Another piece of the biblical world has emerged from the ground of Israel, bringing fresh excitement to Christians and biblical scholars alike. Archaeologists now say the ancient town of Bethsaida, closely tied to the ministry of Jesus and several of His disciples, has likely been identified along the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee.

Researchers announced this month that years of excavation at El-Araj have produced overwhelming evidence connecting the site to biblical Bethsaida, the village referenced multiple times throughout the New Testament.

Bethsaida was the hometown of the apostles Peter, Andrew and Philip. Scripture also records Jesus performing miracles in and around the city, including the healing of a blind man described in the Gospel of Mark and the feeding of thousands near the area with loaves and fish.

Excavation director Steven Notley said the growing body of discoveries has “essentially confirmed” El-Araj as biblical Bethsaida.

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Among the most significant findings are the remains of a Byzantine church believed to be the long-lost “Church of the Apostles,” ancient fishing tools, Roman-era ruins and a first-century structure uncovered beneath the church foundation.

“So, we have a first-century house wall under the apse,” Notley told EWTN News. “It doesn’t have a plaque on it that says ‘Peter slept here,’ but from a perspective of archaeology, it doesn’t get much better than that.”

Archaeologists also uncovered a mosaic inscription referring to Peter as the “chief of the apostles and keeper of the keys of heaven,” strengthening the connection between the site and the biblical accounts surrounding the disciples.

The discoveries closely match writings from eighth-century bishop Willibald, who described visiting a church built over the home of Peter and Andrew during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Excavations first began at El-Araj in 2016 after researchers identified the site as a possible match for Bethsaida because of its location near the ancient shoreline and evidence of a thriving first-century fishing village.

Momentum continued to build as archaeologists uncovered fishing weights, Roman pottery and evidence of a Roman bathhouse. Then, in 2025, a wildfire unexpectedly revealed additional ruins hidden beneath dense vegetation, exposing more structural remains across the site.

The findings also align with historical descriptions from Flavius Josephus, who documented settlements and activity around the Sea of Galilee during the Roman era.

Bethsaida remains one of the most important locations connected to the earthly ministry of Jesus. The city witnessed miracles, discipleship and powerful moments recorded in Scripture that continue inspiring believers thousands of years later.

While faith in Christ has never depended on archaeology, discoveries like these continue bringing the pages of the Bible to life and reminding us that the Gospel unfolded in real places where people encountered Jesus face to face.

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].

For years, many of us have warned that government-assisted suicide programs would never stop at so-called “compassionate” end-of-life care. Once a culture starts treating death as a solution, it inevitably begins offering death before healing, before hope and before fighting for life itself.

Now another deeply troubling story out of Canada is putting those warnings front and center.

According to People, 84-year-old Miriam Lancaster said she arrived at Vancouver General Hospital in severe pain, only to have a doctor allegedly bring up Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying program, known as MAiD, before she had even undergone testing.

“All I knew was that I was in an emergency ward and was approached by a doctor, which I was expecting,” Lancaster told the Western Standard, as reported by People. “And the first thing the doctor did was ask about MAiD.”

Think about that for a moment.

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An elderly woman arrives frightened and hurting. She is looking for answers. Looking for treatment. Looking for help. Instead, according to her testimony, death is introduced almost immediately as an option.

This is exactly what critics of euthanasia programs have feared for years. Once a nation normalizes assisted death, it slowly begins reshaping the entire medical system around the idea that some lives are simply too expensive, too painful or too burdensome to continue.

Lancaster’s daughter, Jordan Weaver, said the injury turned out to be a hairline pelvic fracture caused by osteoporosis, something that was completely treatable. Her mother recovered fully without surgery.

In fact, Lancaster went on to travel internationally, climb a volcano in Guatemala, take cooking classes in Mexico and even play piano with a jazz ensemble in Havana.

That is the part of this story nobody should overlook.

The woman a doctor allegedly introduced to assisted death is still alive. Still thriving. Still experiencing joy, purpose and adventure.

