Displaying items by tag: North America

Candace Cameron Bure has opened up about a deeply challenging season in her marriage to husband Valeri during 2020, revealing that they were close to separation. The turning point came unexpectedly through their eldest son, Lev. Although unmarried at the time, Lev confronted his parents with a heartfelt, Bible-based exhortation about marriage. In a recent podcast, Candace recalled Lev speaking for 45 minutes, Bible open, urging his parents to consider whether they had done everything possible to reconcile, and to offer further grace and kindness to each other. His gentle firmness and spiritual insight deeply moved his parents, prompting them to reflect and recommit to working through their difficulties. Candace described the conversation as a 'pivotal moment' which transformed the couple’s relationship. She expressed profound gratitude for her children’s courage and spiritual maturity, crediting their family’s legacy of Christ-centred marriages as a sustaining influence. Lev has since married Elliot Dunham, continuing the family’s legacy. Candace celebrated the wedding as a Spirit-filled, Gospel-focused occasion, underscoring their generational faith.

In the wake of the catastrophic flash floods in Texas on 4 July, governor Greg Abbott has said that at least 109 people are confirmed dead and 161 are still missing. Among the missing are five children and a counsellor from Camp Mystic, a century-old Christian girls’ summer camp, where 27 lives were lost. Torrential rains caused the Guadalupe River to rise by eight metres in under an hour, turning areas like Kerrville and nearby counties into disaster zones. The devastation at Camp Mystic was profound, with personal belongings strewn across muddy grounds. Survivors recounted harrowing rescues, including airlifts and children escaping through cabin windows. Ten-year-old Lucy Kennedy recalled sensing danger before the flooding began and was later reunited with her mother, who also lost their home in the disaster. Amidst political disputes over emergency preparedness and federal weather service funding, Texas communities are grieving, searching, and beginning the long road to recovery from one of the deadliest flash floods in recent memory. For more information about Camp Mystic, see

Aidan Perry, a 20-year-old man from Florida, is praising God for saving his life after he was accidentally shot in the chest at close range on 7 June. The incident occurred when a friend was showing off a .40-calibre pistol that unexpectedly discharged. In the terrifying moments afterward, Aidan recalled seeing blood and fearing he would die. However, he credits both divine intervention and his cross necklace - a Christmas gift from his father - for his survival. Doctors confirmed that the necklace had deflected much of the bullet’s force, causing it to ricochet and lodge harmlessly in Aidan’s chest rather than striking vital organs. Aidan, who already had faith before this incident, said the experience has deepened his belief in God, reminding him to ‘never stop believing’. Meanwhile, the friend involved has been arrested and charged with culpable negligence causing injury.

Holy Hubert Lindsey, a fiery street evangelist, left an indelible mark on UC Berkeley in the turbulent 1960s and ‘70s. Born in Georgia in 1914 and converted at fifteen, Hubert sensed a divine call to preach boldly, even barefoot if needed. Drawn to Berkeley amid anti-war protests and cultural upheaval, he proclaimed repentance and Christ’s grace in Sproul Plaza, enduring jeers, violence, and scorn. In 1965, he was beaten unconscious yet returned swiftly, bullhorn in hand, declaring, 'They can bruise the body, but the soul is under the Shepherd’s care’. Many considered him a precursor to the Jesus Movement, as his preaching forced students to confront deeper spiritual questions. Despite opposition, he remained resolute, often tearfully urging listeners to turn to Christ. Hubert rejected media fame, choosing a humble life focused on the Gospel. He passed away in 2003, remembered as a courageous voice for Christ amid moral confusion.

Zohran Mamdani, a 33‑year‑old state lawmaker and self‑described socialist, has won New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani, focusing sharply on rising living costs, promised free buses, free childcare, affordable housing, and a higher minimum wage, financed by taxing the wealthy. If elected in November, he would be the city’s first Muslim and Indian mayor. His victory reflects growing progressive momentum. Cuomo, seeking a comeback after a sexual harassment scandal, conceded defeat, stating, ‘Tonight is his night’. Critics question Mamdani’s experience, fearing he may be ill‑prepared for crisis management. Current mayor Eric Adams, indicted on corruption charges, announced he will run as an independent.The outcome of the primary, held amid sweltering temperatures, and the outcome of this race could indicate the type of leader Democrats are looking for during Donald Trump's second term.

Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, has condemned Donald Trump’s uninvited deployment of the National Guard to quell unrest in Los Angeles, calling it an illegal escalation and ‘brazen abuse of power’. The unrest followed protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids targeting illegal immigrants. Newsom argued that California could have managed the protests without federal intervention and accused Trump of using force theatrically, inflaming tensions. He warned that such actions threaten democracy nationwide. Newsom also criticised the Trump administration’s indiscriminate deportations, which target hardworking immigrant families and foster fear. ‘Authoritarian regimes begin by targeting the vulnerable but do not stop there,’ he cautioned. Linking Trump’s actions to broader attacks on American institutions, from the judiciary to the press, he called for peaceful resistance. Urging citizens to reject fear and silence, Newsom ended with a call to defend constitutional freedoms.

Elon Musk has sharply criticised Donald Trump’s multi-trillion-dollar tax and spending bill, calling it a ‘disgusting abomination’ and condemning the Republicans who supported it. Passed by the House in May, the bill includes expansive tax cuts, which Musk argued will increase the US budget deficit to $2.5 trillion and impose unsustainable debt on Americans. The tech billionaire, who has just ended his short tenure with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), expressed disillusionment with Washington’s entrenched bureaucracy and the resistance to his cost-cutting agenda. He had originally aimed to slash federal spending by $2 trillion, but this was reduced first to $1 trillion and later to just $150 billion. DOGE’S controversial cuts, particularly to humanitarian aid, drew criticism and raised questions about actual taxpayer savings. The White House has dismissed his objections, but Musk, who served the legal limit of 130 days as a ‘special government employee’, urged Americans to vote out the politicians who backed the bill in the next election.

Tauren Wells, Grammy-nominated artist and pastor, is challenging Christians to rethink joy - not as fleeting emotion, but as intentional focus rooted in the unchanging character of God. In his debut book Joy Bomb, Wells explores biblical happiness, inspired by the Sermon on the Mount, where ‘blessed’ translates to ‘happy’. Wells maintains that holiness and joy are deeply connected, saying, ‘God is holy, and God is joy’. In 2024, Wells and his wife launched Church of Whitestone in Austin, aiming to build authentic community over crowd size. He sees ministry as a new assignment, not a career shift, maintaining his identity in Christ while continuing to make music. His upcoming album Let the Church Sing reflects his evolving theology shaped by Bible college and pastoral life. Joy Bomb aims to guide readers, especially those struggling with anxiety or despair, towards lasting joy through Christ - not through circumstance, but through God’s presence. ‘Joy,’ he says, ‘is spelled J-E-S-U-S.’

Colton Burpo, whose near-death experience when aged three inspired the best-selling book and film Heaven Is for Real, continues to share his testimony over two decades later. At nearly four, Burpo's appendix ruptured after being misdiagnosed for five days, leading to emergency surgery. During the operation, he believes he had a supernatural encounter - witnessing his parents praying from outside his body, then finding himself on Jesus’s lap, comforted by angels. His vivid recollections of heaven and meeting deceased relatives moved millions and sparked deeper conversations about the afterlife and faith. Now 25, a husband, father, worship pastor, and electrician, Burpo sees his experience not just as a vision of what is to come, but as a call to mission. He focuses on living a life that honours Christ and encourages others to seek salvation. He continues to share the hope of heaven with new generations.

Donald Trump has paused a proposed 50% tariff on EU goods, extending the negotiation deadline to 9 July after a phone call with EC president Ursula von der Leyen. She requested more time to reach a deal, which Trump agreed to, calling the EU ‘willing to negotiate’. While both sides seek a resolution, the USA remains firm on maintaining a 10% base tariff, rejecting the EU’s recent offer to eliminate industrial tariffs and boost cooperation in AI and energy. Trump’s stance stems from concerns over the EU’s significant trade surplus and regulatory barriers. Meanwhile, the EU has approved retaliatory tariffs worth billions, set to begin on 14 July if talks fail. The escalating tensions risk sparking a costly trade war, which the IMF warns could shrink GDP on both sides. EU and US officials are set to meet next month in Paris to seek resolution. In preparation for these, the EU has requested firms to give details of their dealings with US companies: see