Latest news with #ChristianFaith
The Independent
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Pageant contestant in Muslim majority nation ousted over pro-Israel video
Miss Indonesia 2025 contestant Merince Kogoya was disqualified after a two-year-old video showing her expressing support for Israel resurfaced. The video, reportedly from her time studying abroad, showed Kogoya holding and waving an Israeli flag while dancing, with a pro-Israel caption. Kogoya faced significant backlash in Indonesia, a majority Muslim nation with strong pro-Palestinian sentiment and no diplomatic relations with Israel. The pageant organisers quietly removed Kogoya from the competition and replaced her with contestant Karmen Anastasya, without issuing an official statement. Kogoya responded to the backlash by stating the video was not political but represented her Christian faith, though her Instagram bio reportedly still displayed 'I stand with Israel'.
South China Morning Post
01-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Miss Indonesia contestant sent packing for pro-Israel video
A contestant in the Miss Indonesia 2025 beauty pageant has been expelled after a video emerged showing her waving the Israeli flag and offering prayers for the country, sparking a backlash in the Muslim-majority nation amid tensions over Israel 's actions in Gaza Merince Kogoya, who represented the province of Highland Papua, was officially removed from the competition on Thursday last week after the resurfaced video went viral on social media. The footage, believed to have been uploaded two years ago - before the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023 - shows Kogoya displaying the Israeli flag and praying for the Jewish state. However, her actions were widely interpreted as support for Israel during its military campaign against Palestinians. The controversy forced the Miss Universe Indonesia organisers to send her home from the pageant's quarantine phase and replace her with another contestant. In a statement posted to Instagram on Monday, Kogoya defended herself, saying the video was not a political statement but an expression of her Christian faith. 'My two-year-old video reel was widely shared and misinterpreted in ways that do not reflect my beliefs,' she wrote.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Congratulations Pouring In For Eagles Star Saquon Barkley
Congratulations Pouring In For Eagles Star Saquon Barkley originally appeared on The Spun. Congratulations are pouring in for Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley on Thursday, after the Super Bowl-winning running back announced a big-time life change. Advertisement Barkley, who had the best season of his career in Philadelphia in 2024, revealed that he recently underwent a major life change. Barkley, who starred collegiately at Penn State, became a Christian. He credits his newfound faith for his successful Year 1 in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Eagles star appeared on a YouTube golf video with Grant Horvat, one of the most popular people in the YouTube golf space. Barkley made an appearance on his channel of over 1.3 million followers for his "Break 60" series. "I'm very big in my faith, you are as well," Horvat asked Barkley. "Yes, I just became a Christian not too long ago," Barkley responded. "I don't think it's a coincidence that the best year I had in my career, I found my faith. It gives me some clarity in life." NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 3: Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is surrounded by cameras on the field inside the Caesars Superdome during the Super Bowl Opening Night on February 3, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs were made available for interviews during an energetic, New Orleans-themed event ahead of next Sunday's Super Bowl LIX. (Photo by)Barkley admitted that it's a constant work in progress. Advertisement "I'm not going to sit here and tell you that I know the Bible, like, in and out. It's something I'm learning, I'm challenging myself to get better at with my family and my friends," Barkley explained. "[I'm] really lucky to have my agent [Ed Berry], he's a pastor and I'm able to have Bible studies with him." "But [I'm] just growing, and I think that's the beautiful thing about it, and I think that's what religion and faith is, is having a relationship with God and understanding who Jesus is, and that's what I've been trying to do this year. I'm going to continue to try to get better at it." Congratulations are pouring in for Barkley for being so open and honest. Advertisement "Praise The Lord Jesus Christ ! May He ultimately be Glorified in Saquon's life. . . And now I guess I'll have to be a little bit of an Eagles fan," one fan wrote. "Amen! Love seeing these athletes use their platforms to profess their faith in Jesus! Absolutely incredible," one fan added. "Well done, Saquon," one fan added. Saquon Barkley and the Eagles will look to repeat as Super Bowl champions in 2025-26. Congratulations Pouring In For Eagles Star Saquon Barkley first appeared on The Spun on Jun 26, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
CTV News
23-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Clerk who denied same-sex marriage licences in 2015 is still fighting Supreme Court's ruling
Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis, right, talks with David Moore following her office's refusal to issue marriage licenses at the Rowan County Courthouse in Morehead, Ky., on Sept. 1 2015. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File) The Kentucky county clerk who became known around the world for her opposition to the U.S. Supreme Court's 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage is still arguing in court that it should be overturned. Kim Davis became a cultural lightning rod 10 years ago, bringing national media and conservative religious leaders to eastern Kentucky as she continued for weeks to deny the licenses. She later met Pope Francis in Rome and was parodied on 'Saturday Night Live.' Kim Davis denied marriage licenses to same-sex couples Davis began denying marriage licenses to same-sex couples after the Supreme Court's landmark ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26, 2015. Videos of a same-sex couple arguing with Davis in the clerk's office over their denial of a license drew national attention to her office. She defied court orders to issue the licenses until a federal judge jailed her for contempt of court in September 2015. Davis was released after her staff issued the licenses on her behalf but removed her name from the form. The Kentucky Legislature later enacted a law removing the names of all county clerks from state marriage licenses. Davis cited her Christian faith Davis said her faith forbade her from what she saw as an endorsement of same-sex marriage. Faith leaders and conservative political leaders including former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and then-Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin rallied to her cause. After her release from jail, Davis addressed the media, saying that issuing same-sex marriage licenses 'would be conflicting with God's definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman. This would be an act of disobedience to my God.' Davis declined a request for an interview from The Associated Press for this story. A man who was denied a license ran for her office In 2018, one of the men who had confronted Davis over her defiance ran for her office. David Ermold said he believed people in Rowan County were sick of Davis and wanted to move on. When he went to file his papers for the Democratic primary, Davis, a Republican, was there in her capacity as clerk to sign him up. Sitting across a desk from each other, the cordial meeting contrasted the first time they met three years earlier. Both candidates lost; Ermold in the primary and Davis in the general election. She has not returned to politics. 10 years later, Davis wants the Supreme Court to reconsider same-sex marriage Davis' lawyers are attempting again to get her case before the Supreme Court, after the high court declined to hear an appeal from her in 2020. A federal judge has ordered Davis to pay a total of US$360,000 in damages and attorney fees to Ermold and his partner. Davis lost a bid in March to have her appeal of that ruling heard by a federal appeals court, but she will appeal again to the Supreme Court. Her attorney, Mat Staver of the Liberty Counsel, said the goal is affirm Davis' constitutional rights and 'overturn Obergefell.' Dylan Lovan, The Associated Press
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Christian ministry in Elwood holds second annual golf outing
ELWOOD — Mike Dobbs knows what it means to struggle. He said he was an alcoholic for many years, but credits his Christian faith with helping him achieve sobriety. Dobbs currently helps others do the same as director of the New Life Campus for Harbor House Mission. "I battled addiction for most of my life,' Dobbs said. 'Once I got out of rehabilitation, I started to help people in my own situation and give back." Helping others in recovery, he said, helps him stay sober, even when it's difficult. "God helps me through a lot," Dobbs said. "When you see somebody broken like you were when you were going through addiction, it's a constant reminder of what you had to go through, and you don't want to have to go through it." Dobbs' outreach is a subsidiary of Harbor House Mission Inc., a local nonprofit dedicated to helping those in need and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Harmony House hosted its second annual golf outing Saturday morning at Elwood Golf Links, with nine foursomes participating. The outing is an annual fundraiser for the organization that continues to grow. "We have a mission house downtown,' said Doug Perkins, founder and executive director of Harmony House. 'We feed 40 people per day. We have showers, laundry, clothing free to whoever comes in the door. "We have a New Life Campus,' he continued. 'We house men coming out of prison, rehab, and help them get back on their feet, back out in the world." Harmony House was recently given another building, which it will use as an expanded soup kitchen. "It will be three times the size of the current soup kitchen," Perkins said. The organization announced on Facebook the temporary closing of its clothing store, A Place to Shop, citing increased overhead and rental costs. It will be moved to the newly acquired building. Perkins named the clothing store as a way in which Harmony House raises funds. Most of the organization's funding comes from donors. Perkins encouraged people to donate, noting that the new building needs renovations and it would help the ministry continue to grow. The clothing store is set to be moved to the current soup kitchen location at 1817 South A St. Perkins said he has always been inclined toward evangelism. He left Texas where he lived for 40 years before retiring because, in his words, he needed 'a way to reach out' in Indiana. He started attending Harmony House Christian Church, where the pastor encouraged his evangelistic efforts. Harmony House Mission was formally established in 2019. Jeremy Johnson helps lead weekly Bible studies at the New Life campus. Studies are topical, covering themes that apply directly to the lives of those being served. "We know that life is hard," said Johnson, who participated in the golf outing.