“I was taken aback. That was the last thing on my mind, I just wanted to find out why I was in pain — I did not want to die,” Lancaster later said in a video clip shared online.

I met an 84-year-old woman who was offered euthanasia at a Canadian hospital practically upon arrival.

Miriam didn’t want to die. She recovered well and travelled to Cuba, Mexico, and Guatemala.

Stop offering death to people who have adventures to lead! pic.twitter.com/ZjEfSaKmix

— Amanda Achtman (@AmandaAchtman) March 18, 2026

Her words cut through all the sanitized political language surrounding MAiD. This is not mercy. This is not compassion. This is a culture increasingly conditioned to see death as a medical treatment.

We have watched this progression happen in real time across Canada and parts of Europe. First it is presented as a rare option for the terminally ill. Then eligibility expands. Then psychological suffering becomes grounds for euthanasia. Then people struggling with disabilities, poverty or depression begin surfacing in horrifying testimonies about being steered toward assisted death instead of genuine care.

Now an elderly woman says death was suggested while doctors were still trying to determine why she was hurting.

That should terrify every person who values human dignity.

Scripture teaches us that life is sacred because it is given by God. We are not disposable. We are not inconveniences to be eliminated when suffering enters the picture. Compassion means caring for people, comforting people and helping carry burdens together. It does not mean quietly offering death to the vulnerable.

The most chilling part of stories like this is how ordinary the language has become. Weaver recalled the alleged conversation sounding almost casual, saying MAiD was presented as something that could “end the pain forever.”

That is how a death culture advances. Not always with force. Sometimes with soft voices, clinical language and appeals to comfort.

Lancaster survived. She recovered. She lived.

And her story is another warning flare exposing what programs like MAiD ultimately become when societies abandon the God-given value of human 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].

There are some stories that shake us because they force us to confront a question we spend most of our lives trying to avoid:

What happens when we stand before God with absolutely nothing left to defend ourselves?

That’s the nerve Randy Kay hits in his latest video on “Heaven Encounters.” And he doesn’t tiptoe around it. He comes charging straight into the darkest corners of human brokenness with testimony after testimony of people who died, encountered eternity and came back completely transformed.

Not polished church people.

Not spiritual elites.

Drug dealers. Addicts. Abuse victims. A cartel insider. A Satanism teacher. People the world had already written off.

And according to Kay, every one of them encountered the same thing: Jesus Christ and overwhelming grace.

The emotional centerpiece of the video is the story of Paul, a man deeply embedded in cartel life who overdosed on the same drugs he was distributing. Kay describes Paul standing near the lake of fire, fully aware of the destruction he had caused and convinced God’s judgment against him was justified.

But then came the moment that changes the entire direction of the story.

Instead of receiving what he believed he deserved, Paul encountered mercy.

Today, Kay says, Paul pastors a thriving church in Austin, Texas.

That kind of transformation is the heartbeat of Heaven Encounters, which gathers 140 near-death testimonies from more than two decades of Kay’s ministry interviewing survivors who claim to have crossed into eternity and returned.

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And whether readers agree with every theological conclusion or not, one thing becomes impossible to ignore: these stories carry emotional weight because they strike directly at the deepest fears many of us quietly carry.

Fear that we’ve failed too badly.

Fear that we’ve wandered too far.

Fear that God’s grace might apply to other people but not to us.

That’s exactly why Kay’s message resonates.

One of the most gripping accounts involves Melissa, a woman who practiced witchcraft and taught Satanism after growing up surrounded by abuse and darkness. According to Kay, she began dying while demonic forces pulled her toward what she described as an abyss.

Then came four words that shattered everything.

“You are safe now.”

Kay says those words came from Jesus Himself.

Today, Melissa helps lead a global Christian fellowship reaching believers across more than 100 nations.

Another story centers on Scott, a drug dealer whose best friend died after taking drugs Scott supplied. Consumed with guilt, Scott attempted to end his own life with the same substances.

Instead of condemnation, Kay says Scott encountered Christ’s mercy.

That thread runs through every testimony Kay highlights. Not one of these people claims they earned redemption. In fact, Kay argues the opposite.

