A decades-long mystery in the mountains of eastern Turkey is entering a new chapter.

Researchers who believe they have found the remains of Noah’s Ark have received official approval from Turkish authorities to conduct what they describe as the most extensive scientific investigation ever performed at the Durupinar Formation, a boat-shaped site located near Mount Ararat.

The announcement marks a historic milestone in a search that has captivated Bible believers, archaeologists and skeptics for generations.

According to the team behind Noah’s Ark Scans, the newly approved expedition will include:

• Non-destructive core drilling to examine what lies beneath the surface without damaging the site.
• Advanced remote-sensing technology to map underground features.
• Next-generation imaging systems capable of providing more detailed scans than ever before.
• An underground drone called “Gopher” designed to explore and map hidden spaces beneath the formation.
• Expanded analysis of previously identified tunnels, voids and chambers detected through ground-penetrating radar.

“This historic authorization marks the first time in modern history that a dedicated international team has been officially cleared to perform extensive, non-destructive investigations at the site using revolutionary new scanning and imaging technologies never before applied to this site,” the group said in a statement.

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Researchers hope the new investigation will answer one of history’s most enduring questions. The team said it is seeking “irrefutable proof” that the formation is the authentic resting place of Noah’s Ark.

The Durupinar Formation sits about 18 miles south of Mount Ararat and has been the focus of intense interest since its discovery in 1948. Previous scans reportedly revealed what researchers describe as angular structures, tunnels and large underground voids that they believe are inconsistent with a natural geological formation.

Andrew Jones, one of the researchers involved in the project, pointed to what he believes are unusual characteristics of the site.

“Naturally, an object would not form this way with the pointed end uphill,” Jones told the Daily Mail.

Jones also said researchers have identified underground features that warrant further investigation.

“We have uncovered a tunnel that is not filled in, which leads to a big central void, a room that goes much further down that is square-shaped,” he said.

Among the most intriguing findings are soil samples collected from within the formation. According to Jones, the soil contains less alkalinity, more organic matter and elevated potassium levels compared to surrounding areas.

“Tests show these soil differences (pH, organic matter and potassium) are real, with less than a five percent chance they’re random, giving 95 percent confidence that something like a decayed wooden ship is causing them,” he said.

The formation’s dimensions have also drawn attention because they closely resemble the measurements given for Noah’s Ark in Genesis.

While many scientists continue to argue the site is a natural geological feature, the upcoming investigation could provide the clearest answers yet.

The significance of this extends far beyond archaeology. The account of Noah’s Ark is foundational to the biblical narrative and to Jesus’ own teachings about the days of Noah. As the evidence continues to point toward the historicity of the Ark, it would serve as another powerful example that God’s Word remains true and trustworthy in an increasingly secular age.

The expedition is expected to begin later this year, with preliminary findings to be released as researchers process and verify the data.

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].

Israel is giving Bible readers a new way to experience the land where so much of Scripture unfolded.

The Israeli government has officially designated Route 60, a historic roadway stretching from Nazareth in the north to Beersheba in the south, as the “Biblical Highway.” The initiative is designed to create a Route 66-style experience for tourists, students and pilgrims traveling through some of the most significant locations in biblical history.

The route passes through sites connected to Abraham, King David, the prophets and Jesus, including Hebron, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Bet El, Shiloh, Shechem, Megiddo and Nazareth.

Supporters say the project brings the pages of Scripture to life.

“The Biblical Highway will enable millions of visitors to bring their faith, heritage, and identity to life by traveling through the very places where the Biblical story unfolded and where the values that continue to shape Western civilization were born,” Ze’ev Orenstein, director of international affairs at City of David, told Fox News Digital. “It is an invitation to experience the Bible not only as a book, but as a living geography, as relevant today as it was millennia ago.”

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The initiative comes as Jewish historical ties to the land face ongoing challenges from those seeking to rewrite or erase that history.

Yishai Fleisher, international spokesman for the Jewish community of Hebron, said the effort reinforces the biblical roots of the Jewish people in the land of Israel.

