascinated doctors, researchers and us for decades.

A new psychological theory attempts to explain those experiences as the product of a dying brain. While the research offers insight into what may be happening physically during humanity’s final moments, we also know from Scripture that death is both a physical and a spiritual event.

According to a report from Vice, about 10% of people across 35 countries say they have experienced a near-death experience, citing research published in PeerJ. Common accounts include leaving the body, moving toward a brilliant light, encountering deceased loved ones, experiencing overwhelming peace and returning to life.

Researchers continue finding that the brain remains active as death approaches.

“Dying, from a neurological standpoint, isn’t like flipping a light switch,” the article states. Studies have found “the brain producing a sudden surge in gamma waves—its highest-frequency output, associated with peak conscious processing and perception.”

Order Randy Kay’s New Book, “Heaven Encounters” on Amazon.com!

The emotional side of these experiences is equally striking.

“The emotional picture that emerges from NDE accounts is mostly positive,” the article says. While about 14% of reported experiences include distressing elements, most describe profound peace, love and understanding.

A paper published in Frontiers in Psychology proposes what researcher Kayış calls the “dying-moment dream hypothesis.”

According to the theory, as oxygen deprivation limits outside sensory input, “the brain stops receiving input from the outside world; it turns inward, flooding consciousness with memories and emotions drawn from the person’s own life.”

The hypothesis also suggests that the emotional tone of an experience is shaped by a person’s life history and that cultural background may influence how people interpret what they see.

Researchers acknowledge that those ideas remain speculative.

A Call for Biblical Discernment

We should, of course, approach near-death experiences with both humility and discernment.

Author Randy Kay, who was clinically dead for more than 30 minutes before encountering Jesus, has spent years studying near-death experiences through the lens of Scripture. He encourages us to neither dismiss every account nor accept every testimony without testing it against God’s Word.

Kay has warned that many modern near-death accounts promote ideas that contradict Scripture. Instead, he says genuine encounters should glorify Jesus Christ and point people to the Gospel.

“It is not a collection of feel-good stories about tunnels and white light,” Kay wrote of his research, explaining that the accounts were examined for biblical consistency and supported by evidence.

Kay argues authentic experiences should:

• Glorify Jesus Christ.
• Agree with Scripture.
• Call people to repentance.
• Strengthen faith in the Gospel rather than curiosity about the supernatural.

The Physical and the Spiritual

Scientific research can help explain what the brain is doing as the body dies. Scripture reveals what happens beyond physical death.

Paul wrote, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8).

Hebrews 9:27 declares, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”

There is no reason for us to fear legitimate scientific research. Every discovery about the human brain reveals more of the incredible design God built into His creation. At the same time, we should never confuse a physical explanation with a complete explanation.

Science can tell us what may be happening in the brain as life comes to an end. It cannot determine the eternal destiny of the soul.

Near-death experiences remain one of the most fascinating intersections of medicine, consciousness and faith. As we continue to learn more about the physical and mental processes surrounding death, let us also remain anchored in God’s Word, which gives us confidence that because Jesus Christ conquered death through His resurrection, all who place their faith in Him have the sure hope of everlasting life.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].

An Arizona toddler whose extraordinary survival stunned the nation continues to recover after being mistakenly declared dead and later found alive inside a hospital morgue. While authorities are now seeking felony child abuse charges against his parents, this remains a powerful reminder that God is still working miracles.

According to Fox News, Gilbert police have recommended felony child abuse charges against the parents of 18-month-old Vincent Fiordilino after investigators concluded the boy nearly drowned during a Super Bowl party.

The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office is reviewing the recommendation, and no charges have been filed.

Investigators allege Vincent wandered out of his parents’ sight before guests found him floating face down in a backyard swimming pool. Police say both parents later admitted to smoking marijuana during the gathering and allege their impairment contributed to the lapse in supervision.

After first responders rushed Vincent to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, a physician pronounced him dead.

Then came the moment that captured national attention.

Order Abby Trivett’s New Book, “The Power of Suddenly” on Amazon.com!

Hours after Vincent had been transferred to the hospital morgue, medical personnel discovered he was still alive and breathing. He was immediately airlifted to Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

According to the police report, Vincent’s parents and responding officers questioned whether the toddler had actually died, believing he was still showing signs of life. Detectives also allege a nurse later detected a pulse after he had been pronounced dead. Police did not recommend criminal charges against the physician involved.

Following the incident, Dignity Health said it conducted a thorough review.

“This is a heartbreaking situation. We immediately conducted a thorough review of all aspects of the care that was provided to learn what happened and to make meaningful changes to strengthen our care,” a hospital spokesperson said.

