Transgender surgeries lead to suicide attempts, More hurricanes on the way, Pro-life pregnancy centers provided $360 million of services in 2022

It’s Wednesday, May 29th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Jonathan Clark
Kazakhstan officials raid Protestant churches
Officials in Kazakhstan raided several Protestant churches in recent months.
Police fined pastors and congregants for not being registered with the government. Pastors also faced charges of illegal missionary activity. 
Last year, individuals and organizations in the Central Asian country faced over 200 cases of such prosecutions for exercising their freedom of religion. 
The local Baptist Council of Churches said, “What has been happening in the last month . . . has aroused serious concern among Evangelical communities, which have experienced persecution for their religious activity.”
According to Open Doors, Kazakhstan is the 47th most difficult country worldwide in which to be a Christian.
Finnish Christian politician harassed by hostile court system
A Christian politician is preparing to stand trial for the third time over her Biblical beliefs.
As The Worldview reported on April 22nd, Päivi Räsänen is a former government minister and sitting Finnish parliamentarian. She recently submitted her defense to the Finnish Supreme Court. 
Lower courts acquitted her of “hate speech” after she posted Bible verses online in opposition to sexually perverted lifestyles. However, the State prosecutor appealed the case to the country’s Supreme Court. 
Räsänen said, “An acquittal by the Supreme Court would … provide a clearer and stronger safeguard for the freedom of Christians to present the teachings of the Bible–and it would strengthen the principle of freedom of expression in general.” 
More hurricanes on the way
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting more hurricanes this year than normal.
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30. The group predicts an 85% chance of an above-normal season. 
The forecast includes 8 to 13 hurricanes. Four to seven of those are expected to be major hurricanes. 
Job said in Job 26:12 and 14, “[God] stirs up the sea with His power, and by His understanding He breaks up the storm. … Indeed, these are the mere edges of His ways … the thunder of His power who can understand?”
Political gender gap
A new poll by the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School highlights the growing gender gap among young people.
President Joe Biden leads former President Donald Trump by eight percentage points among Americans under 30. Among young women, Biden leads by 33 points. But among young men, Biden only leads by six points, down from 26 points in 2020.
In 2020, 42% of young men identified as Democrat and 20% as Republican. Now, 32% identify as Democrat and 29% as Republican. 
Transgender surgeries lead to suicide attempts
Last month, researchers published a study in the medical science journal called Cureus, entitled “Risk of Suicide and Self-Harm Following Gender-Affirmation Surgery.”
The study evaluated 90 million adults in the U.S. It found that people who get sex-mutilating surgeries are more likely to attempt suicide. The study noted, “Individuals who underwent gender-affirming surgery had a 12-fold higher suicide attempt risk than those who did not.” 
Pro-life pregnancy centers provided $360 million of services in 2022
This month, the Charlotte Lozier Institute, a pro-life research group, released a report on the impact of pro-life centers in 2022.
The U.S. had 2,750 pregnancy resource centers at the time. Overall, they provided over $360 million in pro-life services and goods to individuals and families. That’s over $100 million than the services and goods provided in 2019.
Demand for pro-life services has increased since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Despite this, pro-abortion attorneys general and lawmakers are targeting pro-life pregnancy centers. 
Environmental activists vs. Christian New Jersey community
For generations, Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, a Christian group in Ocean Grove, New Jersey, has closed its private beach on Sunday to honor the fourth commandment.
Recently, the state’s Department of Environmental Protection has been threatening the Christian camp group with fines of $25,000 for every Sunday that they remain closed because the group is allegedly violating beach access laws.
As a result of the pressure, the Christian group has relented and opened their private beach on the Lord’s Day. Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association said it would challenge the order in court to “preserve our property rights and religious freedom.”
Young adults embrace lying, abortion, and sexual perversion
And finally, Dr. George Barna released his latest research on Biblical worldview in America.
The study noted that younger generations are leading a big shift in our country’s morals. Less than half of adults under 40 say the Bible is their guide to morality. Most adults under 40 reject absolute moral truth and embrace lying, abortion, and sexually perverted lifestyles. 
Dr. Barna said, “By abandoning the absolute boundaries given to us in the Bible, we have opted for unpredictable and conflicting standards that serve us poorly. You always reap what you sow. America is now harvesting the sad product of what it has been cultivating for the last 40-plus years.”
Isaiah 55:6-7 says, “Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him.”
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And that's The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Wednesday, May 29th, in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I’m Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.