“There have been attempts to ‘erase’ Jewish historical and biblical narratives, including efforts to reinterpret or displace long-held traditions associated with sites such as the Western Wall, the Temple Mount, Rachel’s Tomb and the Cave of the Patriarchs,” Fleisher said.

He added, “When we rename Route 60 or add the name ‘Biblical Highway,’ we are strengthening that pillar of our ancient identity in this land. Certainly, people who do not want to see Israel exist seek to remove that pillar.”

Christian leaders welcomed the project as an opportunity to help people better understand the Bible and the history behind it.

“The more you examine the archaeological record in the Land of Israel, and the more objectively you look at the evidence, the more you realize that the Bible is not a collection of fables and fairy tales, but an accurate account of a people and a land that have given the world ideas and values of universal benefit and inspiration,” David Parsons, senior vice president and spokesman for the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, told Fox News Digital.

Israel’s Ministry of Tourism supports the initiative and plans to incorporate the Biblical Highway into future tourism campaigns. Visitor centers, observation points and multilingual signage are expected along the route.

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].

Two Southern California good Samaritans are being remembered for their selfless final act after they were killed while stopping to help at the scene of a freeway crash.

Nereida “Nedi” Benitez, 40, a nurse at Sharp Memorial Hospital, and Gary “Chad” Tillman, 54, a Marine veteran and truck driver, were traveling on Interstate 15 near Fallbrook, California, early Thursday morning when they came upon a collision involving a Honda CR-V and a Toyota Sienna.

According to the California Highway Patrol, both Benitez and Tillman pulled over and approached the damaged CR-V to assist the driver. Authorities said the driver of the CR-V was allegedly intoxicated and had crashed into the rear of the Toyota Sienna.

As the two good Samaritans were helping at the scene, another vehicle struck the CR-V. Benitez and Tillman were killed in the impact.

Friends and family said the tragedy unfolded while both were doing what came naturally to them — helping others.

“She’s a nurse, and that’s what nurses do,” Benitez’s friend and former co-worker Tania Jones said. “This was definitely Nedi, and she would do it all over again, too.”

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Jones said she met Benitez while working together in a COVID unit and remembered her for her kindness, compassion and constant willingness to serve others.

“You could even tell, even under the masks we were wearing, that she was always smiling; that’s one thing about Nedi: her big, beautiful smile,” Jones said. “What you see in all the photos is her positive light and energy.”

She added that Benitez was “always very much dedicated to her patients at work and would give you the shirt off her back or be running behind you saying: ‘Hey, let me help you.'”

Sharp Memorial Hospital also mourned the loss of its colleague.

“The entire team at Sharp HealthCare is heartbroken by this tragedy,” Joshua McCabe, director of emergency services at Sharp Memorial Hospital, said in a statement. “Nedi was a compassionate and dedicated nurse whose commitment to caring for others left a lasting impact on her colleagues, patients, and the community.”

Tillman was likewise remembered as a man devoted to serving others. After spending 12 years in the Marine Corps, he became a truck driver, a career his family said matched his love of big rigs and life on the road.

His obituary described him as a devoted husband, loving father and passionate supporter of his family.

“His family was the center of his world, and he poured his heart into every moment spent with them,” the obituary said.

Loved ones found comfort in knowing that his final moments reflected a lifetime of selflessness.

His last act, according to his obituary, “reflected the kind of man he truly was: one who gave of himself so that others might be safe.”

As family members, friends and co-workers grieve this heartbreaking loss, let us keep the loved ones of Nereida Benitez and Gary Tillman in our prayers and ask God to bring comfort, strength and peace to all who are mourning.

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 new government disclosures continue to fuel public fascination with UFOs and alleged extraterrestrial encounters, near-death experience researcher Randy Kay believes Christians should focus less on appearances and more on spiritual truth.

Kay, a former biotech CEO who says he clinically died for more than 30 minutes before encountering Jesus, recently joined Alan DiDio’s Revival Nation program to discuss the growing interest in UFO phenomena and whether it overlaps with accounts from people who have experienced the afterlife.

According to Kay, some of the descriptions found in UFO discussions bear similarities to what he witnessed during his own near-death experience.

