Day: September 30, 2025

1. World: Assemblies of God Launches Largest Mission Initiative in More Than 70 Years
2. USA: “Jesus: A Deaf Missions Film” Makes TV Debut
3. Nigeria: Bible Institute Trains Inmates to Be Chaplains
4. Papua New Guinea: Pacific Island Nation Declared a Christian Country
5. Jewish World: Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement

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Source: Christian Today, September 11, 2025

The Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM) has announced what leaders are calling its largest initiative in more than seven decades, pledging to expand missionary efforts to reach the world’s unengaged and unreached people groups.

The plan was unveiled during the 2025 Assemblies of God General Council, held August 4-8 in Orlando, Florida. Leaders described it as a renewed global commitment to “answer an urgent, worldwide hunger for God” by focusing on populations with little or no access to the gospel.

AGWM Executive Director John Easter said the vision represents the most significant mobilization since the organization’s founding. “This initiative represents what we believe will usher in the greatest spiritual harvest our generation has seen,” Easter said in a September 5 media announcement.

Read the full story. According to the media announcement, the number of AGWM global workers has increased steadily over the decades; it has risen to become the fourth-largest sending organization in the world.

Source: Crosswalk, September 26, 2025

A groundbreaking gospel film created for the Deaf community [made] its television debut on [September 27] when Jesus: A Deaf Missions Film aired on the Christian Television Network. The first-of-its-kind movie tells the story of Jesus entirely in American Sign Language (ASL), with every actor and actress—from those portraying Christ to the ones embodying the disciples and even Pontius Pilate—signing their roles. Every cast member was fluent in ASL. Director Joseph D. Josselyn said American Sign Language creates a bond with a deaf audience that captions cannot.

Read the full story. Sound familiar? We reported on this project when it was still in production. The film is also available on DVD, Blu-Ray, or streaming. Learn more.

See also a few other headlines from Crosswalk:

• “The Chosen” Sets Guinness World Record as Most Translated Streaming Series
• 376 Baptized in First-Ever Church Services at UNC’s Dean Dome
• 2,000 Accept Christ at University of South Florida Event

Source: Crosswalk, September 26, 2025

A groundbreaking gospel film created for the Deaf community [made] its television debut on [September 27] when Jesus: A Deaf Missions Film aired on the Christian Television Network. The first-of-its-kind movie tells the story of Jesus entirely in American Sign Language (ASL), with every actor and actress—from those portraying Christ to the ones embodying the disciples and even Pontius Pilate—signing their roles. Every cast member was fluent in ASL. Director Joseph D. Josselyn said American Sign Language creates a bond with a deaf audience that captions cannot.

Read the full story. Sound familiar? We reported on this project when it was still in production. The film is also available on DVD, Blu-Ray, or streaming. Learn more.

See also a few other headlines from Crosswalk:

• “The Chosen” Sets Guinness World Record as Most Translated Streaming Series
• 376 Baptized in First-Ever Church Services at UNC’s Dean Dome
• 2,000 Accept Christ at University of South Florida Event

Source: Mission Network News, September 25, 2025

Nigeria’s prisons are becoming unlikely centers of revival. Through Prisoners For Christ’s (PFC) International Bible Institute, inmates across Nigeria are not only finding faith in Jesus but also becoming Christian leaders who disciple others.

“It’s a Bible college inside the prison for inmates,” explains Don Szolomayer, Director of International Affairs at PFC. “There are 143 total lessons in the whole course. So, it takes about three to four years, depending. But the goal is once they go through all of that, those who graduate from it now become what we call an inmate chaplain.”

These inmate chaplains are trained to evangelize, teach, and disciple others through Scripture. The impact of this ministry is spreading.

Recently, Nigeria’s prison chaplains took their training to a new level. “About three or four weeks ago, they held a crusade with all of their inmate chaplains [who] have graduated,” says Szolomayer.

“They got permission from the officer in charge to go cell-by-cell evangelizing. Then on top of that, they had a full crusade out in the yard. This all went on for over a week and a half!”

Read the full story or learn more about Prisoners for Christ. In another MNN story, PFC reports that terrorists are finding Christ behind bars. Speaking of which, we were recently reminded of an unusual prayer campaign, Adopt a Terrorist for Prayer. It’s been updated with 2025 profiles.

Source: Back to Jerusalem, September 22, 2025

Papua New Guinea made a huge step and passed a new constitutional amendment officially declaring to the world that they are a Christian nation.

The [March 2025] proclamation was led by Prime Minister James Marape, who added to the Constitution’s preamble acknowledging “God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit” as “our Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe and the source of our powers and authorities.”

The move affirms Christianity’s foundational role in the nation’s identity, with more than 90 percent of its 11 million citizens identifying as Christian. announcement comes as Papua New Guinea celebrates its 50th ndependence Day, marking half a century since gaining sovereignty from Australia in 1975.

The nation’s Prime Minister described the amendment as a way to anchor national values in faith and to recognize the long-standing contribution of churches in serving remote and underserved communities.

The full story comments: “Some critics worry the symbolic shift could lead to the persecution of other faiths, but, as has been seen time and again, people of all faiths find the most freedom of expression for their religion under the umbrella of Christian nations.”

Another article from BTJ comments on a nationwide communication blackout in Afghanistan as an attempt to block access to immoral (Christian?) content and enforce Islamic values.

In other news, after a 30-year advocacy effort, Argentina has now officially recognized the legal status of non-Catholic religious organizations (Evangelical Focus).

Source: Beyond, September 24, 2025

Yom Kippur (October 2), the Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day of the Jewish year. It concludes the Ten Days of Awe, which begin with Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year). Together, these days call for honest reflection—looking back in repentance for past sins and looking ahead to a new year cleansed and renewed.

We hear of the Day of Atonement in Leviticus (16:29), underscoring its profound importance. On this day, both the high priest and the people had roles to play. The priest performed sacrifices of atonement while the people refrained from work and humbled themselves before the Lord.

Leviticus 16 outlines the high priest’s unique responsibilities. Clothed in white linen as a sign of purity, he would enter the Holy of Holies with offerings: a bull for his household and a goat for the sins of the people. A second goat—the scapegoat—was symbolically burdened with the sins of Israel and sent into the wilderness, signifying removal of guilt and cleansing of the community.

Even today, observant Jews prepare for Yom Kippur by spending the Ten Days of Awe seeking reconciliation with others. The belief is clear: one must be right with one’s neighbor in order to be right with God. This reflects the commandments to love God wholeheartedly (Deuteronomy 6:5) and to love one’s neighbor as oneself (Leviticus 19:18)—commandments Jesus also affirmed again in Mark 12:30–31.

Traditions include sharing a meal before the fast begins, lighting memorial candles for deceased parents, and observing a 25-hour period of fasting and abstinence. According to Jewish law, this “self-denial” includes refraining from eating, drinking, bathing, wearing leather shoes, and marital relations. These practices create space for prayer, repentance, and deep dependence on God’s mercy.

At its heart, Yom Kippur is a day of humility and hope—an invitation to turn from sin, repair relationships, and seek forgiveness from the God who cleanses his people.

Read the full story includes six ways you can pray for Jewish people during this time.