Lately, many of us have become privy to Hayden's life of abuse, being "sold to Hollywood" since the age of 6, and struggle with addiction...

I have seen many comments saying "hopefully she knew Jesus".. with the implication that if she didn't, that on top of having an abusive and depressing time on earth, she would then face an eternal torment in Hell.

It seems she was raised Catholic and later embraced "spirituality". But my question is, if she never had the gospel clearly presented to her, or was never positioned to be influenced by Godly people, do you believe there is any way God could be able to have grace an mercy on such people, or is eternal torment in fire the only option left?

I pray there is some alternative.

A new tragedy is being reported in the ongoing war against Christians in Nigeria. At least 27 Christ-followers have been killed in attacks over the past day.

"The motivations of these terrorists, it is to wipe out the entirety of Christianity in Nigeria. This is not about climate change, and this is not about farmer-herder clashes... This is clear religious and ethnic targeting," Nigerian reporter Masara Kim explains.

FULL STORY: https://cbn.com/news/world/27-christians-killed-jihadists-aim-wipe-out-entirety-christianity-nigeria

This is so tragic. 😔😭

When it comes to the topic of Christianity and China, I always heard of opinions that contradict each other.

One one hand, I hear people say Christians are oppressed in China and it's a very atheist country and on the other hand I hear people say China is the most Christian country in the world. Two very opposing views of the situation, so I went to China to see it for myself.

I flew to China, specifically to Wuhan and lived there for a few months and searched for an answer.

In my time of being in China, I saw people wearing crucifix necklaces, I heard Christian songs in cars and saw churches. Some of the churches are more low-key, having a projector and feeling like a classroom, while others feel like any other church back in the west.

What shocked me the most is in central Beijing... literally the most city center of the capital city there's a huge cathedral! I didn't expect that at all.

I met Christian brothers and sisters around China, and while it's definitely nowhere near as obvious, there's definitely a huge presence of Christianity in China.

So what's the answer to the question? It's more complicated and somewhere in between. Have you seen Christianity in China?

I made a quick documentary about this on YouTube where I compare Christianity to other religions in China from a Christian point of view, if you're interested, it's here. I think it's interesting: https://youtu.be/GESOF9_ByaY

Yehoshua - This is the pre-exilic form of the name that is found in the Pentateuch, the book of Joshua and even in the post-exilic book of Haggai.

Yeshua - This is the post-exilic form of the name that is found in the book of Ezra and the book of Nehemiah.

Iēsoûs - This is the Greek transliteration of both Yehoshua and Yeshua in the Septuagint which is the Greek translation of the Old Testament made by Greek-speaking Jews in the 3rd century BC.

Iesus - This is the Latin transliteration of Iēsoûs in the Vulgate, the Latin translation of the Bible by Saint Jerome. This form was also used in English translations of the Bible like Tyndale’s New Testament and the 1611 King James Version.

Jesus - This is the Modern English form of the name that is found in almost all modern translations of the Bible into English.

Hope you will enjoy this🙏🏻

Edit: I should've added a discussion about the meaning of the name and what words make up the name.

I believe there are two ways the name Yehoshua יהושע can be interpreted:

1. It is thought to be made up of two parts: "Yeho" יהו as a short form of or a reference to the divine name YHWH and "shua" as being derived from the word yesha ישע meaning deliverance or salvation.
2. It is thought to simply mean salvation or deliverance as seen from Psalm 116:6 which reads: "The Lord protects the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me." The part "he saved" is יְהוֹשִֽׁיעַ - "Yehoshia", which is highly similar to Yehoshua יהושע.

As for Yeshua ישוע there is something similar but also something different:

1. I believe it is also thought that "Ye" in Yeshua is a reference to the divine name and "shua" as being derived from the word yesha ישע.
2. A more reasonable interpretation in my opinion would be to understand the name Yeshua ישוע as being derived from the Hebrew word Yeshuah ישועה which also means salvation. The difference between the two is that the former is a masculine word whereas the latter is a feminine word.

Hope that helps🙏🏻

Hey everyone! I thought I would share our testimony of how Jesus Christ saved us.

First of all, all glory to God alone. This should be all about Him and not about us.

It’s a long story actually. Buckle up your seat belts.

I am deeply grateful to God for all that He has done for us. I can never thank Him enough.