‘I Was Seeing the Warfare’

Kay said his experience did not begin with an immediate entrance into heaven.

“After I died, I was in a point of consternation. So I did not go directly into heaven. I went to another place and I was seeing the warfare in what I came to know as the second heaven,” he said.

Describing what he witnessed, Kay said, “On the left side were the demons, and the demons would look very, and I described this previously before all of this came out, as reptilian in appearance, and serpentine in appearance, and they changed form.”

He added that the enemy often imitates God’s work.

“And we know that we can entertain angels unaware. Of course, the angelic composure is one that can morph,” Kay said. “And you talked about the different forms of these aliens. And of course, the enemy of God, Satan and his minions, tried to counterfeit everything that God does.”

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Warning About Deception

Throughout the discussion, Kay repeatedly returned to the issue of spiritual deception.

“What happens as we’ve looked at these various cases of people especially who’ve had hell experiences, is that there is a deception that takes place,” he said.

Kay described testimonies from people who believed they were entering a beautiful place before discovering a far different reality.

“So that was their first introduction. Then when they were enticed to go through this space, in other words, deceived, they entered into hell. And the real disclosure then occurred of the darkness of these demons and this place of hell.”

Kay believes believers should be careful not to become distracted from the gospel.

“I think what’s going to happen. People will get their eye off what God has shown in a tangible and validated and proven way to something that is distracting from what God is doing,” he said.

More Than 600 Interviews

Kay said his views are informed by years of research into near-death experiences.

“I’ve interviewed over 600 people and I’ve researched over a thousand,” he said.

Among those interviews are people from a variety of religious backgrounds who later professed faith in Christ.

Discussing one former Muslim, Kay said, “He came back, he was so changed, so transformed that he received Jesus as his Lord and Savior, and today, happy to say I’ve interviewed him a couple of times, whereas his family had disinherited him.”

He added, “Today, most of that family are now believers in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.”

The Power of Jesus’ Name

Kay said one common thread among many troubling accounts of the afterlife is the power of calling on Christ.

“Many of those who were rescued from hell were rescued because of one thing, because they cried out the name of Jesus Christ,” he said.

“They had enough foreknowledge to know that their only rescue is Jesus Christ.”

Kay continued, “And that alone, there’s power in the name of Jesus. Save them from hell.”

He also defended the biblical basis for near-death experiences, pointing to several passages of Scripture.

“Jesus himself was telling of that story of the consciousness in the afterlife,” Kay said while discussing Christ’s account of the rich man and Lazarus.

A Message for Those Facing Death

Kay also addressed people grieving the loss of loved ones or facing serious diagnoses.

“My message is you’ll never die, and your loved one never died. That’s a fact,” he said.

Reflecting on reports from those who have clinically died, Kay added, “None of those I’ve interviewed that have clinically died felt that like we had died.”

Kay encouraged people to learn what the Bible says about eternity rather than live in fear.

“The most important thing I have to say is that Jesus Christ will be with you always, ever present,” he said.

‘There’s No Other Way’

Kay concluded by emphasizing what he believes is the central message found throughout authentic encounters with the afterlife.

“Well, you got to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You know, there’s no other way,” he said.

Looking back on his own encounter after death, Kay recalled the first words he heard.

“The first two words he spoke to me in heaven were, ‘Trust me.'”

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].

Two people died and four others were hospitalized after a private jet crash-landed on a Texas highway Tuesday night, splitting apart and bursting into flames as witnesses rushed to help those trapped inside.

Fox News reported the aircraft crashed on Texas State Highway Loop 20 in Laredo around 10 p.m. after departing from Los Cabos International Airport in Mexico and heading to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, authorities said.

Dramatic video from the scene showed the plane skidding across the highway, striking street lights and breaking apart on a concrete median before catching fire.

A desperate rescue effort unfolds after a business jet slams onto a Texas highway and catches fire.

Video shows the aircraft blocking part of Loop 20 in Laredo while first responders and civilians rush toward the burning wreckage, trying to smash cockpit windows and pull people… pic.twitter.com/0921UJ9KjN

— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 17, 2026

Witnesses immediately ran toward the wreckage to help survivors escape. According to reports, two bystanders used a sledgehammer and shovel to force open the aircraft door and assist passengers.

