There were a few interesting stories this past week. This included a bizarre accusation that the Jesus People Movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s was actually a CIA operation.
As well, the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, stated in a recent interview that he believes in God, The Creator. Though certainly not a confession of Christian faith, it is a step in the right direction.
But there was more going on than that including increasing evidence that Communist controlled countries are cracking down on Christians.
Communist Crackdown on Christians
According to a report by International Christian Concern there is a crackdown on Christians taking place in the world’s five communist countries. This includes China, Viet Nam, North Korea, Cuba and Laos.
In all five jurisdictions, Christian churches are forced to register with the government. Government officials are routinely using government regulations and financial penalties to hamstring the churches in their jurisdiction.
In China, Christian churches must pledge allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party and implement a program called Sinicization. This requires churches to incorporate Chinese culture and Communist dogma in sermons and practice.
Recently 18 pastors connected with China’s underground church were arrested. The pastors were part of the Return to Zion network that refused to join the government-controlled Three-Self Patriotic Movement, that oversees protestant churches.
The pastors were accused of ‘participating in organized crime’, ‘illegal religious activity’ and ‘operating without state approval.’
Communism’s hatred of Christianity should not surprise us:
Jesus People Movement Accused of Being a Covert CIA Operation
Charisma News reports that Calvary Chapel has been forced to defend itself after podcaster Candace Owens allegedly stated that its founder Chuck Smith and the Jesus People movement were part of a CIA operation and driven by a pro-Israel agenda.
Calvary Chapel was the hub of Jesus People movement in Southern California that saw the Holy Spirit poured out on the hippie subculture in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This resulted in a major revival as tens of thousands of young people around the world becoming Christians.
David Rosales, who pastors Calvary Chapel Chino Valley, was saved in the Jesus People revival. He stated that they were just a bunch of counter-culture hippies.
“If there was anything I was, it was anti-establishment,” Rosales said. “If there was anything I was, it was anti-military… So to be painted as a covert CIA operative is funny.”
“Pastor Chuck was my pastor. He most certainly was not some government-sponsored official trying to turn Calvary Chapels into some military organization,” Rosales added.
Elon Musk Says He Believes in God, The Creator
No one is saying that he has embraced faith in Christ. But in a recent interview on the Katie Miller podcast, Elon Musk stated that he believes in The Creator, Breitbart reports.
It came after Miller asked the world’s richest man who he looked up to the most.
Musk responded with “The Creator..”
When Miller asked, “What is your is your position on God?“
Musk responded, “God is the creator.”
Miller then pushed back asking, “You don’t believe in God, though, do you?”
Musk responded with,”Well, I believe this universe came from something. People have different labels.”
YouVersion Reveals Verse of the Year
The popular Bible app, YouVersion, recently announced the most popular verse for 2025, Premier Christian News reports.
Considering the state of the world, it’s not surprising that once again, the most popular verse deals with fear and worry.
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
Over the past several years, YouVersion has seen a dramatic increase in interest in its Bible app. In November, known as Bible month, it recorded record breaking use of its app every Sunday.
This included over 19 million opening its app on the first Sunday of November. As well, over 2.6 million joined its Bible challenge plan.
OpentheWord.org 
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