The entire point is that they couldn’t.

And that’s where the video moves from compelling storytelling into something far more personal.

Kay takes aim at the fear-based Christianity that leaves believers constantly wondering if they are still saved every time they stumble. He anchors much of the discussion in passages like John 10, Romans 8 and Ephesians 1, arguing that salvation rests in Christ’s grip rather than human perfection.

That message lands like cold water in the middle of a spiritual drought.

Because if we’re honest, plenty of believers spend years exhausted from trying to “maintain” salvation through flawless performance. We know what it feels like to smile in church while privately wondering whether God is finally fed up with us.

Kay’s answer is emphatic: Christ does not abandon His people.

The video also carries something increasingly rare in modern Christian media: boldness.

There’s no apologizing for belief in heaven, hell, salvation or spiritual warfare. No softening the edges to make secular audiences comfortable. Kay speaks with the conviction of someone who genuinely believes eternity is real and that every human soul matters.

That confidence gives the message urgency.

And perhaps that’s why the stories hit so hard.

Because beneath every testimony is the same uncomfortable truth: none of us can save ourselves.

Not the addict.

Not the abused.

Not the religious person sitting in church every Sunday.

None of us stand before God because we earned it.

We stand there because of grace.

That’s the heartbeat behind Heaven Encounters, and it’s why Randy Kay’s message is connecting with so many people searching for hope in a culture drowning in despair, addiction, confusion and spiritual emptiness.

The stories he shares are dramatic. Some readers will wrestle with them. Others will celebrate them. But all of them point toward the same central claim:

No one is beyond the reach of Jesus Christ.

And in a world where millions quietly believe they’ve gone too far for redemption, that message could not come at a better time.

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 drying Euphrates River is once again drawing global attention to biblical prophecy and the events Scripture says will unfold in the last days. As Christians, we must remain watchful, spiritually discerning and aware of what is happening around us as the world moves closer to the prophetic events laid out in the Word of God.

As reported by the Daily Mail, new warnings suggest the Euphrates River could effectively disappear by 2040 as severe drought and collapsing water levels continue reshaping the Middle East. Satellite data revealed the Euphrates basin has lost more than 34 cubic miles of freshwater since 2003, an astonishing decline equal to roughly 13 million Olympic-sized swimming pools.

This is not some obscure stream tucked away in a forgotten corner of the world. The Euphrates is one of the most historically and prophetically significant rivers on earth. It stretches across the very lands tied to the earliest chapters of Genesis and stands at the center of one of Revelation’s clearest prophetic warnings.

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Revelation 16:12 states: “The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East.”

For thousands of years, the Euphrates functioned as a massive natural barrier protecting regions to the west from invading armies. Scripture specifically describes the removal of that barrier as the world races toward the final global conflict tied to Armageddon.

The drying river would allow rulers and armies from eastern nations to advance freely toward the coming confrontation.

We are not there just yet, but it is coming.

Church, we need to wake up and pay attention.

The prophet Hosea warned in Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Too many believers know every headline, every sports score, and every entertainment controversy, yet spend almost no time studying prophecy or understanding the season we are living in.

Jesus told us to watch.

The signs are not becoming harder to see. They are becoming impossible to ignore.

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 growing conversation surrounding UFO disclosure, non-human intelligence, alien encounters and biblical prophecy is rapidly moving into the mainstream. Military whistleblowers, lawmakers, researchers and Christian leaders are now openly debating whether the world is approaching a historic disclosure event tied to UFO phenomena and spiritual deception.

In a powerful livestream discussion, L. A. Marzulli joined Mondo Gonzales and Timothy Alberino to confront one urgent question: Are Christians spiritually prepared for alien disclosure and the coming deception many believe Scripture warned about long ago?

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The discussion explores UFO sightings, alien abduction claims, government secrecy, end-times prophecy, Nephilim theories, spiritual warfare and the possibility of a future “alien savior” narrative designed to deceive the world.