Zayra Garza, who witnessed the aftermath and shared video on social media, told The Associated Press the scene looked “like part of a movie.”

“What was worrying me was the fire,” Garza said. “I was concerned that it could have just exploded at any time.”

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Authorities initially reported one fatality before updating the death toll to two on Wednesday morning.

Jose Baeza, an investigator with the Laredo Police Department, said a vehicle traveling on the highway was partially struck by the aircraft during the crash. At least five first responders were also treated for smoke inhalation.

The identities of those aboard the aircraft have not been released. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

The aircraft was operated by NetJets, which said in a statement that it is cooperating with authorities.

As we await answers, let us pray for the families who lost loved ones, for the survivors recovering from their injuries and for the first responders who courageously answered the call in the midst of this tragedy.

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 America approaches its 250th birthday, Christian leaders are warning that declining biblical literacy is accelerating the nation’s moral and cultural decline.

During Israel365’s “Open the Book: A National Conversation on Biblical Literacy” on June 14, speakers pointed to troubling research showing that while 66% of Americans identify as Christian, only 4% hold a biblical worldview.

“That foundation is cracking,” Rabbi Pesach Wolicki said. “That foundation is under attack.”

Wolicki added that many Americans own Bibles but lack a basic understanding of Scripture.

“They’re holding a book that they no longer know,” he said.

‘We Lost the Balance’

Troy Miller, president and CEO of the National Religious Broadcasters, said churches bear much of the responsibility for the decline.

He argued that many congregations shifted away from discipleship and deep Bible teaching in favor of seeker-sensitive models.

“We lost the balance,” Miller said.

“Bible literacy or illiteracy is behind so many of the social ills we’re seeing today.”

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‘Silence in the Pulpit’

Pastor Jim Garlow, founder of Well Versed, said biblical illiteracy has been compounded by pastors who avoid addressing cultural issues through Scripture.

“It never goes in neutral. It goes to something else,” Garlow said.

Citing research showing many pastors believe the Bible speaks to modern moral issues but decline to address them publicly, Garlow added, “Therein lay the problem.”

“There’s been silence in the pulpit. It’s catastrophic.”

Support for Israel

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, said declining support for Israel is one consequence of America’s fading biblical knowledge.

The trend is “the fruition of seeds that were planted decades ago,” Perkins said.

Referencing biblical accounts of Abraham, David and Jeremiah acquiring land in Israel, Perkins argued that Scripture provides a clear historical foundation for the Jewish connection to the land.

“If we understood our Bible as Christians,” Perkins said, “we could not go along with what is being advocated by the UN and others.”

Building the Next Generation

Pastor Stephen Martin shared how his church responded by creating a yearlong Bible-reading initiative and a classical Christian school.

Recalling a lesson from a rabbi in Israel, Martin said, “Most nations build monuments. The Jewish people don’t do that. We build schools.”

“It’s the best thing we’ve ever done as a church,” he added.

As the summit concluded, Wolicki urged attendees to remain committed to Scripture.

“Keep the book open,” he said. “This is not the end of the conversation. It is the start of one.”

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].

Conservative commentator Glenn Beck and Bible teacher Bill Cloud are warning Christians not to confuse opposition to Western secularism with biblical truth, arguing that a growing fascination with Russia among some believers is leading many down a dangerous path.

Beck, who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has often drawn criticism from Christians over theological differences. Nevertheless, his warning about spiritual deception and misplaced trust in political powers deserves consideration on its own merits.

During a recent discussion, Beck addressed claims that Russia has become a defender of Christianity while the United States continues its moral decline.

“Our culture is evil. I think it’s pumping out poison,” Beck said. “We have to become people of God.”

At the same time, Beck rejected the idea that Christians should look to Russia as a model for spiritual renewal.

“I don’t need to go to somebody who is telling us like Alexander Dugin, is Russia, is aligned with Iran,” he said.