The family’s GoFundMe page calls Vincent a “miracle baby” and recounts the unimaginable phone call his parents received after returning home, believing their son had died.

“Vincent was declared deceased,” the fundraiser states. “His devastated parents were sent home in unimaginable grief. But God had other plans. A little after 11:30 p.m., the family received a call no one expected: the medical examiner had detected a faint heartbeat.”

The fundraiser says Vincent’s kidneys, lungs and liver initially began shutting down, and early scans suggested possible brain damage. Later testing reportedly found no brain damage. He continues to undergo extensive therapy and medical treatment as he recovers.

We thank God for preserving Vincent’s life through an ordeal that seemed impossible to survive. His recovery is not yet complete, and he still needs our prayers. Please join us in praying for Vincent’s continued healing, for wisdom for his medical team, and for God’s grace to surround his family in the days ahead.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].

An innocent group of Christians gathered for Sunday morning worship at a North Carolina church never knew how close they may have come to danger.

Instead, they experienced something else: God’s protection working through alert citizens, prepared security and law enforcement officers who responded within minutes.

William S. Milliken III, 44, of Thomasville, was arrested Sunday morning outside Wesley Memorial Church in High Point after police received a 911 call at about 10:15 a.m. reporting an armed man sitting in a truck in the church parking lot during worship services.

According to the High Point Police Department, an off-duty officer working at the church immediately responded, while additional officers arrived within minutes.

“The officers disarmed the man and took him into custody without incident,” police said.

No one inside the church was injured.

Police said Milliken was wearing a plate carrier, a type of body armor, when he was arrested.

After searching his truck, officers recovered what authorities described as a significant cache of weapons and equipment, including a CO2-powered launcher designed to resemble a handgun, two flamethrowers, two crossbows, more than 500 rounds of ammunition, rolls of black duct tape, three knives and oxycodone pills.

Milliken was charged with possession of a weapon of mass destruction, impersonation of a law enforcement officer and possession of a Schedule II controlled substance. He is being held in the Guilford County Jail.

High Point Police Chief Curtis Cheeks III praised the officers who responded before the situation could escalate.

“Thanks to the quick action of our officers, a man armed with weapons was taken into custody before anyone was hurt,” Cheeks said. “The officers prevented a potentially dangerous situation from escalating and helped ensure everyone attending church services could return home safely.”

Order Abby Trivett’s New Book, “The Power of Suddenly” on Amazon.com!

Cheeks also commended the person who made the initial emergency call.

“We also want to thank the community members who recognized a potential danger and had the courage to speak up,” he said. “As we work to keep High Point safe, it is crucial that we continue to look out for each other.”

Wesley Memorial Church likewise expressed gratitude to those who helped protect the congregation.

“We are grateful for the quick response of the High Point Police Department and our security team,” the church said in a statement. “We remain committed to providing a safe environment for worship and ministry.”

According to The Christian Post, court documents also indicate investigators found a notebook containing addresses of other churches and schools.

Stories like this remind us that faith and wisdom have always gone hand in hand.

When rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls amid constant threats, Nehemiah did not tell God’s people to ignore danger. Scripture says they prayed for God’s protection while also posting guards: “Nevertheless, we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night” (Neh. 4:9, MEV).

Jesus taught the same balance when He instructed His followers, “Listen, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matt. 10:16).

Likewise, Proverbs reminds us, “A prudent man foresees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished” (Prov. 27:12).

Churches should never live in fear, but neither should they ignore wisdom.

On Sunday morning in High Point, an observant citizen made a phone call; an off-duty officer responded immediately; law enforcement acted quickly; and worshippers returned home safely.

That outcome is worth celebrating.

As we continue gathering to worship despite the enemy’s best efforts, let us pray for our pastors, church security teams, law enforcement officers and congregations across the nation. May God continue to grant His people discernment, courage and peace as we faithfully proclaim the Gospel in every generation.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].

What if one overlooked verse in Genesis explains some of the Bible’s most difficult passages—and even the spiritual battles unfolding in our world today?

That’s the case L.A. Marzulli makes. Speaking with Taylor Welch on The Deep End, the veteran author and researcher revealed that Genesis 3:15 is the prophetic key that unlocks the Bible’s overarching story, from the Garden of Eden to the return of Jesus Christ.

“The seed war. Genesis 3:15, the offspring, the seed of the dragon, will be at war with the offspring of the woman,” Marzulli said. “The one coming from the woman, the protoevangelium, will crush the dragon’s head. The dragon will bruise His heel. That’s the whole Bible.”