Viewers who watch the embedded video will hear discussions surrounding:

• UFO disclosure and why many researchers believe governments are slowly preparing the public for acknowledgment of non-human intelligence
• Biblical prophecy connected to the “days of Noah,” the Nephilim and warnings Jesus gave about deception in the last days
• Claims involving UFO crash retrievals, alien implants, abduction accounts and alleged physical evidence tied to the phenomenon
• Why the speakers argue UFOs are not merely spiritual experiences, but involve real technology, physical craft and non-human entities
• The growing debate inside Christianity over whether aliens are demons, fallen angels or part of a larger supernatural deception
• Reports of pastors allegedly being briefed about UFO disclosure and concerns that many churches remain unprepared for what may come next
• Discussion surrounding alien hybrid theories, genetic manipulation claims and alleged breeding programs tied to abduction testimony
• Warnings about a future global crisis that could pave the way for an “alien savior” deception connected to end-times prophecy
• Biblical examples the panel says reveal physical angelic beings, heavenly vehicles and supernatural technology described throughout Scripture
• Why the speakers believe Christians must stay grounded in the gospel of Jesus Christ as UFO disclosure narratives continue expanding worldwide

The panel repeatedly emphasizes that we as Christians should respond with discernment, biblical literacy and spiritual preparedness rather than fear or blind acceptance of official narratives surrounding UFOs, extraterrestrials and non-human intelligence.

As conversations about UFO disclosure, alien encounters and government transparency continue accelerating, Christians who ignore the issue may struggle to respond when future revelations emerge.

To hear the full discussion on disclosure, watch the video above.

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].

America’s Christian universities are sprinting toward the culture while dragging their biblical foundations behind them like yesterday’s trash.

Some of the nation’s most prominent Catholic colleges and universities are now hosting separate LGBTQ-focused graduation ceremonies complete with drag performances, “Queer Proms” and identity-based celebrations centered on sexuality and gender ideology.

According to Fox News Digital, at least 20 Catholic-affiliated schools have held or plan to hold so-called “lavender graduations” this spring. The events are marketed as ceremonies to “honor and celebrate the achievements of our LGBTQ+ graduates.”

Among the schools participating are Georgetown University, Boston College, Fordham University, Seattle University and University of San Francisco.

At Seattle University, the school’s website states its “Lavender Celebration” will include “a special performance” from “Sativa the Drag Queen.”

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Over at University of San Francisco, the school plans to host a “Queer Prom” directly after its “Lavender Commencement.”

Other universities are distributing LGBTQ-themed cords and stoles while hosting keynote speakers and celebrations focused entirely on sexual identity politics.

This is what institutional surrender looks like.

These universities still market themselves with Christian branding while openly celebrating ideas that collide headfirst with Scripture. Genesis says God created mankind male and female. Romans warns believers not to conform to the world. The New Testament calls Christians to holiness, repentance and transformation through Christ. Modern university leadership looked at all of that and decided drag shows were the future.

The Cardinal Newman Society blasted the ceremonies in comments reported by Fox News.

“Although intended as a compassionate gesture to students, the ceremonies reinforce harmful ideologies about sexuality and gender that contradict Catholic teaching,” the group said.

“They potentially lead students into sinful activity and undermine a Catholic college’s claim to teach the truths of the Catholic faith,” the organization continued.

The group also reiterated church teaching that same-sex attraction “is not itself a sin,” while describing such attractions as “objectively disordered.”

The collapse is happening in plain sight. Institutions built on Christian doctrine are now repackaging the spirit of the age as compassion and calling rebellion “inclusion.” Administrators who would never dare offend modern activists seem perfectly comfortable offending generations of faithful Christians who supported these schools, expecting biblical integrity instead of ideological theater.

Christian colleges once existed to shape young believers in truth. Many are now functioning as public relations arms for the culture’s latest moral revolution. And the revolution never stops demanding more.

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 archaeological discovery in western Canada is drawing global attention after researchers uncovered what they describe as an 11,000-year-old Indigenous settlement near Sturgeon Lake, a site they say predates Egypt’s Great Pyramid by more than 6,000 years.