I am a 30 year old guy from South India. We were raised in a Hindu family, but Jesus Christ graciously saved my grandfather, grandmother, mother, and me years ago. My dad is not saved yet.

We hail from Kerala and then got settled in Tamil Nadu, India. We used to worship some so called gods of Hinduism. We used to take trips to temples. We also wasted lots of money on poojas and stuff, but of no use. We did not have peace.

When I was a little kid, I remember two guys coming and standing before the gate of our house, and my grandfather was there at the veranda. They asked in a loud voice if they could come inside and talk about Jesus Christ. My grandfather got irritated and asked them to go away. I still remember being pissed off at them even at such a young age. We thought they were trying to brainwash us.

My aunt (my mother’s younger sister) had a brain tumour which haunted us for years. She used to suddenly get epilepsy, and then she would be taken to the hospital. We also got her brain tumour operated on, but still, after a few years, growth started to appear again. She was a woman who gave so much importance to God (unfortunately to idols) by spending time in prayer to them. She was an amazing woman though, but unfortunately she didn’t know her Creator. Even we didn’t know Him at that point in time.

There was a neighbour aunty who used to share about Jesus Christ with us, but we refused. That aunty would say that Jesus Christ called my aunt His daughter and asked my aunt to come to Him. She also asked us to turn to Jesus Christ and said that He would solve the problems we were going through, but we refused. We thought that the neighbour was trying to convert us. It must have been the pride in our hearts that was blinding us.

So, our journey to Christ actually began in 2009, during one of the most difficult seasons of our lives. My aunt was admitted to the hospital after she got epilepsy once again, but this time it was serious. She got bedridden, and she was hospitalised for almost 3 months. During this time, my mother was taking care of her at the hospital.

At the hospital, there was a nurse who shared about Jesus Christ with my mother. That nurse also took her to a Christian prophet. This was the point where things slowly started to shift by the grace and mercies of God. My mother and my mother’s elder sister bought Bibles. I also started reading the Bible in the year 2009. It must have been the Holy Spirit who melted my hardened heart.

My aunt’s condition became serious. That neighbour aunty gave my mother a piece of paper on which a repentance prayer was written and asked my mother to make my aunt pray that prayer. My mother did that, and she says that my aunt read it out, but only God knows what happened in her heart at that time. I don’t know whether my aunt was saved.

My aunt passed away on October 23, 2009, at 6:58 PM, and it shattered me and my family greatly. It was a dark time. We were grieving the loss of my aunt, who passed away due to a brain tumour. We also spent a great amount of money for my aunt to recover, but we couldn’t get her back.

In the midst of those difficult times, a prayer meeting was organized by Dr. Paul Dhinakaran (son of Brother D.G.S. Dhinakaran) on August 8, 2010, at Bethesda, Karunya.

Before attending the meeting, my grandfather did something remarkable. He knelt down and prayed to Jesus Christ, saying:

“If You are the true and living God, then call out my name through the preacher and reveal the things I am going through.”

He had his doubts and wondered if such things might be staged. Yet deep within, he was sincerely seeking the truth.

That day, my grandfather and mother attended the meeting. It was a huge crowd.

During the prayer time, Dr. Paul called out two names, but neither was my grandfather’s. He felt disappointed.

But then, led by the Holy Spirit, Dr. Paul called out a third name…

It was my grandfather’s name.

Not only that, he spoke about the personal struggles my grandfather was facing, his fear of death and the burdens in his heart.

That moment changed everything.

It was a divine encounter, a turning point in his life and in all of ours. My grandfather went up on stage and testified before everyone.

From that day on, our family came to Christ. Later, on November 4, 2012, we were baptized by immersion. My grandfather was 88 years old, and my grandmother was 75 at that time.

My grandfather later went to be with the Lord at the age of 95. My grandmother also went to be with the Lord recently at the age of 89.

When my grandfather passed away on February 10th, 2019, that was when my family members and relatives came to know that we were baptised. Some started treating us differently. My own uncle was very upset, and he verbally abused us and tried to keep us under his control. He also tried to get into a physical fight with me at that time.

Later, he would say that when my grandmother passed away, he would burn her body according to Hindu customs. He would challenge us, but when my grandmother passed away recently on March 9th this year, things turned out differently by the grace of God. My cousin told my uncle that since my grandfather was buried, my grandmother also should be buried at the same site. Some people supported that as well.

