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By Ian M. Giatti, Christian Post Reporter Monday, December 02, 2024Pastors Rodney (C) and Adonica Howard-Browne (L) with Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister (R) at their home in Hernando County, Florida. | Facebook/ Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne

A Florida sheriff nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to head the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is drawing criticism for enforcing a pandemic-era prohibition on large church gatherings, saying Sunday that he was simply enforcing the law. 

Chad Chronister, the longtime sheriff of Hillsborough County, Florida, was announced as Trump’s pick for the key federal agency on Saturday. 

“As DEA Administrator, Chad will work with our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to secure the border, stop the flow of Fentanyl, and other illegal drugs, across the Southern Border, and SAVE lives,” Trump wrote. 

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Chronister, appointed by then-Gov. Rick Scott to lead the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in 2017, shared his excitement about the nomination, calling it “the honor of a lifetime.”

The nomination drew sharp backlash from some of Trump’s own supporters for actions Chronister took in March 2020, when his office arrested Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne, the leader of River at Tampa Bay Church, for hosting in-person church services in defiance of Florida’s COVID-19 restrictions. 

Chronister ordered the arrest of Howard-Browne, who had openly criticized the lockdown measures and continued to hold large gatherings despite the statewide safer-at-home order. Howard-Browne was charged with unlawful assembly and violating public health emergency rules, but the charges were later dropped. 

During a media briefing, the sheriff later said he had no choice but to arrest Howard-Browne because “practicing those beliefs has to be done safely.”

Following the arrest, the Hillsborough County Council voted to reverse its previous stay-at-home order and recognized churches as essential businesses. The council also voted against imposing a 10-person limit and 6-foot social distancing restriction on churches.

Despite the dismissal of the charges, the arrest has become a key point of contention for critics who argue that it represented an overreach of authority, particularly on religious freedoms.

“I’m going to call ’em like I see ’em. Trump’s nominee for head of DEA should be disqualified for ordering the arrest of a pastor who defied COVID lockdowns,” Trump ally and Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky tweeted.

The Libertarian Party of Mississippi also weighed in on the matter, tweeting, “Trump’s nominee for DEA arrested a pastor for having the audacity to … checks notes … hold church service.”

While social media lit up Monday with similar criticisms, others noted Chronister later reconciled with Pastor Howard-Browne, who previously warned that Chronister would have to “deal with Jesus” for his decision. 

The pastor finally held a meeting in April 2020 with Chronister to discuss River Church’s role in reopening Hillsborough County. 

Howard-Browne and Chronister appeared in an online video Sunday, with the pastor offering his support for Chronister’s nomination. 

As I promised earlier, Here I am with my friend Sheriff @ChadChronister I recorded this tonight before our evening service! Please share with everyone – Thank you and God Bless! pic.twitter.com/H9b3eQVRv6

— Rodney Howard-Browne (@rhowardbrowne) December 2, 2024

“Yes, I did get arrested during COVID. But we’ve always been friends, and we remain friends today,” Howard-Browne said before offering his full endorsement.

Chronister said that he is a “follow-the-law sheriff.” 

“I was following the law back then — lousy laws or good laws,” he said. “But you have to be the sheriff and do your job. … I’m proud that Florida was the first [state] to roll back all those COVID restrictions. It was certainly a happy day when I was able to call the state’s attorney and say, ‘Drop those charges.'” 

Chronister’s wife, Nikki DeBartolo, is the daughter of former San Francisco 49ers owner Edward DeBartolo Jr., who was convicted in a 1990s gambling fraud scandal after building one of the NFL’s most prestigious franchises.

In 1998, DeBartolo Jr. pleaded guilty to failing to report a felony when he paid $400,000 to former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards in exchange for a riverboat gambling license.

Chronister and DeBartolo met Trump at the White House when the president pardoned DeBartolo Jr. in Feb. 2020.

Trump’s nomination of Chronister comes after Trump has already nominated several notable cabinet and top agency roles, including Tesla and X chief Elon Musk, former independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and former TV host Mehmet Oz. Trump is slated to be sworn in for a second term in January. 

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Uses health scare to make appeal for financial donations

By Leonardo Blair, Senior Reporter Monday, December 02, 2024 Fresh Fire USA leader Todd Bentley was hospitalized on Saturday November 23, 2024. | Screenshot/Facebook/Jessa Bentley

Fresh Fire USA leader Todd Bentley claims he experienced a “miracle” after he recently recovered from what he described as a 10-hour coma that he said doctors told him was triggered by a spike in his blood pressure they suspect is “linked to uncontrollable stress.”

Bentley, who a team of leaders declared in 2020 was “not qualified” for leadership due to “credible” allegations of “ungodly and immoral behavior,” including predatory sexual activity, said in a health update shared on Facebook Live last Wednesday that he has been “resting” since suffering “seizure-like” symptoms which rendered him unconscious for 10 hours on Nov. 23.

“As you can see, I’m recovering, and I’ve got my strength, but I’m still resting. That’s kinda what the doctor prescribed: take a little extra time with your family. It’s Thanksgiving week. I’ve been resting for the past several days since Saturday when I had a medical emergency,” Bentley said in the Nov. 27 Facebook post.

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“I do know I had a miracle […] because when I woke up at 3:33 in the morning [on Sunday], I woke up in shock, absolute panic, because I had a tube, intubated in my throat, and all these other wires that I didn’t know,” the 48-year-old said.

Bentley said the last thing he remembers before the medical emergency was getting ready to watch wrestling on pay-per-view.