Russia, Iran and the ‘Restrainer’

Much of the conversation focused on Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin and his interpretation of the biblical concept known as the “Katechon,” or restrainer, mentioned by the apostle Paul in 2 Thessalonians.

Cloud explained that the term refers to “he who restrains or he’s holding back,” preventing the full revelation of the “man of sin” until God’s appointed time.

According to Cloud, Dugin applies that role to Russia.

“He is apparently applying the role of catacon or the restrainer to Russia, to his vision of what Russia should be, that they are a God-ordained instrument,” Cloud said.

Cloud said Dugin’s worldview portrays Russia and its allies as a force destined to overcome the West and Israel.

The concern, Cloud said, is that many Christians are embracing those ideas without testing them against Scripture.

“A lot of Christians just really don’t know what the scripture says, quite honestly,” he said. “A lot of people don’t take the time to study it.”

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Gog and Magog Connections

The discussion also turned to Ezekiel 38 and 39, which describe the future invasion of Israel by a coalition led by Gog of Magog.

Cloud said Dugin’s vision of a Russia-led alliance working alongside Islamic nations mirrors interpretations of Ezekiel 38 and 39 held by many Bible prophecy teachers.

“When I saw this and that there’s this man who’s pushing this ideology and philosophy, supposedly even to Putin, and how Russia’s destiny is to be the catacomb and to put down the west and to put down Israel etc., that’s what I really thought maybe there might be something to this Russia being allied with these Islamic nations coming into the mountains of Israel,” Cloud said.

He added that Ezekiel’s prophecy ends with the destruction of the invading force.

The Greatest End-Times Warning

While much of the discussion centered on geopolitics, both men repeatedly returned to what they described as the Bible’s primary end-times warning: deception.

Cloud pointed to Jesus’ words in Matthew 24.

“He leads off with this one: don’t be deceived,” Cloud said. “Deception, you know, don’t be deceived. It keeps popping up.”

Beck argued that believers should prepare for increasing confusion in the years ahead.

“We just have to stay close to the Lord,” Beck said.

The discussion serves as a reminder that discernment remains essential. Whether examining Russia, Iran, Gog and Magog, or any other prophetic headline, Scripture warns that deception will be one of the defining characteristics of the last days.

America faces profound moral and spiritual challenges. The question is whether we will look to Christ or to earthly powers for what only God can provide. As prophetic speculation intensifies and geopolitical alliances continue to shift, we are called to test every ideology, political movement and prophetic claim against the Word of God.

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 question of whether people are born gay remains one of the most debated topics in both the church and culture.

During a recent conversation with podcaster Ruslan KD, former gay men and Christian leaders Reginald Robinson and Zaire Willis offered a nuanced response rooted in their understanding of Scripture, human brokenness and the process of sanctification.

Robinson said the discussion must begin with humanity’s fallen condition.

“I think many of us agree that we are all born into a sin nature,” Robinson said. “When Adam fell, humanity fell. We all fell. And so we were born inheriting that sin nature.”

He distinguished between what he called a “sin nature” and “sin expressions,” describing homosexuality as one of many ways a fallen nature can manifest itself.

“Nobody gets to go to the sin market and choose what sin they’re going to have,” Robinson said.

While noting that Scripture does not explicitly state that someone can be born gay, Robinson said he believes some people may be born with a predisposition toward same-sex attraction.

“We’ve journeyed with over 100 men and we realize that though that may be a familiar story for many, it’s not the story for all,” he said. “There are some who were never abused. There are some who have families in their lives. There were some who were raised in church, raised to love God, they were trained up in the right way, but all of a sudden this expression came out of nowhere.”

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At the same time, Robinson rejected the idea that such attractions reflect God’s original design.

“What we’re not saying is that this is God’s divine design,” he said. “We’re not saying that God made you this way. We’re saying that this is due to the fallen nature.”

Willis said the church has often overlooked people whose experiences do not fit common explanations centered on trauma or family dysfunction.

“One of the disservices that we’ve done in this conversation is ignore the one who says, ‘I have never been abused. I don’t have trauma. Both my parents are in the household,'” Willis said.