We received favor in the eyes of people. She was also buried in the same spot, and even though my uncle is not saved, he was the one who took care of all the expenses related to her burial.

God was our Refuge. How good and merciful God is.

No man in this world and no demon in hell can snatch the souls that are sealed by the Living God.

My grandparents could have passed away without knowing Christ, but in His mercy, He reached them in time.

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

Through all this, I have learned one thing with certainty:

If God wants to save someone, no one can stop it.

John 10:28–30,

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

Even though I knew about Jesus Christ in the year 2011 and loved Him, I was living a double life, one foot in the world and one foot in God’s Kingdom. During my college days, I wasn’t close to God. I was busy with worldly things.

Then, in the year 2017, I met with a motorbike accident, and that changed my life. I got injured and fractured my left ankle. I should have lost my life but by God’s Grace no vehicles ran over me. I had to take bed rest, and I was relieved from the firm. I was actually angry at God and shouted at Him, but it was my foolishness. My lifestyle wasn’t good at that time. If I had died then, I would have certainly ended up in hell.

Even though I did not drink, smoke, do drugs, or sleep with women, I had two addictions in my life which my family did not know about. They were porn and masturbation. I struggled with them for many years, and whenever I tried to stop by myself, the longest I could go was 22 or 23 days. Then again, I would relapse. I felt hopeless.

In 2018, while I was at home recovering from the motorbike accident, I slowly started reading the Bible, and then I saw my life slowly being transformed.

In 2018, a great miracle happened. I used to use Tinder at that time in order to find a genuine relationship because I felt lonely sometimes, but most of the time I was disappointed, as it was just casual for other people. Then I came across a woman who right-swiped on me. I started talking to her. She was an Indian Hindu woman who was studying in the Philippines to become a doctor. We used to play online games together.

I started sharing about Jesus Christ with her and about our story. She was receptive. It seems that one of her professors, who was a Christian doctor, had shared about Jesus with her. That lady doctor used to invite the students, share about Jesus Christ, and give them food. So, seeds were already sown in her life. I was just watering it, by the Grace of God.

Later, there came a moment in her life when she flunked one of her exams along with her friend, and she got caught. She was asked to repeat one year again, but at that time, she prayed to Jesus Christ, and things turned around, and she was forgiven. Then she started believing in Jesus Christ. It was all the Lord’s doing.

I started liking her. At that point in time, Jesus Christ set me free from porn and masturbation addictions, and it has been almost 8 years now. That was a remarkable year in my life. I would say that I was truly coming to Jesus Christ during those years. Even though we parted ways recently because of some personal situations, God has been good to us.

Jesus Christ gave me a burden to share the Gospel with people. I used to install apps like Bottled, Slowly, etc., and share about Jesus Christ with people, and sometimes I would get banned.

In 2020, I would say that my relationship with Jesus Christ strengthened. I didn’t know we could be so close to God.

One day, my phone stopped functioning. I think it was in the year 2021. I went to enquire about the repair at a mobile shop. There, I saw an old man. At that time, I felt led to share about Jesus Christ, and I told him that Jesus Christ loves him. Then, on the same day, I said that to 3–4 people, if I am not wrong. Slowly, this became a habit.

During those COVID times, I got Gospel tracts and started giving them out to strangers here and there. The crazy thing was that no one had to teach me to do all these things. I feel like it was the Holy Spirit teaching me all that. It was God who put that burden for souls in my heart. I couldn’t make it up myself because I did not care about people, in the past.

Once, while I was sharing about Jesus Christ with a watchman, he suddenly started crying in the middle of the road. I was surprised and deeply moved by what I saw.

Another time, I was sharing about Jesus Christ with a fruit vendor. He told me that he felt goosebumps throughout his body while I was speaking to him. I was astonished and also very happy. It felt like Jesus Christ was touching his heart and making him aware of His presence.

These moments have stayed with me. They reminded me that when we share the Gospel, we may never know what God is doing in someone’s heart.
The world often tells us that things have to be extraordinary to make a difference. But sometimes, it is through the simplest moments that God transforms people’s lives.