“The last thing I remember is opening a Coke at 5:30 in my man cave Saturday night and watched the pay-per-view. And I take a sip of my Coke, and I guess I fell into unconsciousness, and they really don’t know how much breathing I had,” Bentley recalled.

He said his wife, Jessa Bentley, noticed that he was unconscious, “almost like I was having a seizure. That’s how my wife described how she found me in the chair.”

In a personal note published Nov. 25 on Jessa Bentley’s Facebook page, Todd Bentley said he was enjoying a movie with his family when he “collapsed.”

“Just three days ago, while enjoying a movie with my family, I suddenly collapsed and became unresponsive. Initially, the medical team suspected a seizure or stroke, but after a series of tests, including a CT scan and X-rays, they ruled those out. I was admitted to the ICU for critical care due to my unresponsiveness,” Bentley wrote.

“At 3 AM, I experienced a miraculous awakening, and while I was traumatized and confused by the sudden shift from family time to being intubated in a hospital bed, I know that your prayers played a significant role in my recovery,” he continued in the update to his followers.

“The doctors conducted further tests and found that my overall health is good, but they have been focused on managing my dangerously high blood pressure, which they believe is linked to uncontrollable stress,” Bentley added before making an appeal for donations.

In 2020, Stephen Powell, an estranged protégé of Bentley, first highlighted sexual misconduct allegations against the Fresh Fire USA leader who claims to be a “faith healer.”

The Lion of Light Ministries leader said Bentley has a “perverse sexual addiction” that drove him to prey on interns in 2013 and beyond. He alleged that Bentley “has an appetite for a variety of sexual sins, including both homosexual and heterosexual activity” and accused him of indulging in an open marriage with his wife, Jessa Bentley.

Despite his earthly disqualification from ministry in 2020, Bentley said a year later that God had given him a fresh 25-year mandate “focused on the harvest and the nations.”

Contact: leonardo.blair@christianpost.com Follow Leonardo Blair on Twitter: @leoblair Follow Leonardo Blair on Facebook: LeoBlairChristianPost

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By Leah MarieAnn Klett, Assistant Editor Sunday, December 01, 2024Jess Ronne

Jessica Ronne’s journey as a caregiver began on a day that could have shattered her world.

In 2004, during a routine ultrasound appointment for her second child, doctors informed her that her unborn son had experienced a stroke in utero. They offered no hope, suggesting she terminate the pregnancy and “try again.” But Ronne and her husband refused. 

“We put our baby in the Lord’s hands and just had faith that God’s will would be done,” she recalled.

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When Lucas was born on Aug. 12, 2004, “screaming with life,’” Ronne became what she termed “a forever caregiver.” Lucas’ profound disabilities would require lifelong care. But at the time, she was simply grateful for her miracle baby. 

“It wasn’t even something I really focused on,” she said.

A few years later, her world shifted again when her husband was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. For three years, they fought the cancer while raising four young children, including Lucas. By 2010, Jess, then 33, was a widow raising four children younger than 7.

Yet, it was in this crucible of grief and responsibility that Ronne discovered an unshakable resilience.

“My kids got me out of bed every day. I had to keep living for them,” she said. “Even as I buried my husband, I promised him that our children wouldn’t lose two parents — one to death and one to depressive grief.” Anchored by faith, she found the strength to take each step forward.

“I just leaned into the Lord, and he provided what I needed, which was just enough manna for the moment, and I was just able to continue to put one foot in front of the other and continue to live for my children,” she said.

Today, Ronne is a powerful advocate for parent caregivers, a demographic she said remains largely invisible to society. Years after her husband’s passing, Ronne met Ryan, a father of three who’d also lost his spouse to cancer. The two married in 2015, and they later welcomed a daughter, bringing their blended family to 10. 

As the founder and executive director of The Lucas Project, she works to provide recognition, resources and respite for families like hers.

“I do believe there are a lot of good people in the world who are willing to help if they know what the needs are. But … with these profound disabilities comes nonverbal, comes screaming, comes behavioral issues, comes incontinence, all things my 20-year-old son has. And so, the world just isn’t made for families like ours,” she said. 

“We isolate ourselves in our homes with these behaviors, with the aggression, with the incontinence. I often even speak with pastors at churches, and they’re like, ‘We don’t have these families in our community.’ And I’ll say, ‘Yes, you do, you just don’t see them.’ The church is not created for these families. Environments aren’t created for these families.”

Jess Ronne

Through The Lucas Project, the Michigan native has developed care packages, resource databases, and support groups. She also speaks nationally about the realities of caregiving and produces films like “Unseen: How We’re Failing Parent Caregivers,” a documentary that sheds light on the isolation and mental health struggles these families face. 

“We have a tsunami of children with special needs aging into adulthood,” she said. “If we don’t step in with resources, it will be detrimental to society.”

According to Ronne, the Church has a pivotal role in addressing these needs, but many congregations shy away due to fear of the unknown.

 “Each child is so different, and the Church doesn’t know its place,” she said. “But helping doesn’t have to mean direct care for the child. It can be mowing a family’s lawn, bringing over a meal, or picking up groceries. Small groups within a church could adopt a family, learning together how to meet their needs.”

She urged congregations to step out of their comfort zones: “This is exactly the kind of work Jesus did — stepping into messy, uncomfortable spaces,” she said. 

Ronne encouraged other caregivers to see their work as “holy,” though acknowledging it can be overwhelming. She recounted a moment of frustration, overwhelmed by her son’s needs while managing the production of the documentary. 