However, he emphasized that the book’s central message is not about proving how someone became same-sex attracted.

“No matter how you believe you were born, we are all called to be born again,” Willis said.

Addressing the question of whether same-sex attraction always disappears after conversion, Willis said experiences vary. While some report immediate freedom, he said many believers experience transformation through a longer process of sanctification.

“It’s not that the temptation goes away. It’s not that the pull goes away. It’s that you now are able to say no to a thing that you couldn’t say no to before,” Willis said.

He added that the ultimate goal of the Christian life is not heterosexuality but obedience to Christ.

“The goal is not heterosexuality. The goal is not to have a wife and children. The goal is submission to Christ. The goal is holiness,” Robinson added.

For both men, the debate ultimately points beyond sexual identity and toward the transforming work of Jesus Christ.

“No matter how you believe you were born,” Willis said, “we are all called to be born again.”

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].

Nicki Minaj says the biggest battles of her career were never merely professional.

During a recent conversation on Bryce Crawford’s podcast, the rap superstar spoke candidly about faith, spiritual warfare, leaving church after becoming famous and what she sees as the darker realities operating behind the scenes of the entertainment industry.

“It was like constant spiritual warfare,” Minaj said.

The Grammy-nominated artist described entering the music business with enthusiasm and optimism, believing the industry was built on mutual support and shared success.

“I thought everyone just roots for each other and really wants each other to win,” she said.

That perception changed over time.

Minaj said she began noticing patterns of territorial behavior, power struggles and efforts to control opportunities within the industry.

“I started realizing people are really vindictive in this industry,” she said.

“If you don’t get money with one person or a specific people, they don’t want you to get money at all.”

She said those experiences reshaped her understanding of the entertainment world.

“It started feeling like everyone wanted to stake their claim into human beings like they were property,” Minaj said.

“If you didn’t abide by their rules or put money in their pocket, they would actively try to stop you from making money, to feed your family, from prospering in the industry that you love.”

The realization was jarring.

“Oh my gosh, what did I sign up for?” she recalled thinking.

Minaj described the environment as more than a business challenge.

“It was a spiritual experience,” she said.

“I felt like I brought a knife to a gunfight.”

The rapper also expressed concern about the broader cultural influence of the entertainment industry, particularly on younger generations.

“Well, it sure isn’t driving people to God,” she said.

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According to Minaj, much of modern entertainment revolves around materialism, image and external validation.

“It definitely isn’t making people want God more,” she said.

She pointed to social media culture as an extension of the same problem, warning that constant comparison can leave people feeling inadequate.

“That’s what I think is very demonic about the industry as a whole,” Minaj said. “It makes people feel that they’re never enough.”

The conversation also turned toward faith and how her relationship with God evolved as her fame increased.

Before becoming a household name, Minaj attended church regularly and often went by herself simply to hear biblical teaching.

“I loved church so much,” she said.

That changed once her career exploded.

Working late nights and traveling made regular attendance difficult. At the same time, fame made anonymity nearly impossible.

“When you go to a church, people will stare at you,” Minaj said.

“It takes away that feeling of just you and God.”

She described church as a place where believers should be able to set aside public identity and focus entirely on worship.

“You don’t want to feel like your stage name when you’re in church,” she said. “You want to just feel like it’s you, the actual person.”

Despite those challenges, Minaj said her faith remains central to her life.

“What a relationship with God does is it changes the worldly system,” she said.

“The world tells people that they should care about their validation.”

Her perspective now is markedly different.

“When you have a relationship with God, the only thing you care about is, ‘Is God pleased with me?'”

Toward the end of the interview, Crawford asked Minaj a question that has followed celebrities and entertainers for decades: Is the Illuminati real?

Minaj declined to endorse popular conspiracy theories but acknowledged facing opposition she believes went beyond ordinary industry politics.

“There definitely is a group of people that have made things very difficult for me,” she said.

“I always was looking at it as if this was a personal issue, that one person didn’t really like me and they happened to be in a powerful position.”

While she stopped short of identifying any specific organization, she did not hesitate when discussing the spiritual dimension of those struggles.

