#ourCOG Daily Brief [September 12, 2025]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for September 12, 2025.

Today’s news brings a mix of encouraging and troubling developments. In the U.S., a discovery in Laodicea—the city Jesus called lukewarm—reveals intriguing early Christian symbols, sparking renewed reflection on faith. A new study highlights the detrimental effects of neglecting the teaching of sin within the Church, while another shows Millennials and Gen Z are surpassing older generations in church attendance, raising questions about the type of discipleship being offered. The faith community is also seeing innovation, with a former Wall Street executive launching a LinkedIn-style app for Christian ministries. Meanwhile, the global picture is more somber. Reports from Nigeria detail the tragic killings of Christians, including children, at the hands of Fulani herdsmen. In India, a pastor and his wife face false charges, highlighting ongoing persecution.

Turning to our video highlights, we had Perry Stone discussing forgiveness, Jentezen Franklin on resisting temptation, and a worship service from This Week On Jentezen Franklin TV. Additional noteworthy videos included [mention the other two video titles here].

Our FaithNews RSS feed included several significant stories. The Smoky Mountain Children’s Home received reaccreditation. The killing of Charlie Kirk sparked reactions from pastors and evangelical leaders, some calling him a “Christian martyr.” The White House responded to concerns about “Christian nationalism” amidst a prayer push, and a Church of God chaplain addressed the Ft. Stewart shooting.

In prophecy news, we saw reports from Rapture Ready detailing President Trump’s rebranding of the Department of Defense to the Department of War; heavy police response to anti-austerity protests in Paris; an Israeli strike on Hamas leadership in Doha; and concerns over Britain’s justice system prioritizing political correctness over child sexual abuse cases.

And finally, a look back at Jewish history. Today, September 13th, marks the anniversary of the assassination of Gedaliah ben Achikam in 586 BCE. Appointed governor of Judea by Nebuchadnezzar, his murder sparked a mass exodus of Jews to Egypt, effectively ending the Judean government and leading to a day of remembrance, the Fast of Gedaliah. This somber event serves as a poignant reminder of the complex interplay of joy and sorrow throughout Jewish history.