“I felt like Jesus said to me, ‘This is holy work. I would be right here with you doing this.’ It reframed everything. Caring for another individual is the holiest work we can do this side of eternity,” she said.

That perspective is central to her latest book,Caregiving with Grit and Grace.“It’s about viewing caregiving in light of eternity,” she says. “We might not see our reward this side of Heaven, but we’re living for that ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’”

In February, Luke moved into a group home, a decision Ronne once thought she’d never make. “When Lucas was little, I couldn’t imagine him living anywhere but with me,” she said. “But as he grew, his needs became more complex. It’s been a transition for all of us, but he’s thriving. He’s gained so many skills and is living his best life.”

The move has also brought newfound peace to Ronne and her family. “For years, weekends were overwhelming. Now they’re relaxing. My husband and I can take a nap if we want to,” she said. “My work had revolved around being Lucas’ caregiver for 20 years. It’s a period of transition, but also one of rest.”

As National Caregivers Month brings attention to the 16.3 million caregivers in the U.S., Ronne urged society to take stock of how they can support families with special needs children. 

“I think a lot of caregivers kind of have the smarter mentality, like, ‘Nobody can do it like me. I’ll be fine,’” she said.” We’re not fine. We’re exhausted. Let people bless you by stepping into your circumstances and providing a meal or providing some respite so that you can go take a nap, you can go for a walk, or just do something to rejuvenate yourself. Jesus wants that for us too. He wants us to be our best versions for the ones that we care for.”

In a world where caregivers are often unseen, Ronne said she wants to make sure their stories — and their struggles — are finally recognized. For caregivers themselves, she offered encouragement: “I hope that caregivers feel permission to feel anger, joy, pain,” she said. 

“It’s such a juxtaposition when you’re a caregiver, because there can be such joyful moments, but there are such painful moments too. It’s learning to live in that tension of the joy and the pain. The holiness of the acts that we do day by day by day is the glue that binds all of that together.”

Leah M. Klett is a reporter for The Christian Post. She can be reached at: leah.klett@christianpost.com

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By Anugrah Kumar, Christian Post Contributor Sunday, December 01, 2024A California pastor employed his martial arts training to fend off an axe-wielding burglar who broke into the First Family Church in Antioch, California, Thanksgiving morning on Nov. 28, 2024. | Screengrab/YouTube/NBC Bay Area

A California pastor employed his martial arts training to fend off an axe-wielding burglar who broke into a church on Thanksgiving morning. The pastor subdued the suspect until police arrived, ensuring the safety of the church’s property, as reported by local law enforcement.

The incident occurred at the First Family Church in Antioch, California, early Thursday when the church’s alarm system was triggered, prompting Pastor Nick Neves to head to the scene, News Nation reported.

Upon arrival, Neves found a man attempting to break into the church by smashing its windows with an axe. Rather than flee, the intruder opted to confront Neves, leading to a physical altercation in the church parking lot.

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Neves, whose background includes training in mixed martial arts such as jujitsu and kickboxing, managed to subdue the suspect until police officers could take the man into custody.

“I shouted at him to stop, and that police were on their way, and he ran and I grabbed a hold of him, and we ended up wrestling in the parking lot of the church,” Neves told NBC News.

The pastor added that his martial arts training helped him control the situation without causing significant harm to the intruder. “I was able to pin him to the ground, and he got up and tried to get away several times, but basically just trying to wear him out because I knew I could outlast him,” he recounted.

The Antioch Police Department confirmed the pastor’s account in a Facebook post. “When the burglar saw his wicked deeds had been discovered, he decided to fight with the pastor instead of repent. What he did not know was the pastor would win this battle of good and evil,” read the post, which also referred to scripture, “But the righteous are as bold as a lion.”

No injuries were reported from the incident.

According to WKRC, the suspect was actively using the axe to break windows of the church when Neves arrived. The police later arrested the individual on-site.

“It’s just ironic. If he had come a couple of days earlier, he would have been blessed and get some food and be cared for,” the pastor was quoted as saying. The church had recently completed a community project aimed at helping those in need. “But he decided instead to smash windows and desecrate property and do something that’s going to hurt the ministries,” Neves added.

The suspect’s motive for breaking into the church remains unclear. Authorities haven’t disclosed whether the individual was under the influence of any substances at the time of the incident.

The First Family Church was left with broken windows but otherwise remained intact.

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By Anugrah Kumar, Christian Post Contributor Sunday, December 01, 2024An anti-government fighter fires into the air in a street in Aleppo on Nov. 30, 2024. Jihadists and their Turkish-backed allies breached Syria’s second city of Aleppo on Nov. 29, as they pressed a lightning offensive against forces of the Iranian- and Russian-backed government. | BAKR ALKASEM/AFP via Getty Images

Syrian Christians in Aleppo face “grave danger” after Islamist militias took over the city, local church leaders say. The militias, including jihadist groups, have seized control following the withdrawal of government forces and are removing all Christmas decorations, according to a report.

Maronite Archbishop of Aleppo, Joseph Tobji, described the situation as being in “limbo,” noting that armed groups took over after a surprise offensive, as per Agenzia Fides.

“Life here started up again. The situation was calm, but now everything is closed,” Archbishop Tobji was quoted as saying.

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Shops and bakeries have ceased operations, and citizens have not stocked supplies due to the lack of warning before the attacks. “Nobody warned us,” Tobji said, adding that despite the lack of current attacks on Christian targets, uncertainty looms over what might happen next.

The militias have reportedly documented their takeover of Aleppo through social media.