So, do not hesitate to share about Jesus Christ with others when He nudges you. Never underestimate what God can do through you as an individual, and never look down upon yourself or the role God has given you. Our role is simply to be faithful and share the love of Jesus Christ and leave the results in His hands.

By the grace of God, I felt the tangible presence of Jesus Christ twice in my life.

Once was in the year 2021 when a pastor laid hands on me and prayed. I felt waves of electricity on the palms of both my hands, and I also felt fire on my tongue. It was surreal.

Another time was on June 18, 2023. There is a local TV channel in my city called “Sathiyam TV.” On that channel, they used to telecast a live Christian prayer every weekend at 7 PM, where the speaker, Bro. Mohan C. Lazarus, prayed for healing, deliverance, and miracles for people.

So, on Sunday, June 18th, I was actually watching the speaker talk about many things, but I was also scrolling on my phone. I didn’t have much expectation because I thought, “How is God going to bless a person who keeps scrolling on the phone while listening to the prayer?”

Then the time of prayer came. I think it was between 8:50 PM and 8:55 PM. The speaker started to pray on the television, and I also knelt down in my room and prayed to Jesus while the speaker was praying through the television.

I didn’t expect much to happen because I felt like I was scrolling on my phone and not listening properly. But when I knelt down, closed my eyes, and started to pray, I started feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ. It felt like currents of electricity. At first, I thought I was just imagining it, but then it became so strong that the presence moved through almost my whole body.

It lasted for around 20 minutes, if I am not wrong. I couldn’t feel my body at that point. I thought I was going to fly away. I couldn’t believe it. It was so exciting. That was one of the days I will never forget in my life.

Jesus Christ also saved my life from death traps. Jesus Christ gave me a new life. He also gave me a new and good job after the accident, even when I had almost a 3 and a half year gap. God is so good!

I was a selfish person earlier, but I feel He is leading me on a path of selflessness. I am not perfect, but Jesus Christ convicts me about right and wrong. I find that to be a gift. It is a beautiful experience to know that God is there by your side personally.

This is our journey. Personally, I still have so much to improve. Jesus Christ has done so much for us. I hope you are strengthened and edified by this testimony.

Know that you are not alone. You are alive for a reason. God wants you. He wants to use you for His Kingdom. Never end your life at any point in time. There will be good and hard times, but that is what makes life beautiful. Hard times help us understand the depth of emotions and help us have empathy toward our fellow human beings. We have to look at this world through the eyes of God.

Pray and never be afraid to reach out when things get hard. It is not weakness, but strength.

You are not reading this by accident. Jesus Christ has a beautiful purpose for your life. He cares about you. He loves you. You just need to give your 100% to Him, and He will take you from there. Fully surrender every area of your life to God.

Nothing in this world is worth going to Hell for eternally. Satan tries to bait us with perishing things. Looks, money, wealth, materialism and status will all fade away in the snap of a finger. We can be so successful in this world, but if we do not reach Heaven, we have failed big time.

Matthew 16:26,

“What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”

I would like to share another Bible verse:

Hebrews 12:1,

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

If you are struggling with addictions or with life in general, please don’t believe the lie that you are too far gone or that your life has no meaning.

I know what it feels like to be trapped in something you desperately want to escape from, and to feel ashamed, hopeless, and unable to change. But your past does not define your worth, and your struggles do not define who you are. Jesus Christ can meet you even in the darkest place. He met me when I had reached rock bottom, and by His grace, He set me free and gave me a new life. Please don’t give up. Cry out to God, seek Him, and take the next step, even if it feels small.

**You are not worthless. Your life is precious. You are created in the image of God, and there is still hope for you. Jesus Christ loves you, and He has not forgotten you.**

In the last five years, Jesus Christ has turned my life upside down, but in the best possible way.

In March 2023, I was searching for a job after leaving my previous company. At that point, I didn’t have a house of my own either, and honestly, I couldn’t see how things were going to change.

Interestingly, a few months before joining, I had been rejected by the same software company in the second round of interviews. I gave a complicated example, which was my mistake, and deep down, I knew that I had fumbled. I still remember how low I felt when I was returning home from my office that day. I felt like I had lost a great opportunity because it was a well known airline company in India.

But the door that had been closed earlier was opened by God later in a miraculous way.

