#ourCOG Daily Brief [August 27, 2025]

Good evening, and welcome to the #ourCOG Daily Brief. We begin tonight with news from the Church of God. Pentecost Sunday has been designated Evangelism Sunday, a call to action for increased outreach. This follows the launch of the Church of God World Missions’ ambitious “2 Million Souls Initiative,” aiming for significant global conversions. Meanwhile, several Church of God agencies are expanding their reach into Texas. In other faith-related news, a disturbing incident occurred in Kentucky: two were killed and several injured in a church shooting. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.

Turning to other significant developments in the Christian world, the distribution of King James Bibles to the Atascadero Maximum Security State Forensics Hospital in California is yielding remarkable results, with reported conversions and renewed hope among inmates. This initiative highlights the continued power of the Gospel in even the darkest environments. Additionally, the Acts 17 Collective, a group founded by tech executives, is hosting a series of lectures on the Antichrist, led by Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel. This event reflects a growing interest in faith within the tech community, though some view it with skepticism due to its alignment with Thiel’s business interests.

The global Pentecostal movement is also a focus of recent scholarship. A book review highlights the need for integration of Western and non-Western theological perspectives, particularly in light of Pentecostalism’s robust growth in the global South. Meanwhile, a deep dive into the historical impact of the 1830 Clydeside Charismatics reveals an interesting precursor to the modern Pentecostal movement, highlighting the continuing evolution of charismatic experiences and theological debate within Christianity.

Finally, we turn to news items of broader interest, including devastating monsoon rains in Himachal Pradesh, India, resulting in significant loss of life and property. In other international news, growing tensions are present between the United States and Venezuela, with a notable military buildup near Venezuela’s borders and Russia continuing its assertive military flights near Alaska. Concerns also include reports of increasing anti-Western sentiments in Germany, fueled by militant Islamic preachers, and concerning political rhetoric from the Mayor of Chicago. We will continue to monitor these developing situations and provide updates as they unfold. That’s all for tonight’s #ourCOG Daily Brief. We wish you a peaceful evening.