According to Fr. Hugo Alaniz of the Institute of the Incarnate Word, almost all of Aleppo is now under militia control, with religious leaders visiting parishes to provide support. Fr. Hugo told Fides that while their church remains open, many residents, including students and elderly, have moved to other parts of the city for safety.

The Iraqi Christian Foundation reported on social media that militants had begun removing Christmas decorations and had beheaded captured soldiers. The group also called for prayers for Christians and other minorities in Aleppo.

The Switzerland-based human rights group Christian Solidarity International said in a statement that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, previously known as Jabhat al-Nusra, had seized control of Aleppo, mirroring the Islamic State’s capture of Mosul in 2014. This jihadist group’s takeover has instilled fear among Aleppo’s diverse religious communities, including Christians, Alawites, Shiites and non-observant Sunnis, due to HTS’ history of enforcing a strict Sunni supremacist ideology with violent persecution, it noted.

The United Nations’ Commission of Inquiry on Syria has documented the brutal governance of HTS, marked by executions, torture, sexual violence, and arbitrary detentions, alongside the desecration of religious sites. These actions are reminiscent of the harsh rule experienced during their previous control from 2012 to 2016.

“President Trump’s special representative for Syria, Ambassador James Jeffrey, acknowledged in 2021 that HTS had been functioning covertly as an ‘asset’ of Washington’s Middle East policy, despite its designation as a terrorist organization,” said John Eibner, CSI’s international president.

Shortly before election day, President-Elect Donald Trump pledged to protect persecuted Christians.

“The incoming president now has a golden opportunity to fulfill his pledge,” Eibner said. “Christians and others who value religious freedom and other fundamental human rights should insist that this pre-election pledge is honored.

The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that more than 300 people, including at least 20 civilians, have been killed since the offensive began Wednesday. The rebels, led by Islamist militant group HTS and allied factions, have taken control of Aleppo’s airport and dozens of towns nearby, reported the BBC.

HTS is a significant militant presence in Syria, and its leadership of the offensive has marked this as the most notable conflict in Syria’s ongoing civil war since a ceasefire was agreed in 2020.

According to the Syrian army, the attack on Aleppo involved multiple axes, covering over 100 kilometers (62 miles) of frontlines. The army reported numerous casualties among its soldiers and acknowledged that rebels now control significant portions of the city. Government forces have vowed a counterattack but provided no specific timeline.

The Russian air force conducted air strikes in Aleppo on Saturday, marking the first military intervention by Russia in the city since 2016, when it helped Syrian government forces recapture Aleppo, according to the BBC. The strikes aimed at rebel positions come as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has pledged to “defend [Syria’s] stability and territorial integrity,” according to a statement from his office.

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By Dan Delzell, Christian Post Contributor Sunday, December 01, 2024Getty Images/Mark Stevenson

As reported by The Economist earlier this year, “UFOs are Going Mainstream.” Believe it or not, 20 million people in the United States claim to have seen a UFO, and four million claim to have been abducted by aliens. So, what in the world is going on here? Are UFOs and “aliens” real?

Before attempting to answer this paranormal question, first consider an easier question: Are fallen angels (demons) and holy angels real? Yes indeed, as Scripture makes abundantly clear. And if UFOs and aliens are demonic manifestations, as many Christians believe, we would expect to find some clues in the Bible. 

Once when Jesus encountered two demon-possessed men, the demons shouted, “What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” (Matthew 8:29) Demons instantly become terrified once Jesus arrives on the scene.

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So, what about “alien abductions” today? How do these traumatic experiences compare to demonic encounters in the New Testament? And most importantly, do today’s harrowing “alien” episodes abruptly cease when the name of Jesus is introduced into the equation?

Gary Bates has researched this issue for over 25 years. As a best-selling author on the matter who also has an award-winning movie on “aliens” and UFOs, Gary said, “There are over 400 cases that I am aware of where these abductions have been halted by people calling on the name of Jesus Christ … the instant His name was called, it stopped.”

Christians of course are not surprised that the name of Jesus stops things like nightmares and other frightening phenomena, including “alien” ordeals. (See my 2011 CP op-ed, “How to Say ‘No’ to Nightmares.”) Since we are not alone in the universe, we do at times cross paths with angels and demons. 

As Gary stated, “The Bible has always talked about another dimension. And we’ve had visitors from that dimension, and they’re called angels. Good ones, bad ones … God’s angels always bring a message that is consistent with what we read in God’s Word. The bad guys…are there to deceive and deflect and to take people’s eyes away from the Creator.”

As supernatural beings originally created by God to serve as holy angels, demons are fallen angels who rebelled against God and went the way of Lucifer. Demons are highly intelligent and also skilled impersonators. These shapeshifters can appear at your bedside as your deceased relative, or show up during a seance. They can also impersonate the mother of our Lord through various apparitions of Mary. And when people take part in certain New Age practices, demons even pretend to be “Jesus” the “ascended master.” And yes, demons can take on an alien appearance, or even the shape of a UFO. 

Demons want humans to interact with them in order to draw people into the spiritual clutches of the occult. If you open a wrong door in the spiritual realm, demons will come through it to trick you, oppress you and lead you away from the one door that leads to everlasting life in Paradise. Jesus said, “I am the door; whoever enters through me will be saved” (John 10:9). 

Interestingly, many “alien” abductees are told they were chosen because they are special and are needed to spread the message of their “alien” abductors. An obsession with UFOs and “aliens” can even become a substitute religion. For example, the Heaven’s Gate cult was a UFO religion that produced mass suicides by its members in 1997.