As reported by the Daily Mail, archaeologists uncovered stone tools, fire pits and toolmaking materials that suggest the area functioned as a long-term settlement rather than a temporary hunting camp. Researchers also found charcoal layers indicating controlled fire management practices and remains of the extinct Bison antiquus, which could weigh up to 4,400 pounds.

Glenn Stuart said the findings challenge the “outdated idea” that early Indigenous peoples were solely nomadic.

“The evidence of long-term settlement and land stewardship suggests a deep-rooted presence,” Stuart said. “It also raises questions about the Bering Strait Theory, supporting oral histories that Indigenous communities have lived here for countless generations.”

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Researchers compared the historical significance of the site to landmarks such as the Great Pyramid of Giza, Stonehenge and Göbekli Tepe because of what they believe it could reveal about early human civilization.

Dave Rondeau described the moment of discovery by saying, “The moment I saw the layers of history peeking through the soil, I felt the weight of generations staring back at me.”

“Now that the evidence has proven my first instincts, this site is shaking up everything we thought we knew and could change the narrative of early Indigenous civilizations in North America,” he added.

The discovery has also reignited broader cultural debates over history, origins and ancient civilizations. Headlines increasingly frame archaeological discoveries as events that “rewrite human history” or overturn long-held understandings of humanity’s beginnings.

As Christians, we should recognize the growing pattern of narratives aimed at reshaping foundational truths about creation, origins and mankind’s place in the world.

Scripture already tells us deception will increase in the last days. We must remain grounded in the Word of God rather than tossed back and forth by every new theory, trend or sensational claim presented as settled truth. Archaeological discoveries can provide fascinating insight into ancient cultures and civilizations, but they do not override the authority of Scripture.

As the world continues searching for answers about humanity’s beginnings, we must stand firm in biblical truth, equipped with the full armor of God and led by the Holy Spirit to discern truth from deception in an age increasingly hostile to the foundations of the Bible.

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 centuries-old Christian artifact stolen from an Italian church and missing for years has been recovered by the FBI after investigators traced it to an unexpected destination in New England.

The artifact, a 17th-century reliquary urn from the Church of San Michele Arcangelo di Cangiano in Italy, was formally returned during a repatriation ceremony April 29 after an international investigation involving the FBI and the Italian Ministry of Culture.

According to the FBI’s Boston field office, the ornate Baroque urn was one of 17 ecclesiastical artifacts stolen from the church between 2012 and 2022. The gilded vessel, used to hold Catholic relics, disappeared sometime before church officials discovered it missing during an inventory in November 2022.

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Investigators later tracked the roughly 400-year-old artifact to a New England antiques dealer who had unknowingly purchased it after it was sold through another dealer in Italy.

“We do not know how or who stole the urn from the church, but we do know it was sold to a New England-based antiques dealer and shipped to the United States,” FBI Boston spokesperson Kristen Setera told Fox News Digital.

The FBI said agents interviewed the dealer and examined the artifact before confirming it was the missing urn from the Italian church.

“Based on this interview and examination of the urn, the determination was made [that] the urn was the one missing from the church of San Michele Arcangelo,” Setera said.

After learning the artifact had been stolen, the dealer agreed to surrender it voluntarily.

“This information was shared with the antiques dealer, who ultimately agreed to turn over the urn to the FBI for repatriation to Italy,” Setera added.

Federal officials described the recovery as an important victory for the preservation of cultural and religious history. The FBI said the Baroque urn “represents a significant piece of Italian history” and remains protected under agreements involving Vatican City State.

Ted E. Docks, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston Division, called the recovery “incredibly exciting.”

“After all, this reliquary urn is a tangible link to intense religious devotion and a connection to the generations who lived and prayed with it,” Docks said in a statement.

“It represents the intersection of faith, history and art — elements that are invaluable to the people of Italy and to humanity as a whole.”

The urn’s return represents more than the recovery of a priceless artifact. It marks the restoration of a sacred piece of Christian heritage that stood for centuries as a witness to prayer and enduring faith.

To view the full FBI report, click here.

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].