“Has it been spiritual warfare? Absolutely.”

The answer to those battles is not retaliation but dependence on God.

Throughout the interview, she repeatedly returned to prayer, humility and discernment as essential safeguards in a culture she believes often pushes people away from faith.

“When you have a relationship with God, you only care about, ‘Is God pleased with me?'” she said.

And despite the pressures of fame, influence and public scrutiny, Minaj said that remains the question guiding her life today.

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].

Two Christians can sit in the same church, sing the same worship songs, hear the same sermons and read the same Bible.

One grows stronger year after year. The other remains trapped in the same cycles of frustration, fear and spiritual stagnation.

According to John and Lisa Bevere, the difference is not personality, talent, education or opportunity.

It is faith.

During a recent episode of their podcast, the Beveres argued that faith is the dividing line between believers who flourish and those who remain stuck. More importantly, they said faith is not about getting things from God. It is about partnering with Him to fulfill His purposes and destroy the works of the enemy.

“Faith is foundational,” Lisa Bevere said. “This is not something attached to a particular denomination. Faith is foundational. It is part of being a child of God.”

The Invisible Divide

Many Christians assume spiritual passion is what separates an on-fire believer from a lukewarm one.

The Beveres challenged that assumption.

Hebrews 11:6 declares that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” That means faith is not an optional addition to the Christian life. It is the foundation beneath it.

John Bevere described faith as more than positive thinking or religious optimism.

“Faith is rooted in the spoken word of God, not just something we decide to speak,” he said.

That distinction matters.

Faith, he explained, does not begin with human desire. It begins with God speaking. Abraham believed because God promised descendants as numerous as the stars. Blind Bartimaeus cried out because he believed Jesus was the Messiah. The woman with the issue of blood pressed through the crowd because she believed touching Christ would change everything.

Their faith was anchored in who God is and what He had revealed.

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Why the Enemy Isn’t Threatened by Religious Activity

The Beveres repeatedly returned to one theme: the enemy is not intimidated by religious routine.

Faith is what threatens the kingdom of darkness.

Lisa Bevere pointed to 1 John 3:8, which says Jesus was manifested “to destroy the works of the evil one.”

Faith connects believers to that mission.

“Faith in Him, not faith in self, not faith in speaking things multiple times and manifesting,” Lisa Bevere said.

The couple warned against confusing biblical faith with modern manifestation teachings. While both emphasize speaking, John Bevere said the source is entirely different.

“Manifesting say, ‘Hey, whatever you want, speak it,'” he said. “But I’m looking at Jesus and says, ‘I don’t say anything unless I hear my Father saying it.'”

Biblical faith, they argued, is not about creating a preferred future through repetition. It is about agreeing with God and acting on what He has spoken.

The People Who Refused to Stay Quiet

Some of the most powerful examples of faith in Scripture came from people who refused to let obstacles silence them.

Blind Bartimaeus continued shouting for Jesus even as the crowd told him to be quiet.

The woman with the issue of blood pushed through social barriers and public shame to reach Him.

The Syrophoenician woman refused to leave after being ignored and challenged.

Each received the same response.

“Your faith has made you well.”

Lisa Bevere said the lesson remains relevant today.

“We have a world telling you to be quiet. We have a world telling you faith doesn’t work. We have a world saying, ‘Do it in your own strength. Be your own God,'” she said.

“But he didn’t argue with the people. He continued to cry out to Jesus because he knew Jesus was the answer.”

The Difference Between Stuck and Flourishing

Every believer has been given a measure of faith, but that faith must be cultivated through God’s Word and exercised through obedience.

The issue is not whether God is willing to work.

The issue is whether believers will trust Him enough to act on what He says.

“Faith comes by reading the word of God,” Lisa Bevere said. “You’re not going to get faith by even—I mean, we want to stir you, but we want to stir you to get into the word of God and to listen to what the Spirit of God is highlighting.”

Two Christians may sit in the same church and hear the same message.

One leaves encouraged.

The other leaves transformed.

The difference is faith—faith that hears God’s voice, believes His promises and refuses to stay silent when everything else says to give up.

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].