While demons distract and disorient people in order to lead them further and further away from Christ, God’s holy angels are “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation” (Hebrews 1:14). Angels and demons are invisible to the human eye, unless of course they choose to visibly appear, such as when two holy angels appeared at Christ’s empty tomb. They asked Mary, “Woman, why are you crying?” (John 20:13)

Demons fear the risen Savior because the Messiah “triumphed over them by the cross,” (Colossians 2:15) and “was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4). The fate of every demon is sealed, just like the fate of their master, Satan. 

The Apostle John wrote, “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10). And this is why “Satan is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short” (Revelation 12:12).

UFOs and “aliens” are merely one way the devil and his demons seek to distract people from accepting the good news of the Gospel (see John 3:16). Some people become so mesmerized by UFOs and “aliens” that they actually start pursuing mysterious phenomena. It is a seductive doorway into the occult.

Dr. Hugh Ross is an astrophysicist who points to “a connection between occult involvement and UFO encounters.” Christian UFO investigator David Wimbish agrees. He has “engaged in significant research into the UFO phenomenon, and has suggested that not only can the occult lead one to have a UFO encounter, but interest in UFOs can also actually draw one into the occult.” 

Dr. Ron Rhodes writes, “Many UFO investigators have followed a path that has taken them directly into the world of the occult. They believe they are rediscovering ancient spiritual truths and uncovering new realities about the universe … it has led many to experiment with astral projection, to believe in reincarnation, etc.” 

Jacques Vallee, a well-known (secular) French UFO researcher says, “The phenomena reported by (UFO) witnesses involve poltergeist effects, levitation, psychic control, healing, and out-of-body experiences. Vallee has personally investigated countless UFO sightings. His comments are based on years of firsthand experience.”

Negative consequences and dark side effects occur whenever demons interact with humans, even if the devious impersonators initially tell you they want to help you. This diabolical charade is one way they gain access into the lives of unsuspecting victims. Don’t forget that their master “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).

Thankfully, there is a way to effectively counter and overcome every type of demonic deception. Repent of your sins, receive Jesus as your Savior, (see John 1:12) and then walk closely with Him. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). 

UFOs, aliens, demons and the devil himself have no power over Jesus Christ. You see, if you are a follower of Christ, “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). 

Dan Delzell is the pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Papillion, Nebraska. 

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By Christian Today, Saturday, November 30, 2024Aerial view of the town and castle of Edinburgh with Dugald Stewart monument in Edinburgh, Scotland. | iStock/Delpixart

Nov. 30 is St Andrew’s Day. Who was St. Andrew and why is he patron saint of Scotland? 

Patron saints

In the Catholic and Orthodox traditions, a patron saint is a canonized historic holy person who is supposed to be a guiding and protective force for people of a particular profession or region. After the Reformation the idea of patron saints was dropped by Protestants. However, the idea of national patron saints remains in Britain and Ireland, but more for patriotic and historical rather than religious reasons. St. David is patron saint of Wales, St. Patrick of Ireland, St. George of England and St. Andrew of Scotland.

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The Apostle Andrew

St. Andrew is mentioned in all four Gospel accounts and in Acts. Andrew was first a disciple of John the Baptist (John 1:40), and when he recognized Jesus as the Messiah he was quick to find his brother Simon (later called Peter) to tell him (John 1:41).

Andrew and Peter were fishermen at the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:18, Mark 1:16), and were the sons of John (John 1:42), and originally came from Bethsaida (John 1:44)). It is not known for sure whether Andrew was the older brother or the younger brother, but generally people have traditionally thought of Andrew as the older brother.

At the time of the Gospels, Andrew and Peter were living in Capernaum where Andrew was living with his brother, Peter, and Peter’s wife and mother-in-law (Matthew 8:13, Mark 1:29). Possibly Andrew was married, too, but there is no direct mention of his wife. It seems that Jesus often stayed with them there. Andrew and Peter were among the disciples who became apostles (Matthew 10:2, Mark 1:18, Luke 6:14).

Andrew is specifically named in three stories. After Jesus foretold the destruction of the Temple (Mark 13:1-2), it was Andrew, Peter and John who asked Jesus about the signs of the End Times (Mark 13:3).

In the well known story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 it was Andrew who introduced Jesus to the boy with the five barley loaves and two fish (John 6:8). After Jesus entered Jerusalem (which is recalled on Palm Sunday), some Greeks were worshiping with the Jews at Jerusalem and they approached Philip and asked to see Jesus. Philip went and told Andrew who then told Jesus. (John 12:20-22). Andrew is at the Last Supper and at Pentecost (Acts 1:13) and then disappears from the narrative. In such cases the gap is filled in by Early Church history and tradition.

Black Sea missions

St Andrew is supposed to have been shipwrecked on Cyprus, maybe on the way to Byzantium (later Constantinople and now Istanbul) where he is reputed to have founded the bishopric which later became the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

According to the Early Church historians Origen (c185-c253) and Eusebius (c260–265), Andrew went to take the Gospel to Scythia, which was the area to the north of the Black Sea, which today includes the coastlines of Romania, the Ukraine, parts of Russia and Georgia. As a result, the Orthodox Churches in Romania, Russia, Ukraine and Georgia have St. Andrew as their Apostolic founder.

Death

The generally accepted tradition is that Andrew was martyred by crucifixion at Patras in Achaea (now in Greece) in AD 60. He thought that he was not worthy to be martyred on the same type of cross as Jesus had been, and so he was crucified on an x-shaped cross instead. Many of St Andrew’s relics are reputedly kept in St. Andrew’s Orthodox Cathedral in Patras, which is a place of pilgrimage.