As violent tornadoes tore across Mississippi on Wednesday night, leveling homes and ripping apart buildings, members of a small church in Purvis huddled together in prayer and sang Amazing Grace while a tornado tore through their church, according to a report by AccuWeather.

At least 17 people were injured after more than a dozen tornadoes were reported across Mississippi, leaving widespread destruction in multiple counties and triggering three tornado emergencies, the most severe type of tornado warning.

One of the hardest-hit locations was Coaltown Baptist Church, where church members had gathered for a meal before the storms intensified.

Pastor Jimmy Breazeale said tornado sirens began sounding as members of the congregation were finishing dinner, prompting everyone to move into a hallway behind the sanctuary for shelter.

“They were actually singing ‘Amazing Grace,’” Breazeale said.

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The pastor said the congregation sang and prayed together to comfort one another as the tornado closed in on the building.

“One man looked outside, and he said, ‘It’s coming,’” Breazeale said. “The wall was just moving back and forth.”

The tornado ripped apart portions of the church, destroying the fellowship hall and tearing the steeple from the building before tossing it into the parking lot.

“We didn’t realize it at the time, but the roof was gone,” Breazeale said. “Just total devastation. We were just thankful to God that we were all safe.”

Despite the extensive damage, no one sheltering inside the church was injured.

Gov. Tate Reeves said preliminary assessments showed widespread destruction across the state, particularly in southern Mississippi. In Lamar County alone, officials reported 275 homes damaged, 50 apartment units left inaccessible and 30 roads closed because of debris.

In neighboring Lincoln County, more than 200 homes were impacted, with emergency officials reporting “major damage” and several injuries. Authorities urged residents to stay off the roads as crews worked to clear debris and restore power.

The Cajun Navy deployed emergency resources to affected areas, including a 50-person shelter pod, generators and pallets of supplies, while shelters were opened with support from the American Red Cross.

The National Weather Service confirmed at least seven tornadoes from Wednesday’s outbreak as survey teams continued assessing the damage Thursday. At least three EF3 tornadoes have already been confirmed, including one storm that tracked more than 35 miles across parts of the state.

The storms also unleashed intense lightning activity across the Southeast. According to the AccuWeather Lightning Network, there were 215,695 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes recorded within 24 hours. In Tylertown, at least one home caught fire after being struck by lightning.

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].

Scientists monitoring Pacific Ocean temperatures say conditions are increasingly pointing toward the possible arrival of a “super” El Niño later this year, following months of unusually warm ocean readings across large portions of the globe.

According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, April 2026 recorded the second-highest sea surface temperatures ever observed, with daily averages nearing the record levels seen during 2024.

“Scientists have revealed an ominous sign that a ‘super’ El Niño is inching closer,” the Daily Mail reported.

El Niño is part of the naturally occurring El Niño-Southern Oscillation cycle, which alternates between warmer El Niño phases and cooler La Niña phases every few years. During El Niño events, warmer Pacific Ocean waters spread eastward and release heat into the atmosphere, often affecting weather patterns around the world.

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Where ocean warming exceeds 2 degrees Celsius above average, scientists often classify the event as a “super El Niño.”

The Copernicus report found that average sea surface temperatures across much of the globe reached 21 degrees Celsius, or 69.8 degrees Fahrenheit, during April.

Forecasters currently estimate a 62% chance that the ongoing La Niña pattern could transition into El Niño conditions between June and August.

If a super El Niño develops, it would mark only the third such event in roughly the last 30 years. The most recent occurred during 2015-2016 and was one of the strongest ever recorded.

Climate scientist Zeke Hausfather warned that current indicators suggest this cycle could become especially powerful.

“El Niño is coming, and it is shaping up to be a big one,” Hausfather wrote on X.

He added that if stronger forecasts materialize, “2027 looks increasingly likely to set a new record, perhaps by a sizeable margin if we end up on the high end range of the El Niño forecasts.”

While scientists continue monitoring conditions in the Pacific, weather experts stress that El Niño and La Niña are natural climate cycles that have operated for thousands of years and periodically influence global temperatures, rainfall and storm patterns.

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].