A few months later, I got another opportunity to work on projects for that same company, and this time, I cleared the interview with ease. Just 10 minutes after finishing the interview, I received a call from HR saying that I had been selected. I can only attribute this to the grace of our loving Lord Jesus.

This reminded me that when God wants to open a door, no person can ultimately prevent His purpose. Jesus Christ gave me the opportunity to work there for almost two years, complete multiple projects successfully, and even receive appreciation and a bonus.

There was even one moment that I found amazing. One day at work, I was sitting in a conference room with the very person who had rejected me a few months earlier. I don’t know if she remembered me or even realized that she had once rejected me, but I knew the significance of that moment. The same company that once said no had eventually become a place where Jesus Christ gave me the opportunity to work for almost two years. Only God could have written a story like that.

During those almost two years, God also blessed me with an empathetic and understanding manager. He is not a believer, but he showed me kindness and support in ways I will always remember.

There were some difficult times in my personal life during those years. One time, he called me into a conference room and told me that I seemed distracted. He asked me if I was going through something in my life. Sometimes, he would even come to my cabin and ask me why I looked sad. He noticed things that I hadn’t even spoken about and genuinely cared enough to ask.

When my grandmother was sick, he even asked me if I needed any financial help. Those moments meant a lot to me, especially during difficult times. I truly believe Jesus Christ gave me favour and mercy in the eyes of the people around me. The kindness and support I received from my manager were another example of God’s grace in my life, and it is something I will always be grateful for.

It’s crazy to look back and see how much can change in just two years. There was a time when I couldn’t see a way forward, but God was already working behind the scenes.

Recently, I had to move to another company because the project contract at my previous firm came to an end. Once again, I saw God’s faithfulness in my life. Jesus Christ opened another door for me and blessed me with a 100% increase in my salary compared to what I was earning previously.

God knows what we need even when we cannot see what is ahead. What looks like an ending to us can sometimes be the beginning of something God has already prepared.

Looking back now, I can only say, God is good. There is nothing for me or my family to boast about ourselves, but there is everything to boast about our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He did not save us when we were shining, but when we were surrounded by darkness. No matter how much we thank Him, it will never be enough.

This is our journey. Personally, I still have so much to improve. Jesus Christ has done so much for us. I hope you are strengthened and edified by this testimony.

Know that you are not alone. You are alive for a reason. God wants you. He wants to use you for His Kingdom. Never end your life at any point in time. There will be good and hard times, but that is what makes life beautiful. Hard times help us understand the depth of emotions and help us have empathy toward our fellow human beings. We have to look at this world through the eyes of God.

Pray and never be afraid to reach out when things get hard. It is not weakness, but strength.

You are not reading this by accident. Jesus Christ has a beautiful purpose for your life. He cares about you. He loves you. You just need to give your 100% to Him, and He will take you from there. Fully surrender every area of your life to God.

Nothing in this world is worth going to Hell for eternally. Satan tries to bait us with perishing things. Looks, money, wealth, materialism and status will all fade away in the snap of a finger. We can be so successful in this world, but if we do not reach Heaven, we have failed big time.

Matthew 16:26,

“What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”

Hebrews 12:1,

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

If you are going through a difficult season right now, please don’t give up.

Keep fighting the good fight of faith. Even when you cannot see what God is doing, trust that He is working. Your story is not over, and your life has more value than you may realize.

Even though I have shared some of the material blessings God has given me, I want to make one thing clear: eternal life is the greatest gift a person can ever have. Houses, jobs, money, success, and everything else in this world are temporary. But eternal life through Jesus Christ is forever. Let us hold on to Christ and never lose sight of what matters most.

1 Timothy 6:12,

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

You are important to Jesus Christ. He loves you, He has not forgotten you, and there is still hope.

Remember this: When God is with you, you are the majority.

Keep fighting the good fight of faith till your last breath, because it’s all worth it in the end.

Have a beautiful day, everyone.

All Glory to the Most High God, Jesus Christ alone.

Amen.

✝️

Forceful conversions of Christians into hinduism , these are backed and supported by police , government and majority hindu population of India

Why is the Virgin Mary feeding St. Bernard with breast milk? [ https://aleteia.org/2019/08/20/why-is-the-virgin-mary-feeding-st-bernard-with-breast-milk/ ]

Let’s see your prayer stations or cool religious art :)