Patron saint

Because Andrew is seen as the apostolic founder of their churches, St. Andrew is patron saint of Cyprus, Georgia, Greece, Romania, Russia and Ukraine. He is supposed to be the patron saint of fishermen and fishmongers. How he came to be patron saint of Scotland is more curious.

Connection to Scotland

Some of St Andrew’s relics were reputedly brought to Scotland by St Regulus, a fourth century monk, who in AD 345 is supposed to have fled Patras for Scotland taking with him many of St. Andrew’s bones. The story goes that St. Regulus had a dream in which Patras was under threat of attack, and he had to take the relics as far away as possible to the Western ends of the Earth.

Sailing in the North Sea, St. Regulus and his party were shipwrecked off the coast of Fife, where he was welcomed by the local Pictish king. A church and monastery dedicated to St. Andrew arose at the site, and St. Andrew became an important saint for the Picts. The town was named after him, and now St. Andrews is famous for its ancient university and as the home of golf.

St Andrew’s flag

St. Andrew’s cross is based on the diagonal shape of the cross that St. Andrew was put to death on. In heraldry a saltire is a diagonal x-shaped cross. There are two forms of the saltire. In one form, there is a blue cross on a white background, and in another form there is a white cross on a blue background. The Russian Navy uses a St. Andrew’s flag which is a blue saltire on a white background, because St. Andrew is patron saint of Russia.

Scottish flag

The form of St. Andrew’s cross with a white cross on a blue background is said to date back to a great battle between the Picts in AD 832. An army of Picts under King Hungus, High King of Alba, were being pursued by a larger force of Angles and Saxons from Northumbria, under their King Athelstan. Fearing the outcome of the encounter, King Angus prayed for victory to St. Andrew, and he saw a cloud formation that looked like a white saltire against a blue sky. This looked like St. Andrew’s cross, and so he took this as a sign. The Scots won the battle, and where King Athelstan was killed is now the village of Athelstaneford in East Lothian.

Later when Kenneth MacAlpin united the Picts and Scots into the Kingdom of Scotland, St. Andrew became the patron saint. Later the white cross on the blue background was adopted as the national flag of Scotland, and is one of the oldest national flags in the world, although not always with the same shade of blue.

St Andrew’s cross in the Union Jack

In 1606, after the crowns of England and Scotland were united, the jack of St George’s cross used in England, and the jack of St Andrew’s cross used in Scotland were combined to create the Union Jack (the jack referring to a small flag flown on a ship). In 1801, after the union with Ireland, the jack with St. Patrick’s cross was added to create the current version of the Union Jack. Thus the flag of the U.K. has the St. Andrew’s cross in the background, and this also appears in the canton (top left hand quarter) of the flags of Australia and New Zealand.

Today St. Andrew’s flag is flown widely in Scotland, but is best known internationally from sporting events, where Scotland plays separately from the other nations of the U.K., notably in football, rugby and in the Commonwealth Games. It is also the basis of the flag of Nova Scotia (Latin for New Scotland) in Canada.

St Andrew’s Day

St Andrew’s Day is observed on Nov. 30 in the Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox churches, and since 2007 has been a bank holiday in Scotland. In Scotland and Scottish communities round the day is an excuse for patriotic celebrations.

Let us remember that St Andrew, unique of all the national patron saints of the U.K., is the only one who was an actual biblical figure.

The article was originally published at Christian Today 

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By Leah MarieAnn Klett, Assistant Editor Saturday, November 30, 2024Anthony Hopkins as King Herod in “Mary” | Netflix

Just ahead of Christmas, Netflix’s epic “Mary” delves deeply into the Virgin Mary’s journey as a young woman chosen for an extraordinary destiny, yet grappling with faith, societal rejection and spiritual warfare.

In an interview with The Christian Post, director D.J. Caruso (“Disturbia,” “I Am Number Four”) said that, unlike traditional Nativity retellings, “Mary” focuses its lens on the mother of Jesus and strives to present the journey through her eyes. 

“Cinematically, Mary’s story has been underappreciated,” Caruso told CP. “She delivered the greatest gift the world has ever received, but we’ve rarely seen her experience fully explored. I also felt like there was a real need to humanize her journey, so you can feel what it felt like with her, and you can relate to her … our daughters can relate to her. Everyone can relate to what she was going through, because a lot of what Mary went through, the contemporary world is sort of throwing us those same curve balls here today.”

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Shot in Morrocco, “Mary” stars Israeli actress Noa Cohen as Mary, alongside Ido Tako as Joseph and Academy Award-winner Anthony Hopkins as King Herod. The film follows Mary’s miraculous conception and the intense challenges that ensue. Shunned by her community and forced into hiding, Mary embarks on a treacherous journey with Joseph to protect their newborn son from King Herod’s violent quest to eliminate any threat to his throne.

In creating the film, Caruso emphasized the importance of presenting Mary not just as a holy figure but as a relatable human being. 

“Obviously, amazing things happened to this young woman, from the visit of Angel Gabriel and to understanding how her birth came about. But at the same time, the human world, the nature of man, and all those things that are happening in this world are still forces that are against her,” he said. 

“She’s got to swim upstream. She has to fight all the fights. When she accepts this, the fiat, which I think is such an amazing moment for all of us, and says, ‘Let it be done.’ She turns her life over to the Lord and says, ‘You’re in my heart forever. I’m yours.’ And then her life doesn’t get much easier; there’s always going to be a struggle and a fight to do something amazing. And I think that’s a really strong message.”

