#ourCOG Daily Brief [August 16, 2026]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for August 16, 2026.

In today’s headlines, the U.S. government is actively searching for migrant children who arrived without guardians and were released to sponsors. Politically, the Democratic party has decided to place South Carolina first in its 2028 presidential primary calendar, pushing Iowa aside, with party officials stating this change will ensure candidates are “battle-tested.” As a new school year approaches, a new comic called “Mr. Know-It-All” explores the implications of artificial intelligence in schools, as over half of teens are now using AI for schoolwork. Meanwhile, riding a wave of increased interest in women’s sports, a new Women’s Pro Baseball League is swinging for the fences. On the economic front for education, colleges are facing significant financial pressures, leading to cuts in staff and programs ahead of the new academic year. Turning to world news, a top U.S. military commander visited the USS Abraham Lincoln, where troops have been deployed for a record 240 days, amid reports of deteriorating mental health among the sailors. In Europe, displaced Afghan women, fleeing the world’s “worst women’s rights crisis,” are leveraging education to bring about change in their home country. Finally, as drought and heat waves impact parts of Europe, citizens are taking time to reflect on their deep connections to the continent’s vital waterways.

Looking ahead to our broadcasts and services, you can find inspiration with “Sunday Service” available Sundays at 9:30 AM & 11:30 AM EST, alongside the “citylife church” stream, the “Dallas Church of God Livestream,” and the “Princeton Church Live Stream 8-16-26.”

From our FaithNews RSS feed, we’ve received updates on the “General Council Fights Human Trafficking,” the “Council of Eighteen Chosen by General Council,” and the nominations of “Ramirez, Charles Nominated for World Missions Posts.” Additionally, plans are underway for an “International Educators Lunch Set for General Assembly.”

In prophecy news, the latest reports detail Israel’s seizure of a vast terror axis arsenal with surprising foreign origins, ranging from Iran, Russia, and China, to homegrown producers in Lebanon and Gaza, and even a Nazi-era gun, all used by Hamas and Hezbollah against Israeli civilians and the IDF. This comes as the U.S. prepares unprecedented economic measures against Iran, warning of economic isolation “like the world has never seen before,” with negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz stalled and Tehran-linked Houthi rebels resuming attacks. Meanwhile, the U.S. is sending a fresh carrier to relieve the over-extended USS Lincoln amid reports of sailor burn-out and a mental health crisis, and CENTCOM has launched a new multinational attack drone force. Over in Ukraine, Kyiv utilized a unique coordinated operation involving sea drones, jet drones, and Neptune missiles to strike a Russian port in a single night.

Finally, in Jewish history, looking back at this day, August 16th: In 636, the Battle of Yarmuk continued for a second day, a pivotal conflict that would ultimately lead to the Arab conquest of Syria and Palestine from the Byzantine Empire. Centuries later, in 1027, King Giorgi I of Georgia passed away. Jews were among the subjects of this monarch in the Caucuses region, with various historical accounts placing their arrival in Georgia anywhere from after the destruction of the First or Second Temples, during the time of Alexander the Great, or in the Sixth Century fleeing Byzantine persecution.