Marzulli said he didn’t always understand that connection.

As a new Christian reading through the Old Testament for the first time, he found himself wrestling with some of Scripture’s most difficult accounts. The Flood, the Tower of Babel, Sodom and Gomorrah and the conquest of Canaan all left him asking the same question.

“I get to Noah, and I have a real problem with that,” he recalled. “I’m kind of going, ‘Wait, why is this God of the Old Testament destroying everybody on the planet except for eight people? Who is this guy? He can’t be like Jesus.'”

Order L.A. Marzulli’s Book, “Rungs of Disclosure” on Amazon.com!

His questions only multiplied as he continued reading.

“Then you get to the Tower of Babel, and you kind of go, ‘Wait, wait, wait. Why is He doing this? Why confuse? What did these people do that was so bad?’ Then you get to Sodom and Gomorrah, and it’s like, ‘Who is this?’ And finally, the conquest of Canaan.”

Marzulli said his frustration reached a breaking point.

“Literally, I have the Bible, and I’m looking at the wall. I’m ready to throw the Bible against the wall and walk out of the room. Jesus, I get [it] because I’m born again, Spirit-filled. Jesus, I get. This other stuff… who is this guy?”

Years later, everything changed.

“Finally, someone explained Genesis 6 and Genesis 3:15. The seed war.”

That moment, Marzulli said, unlocked the rest of Scripture.

“The rest of the Bible unfolds. Then Genesis 6 makes sense with the Flood. Then the Tower of Babel makes sense. Then Abraham… the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Oh, I get it. Because, you know, they want to have sex with the angels that go in. Why is that? They want the power… And then finally, the conquest of Canaan.”

According to Marzulli, Genesis 3:15 is the gateway to understanding the Bible’s grand narrative, yet it remains largely absent from many churches.

“That’s the gateway, in my opinion,” he said. “Most people in church have no idea what it is. None. It’s not taught.”

Marzulli believes that recovering this biblical framework changes how Christians read some of the Bible’s most controversial passages, particularly Genesis 6.

“If a person holds the Sethite view, with all due respect to all you Sethites out there… the sons of God are the bene ha’Elohim, the fallen angels creating a hybrid being known as the Nephilim.”

He also believes the same conflict introduced in Eden continues throughout Scripture.

“The conquest of Canaan is the culmination of the seed war on some level because the dragon knows that someone is going to crush his head,” Marzulli said. “The dragon knows, ‘Aha, it’s going to be from that seed,’ but he doesn’t know what tribe yet.”

The Bible is not a collection of disconnected stories but one continuous account of God’s redemptive plan through Jesus Christ and the battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness.

“The seed war… that’s the whole Bible,” Marzulli said. “It’s not taught.”

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].

Christian singer Jeremy Camp is encouraging believers to look beyond packed stadiums and exciting events and remember where genuine revival truly begins.

According to Movieguide®, Camp recently shared a message on Instagram challenging the idea that revival should be measured by attendance alone.

“The other day I was actually kind of scrolling through Instagram and seeing all these posts that were saying stadiums are packed out all over America — ‘Revival is happening,’” Camp said. “It kind of didn’t sit with me great for a couple reasons.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jeremy Camp (@jeremycampofficial)

He explained that while large gatherings can be encouraging, they are not the true measure of spiritual renewal.

“One is to judge revival off mass numbers is not what it really means,” Camp said. “Revival actually begins in your heart, so it’s saying, ‘Hey God, I want to start with me on my face, going here I am broken before you, realizing that your love and forgiveness are so great.’”

Camp pointed believers back to repentance and a daily dependence on Christ.

“It is recognizing our desperate need for Jesus constantly. His revival begins with a personal conviction — repentance. And from there I do believe, yes, there can be mass numbers that happen, but just numbers doesn’t mean revival.”

Order Kathryn Krick’s New Book, “Ignite Revival” on Amazon.com!

He said lasting transformation—not crowd size—is the evidence of God at work.

“Revival starts with a true, changed heart and lasting fruit of your family, your community, and if it spreads out, that’s what we love. It starts with you,” Camp said.

The message echoes the biblical call to humility and repentance found throughout Scripture. It is also the heartbeat behind Camp’s recently released song, “Revival.”

“My prayer is that God would start with me, that He would bring repentance, forgiveness, humility and transformation to my life,” Camp said. “And when that happens, it spills into our families, communities, schools and churches. May we never confuse numbers with fruit. True revival is seen in changed lives that look more and more like Jesus.”

Camp’s reminder offers an encouraging challenge for all of us: before we pray for revival in our nation, we should first invite God to revive our own hearts.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].