The film depicts conversations between Lucifer and the Angel Gabriel, a creative choice Caruso said he made to highlight just how much opposition Mary faced, both physically and spiritually, while bringing the Son of God into the world.

“Spiritual warfare is something we all battle with every day,” he said. ‘I think it was important to illustrate that, particularly when you can see the spiritual warfare that’s happening to Mary. What’s going on is Lucifer is like … ‘Just take the easy way out.’ … But obviously, through the suffering and pain is how we get closer to God. But there’s always that temptation in there to just not do it, and to just say, ‘Why do I have to go through this?’ … I wanted to bring that in so you can see there always is a voice trying to get you to … do what isn’t right, even if it’s the easy way. So for me, it was really important to bring that element into the story.”

Caruso’s own faith heavily influenced his approach to the story. A practicing Catholic and father of five, the director told CP he drew from personal spiritual experiences to bring authenticity to the film. 

“Faith is in my DNA,” he noted. “When you’re a spiritual person or you’re a person of faith, it just informs you in so many different ways. Even in the movies that I’ve made and directed that aren’t necessarily on this theme, you can feel the spirituality. … That element of Christ in your heart is always present. It might not always be overt and out there in the open, but it’s in everything that I do, so it affects every decision I make.”

According to Caruso, the challenge of retelling the Nativity story in “Mary” lay in navigating the balance between staying faithful to Scripture and filling narrative gaps to create a compelling cinematic experience. 

“There’s not a lot of material on Mary in the Bible — just a few key texts in Matthew, Luke, and some other references,” Caruso explained. “As a filmmaker, you have to respect the biblical framework while also filling the voids in ways that honor the spirit of her journey.”

For example, he said, the film delves into the harrowing journey of Mary and Joseph to Egypt, imagining what dangers they might have encountered.

“If Herod was sending the Roman soldiers out to find the Messiah and to destroy this child, and destroy these children, what would it be like for any mother to have to protect your child?” he said. 

“Here we are with Mary. So how do we experience that? And we don’t know on the way to Egypt how many times they could have been encountered, because it’s not in the Bible. So filling all these things in that can make the movie emotional, can get you sitting at the edge of your seat, and still staying true to the framework of the biblical story was very vital and very important to me.”

Caruso said that Joseph, traditionally a silent figure in the Gospels, is intentionally given a more active voice in the film. “Joseph is a silent participant in the Gospel. He doesn’t have a word. So how do you give Joseph a voice, and how do you make him vital, and how do you make him important? And I feel like that is something where you can take liberty, as long as you’re being respectful to the text and everything. Because Joseph needed a voice, and as a filmmaker, I have to give him a voice.”

The director said that despite the creative liberties taken with the story, his filmmaking process was deeply informed by extensive research, involving consultation with theologians, pastors and biblical scholars, including the late Bishop David O’Connell — “a Mary expert” and a crucial advisor on the project.

Beyond canonical texts, Caruso also drew from historical and apocryphal sources, such as the Infancy Gospel of James, to gain additional insight into Mary’s life and times. 

“While not part of the canonized Bible, these texts provided fascinating context about Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anne, and other elements of her story,” Caruso said.

Historical accounts, such as those by Josephus, also helped shape the portrayal of King Herod and the sociopolitical backdrop of the film.

Hopkins, 86, brought “this slight bit of regret” to the character, Caruso said, adding: “In a way, he’s almost looking for the Messiah, maybe not to destroy the Messiah, but looking for the Messiah for another reason, but he doesn’t even know what it is. Sir Anthony brought that to the character, and it was really just wonderful to see his process.”

“Mary” is the latest in a slew of TV shows and films based on Bible stories to release in recent years. Most notably, “The Chosen,” a multi-season series about the life of Christ and His disciples, began as a crowdfunded indie short in 2017 and has since become a global phenomenon. In January, Amazon MGM Studios announced it had entered into an agreement with the Wonder Project and ordered a new Bible-based series, “House of David,” for Prime Video.

“Audiences are hungry for these stories, and Hollywood is realizing their power,” he said. “But it’s not just about telling them — it’s about telling them beautifully. If we’re making something for the Lord, why not make it the best it can be?”

Releasing “Mary” on Netflix marks a watershed moment for faith-based cinema, Caruso said. “The potential reach is staggering,” Caruso said. “With Netflix, ‘Mary’ will be available in 45 languages and across the globe. It’s amazing to me, it’s so powerful.”

Ahead of the Christmas season, Caruso said he hopes “Mary” is a film that inspires reflection and fosters a connection with one of history’s most remarkable figures.

“We all need to say, ‘Let it be me,’” he said. “It’s really hard to do that. When Mary did that … that was my revelation. That’s why I made the movie … it was such an important and vital moment; it pierced my heart. It was such a beautiful moment. In this world, it’s full of chaos; there’s a lot of beauty, but we all have to decide what we are going to do. Are we going to let man’s nature and all these things take us this way, or are we going to follow God’s grace? And if we can follow God’s grace, it might not always be easy, but that’s what we need to do. 

“I just want [viewers] to be inspired by the sacrifices and by the challenges that she had to overcome, and to see what amazing good could come out of making those sacrifices,” he added. “I want everyone to love and appreciate her more … to realize she brought so much light into this world.”

Mary premieres on Netflix on Dec. 6. The film also stars Stephanie Nur, Susan Brown, Ori Pfeffer, Eamon Farren, Hilla Vidor, Mili Avital, Gudmundur Thorvaldsson, Dudley O’Shaughnessy, Keren Tzur, Mehmet Kurtulus and Mila Harris.

“Mary” is rated TV-14 for language and violence. 

Leah M. Klett is a reporter for The Christian Post. She can be reached at: leah.klett@christianpost.com

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By Anugrah Kumar, Christian Post Contributor Saturday, November 30, 2024Bishop T.D. Jakes of The Potters House preaches about the trauma of making transitions in life at the Woman Thou Art Loosed conference at MegaFest on Aug. 30, 2013, in Dallas, Texas. | Courtesy of T.D. Jakes Ministries

Bishop T.D. Jakes has credited divine intervention for averting a potentially fatal health incident that occurred during his sermon last Sunday. “I give thanks unto the Lord that I did not have a stroke,” Jakes said in a statement.

The 67-year-old pastor of The Potter’s House megachurch revealed the health scare while addressing his congregation and followers on social media, attributing his recovery to both God and the swift response of medical professionals.

“A special thank you to God and the medical professionals in our city whose speed and expertise were beyond exceptional,” he wrote in a post on X Wednesday that included a video of him expressing gratitude.

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Jakes said he intends to rest and recuperate, acknowledging the importance of taking time to honor the Sabbath. “I owe it to my amazing family and church members to rest and ruminate as He restores me towards His service. As God calls us to honor the Sabbath, I’m reminded that rest is not a weakness — it is a divine gift,” he wrote.

He added, “While I continue to be strengthened by His grace, I stand in awe of my family and the tremendous leadership team that surrounds me. Together, we press forward, steadfast in the work the Lord has set before us. I’ve heard from friends from the global community who expressed God’s love in ways that were astonishing! God’s faithfulness was unmistakable to all those present.”

Jakes suffered “a slight health incident” after praying Psalm 19:14 during his Sunday morning service, according to his church.

“During today’s service, Bishop T.D. Jakes experienced a slight health incident and received immediate medical attention following his powerful hour-long message. Bishop Jakes is stable and under the care of medical professionals,” The Potter’s House of Dallas said in a statement on Facebook. “The entire Potter’s House family is grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support from the community. Thank you for your understanding and continued prayers.”

A video clip of the health incident posted on YouTube showed Jakes sharing how much he loved preaching and wasn’t tired of his job before experiencing a medical problem on stage.

“It was a pleasure. I still love to preach. I ain’t tired of preaching. I miss you. I miss you,” Jakes told the congregation.

“Have you ever gone to a hospital to visit somebody and you thought you was going to encourage them, and they encourage you? That’s what preaching is. Like you think you’re giving out something, you’re getting back more than you gave. I love you,” he said as his hand appeared to tremble.

He then prayed Psalm 19:14.

Jakes’ message came amid a turbulent period, as he filed a defamation lawsuit the day after his health incident. The lawsuit, lodged against former pastor and convicted sex offender Duane Youngblood, alleges that Youngblood made defamatory accusations regarding events purported to have occurred about 40 years ago.

According to legal documents, Jakes’ attorneys stated that Youngblood’s allegations were part of an orchestrated scheme aimed at tarnishing Jakes’ reputation and extorting millions of dollars from the church leader.

Youngblood, who previously served as a pastor in Homestead, Pennsylvania, was arrested on multiple charges related to the sexual abuse of minors dating back to 2002. His history of misconduct was detailed in the lawsuit filed by Jakes, which described Youngblood as a “convicted criminal” involved in a “carefully planned effort” to deflect blame for his own actions while attempting to extort Jakes.

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By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Saturday, November 30, 2024Getty Images

The United States Department of Education is being accused of unjustly targeting Christian colleges and universities, allegedly to advance a “woke agenda.”

The American Principles Project, a conservative think-tank, published a report earlier this month that cites the department’s Office of Enforcement actions against Christian schools.

According to the report, although Christian colleges and universities have fewer than 10% of students in the U.S., they make up around 70% of the penalties imposed by the Office of Enforcement.

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Additionally, over the past 10 years, while the average fine against public and private academic institutions that violated federal law on campus crime was around $228,571, the average fine against a Christian school was $815,000.

The report also took issue with the record fines recently imposed on Grand Canyon University and Liberty University, two prominent Evangelical Christian academic institutions.

According to the APP, when the department issued punitive fines on Michigan State University and Penn State University for high-profile abuse scandals, they were several million dollars less.

APP Policy Director Jon Schweppe, author of the report, said in a statement released on Nov. 18 that he believed this was an example of the Biden administration “weaponizing every part of the federal government to target their opponents.”

“As our report details, the Biden-Harris Department of Education has been engaged in a long-running scheme to punish Christian colleges that are ideologically opposed to the left’s agenda. The unfair targeting of these institutions has been egregious, and it needs to stop immediately,” stated Schweppe.

The Christian Post reached out to the Department of Education, with a department spokesperson emailing a statement on Friday denying the allegations in the APP report.

“A school’s religious affiliation or nonprofit status has absolutely no bearing on our oversight and enforcement actions,” the spokesperson stated. “Our top priority is protecting safety and academic opportunity for all students at institutions of higher education. The data in the APP report itself pushes a false narrative by distorting information released publicly by the Department.”

The APP report comes as President-elect Donald Trump has expressed an interest in downsizing or even closing down the Education Department once he takes office next year.

“We want federal education dollars to follow the student, rather than propping up a bloated and radical bureaucracy in Washington, D.C.,” Trump said in October, as quoted by USA Today. “We want to close the federal Department of Education.”

U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., introduced a bill to abolish the Education Department, although it requires a supermajority of the Senate to pass.

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